The excitement of breaking through to the Muscle Tempering Realm gradually subsided, and the surging blood qi within him slowly settled into calm solidity. Li Bufan did not rush to leave seclusion; he knew full well how important a firm foundation was. He suppressed the urge to test his newfound strength immediately and decided to spend time thoroughly stabilizing his current realm.
For the next two or three days, he remained in the warm cave. Food was plentiful, and clean snow outside the cave solved his water problem. His daily life became exceptionally regular: most of his time was spent cultivating the Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique, guiding the Blood Qi Power from the Tiger Bear meat that his body had yet to fully digest and meticulously tempering every inch of muscle; when hungry, he roasted and ate Tiger Bear meat to replenish his blood qi; when tired, he meditated and regulated his breathing, using a unique breathing method to nourish his muscles and better align them with his explosively increased blood qi.
With the support of the [Heaven Rewards Diligence] fate, his understanding and mastery of the Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique improved at an astonishing pace. The subtle exertion behind every movement and the precise control of every circulation of blood qi became almost instinctive through countless repetitions. Under repeated tempering, his muscle fibers became tougher and more coordinated, while the power they could contain and unleash steadily increased.
In just two or three days, although the limited space prevented him from leaping and bounding to his heart's content, his focused training in stationary exertion and the deep circulation of blood qi still caused his proficiency to soar.
[Heaven Rewards Diligence] Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique, Entry Level (356/500)
Feeling the solid, incomparable strength within his body, Li Bufan nodded in satisfaction. But he also clearly realized one problem—the cave was too small.
As its name suggested, the core essence of the Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique lay in imitating the agility and explosive force of a spirit ape. It required wide-ranging movement, leaps, and pounces to fully stretch, compress, and temper the muscles throughout the body, especially the core strength of the legs, waist, and abdomen. In this cramped space, he could only perform basic movements and blood qi circulation exercises. Many of its exquisite aspects that required room to execute could not be put into practice at all.
"Even the cleverest housewife cannot cook without rice," Li Bufan said with a bitter smile. "I have a fine technique, but nowhere suitable to train it. At this rate, if I want to raise the Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique to a higher realm, I'm afraid I'll need to find open ground. Grinding away in this cave would only get half the result with twice the effort."
A thought rose in his mind.
"The Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique cannot improve rapidly for now, but I still have that!" A sharp glint flashed through Li Bufan's eyes. "Those three forms of the Nameless Fist Technique are profoundly mysterious. Back when I had only trained them to Minor Mastery, they helped me break through the Body Nourishment bottleneck and reach the Skin Tempering Realm directly. Later, after making progress with the Mighty Ox Fist, I set them aside for a while."
He recalled the characteristics of the Nameless Fist Technique: it did not require much space and placed greater emphasis on inner meaning and the internal circulation of blood qi. Its force was strange, yet its power astonishing. Moreover, it seemed to have a unique tempering effect on a warrior's foundation and breath.
"Now that my Mighty Ox Fist has reached perfection, there is nowhere further to advance. The Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique is restricted by the environment. This is the perfect opportunity to strike while the iron is hot and push this Nameless Fist Technique to Great Mastery! Let's see what miraculous changes it brings!"
No sooner said than done! Li Bufan immediately adjusted his state, and the three seemingly simple yet infinitely variable fist forms surfaced in his mind once more.
He assumed the opening stance, calming his mind as his blood qi stirred in response. Unlike the fierce tyranny of the Mighty Ox Fist, and unlike the agile tempering of the Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique, this Nameless Fist Technique placed greater emphasis on an inner "momentum" and "intent." Its blood qi circulation paths were also far more peculiar.
Sweep Through a Thousand Armies, Directly Strike the Yellow Dragon, Feint to the East, Attack to the West.
As the [Heaven Rewards Diligence] fate operated madly, every insight he had gained from practicing these three fist forms flooded back like a rising tide. Many changes and blood qi combinations that had once been obscure and incomprehensible suddenly became clear on the foundation of his current Muscle Tempering Realm cultivation and broadened knowledge!
