Parting

"The Ox Demon Great Strength Fist consists of three forms: 'Ox Demon Horn Thrust', 'Ox Demon Hoof Stamp', and 'Ox Demon Skin Conditioning'. Each form contains one hundred variations, complex and ever-changing. However, as long as you master the method, you can progress from shallow to deep, refining your flesh, then your tendons, and finally your membranes, step by step. Once mastered, you will possess the strength of an ox, capable of drawing a one-hundred-and-twenty-jin ox-tendon bow for rapid-fire shots, resisting a hundred-jin punch, and moving with agility. Essentially, you would be a genuine martial artist capable of taking on a dozen men."

"This wine was brewed when I was cultivating in the mountains. I gathered over a hundred types of medicinal herbs to greatly enhance physical strength, kill the nine internal parasites, cleanse the intestines and stomach, and nourish the liver and spleen. The wine is called 'Jade Nectar'. It is a pity that only this one gourd remains." Bai Ziyue said with a smile, the hair at his temples fluttering.

Bai Ziyue shook his head: "How could that be possible? Unless one has attained the Yang God, perhaps they might have such ability. But in this world, I have yet to hear of anyone who has achieved the Yang God. Even the leader of the most mysterious Taishang Dao in the Great Gan Dynasty, Meng Shenji, has not been heard to have attained it."

Bai Ziyue thought for a moment: "I have not heard of it. However, twenty years ago, Zen Master Yinyue of the Great Zen Temple seemed to have glimpsed the realm of the Human Immortal, but unfortunately, he was surrounded and killed. Currently, the two Martial Saints of the Great Gan Dynasty, Yang Tuo and Hong Xuanji, shake the world with their might. Even at my level, wanting to advance further is as difficult as ascending to the blue sky."

"Then, among those who practice martial arts, has anyone reached the level of a Human Immortal?" Hong Yi asked.

"Those four lines of poetry were just something I composed on a whim; they are not enough to describe your temperament, Ziyue. If I have time, I must rack my brains to compose a long poem for you." Hong Yi seemed dissatisfied with his own four lines.

Whenever the topic turned to martial arts, Bai Ziyue seemed to become a different person, filled with infinite confidence, looking down upon the world and pointing out the landscape: "I practice the Flying Spirit Bone Refining Fist of the Zhengyi Dao, but it only has one hundred and thirty movements. It doesn't have as many as the two hundred and six movements of the Tiger Demon Bone Refining Fist, so the effect is slightly different. However, I spent three years taking Tiger Bone Paste and still reached the realm of 'refining bones like steel'. It is just a pity that it cost too much time and energy."

For three or five days in a row, the heavy snow began to clear. Bai Ziyue drank his wine while watching Hong Yi slowly practice, conversing with him at the same time.

Just then, three little foxes hopped out into the snow.

"Are you going to Yuantu? Then I cannot follow," Hong Yi said with regret. "However, since we have spent this time together, you call me brother, so how could I take your money?"

"Brother Xiao Yi, we are moving. Mr. Bai and Elder Tu said this place might be discovered and we can no longer stay. We have to move to a very far place," Xiao Shu said.

Hong Yi waved his hand, then turned his head away and wiped the corner of his eye.

Hong Yi finally managed to finish practicing the three forms, panting heavily, his face deathly pale, gasping for air. This set of Ox Demon Great Strength Fist required too much physical exertion. His body was naturally thin and his stamina weak, so practicing martial arts was naturally very strenuous for him.

"Poetry is a natural creation, caught by a clever hand by chance. If there is a flash of inspiration, of course, it can be done." Hong Yi pressed his temples with his fingers. "By the way, Ziyue, you just said you didn't have the Tiger Demon Bone Refining Fist, so how did you refine your bones?"

"The Flying Spirit Bone Refining Fist." Hong Yi seemed to have seen this chapter in the Martial Classic.

"Brother Xiao Yi, we are leaving. You must remember us."

"Although I am one of the Eight Great Demon Immortals of the World, I am now a proper human. My Bai family also has considerable influence. It is possible to cover the Pure Fox Clan as they move away," Bai Ziyue said with a smile.

"Where are you moving to? There are so many books and other things in the stone chamber; how will you transport them?"

"Come, let's drink." The three little white foxes followed behind Bai Ziyue, looking back with every step.

"Attaining the Dao is difficult, as difficult as ascending to the blue sky," Hong Yi sighed.

"The Bai family?" Hong Yi was stunned again. "Is there no Bai family in Yujing?"

Although this book had many missing parts, it was, after all, a comprehensive collection of martial arts. Moreover, this book had been annotated by the monks of the Great Zen Temple, making it worth studying.

This fifteen-year-old, one of the Eight Great Demon Immortals of the World, appeared at this moment like a refined young scholar.

"Accept it. They have no use for money." Bai Ziyue raised his hand: "Also, inside is a Martial Classic. Although you cannot practice it, it can serve as a reference. You have practiced the Ox Demon Great Strength Fist these days and have already laid a foundation for self-study. There are some annotations by monks in this Martial Classic that are worth reading."

