The Mirror Master

"What’s going on?!"

The commotion was loud enough to startle Uncle Fu, who was keeping watch over the wake.

Uncle Fu scurried over. Seeing Lu Bai standing at the door, his face deathly pale and covered in sweat, he rushed forward and asked, "Young Master, what happened? Are you alright?"

Lu Bai gave a slight nod, indicating he was fine.

He didn’t even have the strength to speak right now.

Uncle Fu glanced at the Cyan Cloud Sword lodged in the doorframe and immediately grew vigilant. He looked around, his expression tense as he asked, "Young Master, did you see a burglar?"

Lu Bai shook his head.

With a grave expression, Uncle Fu carefully inspected the area both inside and outside the room, but he saw no sign of any intruders.

He only noticed that the Black Dog had a new wound.

It looked like a sword wound.

’Sigh, the Young Master’s Swordsmanship must be so poor that he accidentally injured such a well-behaved dog.’

Uncle Fu shook his head to himself.

’The Young Master’s aptitude for Martial Arts is just too poor. He even lost his grip on his sword while practicing, and it ended up stuck in the doorframe.’

’Even an old man like me wouldn’t be this clumsy.’

Although he thought this, Uncle Fu didn’t say it out loud.

The Young Master seemed to have changed a little these past few days, having matured quite a bit.

Wanting to improve was always a good thing.

Uncle Fu didn’t want to crush Lu Bai’s newfound motivation.

"Young Master, you need to be careful lately. We really have had a burglar in the house."

Uncle Fu whispered, "But this burglar is a bit strange. He didn’t steal any Silver Coins, but instead drank a few jars of medicinal wine. Probably an alcoholic."

Lu Bai was speechless.

"Uncle Fu, go prepare some more food and bring it over."

Lu Bai said, his voice weak and drained.

"Right away!"

Uncle Fu replied.

Just as he turned to leave, he heard Lu Bai’s faint voice from behind him, "Oh, and bring another jar of that medicinal wine. It tastes pretty good..."

"Hmm?"

A strange look crossed Uncle Fu’s face. Seeming to have guessed something, he gave a light cough and quickly hurried away.

Lu Bai let out a long breath and staggered back into the room. He sat on the bed, gazing at the Black Dog not far away.

"Good dog. Thanks to you, I managed to avert disaster tonight."

Lu Bai said softly.

Thankfully, the Black Dog had sensed the danger and knew its blood could suppress Ghost Souls and evil spirits, which led to its act of self-sacrifice.

Hearing Lu Bai’s praise, the Black Dog gently wagged its tail and panted lightly with its tongue out, still not making a sound.

"Is your wound okay?"

Lu Bai took out a bottle of Golden Wound Medicine from the drawer of his bedside table.

The Black Dog seemed to sense Lu Bai’s worry. It walked over and nuzzled its head against his ankle.

"Good boy, thank you. You can’t take such risks again in the future."

Lu Bai gently stroked the Black Dog’s forehead and carefully sprinkled the Golden Wound Medicine onto its wound.

Fortunately, the Black Dog was very intelligent. It had intentionally run into the Cyan Cloud Sword but avoided any vital spots.

The wound wasn’t deep. With the Golden Wound Medicine applied, it would scab over in a week or two.

In reality, tonight had been extremely perilous.

Although Lu Bai possessed the Ancient Mirror, he likely wouldn’t have survived if the Black Dog hadn’t sacrificed itself to help him.

’Just cultivating the Martial Dao and relying on the Ancient Mirror isn’t enough. I need to master some magic techniques to suppress Ghost Souls and evil spirits.’

Lu Bai thought to himself.

’I can’t just cut the Black Dog again next time. It doesn’t have enough blood to keep doing this.’

"Speaking of which, I guess that makes you my life-saving ’person’."

Lu Bai smiled and asked, "What should I name you?"

The Black Dog perked up its ears, sat up, and looked up at Lu Bai, its jet-black eyes full of anticipation.

"Hmm..."

Lu Bai pondered for a moment, then said, "You’re so good at catching ghosts, how about I call you Black Impermanence? My name is Lu Bai. From now on, we’ll be a team: Black and White Impermanence."

"WOOF! WOOF!"

The Black Dog suddenly barked twice at Lu Bai, quite agitated. Judging by its expression, it didn’t seem to like the name.

The sudden barks startled Lu Bai.

So the Black Dog could bark; it was just usually silent.

"What, you don’t like it?"

Lu Bai asked, "Then how about the Black and White Double Evil?"

"WOOF! WOOF!"

The Black Dog barked twice more, apparently still protesting.

Lu Bai was stumped. After a moment’s thought, he said, "You’re a black dog. In our language, the character for ’black’ and the one for ’dog’ can be combined to make the character for ’silent.’ That fits your quiet nature perfectly. How about I call you Ah Mo?"

’Honestly, that name doesn’t sound nearly as intimidating as Black Impermanence.’

The Black Dog, however, seemed very pleased with it. It wagged its tail at Lu Bai and even licked his palm.

’No taste.’

Lu Bai grumbled to himself.

’Ah Mo... it sounds like a type of medicine, or maybe a fishmonger...’

’Oh well, whatever it wants.’

Before long, Uncle Fu brought a lot of food, along with a jar of medicinal wine.

Before leaving, Uncle Fu added a special reminder, "Young Master, this wine is highly restorative, so don’t drink too much. Your body is weak; you might not be able to handle such a potent tonic."

