As soon as Zhao Heng and the other two ehe Library Pavilion, Ye Bufan and Xiao er headed straight for the sed floor.

  The two had already heard that the higher levels of the Library Pavilion housed more advaeiques.

  The first floor tained mostly low-level ordinary manuals and various mundane skills from the martial world, which they saw no point in wasting time on.

  However, Zhao Heng chose differently. After quickly browsing through the first two floors, he decided to remain on the first floor for his sele.

  The reason was simple: the sed floor primarily offered attad movement teiques.

  At the moment, Zhao Heng was already practig Stone-Splitting Fist and Boing Steps, her of which he had mastered yet. Adding more martial teiques would only dilute his focus and slow his progress.

  Moreover, for martial artists in the Postnatal Realm, the amount of energy and blood they could muster was limited. Having too many teiques without suffit energy to use them would be pointless.

  After careful sideration, Zhao Heng decided to choose a manual that would provide him with more practical help.

  He browsed the first floor for half an hour before his eyes nded on a manual titled Vision Qi Teique.

  Opening the first page, he saw only two lines of description:

  "Harhe mind to detect Qi, fortify the soul, enhahe six senses, gauge an enemy’s strength, and anticipate their moves!"

  Zhao Heng’s eyes lit up. Although the manual was only of low ordinary grade, its funality greatly appealed to him.

  The ability to dis an enemy’s strength and enhance sensory sensitivity would signifitly improve his ability to predict danger and avoid crises.

  For someone like Zhao Heng, who prioritized survival above all else, this teique was an obvious choice.

  Without hesitation, Zhao Heng decided on the Vision Qi Teique.

  With some time left on the clock, Zhao Heng tinued browsing through other manuals on the first floor. Many of them piqued his i, but unfortunately, he could only choose one.

  The Yuhua Sect had strict rules regarding the ma of their manuals. To borrow even a low-level ordinary manual required spending a substantial amount of profound crystals. Fh-level manuals, tributions to the sect were also required.

  Sigh… if only I could select a few more at onbsp;Zhao Heng thought wistfully before a bold idea suddenly occurred to him.

  "What if I used my theft skill he Library Pavilion…?"

  But he quickly dismissed the thought.

  Ihe Library Pavilion, Zhao Heng could faintly sehat they were being closely monitored from the shadows.

  If a manual were discovered missing, suspi would iably fall on the few people inside. Even if he wao use his skill, it would have to be done elsewhere.

  Half an hour ter, the sele period ended.

  Ye Bufan and Xiao er each selected powerful attack manuals. When they saw that Zhao Heng had chosen only a low-level ordinary manual, they weren’t surprised. They simply assumed Zhao Heng was too weak to handle advaeiques.

  After pleting the borrowing procedures, the three underwent a thh body search before leaving the pavilion. This made Zhao Heng feel grateful he hadn’t acted recklessly and attempted to use his skill earlier.

  Ohey exited the Library Pavilion ahe guards’ line of sight, Zhao Heng bid farewell to Ye Bufan and Xiao er.

  He then made a wide detour around the Library Pavilion aered a secluded forest.

  Hidden among the trees, Zhao Heally activated his skill:

  "Steal!"

  Before the servant assessment, Zhao Heng had accumuted several uses of Random Steal as well as one use of Luck Steal. He po use his skill to snag something valuable from the Library Pavilion.

  After several attempts at random stealing, Zhao Heng found himself surrounded by useless odds and ends, leaving him disappointed.

  "It seems I’ll have to try the Luck Steal," he thought.

  Gazing at the t Library Pavilion in the distance, Zhao Heng couldn’t help but hope for a powerful manual from the upper levels.

  "Activate the skill!"

  With the use of Luck Steal, there was a faint "pop," and a small embroidered pouch appeared in front of Zhao Heng.

  The pouch looked vaguely familiar. Zhao Heng ope to find two silver-bck spheres, each the size of a pigeon egg.

  "Exploding Thunder Orbs!"

  Zhao Heng immediately reized the items but was momentarily stunned.

  "Why didn’t I get a manual? How did I end up with two Exploding Thunder Orbs instead?"

