Sixth Martial Bone, Heavenly Demon Cult Bishop!

Seeing her mother Wang Yuerong's confusion and concern, Su Ye shrugged helplessly.

"Mom, would I lie to you?"

"This really was a reward from the martial arts hall for choosing me as a promotional student because I have a bit of comprehension when it comes to martial skills."

He took out his phone and showed Wang Yuerong the bank transfer and its note.

Only then did Wang Yuerong set her mind at ease. Overjoyed, she immediately called Su Ye's father, Su Su, to tell him the news.

"Tonight, our family is going out for a feast!"

Before long, Su Su returned home. The pride at the corners of his mouth could not be suppressed, though he put on a stern expression as he instructed:

"You have talent in martial arts. Your mother and I are both very happy."

"But never let your ambitions soar and your heart grow full."

"When I was in the military, I saw the truly top-tier Heavenly Chosen. Some of them could forge nearly twenty Martial Bones in a single month."

"There were also Prodigies who forged the limit of eighty-nine Martial Bones in the Bone Tempering Realm."

Su Ye smiled lightly. "I understand, Dad."

Seeing Su Ye's manner, Su Su felt somewhat relieved.

His son had been precocious and intelligent since childhood.

Many children his age underwent a complete change in temperament after discovering they possessed decent martial talent, becoming spoiled and arrogant. Now, it seemed his own child remained steady and composed.

A trace of contemplation flashed through Su Ye's eyes.

He knew that certain top-tier bone forging methods could forge seventy or eighty Martial Bones.

For instance, the "Heavenly Flame Bone Forging Method," which only the direct line of the Su Family could cultivate, could forge Eighty-one Martial Bones.

"Su Ling is probably cultivating both the Tiger Form Bone Forging Method and the Heavenly Flame Bone Forging Method, isn't he?"

"Even if a small portion overlaps, the different Martial Bones they can forge should still total ninety."

"However, the farther one progresses in forging Martial Bones, the more exponentially difficult each additional bone becomes. Talent, resources, and opportunities are all indispensable."

Yet the more one was a Heavenly Chosen, someone with lofty aspirations, the more they would lay a solid foundation in the Bone Tempering Realm, striving for perfection before breaking through into the Blood Nourishing Realm.

Naturally, Su Ye had his own plans as well.

"I'm not like the descendants of those great families, with top-tier bone forging methods and abundant resources."

"But I have my own advantage: the Manifestation Talisman! At worst, I'll cultivate several more bone forging methods and draw upon the strengths of a hundred schools!"

For others, this was naturally unrealistic.

Even if cultivating dozens of bone forging methods could yield ninety Martial Bones, how many people had the time and energy for that?

Even gifted descendants of great families usually learned only a few methods, making a trade-off between their energy and their limits.

"In theory, others might stop at a certain limit because of talent and resources."

"But perhaps my limit... is Ninety-nine?!"

A sharp gleam flashed in Su Ye's eyes. He suppressed the surging excitement and gradually calmed down.

The road had to be walked one step at a time, and meals had to be eaten one bite at a time!

His current plan was to prepare for the placement assessment in a few days and first sprint for a spot in the top ten of the Martial Arts Class.

Then, he would finish tempering the Forty-nine Martial Bones of the Tiger Form Bone Forging Method.

After that, he would choose another bone forging method from the school library and forge his bones again.

"I'll use these ten thousand to buy you Bone Tempering Pills." Su Su lit a cheap cigarette and said through a dry cough.

"Dad, there's no need." Su Ye refused. "I have enough pills on hand for now. You should keep the money."

There was also a thirty-thousand reward for placing in the top ten of the Martial Arts Branch Exam!

Of course, he did not mention that he intended to make a run for it. He did not want his parents to place too many expectations on him.

After eating with his parents, Su Ye returned to his room.

The room was small, but everything—from books to daily necessities—was neatly organized, each item sorted into its proper place.

Sitting on the cold, hard stool, Su Ye opened his phone and saw several headline news articles.

