A person sacrifices himself to become a saint in a chaotic world of martial arts.

Night had fallen, and Su Bai returned to his small courtyard.

Pushing open the slightly ajar wooden door, the hinges creaked softly, a sound that was particularly clear in the quiet night.

He closed the door behind him, bolted it, crossed the small courtyard, and went inside.

Close the door and light the oil lamp.

The moment the tinder was struck, the faint flame flickered a few times before settling on the wick and slowly igniting.

He sat down at the table and gently placed the two booklets on it.

The flickering lights illuminated the blue cover.

Qingyuan Technique, Golden Bell Cover.

The cover has no extra decorations, only three neat small characters in regular script, the ink of which has faded a bit, indicating that it is quite old.

He reached out and ran his hand along the edge of the booklet, his fingertips tracing the worn corners—it had been read countless times, the edges of the pages were frayed, yet it remained perfectly preserved, without a single crease or missing page.

Ning Yuechan said that this was passed down from the direct line of the Ning family, which was her own cultivation method. She had carried it with her since childhood and kept it carefully, which is why it looked like this.

Su Bai took a deep breath and opened the first book.

Qingyuan Technique.

The opening is a general outline, only a few hundred words long, yet every word is precious.

Superior internal skills are indeed worlds apart from the commonplace Lieyang Jin – Lieyang Jin only talks about how to circulate internal energy and how to accumulate power, it is so simple and straightforward that it is like teaching people how to carry water and chop wood, it is just the same few sentences over and over again, without any profound meaning.

The opening of the Qingyuan Manual focuses on "intention"—focusing the mind on the dantian, guiding the qi with intention, uniting intention and qi, and uniting qi and spirit. The words seem simple, but upon closer reading, they are layered and complex, offering new insights with each reading.

Su Bai read it word by word, not daring to miss the slightest detail.

When he encountered a passage he couldn't understand, he would stop and read it repeatedly, three or five times, until the obscure words gradually became clear in his mind and he vaguely understood their meaning before continuing to read.

His brows furrowed and relaxed at times, and his fingers unconsciously traced the paths of the meridians on the table.

Before I knew it, the oil in the lamp had been added twice.

Each time he refilled the oil, he would suddenly realize how late it was, then look up at the window and continue refilling the oil.

The night outside the window changed from pitch black to deep blue, and then a faint light peeked through the deep blue—a sign that dawn was approaching, and the eastern horizon had begun to lighten.

It's almost dawn.

Su Bai put down the booklet and rubbed his sore eyes.

My eyes felt a little sore and my eyelids felt heavy; those were symptoms of staying up all night.

But after he rubbed it, the sour feeling subsided considerably.

He hadn't slept all night, but he felt no sleepiness at all.

My mind was filled with those profound incantations, the pathways of the meridians, and the methods of breathing exercises, as if countless voices were repeatedly chanting them, refusing to leave.

He stood up and stretched his stiff shoulders.

After sitting all night, my shoulders and neck were stiff, and I could hear a slight "clicking" sound when I turned them.

He went out of the house and into the courtyard.

The morning breeze, carrying the coolness of dew, brushed against my cheeks, along with the scent of earth and grass, and the faint aroma of smoke rising from distant houses as they cooked their morning meals.

In the old locust tree in the yard, several sparrows had already started chirping and hopping from branch to branch.

Su Bai closed his eyes and tried to modify his own strength according to the introductory method of the Qingyuan Technique.

Su Bai was not in a hurry.

He knew that cultivation could not be rushed, especially changing cultivation methods, which required a gradual approach.

The Blazing Sun Force is too crude, and the internal energy cultivated from it is impure and mixed, like muddy water. It takes time to transform into the balanced and peaceful true energy of the Azure Origin Technique. It needs to settle and clarify slowly.

He went back into the house and opened the Golden Bell Cover again.

He had already practiced this technique to the fifth level, and the following content would then follow.

Level 7, Level 8.

Each level has more, more complex, and more difficult text than the previous one.

Level 7...

Su Bai carefully read the description of the seventh level, his brows gradually furrowing, becoming more and more tightly furrowed, almost forming a knot.

