The next morning.
Bai Yunfei, who had cultivated throughout the night, slowly opened his eyes. For an instant, a glimmer of light seemed to flash within them before returning to normal. It appeared unchanged, yet also subtly clearer than before.
"It's truly incredible. Just the preliminary control of the single 'Mingmu' acupoint has already sharpened my vision considerably. I can see farther, and everything is much clearer..." Bai Yunfei thought to himself as he carefully observed his surroundings.
"Next, I need to focus on comprehending those basic acupoints along my arms. According to the scroll's description of their effects, if I can master controlling those points, I should be able to use the Second Layer of the Tidal Wave Art, the 'Ninefold Fist Force', with relative ease!"
In truth, he had already been capable of unleashing the Ninefold Force back when he was at the late-stage Soul Disciple realm. However, the cost was immense. After just one use, his arm would be immobile and wracked with excruciating pain for half a day. That's why he had only dared to use the Threefold Fist Force in previous battles.
"If I can master the Ninefold Fist Force, my combat strength will increase significantly. And if I can then master the 'Ninefold Thrust' as well... Then, barring any mishap, basically every thrust should be able to trigger the explosive effect of the Fire-Tipped Spear. By then..." At this thought, Bai Yunfei found himself drifting into fantasy once more.
After bidding farewell to the kind farm family, Bai Yunfei continued his journey towards Li Chengfeng's home.
Traveling by day and cultivating whenever possible, though still managing to take a few bewildering wrong turns, Bai Yunfei finally arrived at the village where Li Chengfeng now lived on the evening of the fifth day.
Li Chengfeng was naturally overjoyed to see Bai Yunfei again. The other villagers also showed exceptional warmth towards Bai Yunfei, their 'benefactor'. The entire village treated it like a festival, throwing him a 'welcome feast' that left Bai Yunfei feeling quite bashful.
Night fell. The village was enveloped in tranquility, most lights extinguished as its inhabitants slept. On a small hill outside the village, Bai Yunfei and Li Chengfeng sat cross-legged.
"Not long ago, several groups of people suddenly appeared near here, one after another, asking villagers about the Blackwood Stronghold," Li Chengfeng began, his gaze on the few remaining points of light in the village. "Fortunately, you had warned us beforehand. The villagers handled it well. And seeing the situation seemed off, I hid those horses deep in the mountains behind us early on. Luckily, those people didn't seem to think a small village like ours could possibly have any connection to those bandits. They just asked a few casual questions and then left..."
Bai Yunfei nodded. "Good. That's best. They absolutely must not find out we were involved in the destruction of the Blackwood Stronghold. Otherwise, the village would be in danger. But I don't think they'll pay attention to this place anymore. After all, no one would suspect such a small village."
He then flicked his right hand, and three scrolls appeared in his palm. He handed them to Li Chengfeng. "You've reached the Soul Disciple realm now. Starting tomorrow, you can begin cultivating the second realm of body control, Bone and Blood Manipulation. You can also practice the soul techniques within this scroll. This last one requires the Soul Warrior realm to cultivate, so just keep it safe for now."
"Huh? Are you sure?" Li Chengfeng asked, accepting the scrolls with a hint of confusion. "Giving all three to me is fine?"
"Don't worry," Bai Yunfei replied with a smile. "I naturally memorized all the contents thoroughly before giving them to you. I don't need them anymore. I'll stay in the village for a while. I'll leave once I've mastered acupoint manipulation. During that time, if you have any questions about cultivation, you can ask me."
Li Chengfeng flicked his wrist, and the three scrolls vanished, stored within the spatial ring on his finger – the very ring that once belonged to Han Xiao, the leader of the Blackwood Stronghold.
"By the way," Li Chengfeng asked, sounding almost casual, "did you finish what you needed to do back in Falling Stone City?"
Bai Yunfei nodded again. "Yes, it's done. I won't be going back there anymore. I plan to leave Azure Cloud Province soon and head for Pingchuan Province. There's a Soul Cultivator sect there called the Artifact Refining Sect. I intend to go there to seek apprenticeship and study their arts."
"Hmm, leaving is good," Li Chengfeng said, chuckling as if joking. "A small place like this can't hold a drifting white cloud like you, right?" His tone turned wistful. "It's a shame my strength is still too weak. Otherwise, I'd truly like to go out and explore the world with you..."
"Cut it out..." Bai Yunfei laughed, a hint of teasing in his voice. "You just got married not long ago, and you're already thinking about the outside world's temptations? Could you bear to leave your precious Ling'er? If you dared to drag your family out to wander the world right now, I wouldn't even agree! Could you protect Ling'er?"
"Uh... I was just talking," Li Chengfeng scratched his head awkwardly. "Of course I understand that. Don't worry, I won't think about leaving until I break through to the Soul Warrior realm like you did."
His gaze turned upwards towards the starry sky, a note of yearning entering his voice. "Still... now that I possess this kind of power, I can't possibly stay in this small village forever. The outside world... I need to see it someday. We'll be able to meet again then, won't we?"
"Of course we will!" Bai Yunfei declared firmly. "We will meet again. Just don't be too weak by then!" He gestured expansively. "I'm just stepping out ahead of you. When the time comes, you can come find me at the Artifact Refining Sect. Or, if you join another sect and make a name for yourself out there, I'll come find you..."
"Speaking of which," Bai Yunfei continued, his tone turning more serious, "I've learned a bit about the various sects in the world recently. Let me tell you, so you have some idea for the future..."
Bai Yunfei carefully recounted everything he knew to Li Chengfeng, including the Ten Great Sects and other relevant information. He concluded, "As for the Soul Spirit realm, which comes after the Soul Warrior realm... I don't know much about it. I only know that after reaching it, one can manipulate the elemental forces of heaven and earth. It seems that upon breaking through, one must choose the type of element they wish to control, and this is somehow related to the innate attribute of the soul. Anyway, when you reach the late Soul Warrior stage, it's best to join a sect. Having a master's guidance is always beneficial. Trying to cultivate blindly on your own is dangerous."
Li Chengfeng seemed dazed by the information. After a long moment, he murmured, "The outside world... it sounds utterly amazing! I must cultivate faster, so I can go see that vast world for myself!"
"Hey! Are you even listening to me?" Bai Yunfei nudged him.
"Uh? Hmm, yes, yes, I heard you," Li Chengfeng stammered, snapping back to attention. "Don't worry, I'll be careful..."
"..."
......
And so, Bai Yunfei settled into life within the small village. However, he wasn't there to indulge in peace and tranquility. He knew that before long, he would have to leave this place, leave Azure Cloud Province.
What he needed to do now was cultivate, cultivate, and cultivate some more. Master the manipulation of acupoints. Hone his soul techniques. Do everything possible to enhance his strength. He had to prepare himself to meet the pursuit that might come for him at any moment...