Lu Bai didn’t have the energy to explain. After eating, he drank the entire jar of medicinal wine. He slowly regained some strength, and warmth gradually returned to his hands and feet.

Once he was ready, Lu Bai calmed his breath and focused his mind. He took a deep breath, concentrating his attention on the Ancient Mirror on his chest.

In a corner of the mirror’s surface, six wisps of Soul Light were floating.

Lu Bai directed one of the wisps of Soul Light toward the line of text that read [Fierce Tiger Stance - Profound (Repairable)]. Just as it was about to merge, he silently chanted, ’Repair!’

The mirror’s surface rippled slightly, like a disturbance on a calm lake.

Under Lu Bai’s gaze, the line of text gradually blurred.

After a few breaths, the text on the mirror’s surface had changed.

[Tiger Subduing Posture - Earth (Repairable)]

An Earth Tier Technique!

Joy surged in Lu Bai’s heart.

The next moment, a stream of insights and comprehension regarding the Cultivation Method for the "Tiger Subduing Posture" poured into his mind like a divine revelation.

Lu Bai leaped up from the bed, spread his legs into a stance, and lowered his center of gravity.

The posture looked almost identical to the Fierce Tiger Stance, but it actually had many subtle differences.

The Tiger Subduing Posture shifted from ’squatting’ to ’crouching.’ The posture seemed relaxed, but in reality, all the fascia in his body stretched open like a net. His joints were neither locked nor unlocked, clearing the meridians and relaxing the tendons.

He imagined a fierce tiger crouching in the tall grass, its wildness restrained, its killing intent concealed!

His breathing changed as well—it became deep and prolonged, like an underground river surging. With each inhale, he gathered strength in his fascia; with each exhale, he sunk that strength into his Dantian.

Lu Bai could clearly feel that cultivating the Tiger Subduing Posture didn’t just temper his skin and flesh, but also trained his fascia!

After holding the stance for only a moment, Lu Bai felt as if he had grown taller!

Under the stimulation of his fascia and flesh, a line of text on the mirror’s surface unexpectedly changed again.

Realm: [First Level of the Root Bone Stage—Skin Refining (Stone Skin)]

His Realm was still the First Level of the Root Bone Stage, but his level of Skin Refining had deepened!

Lu Bai’s spirits lifted. He controlled another wisp of Soul Light and merged it with the text [Tiger Subduing Posture - Earth (Repairable)].

’Might as well go all out and upgrade it to a Celestial Tier Technique before cultivating!’

’Repair!’

Lu Bai chanted silently in his mind.

As another ripple spread, the line of text blurred once more.

This time, it took a little longer.

After a short wait, the text on the mirror’s surface changed.

[Mountain Monarch Bone Forging Technique - Heaven (Repairable)]

It really did repair into a Celestial Tier Technique!

Lu Bai’s eyes lit up.

Immediately after, another flood of insights about its cultivation poured into his mind.

Completely subconsciously, Lu Bai adjusted his posture again, building upon the Tiger Subduing Posture.

Bone Forging and Gathering Strength, as majestic as a mountain!

His stance now had an air of returning to true simplicity. His spine was like a pillar holding up the sky, his shoulder blades like two mountain peaks, and his feet were rooted to the earth.

He imagined himself as the lord of the mountains, ruler of all beasts, majestic and unshakeable.

The Mountain Monarch was the king of tigers, its aura immense and its presence overwhelmingly oppressive.

His breathing adjusted once more. His inhales were silent, but on his exhales, the bones throughout his body trembled slightly, emitting a low humming sound!

As Lu Bai held his stance and breathed, he could simultaneously perform Bone Forging, Yijin, and Skin Refining. The effect and speed far surpassed what he could do before!

Channeling the imposing might of a Mountain Monarch ruling over the forest, his body stood as still as a mountain.

Lu Bai was like a Mountain Monarch perched on a summit, looking down on all living things!

He could clearly feel his own flesh and blood slowly expanding and strengthening, becoming fuller and brimming with power.

Lu Bai looked down and saw that his skin was also undergoing a subtle change.

When he exerted his strength, it faintly shimmered with a metallic luster!

Lu Bai looked at the Ancient Mirror again.

[Mirror Master: Lu Bai]

[Realm: First Level of the Root Bone Stage—Skin Refining (Copper Skin)]

[Cultivation Technique: Bone Supreme Profound Scripture·Ultimate

Mountain Monarch Bone Forging Technique - Heaven (Repairable)]

[Martial Technique: Five-Step Fist: Yellow (entry)

Eight Sword Skills: Yellow (entry)]

[Secret Technique: Eye of Illusion]

His Skin Refining level had deepened once again, reaching Copper Skin!

In fact, for improving one’s Root Bones, reaching the level of cowhide would have been sufficient.

But under the stimulation of the Mountain Monarch Bone Forging Technique, Lu Bai had already cultivated his Skin Refining to the absolute limit!

Although he hadn’t yet advanced to the second level of the Root Bone Stage, with the boost from the Celestial Tier Mountain Monarch Bone Forging Technique, reaching the Third Level of the Root Bone Stage was only a matter of time!

"Hmm?"

Just then, Lu Bai finally noticed something strange.

Behind the name of the Mountain Monarch Bone Forging Technique - Heaven, the word "Repairable" was still displayed!

’Could it be...’

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