The seventh level corresponds to the True Qi Realm. Once mastered, physical defense will reach a completely new level.

It is difficult to be harmed by ordinary swords and blades, and can even withstand a full-force attack from a True Qi Realm expert with almost no injury.

But the cost is also high.

It requires a massive amount of internal energy, various medicinal herbs to temper the body, and the ability to endure unimaginable pain—the bones and muscles are reshaped, the skin and flesh regenerate, and the internal organs undergo a transformative tempering.

The words used to describe it were enough to send chills down your spine just by reading them.

"No wonder so few people practice the Golden Bell Shield technique," Su Bai murmured to himself, his voice very soft, as if he were talking to himself.

Who among those who can cultivate to the True Qi Realm isn't proud and arrogant?

Who among them isn't an elite disciple of their respective school, with a bright future ahead? Who would willingly endure this suffering? This hardship?

With that skill, you could learn a light-body technique or a sword technique, and seize the initiative when fighting others. Wouldn't that be better than just standing there and getting beaten up?

But for him, this was his lifeline.

If Zhou Changqing wants to kill him, the Reincarnation Sect might try to break him out of prison. Countless people in Fenjiang County are eyeing this little jailer.

Those eyes lurking in the shadows, those malicious gazes, could turn into knives aimed at him at any moment.

He read through the two booklets again, making sure he had memorized everything—every word, every formula, every meridian flow diagram—deeply imprinted in his mind before carefully putting them away.

He put the booklet into a wooden box by his bedside, closed the lid, and checked the lock again.

Then he closed his eyes.

An ancient scale came to mind.

That was his secret weapon—the sacrificial scales.

By offering sacrifices, one can instantly progress from beginner to advanced, from mastery to perfection in martial arts.

Su Bai opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing within them before disappearing.

He silently made plans in his mind.

The Azure Origin Technique is a superior internal skill that requires offerings.

Offerings are also required for the sixth and seventh levels of the Golden Bell Cover.

He needs too much.

And all these offerings require money.

Su Bai stood up, pushed open the door, and went out.

It was already bright daylight; the sun was high in the sky, and golden sunlight bathed the streets.

The morning market on the street had just opened, and vendors selling vegetables, breakfast, fabrics, and groceries had all set up their stalls, their shouts rising and falling, creating a lively atmosphere.

He walked toward the prefectural government again.

Treasure Pavilion.

This time, he planned to purchase all the offerings needed to achieve minor success in his cultivation technique in one go.

Even at the minor level of mastery, such superior internal skills require far more than what a county town could provide.

Su Bai entered the Treasure Pavilion, and a servant saw him and immediately came to greet him.

"Please come in, sir. What would you like to buy? Or would you like to see something?" He bowed and led the way, his tone polite yet measured.

"I want to buy some things," Su Bai said, his voice neither too loud nor too soft. "Century-old snow lotus, century-old musk, gold essence, bezoar. I want the best of everything."

The servant's eyes lit up slightly upon hearing this.

These items are not cheap, especially the century-old snow lotus and century-old musk, which are truly rare.

His smile grew even warmer, and he bent down even lower.

"You've come at the right time, sir. We have all of these items in stock. Please have a seat here and wait a moment while I go and fetch the manager." He led Su Bai to a seat and quickly poured him a cup of tea. "Please have some tea, it'll be right there."

Su Bai nodded and sat down in the chair.

The chair was made of mahogany and had soft cushions, making it very comfortable to sit on. He picked up his teacup and took a sip—it was good tea, slightly bitter at first, then sweet with a faint floral fragrance.

He looked around and saw that any one of the items on the display shelf would be enough for an ordinary family to live on for a year.

A short while later, a light footstep sound came from behind.

Su Bai looked up and saw a middle-aged man walking out from the back hall.

The man was in his early forties, dressed in a dark brown silk robe. He was fair-skinned, had a goatee, and his eyes, though not large, shone with shrewdness.

He walked at a leisurely pace, each step firm and steady, while he twirled two walnuts in his hand, making a soft "crackling" sound.

