Half a month later.
Fang Xi sat cross-legged, his eyes dull, holding a jade slip in his hands.
In front of him, three stones were arranged simply to form a Three Talents formation.
The three stones were stacked, seemingly containing countless arrangements within.
Nearby, there were counting tokens, equations he had listed, various key points, notes...
"I've got it!"
Suddenly, a gleam flashed in Fang Xi's eyes as he began to solve the problem.
After a moment, he slumped back down, "Not right... none of it is right..."
Since obtaining that heritage of formation techniques, he had been tirelessly studying and researching.
When thirsty, he drank spring water; when hungry, he took a piece of Qi-Restraining Pill, crazily tackling the first part of the basic formation techniques.
This part only had a basic 'Three Talents Formation Pattern,' requiring the reader to unlock it and use it to form a small restriction, serving as a small task.
At the same time, it was a way to test a cultivator's aptitude and comprehension in formations.
It was mentioned later that true formation geniuses could unlock it at first sight.
Unlocking it within a day was considered excellent aptitude in formations.
Within three days was average.
Within seven days, although a bit lacking, one could still barely enter the door.
And now... Fang Xi had been pondering for fifteen days.
He looked haggard, like an old Confucian scholar who had exhausted all his knowledge, with bloodshot eyes:
"How do I decipher these formation characters? None of my strokes are right..."
"Damn it... damn it!"
Crack!
He suddenly stood up, kicking the Three Talents stones away, "I'm really stupid... a person who struggles with math problems in the imperial exams wants to analyze formations in a different world... I'm really stupid, really!"
"What a broken formation technique? I'm not studying it, I'm practicing martial arts!"
The Three Talents Formation Pattern seemed simple, but in reality, it required solving problems from multiple dimensions, far beyond Fang Xi's current mathematical level.
After this period of study, he finally realized one thing - he was definitely not a formation genius!
Therefore, Fang Xi lay down, choosing to be a lazy fish!
Oh, wait, no, he was going to start practicing martial arts!
He opened a small jade bottle and poured out a 'Jade Bone Pill.'
This pill was pure white, with a milky fragrance, but when consumed, it had a bitter taste.
Most importantly, after refining the medicinal power, Fang Xi felt his bones all over his body becoming numb and tingly.
It seemed like countless ants were crawling and gnawing on his bones.
Before long, this sensation turned into a burning heat.
This continuous cycle lasted for nine rounds before gradually subsiding.
And at this moment, some pale yellow impurities were expelled from his pores.
"Bone refinement?"
Fang Xi pondered.
To advance from a Second Step Martial Master to a Third Step, one needed to refine their bones and muscles, a meticulous process that required daily stimulation of the bone marrow with true energy. A slight mistake could lead to disability or paralysis, so it couldn't be rushed!
But with the support of immortal pills from the cultivation world, the bone refinement process was rapid!
After completely refining the power of the Jade Bone Pill, Fang Xi took out the 'Tiger Leopard Muscle Strengthening Ointment' and applied it to the major muscle points on his thighs and arms.
Once applied, a cool sensation spread throughout his body.
Seizing this opportunity, Fang Xi stood up and performed a set of boxing techniques.
Bang!
Each punch seemed casual, but the air emitted terrifying tearing sounds.
In each punch, Fang Xi could feel his muscles and bones being torn apart and quickly regenerating, becoming even tougher...
Half an hour later.
Fang Xi stopped his movements and exhaled deeply.
This breath shot out like an arrow, traveling several feet before slowly dissipating.
"Before I finish consuming the pills, I will definitely break through to the Third Step Martial Master!"
"And then, it will be the 'Unity of Spirit and Strength' of the Fourth Step Martial Master?"
"Exactly! This is the normal progression! Punching to the flesh, flying with a sword, immortality is the romance of us men... who cares about being a formation master!"
Fang Xi was quite satisfied with his talent (wealth) in martial arts.
He closed his eyes and sensed his body all over.
After taking the pills, he needed some time to adapt and expel the toxins.
Therefore, he wasn't eager to consume the Jade Bone Pill continuously.
Even so, Fang Xi was confident that he could refine his bones and muscles within a month, directly achieving the Third Step Martial Master!
But the final step of 'Unity of Spirit and Strength' was a kind of enlightenment, a spiritual realm.
At present, Fang Xi was still at a loss.
Even in the 'Heavenly Wind Secret Scroll,' it was described in a mysterious manner, mentioning that some martial masters achieved it through continuous life-and-death battles, while others achieved it by observing the blooming and withering of flowers, naturally attaining it.
Most Third Step Martial Masters couldn't comprehend the 'Unity of Spirit and Strength' even until death!
"The Huang Family's manual is somewhat crude..."
Fang Xi looked towards Yuanhe Mountain, lost in thought, "Should I... go borrow another manual to read? It just so happens that I have many doubts about the Grandmaster's Unity of Man and Heaven..."
...
Yuanhe Mountain.
This mountain was located to the north of Sanyuan City, only a few dozen miles away.
Sanyuan City was situated at the junction of a great river, with dangerous mountains to the north.
Entering the mountain range, one could see five peaks resembling human hands, soaring into the sky.
The only path up the mountain was a narrow line known as the Blood Gate.
To enter Yuanhe Mountain, one had to pass through the Blood Gate!
Taking advantage of the terrain, the gate was impregnable, blocking countless formidable enemies in the past.
