"Flying Swallow Chasing the Moon!"

"Returning Wind Settling the Wild Goose!"

"Flying Eaves, Splattering Snow!"

"..."

In the back courtyard, Han held the Hundred Forged Longsword, practicing the Taibai Sword Technique with great focus.

This sword was a gift from Bai Ruoyue, a standard weapon for Taibai disciples and one of the best among Hundred Forged weapons.

Bai Ruoyue observed Han’s practice, occasionally offering guidance.

"Junior Brother, your comprehension is quite impressive. You’ve made noticeable progress in the Taibai Sword Technique," she praised.

Han smiled. In the future, I’ll be a sword immortal!

"Even if a practitioner at the Flesh Refinement realm can't fully wield the Taibai Sword Technique's power, with such a profound skill, you won't be outclassed by any other Flesh Refinement practitioner when it comes to swordplay."

"By the way, how’s your progress with Aunt Mo?"

"Aunt Mo is very knowledgeable. In just half an hour this morning, she taught me a lot," Han said, genuinely impressed by Lu Qingmo’s wisdom.

"Good, I’m glad you’re learning," Bai Ruoyue replied. "Wait, since when are you calling her ‘Aunt Mo’?"

"She asked me to call her that."

"When did you two become so close?"

"Just today."

But you only met yesterday! And already, you’ve become so close?

Bai Ruoyue gave Han a side glance and said, "I was planning on letting you show off your talent in front of Aunt Mo, but since you two are getting along so well, I’ll stay out of it."

"I’ve already shown it," Han replied with a grin.

After observing Bai Ruoyue and the others during the day, Han made sure to show off his talents boldly, not holding back at all.

The more you show, the more attention you attract.

Pretending to be humble and then complaining about how the world is unfair is nothing but self-delusion.

Bai Ruoyue flicked Han’s sword lightly. "Hmph, you’re quite slippery."

That evening, Han left Taibai Martial Arts Academy, shaking his hand as he walked out.

In the end, he couldn’t escape the challenge from his Senior Brother, Shen Long.

The sparring match between the two ended in a draw—no harm, no loss of face.

Although it was a match, it felt more like guidance. Shen Long, for all his roughness, was quite respectful when it came to this.

Shen Long also handed Han a spirit herb he brought back from Black Mountain.

But Han's hand, after being grabbed by Shen Yu, was still aching.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Who says that brutes don’t have brains?

As soon as he entered his room, Han immediately began to visualize the Immortal Tree, dedicating his time after leaving the martial arts academy solely to soul cultivation.

Now, Han had completed most of the visualization. He hoped to finish it soon and achieve a state where his soul could leave his body and soar through the air!

During his visualization, Han lit a calming incense stick. Combined with the effect of the Jade Heart Pendant fragment, no distracting thoughts could affect him. His practice went smoothly.

At midnight sharp, Han started chopping trees.

"Day 8. Still 22 more days to go..."

One swing of his axe caused three glowing orbs to fall.

[Rare Item: Pure Soul Energy]

[Pure Soul Energy, free of any life marks. Once absorbed, it can enhance the soul and strengthen the spirit.]

[Rare Item: Sword Sharpening Stone]

[A sharpening stone that can increase a sword's grade. A one-time use item (max: Semi-Warrior Grade)]

[Material: Raw Stone]

[Contains a faint primordial force that can be used to forge weapons by perfectly blending with other materials.]

Two rare items, one material!

Han briefly looked at the Raw Stone before putting it away—no need for weapon forging materials just yet.

As for the Pure Soul Energy, Han quickly realized this wasn’t the first time he had encountered it.

After using the San Guang Fu Ling Mirror to defeat the ghost-like creature, he had obtained a glowing orb, which was essentially the same as this energy, just smaller.

However, this time, the energy was much larger.

"Pure Soul Energy... it’s perfect for me right now."

The Sword Sharpening Stone was quite intriguing. It could directly improve the sword’s grade, though there was a limit—it could only raise the sword to Semi-Warrior Grade. Still, that was impressive.

Han was pleased with his first tree-chopping result.

[Rare Pill: Qi Blood Pill]

[A pill that rapidly restores depleted Qi and blood.]

[Low-Grade Spirit Herb: Small Apple]

[Once consumed, it strengthens Qi and blood, enhancing physical strength.]

The second tree-chopping drop was a pill and a spirit herb, both useful for martial cultivation—a standard drop.

Han stored the items he didn’t need for now and absorbed the Pure Soul Energy, just like last time.

Inside his soul world, he noticed the "pond" in the center of his soul space expanding at a visible rate.

By the end, it had a diameter of at least fifty meters!

Of course, this growth wasn’t solely from the Pure Soul Energy; it was also due to his daily practice and cultivation.

"Good, good," Han thought, pleased with his progress.

Soul cultivation was essentially the process of expanding and evolving the soul. Mental strength, a byproduct of the soul, directly reflected its power and quality.

After consuming another spirit herb to aid his martial arts, Han dove into his Secret Martial Arts, fully absorbing the medicinal properties of the herb and the Qi from the Golden Core Pill.

His training efficiency had skyrocketed, and now, just one day of cultivation could replace several days before he obtained the Nine-Pointed Golden Core. His martial arts and soul cultivation both improved drastically.

Breaking through another realm in a short time seemed increasingly possible.

The next morning, Han visited Lu Qingmo again.

Today, Lu Qingmo wore a white dress—another new look.

To Han’s surprise, there was another person here.

"Aunt Mo."

Lu Qingmo nodded and introduced the girl, "Yun Duo, my disciple."

"Han, he’ll be learning here with me for a while."

Han greeted the girl, Yun Duo. She looked at him with great curiosity.

"Let’s begin," Lu Qingmo said, not wasting time on pleasantries.

Yun Duo, however, didn’t pay attention. Instead, she went off to do something else. As Lu Qingmo’s disciple, she clearly already knew the basic principles of Taoism.

Half an hour later, Han had solidified the teachings Lu Qingmo had passed on. He was about to leave when she called him.

"Wait a moment."

Yun Duo also approached.

"Han, do you remember your appointment with the Ghostly Affairs Bureau?"

Han nodded, already suspecting what Lu Qingmo was about to say.

"All matters related to cultivators within Black Cloud Town fall under my jurisdiction," Lu Qingmo explained. "Sometimes, I bring things directly from the Ghostly Affairs Bureau for Yun Duo to handle."

"Now, I have something for you. Will you help me?"

"I’m willing," Han said after a moment of thought, not rejecting her offer.

They’re slowly beginning to treat me like one of their own!

I like this; I don’t want to be an outsider to Aunt Mo!