Intelligence

This was an extremely difficult movement, requiring both strength and flexibility. The muscles and bones throughout the body needed to be almost boneless in their softness, yet incredibly tough, like cast iron.

Clearly, in the cultivation method Chen Yao practiced, this was one of the later stances.

Chen Mu activated Spirit Sight, circled around Chen Yao, and after a careful examination, his soul power surged out, fixing Chen Yao in place.

Chen Yao felt a force cover her entire body, as if the surrounding air had solidified into tangible ice, freezing her in that posture.

Then.

She felt multiple parts of her body, both upper and lower, being squeezed and adjusted by that force. Her spine curved slightly more, her knees bent slightly higher, and her abdomen tucked in slightly.

As many as six or seven areas were adjusted in detail, one by one.

Finally, she was completely fixed.

"Alright."

"From now on, do it like this."

Chen Mu nodded slightly, then withdrew his power.

As his soul power receded, the force that had tightly bound Chen Yao's entire body also vanished instantly, but her posture didn't change at all. She remained standing in place.

At this moment, Chen Yao no longer had a playful expression. Instead, she was serious and focused, using her abilities as a Martial Artist to firmly memorize this most basic stance. She wouldn't change it again next time.

Chen Mu didn't disturb her either.

He returned to his desk and chair, sat down, and casually browsed a book.

About a quarter of an hour later.

"...Hoo."

Chen Yao slowly exhaled. The white mist she breathed out was like a long arrow, shooting straight out, extending all the way to the ground before disappearing.

She slowly stretched her limbs, returning to a standing position. Her vigorous blood energy permeated the surface of her skin, making her entire body appear slightly pinkish.

Another dozen breaths passed.

The redness throughout her body gradually began to fade.

"Second Brother, how long will it take me to reach Seventh Rank?"

Chen Yao looked at Chen Mu and asked softly.

Chen Mu thought for a moment and said, "It's impossible to judge accurately, but looking at your situation, if you maintain this state and cultivate day and night, it will probably take more than three months."

"Three months..."

Chen Yao pondered.

She was only a few months younger than Chen Mu, also sixteen this year. If she reached Seventh Rank in three months, that would be entering Seventh Rank at sixteen. Then there was a high possibility of entering Sixth Rank before the age of twenty.

Originally, her root bone aptitude was a level lower than Chen Wu's, but Chen Mu's adjustments to her details were enough to significantly increase her cultivation speed, even surpassing Chen Wu!

Chen Mu wasn't sure about Chen Wu's root bone aptitude.

He only knew that after he adjusted Chen Yao, although she couldn't unleash 100% of her potential like a Sorcerer, she could at least unleash over 95%.

Naturally.

This is limited to cultivation speed.

"Thank you, Second Brother, I'll go back and practice now."

Chen Yao obediently spoke to Chen Mu.

Then, just as she reached the door, her words took a turn. She turned back to look at Chen Mu and said with a grin:

"Second Brother, if I become the first female Martial Saint in the world in the future, it will all be thanks to you. At that time, I'll promise you all the beauties in the world. Just tell me which girl you fancy, whether it's a Saintess from the Eight Sects of the World or an imperial princess, it's no problem. I'll snatch them all for you to be your sisters-in-law."

After saying that.

Afraid that Chen Mu would 'silence' her again, she quickly pushed open the door and scurried away.

"..."

Chen Mu rubbed his temples as he watched the fleeing Chen Yao.

He was a little curious about what Chen Yao had learned in the past few years since she started practicing martial arts. If she were to change into some old clothes and smudge her face a bit, she could blend into the Jianghu commoners without anyone noticing the difference.

Ning Qiang wasn't much older than Chen Yao, also still a young girl, but her gentle and dignified demeanor was that of a proper young lady from a prominent family. How did Chen Yao still resemble a young lady from the Xuanguo Estate?

However.

Chen Mu could tell that when Chen Yao mentioned "my heart already belongs to the Martial Dao," there was no hint of evasion. This determination was indeed theembryonic form of Martial Dao will.

Now, after his guidance, as long as Chen Yao didn't die prematurely, she would definitely achieve something on the path of Martial Dao. At the very least, reaching Fourth Rank Non-Human was within reach!

"Fourth Rank Non-Human..."

Chen Mu thought of Zhao Li, the esteemed guest of the Xuanguo Estate.

The reason why Fourth Rank is called Non-Human is because in many aspects, they are no longer similar to ordinary mortals. For example, in terms of food, a Fourth Rank existence can eat a thousand sheep a day, or go without food for three years!

Being able to go without food or drink for three years, they naturally don't need to excrete, nor do they have needs. They can even go without breathing, staying underwater for ten years without coming ashore... Being able to do these things, they are naturally Non-Human.

In comparison.

Fifth Rank Sorcerer is also a qualitative change.

Their manipulation of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth reaches a higher level. They can manifest Daoist techniques and divine abilities with a single thought, and can also absorb it into their bodies for their own use, going without food or drink, like immortals among mortals.

Two days.

He still needed two days.

The intelligence capabilities of the Heaven's Secret Pavilion were trustworthy. Regardless of whether Geng He's wife and daughter were alive or dead, he would definitely get a result in two days.

Even if it was the worst outcome, with both wife and daughter deceased, he could still find their graves to pay respects. Although it wouldn't perfectly resolve Geng He's obsession, even eliminating a little would be a gain.

He was only a step away from Fifth Rank Sorcerer.

Two days passed quickly.

After Chen Yao learned of Chen Mu's identity as a Sorcerer, she guessed that Chen Mu didn't want it to be widely known for the time being. Naturally, she wouldn't deliberately spread the word, and was even satisfied that she was the only one who knew Chen Mu's secret.

Chen Mu, on the other hand, calmly crossed the threshold of the Eighth Rank of Martial Artists. The blood energy within his body split into two streams. Besides his physique being twice as strong as before in its normal state, he also gained the ability to perform a secondary burst after an initial one.

[Name: Chen Mu]

[Age: 16]

[Martial Power: Strength of Four Horses]

[Soul: Initial Spirit lv9 (+)]

[Soul Points: 3 points]

With the enhancement of his Sorcerer abilities, Chen Mu's Martial Dao cultivation speed was like a rocket, advancing by leaps and bounds. However, he still couldn't catch up to his Sorcerer level in a short time, but it was better than nothing.

The eleventh day.

Chen Mu left the small courtyard.

He took the black wooden plaque and went to the Heaven's Secret Pavilion to retrieve the information he had commissioned ten days prior.

Heaven's Secret Pavilion.

Ten days later, Chen Mu stepped into this place once again. What greeted his eyes was still that empty room. Black curtains covered all the windows, allowing only faint light to penetrate the room.

"Is there any news on the information?"

Chen Mu walked to a chair and sat down. He didn't bother pouring tea, only gently placed the wooden plaque inscribed with 'Geng-27' on the table.

His calm voice echoed in the empty room.

After two breaths.

Swish.

A beam of yellow light flew from behind the dim screen and landed on the table in front of Chen Mu.

Looking closely, it was a thin, light yellow paper. When it flew out just now, it was like a hidden weapon. This ability to handle heavy objects with ease was something even a Seventh Rank Martial Artist couldn't achieve.

But Chen Mu's experience wouldn't be surprised by such a small thing. He calmly picked up the light yellow paper and looked at the content written on it.