  He instinctively gnced back toward the Library Pavilion and realized the forest he was in was near Danquan Peak, one of the Nine Peaks, situated between the pavilion and his location.

  At the same time, an elderly man with silver-white hair, who exuded an air of immortality, was briskly walking down the mountain path nearby.

  Recalling an i from over a month ago, the old man couldn’t help but grumble to himself.

  "Which sdrel stole the Exploding Thunder Orbs I just developed? If I ever catch them, I’ll make sure they regret it!"

  "Hmph, at least I’m skilled enough to have rushed through making two upgraded versions. This time, I’m carrying them on me. If they get stolen again, I might as well bash my head in!"

  The old man muttered smugly as he reached for his waist.

  The moment, his body froze. Frantically, he rubbed his waist with both hands.

  Looking down, he saw that his waist was now pletely empty.

  The old man’s face turned green in an instant.

  "I… #%&@!"

  Meanwhile, Zhao Heng pocketed the two Exploding Thunder Orbs and muttered, "Well, I didn’t get a manual, but these orbs aren’t bad either. I’ll have to try my luck agaiime."

  Zhao Heng soouro the grass hut on Qingxia Peak and resumed his routine of secluded cultivation.

  Day in and day out, he alternated between cultivating, studying poisons, and expl various crafty survival teiques. He also began practig the Vision Qi Teique.

  Initially, Zhao Heng thought that without the modification from the Dao Seed Dice, learning the Vision Qi Teique would be extremely difficult.

  To his surprise, he seemed to have a natural aptitude for the teique. His progress was remarkably smooth, and withihan half a month, he had already reached the beginner level.

  After mastering the entry-level Vision Qi Teique, Zhao Heng noticeably felt his six senses groer, greatly enhang his perception.

  At the same time, his cultivation tio advaeadily. His eighth-level Body Refi realm had bee fully stabilized.

  With a Body Refining Pill still in his possession, Zhao Heng po prepare carefully before using it to break through to the ninth level.

  A month passed in the blink of an eye.

  On this day, the mist outside the grass hut parted, f a pathway. Yun Qingsnow, in a flowing moon-white dress, appeared gracefully, like an immortal desding to the mortal realm.

  Although her demeanor remained calm and posed as always, Zhao Heng could clearly sehanks to the Vision Qi Teique, that Yun Qingsnow’s aura had grown stronger. In addition to her natural, powerful presehere was now ahereal, transdent quality to her.

  Yun Qingsnow ied the medial field. Seeing that the herbs were thriving and orderly, a faint smile graced her elegant face.

  "Not bad. You’ve done well. Here’s ye for the month," she said, tossing a heavy pouch toward Zhao Heng.

  Opening it, Zhao Heng saw 50 profound crystals inside.

  His wages had increased fivefold pared to before, yet the work was much easier. She truly was a dream employer!

  "Thank you, Senior Sister, for yenerosity! I’ll tio work hard!" Zhao Heng said early, expressing his gratitude.

  Yun Qingsnow nodded lightly. "Alright, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving now."

  Zhao Heated for a moment before asking, "Senior Sister, I’d like to ask about breaking through to the Bone Refi Realm and being an Outer Sect Disciple."

  As Zhao Heng's cultivatiressed more rapidly and his breakthrough to the Bone Refi Realm drew nearer, he had begun pnning for his future.

  Given that Yun Qingsnow was an Outer Sect prodigy, she naturally had access to valuable information.

  Sure enough, upon hearing his question, Yun Qingsnow looked at Zhao Heng with a hint of surprise before answering directly.

  "In the Yuhua Sect, as long as you break through to the Bone Refi Realm before the age of twenty and pass the sect’s assessment, you bee an Outer Sect Disciple. However, breaking through to the Bone Refi Realm is no easy feat."

  Hearing this, Zhao Heng focused his attention, knowing he was about to hear something crucial.

  Yun Qingsnow tinued, "The so-called ‘Bone Refi’ involves tempering the bones using profound energy. Some people are born with extraordinary boructures, naturally attuo profound energy, and blessed with exceptional physiques nurtured by heaven ah."

