"Well done, decisive in killing!"
Just as Zhong Bai was still thinking about how he would acquire exorcism points in the future, True Immortal Qianyuan slowly walked out from the shadows.
Hearing this, Zhong Bai felt his earlobes flush slightly; he was far from deserving such praise from his own master.
The reason Zhong Bai had been able to remain completely fearless was that he knew his master could not possibly watch him fall into danger. Having a safety net gave him courage.
However...
Zhong Bai would never voice such thoughts, and True Immortal Qianyuan did not suspect them either.
The matter of the Qian Family Village thus came to an end. Early the next morning, True Immortal Qianyuan and Zhong Bai embarked on the journey back to Mount Mao.
Another day of travel...
Returning to Mount Mao, Zhong Bai's tense nerves began to relax, and he finally had the opportunity to study his exorcism point panel.
The small courtyard.
On the cattail mat, Zhong Bai looked thoughtfully at the exorcism point panel before him. Without hesitation, he reached out and tapped the plus sign next to the Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art, inputting the number 100.
In an instant, Zhong Bai felt his entire body turn illusory, as if he had arrived in another world!
Consumed 100 exorcism points, exchanged for 100 days of experience in the Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art!
Soon, in just a fleeting moment, the true essence within Zhong Bai's body began to increase rapidly, and his comprehension of the Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art soared just as fast.
Even the thunder seal in his dantian emitted a brilliant glow, and its solidification speed was a hundred times faster than usual.
However, just as Zhong Bai felt he was about to touch the barrier of the Qi Condensation Third Layer, this state of rapid advancement suddenly vanished.
Stepping out of the accelerated cultivation state, Zhong Bai's eyes held peerless shock!
These exorcism points are truly heaven-defying!
In the end, a thousand words converged into such a simple and unadorned sentence.
Zhong Bai no longer dared to imagine whether acquiring a massive amount of exorcism points would allow him to push his Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art to the Foundation Establishment realm in a short period of time.
Well, that possibility was entirely real!
As a result, Zhong Bai no longer needed to worry about whether he could achieve Foundation Establishment within twenty years.
Are you kidding me? He was a man with a cheat system now; twenty years was too long, he had to seize the day!
The shock in his heart had yet to fade when, like the parched earth welcoming sweet rain, Zhong Bai unhesitatingly spent the remaining exorcism points.
Consumed 210 days exchanged for via exorcism points, consumed cultivation method: Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art
Immediately following that, the sensation of accelerated cultivation washed over him once more. In mere minutes, the true essence in Zhong Bai's body infinitely approached the Qi Condensation Third Layer. In fact, right then, as long as Zhong Bai wished, he could attempt a breakthrough!
However, in the end, Zhong Bai did not rush. No kidding—he had returned to Mount Mao, and calling it safe was correct.
Yet... heaven knew what the result would be if Zhong Bai was at the Qi Condensation Second Layer in the morning and the Qi Condensation Third Layer by night. Heh, never test human nature!
As for the exorcism point cheat system, Zhong Bai would keep this secret locked away forever all by himself.
If he wanted to elevate his cultivation without any reservations, he would have to wait until he finished his apprenticeship and went down the mountain to garrison a post.
By that time, the sky would be the limit for a bird to fly. But for now, what Zhong Bai needed were powerful divine ability arts!
Well, previously he felt he lacked the time and energy, but now Zhong Bai wanted them all...
Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, three months slipped through Zhong Bai's fingers.
At this moment, in the Law Enforcement Hall, Zhong Bai's gaze held a trace of delight. After three months of tempering, he finally felt the timing was ripe today to break through to the Qi Condensation Third Layer.
Right now, True Immortal Qianyuan and Second Elder Liu Gang were guarding him.
"Disciple, relax. The early-stage cultivation speed of the Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art is very fast. I am proud of you for being able to break through to the Qi Condensation Third Layer right now!
However, during the breakthrough process, you must not be careless. Once you fail, your meridians will be damaged, and the recovery time required will be countless."
Faced with his master's meticulous guidance, Zhong Bai felt somewhat moved. He actually wanted to say that he didn't need such a grand setup for protection.
As early as a month ago, Zhong Bai could no longer suppress his cultivation. But back then, the time was too short; the fact that Zhong Bai managed to forcibly suppress it for another month was truly his limit. Not to mention utilizing these Kui Niu Drums for assistance—whether he stood or lay down, Zhong Bai felt he could break through as easily as drinking water.
