Inside Qinghe Palace.
Beams of light slanted through, illuminating the surrounding colorful murals.
A gilded golden statue of the God of Wealth sat in the center, draped in a green robe, wearing a crown, and holding a Ruyi.
Below, a few Daoists and worshippers knelt on prayer mats, gently kowtowing and reciting scriptures.
Among them, a young Daoist held his left hand over his right, fist clenched, bowing in worship.
This was a gesture used by Daoists to worship the gods, symbolizing embracing yin and holding yang.
"Junior Brother Zhang is truly devout. Every time he returns from patrol, he always comes to the hall to worship."
A nearby Literary Cultivator senior brother, having finished his worship, smiled and said softly.
The young Daoist worshiping had a rosy complexion, a strong build, and a somewhat delicate appearance. It was none other than Zhang Rongfang, who had just taken something from someone by mid-mountain.
"Senior brother is joking. I’m just showing gratitude to the God of Wealth for his blessings. Having acquired some floating wealth, I feel more at ease worshiping," Zhang Rongfang said seriously.
"Did you pick up some money?" the senior brother laughed.
Zhang Rongfang shook his head, "Just a little bit."
After worshiping the God of Wealth, he stood up, nodded to the Daoists around, respectfully saluted the Hall Master nearby, and then turned to leave.
As he exited the main hall, Zhang Rongfang took a look.
The entire Daoist palace had disciples coming and going, hurrying back and forth.
The cultivating disciples strolled leisurely, much more at ease.
The elder Daoist Masters and stewards mostly carried themselves with dignity, their demeanor reflecting a grand elegance as they walked.
Finally, there were the worshippers who came to the main hall to pray.
From the mountain gate to the God of Wealth Hall, the Spirit Official Hall, and the Profound Heart Hall, three different-sized streams of people formed.
Among them, the Profound Heart Hall had the most people.
Among the visitors, there were those dressed in luxurious garments and others in poverty and misfortune.
Occasionally, when a person of wealth appeared, they were guided aside by a Daoist for special reception.
Most of them came to the Profound Heart Hall seeking peace.
Zhang Rongfang paused, looking at the struggling faces of the common worshippers, understanding in his heart.
Nowadays, government officials are corrupt, with collusion between bureaucrats and merchants everywhere. Landlords and official families conspire together, oppressing the common people.
If not for his elder sister Zhang Rongyu seeking Daoist status for him, he might have ended up in the same position as them today.
Perhaps even worse.
Sighing silently, Zhang Rongfang quickly headed down the mountain.
Today’s gains happen to be fitting to buy various other prescriptions.
First, he would report to his master Xiao Rong. Nowadays, Xiao Qingying was mostly accompanied by another servant disciple.
For him, Zhang Rongfang felt vaguely wary.
Therefore, his leave request was approved at once.
To this, Zhang Rongfang had nothing to say, especially since last time when he used a hunting trap to kill two mountain bandits, there were too many suspicious points.
No matter how one looked at him, he was not simply as straightforward and brave as he appeared.
An hour later, Zhang Rongfang had bought eight kinds of blood-tonifying prescriptions from various pharmacies in Huaxin County.
From the old guy Zheng Zhonglin, not only did he retrieve his own money, but he also obtained an additional fifty taels.
With the 170 taels given by his elder sister and brother-in-law, he had a total of 220 taels!
For Zhang Rongfang, who previously only had five taels, this was undoubtedly a huge fortune.
He planned to convert it all into attribute points to enhance himself as quickly as possible.
In the severely hierarchical and harsh country of the Great Spirit, only by becoming strong could one truly have a say.
After buying a large package of medicine, Zhang Rongfang surged with vitality, rushing back to Qinghe Palace and, without saying a word, began to brew the medicine.
Since Xiao Rong no longer trusted him much, he simply focused on his own tasks.
As long as Xiao Rong didn’t actively seek him out, he wouldn’t go over.
For the next half a month, Zhang Rongfang practiced daily martial arts, spending his time brewing medicine and training, apart from morning and evening lessons.
Golden Blood Pill, Qi-dissolving Soup, Six-Flavor Kidney Soup, Bright Stomach Soup....
Each prescription had different medicinal effects.
