The Mirror Master

Above a vast, misty sea, amidst the Qingming clouds, a colossal island floated in mid-air, appearing and disappearing from view.

Atop the island stood jade pavilions and palaces, while below, mountain peaks hung upside down, with plants and trees suspended inverted. Between the sky and the sea, it formed an unreal and bizarre scene, like a mirage.

A Daoist Child scurried with small steps into one of the pavilions on the island.

The Daoist Child wound her way through many twists and turns inside the pavilion. When she suddenly caught sight of a young woman, she subconsciously slowed her pace.

The woman wore an apricot-yellow Daoist Robe. Her skin was exceedingly fair, her lips a rosy red, and she wore no makeup, exuding a coolness like jade.

Her black hair was tied up with a simple ebony hairpin into a Daoist topknot, with a few stray strands falling beside her snow-white neck.

This Miaoling Daoist Nun sat perfectly still, her head lowered as she focused on a yellowed Ancient Volume on her lap. A Silver Threaded Duster rested in the crook of her arm. Her entire being projected a detached, exquisitely simple aura, yet she possessed a stunning, peerless beauty.

The Daoist Child was only four or five years old, with red lips and white teeth. Her hair was in a hanging topknot, making her look like a porcelain doll. She was at an age of innocent ignorance.

But upon seeing the Miaoling Daoist Nun, she still felt a sense of breathtaking wonder in her heart.

After arriving, the Daoist Child stood obediently to the side, her breathing growing lighter as if afraid of shattering the tranquility of the moment.

"What is it?"

A moment later, the Miaoling Daoist Nun looked up. Her brows were like distant, painted mountains, and her eyes were as tranquil as still water, seemingly capable of perceiving the mysteries of heaven and earth.

The Daoist Child said in a crisp, clear voice, "Ma’am, there’s been another change on the Three Extremes List. The Ultimate Skill, *White Tiger Stance*, has been lit up by someone."

"Oh."

The Miaoling Daoist Nun said, "*White Tiger Stance* has been lost for many years. For someone to comprehend it in this era is rare indeed."

Though she called it rare, her tone was flat, as if she was neither surprised nor particularly interested.

The Daoist Child said, "Just now, I heard my senior brothers and sisters discussing it. It’s quite uncommon for two lost Ultimate Skills on the list to be lit up within two months."

The Miaoling Daoist Nun asked, "Did your Pavilion Master deduce who it was that comprehended it?"

"It seems he couldn’t figure it out, only a general direction. I heard it was somewhere in the Celestial Martial Country."

After speaking, a trace of confusion appeared on the Daoist Child’s face. She asked, "Ma’am, that *Bone Supreme Profound Scripture* was created by the Demon Monarch White Bone, and I hear it’s incredibly powerful. But *White Tiger Stance* is just a Pile Skill Cultivation Technique. How can it be ranked on the Three Extremes List?"

Hearing this, the Miaoling Daoist Nun just smiled faintly and asked in return, "Do you know what makes an Ultimate Skill?"

The Daoist Child replied, "I’ve heard the Pavilion Master say it’s a Cultivation Technique that is unparalleled in its time, second to none in the world."

The Miaoling Daoist Nun said, "Nearly every Ultimate Skill was created by the top experts of their era. From the distant past to ancient times, and now to the present, across countless years, there are only just over a hundred Ultimate Skills, including those that have been lost."

"Whether in the Martial Dao or Cultivation, the focus of practice differs in the early Realms."

The Daoist Child nodded.

Before entering the Martial Realm, one cultivates Pile Skills to improve their root bone. In the Inner Strength Realm, one cultivates the Internal Organs and Nine Acupoints.

The Innate Realm involves cultivating Innate True Qi, opening the Twelve Meridians, and refining True Qi to merge with the blood, condensing Blood Qi.

Upon reaching the Golden Core Realm, one must achieve Five Qi Chaoyuan and condense a Blood Qi Golden Core.

The Miaoling Daoist Nun continued, "There are limits to human ability. Even if the top experts of an era poured their hearts and souls into it, it would be impossible to create a single Cultivation Technique that pushes every Realm to its absolute limit. A Cultivation Technique that can cultivate even one Realm to its peak is already a rarity."

"Take the *Bone Supreme Profound Scripture*, for example. The reason it is considered an Ultimate Skill isn’t because of its early-stage Secret Techniques, but because of its Cultivation Method for the Nascent Soul Realm."

The Daoist Child listened with a look of half-understanding, lost in thought.

’The Pavilion Master told me to come and consult you more often, saying it would benefit me endlessly in the future. This ma’am really does know a lot...’

’But it seems she still hasn’t explained why a Pile Skill for improving one’s root bone can be ranked as an Ultimate Skill.’

