What a Fine Head! (Brothers, boost the follow-up reads!)

Inverted!

These two words were the essence of Inverted Yin and Yang, bringing this Divine Essence-type mental cultivation method to life in the most vivid way.

From Xu Bai's current understanding, Inverted Yin and Yang should have been a Daoist mental cultivation method.

Using Divine Essence as a guide, it stirred the vital energies throughout the body and confused the enemy.

After merging with the Four Directions Slaughter Heart Sutra, it became Inverted Chaos of the Four Directions, its power even greater.

Divine Essence became True Yuan Power. Using True Yuan Power as a guide, when cast, it made falsehood seem real and reality seem false.

Put simply, when Xu Bai slashed out, under the pull of True Yuan Power, the enemy would feel as though what they saw was both real and unreal.

That slash would become seemingly real yet seemingly false, impossible to fathom. He could even make others think the slash was fake when it was actually real.

Conversely, when the enemy attacked him, True Yuan Power would draw upon his vital energies, turning the flaws on his body into perfection, and perfection into flaws.

Of course, a flaw was still that same flaw. Yet before the enemy's eyes, the flaw would be perfect, while places without flaws would instead seem riddled with them.

If the enemy attacked a flaw, they would instead be attacking his most perfect point.

Confusing the heart was the root; inversion was its manifestation.

Xu Bai sat on the Small Stool, a satisfied expression on his face.

All that grinding these past days had been worth it!

A pale blue panel appeared, and Xu Bai swept his gaze over its contents.

Name: Xu Bai.

Realm: Eighth Rank Loose Cultivator.

Severing Armor One Style (Tier 2): Max Level.

Inverted Chaos of the Four Directions Mental Cultivation Method (Tier 2.5): Max Level.

Kidney Hammering Technique (Tier 1): Max Level.

Maple Leaves Like Rain (Tier 2): Max Level.

Four Xun Movement Technique (Tier 1): Max Level.

Four Xun Array Formation (Tier 1): Max Level.

Comprehension (Max Level).

...

"If only I could get another mental cultivation method." Xu Bai rubbed his chin and thought to himself.

If he got another mental cultivation method, he could raise it to Tier 3 and reach the Seventh Rank.

Unfortunately, he had not found a new progress bar yet.

"The bookstore will be replacing its books soon. I'll go take a look then. Mm, and County Magistrate Zhang's matter needs to be dealt with soon too."

Sitting on the Small Stool, Xu Bai silently considered his plans for what came next.

The night gradually deepened.

At this moment, outside Sheng County, within a secluded little forest.

The little forest was dark and gloomy. Roars rang out from within, sending chills down one's spine.

Fortunately, there was no one here. Otherwise, they would probably have been scared out of half their wits.

In the night, inhuman roars mixed with gusts of wind that rose from time to time, making goosebumps stand on end.

After about half an incense stick's time, the roars gradually ceased.

A Blue-Robed Monk emerged from the forest, nine Precept Scars visible atop his gleaming Bald Head.

The Blue-Robed Monk looked to be in his twenties, and the scars on the top of his head were exceptionally conspicuous.

His features were refined and gentle. At any other time, anyone who saw him would mistake him for a kind-hearted young monk.

But if anyone had been here now, they would not have thought so.

Because in each of the young monk's hands, he held an incomparably huge tiger.

Calling them tigers was not quite right. They looked more like monsters, with tiger heads but human bodies.

The tiger demons were covered in wounds, Fresh Blood pouring from large patches of their fur. They clearly would not live much longer.

This world did not only have the bizarre; it also had demons.

To those of the martial world, demons were nothing unfamiliar.

The demons of this world were nothing like those acted out on television in Xu Bai's previous life.

There were no beautiful fox women with nine tails, nor were there cat-eared girls or the like in this world.

Repaying kindness?

Impossible.

If they did not bite off both your heads, that was already mercy.

In this world, demons were demons, born opposed to humanity.

As for whether there were good demons, at least so far, not a single one had been found.

Thus, the Great Chu Kingdom had always advocated uprooting these demons completely.

"Meeting this humble monk today is your misfortune," the Blue-Robed Monk said slowly.

His kind face, paired with the two horrifying demons, created a stark contrast that made one shudder with dread.

After saying this, the Blue-Robed Monk exerted strength with both hands.

He lifted the two tiger demons into the air and smashed them together midair with a boom.

Tremendous force surged through the tiger demons. Before they could even let out a scream, they turned into a rain of blood that filled the sky.

Azure Light rose from the Blue-Robed Monk's body, and not a drop of the bloody rain touched his white robes.

In the dark night, the azure glow carried an air of solemn holiness.

After killing the two tiger demons, the Blue-Robed Monk did not linger and headed toward Sheng County.

A wooden plaque hung from his waist, bearing the three words: Vajra Temple.

The night grew ever deeper, and the Blue-Robed Monk's figure gradually vanished into the darkness.

The next day.

Xu Bai rose early. When he arrived at the front courtyard, he saw the escorts training.

"Morning, Brother Xu."

When the escorts saw Xu Bai arrive, they greeted him one after another.

As usual, Xu Bai replied before heading out alone to eat breakfast.

The matter of the Lin Residence was still fermenting. The townspeople on the streets discussed it from time to time, their words all carrying a sense of satisfaction.

Finding a noodle stall at random, Xu Bai ordered a bowl of noodles and began slurping them down.

As he ate, he also looked around idly.

There was no new progress bar, so he had to search again. After eating, he planned to finish exploring the parts of Sheng County he had not yet visited and see whether he could find anything new.

Before long, a bowl of noodles was in his stomach, and the feeling of fullness left him very satisfied.

After paying the bill, Xu Bai began wandering around Sheng County again.

The places he visited now were mostly ones he had not explored before.

The streets were bustling with noise.

Xu Bai walked and stopped along the way. When he reached one place, he suddenly halted.

Not far away stood a somewhat luxurious residence.

Two stone lions stood at the main gate, while lanterns hung on either side of the doors. Since it was daytime, they were unlit.

High above the doors, two words were written on the plaque—Liu Residence.

"That woman's home." Xu Bai looked at the plaque and pondered.

Without realizing it, he had wandered to the Liu Residence.

Thinking of the masked woman from that night, Xu Bai prepared to turn around and leave.

After last night, they had no further connection. Xu Bai had no intention of stirring up trouble here.

But sometimes, the less you wanted something to happen, the more it came looking for you.

Xu Bai's gaze followed the street, where faint footsteps sounded.

Accompanying those footsteps was a young monk in blue robes.

His blue robes drifted ethereally. The azure Monk Robes, paired with the young monk and set against the bustling street, made him stand out all the more.

The Blue-Robed Monk walked along the street. He seemed to sense Xu Bai's gaze and looked in Xu Bai's direction.

The spot where Xu Bai had been standing moments ago was completely empty.

"No one?"

The Blue-Robed Monk frowned.

He had clearly sensed someone watching him just now. Why had they suddenly vanished? With that thought, the Blue-Robed Monk looked around everywhere. After searching for a long while without finding the owner of that gaze, he temporarily gave up.

Arriving before the Liu Residence, he lightly knocked on the door.

Before long, a servant of the Liu Family opened it. The two seemed to speak for a while, after which the servant led the Blue-Robed Monk inside.

After the door closed, Xu Bai stood in an alley at the street corner, rubbing his chin.

That smooth, shiny head was truly nice. What a fine head...