Fortunately, Zhong Bai understood that cooperation was necessary to better conceal his cheat system; otherwise, there truly would be no explanation for why his cultivation progressed so quickly and effortlessly.
"Master, this disciple understands. This disciple will certainly not let down Master's expectations!"
As his words fell, Zhong Bai no longer suppressed the surging true essence within his body. Like a breached dike, the barrier of the Qi Condensation Third Layer shattered instantly.
Immediately after, a bolt of thunder from the Kui Niu Drum sank into Zhong Bai's dantian. The thunder seal absorbed the lightning, solidifying by several notches. When everything finally settled, True Immortal Qianyuan felt somewhat as if it were unreal.
Whose disciple broke through to the Qi Condensation Third Layer with such speed?
Shouldn't a normal person first sit in meditation to calm their mind, nurture their essence, qi, and spirit to the absolute peak, and only then attempt to smash against the barrier time and again?
Yet his own disciple... seemed somewhat abnormal.
However, this doubt was quickly overwhelmed by the joy brought by Zhong Bai's successful breakthrough.
"This disciple has not failed his mission; the Qi Condensation Third Layer has been reached!"
"Hahahaha, did you see that, Liu Gang? This kid Zhong Bai actually didn't even take four years to reach the height of the Qi Condensation Third Layer!
Within twenty years, barring any accidents, he will surely achieve Foundation Establishment!"
At this moment, True Immortal Qianyuan smiled with incomparable radiance. Although Zhong Bai's face wore an equally full smile, inwardly he couldn't help but make a witty remark.
Tsk tsk, Master, twenty years? Let alone achieving the Foundation Establishment realm, surpassing Master will be an absolute breeze.
I just hope that twenty years from now, Master, you won't be too surprised...
After a bout of internal grumbling, Zhong Bai seemed to already picture the scene twenty years later—when he achieved the Golden Core True Monarch or even the Nascent Soul Dao Lord realms—with his own master asking him whether his Foundation Establishment had succeeded.
Shaking his head, Zhong Bai tried his best not to let himself get too carried away. This world was real; having a cheat system didn't mean Zhong Bai could rest easy and do whatever he pleased.
A cheat system that hadn't grown was worth less than a fart, especially since he was still just a young Daoist priest at the Qi Condensation Third Layer.
The road ahead was long and arduous, and his journey had only just begun.
"Zhong Bai, now you can also be considered to have officially stepped into the threshold of the Qi Condensation Third Layer, possessing the qualifications to use thunder techniques. However, Master still needs to remind you of one thing.
Thunder techniques consume an exceptionally terrifying amount of true essence within the body. Unless it is a critical moment, it is best to preserve it as much as possible.
Once you reach the Foundation Establishment realm, that will be the strong period for thunder technique cultivators!"
When saying this, True Immortal Qianyuan was genuinely afraid that Zhong Bai would think he could use thunder techniques and thus float down the mountain to act recklessly.
That's right, within three months, Zhong Bai had left the mountain three times, all to execute missions in the villages and towns near Mount Mao.
Zhong Bai had completed all three consecutive missions quite well, but that did not mean True Immortal Qianyuan could lower his guard.
Just as most of the withered bones in the river belonged to those who knew how to swim.
"Indeed, Nephew Zhong Bai, thunder techniques possess astonishing destructive power, but the Qi Condensation Third Layer only barely reaches the point where you can wield them. You must never push yourself too hard."
Liu Gang was equally earnest. Normally, Liu Gang would never offer any pointers to Zhong Bai; after all, Zhong Bai was not his disciple, and he could not overstep his bounds to lecture him.
Yet on this matter, Zhong Bai was not only True Immortal Qianyuan's disciple, but also a future Foundation Establishment seed of Mount Mao's Law Enforcement Hall.
Saying these things was simply Liu Gang's duty.
"This disciple understands. Master, Uncle Liu, this disciple is not a reckless and ignorant fool. Preserving oneself is always the top priority in all things; only by staying alive can there be a future. This disciple understands this principle."
"Mm, Master knows your personality is steady. Your Uncle Liu and I are merely giving you a reminder—just keep it in mind.
Right, disciple, normally the Qi Condensation Third Layer allows you to head to the Scripture Repository Pavilion to select a divine ability art.
Will you be going to pick one?"
When saying this, True Immortal Qianyuan carried a sliver of uncertainty.
Before you continue