The Miaoling Daoist Nun’s gaze swept across the Daoist Child’s face as if she had already perceived her thoughts. She said, "Since Ultimate Skills are Cultivation Techniques created by these top experts pouring out their hearts and souls, they naturally choose to focus on the more important, more critical Realms."

The Daoist Child nodded hurriedly.

Most of the Ultimate Skills on the Three Extremes List were Cultivation Methods targeting the Innate Realm and the Golden Core Realm. There were very few even for the Inner Strength Realm.

For the stage before entering the Martial Realm, focused solely on improving the root bone, it seemed *White Tiger Stance* was the only one.

"That person must’ve been so boring."

The Daoist Child said, "To have such ability and spend all that effort creating a Cultivation Technique for the Root Bone Stage... During the Root Bone Stage, taking a few Elixirs is enough. Entering the Martial Realm as soon as possible is the Righteous Dao."

The Miaoling Daoist Nun shook her head slightly, not planning to explain further.

A root bone improved by Elixirs could never compare to the transformation brought about by an Ultimate Skill.

The upper limit of one’s Martial Dao would also be higher.

The Daoist Child was perceptive and quickly changed the subject. "Ma’am, what book are you reading?"

The Miaoling Daoist Nun closed the Ancient Volume, revealing the three words on the cover—*Five Emperors’ Chronicles*!

"*Five Emperors’ Chronicles*? Is that about the Ancient Five Emperors?"

The Daoist Child asked.

The Miaoling Daoist Nun nodded. "That *White Tiger Stance* was created by the White Emperor, who inaugurated the first age of antiquity."

Hearing this, the Daoist Child couldn’t help but feel a little guilty and stuck out her tongue.

She had just called this Ancient Great Emperor boring. If the Pavilion Master heard that, she would be punished again.

The Daoist Child asked again, "Ma’am, the person you’re looking for... have you found them?"

A flicker of a daze passed through the Miaoling Daoist Nun’s beautiful eyes. Her expression was complex as she nodded.

After a slight pause, however, she shook her head.

「Inside the dilapidated temple.」

Xiaodie lay in Li Yue’er’s arms, delirious. Her face was flushed with fever, and she mumbled a string of words, "Miss... Young Master Lu..."

Li Yue’er wore a worried expression but had no other choice but to wait for Lu Bai to return.

Just then, from the nearby woods, a tiger’s roar suddenly echoed to the heavens, shaking the entire forest!

Li Yue’er’s heart lurched, her expression a mix of shock and uncertainty.

Xiaodie, who had been fast asleep, was startled awake by the roar and regained some of her senses.

"Daoist Li, where is Young Master Lu?"

Xiaodie’s voice was weak. Not seeing Lu Bai, she grew worried.

Even gravely ill, she still remembered Luo Qing’s instructions.

Li Yue’er said, "He went to find herbs for you. He’s been gone for a while, so he should be back soon."

Hearing this, Xiaodie became anxious. "Daoist Li, I think I just heard a tiger’s roar. Young Master Lu went out alone; I’m afraid he’s in danger. You should go look for him. I’ll be fine here."

Seeing Xiaodie in this state, how could Li Yue’er feel at ease leaving her alone? She could only say, "That tiger just sounds like a common wild beast. It shouldn’t be able to harm Young Master Lu."

Despite her words, Li Yue’er’s heart was pounding with anxiety.

’That roar... it sounded like a Demon Beast that has awakened its intelligence!’

’Forget Lu Bai, even if I were to encounter it, my chances of survival would be slim!’

Li Yue’er could only pray silently that Lu Bai and that ferocious Demon Beast would not cross paths.

At that moment, the sound of panicked footsteps came from outside the door.

"Is Young Master Lu back?"

Li Yue’er and Xiaodie quickly looked toward the sound.

They saw a woman in her thirties, dressed in common clothes with a simple hairpin. She was soaked to the bone by the heavy rain, her hair disheveled. She rushed into the dilapidated temple with a look of terror on her face, glancing back over her shoulder from time to time.

A hint of disappointment showed on both Li Yue’er’s and Xiaodie’s faces.

But soon, Li Yue’er suddenly recalled Lu Bai’s warning and immediately became vigilant, sizing up the woman in common clothes.

"She has a saber at her waist," Xiaodie whispered.

Li Yue’er nodded, feeling a bit more at ease.

’If an ordinary village woman came running in out here in the desolate wilderness, it would most likely be something strange.’

But this woman had a Willow Leaf Saber at her waist, and judging by her footwork, she had likely practiced martial arts.

It wasn’t unusual to encounter people from the Jianghu in a place like this.

Besides, the tiger’s roar from outside had startled even her, let alone anyone else.