While Fang Shu studied the formulas from the coffin outside the Hundred Thousand Mountains and reaped considerable rewards,
deep within the Hundred Thousand Mountains, Wu Zhibai sat in a cavern chamber, studying those same formulas.
Her progress was astonishingly even faster than Fang Shu's. In little more than a month, countless insights had arisen in her mind, and she had worked through the Myriad Gu Scripture from beginning to end.
Such speed could hardly be explained by the Mystic Script's direct transmission alone.
After a long time, Wu Zhibai emerged from her state of contemplation, her face dazed.
Studying for so long without food or drink—and studying a Refining Spirit inheritance at that—had taken a considerable toll even on her body at Foundation Establishment perfection. Her face was pale, her lips dry.
Yet once she recovered her senses, her face held nothing but delight, without a trace of weariness. Had she been able to, she would gladly have immersed herself in that state for several more months, or even half a year.
"With these formulas in hand, my attainment of a golden core is assured," she said.
After reveling in her delight for a while, a few traces of hesitation appeared on her face. They concerned several passages of the Myriad Gu Scripture that she had yet to understand thoroughly.
Wu Zhibai pondered, intending to rest a little before fully unraveling those remaining mysteries.
But before she could rest, her expression changed again. She immediately calculated on her fingers, her brows drawing tight.
Her calculations revealed that, although she had fled more than ten thousand li, that elusive sense of danger still had not faded.
In other words, someone was probably still tracking her.
Conflict flashed across Wu Zhibai's face. Soon, she made her decision. "There's no time to lose.