Some, like the Golden Blood Pill, directly replenished the blood. Others, like the Qi-dissolving Soup, mainly replenished Qi and indirectly replenished blood, while others enhanced digestive capabilities to help replenish blood.
Each prescription had a different approach, and Zhang Rongfang tried them all, finally determining that the Hong Qi Soup was the most effective for him.
This formula primarily replenished blood and supplemented Qi, yielding the best results.
Once he confirmed its efficacy, he exchanged all his silver for packages of Hong Qi Soup.
This prescription could significantly shorten his time for accumulating attribute points to about one point every ten days.
And the Hong Qi Soup bought with all the money was enough to last three months!
Three months would be enough to accumulate nine points!
Time flew by, and it was the end of November.
Zhang Rongfang splashed a basin of water outward.
Nearby, Dong Dafang was practicing diligently in his room, his fists and feet making powerful whooshing sounds that could be heard from outside.
Caring the basin back to his room, Zhang Rongfang glanced at the attribute bar at the bottom of his vision.
These exercises left him quite at a loss.
Another attribute point had accumulated.
But....
The Mountain-shaped Talisman couldn’t be increased further.
He wasn’t sure if the next stage of the Mountain-shaped Talisman required more attribute points or if the Mountain-shaped Talisman could only be increased to this level.
The thirty-two forms of the Mountain-shaped Talisman in Zhang Rongfang’s heart had become instinctive, like practicing for many years.
His understanding of each move far surpassed the past.
Moreover, his physical progress had reached the level of muscle forging.
Yet, without comparing strength with outsiders, he didn’t know his actual combat strength among the Martial Cultivators in muscle forging.
Zhang Rongfang pondered this and glanced at the attribute bar again.
The plus sign behind the Mountain-shaped Talisman was still there.
He suspected that this Talismanic Skill could still be improved, but it required more attribute points, not just one.
At this point, he walked to the bedside, picked up a bowl of freshly heated medicinal soup from the table, and gulped it down.
After drinking, he grabbed the coarse grain buns and dried meat brought from the canteen, stuffing them into his mouth, chewing and swallowing.
As he ate, he pondered, perhaps now he could slowly show his progress in order to acquire the second method of practicing Talismanic Skill.
’The teaching of the Rejuvenation Purification Talisman Manual can only be obtained from Xiao Rong. But Xiao Rong seems to have a problem with his mind, he suspects me now and no longer trusts me.
I need to come up with a way to see if I can obtain martial arts from other places.’
The strict discipline of Qinghe Palace made Zhang Rongfang slightly worried, he began to consider whether he should find another martial arts practice apart from the Rejuvenation Purification Talisman Manual.
Just before he could think of a way, a warm current suddenly gathered in his chest and abdomen.
At this crucial moment, new attribute points actually started to coalesce!
He was slightly stunned, then swiftly looked at the attribute bar.
’Zhang Rongfang—Life: 13-13.
Skills: Rejuvenation Purification Talisman Manual - Mountain-shaped Talisman (complete), Void Observation Skill (First Layer refined aperture).
Available attributes: 2.’
"The increase in life limit is due to my own training during this period, and the new attribute point... can it be used to enhance the Mountain-shaped Talisman now?"
He hesitated a bit, then tried to concentrate once more, imagining lightly touching the plus sign after the Mountain-shaped Talisman.
Sss.
This time, a slight noise seemed to sound in his mind.
The words after the Mountain-shaped Talisman instantly disappeared.
This time, Zhang Rongfang only felt his body slightly tighten, his entire qi and blood rapidly circulating.
Aside from fever, there were no other symptoms.
Soon, the attribute bar was updated.
’Zhang Rongfang—Life: 15-15.
Skills: Rejuvenation Purification Talisman Manual - Mountain-shaped Talisman (limit-breaking) (Limit-Breaking Skill: Heavy Mountain), Void Observation Skill (First Layer refined aperture).
Available attributes: 0.’
"Life increased by two points! There’s also a Limit-Breaking Skill!?" Zhang Rongfang opened his eyes wide.
He had never heard of any Limit-Breaking Skill?
Breaking through a limit once was considered entry-level, but among entry-level Martial Cultivators, neither Zhang Xintai nor Zhao Dacong had ever mentioned any Limit-Breaking Skill.