He forgot the time, tirelessly practicing the three fist forms over and over. From awkwardness to proficiency, from proficiency to refinement, and then from refinement toward an even higher realm.
His movements became increasingly fluid, and the transitions between the three fist forms turned seamless, as though they had always been one complete technique. The circulation of his blood qi also became ever more natural. With a mere thought, surging blood qi could instantly reach wherever it was needed and erupt with astonishing power.
He felt his breath becoming longer and deeper under this strange method of tempering. With every deep breath, it seemed as if the blood qi throughout his body gently swelled, while his muscles underwent subtle adjustments and strengthening. This was a deeper form of nourishment, different from the Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique.
Another day or two passed. When he thoroughly refined and absorbed the last trace of energy from the tiger bone marrow, completely integrating it into the cultivation of the Nameless Fist Technique—
Boom!
It was as though thunder had exploded in his mind! The full essence, variations, and blood qi circulation routes of the three fist forms completely merged together, without the slightest obstruction remaining! A feeling of perfect harmony welled up within him!
Subconsciously, he performed the three fist forms once again. His movements appeared no different from before, yet every move and stance contained a unique "spirit." The sound of rushing blood qi could even be faintly heard from within his body, and the force driven by his fists and feet seemed to make the air in the cave freeze for an instant!
Nameless Fist Technique, Great Mastery! (3/)
As he withdrew his fists, Li Bufan stood quietly in the cave, closed his eyes, and carefully sensed the changes in his body.
The most immediate sensation was this—his breath had become incomparably long!
If, back when he had reached Perfection of Skin Refining, he could use Spirit Monkey Three Leaps to chase the Silver-Crowned Snow Fox and endure at most a little less than half a shichen at full burst before his blood qi ran dry and his muscles grew weak and sore, then now he felt that his endurance had increased by more than double! If he chased that Snow Fox again now, he was confident he could keep up the pursuit for more than a full shichen and still have strength to spare!
This improvement was not merely an increase in strength. Under the mysterious effects of the Nameless Fist Technique reaching Great Mastery, every muscle fiber in his body had undergone a deeper optimization. His efficiency in utilizing blood qi had become extraordinarily high, consumption had greatly decreased, and recovery speed had improved. This brought a qualitative leap in both his ability to fight for extended periods and his ability to survive in harsh environments!
"In these icy mountains and forests, where danger lurks on all sides, this long breath and tremendous endurance are far more important than a momentary burst of power!" A surge of wild joy rose in Li Bufan's heart. The Nameless Fist Technique had indeed not disappointed him; the benefits it brought could be called strategic.
He walked to the cave entrance and gently pushed aside the stone. Outside was still a frozen world, though the weather seemed to have cleared somewhat. As the crisp air entered his lungs, it felt as though it could circulate within them again and again, lingering for a long time without dispersing.
Feeling the blood qi within his body, his tough and full muscles, and his long, profound breathing, Li Bufan's confidence rose to unprecedented heights.
Muscle Tempering Realm cultivation! Spirit Monkey Three Leaps at Minor Mastery! Mighty Ox Fist at perfection! Nameless Fist Technique at Great Mastery!
His overall strength now was more than several times greater than before he had entered the mountain! It could truly be called a complete rebirth.
"It's time." His sharp gaze swept across the snowy plains beyond the cave. "Time to go out and take a look. With my current strength, I have enough confidence to face any danger again!"
He carefully wrapped up the remaining dried Tiger Bear meat, concealed the cave entrance once more, and made sure nothing looked unusual from outside. Then he tightened the fur coat around himself and, with steady, powerful steps, resolutely entered that world clad in silver.
The moment he stepped onto the snowfield, frigid air rushed toward him, but it no longer felt as unbearably piercing as before. Having broken through to the Muscle Tempering Realm, his blood qi was as vigorous as a furnace and naturally warded off the cold, leaving Li Bufan feeling refreshed and clear-headed.
His primary target was still that Snow Fox. If he could hunt another Silver-Crowned Snow Fox, so much the better. Not only had the fox been his excuse for taking leave from Lin Manor, but its nimbleness and speed also made tracking it an excellent test of his own strength.
