White Bone Spirit Refining Observation

"Also, do not mention my hunting of the wolves in the mountains to anyone from other villages."

"Take advantage of this time to gather more mountain delicacies and game to supplement your household income."

Hearing Li Beichen's instructions, the village head was deeply moved.

"Beichen, I never expected that even after you succeeded, you wouldn't forget the village. We are truly ashamed."

"The village has treated me well. When I drifted here, it was you, Village Head, who handled my household registration and travel permits, allowing me to settle down in Ram City."

Li Beichen waved his hand, offering no further explanation; although his primary goal was to hunt Exotic Beast Meat for himself, the result for the villagers of Clear Creek Village remained the same.

Furthermore, he did not require any compensation.

"Enough talk. Village Head, organize the able-bodied men, take the hunting dogs, and head into the mountains quickly to bring back the wolf carcasses."

"I need to hurry back to Ram City, so I will say no more."

Li Beichen bid farewell to the people of Clear Creek Village.

He then borrowed an ox cart, loaded the Black Wolf carcass and the other wolf pelts, and covered them with a straw mat.

He drove the ox cart straight toward Ram City.

Flaunting this prey, especially the Black Wolf, through the streets would bring him no benefits, only trouble.

Although Li Beichen's current strength meant he did not fear an ordinary Rank 8 martial artist, it was best to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Having fled from Bing Province, Li Beichen had seen too many incidents sparked by the exposure of a single meal.

Do not flaunt your wealth.

It is an unbreakable truth.

Returning to Jinglong District, Li Beichen stayed alone in the backyard, dismantling the Black Wolf's pelt and bones.

He scraped the Exotic Beast Meat clean from the carcass and preserved it with ice.

After weighing it, he found this Rank 9 exotic beast had provided him with over eighty catties of meat.

Li Beichen ate a piece.

The quality and effect were similar to the Rank 9 Exotic Beast Meat he had purchased from the Black Market.

All the essence was condensed within the flesh and blood.

At his current realm, consuming three taels a day was sufficient for his needs.

This would last him a long time.

Even if he were to break through to Rank 8 later, he would have no shortage of Exotic Beast Meat for the foreseeable future.

As for the bones, Li Beichen did not intend to waste them; he planned to use them to make broth.

As for the pelts, Li Beichen naturally intended to use them to craft fur coats.

He had owned one before, but he had given it to Meng Juxiang as a gift for accepting him as a disciple.

Now, with so many wolf pelts, he had enough to tan several garments.

These items were perfect for gifting.

For instance, his senior brother Zhang Meng had taken great care of him, and Li Beichen planned to give him one once it was finished.

By the time the Exotic Beast Meat was processed, evening had arrived.

Li Beichen boiled a pot of rich soup using several Black Wolf bones, then added red chili oil and spices.

That night, he prepared a pot of bone-broth hotpot.

Tripe, fresh meat, sliced kidneys... everything was fresh.

Li Beichen feasted alone, sweating profusely as he ate.

These were parts from an exotic beast; only a martial artist who had entered the ranks would dare to eat like this.

Ordinary people could not handle such potent nourishment.

In this life, one must never let down their appetite for good food.

Early the next morning, Li Beichen went to invite an old scholar who was fond of studying ancient texts.

From now on, he would set aside time every day to study seal script and historical allusions.

Every day, Li Beichen would weave the obscure terminology from the White Bone Spirit Refining Observation into his questions to seek guidance.

Then, he would return to ponder the White Bone Spirit Refining Observation on the bone fragment.

Half a month later, the panel finally sent a notification.

[Technique: White Bone Spirit Refining Observation - Fragment (Beginner)]

[Progress: (0/100)]

[Trait: None]

Finally, I've made it through the door...

Li Beichen felt a sense of emotion; this was the longest it had ever taken him to master a technique or skill since he awakened his proficiency panel.

It was truly worthy of being the rarest type of mental martial art.

As long as he had crossed the threshold, Li Beichen was no longer overly concerned about the rest.

It was nothing more than a matter of grinding.

He prepared an extra gift of tuition and placed it before the old scholar.

"Old Sir, I do not intend to continue studying literature. This tuition is a small token of my appreciation; please, you must accept it."

Looking at Li Beichen, the old scholar let out a sigh.

"Li Beichen, your natural talent is the best I have ever seen. You can draw inferences about other cases from one instance and possess a photographic memory. If it were in the past... you would certainly have been a candidate for the jinshi degree."

"It is just a pity that in these times, the imperial court is weak, and scholars are useless."

"Very well..."

He picked up the tuition wrapped in red paper.

"This old man did not want to accept it... but my household is truly running out of food, so I shall shamelessly accept it."

"Sir, please do not say such things; it is merely this student's heart."

The founding emperor of the Liang Dynasty established the nation through martial prowess. Only during the peak of the Liang Dynasty, relying on a million-strong army arranged in battle formations, did they ever suppress martial artists and prioritize literature over martial arts.

This period lasted for a very short time.

In this world, which martial artist does not harbor a sharp blade and an innate desire to kill?

They could be suppressed for a time, but it was impossible to suppress them for a lifetime.

Sneak attacks, assassinations, and various other means ultimately caused the policy of prioritizing literature over martial arts to wither away without a trace.

In this world, great power belongs to the individual; studying literature is merely to serve martial arts.

It is difficult for a great martial artist capable of shattering mountains to wholeheartedly obey the commands of a scholar who lacks the strength to truss a chicken.

Unless that person's wisdom truly reaches the heavens and encompasses the earth.

However, if their wisdom were truly astonishing, why would they not practice martial arts?

Even if their body were flawed or their meridians blocked, they could still practice mental martial arts.

The world the old scholar hoped for was unlikely to ever appear in this reality.

Watching the old scholar depart, Li Beichen closed the door.

He began his first session of practicing the White Bone Spirit Refining Observation.

According to the records on the bone fragment:

Those with decent talent might be able to visualize it once during their first practice.

Those with superior talent, three times.

The top-tier, five times.

Li Beichen did not know how many times he could practice it.

But he felt he should not be lacking.

Because the bone fragment also recorded that consuming mental-type strange beasts could nourish the spirit and increase practice progress.

And he had eaten an entire Black-White Strange Pig.

On the bed, Li Beichen sat cross-legged, his eyes half-closed.

He began to follow the cultivation method of the White Bone Spirit Refining Observation, visualizing a peerless beauty in his mind.

Hands like tender reeds, skin like congealed fat.

Waist like a bound silk, teeth like hidden shells.

After visualizing such a peerless beauty, Li Beichen continued with the method of the White Bone Spirit Refining Observation.

He silently recited a passage of the heart mantra in his mind.

Suddenly, this beauty seemed to come to life, walking gracefully toward him.

Half-untying her robes.

Her eyes filled with affection.

She teased Li Beichen to the absolute limit.

However, having lived two lifetimes and endured all manner of hardships in this one, Li Beichen's will had long since been tempered into something incredibly resilient.

Restrain oneself, control the enemy.

Maintaining his clarity, Li Beichen continued to practice the White Bone Spirit Refining Observation.

Gradually, the beauty faded away, and Li Beichen's first session of cultivation came to an end.

Threads of realization welled up in his heart.

Li Beichen felt as though his spirit had been polished, becoming agile and sharp.

On his panel, the progress of the White Bone Spirit Refining Observation had quietly increased by 1.

That day, Li Beichen practiced a full ten times, only stopping when his spirit was so exhausted that he could no longer sustain the visualization of the beauty.