This is the manager of the Treasure Pavilion. If it weren't for the fact that the items Su Bai bought this time were truly valuable,

Under normal circumstances, it's really not easy to see the shopkeeper.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, sir." The shopkeeper approached, cupped his hands in greeting, and smiled warmly. "I heard you'd like to buy century-old snow lotus, century-old musk, gold essence, and bezoar?"

Su Bai stood up and bowed in return, saying, "Indeed."

The shopkeeper sat down on a chair nearby, still turning the walnuts in his hand, making a rhythmic sound. "We have all of these items in our shop. However, these hundred-year-old medicinal herbs aren't cheap. How much would you like, sir?"

Su Bai had already calculated it in his mind: "Five taels of century-old snow lotus, five taels of century-old musk, five taels of gold essence, and five taels of bezoar."

Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper narrowed his eyes, paused for a moment while turning the walnut in his hand, and then continued turning it.

He looked Su Bai up and down—his gaze was subtle yet penetrating, as if he could see right through him.

"Five taels..." He hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said, "Sir, you are very generous. Five taels of century-old snow lotus is almost half a whole plant; five taels of century-old musk comes from several musk deer. Not to mention the gold essence, five taels is enough to make a pair of excellent breastplates."

Su Bai didn't speak, she just looked at him quietly.

Seeing that he didn't respond, the shopkeeper wasn't embarrassed and continued, "We do have all of these items in our shop. It's just that the price..."

"How much?" Su Bai asked.

The shopkeeper stretched out his hand, fingers spread, and flipped through the items again and again: "A hundred-year-old snow lotus, one tael is worth three thousand taels of silver. A hundred-year-old musk, one tael is worth one thousand two hundred taels. Gold essence, one tael is worth two hundred taels. Bezoar, one tael is worth four hundred taels. The total... twenty-four thousand taels."

He could calculate very quickly in his mind and gave the numbers in a moment.

Su Bai nodded after listening.

Fortunately, he was promoted to prison warden, and once again a bunch of people gave him gifts.

Otherwise, he really wouldn't be able to afford it.

That's way too damn expensive.

Stepping out of the Treasure Pavilion, the sun was shining brightly outside.

Su Bai looked up at the sky, took a deep breath, and walked toward the nearest inn.

The inn was small, but clean and tidy.

Su Bai asked for a superior room, paid the room fee, and followed the waiter upstairs.

He closed the door and bolted it. He walked to the bedside, placed several brocade boxes on the bed, and sat down cross-legged.

Take a deep breath and close your eyes.

The image of the sacrificial scales came to mind.

He focused his mind on the sacrificial offerings—a hundred-year-old snow lotus, a hundred-year-old musk, gold essence, and bezoar. These substances seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, transforming into faint streaks of light that seeped into his body.

Light and shadow converged at one end of the scale, condensing into a hazy halo.

The scales are tilted, but balanced.

The next moment, a mysterious power surged from the scales.

The basic methods of the Qingyuan Technique suddenly became clear in my mind.

Those mnemonic phrases that he could only memorize before were now illuminated by a light, each word coming to life, connecting and merging in his mind to form a complete picture.

Within the dantian, where it had been empty, a cool aura slowly began to emerge—it was the internal energy of the Qingyuan Technique, pure, continuous, and carrying the meaning of endless vitality.

The secrets to the seventh level of the Golden Bell Cover also flooded in at the same time.

The muscles, bones, flesh, and internal organs seemed to be tempered and reshaped by an invisible force.

The pain was much less than when he broke through using sacrifices before—after all, it was just the beginning, just laying the foundation.

Time passed, I don't know how much.

Su Bai opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath.

The Azure Origin Technique, Beginner Level.

The seventh level of the Golden Bell Cover system: Beginner level.

He clenched his fist, feeling the newly generated internal energy within his body.

Although it is still very faint, its texture is completely different.

If the Blazing Sun Force is like coarse linen, then the Azure Origin Technique is like fine silk—the same internal energy, but far more refined.

But not enough.

Getting started is just the beginning.

To truly break through to the True Qi Realm, one needs to achieve minor success and strengthen the internal energy of the Azure Origin Technique to a certain extent in order to transform more quickly and naturally.

He stood up, stretched his limbs, and pushed open the door to go out.

We visited the Treasure Pavilion again.

