Fang Yuan was so alarmed that he immediately stopped.
Although he had used the Wine Worm before, the Wine Worm only refined True Essence, raising its quality by a single minor realm at most. How could he have ever experienced Snow Silver True Essence, with its vastly superior grade?
Left with no alternative, Fang Yuan reduced the amount he drew each time while simultaneously slowing the force of the cleansing.
"Who knew that True Essence of too high a quality could be a drawback," Fang Yuan said with some vexation.
In the darkness, Bai Ningbing rolled her eyes upon hearing this.
What an incredible stroke of fortune!
If anyone else found out, they would be so furious they'd slap Fang Yuan dead on the spot.
It was truly a happy dilemma.
Two hours later, the six portions of Snow Silver True Essence were only just barely fully consumed.
A single session of this cultivation had, remarkably, given the rough stone membrane a polished, lustered sheen. It was like a crude piece of jade that, after rough processing, had begun to reveal its smooth, lustrous quality.
"Quick, quick — another tenth of True Essence!" Fang Yuan urged.
And so the night passed in cultivation like this.
When the rooster in the yard crowed and the sky outside the window began to show the faintest glow of dawn, Fang Yuan opened his eyes.
His gaze was bright and spirited, brimming with an irrepressible excitement.
He withdrew his hand and clenched it into a tight fist. "Peak First Transformation!"
A single night of cultivation had propelled him from High Stage First Transformation straight to Peak First Transformation.
How swift!
In all his years of cultivation — counting even his previous life — Fang Yuan had never experienced a night as exhilarating, as thrillingly satisfying as this one.
It practically made him want to keep going without end.
To use an analogy — back when he had Grade C aptitude, cultivating had been like a snail crawling. After using the Wine Worm, he could walk. With Grade A aptitude and the Celestial Origin Treasure Lotus, it was like running.
But damn it, with the Flesh and Bone Reunion Gu, it was like strapping on a pair of wings and taking flight!
Bai Ningbing's expression, too, was one of genuine shock.
She was sharp and perceptive, and she quickly realized this Gu had an even greater purpose.
"This Gu is remarkable — it can probably help break through major realms too!"
The Wine Worm could only improve minor realms. When attempting a breakthrough to a major realm, a Gu Master had to rely on their own True Essence. That was why aptitude mattered so much.
But with the Flesh and Bone Reunion Gu, one could borrow another person's Empty Orifice during a major realm breakthrough.
What an enormous advantage!
"With this Gu, the White Bone Mountain was an absolute bargain. Even sacrificing the Celestial Origin Treasure Lotus was worth it."
At that moment, the morning light swept into the farmhouse. Bai Ningbing let out a long, heartfelt sigh. "How many talented individuals there are in this world!"
Ash Bone Talent was merely a Fourth Transformation Gu Master, yet he had developed the Flesh and Bone Reunion Gu — a true genius!
Every Gu Master with a title possessed extraordinary abilities. By comparison, Fang and Bai were still complete nobodies.
……
The sun blazed high overhead, in the fields.
"Auntie, you just rest up. I'll do it for you!" Fang Yuan snatched the hoe from the old woman's hands.
The old woman was no match for the young and vigorous Fang Yuan. When the tool was taken from her, she only grew happier, beaming from ear to ear. "My, my, what a fine lad you are — really taking to this!"
It had been two days since their first dual cultivation.
The original plan had been to stay one night and leave, but after experiencing the thrilling speed of advancement that the Flesh and Bone Reunion Gu provided, Fang Yuan decided to adjust his plans slightly — at minimum, he wanted to break through to Second Transformation before moving on.
After all, there were still two or three years before the stone would be discovered. There was no rush.
Bai Ningbing did not object either. The gap between Second Transformation and First Transformation was immense. Becoming a Second Transformation Gu Master would be of tremendous help for the journey ahead.
And so the two of them settled into the village, showing no intention of leaving.
The old woman never asked them to go, either.
In truth, she wished Fang and Bai would stay forever. Both worked so diligently — one was a bit clumsy with words, the other a bit plain to look at, but they were both honest, hardworking kids.
During the day, Fang and Bai did chores. One possessed the strength of two boars, the other the strength of a crocodile — both were virtually titans among mortals. Farmwork was child's play. Besides, what heavy labor could an old woman's household possibly have?
Every day, Fang and Bai slept only an hour or so, yet they remained full of energy and vigor.
This kind of life, compared to the misery of sleeping rough in the wild with no guarantee of seeing the next day, was practically paradise.
Fang Yuan seized every available moment and threw himself into his cultivation. He was utterly addicted.