[Martial God Ma Breaks Through After One Year in Seclusion, Leaves the City to Hunt Demons, Slays a Great Demon of the Same Realm, Blood Stains the Nine Heavens; Alixixi's Market Value Soars Upon His Return!]

[Demon Beast Mutation in Jinling City Leaves Ten Dead and Injured!]

[Spiritual Science Institute Develops New Bone Tempering and Blood Nourishing Pills, Potentially to Be Made Available to Low-Realm Martial Artists?!]

He skimmed the headlines. Many of them were sensational and eye-catching.

The origin of the Spiritual Energy Revival, the limits of martial arts, predictions for humanity's future development, the origins of Demon Beasts...

In this world, the central conflict was between humanity and Demon Beasts.

Though Cage City was protected by its luminous barrier, every year there were always Demon Beasts that entered the city for various reasons. Some even gained intelligence and mutated within the cities themselves, threatening humanity.

"This world is far less safe than my previous life."

Su Ye browsed quietly, but his yearning for power only grew stronger.

"Hm? In our city?"

Su Ye noticed one article and continued reading.

[A Heavenly Demon Cult Bishop Spotted in Shenyun City. Anyone who reports a sighting will be rewarded one hundred thousand Longhua Coin!]

"The Heavenly Demon Cult?"

Su Ye's eyes turned cold. Just as there were traitors in wartime between nations in his previous life, there were always such people.

The war between humans and demons had continued to this day, and naturally a group of madmen had emerged. They believed that Demon Beast evolution was the future path of humanity, that Demon Beasts were Blue Star's chosen lifeforms of the future.

These people formed the Heavenly Demon Cult. They worshipped transplanting demon bodies, replacing human blood with demon blood, devouring human essence, refining Demon Cores, and turning humans into demons!

Some radicals even took the initiative to slaughter humans, claiming it was to cleanse Blue Star when in truth they merely sought to satisfy the violence in their hearts.

Su Ye shook his head slightly and put down his phone.

It was enough to pay a little attention to such matters. They had little to do with him; when the sky fell, the tall ones would hold it up.

"I've digested enough already."

Su Ye put down his phone, took a deep breath, and began practicing the Tiger Form Bone Forging Method and the Azure Cloud Breathing Technique!

As his martial cultivation progressed, Su Ye gained an ever-deeper understanding of the Manifestation Talisman.

Its two great functions—Instant Mastery and Heaven Rewards Diligence—truly lived up to the name Manifestation.

"As long as I have an overall understanding of a martial skill, the Manifestation Talisman can let me master its fundamentals and cultivate it to its highest level."

"However, diligent cultivation is required in between. I cannot slack off, or the Manifestation Talisman will be utterly useless!"

The moon set and the sun rose; sweat poured down like rain!

Time passed swiftly without him noticing!

"Gulp!"

After swallowing a Qi Recovery Pill, Su Ye panted heavily, a trace of exhaustion showing on his face.

Yet a curve lifted at the corner of his mouth as he sensed the feedback from the Manifestation Talisman!

[Azure Cloud Breathing Technique (49/100)]

[Tiger Form Bone Forging Method (6/49)]

The number of Martial Bones had increased by one again!

"The sixth Martial Bone!"

He was one step closer to his goal of placing in the top ten of the placement exam!

"I nearly missed the time."

Looking at the clock on his phone, which was nearing six, Su Ye stretched his waist. His body ached all over, yet his heart was filled with satisfaction.

Then, dragging his weary body along, he headed for the Vast Sea Sword Hall.

Today was the first private lesson Li Aoxue would be teaching him.

Filled with anticipation, Su Ye stepped into the Vast Sea Sword Hall.

"Vast Sea Swordplay, a Third-Rank Martial Skill?"

In theory, a Third-Rank Martial Skill was the highest-level martial skill that could be used in the Bone Tempering Realm.

This was because Martial Artists in the Bone Tempering Realm found higher-level martial skills difficult to master and difficult to wield at full strength. They might even be less effective than a Third-Rank Martial Skill.

"There will also be a practical combat assessment during the College Entrance Examination."

"Therefore, I naturally can't pass up the chance to master a Third-Rank Martial Skill!"