Before he could recover from the shock.
A sudden torrent of memories surged into his mind.
Zhang Rongfang clutched his head with both hands, bowing his head and unable to suppress a light groan of pain.
In his memory, he frantically trained the Mountain-shaped Talisman day and night, ultimately, in a moment of accident suddenly breaking the limit, breaking his own limits.
And at the same time, all the moves of the Mountain-shaped Talisman he practiced, in that instant, fused into a state because they were too perfect.
In that state, he unexpectedly comprehended a special technique named Heavy Mountain.
This technique could explode at a speed and power beyond his own by seventy to eighty percent in one move, with astonishing power.
After more than ten minutes, the pain in his mind gradually weakened.
His physique also changed once again, from previously being only slightly solid to becoming extremely robust, especially his arms, muscles knotted, resembling tree roots when exerted.
’Is this the effect of Heavy Mountain?’
Zhang Rongfang raised both arms, clenched his fists, feeling his strength even greater than before.
But the increase was not much; the biggest change was still in his skin.
He reached out and touched his skin, the surface seemed to be covered with a thin layer of keratin, flexible and elastic, relatively coarse.
Standing up, he lightly punched the ground.
No pain at all.
"Is this the effect after breaking the limit?"
Zhang Rongfang carefully checked other parts of his body, but unfortunately, other places did not have this phenomenon, only the arms. Knees, insteps, soles.
’Isn’t this similar to the calluses that naturally cover those who trained a lot in the past life?’
He suddenly realized.
At this point, he looked at the attribute bar again, and the plus sign after the Mountain-shaped Talisman finally disappeared.
This should mean it can’t be further improved.
"Too weak...." Zhang Rongfang was slightly disappointed.
"Except for a few parts, other places have defensive power no different from ordinary people, at best having more muscle and fat, able to withstand more. No wonder high-grade experts can’t beat young experts when they age."
Although the improvement wasn’t as strong as he expected, the sudden rise to the entry level made Zhang Rongfang inexplicably eager.
Hiding his strength, suppressing his endurance for so long, his martial power has never been showcased, now finally reaching entry-level, he finally has a bit of self-protection power.
He also couldn’t help but want to try a bit.
It’s just that there’s no opportunity.
From starting martial arts practice to now, it’s been just one year.
Entering the ranks in one year, this speed is even more exaggerated than talents like Zhou Ze.
"Perhaps I can slightly increase the progress, moreover, I urgently need actual combat practice now to improve martial arts experience. Otherwise, no matter how high I practice, being hit on a weak spot means death."
Zhang Rongfang considered realistically.
Without combat experience, high martial prowess can easily suffer losses.
"Maybe, later I can go and probe with Senior Sister."
No matter what Xiao Rong’s situation is, Zhao Dacong is still fairly down-to-earth and takes care of junior brothers and sisters.
Soon, lunch break ended, and Zhang Rongfang immediately went to the practice ground to find Zhao Dacong.
Usually in her free time, Zhao Dacong would be practicing martial arts in the Martial Cultivation ground, striving for faster breakthroughs.
She was born with great strength, combined with such hard practice, now entering the second tier was normal.
When Zhang Rongfang found her, Zhao Dacong was dueling with a yellow-faced Daoist whose eyes were blank.
The two were encircled by the other Daoists sparsely, standing in the center, fists and palms turning almost into shadows, dueling extremely fast.
The constant cracking sounds of strikes continued to explode, Zhang Rongfang, standing ten meters away, could feel a slight breeze brought up by their fists and feet.
The winter sun was thin and whitish, the dust arising from their clash floated and scattered in the dry air.
This highlighted the intensity of their competition.
"What’s going on? Who is Senior Sister Zhao dueling with?" Zhang Rongfang saw Li Fuhua standing in the crowd, then leaned over to ask softly.
He, Dong Dafang, Xu Mingyu, Li Fuhua, the four were always a small group practicing martial arts together.
Also counted as huddling together among many small groups to avoid being bullied.
Li Fuhua was still practicing the Mountain-shaped Talisman, just beginning recently. But she was different from the black-skinned Xu Mingyu, usually having good relationships, and relatively well-informed.