After choosing his cultivation technique, Hong Yuan settled into a routine, shuttling between his room in the A06 workshop and his courtyard.
He began to accumulate power, growing stronger bit by bit.
Hong Yuan's energetic and burgeoning vitality could not be hidden. Though he wasn't transforming overnight, the power he accrued through persistent effort was enough to make hearts palpitate.
Among those who noticed, Zhao Gonghe was most deeply affected by Hong Yuan's transformation. They had both started their apprenticeship under Lin Daoyan at the same time. Yet, while Zhao Gonghe had just begun to learn the craft of forging fine swords, Hong Yuan was already showing signs of taking flight! It's too fast, far too fast! Inspired by Hong Yuan, Zhao Gonghe had recently begun to focus, setting aside his previous lifestyle of indulgence for solid, grounded practice in the art of smithing. Zhu Wushang, their senior fellow disciple, was greatly relieved by Zhao Gonghe's change.
「Two weeks later.」
In Hong Yuan's Courtyard, within the training room.
Hong Yuan sat with his eyes tightly shut, circulating the first layer of the "Myriad Silence Origin Skill" to absorb the Essence Qi from the Energy Stones.
A short while later, the Energy Stones clutched in his palms turned to powder and slipped to the floor.
Hong Yuan felt around with his hands, only to find them empty; the Energy Stones were all used up. Opening his eyes, he looked helplessly at the grayish-white powder on the ground. In the past two weeks, he had sold all the Heart Cleansing Pills in his storage bag to obtain Energy Stones. But unexpectedly, those two hundred-odd Energy Stones were consumed with startling speed. Hong Yuan's storage bag was now devoid of a single Energy Stone! Fortunately, tomorrow was the day the A06 workshop distributed the monthly salary.
SQUEAK.
Hong Yuan clenched his fist tightly. A layer of Silver True Essence coated it, imbuing it with an overwhelming power.
He threw a punch, the sound reverberating as dust flew into the air.
Even though he hadn't deliberately practiced any Body Refinement techniques, he could feel the strength in his limbs, abdomen, and chest connecting, allowing them to exert power in unison.
"Is this the power of a second-rank Martial Artist achieved by cultivating the 'Myriad Silence Origin Skill'? How wonderful," Hong Yuan whispered, his gaze returning to the proficiency panel.
[Name: Hong Yuan]
[Realm: Second-rank Primary]
[Myriad Silence Origin Skill (Entry 372/500), Qinglu Mountain Moving Skill (Proficient 23/1,000)]
[Avatar: Mysterious Water Snake (Ice Armor Python 127/10,000)]
The past two weeks had brought great improvements across the board.
Within Hong Yuan's Aperture, his True Essence sea showed that the amount of Silver True Essence had already surpassed the Bronze True Essence, making up seventy-three percent!
If all the Bronze True Essence were to transform into Silver True Essence, it would signify Hong Yuan's advancement to a third-rank Martial Artist.
Putting aside his distractions, Hong Yuan walked towards a parasol tree in the outer courtyard.
He wasn't going to practice the "Myriad Silence Origin Skill." Without the medicinal formulas and Energy Stones, its cultivation progressed too slowly.
He was practicing archery and the "Qinglu Mountain Moving Skill," although the latter had recently hit a bottleneck due to a lack of the necessary medicinal ingredients. Consequently, Hong Yuan focused more on archery.
I'll gather the ingredients for the medicinal recipe after I receive my monthly salary tomorrow! Hong Yuan made a firm decision in his heart.
Under the parasol tree, Hong Yuan gripped the White Bull Bow firmly, his focus intent on the target before him.
In his mind, he recited the archery mantra "Shooting Righteousness": 'A righteous heart, free of wicked thoughts, allows no distractions to arise. Sincere intention: focus on the target, ever mindful of inner and outer states. A preserved spirit: move and rest with calm, dispelling agitation and delusion. Great composure: with breath and spirit serene, one's expression remains unchanged even amidst the chaos of a battlefield.'
After reciting the mantra, Hong Yuan's mind calmed, his concentration sharpened, and all he saw was the target.
Next, he stepped outward with his right foot, planted his knees firmly, tightened his thighs, and stabilized his shoulders. This posture was precisely the opening stance of the "Qinglu Mountain Moving Skill."
