A Year's Time, Minor Achievement in Body Forging Art

Days passed, and Zhong Bai consumed pill after pill.

He had to admit, the grand ambitions he held before becoming a disciple now felt like utter nonsense.

A whole year had passed, and Zhong Bai was still a hair's breadth away from achieving minor accomplishment in the Supreme Clarity Body Forging Art.

How could one evaluate this talent?

Well, Lin Fengjiao from Talisman Hall took ten months to reach minor accomplishment.

Zhong Bai had to concede that his talent wasn't one in ten thousand.

Of course, it was by no means weak, but at this cultivation speed, it would take at least ten years before he could descend the mountain and avenge his parents.

Initially, Zhong Bai was a bit depressed about this, but over time, he came to terms with it.

After a year of exploration, Zhong Bai had also gathered information about the relationships between the various halls throughout Maoshan.

Maoshan had a total of five halls and three pavilions.

The Law Enforcement Hall's elder, True Immortal Qianyuan, was his master, and he was at the peak of Foundation Establishment.

The Talisman Hall, which Lin Fengjiao's future master would oversee, also seemed to have a master at the peak of Foundation Establishment.

The Corpse Herding Hall's master was Four-Eyes's master, and his strength depended on the strength of the zombies he controlled.

Additionally, there were the Spirit Communication Hall and the two Pill Halls.

As for the three pavilions, they were the Scripture Repository, the Treasure Repository, and the Demon Locking Pavilions.

Each hall and pavilion had three elders overseeing it, and Zhong Bai's master, True Immortal Qianyuan, was the chief elder of the Law Enforcement Hall.

Night fell.

On the roof of the small courtyard.

Looking at the high-hanging, bright moon, Zhong Bai's mind began to wander.

"A Golden Core swallowed whole, from then on my fate is mine, not heaven's. Heh, the protagonists in novels are all chosen ones. How come it's just me, Zhong Bai, who's so ordinary and unremarkable?"

Shaking his head, Zhong Bai sighed softly. While feeling a bit helpless, a competitive spirit stirred deep within him.

"The Supreme Clarity Body Forging Art is about to reach minor accomplishment. Tonight marks a new chapter in my cultivation journey!"

Gritting his teeth, Zhong Bai took out a jade bottle and swallowed several pills in quick succession.

Immediately after, he began cultivating the Supreme Clarity Body Forging Art on the rooftop.

The first diagram presented no obstacles...

The movements for the second diagram were also swift.

By the ninth diagram, sweat began to seep from his forehead.

By the twentieth diagram, he felt intense soreness in his arms and legs.

By the thirty-second diagram, bloodshot veins already covered Zhong Bai's eyes.

Boom!

It wasn't until the thirty-sixth diagram was completed, in one fluid motion, that the grand cycle concluded from beginning to end.

A wave of heat continuously hammered his tendons, bones, and flesh from within Zhong Bai's limbs and torso.

The sensation of invigorating soreness was beyond words; at least, at this moment, Zhong Bai was completely immersed in it, unable to extricate himself.

As the flesh, bones, and tendons within his body began to transform, Zhong Bai's clothes became drenched. Along with this, a black grime seeped from inside his body to the surface, and soon, Zhong Bai smelled a foul odor.

However, he had no time to concern himself with such matters. Upon achieving minor accomplishment in the Supreme Clarity Body Forging Art, one could inherently perform Marrow Cleansing and Bone Forging, expelling most impurities from the body.

This scene was simply too normal...

Inside the Law Enforcement Hall.

True Immortal Qianyuan and two other Law Enforcement Hall elders were in the midst of tempering their physical bodies and souls using the Kui Niu Drum.

But the next second, True Immortal Qianyuan opened his long-closed eyes.

His gaze was somewhat fiery as he looked in the direction of Zhong Bai's small courtyard, a smile gradually appearing on his face.

"Senior Brother Qianyuan, your newly accepted disciple has achieved minor accomplishment in the Supreme Clarity Body Forging Art in just one year. Such talent is indeed a fine uncut jade. From now on, our Law Enforcement Hall can be said to have a successor!"