The shopkeeper was somewhat surprised to see him return so quickly, but still greeted him with a smile.

"Young master, you're back so soon? Is there anything else you need to buy?"

Su Bai walked to the counter and said directly, "Two catties each of century-old snow lotus, century-old musk, gold essence, and bezoar."

The shopkeeper's smile froze.

Two jin?

He opened his mouth, as if to confirm that he hadn't misheard.

"You mean... two catties of each?"

Su Bai nodded.

Even the shopkeeper himself gasped in surprise.

It's not like he hasn't seen even bigger money before.

It's just... it's really rare to see someone spend so much money on medicine.

"A total of 96,000 taels," the shopkeeper said in his mind, his voice trembling slightly.

"I also need meteorites and diamonds," Su Bai said.

"We have diamonds, but only a small fragment of meteorite. However, while meteorites are rare, they aren't actually that valuable," the shopkeeper said, looking at Su Bai with a puzzled expression.

He really couldn't understand why Su Bai, who had bought so many medicines, suddenly started buying meteorites from outer space.

You know, meteorites from outer space are all about the quality; some are truly priceless.

No, that's really useless.

"Shopkeeper, you're asking too many questions. If you have it, just show it to me," Su Bai said.

"Alright, alright, please wait a moment, young master."

Before long, the shopkeeper came out carrying a pile of brocade boxes. This time there were six large boxes, stacked up to be almost half a person high.

Su Bai opened and checked them one by one.

A whole bag of century-old snow lotus, with layers upon layers of snow-white petals and a delightful fragrance.

The century-old musk filled an entire jade box, its fragrance so intense it was almost overwhelming.

Gold essence, a golden-yellow metal block, heavy and gleaming with a restrained luster.

Bezoar is a yellowish-brown, lumpy substance with a faint bitter aroma.

Diamond, transparent with a faint blue tint, is incredibly hard and refracts a dazzling light when exposed to it.

This meteorite is dark brown, with an uneven surface, a metallic luster, and is incredibly heavy.

This time, Su Bai was completely broke.

The key issue is that I don't have any other side income, so it wouldn't be right to keep forcing people to give me big gifts.

You should know that to master the technique, you'll need to pay many times more.

As for the filial piety and such, there wasn't much of that.

It's all about slow and steady progress.

In short, he can forget about buying any more offerings for the time being.

Back home, Su Bai opened the boxes one by one.

I sat cross-legged on the bed.

He sat down, adjusted his posture, crossed his legs, straightened his back, and gently placed his hands on his knees.

Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and then slowly exhale.

After doing this three times, my mind gradually calmed down.

The image of the sacrificial scales came to mind.

That day, it hung there quietly, supported by two pillars, a crossbeam, and two trays. In the center of the crossbeam was a small fulcrum, and the two trays hung at both ends, swaying slightly.

Su Bai's mind stirred.

The offerings on the table seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, transforming into faint rays of light and shadow that entered his body.

The light and shadow converged at one end of the scale, condensing into a hazy halo.

On one side of the scales, there was a halo formed from the offerings.

The scales tilted slightly, with the left side sinking and the right side rising. Then, the tilting angle slowly returned to normal, and the two sides gradually balanced.

At the very moment of balance, a mysterious force surged forth from the scales.

That power was indescribable—it wasn't hot, it wasn't cold, it wasn't any perceptible sensation. It seemed to emerge from nothingness, flowing into his body along some unspeakable path, seeping into his meridians, and merging into his dantian.

Su Bai was startled.

The mantra of the Qingyuan Technique appeared in his mind, and those parts that he had only vaguely understood before suddenly became clear.

Each word seemed to come alive, jumping, combining, and connecting in his mind, forming a complete picture.

The pathways of those meridians, the methods of breathing and exhalation, and the secrets of focusing the mind on the dantian were all suddenly clear.

Internal energy circulates spontaneously within the meridians.

Without his control or guidance, that internal force seemed to have its own consciousness, following the path of the Qingyuan Technique, being washed and tempered again and again.

