Secluded Cultivation and Advancement

Chapter 22: Closed-Door Cultivation and Progress

The Seventh Squad dragged their exhausted, injured bodies back to Fishery Salt Town overnight. After handling the aftermath—rest, healing, report writing, and calming the public—they received a "Grade C Upper (Outstanding Completion)" evaluation from headquarters along with a reward of 1,000 contribution points. The squad then set off back to Qingzhou Prefecture City.

Back in familiar quarters, Li Yifan didn't celebrate or rest. Instead, he sank into deep reflection. The brief clash by the Black Swamp with that Meridian Opening Initial Evil Cultivator, though barely held off by his Minor Accomplishment Iron Bone Technique and Major Accomplishment Burning Wood Saber Technique, left him drenched in the icy realization of his own insignificance. The crushing gap in realm brought a powerlessness that sobered him cold. Bone Forging Late was far from enough!

"Strength! I have to raise my strength—now!" A fierce urgency drove him. He announced a closed-door cultivation session and distributed the mission contribution points wisely, spurring his squadmates to improve together.

During Li Yifan's seclusion, the entire Seventh Squad immersed themselves in training and growth, their overall strength making a clear leap.

Li Yifan, using his 520 contribution points (500 personal + 20 leftover), made precise exchanges:

He spent 300 points on six bottles of high-grade "Bone Tempering Pills," which were most effective for pushing toward the peak of Bone Refining Realm.

He spent 200 points on "True Qi Condensing Powder" to aid in refining his true qi, greatly benefiting the cultivation of a fierce technique like the Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique.

He kept the remaining 20 points as backup.

Once prepared, Li Yifan threw himself into the monotonous yet fulfilling grind of bitter training.

By day, he took Bone Tempering Pills and used the Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique's method to guide the medicinal power, madly refining his entire skeleton. The supreme yang true qi, like a furnace's flame, burned away impurities in his bones, steadily increasing their density and hardness as he pushed toward the extreme of Bone Refining Realm.

By night, aided by the True Qi Condensing Powder, he calmed his mind and tempered the Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique's true qi, making it purer and hotter. At the same time, he cycled the Iron Bone Technique's methods, repeatedly washing and nourishing his bones and tendons with true qi, cultivating both internal and external.

[Consuming large amounts of Bone Tempering Pills, supplemented by True Qi Condensing Powder, greatly boosts Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique cultivation efficiency!]

[Iron Bone Technique progresses rapidly through internal and external cultivation!]

During this time, the life-and-death insights from the fight with the Evil Cultivator replayed in his mind, bringing new breakthroughs in his understanding of true qi application and technique execution. In particular, the supreme yang nature of the Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique and the blazing intent of the Burning Wood Saber Technique cross-validated and fused more deeply.

Hard work paid off. On the tenth day of seclusion, the bone-humming sound from within his body rang out like metal striking metal—crisp and prolonged! The Iron Bone Technique broke through to Major Accomplishment first! A faint bronze luster spread over his bones and tendons, his defense skyrocketing so that ordinary blades could barely scratch him!

On the twentieth day, the Nine Yang True Qi in his dantian had thickened to a paste, blazing like flame, and when cycled, faint thunder rumbled within! The Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique reached Major Accomplishment naturally! The quality, quantity, and recovery speed of his true qi all underwent a qualitative leap.

After a full month of seclusion, Li Yifan's blood and qi surged like a great river, and his bones erupted in a dense series of crackling sounds like frying beans. A fierce aura, far stronger than before, shot into the sky!

[Accumulation pays off—cultivation complete! Realm breakthrough to: Body Tempering · Bone Forging (Peak: 480/500)!]

[Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique Major Accomplishment! Iron Bone Technique Major Accomplishment! Strength undergoes earth-shaking change!]

