The fifteenth day of [Six Cangwu Demons - 5 = One Cangwu Demon].
Thousand Pools Island.
The autumn wind blew desolately.
It had been two days since Shen Xiuhan returned from the prefecture capital.
And today was the day he would receive his monthly stipend after completing his month of duty.
Disciples guarding the Precious Fish ponds were allowed to take one Precious Fish from the ponds each month in addition to the base stipend distributed by the sect.
To this end, Shen Xiuhan had paid a special visit to Duan Hongling.
He had advanced his catch for the next two months in one go!
Ever since he learned a few days ago that 'natural treasures' were useless for intelligence growth, and that only the life source of 'Precious Fish and Precious Beasts' could be converted into intelligence points, a vague idea had taken root in his mind, lingering persistently.
Because of this, he had specially caught two of the same type of Tier Two Precious Fish and one Tier Three Precious Fish today, roasting and eating them all.
『Intelligence +35』
『Intelligence +46』
Looking at the system panel, Shen Xiuhan thought helplessly, ‘As expected...’
‘For Precious Fish of the same species, only consuming the first one will increase the intelligence count.’
‘By the second fish, even if its life blood qi is abundant, to the system, it is already a chewed-up bone that cannot yield any new nourishment.’
‘Furthermore, the higher the rank of the technique I try to deduce, the greater the consumption of intelligence points will be. Finding higher-tier Precious Fish and Precious Beasts is practically a necessity!’
‘So, the idea of hiding away in some corner, breeding low-tier Precious Fish and Precious Beasts of the same species, and eating my way to becoming invincible under heaven is indeed nothing but a pipe dream.’
Shen Xiuhan sighed and stood up, though there was no look of disappointment on his face.
Simply because...
‘This isn't actually that hard to accept!’
‘The world of rare species is vast. In the waters of Thousand Pools Island alone, there are no fewer than dozens of species of Precious Fish, let alone the vast world, the four seas, and the eight wildernesses.’
‘Although there are no shortcuts on this path, it is still far from its end!’
Shen Xiuhan trampled out the embers on the stone hearth and found a quiet spot deep in the bamboo forest.
Surrounded by mountain rocks, the wind passed silently.
Shen Xiuhan sat cross-legged, took out an elixir, swallowed it, and began to cultivate silently.
The shadows of the bamboo swayed.
Gradually, only his long, steady breathing remained, slowly merging with the rhythm of the lake waves lapping against the shore in the distance.
...
The twenty-fifth day of [Six Cangwu Demons - 5 = One Cangwu Demon].
The date of the assessment was drawing near.
Tingquan Island.
Shen Xiuhan sat upright on his couch, currently circulating his heart method.
It was still early outside the window.
The faint sound of voices and oars slicing through the water could be heard from the distant ferry crossing.
Over the past two days, the originally tranquil Tingquan Island had become quite bustling.
Disciples stationed in the sect, those in the prefecture capital, and anyone who had not traveled far away were all returning to participate in the academy's cultivation assessment.
At this hour before dawn, the sound of endless footsteps could already be heard outside. Occasionally, familiar disciples could be heard greeting each other, carrying a long-absent lively atmosphere.
Shen Xiuhan remained deaf to the commotion.
As his cultivation reached its final cycle, he suddenly opened his eyes, retrieved the small white porcelain bottle from his storage bag, and pulled out the stopper.
A refreshing, rich, and exotic fragrance instantly diffused, filling the entire room.
『Century-Old Earth Stalactite Milk』!
The spiritual aura, like mist and dew, hovered around his nose.
Shen Xiuhan exhaled softly and murmured to himself, “Another seven days have passed... This is the third drop.”
Before his voice could fade, he tilted his head back.
His Adam's apple bobbed as a drop of the milky-white spiritual liquid slid down his throat.
The next instant!
The surging medicinal force exploded like a mountain torrent bursting through a dam!
A familiar stinging and swelling numbness spread through his meridians.
Shen Xiuhan closed his eyes, activated his heart method, and guided the majestic spiritual aura to circulate along his meridians.
But this time, the massive spiritual aura did not turn into medicinal properties to blast through his acupoint barriers as it had before!
Instead, it surged frantically toward his limbs and bones, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, permeating every inch of his muscles, bones, and skin.