"Last time, it took nearly half a shichen to catch it. One reason was that it truly was fast, and the other was that my endurance was insufficient, so I couldn't keep applying pressure." Fortunately, his Spirit Monkey Three Leaps had made a small breakthrough at the end, allowing him to take it down in one stroke. Li Bufan calculated inwardly, Now that my breath is several times longer and Spirit Monkey Three Leaps has advanced further, let's see how long it can run!
He did not search blindly. Instead, he carefully recalled the general area where he had lost the trail last time and considered the Snow Fox's habits—it favored the cold, often moving along sunny rocky slopes or the edges of dense forests, feeding on small rodents and berries found in the snow.
He used Spirit Monkey Three Leaps, his body gliding lightly over the snow. Though he was not moving at his maximum burst speed, his pace was enduring and energy-saving. He left only shallow marks, as if walking upon snow without leaving a trace, while his eyes swept the surroundings like those of a hawk.
The mountain forest after snowfall was especially quiet. No faint movement could escape his increasingly sharp perception.
After searching for about a little less than half a shichen, several tiny paw prints, shaped like plum blossoms, finally entered his sight beneath a sheltered slope!
"It's here. These are Snow Fox tracks!" Li Bufan's spirits lifted, and he immediately crouched to inspect them carefully. The tracks were fresh, not yet scattered by the wind or fully covered by new snow. That meant the Snow Fox had passed through not long ago.
He drew a deep breath and held nothing back. The blood qi within him began circulating with a roar as Spirit Monkey Three Leaps was instantly unleashed to its limit!
Whoosh!
His figure shot out along the trail like an arrow released from the bowstring! Compared to before his breakthrough, he was faster by far more than a single level! His footwork was also more nimble, allowing him to weave freely through uneven snowfields and thickets with almost no loss of speed.
The Snow Fox ahead seemed to have sensed the danger as well. It became a silver-white shadow, racing wildly across the snow, and its speed was actually several degrees faster than Li Bufan remembered!
"Good fellow, another Silver-Crowned Snow Fox—and this one is even faster than the Silver-Crowned Snow Fox I hunted before. It's larger too!" Rather than being startled, Li Bufan was delighted. That indicated the Snow Fox might be worth even more.
The chase began once again.
But this time, the situation was completely different!
Li Bufan was faster, his footing steadier, and his breath long and deep, showing no sign of exhaustion whatsoever. No matter how this Silver-Crowned Snow Fox changed direction, slipped through gaps, or used the terrain to its advantage, he could always follow close behind with astonishing agility. The distance between them gradually shrank!
The Snow Fox had clearly realized that the hunter behind it was difficult to shake off and grew restless, letting out sharp, piercing cries from time to time.
After pursuing it for roughly the time it took an incense stick to burn, Li Bufan still felt his blood qi brimming and strength flowing endlessly through his legs. But the Snow Fox ahead finally seemed to slow by the slightest degree!
An opportunity!
Li Bufan seized the moment. Just as the Snow Fox tried to leap over a low cliff, he fiercely kicked off the ground and accelerated. His body soared into the air like a true spirit ape, instantly closing the distance to within twenty paces!
Nocking an arrow, drawing the bow, and taking aim flowed together in one motion!
The bowstring trembled softly!
Whoosh!
An Armor-piercing Arrow sliced through the air, shooting precisely toward a rock in front of the Snow Fox!
Crack!
The sharp sound of the arrowhead striking stone, along with the spray of snow it kicked up, successfully startled the Snow Fox.
Instinctively, it made a sharp turn to the side, trying to avoid the sudden disturbance. That instant of hesitation and change in direction disrupted its perfect rhythm of escape!
How could Li Bufan let such a fine opportunity slip away? Spirit Monkey Three Leaps erupted again, and his body skimmed low over the ground like a ghost, instantly closing in!
His right hand discarded the bow and turned from palm to claw, carrying a fierce gust of wind as it shot straight for the startled and slightly panicked Silver-Crowned Snow Fox!
This time, it took only the time it took an incense stick to burn for him to capture another, even more valuable Silver-Crowned Snow Fox.
Before you continue