Breaking through to the fifth level of Body Tempering, Mu Zi felt that her strength and physical toughness were incomparable to the fourth level.
But the sixth level is a major milestone. At this level, a seed of Yuan Li is born in the body, allowing one to absorb the energy of heaven and earth. Although it's a weak flow, it's better than nothing.
In other words, only the sixth level is a true step on the path of cultivation.
With Yuan Li in the body, every movement gains power far surpassing the fifth level. In a fight, a sixth-level cultivator can crush a fifth-level one.
But this is the usual case. Mu Zi wielded the Penetrating Fist, comparable to a second-rank technique, and the Wave-walking Step, equal to a third-rank art. She was confident she could defeat even a sixth-level opponent.
However, this wasn't enough.
Mu Zi understood that with her current strength, she was no match for a ninth-level master.
A month had passed, and there were two months left until the family test. She couldn't relax.
"Third-rank medicines are truly extraordinary. They not only helped me break through to the fifth level but also left remnants of power in my body," she thought.
"This energy will last for several days. I can't waste it—it's time to intensify my training."
Without stopping for a moment, Mu Zi pushed the door open and returned to her daily grueling sessions.
Cultivation knows no time—half a month flew by unnoticed.
"The Earth Fruits are gone," Mu Zi murmured.
In this half-month, she had consumed one Earth Fruit every three days. Such luxury was afforded by few, even in the vicinity of Qingyang.
But after breaking through to the fifth level of Body Tempering, even third-rank medicines no longer had the same effect, and her cultivation speed inevitably slowed down.
"Earth Fruits are still a bit weak," she sighed.
In the original, Lin Dong at the fifth level absorbed seven or eight drops of the Ancestral Stone essence. The undiluted essence's power far surpassed ordinary third-rank medicines, not to mention Earth Fruits, which were equivalent to two diluted drops.
Although the Rebirth Seal purified their power, it took a portion of the energy for itself.
Fortunately, Mu Zi's talent for Yuan Li seemed to eclipse even Lin Dong's abilities. Having used up five fruits, she was already sensing the threshold of a breakthrough.
"Just one more third-rank medicine, and that's it," she thought.
With it, she would definitely reach the sixth level of Body Tempering.
"But where can I get a medicine?"
Ask Mu Yun? She shook her head. Although he was at the top of the Mu Manor, providing for her and her sister's cultivation was already not easy.
The Mu Manor was not a place where those in power could take whatever they wanted.
Without rules, there is no order. Although the Mu Manor was small, it was held together by strict laws. Even Mu Yun, as an elder, could not grant privileges left and right—it would undermine the clan's spirit.
This was why Mu Zi aimed to pass the test and get the highest score.
Many of the clan's elders had worked for decades, accumulating merit points to exchange them for desired martial arts.
Mu Zi had no right to simply gain access to the manor's techniques.
The Mu Manor had stood strong in Tian-du County thanks to its strict rules. The unity of the clan allowed it to withstand external threats and stand firm.
Resources in the Mu Manor were scarce, and spiritual medicines were a rarity. Only key clan members could exchange merit points for them. The rest received scraps during events like the annual family test.
She couldn't get resources from the clan, so Mu Zi decided to look for them herself.
Wandering through the dense forest behind the hills, she carefully scanned her surroundings.
At times, upon noticing a "suspicious" bush, she would patiently uproot it.
Yes, gathering herbs in the forest—that was her plan.
It was a necessary step. Most ways of obtaining resources carried risks, and her cultivation level was still low. Gathering herbs depended on luck but provided a chance.
A smile appeared on the girl's dusty face:
"I can't be that unlucky, can I?"
But, as if she had jinxed herself, she searched for more than an hour—and found nothing.
Gathering herbs was safer, but the barrier to entry was low. It seemed many people had searched this forest before her, and it had become barren.
"Maybe I should go deeper," Mu Zi thought.
Spiritual medicines might be in the depths of the forest, but fierce beasts also lurked there.
After a moment of hesitation, she decided to go further.
Mu Zi knew that there was no easy gain in this world. Risk brought reward. For the sake of speeding up her cultivation, she was willing to take the risk.
"What's there to be afraid of? Let's go!"
Her confidence wasn't blind.
With the Wave-walking Step, comparable to a third-rank technique, ordinary beasts wouldn't catch her. Only an encounter with a demonic beast could be a problem, but that was unlikely.
Leaving the confines of the Mu Manor, Mu Zi ventured deeper into the forest.
After half an hour of searching, she still hadn't found anything.
Mu Zi was not in a hurry—spiritual medicines are not that easy to find.
Suddenly, the Rebirth Seal on her forehead trembled. The fluctuation was barely noticeable—if she hadn't been so attentive, she might have missed it.
Listening to the pulsation of the Seal, Mu Zi realized it was like a guide.
Intrigued, she moved in the direction indicated.
More than ten minutes passed, but she found nothing. Mu Zi was beginning to doubt herself—had she imagined it?
Suddenly, her eyes lit up. Ahead, something flashed under a cluster of grass.
Walking closer, she confirmed it: it was a red ginseng—a first-rank medicine.
Suddenly, the bushes nearby rustled, and a large snake slithered out. It hissed menacingly, as if warning her not to approach.
Glancing sideways at the snake—an ordinary beast, nothing more—Mu Zi chuckled.
"Finally, some luck!"
With a swift move, she darted toward the ginseng, pulled it out, and left, leaving only a small hole where it had been.
The snake didn't have time to react.
A little farther away, Mu Zi examined the medicine, frowning in thought.
"Can the Rebirth Seal find treasures?"
She had followed its guidance—and found ginseng. This was unlikely to be a coincidence.
"It seems the Seal is more complex than it appears. Maybe it has other abilities that I haven't unlocked yet."
"I'll have to study this better."
In the next half hour, the Rebirth Seal trembled two more times. Following its guidance, Mu Zi found one first-rank and one second-rank medicine.
With these discoveries, she was convinced: the Seal was indeed capable of finding treasures.
Mu Zi was ecstatic. With this ability, she would obtain many medicines, which would speed up her cultivation.
But, calming down, she realized: this power must be hidden.
If the world's powerful cultivators found out, she could be captured and made into a personal treasure hunter.
A scene flashed in her mind: a skinny old man pointing his finger:
"It's decided, A-Zi! Go find all the treasures in the area for me!"
And behind him—she herself, with an empty gaze, a collar around her neck.
"Yes, master."
Shuddering, Mu Zi hastily threw the ridiculous fantasy out of her head.
"No one should know about this. Definitely!" she decided, clenching her fist.
Coming back to her senses, she looked at the forest ahead.
"Let's continue searching for herbs!"