“Gurgle, crackle!”
A fine, dense hum echoed from within Shen Xiuhan's body.
He could clearly sense that the tips of his meridians and the gaps between his bones, which were usually hard for his qi force to reach, were quietly undergoing a bone-deep transformation under the nourishment of the 『Century-Old Earth Stalactite Milk』.
The spiritual aura cleansed his skin, making it increasingly resilient; the medicinal force soaked into his bones, faintly echoing like a dragon's roar.
This process lasted for over half an hour!
Only when the last trace of spiritual aura was absorbed into his limbs did Shen Xiuhan slowly open his eyes.
A sensation of thorough clarity and weightlessness spread throughout his body!
He stood up instinctively, and his entire body instantly erupted with a series of loud, popping sounds like firecrackers!
It was the crisp cracking of his joints being penetrated by his qi force!
From his cervical vertebrae to his tailbone, and from his shoulder blades to his knuckles, every joint cracked thoroughly.
The qi force surged through his widened and resilient meridians. With a slight thought, the qi instantly flowed through without any lag, circulating smoothly and without obstruction!
“Is this... the Six-Form Constitution?”
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Shen Xiuhan immediately leaped into the courtyard. With his claws hooked like eagles' talons, he moved with swift steps, performing the 『Heavenly Eagle Wind-Tearing Hand』 from beginning to end.
The wind from his claws sliced through the air!
Sharp whistles echoed one after another in the courtyard, adding a touch of fierceness compared to before.
Having been tempered by this process, his muscles, bones, and skin felt reborn.
With a single claw strike, the surge of his qi force doubled, his transitions between moves became tighter, and the explosion of his force grew even more fierce!
“Phew...”
A moment later, Shen Xiuhan withdrew his stance, stood still, and slowly exhaled a long breath, a look of satisfaction appearing in his eyes.
“In the path of martial arts, constitution is of paramount importance.”
“The more bone forms one has, the smoother the cultivation becomes, and breaking through bottlenecks is as natural as water forming a channel.”
“A Five-Form Constitution... is already enough to secure a solid upper-middle ranking among the Four Sects of Nanxiang;”
“But if it's a Six-Form... then one has truly stepped over the threshold of a favored child of heaven!”
Shen Xiuhan had once noticed the records of the constitutions of the Four Prodigies and Seven Elegances in the 『Chronicles of the Nanxiang Wind and Clouds』.
Among these geniuses of the younger generation in Nanxiang Prefecture, almost everyone's constitution was at least Six-Form, and there was no lack of monsters with a Seven-Form Constitution!
Among them, two even possessed an Eight-Form Constitution!
One was the Chief Disciple of the Qi Lineage of Bixia Villa...
Linghu Su!
The other was the Chief of the Chiming Academy of the Star-Plucking Sect...
Zuo Muxian!
Thinking of Zuo Muxian, a strange expression flashed across Shen Xiuhan's face.
Having been in the sect for a while and constantly exposed to its environment, he inevitably heard some of its secrets.
For instance, a certain Huajin Rank Elder of their Tingquan Academy had some scandalous rumors with a female disciple of the Feixuan Academy.
For instance, the Academy Head of the Kaiyang Academy had some unique hobbies...
And for instance...
Zuo Muxian, the Chief of the Chiming Academy, had a habit of giving nicknames to everyone he knew.
‘So he didn't give me a nickname on purpose; he just has to give one to everyone he meets...’
Shen Xiuhan's expression was peculiar as he couldn't help but think, ‘He went into secluded cultivation to heal his injuries as soon as he returned from Bixia Villa. I wonder how his injuries are now?’
Just as he was thinking, a rapid knocking sound came from outside the courtyard.
“Knock, knock, knock!”
“Junior Brother! Hurry up and come out, it's almost time!”
Liu Chong's booming voice crashed in through the courtyard wall.
Today was the day of the Tingquan Academy's cultivation assessment. All disciples stationed in the sect, those in the prefecture capital, and anyone who had not traveled far away had returned.
Shen Xiuhan adjusted his robes and pushed open the gate.
Outside, seeing him come out, Liu Chong grabbed his sleeve and dragged him out.
“Hurry, hurry, hurry! If we're late, Master Wen will start calling names!”
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