The originally mixed and chaotic internal energy of the Blazing Sun was gradually stripped away and transformed—the rough parts were crushed and sifted out, while the pure parts were absorbed and integrated. It was like turbid stream water being led into a deep pool, where it slowly settled and clarified, eventually becoming a clear, bottomless pool of water.

It is unknown how long this process lasted.

Su Bai was completely immersed in that mysterious state and did not feel the passage of time.

His breathing was long and steady, one breath after another, like a deep sleep or an old monk in deep meditation.

Time passed, I don't know how much.

Su Bai opened his eyes.

His eyes were brighter and deeper than before, as if they had been washed with clear water or tempered by fire. He exhaled a long breath.

The breath he exhaled condensed and lingered, leaving a white trail in the air that stretched for more than three feet before slowly dissipating. This was a phenomenon that could only be achieved when one's inner strength was refined to a certain level—he could never have exhaled such a breath before.

Qingyuan Technique, Minor Success.

Su Bai clenched his fist, feeling the surging yet gentle internal energy within his body. That internal energy flowed through his meridians, endless and ever-renewing, like a mountain stream or the still water of a deep pool.

It's far stronger and purer than before. If the internal energy cultivated from the Blazing Sun Force was like rough iron, then the current internal energy is like finely refined steel—the same weight, but completely different in quality.

He was certain that he would be able to break through to the True Qi Realm in just a few days!

Su Bai took a deep breath and closed his eyes again.

The sacrificial scales reappear.

This time, the power surging into his body was even more domineering.

The incantation for the seventh level of the Golden Bell Cover technique exploded in my mind.

It didn't emerge slowly, but exploded suddenly, like a thunderclap, like a shattering explosion. Every word was like a heavy hammer blow, slamming into his bones, flesh, and internal organs.

pain.

Excruciating pain.

The pain wasn't the pain of an external injury—it wasn't a cut, it wasn't a burn, it wasn't any kind of pain that could be described.

It seeps out from between the bones, spreading from the depths of the bone marrow.

It was as if someone was using an iron brush dipped in salt water to scrape his bones again and again; or as if someone was using a hammer to break his bones bit by bit, and then piecing the fragments back together and remelting them.

His face contorted instantly, veins bulging on his forehead like earthworms writhing beneath his skin. Cold sweat poured from every pore, instantly soaking his clothes and streaming down his cheeks, neck, and back.

Su Bai gritted his teeth.

His teeth were clenched so hard they were practically grinding together. His body was trembling violently, like he was having a seizure, shaking uncontrollably. But he endured it all, without uttering a sound.

You can't call it that.

Shouting it out will only discourage you, and discouragement will mean all your previous efforts are wasted.

He gritted his teeth and endured it.

When the pain becomes extreme, you become numb.

The intense pain gradually subsided, turning into a dull ache and a numbness. His body was still trembling, but no longer from the pain, but from exhaustion.

After an unknown amount of time, the pain subsided like a receding tide.

Su Bai opened his eyes.

He was soaked in sweat, his clothes clinging to his body as if he had just been pulled from the water. His hair was also wet with sweat, clinging to his forehead and cheeks in clumps. He was breathing heavily, his chest heaving.

It took him a while to recover.

He raised his hand and clenched his fist.

On his fist, beneath the skin, a faint golden light flowed. The golden light was very faint, like the faint light of dawn or the afterglow of a candle flame, but it was definitely there—it was a sign that the Golden Bell Shield technique had reached a certain level, proof that the physical body had been tempered.

The features of level seven have appeared, but it's still a little short of completion, though it will be soon.

He looked at the last two things—diamonds and meteorites from outer space.

Zhenyue Sword Technique.

He had already mastered that sword technique to perfection.

Now, with the internal energy of a minor mastery of the Azure Origin Technique, the defense of a minor mastery of the seventh level of the Golden Bell Shield, and a perfected swordsmanship...

He placed the diamond and the meteorite on the scale.

The scales are balanced.

The profound mysteries of the Zhenyue Saber Technique exploded in his mind. Moves that he couldn't use before now flowed naturally; changes that he couldn't understand before now became clear.

The Nine Styles of Knife Technique are no longer isolated nine styles, but are connected as one, becoming a complete mountain of knives—suppressing, crushing, and destroying everything.

Consummation.