Zhongnan Mountain

Zu Hao found a dry, level boulder, brushed away the dust on its surface, and sat down cross-legged.

He focused his mind and calmed his breath, then flipped through the scripture, committing the several thousand characters of its contents and the cultivation diagrams to memory one by one.

After confirming that nothing had been missed, he took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and began guiding his internal energy according to the method recorded in the manual.

At first, the Nine Yin true energy in his dantian sea of qi—somewhat cold and chaotic due to being cultivated too quickly—began to develop a trace of warmth under the impetus of the Nine Yang cultivation method, like a thawing glacier.

This warmth was gentle as a spring fountain. It rose from his dantian and slowly traveled upward along the Conception Vessel. Wherever it passed, his meridians swelled slightly, yet brought with it an indescribable comfort.

Several acupoints that had often been blocked by the conflicting natures of his true energy actually showed signs of loosening beneath the wash of this warm current.

As his cultivation deepened, that trace of warmth gradually grew stronger, transforming into a surging torrent of heat.

An ordinary martial artist would have had to proceed with the utmost caution at this point, afraid that excessive yang fire would damage their meridians.

Yet with mental cultivation and a physique far surpassing ordinary people, Zu Hao controlled this torrent of heat with complete ease.

The current rushed like molten lava, yet obediently followed a set route. With every full circulation, it became a little more condensed.

His previously insubstantial true energy was repeatedly tempered within this "great furnace." Its differing attributes gradually fused, becoming pure and solid.

Zu Hao forgot both himself and the world, wholly immersed in the profound process of his internal energy's transformation.

Time was unknowable within the cave. Only the true energy in his body flowed like surging rivers.

After completing thirty-six major circulations, misty white vapor seeped from the pores all over his body, lingering around him like clouds and fog.

Even the temperature inside the cave rose noticeably.

"Hiss—"

Zu Hao suddenly opened his eyes. A sharp gleam flashed through them like lightning, illuminating the dim cave.

He exhaled a long breath that remained condensed rather than dispersing, leaving a faint mark on the stone wall more than ten feet away.

He slowly rose to his feet, feeling as light as a feather. With the slightest exertion, the true energy within him moved as readily as his own limbs.

More importantly, the Nine Yin and Nine Yang true energies had not merely been stacked together. Under some mysterious balance, they formed a mutually reinforcing yin-yang harmony, allowing hardness and softness to shift seamlessly.

"This scripture truly accords with the fundamental principles of heaven and earth."

Zu Hao clapped his hands in praise, but he was not complacent.

He could clearly sense that several crucial barriers remained unbroken. To reach complete mastery, he would still need time to polish his cultivation.

As he returned the scripture to his storage space, he deliberately glanced at the white ape that was still sleeping soundly.

Even the beast's breathing faintly followed a certain rhythm. It had clearly been nourished by the spiritual energy of this place for years and was no ordinary creature.

Zu Hao smiled faintly and did not linger, his figure darting out of the cave like a wisp of smoke.

On the cliff platform, he looked up at the sheer cliff face. With a thought, his psychic power enveloped his entire body, and he rose into the air like an immortal.

Within a few breaths, he had reached the top of the cliff.

By the time he returned to Zhu Wu Linked Rings Manor, it was already dusk.

The manor's lamps had just been lit. Zhang Wuji was pacing anxiously in the courtyard, and upon seeing Zu Hao return, he hurried over. "Big Brother Zu, you're finally back."

"Mm."

Zu Hao nodded slightly, took out four scripture volumes from his storage space, and handed them over. "This is the Nine Yang Manual. Cultivate according to its methods, and not only will your cold poison be cured, but your future achievements will be limitless."

Zhang Wuji accepted the scriptures with trembling hands, his eyes reddening as he prepared to kneel. "Big Brother Zu, this kindness is no different from giving me a new life. Please accept a bow from Wuji."

"Don't bother with that empty formality."

Zu Hao reached out to support him and smiled. "If you feel bad about it, give me the Seven Damage Fist manual for study. We'll call it an exchange."

"No problem."

Zhang Wuji was even more moved by this, silently thinking to himself.

Big Brother Zu must be afraid that I'll feel indebted, so he deliberately proposed an exchange. Such thoughtfulness is truly rare in this world.

It was only because Zhang Wuji was a man. Otherwise, he would probably have thought of repaying the debt with his body.

The two exchanged martial arts manuals.

"The qi of the Five Elements regulates yin and yang, damaging the heart, injuring the lungs, destroying the liver and intestines. The essence stored within departs, the mind grows dazed; the Triple Burner reverses as one, and the soul takes flight..."