Even the nearby rocks had turned blood-red, said to be stained with the blood of enemies.
Although Yuanhe Mountain currently dominated the Ding Prefecture, with no one daring to oppose it, the caution and vigilance of the past were still retained. Many disciples of Yuanhe Mountain guarded the Blood Gate, with numerous checkpoints and hidden sentries.
Even some special mechanical holes were equipped with crossbows!
With such defenses, even if the Great Liang Dynasty raised tens of thousands of troops to attack, they could hold out for a long time, truly impregnable!
Late at night.
Despite the chilling wind, the disciples guarding the Blood Gate of Yuanhe Mountain remained alert, following a set pattern in their movements and actions.
But all of this had nothing to do with Fang Xi...
A dark cloud slowly drifted across the sky.
"Stupid? I can fly!"
Fang Xi controlled his refined flying artifact, the Black Cloud Pouch, and directly crossed the perilous Blood Gate, entering the heart of Yuanhe Mountain.
"With my current strength, those First and Second Step Martial Masters are just seeking death!"
"Only Third Step Martial Masters with reinforced bones and muscles can resist... but they are like paper in front of the Golden Dragon Sword..."
After all, he wasn't a body cultivator from the Southern Wasteland cultivation world. Those body cultivators had long been wise, always wearing a complete set of armor of artifact-grade before each battle, truly resembling human beasts!
Cultivators were very adept at using external forces.
Fortunately, these martial masters didn't have armor to wear.
"Besides that, there's a legendary Grandmaster."
Fang Xi's eyes were deep.
"But it doesn't matter... I can fly! Even if I can't win... with a top-grade artifact in hand, I can fly a kite and kill him!"
Yuanhe Mountain had five peaks, each with different scenery and status within the sect.
The thumb-like peak was the 'Snow Soul Peak,' where the Sect Master and the main hall for discussions were located.
The index finger was the 'Ten Thousand Bones Peak,' where martial practitioners and elder martial masters gathered.
As for the peaks of the ring finger and little finger, they were where disciples and menial workers resided.
Lastly, there was the middle finger's 'Thunder Extreme Peak'!
This peak was the tallest and also the forbidden area of Yuanhe Mountain, where the bones of past Sect Masters and elders were buried.
But there were rumors that the only Grandmaster Martial Saint of Yuanhe Mountain was hidden in Thunder Extreme Peak!
Taking advantage of the night, Fang Xi boldly landed on the peak of Thunder Extreme Peak.
Because this was a forbidden area, there were usually no disciples patrolling.
Perhaps no one in Yuanhe Mountain could have imagined that an enemy could invade from the sky!
"The view is nice!"
Fang Xi stood with his hands behind his back, taking steps and leisurely strolling around the forbidden area of Yuanhe Mountain.
On the peak of Thunder Extreme Peak, there was a small lake.
At the edge of the lake was a white graveyard, with white tombstones and graves... looking quite peculiar.
"I wonder if these buried individuals took their martial arts manuals, or their beloved treasures, along with rare antiques for burial..."
Fang Xi muttered to himself, suddenly feeling a desire to be a tomb raider.
"Hehe... most of our ancestors were poor ghosts with nothing to bury."
Suddenly, a voice came from the darkness.
Fang Xi remained composed, secretly holding a 'Golden Bell Shield Talisman' in his hand, ready to summon the Profound Iron Shield from his storage bag at any moment.
The 'Golden Bell Shield Talisman' was a first-grade middle-tier defensive talisman he had found among his spoils, with quite good defensive power.
At least, it could withstand a strike from a late Qi-Refining stage cultivator.
With these two cards in hand, his demeanor was carefree and relaxed, "The old master of Yuanhe Mountain? Shall we exchange some knowledge?"
"Haha, I dare not claim to exchange knowledge... I am 'Linghu Mountain'!"
An old man in a green robe appeared slowly in the moonlight, his hands behind his back.
His head was large, his skin pale, with white hair hanging on both sides, looking quite elderly.
But Fang Xi could sense the condensed and powerful aura emanating from him!
As if he was facing not a mere mortal, but a fierce beast hidden beneath human skin.
At this moment, Linghu Mountain had already arrived in front of Fang Xi, his murky eyes scanning him before shaking his head, "Our disciples are unworthy, the good things left by the ancestors were dug up by the previous generations of Sect Masters... even I didn't get much, quite regretful..."
Fang Xi was somewhat surprised. The Great Liang Dynasty valued their ancestors.
But before him was a ruthless man who dared to desecrate his own ancestors' graves!
Linghu Mountain suddenly looked at Fang Xi, "You are... the Ghostly Troublemaker who caused a commotion in Sanyuan City, right? Are you here this time for our sect's Grandmaster's techniques?"
Fang Xi remained unchanged, "How did you know?"
"Hehe... although people say that the Ghostly Troublemaker is capricious, I carefully reviewed the intelligence... and found that you are actually aiming for the Huang Family's manual. The old ancestor of the Huang Family was only a Fourth Step Martial Master..."
Linghu Mountain scratched his ear, "Therefore, I speculate that you must be coming to Yuanhe Mountain. You want the martial arts of a Martial Master, so naturally, you won't miss out on those of a Grandmaster."
"Exactly." Fang Xi chuckled, "So, are you going to give it to me?"
"I will!" Linghu Mountain replied seriously.
"If you don't give it to me, then... huh?" This unexpected response left Fang Xi somewhat stunned.
(End of this chapter)