C11

After successfully refining the fire seed, Qiao Mao wasted no time. His top priority was to craft the Jade Spirit Pill and heal Zhang Yu's leg.

For Qiao Mao, the task was simple. With just a thought, a wisp of Spirit Flame appeared on his fingertip. He expertly manipulated the Spirit Flame in the palm of his hand.

Typically, a Pill Furnace is needed to refine Spirit Pills. But in Qiao Mao's Previous Life, he was a Spirit Flame Great Master. His pill-refining skills were exceptional, allowing him to refine pills in the palm of his hand.

The Spirit Flame danced, creating a fiery domain. Qiao Mao swiftly tossed the necessary herbs for the Jade Spirit Pill into the fiery domain and began the refining process.

"Currently, my cultivation level is too low, and the Spiritual Energy is replenishing too slowly, which means the pill-refining process is considerably slower," Qiao Mao reflected with a slight sigh, watching the herbs meld together in his hand.

If his cultivation level were higher and the Spiritual Energy replenished faster, Qiao Mao could produce a Jade Spirit Pill in just half an hour. But now, it took him a whole day to refine a single pill.

In addition to the Jade Spirit Pill, Qiao Mao also crafted some Spirit Returning Pills, incorporating their ingredients into the Jade Spirit Pill's formula.

Three days later, Zhang Tianbei and his son were anxiously waiting outside the chamber.

The door to the secret room swung open, revealing Qiao Mao. Zhang Tianbei stepped forward, stopping about a meter away from Qiao Mao, and inquired, "Have you successfully refined the Jade Spirit Pill?"

"Indeed," Qiao Mao replied with a serene smile.

Zhang Tianbei was overwhelmed with excitement at the news. Zhang Yu, sitting in his wheelchair, rolled closer to join in the anticipation. They were both visibly thrilled.

Under their eager and hopeful stares, Qiao Mao produced a small, green pill that radiated a fragrant aroma – the Jade Spirit Pill.

Zhang Tianbei's hands shook as he accepted the pill. He then turned and handed the Jade Spirit Pill to Zhang Yu, saying, "Binn, go into seclusion and begin the refinement process immediately."

Zhang Yu remained silent, simply giving a heavy nod. He wheeled himself into his Cultivation Room, ready to focus on cultivating and refining the Jade Spirit Pill.

"Mr. Qiao, Binn's full recovery is entirely your doing," Zhang Tianbei expressed with great joy, his voice taking on an exceedingly polite tone. He even addressed Qiao Mao as Mr. Qiao.

The Zhang family is one of the three major families in Martial Sun City, and Zhang Tianbei holds a high status there. Yet, he was showing considerable courtesy to Qiao Mao.

"There's no need for thanks. Just understand that our cooperation is mutually beneficial," Qiao Mao cut in, interrupting Zhang Tianbei. He was somewhat taken aback upon seeing Zhang Yu's retreating figure.

Zhang Tianbei paused, a moment of realization dawning on him. At present, Qiao Mao was at odds with the Qin family. If Qiao Mao could take down the Qin family, it would greatly benefit the Zhang family.

"Indeed, it's a win-win situation," Zhang Tianbei declared, laughing heartily.

"Patriarch Zhang, if there's anything you need help with, just let me know," Qiao Mao said before turning to head back to the secret chamber to continue his cultivation.

Time was of the essence. Even with the support of a master like Zhang Tianbei, the threat posed by Qiao Guang's collusion with the Qin family loomed large. Moreover, if Zhang Tianbei were to assist him openly, Qiao Guang and his cohorts would surely brand him a traitor, complicating matters further.

Strengthening his own power was the clear path forward. Thus, Qiao Mao returned to Zhang Tianbei's secret chamber to begin his cultivation in earnest.

After swallowing a previously refined Spirit Recovery Pill, Qiao Mao commenced his practice of the Ten-direction Prison Suppressing Technique. The chamber was rich with Spiritual Energy, offering an abundance tenfold greater than the outside world.

As a result, Qiao Mao's cultivation advanced rapidly. In less than half a day, he reached the pinnacle of Mortality Transcending Level Three Heaven and was on the cusp of a breakthrough.

The Ten-direction Prison Suppressing Technique proved to be immensely potent. It relentlessly purged impurities from Qiao Mao's body, rendering his physical form increasingly pure.

As Qiao Mao refined Spirit Pill after Spirit Pill, his cultivation soared, breaking through to Mortality Transcending Level Four Heaven. The power within him surged like a mighty torrent.

Despite having reached the Celestial River Stage in his previous life, Qiao Mao was astounded by this newfound strength. "The Ten-direction Prison Suppressing Technique truly is formidable," he exclaimed with excitement. "Its power was latent before, but now that I've reached Mortality Transcending Level Four Heaven, its formidable strength has become apparent."

There are two significant bottlenecks within the Mortality Transcending Stage, at Level Four Heaven and Level Nine Heaven. Most martial artists would spend years unable to advance past these points.

Level Nine Heaven is the final step before ascending to the Spirit Wheel Stage, making it critically important and notoriously difficult to master.

The strength of the Ten-direction Prison Suppressing Technique began to manifest as Qiao Mao reached Level Four Heaven. His body's Spiritual Energy was now several times more potent than that of an average person.

While Qiao Mao was reveling in the joy of his breakthrough, the door to the Cultivation Room swung open. Zhang Tianbei entered in haste, announcing, "There's trouble. Your mother has gone to the ancient temple outside the city."

"What?" Qiao Mao rose to his feet, alarmed.

"The Qin family has spread rumors that you've been captured. Worried for you, your mother has gone to the ancient temple outside the city," Zhang Tianbei confessed, remorse in his voice. "I'm responsible for this. My men failed to stop her."

A fearsome intent to kill flashed in Qiao Mao's eyes. He had earlier instructed his mother to seek out Qiao Shen precisely to prevent such a mishap. Yet, his fears had materialized.

Qiao Mao hadn't anticipated the Qin family would resort to such tactics. He urgently requested, "Patriarch Zhang, I must borrow your family's Profound Iron Bow. I will be sure to repay this favor handsomely in the future."

Zhang Tianbei's brow creased slightly upon hearing the request for the Profound Iron Bow, but he ultimately consented. He produced a black iron bow—the very Profound Iron Bow Qiao Mao had mentioned.

Forged from black gold Sinking Iron, the bow was entirely black, emitting a daunting black gleam. Weighing over two hundred kilograms, it was a heavy bow with exceptional penetrating power, effective up to three hundred meters.

Moreover, the Profound Iron Bow is a semi-finished spiritual weapon. In the past, Zhang Tianbei's father used this very bow to slay over a hundred warriors in Martial Sun City, elevating the Zhang family to the status of one of the Three Great Overlords. Since then, the Zhang, Qiao, and Qin families have stood as equals.

"This Profound Iron Bow is the treasured heirloom of our Zhang family. You must ensure that it is returned to me undamaged," Zhang Tianbei stated with gravity as he passed the Profound Iron Bow to Qiao Mao.

Qiao Mao swiftly accepted the Profound Iron Bow. As soon as he grasped it, a chill emanated from the bow. Simultaneously, his wrist flickered, nearly causing him to drop it.

"Fine bow," Qiao Mao remarked, gripping the Profound Iron Bow with appreciation. To his greater astonishment, the bow seemed to radiate an intangible aura of lethal force.