Breakthrough!

Over the next few days, Mo Yun's life was steady and fulfilling.

He worked in the Spirit Herb Garden during the day and squeezed in practice with the Nameless Fist Technique after finishing his chores. At night, he went to the Rear Mountain to cultivate, as unfailingly as clockwork.

As for the Tiger-Crouching Force, he set it aside for the time being.

The only change was that he now set aside a little time each night to cultivate using the breathing method of the Tiger-Breathing Art.

He wasn't trying to gain initial mastery, but to maintain that sense of resonance with the Spirit-Intent Diagram.

He found that doing so could nurture the wisp of force energy within him to some extent, making it more active.

Several days passed in the blink of an eye.

That evening, Mo Yun went to the Rear Mountain as usual. He practiced the Tiger-Crouching Stance for a while, then began practicing the Nameless Fist Technique.

On his third run through, he suddenly stopped.

"Something's different..."

He closed his eyes and carefully sensed the changes within his body.

A moment later, he opened his eyes, delight spreading across his face.

"The Black Seal is almost full!"

He raised his wrist and looked at the Black-and-White Seal.

Light swirled through its black portion, which was already over ninety percent full. Only the final sliver remained.

"At this rate, I'll be able to condense another Black Point tomorrow morning!"

Mo Yun took a deep breath, forcing down his excitement.

Together with the Black Point he had saved earlier, that would make two.

Two Black Points were just enough to advance the Tiger-Crouching Stance from First Glimpse of the Way to Minor Accomplishment!

"Once my stance training advances, my cultivation should naturally reach mid bright strength."

He grinned, his eyes brimming with anticipation.

Although mid bright strength was only one minor realm above early bright strength, the difference in power was considerable.

Most importantly, once his cultivation reached mid bright strength, he could begin tempering his tendons and bones.

If he then took the Dragon-Tiger Pill Commander Li had given him, his body would become significantly stronger, and his fist techniques would unleash even greater power.

"It'll be full first thing tomorrow morning, and the Guard Examination doesn't start until seven. I'll just make it in time."

Mo Yun took a deep breath, calmed himself, and continued practicing.

The next day, Mo Yun arrived at the Martial Training Ground early to practice, just as always.

"I'll take a Qi-Blood Pill, then practice. The Black Seal should be full in an hour..."

As usual, he swallowed a Qi-Blood Pill, then practiced the Nameless Fist Technique.

About an hour later, he sensed something and raised his wrist to look at the Black-and-White Seal.

Light swirled through the black portion. It was now completely full!

Immediately afterward, the black radiance flared, transforming into specks of starlight that streamed into the space between his brows.

The Black Seal emptied, resetting to zero.

With a thought, Mo Yun summoned the virtual panel.

[Available points: Black 2, White 0]

"Two Black Points. I can advance now!"

Mo Yun took a deep breath, forcing down his excitement.

Without hesitation, he chose to add points to the Tiger-Crouching Stance!

Add points!

He focused his mind on the plus sign after the Tiger-Crouching Stance and silently issued the command.

The number of Black Points in the available points field flickered, changing from 2 to 0.

The next instant, that familiar sensation welled up again.

A torrent of memories flooded his mind-

They were memories of him practicing the Tiger-Crouching Stance day after day, beneath the blazing sun, through wind and rain, and amid heavy snow.

His legs were rooted to the ground, his knees slightly bent, his shoulders lowered and elbows sunk, his chest drawn in and back extended.

He held the stance for hours at a time, sweat streaming like a waterfall, his legs shaking like chaff in a sieve, his lower back aching as though it would snap.

Yet he always gritted his teeth and endured, never missing a single day.

One month, two months, half a year, a year...

He could clearly feel his legs growing thicker, his back and waist becoming more solid, his spine becoming tougher, and his blood qi surging through his body like great rivers.

Those memories of stance training seemed etched into his bones, becoming his body's instinct.

At the same time, a powerful warm current appeared within him out of nowhere.

It sank into his dantian, merged into his bones, and seeped into his flesh.

He could clearly feel his legs heating up, his waist burning hot, and his spine trembling slightly. Every muscle in his body was being transformed and strengthened.

His foundation was being reinforced, tamped ever more firmly into place.

The entire process lasted several dozen breaths.

Several dozen breaths later, everything settled.

Mo Yun opened his eyes.

He looked down at his body. Outwardly, nothing seemed to have changed, but the sense of power within him was far greater than before!

He took a deep breath and summoned the virtual panel with a thought.

The pale blue panel appeared before his eyes, its information having quietly changed.

[Physique 6.6, Life 2, Defense 4.3, Spiritual power 0]

[Martial arts: Nameless Fist Technique (Minor Accomplishment), Tiger-Crouching Fist (Minor Accomplishment), Tiger-Crouching Stance (Minor Accomplishment), Tiger-Crouching Force (not yet initiated)]

[Current cultivation: mid bright strength]

[Special ability: pill dao (not yet initiated)]

[Available points: Black 0, White 0]

His physique had jumped straight from 5.6 to 6.6-a full 1.0 increase!

His defense had risen from 3.6 to 4.3, an increase of 0.7!

His cultivation field had also changed from early bright strength to mid bright strength!

"It worked!"

Mo Yun clenched his fists, feeling the terrifying power coursing through his body. The corners of his mouth rose despite himself.

He could clearly feel that his strength had more than doubled. His flesh and bones were more solid, his aura more robust.

"Let's test its power!"

Mo Yun walked up to a tree with a trunk as thick as a bowl's rim, settled into his stance, and threw a punch!

Fierce Tiger Descends the Mountain!

Boom!

The wind of his punch howled, a muffled explosion ringing through the air, far louder than before!

His fist struck the trunk. The tree shook violently, leaves showering down, and a deep fist imprint remained in the wood!

"Good!"

Mo Yun's eyes lit up. He threw a few more punches, each flowing more smoothly than the last.

He could feel it-with his current strength, he could kill five oxen with a single punch!

"I'm terrifyingly strong now!"

Mo Yun withdrew his fist and stood upright, letting out a long breath of stale air, his face full of smiles.

He raised his wrist and looked at the White Mark.

Light swirled through the white portion. It had filled considerably more than before and was now approaching the two-thirds mark.

"Advancing my stance training really did charge the White Mark quite a bit. I'm not far from condensing a White Point now!"

Keep practicing!

Mo Yun loosened his muscles and joints. He was about to resume practicing the Nameless Fist Technique when his gaze happened to sweep across the special ability field on the panel.

[Special ability: pill dao (not yet initiated)]

He paused, his brows drawing together slightly.

"I still haven't gained initial mastery of the pill dao..."

Although he had learned a fair amount about medicinal principles while working in the Spirit Herb Garden these past few days, Zhou Bo and Liu Niang clearly wouldn't teach him a core skill like pill refining.

After all, he was only a menial worker. Being allowed to learn some basic medicinal knowledge was already an exception. How could he possibly gain access to actual pill-refining techniques?

"I'll be leaving the Spirit Herb Garden soon. Who knows whether I'll have another chance to learn the pill dao..."

Mo Yun shook his head and stopped dwelling on it.

"Forget it. I'll let things take their course. My priority is to train in martial arts first. Everything else can wait."

He took a deep breath and continued practicing the Nameless Fist Technique.