Bone Forging Peak! Both core techniques at Major Accomplishment! On the day he emerged, Li Yifan's eyes flashed with lightning-like sharpness, his aura heavy and solid, every move brimming with power. He felt that if he faced that Meridian Opening Initial Evil Cultivator again, he still couldn't claim victory, but he would no longer be as passive as before—at least he could put up a fight!

After coming out, he took a short time to adapt, then went to Commander Wang to report.

Commander Wang sensed the surging blood and qi and the scorching true qi radiating from him, and upon hearing that Zhao Xiong had broken through to Bone Forging Realm and the squad's overall strength had risen, his eyes flashed with barely concealed surprise and approval: "Good! Good! Good! In just one month, you and your Seventh Squad have made such progress! Zhao Xiong breaks into Bone Forging, and you reach the peak with both techniques at Major Accomplishment! With such a foundation and team, you have the confidence to take on tougher missions!"

Then Commander Wang's expression turned serious as he took out a dossier: "You came out just in time. There's an urgent mission. Several bizarre murders have occurred in Maple Forest County recently. All victims were strong men in their prime, their bodies utterly drained of blood and essence, likely sucked dry by some evil technique. The residual evil qi at the scene, identified by headquarters experts, shares the same origin as that Evil Cultivator you encountered at the Black Swamp!"

Li Yifan reviewed the common knowledge he'd crammed recently: The Great Zhou Dynasty's vast territory was divided into twelve prefectures to govern the four directions. These twelve were: the Seven Dipper Prefectures—Tian Shu, Tian Xuan, Tian Ji, Tian Quan, Yu Heng, Kai Yang, Yao Guang—and the Four Symbols Border Prefectures—Eastern Azure Dragon, Western White Tiger, Southern Vermilion Bird, Northern Black Tortoise—plus Central Province, which guarded the capital region. Each prefecture governed ten provinces, each province ten counties, with clear layers of command. But a county in this world was about the size of a province from his original world.

Qingzhou was under the "Kai Yang Prefecture" of the Seven Dipper Prefectures, and Maple Forest County also belonged to Qingzhou.

Commander Wang continued: "This fiend has struck repeatedly with brutal methods, causing an extremely bad influence. Though his personal strength hasn't yet reached Meridian Opening Realm, his unique technique makes him highly dangerous, and he moves stealthily. Headquarters has decided to raise the hazard level of this case, officially designating it a Grade B Lower mission! This is your first time executing a Grade B mission—the danger far exceeds anything before. You must be extremely cautious! The mission reward is 1,000 to 3,000 contribution points!"

A Grade B Lower mission! Contribution point rewards up to three thousand! This was a huge temptation, but it also meant extreme risk.

Li Yifan took a deep breath, suppressing the eagerness stirred by his surge in power, and said solemnly, "Understood! I will act with caution, track down this fiend's whereabouts, and never act rashly!"

"Mm." Commander Wang nodded, satisfied that he hadn't grown arrogant from his advancement. "Headquarters will provide you with support. You may select capable squad members and apply for some special resources against evil entities. Remember, your primary task is to locate its lair and determine its goal. Once confirmed, report immediately—do not engage recklessly!"

"I obey!"

Leaving the hall, Li Yifan's thoughts churned. His own strength had soared, and the other squad members had also made breakthroughs.

Zhao Xiong: Using the mission's accumulation and resources, he successfully broke through to Bone Forging Initial, greatly increasing his strength and becoming a key combatant in the squad.

Qian Xiaoliu: His cultivation rose to Body Refining Late, with sharper archery and reconnaissance skills.

Sun Shi: His cultivation rose to Body Refining Late, with more solid defense.

Chen Feng: His cultivation rose to Body Refining Late, showing clear progress.

Zhang Tie: His cultivation rose to Body Refining Mid, with a stable foundation.

He quickly gathered the squad and announced the Grade B mission. Hearing this, though they felt the pressure, they were more fired up and eager. A stronger, more coordinated Seventh Squad had taken shape.

A new confrontation was about to unfold in Maple Forest County.