Ordinary Bone

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After selecting his martial techniques, Xu Taiping spent another ten merit coins to purchase a fine steel Yan Yu saber, a hornwood bow, and over a hundred arrows.

“Elder Xuanjing, I’ve made my selections.”

In truth, Xu Taiping also wanted to buy a movement-based martial technique, but even the lowest-grade movement techniques cost over three hundred merit coins, which was far beyond his means.

“Items selected are non-refundable. Tomorrow at noon, a spirit beast will deliver these items to Green Bamboo Residence. Please prepare the merit coins.”

The cold voice of the mirror spirit echoed once more.

“Thank you, Elder Xuanjing.”

Xu Taiping bowed respectfully to the bronze mirror.

Later that day, during the You hour (5-7 PM).

Green Bamboo Residence.

In the tranquil courtyard, the warm afternoon sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating Xu Taiping’s sweat-streaked face.

At this moment, Xu Taiping sat cross-legged on his bed, eyes closed, with wisps of lead-colored mist emanating from his body and gathering above his head.

He had entered a state of deep meditation, completely absorbed in his cultivation.

Following Elder Ziyang’s advice, cultivating during the Zi (11 PM-1 AM), Wu (11 AM-1 PM), and You hours often yielded twice the results with half the effort. Thus, at these times, Xu Taiping would lock his courtyard gate and meditate without fail.

“Boom…”

Suddenly, a resonant explosion of energy erupted within Xu Taiping’s body.

The lead-colored mist around him dispersed, and in its place, pure white mist, as pristine as snow, began to rise from his body, once again gathering above his head.

If any cultivator familiar with the “Remnant Glow Technique” were present, they would recognize this phenomenon. It was the hallmark of a cultivator breaking through from the Condensation Stage to the Frost-Melting Stage—a process known as “Washing Away the Impurities.”

A moment later, Xu Taiping

Even he hadn’t expected to break through to the Frost-Melting Stage today. According to Elder Ziyang’s estimation, he should have needed at least ten more days to reach this stage.

“Could it be that using the Remnant Glow True Qi during my battle with the demon wolf accelerated my breakthrough?”

Xu Taiping pondered this possibility.

"Xu Taiping of Green Bamboo Residence, are you home?”

Before he could delve deeper into this thought, a familiar voice called from outside—Baitou Diao, also known as Bai Hong.

“Little one, your items have arrived.”

As soon as Xu Taiping stepped out of his house, he saw the spirit beast Bai Hong crouching at his courtyard gate, with a large wooden crate sealed with a talisman placed in front of it.

“Thank you, Uncle Bai.”

Xu Taiping thanked him warmly and quickly walked over.

“Little one, earning merit coins isn’t easy, and you’ll still need to pay the annual tribute to the West Wind Pavilion. Save where you can.”

Bai Hong offered this kind reminder.

“Uncle Bai, don’t worry. I’m being careful. These are just some defensive weapons and martial techniques.”

Bai Hong’s concern warmed Xu Taiping’s heart.

“As long as you’re mindful, that’s good.”

Bai Hong nodded.

After the incident with the demon wolf bones and meat the previous day, Bai Hong’s impression of Xu Taiping had improved significantly. He no longer saw him as just another unfamiliar outer sect disciple.

“I sense that your true qi has become purer than yesterday. Have you made a breakthrough?”

Bai Hong suddenly scrutinized Xu Taiping closely.

“That’s right, Uncle Bai. My Remnant Glow True Qi

Xu Taiping didn’t hide this from Bai Hong.

“Not bad.”

Bai Hong nodded in approval.

He had witnessed Xu Taiping’s diligence firsthand, so he wasn’t particularly surprised.

“Keep cultivating diligently. Even reaching the Ice-Forming Stage only grants you the qualification to attempt the Gate-Opening Realm. Don’t become complacent.”

He then offered a word of caution.

"Taiping will remember Uncle Bai’s teachings.”

Xu Taiping clasped his hands respectfully.

“Go back to your cultivation. After delivering your package today, I’ll be accompanying the Fourth Peak Elder on a mission outside the mountain. I might not return for a few months.”

With that, Bai Hong spread his wings and soared into the sky.

“Accompanying the Fourth Peak Elder on a mission… Could it be to subdue demons and vanquish evil in the mortal world?”

As he watched Bai Hong disappear into the distance, Xu Taiping felt a surge of excitement.

According to the introduction in the cultivation jade slip, disciples and elders of the Seventh Peak often received numerous sect missions from outside the mountain. Completing these missions would earn them substantial merit rewards.

Just one mission from outside the mountain could reward over a thousand merit coins, which filled Xu Taiping with envy.

"Xu Taiping, don’t aim too high too soon.”

Realizing that his mindset was shifting, Xu Taiping quickly reminded himself.

Then, he carried the wooden crate into his courtyard.

Five days later.

Green Bamboo Residence, backyard.

“Boom!”

Surrounded by a faint aura of frost, Xu Taiping unleashed a powerful punch at a boulder as tall as a person after gathering his energy for a long time.

As his fist shot forward, the sound of rushing wind was accompanied by a faint bellow, reminiscent of an ox.

“Bang!”

With a loud crash, the massive boulder was punched clean through by Xu Taiping’s small fist.

But Xu Taiping didn’t stop there. After the first punch, he steadied his stance, adjusted his breathing, and began throwing punches in rapid succession.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!…”

Xu Taiping’s fists rained down on the boulder like a stampede of oxen.

“Boom!”

Finally, the boulder was reduced to a pile of rubble under Xu Taiping’s relentless assault.

However, after shattering the boulder, Xu Taiping’s true qi was completely depleted. The semi-transparent frost qi that had enveloped him like a protective sphere also dissipated.

“Pant… Pant… Pant…”

After retracting his fists, Xu Taiping leaned forward, hands on his knees, gasping for breath.

The technique he had just used was the Green Ox Fist, which he had purchased from the West Wind Pavilion’s martial repository. Specifically, he had used two of its ultimate moves—Ox Horn Shatters the Mountain and Stampeding Ox Charges the Formation.

“It seems that with my current level of true qi, I can only perform Ox Horn Shatters the Mountain and Stampeding Ox Charges the Formation once each.”

Xu Taiping panted heavily.

Because this fist technique was straightforward and brutal, he had managed to grasp its basics after a few days of practice. However, the two ultimate moves still gave him a headache due to their massive true qi consumption.

Even though the Remnant Glow True Qi recovered quickly, Xu Taiping could only practice these moves two or three times a day. Any more, and his true qi wouldn’t recover in time.

“That’s enough for today. Later, when the sun isn’t as strong, I’ll need to weed the Nine-Leaf White Purple Perilla.”

Xu Taiping picked up a towel and wiped the sweat from his body.

With two new martial techniques to practice, his schedule was incredibly tight. He wished he could split one hour into two.

However, after breaking through to the Frost-Melting Stage, his stamina had increased manifold. Sometimes, he could go two or three days without sleep without feeling overly fatigued, which gave him more time for cultivation.

“Ow-oooo!…”

Just as Xu Taiping was considering whether to grab a bite to eat, a wolf’s howl echoed in the distance.

“That seems to be coming from Sheep Deer Mountain. Could there be another demon wolf there?”

With this thought, Xu Taiping dashed out of the backyard, leaped onto the courtyard wall, and then onto the roof.

[--------------------------------------------]

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