After Zu Hao listened to Zhang Wuji recite the cultivation mnemonic, the system prompt sounded in his mind at just the right moment:

[Reversible martial art detected.]

[Seven Damage Fist: Kongtong Sect's inherited martial art. This fist technique contains seven distinct forces. Its practitioner must possess profound internal energy before cultivating it; otherwise, it will backlash against their internal organs.]

[Side effect: The seven formulas, such as the "Heart-Damaging Formula" and "Lung-Injuring Formula," correspond to the yin-yang qi of the human body's Five Elements. Anyone unable to fully neutralize the fist force will suffer internal injuries. The deeper the fist power, the greater the harm to oneself.]

[Negative reversal: With each deeper level of fist force, the corresponding internal organ is strengthened, ultimately attaining a state of harmonized yin, yang, and Five Elements.]

A flash of delight passed through Zu Hao's eyes.

After being transformed by the system, this fist technique had actually become an exceptional method for tempering the five internal organs.

Over the following days, Zu Hao focused on cultivating the Seven Damage Fist, strengthening his physique and fortifying his internal organs.

His future cultivation would proceed even more smoothly afterward.

During this journey through the world of The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, Zu Hao had already obtained nearly everything he wanted.

As for the Dragon-Slaying Saber, the Holy Fire Token, and Tai Chi Fist, they were dispensable to Zu Hao.

After giving it some thought, Zu Hao summoned Zhang Wuji, Zhou Zhiruo, and Yin Li.

"Wuji, tomorrow I'll send you back to Wudang."

"As for Zhiruo and Yin Li..."

Zu Hao turned toward the two women standing quietly beneath the corridor. "You are women, after all, and it is inconvenient for you to keep following me. The martial arts of Zhongnan Mountain's Ancient Tomb Sect follow a different path. They also possess the complete Nine Yin Manual, which is most suitable for women to cultivate. I plan to send you there for further study."

Zhou Zhiruo bit her lower lip lightly and said softly, "Brother Zu, I want to stay with you. Don't abandon Zhiruo, all right?"

That single "Brother Zu" was enough to make one's bones go soft.

Yin Li also looked reluctant to part with him, gazing at Zu Hao with pitiful eyes.

"Parting today is for a better reunion tomorrow. Cultivate well, and there will always come a day when we meet again."

Zu Hao did not know whether the Ancient Tomb Sect would accept Zhou Zhiruo and Yin Li. He was merely going to try.

If they would not, then he would find somewhere else to settle them.

Seeing that Zu Hao had made up his mind, Zhou Zhiruo and Yin Li were reluctant, but they did not make a fuss. They simply treasured their remaining time together all the more.

They set out the next day. Everyone's martial arts had improved, and their pace was much faster.

Moreover, Zu Hao occasionally used his psychic power to carry the three of them through the air for part of the journey.

In less than ten days, they arrived at Zhongnan Mountain.

Upon ascending the mountain, they saw that the temples were in ruins, long since stripped of their former splendor.

The Quanzhen Sect of Zhongnan Mountain had once been the foremost sect in the martial world. At the height of its glory, even Shaolin had to avoid its edge.

Unfortunately, when the Mongols invaded, the Quanzhen Sect resisted to the death. In the end, it was surrounded and slaughtered by the army. Only a small number escaped and established the Mount Hua Sect, after which it gradually declined.

The Ancient Tomb Sect, however, had escaped disaster due to its unique terrain and survived intact.

The group arrived at the rear mountain.

There, amid peaks encircling a secluded valley, strange flowers and exotic grasses grew everywhere, cut off from the outside world.

Zu Hao had Zhang Wuji wait outside the valley while he led Zhou Zhiruo and Yin Li inside.

They saw more than ten young girls in white gathered around a young woman in yellow, practicing musical instruments. The flute melodies were clear and the zither notes melodious, though the occasional off-key sound was mixed in.

The young woman appeared to be about sixteen. Her beauty was pure and otherworldly, but she was currently frowning as she instructed them, "The Pure Heart Benevolent Mantra values artistic conception above all else. If you are this impatient, how can you bring out the charm of an orchid blooming in an empty valley?"

At her words, several of the girls burst into aggrieved sobs, leaving the young woman in yellow utterly flustered.

Watching this scene, Zu Hao recalled how stunning they had been when they appeared in the novel. The corners of his mouth rose so high that even an AK couldn't force them down.

"Sure enough, one minute on stage takes ten years of work offstage!"

Just to show off at the Lion-Slaying Assembly, who knew how many two-and-a-half-year stretches they had secretly practiced through? It truly had not been easy.

Thinking about it, that made sense. Without professional training, how could they possibly have stunned the entire audience?