Li Dingxun spent a whole night contemplating a set of mixed-element internal cultivation techniques, ranging from lower ninth-tier to super third-tier, collectively named "Fu Xixi's Culinary Scripture."
He also created four sets of moves, two sets of movement techniques, and one ultimate skill.
The moves included: Eccentric Weapons: Eighteen Stool Techniques; Blade Arts: Heaven-Slaying Chop, Dragon-Slaying Slice; Fist and Palm: Gas Fire Cloud Palm.
Each set was a combination of many moves, progressing in layers, allowing one to cultivate from lower ninth-tier to extreme fourth-tier.
The movement techniques were super third-tier, named Carefree Roam and Carp Dragon Leap.
The former could transform all internal energy into light, agile internal energy, excelling in long-distance assaults; the latter was suitable for short-range sprints, with speed increasing as internal energy exploded.
The ultimate skill was Mirage King Mirror, a captivating illusion technique that could not only enhance the effect of dishes but also confuse enemy perception in combat.
It was truly an essential skill for home travel, murder, and arson.
These martial arts, tailor-made for his younger sister, were only in their initial stages.
Li Dingxun would teach her slowly, and they could be improved little by little in the future.
Three days passed in a flash, and Ryukyu was reached.
The ship docked, and the old man arranged for the ship's storage before leading everyone to an inn for lodging.
After resting for a night, on the second day, Li Dingxun, the Taoist priest, and Bai Zimo set off for the Realm of Extinction.
According to the plan, they would reach the Realm of Extinction in five days, explore for five days, and return in five days.
At that time, the Taoist priest and Bai Zimo would take the old man's ship back to the Central Plains, while Li Dingxun would continue onward, all the way to The Ends of the Earth.
As for his younger sister's martial arts, Li Dingxun would teach her in the Virtuous Path Pure Land.
There was only one way to reach the overseas Realm of Extinction: descend from the Ryukyu volcano, follow the volcanic pipe, pass through complex terrain, arrive at the Realm of Extinction volcano, and then emerge from the surface there.
Because the Realm of Extinction volcano was frequently active, there was only one unobstructed passage opportunity every ten years on average.
The Taoist priest's master had calculated the time in advance, telling his disciple to quickly lead Bai Zimo there.
They could only stay for a maximum of five days; exceeding that would mean living in the Realm of Extinction for ten years.
The three packed their luggage and set off, hiring a carriage to slowly make their way to the volcano.
The mountain was low and short, visible on the horizon.
Walking slowly, it wouldn't take two days to reach it.
That night, after passing through a small town, they arrived at the foot of the mountain.
Martial artists were full of energy, so they didn't rest and immediately began climbing the mountain.
As for the carriage, the driver would wait in the town there for half a month.
The Ryukyu volcano was ancient and severely weathered.
Its slope was gentle, and the surface of the large lava-covered slopes was fragmented, with green plants peeking out from long crevices.
The route from Ryukyu to the Realm of Extinction had a long history, with steps along the way.
On both sides of the stone steps, there were also some stone piles and wooden stakes, tied with colorful ribbons, fluttering in the wind, solemn and respectful.
Upon reaching the crater, looking down, it was pitch black, as if leading to the legendary sea eye and abyss.
However, it was silent; the dead volcano had no fresh magma, and even the scent had faded to nothing.
Li Dingxun looked back down the mountain.
The Taoist priest asked, "What's wrong?"
"Fu Xixi followed us."
"What!"
The Taoist priest hurriedly scurried down the mountain.
Before long, he saw a pair of bright, rippling eyes in the darkness, a familiar look, and immediately grew anxious.
"Why are you here!"
"Oh, I ran away."
"What are you so proud of? Go back quickly!"
"No, once you enter the martial world, you're in it for life—hoo-ha!"
His younger sister pretended to be a generation's heroine.
The Taoist priest still wanted to argue, but Li Dingxun's voice came from afar, "If she wants to play, bring her. Nothing will happen."