In his spare time, the youth liked to pinch the long locks of hair at his temples.

"Brother Xiao Yi, this is the book Elder Tu gave you. And the gold cakes from Sister Consort Yuan. We have all been very happy these days. But we have to go now; it's a journey of over a thousand miles. I really wish Brother Xiao Yi could come with us." Xiao Shu's eyes showed sadness.

"You are moving! But this place is indeed too unsafe! No wonder Ziyue said earlier that we had to leave." Hong Yi was shocked, but a feeling of reluctance welled up in his heart. Although they had only spent about ten days together, the simplicity and cuteness of this fox den had deeply imprinted itself in his heart.

So my father, Marquis Wuwen, is at the realm of a Martial Saint! he thought to himself.

"Xiao Shu, Xiao Sang, Xiao Fei, why did you come out?" Hong Yi asked.

Sigh, sigh, sigh... Bai Ziyue's wine was a magical brew. He did not know how many medicinal herbs were used or what special techniques were employed to brew it. Every time Hong Yi was panting and pale from exercise, one drink of this wine would make his whole body feel comfortable. If not for this wine supporting him, Hong Yi would never have been able to continue practicing with his thin body.

"Oh dear, if I finish it, Ziyue, you won't have any left to drink." Hong Yi quickly handed the wine gourd to Bai Ziyue.

"Ziyue, what kind of wine is this exactly?" Hong Yi's complexion improved slightly.

"With Mr. Bai helping us, there will be no problem," Xiao Shu jumped. Beside her, she dragged a large cloth bag containing several books. There was also a small brocade pouch from which the sound of clinking gold coins could be heard.

"The fist technique currently practiced by the Great Gan Army should be the Small Heavenly Cycle Strength Training Fist... It is a pity that a copy of the 'Tiger Demon Bone Refining Fist' was confiscated. I never managed to get my hands on it; otherwise, I would have taught it to you, Hong Yi, so you wouldn't have to search everywhere for bone-refining methods in the future."

Hong Yi stood in the snow, following Bai Ziyue's guidance, practicing the punches and kicks move by move, moving his limbs. Whenever there was a mistake, Bai Ziyue would immediately correct it, meticulous and precise.

Hong Yi caught it with both hands and took a few sips. His whole body felt warm, the fragrance reaching his nostrils, and his entire body felt much more comfortable.

"This is the essence of the Great Zen Temple's thousand-year martial arts. It places special emphasis on foundational techniques, so among the thousands of martial arts in the world, none can compare to this set of Ox Demon Great Strength Fist. When the Great Gan Dynasty destroyed the Great Zen Temple, they did not manage to get their hands on this set of techniques; otherwise, the strength of the Great Gan Army would likely have increased by another level."

"Really?" Bai Ziyue's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise. "The long sword spans the nine wilds, the high crown supports the dark firmament, walking alone in a sage-bright world, the four seas call me a hero. These four lines of poetry are inherently vigorous and heroic; can you compose a poem even more magnificent than this?"

Bai Ziyue seemed to have remembered something, his eyes looking like smoke and clouds as he spoke.

"I live in the north. The Bai family of the Yuantu Dynasty." Bai Ziyue looked into the distance.

"You are leaving?" Hong Yi was stunned.

"Hmm? Can the spirit, having reached the realm of object manipulation, actually move nearly one hundred thousand books?" Hong Yi was stunned.

"Originally, with your body, Hong Yi, even three years of hard training might not have brought you to the level of a martial artist. But drinking my wine has laid a foundation for you, giving you the basis for self-practice. It is a pity that our few days together must come to an end." Bai Ziyue's expression was somewhat desolate.

This Martial Classic consisted of dozens of volumes, and Hong Yi had not finished reading them all these days. In these few days, the joints in Xiao Shu's throat had loosened, and she had learned to speak human language.

"Then Ziyue, how will you help them move these books?" Hong Yi asked again.

Cultivating both life and soul, attaining the Yang God or becoming a Human Immortal—judging by Bai Ziyue's words, neither could transcend, and furthermore, it seemed that no one in this world had reached the level of Yang God or Human Immortal.

"The sky is not early anymore. If you wait until it gets dark, you won't be able to get out of the mountains. We part today, but one day we will meet again. When that time comes, we will drink and discuss literature and martial arts again." Bai Ziyue suddenly laughed loudly, singing a song of the Wine God, and walked into the mountain forest step by step.

"Haha, good wine is only worth drinking with a soulmate. Just for the poem you gifted me, it is worth ten gourds of 'Jade Nectar'." Bai Ziyue did not take the wine gourd back, but instead pinched the long locks of hair at his temples with his hand, his eyes looking forward.

The mountain forest and secluded valley were bright with sunlight reflected off the snow, with almost no dark corners. Bai Ziyue tossed the wine gourd over.

"Then I will not decline."