The next day, in the back hills of the Mu Manor.
"My skin has finally come back to life!" Mu Zi exclaimed.
Thanks to the medicines she had obtained yesterday, she had broken through to the sixth level of Body Tempering. Power had seeped into her bone marrow, giving birth to Yuan Li.
Her skin, which had grown rough from training, seemed to have gained a new life. Nourished by Yuan Li, it became even whiter and more delicate, as if you could squeeze water from it.
With Yuan Li in her body, a faint glow appeared on her skin. Mu Zi resolutely threw out a punch.
Boom!
A stone the size of a grindstone was pulverized into dust.
"This is Yuan Li? Incredible!" she marveled.
She had rushed here to test the power of Yuan Li, and the result astonished her.
A punch with Yuan Li surpassed the power of her best Penetrating Fist. And if she were to use Yuan Li to enhance a technique, the effect would be even more impressive.
At the fifth level of Body Tempering, she had defeated the Red Lion by relying on the agility of her Wave-walking Step, avoiding direct confrontations to not lose.
Now, if she were to meet that lion again, she would be able to overpower it in an open fight.
Taking a step, she arrived at the stream. Lightly touching the water with the tip of her foot, she stood on the surface.
Before, using the Wave-walking Step, she could walk on water, but it would still cover her feet, soaking her shoes.
Now, with Yuan Li, she stepped as if on solid ground. Only at this moment did the Wave-walking Step truly become what it was meant to be.
Looking at her reflection in the water, Mu Zi fell into thought.
In the azure surface, a beautiful girl stood, like a water fairy dancing on the waves.
It was a shame no one had witnessed this beautiful sight.
Mu Zi reflected on yesterday's battle. The victory had come easily, but there were still flaws.
The fight had dragged on, and that was unacceptable to her. Against a tough beast like the Red Lion, she lacked a decisive strike.
The Penetrating Fist was only a first-rank technique, with a low ceiling. No matter how much she improved it, its foundation remained weak.
Her modified Penetrating Fist, where nine echoes merged into one, might have surpassed the original's ten-strike version, but it still fell short of a third-rank technique.
"It's time to learn a new technique," she decided.
Ripples spread across the water, and the figure standing on it disappeared, leaving only a faint whisper.
Mu Zi walked along the path of the manor. An ancient tower appeared ahead.
The Hall of Martial Arts.
A guard stood at the entrance—not a sleepy old man, but a robust, middle-aged man full of vigor.
Seeing Mu Zi, he called out loudly:
"Well, well! Who's this beauty? Looking great!"
Mu Zi sighed helplessly:
"Uncle Mu Tian, stop joking; you already have your hands full."
She knew that this guard was her Uncle Mu Yun's friend and a master at the late stage of Earth Yuan. Although he seemed frivolous, he was reliable in reality.
"Am I wrong?" Mu Tian winked. "It's a shame I don't have a son; otherwise, I would have already proposed to your Uncle Mu Yun for you!"
Mu Zi mentally took back her words.
Mu Tian, grinning, winked again, causing her lips to twitch slightly.
This gesture on a refined face like Mu Yun's would have looked charming. But on Mu Tian's rough face, with his fleshy cheeks, it looked ridiculous.
Mu Zi stamped her foot in annoyance:
"If you say such nonsense again, I'll ask Uncle Mu Yun to teach you a lesson!"
"Or is it not clear why you don't have children?" she thought.
Mu Tian grinned:
"Look at that, getting worked up again!"
Noticing the threatening aura from the girl, he gave a dry laugh and changed the subject:
"Mu Zi, are you here for the Hall of Martial Arts? Do you want to choose a technique?"
Mu Zi nodded.
Mu Tian became serious:
"This is your first time here, so you can choose one technique for free. Here's a catalog with brief descriptions." He handed her a small book.
According to clan rules, every full member of the Mu Manor had the right to choose one technique for free once in their lifetime. The Penetrating Fist and the Dancing Body Step were given to her by Mu Lingsha, so Mu Zi had not yet used this privilege.
Opening the catalog, she quickly scanned the names of the techniques.
First-rank techniques: Penetrating Fist, Falling Stone Fist, Stone-Cracking Leg, Mountain-Shattering Palm. Second-rank techniques: Wind-Tearing Claws, Eight Desolations Palm, Dancing Body Step, Iron Mountain Backing.
"Where are the third-rank techniques?" Mu Zi wondered.
Mu Tian explained:
"Third-rank techniques are rare in the clan. They are not included in the free selection."
Mu Zi's face fell slightly, disappointed.
"Okay, I'll choose from these," she sighed.
Carefully studying the descriptions of the techniques, Mu Zi looked for her goal. She needed a powerful offensive technique that could be improved to compensate for her weaknesses.
After a long search, she made her decision.
"This one," she said.
Mu Tian looked at her slender, white finger and was surprised:
"Guiding Spirit Sword?"
"This technique requires Yuan Li. It's not suitable for you; choose another."
This technique tempered the fingers, turning them into sword blades, allowing one to attack with them in combat.
But fingers are a vulnerable part of the body. Without the support of Yuan Li, using them as a weapon was like hitting a stone with an egg.
Mu Tian knew that Mu Zi had been cultivating for less than half a year and could not possess Yuan Li. The Guiding Spirit Sword was useless to her.
Mu Zi shook her head:
"No, I want this one."
Mu Tian frowned, about to object, but she continued:
"My uncle and sister have already taught me techniques, so I have enough. This one looks interesting; I want to try it for fun. Besides, I'll soon have Yuan Li, and then it will be useful."
Mu Tian thought she had a point. The girl wasn't alone; she didn't need to be so calculating. If she liked the technique, let her have it.
Besides, Mu Yun was at the top of the clan, and with Mu Lingsha's talent, she would also hold a high position. With their patronage, Mu Zi didn't need to get into fights—being a young lady was also not bad.
"Alright, wait," he said.
Realizing this, he stopped objecting. Turning, Mu Tian entered the tower and soon returned with a yellowed book.
Handing it to Mu Zi, he reminded her:
"Take good care of it and don't forget to return it."
Taking the Guiding Spirit Sword, Mu Zi waved her hand:
"I'm leaving, Uncle Mu Tian!"
Watching the girl skip away happily, Mu Tian smiled and shook his head:
"What a girl!"
In her room, Mu Zi put the book down. With her talent, memorizing everything at first glance was easy.
Carefully studying the instructions in the book, she mentally went over the details of the Guiding Spirit Sword. Thanks to her insight, she could almost see a small figure in her head practicing the technique.
A moment later, Mu Zi opened her eyes. A glow played on her fingertips, much brighter than the usual Yuan Li enhancement at the sixth level of Body Tempering.
"This technique seems simpler than the Penetrating Fist," she murmured.
After getting the book, she had mastered the Guiding Spirit Sword in a matter of moments—much faster than the Penetrating Fist once was.
Perhaps it was due to the technique's nature: it didn't have stages of minor and great mastery. Once you mastered it, you immediately unleashed its full power.
"Simple and raw power," Mu Zi marveled.
Of course, if others heard her thoughts, they would probably be sick with envy.
Simple? They spent months honing their ability to channel Yuan Li for this technique!
Mu Zi sighed:
"I hope the improved Guiding Spirit Sword doesn't disappoint me."
Looking around and making sure no one was nearby, she focused.
"Rebirth Seal, go!"