After selecting the martial arts technique, Xu Taiping spent another ten merit coins to purchase a fine steel goose feather saber, a buffalo horn hardwood bow, and over a hundred arrows.
"Lord Xuanjing, I have made my selections."
In fact, Xu Taiping also wanted to buy a movement-type martial arts technique, but the cheapest one cost at least three hundred merit coins, which he could not afford.
"Once the items are selected, there are no returns. Tomorrow at noon, a spirit bird will deliver these items to Qingzhu Residence. Please prepare the merit coins."
The cold voice of the mirror spirit sounded again.
"Thank you, Lord Xuanjing."
Xu Taiping respectfully clasped his hands in front of the bronze mirror.
This day, at the hour of You.
In the quiet courtyard, the warm afternoon sunlight shone through the window, illuminating Xu Taiping's face, which was covered in sweat.
At this moment, Xu Taiping's eyes were tightly closed, and he was sitting cross-legged on the bed. Strands of lead-colored mist emanated from his body, eventually converging above his head.
At this moment, Xu Taiping had completely entered a state of self-forgetfulness, with only the thought of cultivation in his mind.
Following the guidance of Zizheng Zhenjun, cultivating at the hours of Zi, Wu, and You often achieved twice the result with half the effort. Therefore, every time these hours arrived, Xu Taiping would lock the courtyard gate and sit in meditation without fail.
At this moment, a burst of energy sounded from within Xu Taiping's body.
The lead-colored mist around him suddenly dispersed, and then strands of pure white mist rose from his body, converging above his head again.
If a cultivator who had practiced the "Residual Afterglow Technique" were present, they would recognize this scene, as it was the sign of a cultivator breaking through from the Condensation Dew stage to the Frost Transformation stage—washing away the leaden hues.
A moment later, Xu Taiping opened his eyes, his gaze filled with surprise.
Even he had not expected to break through to the Frost Transformation stage today, as according to Zizheng Zhenjun, he would need at least ten more days to achieve this breakthrough.
"Could it be that using the Residual Afterglow True Qi during my battle with the wolf demon accelerated my breakthrough?"
Xu Taiping speculated in his mind.
"Is Xu Taiping of Qingzhu Residence in the courtyard?"
Before he could think further, a familiar voice sounded from outside the room—Baihong, the white-headed eagle.
"Little guy, your items have arrived."
As soon as he stepped out of the courtyard gate, Xu Taiping saw Baihong squatting at the entrance, with a large wooden box sealed with a label in front of him.
Xu Taiping said happily and quickly walked over.
"Little guy, earning merit is not easy. At the end of the year, you still need to pay the regular fees to Xifeng Pavilion. Save where you can."
Baihong kindly reminded Xu Taiping.
"Don't worry, Uncle Bai. I know my limits. These are just some weapons and martial arts techniques for self-defense."
Baihong's kindness made Xu Taiping feel very warm.
"As long as you know your limits."
After the incident of purchasing the wolf demon's bones and flesh yesterday, his impression of Xu Taiping had improved significantly, and he no longer treated him as a stranger among the outer sect disciples.
"Your True Qi seems more refined than yesterday. Could it be that you have made a breakthrough?"
Baihong suddenly looked at Xu Taiping seriously.
"That's right, Uncle Bai. My Residual Afterglow True Qi has reached the Frost Transformation stage. Once I break through to the Ice Formation stage, I can attempt to break through to the Gate Opening stage."
Xu Taiping did not hide this from Baihong.
Baihong nodded in approval.
He had seen Xu Taiping's diligence, so he was not very surprised.
"Continue to cultivate diligently. Even at the Ice Formation stage, you only have the qualifications to attempt the Gate Opening stage. Do not become complacent."
He then warned Xu Taiping.
"I will remember Uncle Bai's advice."
Xu Taiping clasped his hands and bowed seriously.
"Go back and cultivate. After delivering your items today, I need to accompany the Four Peaks Elder on a trip out of the mountain. I may not return for a few months."
Baihong spread his wings and rose from the ground after saying this.
"Accompanying the Four Peaks Elder out of the mountain... Could it be to subdue demons in the secular world?"
Watching Baihong's departing figure, Xu Taiping suddenly felt excited.
According to the transmission jade slip, the disciples and elders of the Seven Peaks receive many missions from outside the mountain each month. Completing these missions earns a large amount of merit.
Just a single mission from outside the mountain can earn over a thousand merit points, which Xu Taiping envied greatly.
"Xu Taiping, do not aim too high."
Noticing a change in his mindset, Xu Taiping quickly reminded himself.
He then carried the wooden box into the courtyard.
In the back courtyard of Qingzhu Residence.
Surrounded by a faint layer of icy frost, Xu Taiping, after a long buildup, punched a rock as tall as a person in front of him.
The moment his fist was swung, besides the sound of breaking wind, a faint bellow could be heard.
With a loud noise, the massive rock in front of him was punched through by Xu Taiping's small fist.
However, Xu Taiping did not stop there. After the first punch, he immediately adjusted his breathing and alternated his punches.
Xu Taiping's fists, one after another, pounded the rock like a herd of charging bulls.
In the end, the rock as tall as a person was shattered into a pile of rubble by Xu Taiping's fists.
However, after shattering the rock, Xu Taiping's True Qi was completely depleted, and the cold ice True Qi that protected him like a translucent spherical light shield also dissipated.
After retracting his fists, Xu Taiping supported his knees and began to breathe heavily.
What he had just performed was the Blue Ox Fist, which he had purchased from the Xifeng Pavilion's martial arts library, including two powerful moves—Horn-Crushing Mountain and Charging Ox Piercing Array.
"It seems that with my current level of True Qi, I can only perform Horn-Crushing Mountain and Charging Ox Piercing Array once each."
Xu Taiping panted heavily.
Because this fist technique was simple and brutal, he had already practiced it to a decent level after a few days. However, these two powerful moves still gave him a headache due to their high True Qi consumption.
Even though the Residual Afterglow True Qi recovered very quickly, Xu Taiping could only practice these moves two or three times a day. Any more, and his True Qi would not recover in time.
"That's enough for today. When the sun is lower, I still need to weed the nine-leaf white perilla."
Xu Taiping picked up a towel and wiped the sweat from his body.
Because he now had two more martial arts techniques to practice, his time was very tight, and he wished he could stretch an hour into two.
However, after breaking through to the Frost Transformation stage, his energy was much more abundant than before. Sometimes, he could go two or three days without sleep and not feel too exhausted, so the time he could use for cultivation also increased significantly.
Just as Xu Taiping was thinking about getting some food, he suddenly heard a wolf howl.
"It seems to be coming from Yanglusi Mountain. Could there be another wolf demon there?"
As he thought this, he quickly rushed out of the back courtyard, leaped over the courtyard wall, and then jumped onto the roof.