As the second elder of the Law Enforcement Hall, True Man Liu Gang also had a fervent look in his eyes.

After all, Zhong Bai was, in the end, a disciple of their Law Enforcement Hall. If Zhong Bai could successfully reach Foundation Establishment in the future and take their place as an elder of the Law Enforcement Hall, they would also gain face.

Heh, after all...

Not every hall or pavilion could cultivate qualified successors.

The minimum standard for becoming an elder in Maoshan was the Foundation Establishment realm. This was a standard that had been lowered repeatedly over the past millennium out of sheer necessity.

A thousand years ago, when spiritual energy was abundant, only Nascent Soul Dao Monarchs could serve as elders.

Five hundred years ago, before Liu Bowen severed all the world's dragon veins, only Golden Core True Lords could serve as elders in Maoshan.

But now... although the standard has dropped to the Foundation Establishment realm, it's still a bit awkward.

During the last elder rotation, the Corpse Herding Hall had to transfer a Foundation Establishment disciple from the Talisman Hall because they didn't have three qualified Foundation Establishment disciples of their own.

Even though they were all from the same sect, it was still a loss of face...

The current Law Enforcement Hall now has two disciples with good talent, who are the personal disciples of Second Elder Liu Gang and Third Elder Cui Cheng, respectively.

Liu Gang and Cui Cheng are confident that they can cultivate these two disciples to Foundation Establishment within twenty years.

As for Zhong Bai...

He is True Immortal Qianyuan's first disciple, as the Chief Elder.

Yes, twenty years from now is the time for the next rotation. To go from nothing to Foundation Establishment in twenty years, without some talent and fortuitous encounters, would be almost impossible.

Fortunately, it seems Zhong Bai's talent is decent. He achieved minor success in the Body Forging Art in one year, which is certainly better than their two personal disciples were at that time.

Hearing his junior brother Liu Gang's praise, it would be a lie to say True Immortal Qianyuan wasn't pleased.

They say flattery gets you everywhere. In the past, True Immortal Qianyuan was often teased by his two junior brothers about taking on disciples.

But now... well, with Zhong Bai, his ears have had a lot more peace.

"Junior brother, no more flattery. Cultivation is not easy. Zhong Bai has only just gained the qualifications to step onto the path of cultivation.

His future is still long, and growing to Foundation Establishment in twenty years will still be challenging."

With that, True Immortal Qianyuan stood up.

Zhong Bai was almost finished with the Marrow Cleansing and Bone Forging process. If no one took care of him next, Zhong Bai would fall into extreme weakness.

So... it was time for his master to act.

On the roof of the small courtyard.

Zhong Bai was completely drained, letting the grime cover his clothes, but the thumping of his heart told him he had succeeded!

A gentle breeze swept by, and True Immortal Qianyuan arrived before Zhong Bai. With just a glance, he had a general understanding of Zhong Bai's condition.

This kid is really bold, forcefully breaking through to minor success in body forging. Luckily, his meridians aren't damaged, otherwise, it would have been quite troublesome...

Shaking his head, True Immortal Qianyuan didn't linger. With a wave of his hand, a stream of light instantly shot into Zhong Bai's body.

The next second, Zhong Bai, who had been completely exhausted, felt full of vitality and energy.

He stood up and bowed.

"Disciple Zhong Bai, greets Master!"

"Dispense with the formalities, Zhong Bai. Since you've achieved minor success in the Body Forging Art, starting tomorrow, you can go to the Scripture Repository Pavilion to choose your main cultivation technique."

At this, True Immortal Qianyuan's gaze deepened.

"This choice of cultivation technique will largely determine your path before Foundation Establishment.

Do not take it lightly, and do not become complacent."

Zhong Bai was a little dazed. How was he supposed to know what he was suitable for cultivating?

But it didn't matter if he didn't understand; his master was right in front of him, so all he had to do was ask.

"Master, this disciple is fearful and completely clueless about choosing a main cultivation method. Please guide me, Master!"

Hearing this, True Immortal Qianyuan's previously profound gaze instantly relaxed.

Hmm, good. Zhong Bai hasn't been carried away by achieving minor success in the Body Forging Art. His intelligence is still online.