  "These individuals cultivate at an incredible speed, and breaking through to the Bone Refi Realm is as natural as water flowing downhill, with no bottlenecks to hihem. I am one of those people."

  Zhao Heng’s lips twitched. Such a boastful statement ing from Yun Qingsnow’s mouth left him speechless, yet he couldn’t argue against her fidence.

  Yun Qingsnow tinued, "People like me are rare. Most martial artists have average talent. For them, refining their bones requires years of accumution, using profound energy and vital esseo tinuously nourish their bones."

  "Only when the nourishment reaches the bone marrow and gees a thread of 'Borength,' also known as 'Irength,' they break through to the Bone Refi Realm."

  Zhao Heng knew he beloo the tter category. Uo hold back, he asked, "For an average person, how long does it take to go from the ninth level of Body Refio the Bone Refi Realm?"

  "At the shortest, two to three years. At the lo, over a decade. But if someone waits too long, their vital essence dees, their bones deteriorate, and they may never break through in their lifetime."

  Zhao Heng was taken aback. His current body was already seventeen years old. Based on this timeli was uaiher he could reach the Bone Refi Realm before turning twenty.

  Fortunately, Yun Qingsnow provided an important piece of information.

  "You don’t o worry too much. To increase the ces of breaking through to the Bone Refi Realm, the experts of the True Martial World have developed various spiritual pills and elixirs."

  "Among them, the Bone Refining Pill is the most effective. It shorteime required for a breakthrough by several times."

  "Bone Refining Pill!" Zhao Heng’s eyes lit up.

  "Senior Sister Yun, where I buy this Bone Refining Pill?"

  Yun Qingsnow g Zhao Heng and replied casually, "Though the Bone Refining Pill is rare, it’s sold by the Seven Orthodox Sects of the righteous path. However, it’s a bit expensive."

  "A bit expensive? How expensive?"

  "Acc to the price set by the Righteous Alliance, one Bone Refining Pill costs 500 profound crystals. However, due to high demand, it’s often sold for upwards of 1,000 profound crystals."

  "1,000 profound crystals!" Zhao Heng’s breath hitched.

  Even with the occasional windfall granted by his Dao Seed Dice, he had never e close to seeing 1,000 profound crystals in his life.

  That number was staggering—far beyond what Zhao Heng could afford at the moment.

  Seeing the disappoi in Zhao Heng’s eyes, Yun Qingsnow hesitated for a moment before saying, "If you want the Bone Refining Pill at the lowest cost, there is another way."

  Hearing this, Zhao Heng immediately sensed an opportunity and quickly asked, "Senior Sister Yun, you’re a promi Outer Sect disciple with a wide work. Do you have a way to get the Bone Refining Pill at a lower price?"

  Yun Qingsnow gave him a meaningful look and said, "Why do you think I pnted so many spiritual herbs and hired someoo tend to them?"

  Zhao Heng instinctively replied, "Pnting herbs is, of course, for refining pills. Wait, Senior Sister, are you saying…?"

  Yun Qingsnow nodded. "Didn’t I tell you? I also practice alchemy. I’m currently a novice alchemist, and I’m learning how to refihe Bone Refining Pill. I’ve made some progress."

  "If you gather the necessary materials, I refine a batch of pills for you for free. sider it practie, and you won’t have to pay the high fees to hire an alchemist."

  Hearing this, Zhao Heng’s eyes sparkled with admiration for Yun Qingsnow.

  She wasn’t just an Outer Sect prodigy—she could also refine Bone Refining Pills? Truly, she was extraordinary beyond belief!

  "Senior Sister, you’re amazing!" Zhao Heng excimed, his face full of awe.

  Yun Qingsnow was slightly flustered by Zhao Heng’s exaggerated rea. She casually said, "I’ll write you a list of materials. Prepare them as soon as you and e find me."

  She handed Zhao Heng a handwritten list of materials before departing.

  After leaving the medial field, Yun Qingsnow muttered to herself, "You helped me once, so I’ll help you twice. That way, we’re even—with i."

  "Though refining the Bone Refining Pill isn’t easy, my master said my success rate is already quite det. I’ve mastered the process enough to make it work… probably…"

  Her st words, however, were spoken with a noticeable ck of fidence.

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

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