BANG! BANG! BANG!
In an instant, Hong Yuan drew the White Bull Bow to a full moon shape three times, releasing it swiftly each time. A muffled thrumming sound emanated from the bow.
Though he loosed three shots without actual arrows, Hong Yuan felt as if his spirit, sinews, and bones had undergone a tempering.
"Hoo~"
Hong Yuan exhaled a breath of turbid air and regulated his breathing according to the Qinglu Mountain Moving Skill: a shallow exhalation followed by a deep inhalation.
The White Bull Bow weighed a full one hundred and fifty catties. Ordinary martial artists couldn't dream of drawing it to a full moon, let alone lift it.
As he trained his strength with such a heavy bow, Hong Yuan sensed a faint tearing sensation in his body, most prominently in his arms.
He knew this meant his practice was yielding results.
Just as Hong Yuan was about to continue training, his ears twitched subtly, and he quickly stowed the White Bull Bow.
Someone was coming!
"Yiru, if you give all two hundred Energy Stones to that scoundrel Hong Yuan, how will you manage next month?"
"That Hong Yuan wouldn't dare come looking for you, so don't worry."
"He's just a mere cultivation Disciple; he can't stir up any real trouble!"
"…"
Yang Sen patiently and earnestly tried to persuade Lin Yiru, hoping she wouldn't act foolishly.
They were back in the Sect now; would Hong Yuan really dare to show up at her door?
Hmph, Hong Yuan wasn't even qualified to see Lin Yiru!
"A person cannot establish themselves without credibility. If I don't give Hong Yuan what I owe him, how can I, Lin Yiru, expect others to trust me in the future?" Lin Yiru stated, her eyebrows sharply raised. "And another thing, can you stop your incessant nagging whenever I'm trying to do something? You're always pestering me. I don't believe in so many 'coincidences.' If you keep this up, believe it or not, I'll have Wushang beat you up!"
Upon hearing this, Yang Sen felt a headache coming on and abruptly fell silent.
Soon, they walked along the stone steps toward Hong Yuan's courtyard.
At the entrance to his courtyard, Hong Yuan stood in the doorway, squinting at the two figures approaching in the distance.
As the distant figures gradually came into focus, Hong Yuan's eyebrows twitched slightly.
Lin Yiru? This woman wouldn't be coming to find me, would she? Darn, she really is coming.
Towards Lin Yiru, a beauty of exceptional looks and prominent lineage, Hong Yuan felt no desire to get closer or win her affection. On the contrary, he was quite keen to keep his distance from such women.
Having read countless novels in his past life, Hong Yuan was all too aware of the 'lethality' of such great beauties—they were veritable trouble magnets.
Hong Yuan only wished to quietly reach the Martial Saint Realm, then the Martial Emperor Realm, and perhaps even achieve immortality...
You have your peerless grace, and I have my Longevity Martial Arts. How much better if we don't interfere with each other.
However—
"Hong Yuan, you really stayed home, just as Wushang said." Lin Yiru's eyes lit up when she saw Hong Yuan.
She hurriedly quickened her steps and tossed a small storage pouch at him. "There are two hundred Energy Stones inside. Remember to return the storage pouch to me later."
Before Hong Yuan could say much, she turned and left. Her actions were swift and decisive, her demeanor exceptionally cool.
Yang Sen, by her side, shot Hong Yuan a fierce glare. "I'll take good care of you at this year's Sect competition!" he muttered under his breath, afraid Lin Yiru might hear.
Hong Yuan: "…"
It's coming, it's coming! The Sect competition! Oh, I'm so scared~ Too bad for them, I have no intention of participating, heh heh heh...
Hong Yuan took a deep breath and shouted on the spot, "What? Someone plans to target me at the Sect competition?!"
Lin Yiru, who had been walking away with a carefree air, suddenly froze. She turned, her expression unreadable, to look at Yang Sen, who was trying to catch up.
At this moment, Yang Sen's face turned deathly pale. This is bad, he thought.
Damn it, I subconsciously used the same old tricks I use to flirt with other female disciples on Lin Yiru.
And this Hong Yuan, how can he be so shameless!?