"Brother Simon is the best! You're not good, little Taoist priest, hmph."
His younger sister used the Carefree Roam she had just learned and lightly ran up the mountain.
The group of three now became four.
...
The volcanic pipes were winding and intricate.
Some ancient routes had collapsed or were blocked by magma flowing from the Realm of Extinction volcano.
Fortunately, as long as they kept heading east, they wouldn't stray.
Li Dingxun punched a path open, while the Taoist priest held a lamp behind, watching the compass for direction.
What was originally a difficult path became a smooth road with Li Dingxun's arrival.
He smashed through walls and flattened pits.
His palm force was both rigid and flexible, and solid rock layers were kneaded by him like soft mud.
By traveling directly like this, they reached the Realm of Extinction in just one day and one night.
They arrived too early; the magma flow had not yet ceased.
These explosive currents spread wantonly, their scorching firelight like molten gold.
Li Dingxun was about to push the magma away, but then he thought of his younger sister's newly learned Gas Fire Cloud Palm and let her cultivate using the magma's heat.
Generally speaking, martial arts involving the interaction of heaven and earth were at least secret fifth-tier.
However, as a move that directly led to extreme fourth-tier, the Fire Cloud Palm created by Li Dingxun initially required drawing in fire elemental energy and controlling earthly fire with heart fire.
To prevent the fire energy from burning the heart meridians, a certain foundation of internal energy was naturally required, so it was practiced by mastering one tier of internal cultivation before practicing one tier of martial arts.
His younger sister always hovered around Simon, asking for guidance.
The Taoist priest just sat in a dark corner, lost in thought.
After his younger sister practiced until she was breathless, she still had to prepare meals.
However, for her, cooking was martial arts; being in the kitchen was also practicing martial arts.
A clever cook cannot make a meal without ingredients.
What she could actually do was just heat up dry rations or boil a pot of soup.
"Ever since I learned Heaven-Slaying Chop and Dragon-Slaying Slice, my knife skills have gotten much better."
"Every time I go to the Virtuous Path Pure Land, Grandfather always nags me."
The Taoist priest listened intently to every word his younger sister said.
In the Virtuous Path Pure Land, amidst the mountains and seas, the Taoist priest and his younger sister met.
"Ping'an, tell me a story."
His younger sister's eyes reflected the dark purple sky, deep, like an infinitely long, secluded valley, and her face was delicate like an orchid.
"Why don't you ask Brother Simon to tell you a story?"
"He's a boring person. Ping'an, are you going to tell one or not?"
"Alright."
The Taoist priest, Wang Ping'an, gazed out.
His eyes passed over the tall buildings of the Virtuous Path Pure Land.
These buildings of various styles, on the mountains, on the sea, in the sky, all had their doors facing Sumeru.
Countless people roamed everywhere; they were like immortals, enjoying the greatest freedom and equality here.
But Ping'an only felt a great lack of freedom.
No matter how vast the sky, it is still a cage for birds, just as you, no matter how close to me, are beyond reach.
"I'll tell stories, and you listen. I'll tell you stories forever."
A little girl, lost in the jungle, as dusk approached, she hid in a mountain god temple.
In the temple, there was a handsome scholar resting.
The girl fell in love at first sight.
That night, the campfire died out, and the two lay down separately by the walls.
In the middle of the night, a group of demons and ghosts crawled out of the idol.
They chattered, discussing eating people.
The girl woke up, the night was dark and windy, and the demons' sharp claws were almost dancing before her eyes.
"And then?"
The girl and the scholar were both discovered, then eaten.
"I don't like this story."
Then what kind do you like?
"Later, a Taoist priest came. He killed all the demons cleanly, and the girl returned home with the scholar."
Where did that Taoist priest go?
"The Taoist priest."
His younger sister's smile bloomed, bringing to mind all things beautiful.
"The Taoist priest is right in front of me."
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