The matter came to a close in this way.

This was something Wang Wu never anticipated.

Anyway, it's good that he can finally stay at this Jade Mountain Manor with peace of mind.

But he wondered whether the lady's intention was to destroy the manor or to seize power?

If it's the latter, so be it; if it's the former, alas, he probably still can't be at ease.

Forget it, he thought, take it step by step. The lady shouldn't have the chance to go out alone to buy any Five Poison Profound Stone. Now that she has killed her lover, perhaps things will be calm for a while.

Thinking this way, after the manor master and his party left, Wang Wu once again hacked into the control of the Five Elements Spirit Array. In a second, he threw the large wooden stump into his storage pouch and transformed to replace it.

Then he began his daily cultivation, but this time, he took a Ninth-Grade Five Elements Spirit Pill in advance.

Previously, he was reluctant to use it, thinking such a precious item should be saved for a critical moment. However, the cultivation progress of those four kids really struck him yesterday morning.

So there's nothing else to say, lacking potential calls for spirit pills.

After swallowing the Ninth-Grade Five Elements Spirit Pill, the effect was the same as before—like a stone sinking into the sea, without any reaction. But this is the magical brilliance of the Five Elements Spirit Pill.

If Wang Wu operated the Inner Breathing Technique, mobilizing his Qi and Blood Circulation, the spirit effect of the pill would apply to the Innate Bloodline System.

However, if he operated the Ice and Fire Spirit Root, the pill would work on the Acquired System.

At this moment, Wang Wu naturally chose the latter.

The former had already been too outstanding and had just completed an advancement, so it's not advisable to rush things again in such a short time.

Especially since his previous reforms had already unified the innate and acquired systems at a preliminary stage, the best way to continue and expand on this successful reform was to enhance the acquired cultivation system.

Now, with Wang Wu operating the Ice and Fire Spirit Root, the Ice and Fire Spiritual Qi naturally circulated, and the Ninth-Grade Five Elements Spirit Pill he had ingested was immediately activated. However, it no longer had the earth-shattering effect of taking the Eighth-Grade Five Elements Spirit Pill previously; it was more like floating clouds covering the moon, as if drifting by like the wind returning the snow.

Yes, it's described this way because the Five Elements Spirit Pill was like a gentle elder sister warmly guiding him through his homework, like a spring breeze and rain, with a radiant smile, capable of dispelling the summer heat and warming the winter chill.

Through the entire process, accompanying the Ice and Fire Spiritual Qi circulation, it didn't increase even a bit of spiritual energy but just guided him on the right path.

Round after round, Wang Wu's Ice and Fire Spiritual Qi circulated for twelve rounds, just 120 seconds, before the spirit effect of the Ninth-Grade Five Elements Spirit Pill dissipated, exhausted, no more.

Wang Wu was left feeling a sense of loss.

His Ice and Fire Spiritual Qi didn't increase, and his acquired system's combat power didn't grow, but it helped him correct twelve minor mistakes in the operational route.

But it wasn't a mistake, more like, it's hard to describe; it's like drawing with lines, the same trajectory, the same strokes, the same positions, the same ink, yet when someone else's stroke passes, it's lifelike, leaping off the paper, called spirited, called vibrant, called vivid.

But when Wang Wu's stroke passed, it was just a block of stiff ink.

He conceded.

Convinced heartily, utterly admiring, with admiration from all five parts of his body!

He didn't dare to continue taking the Five Elements Spirit Pill and instead reflected on the earlier process, experiencing it in detail, repeatedly operating the Ice and Fire Spiritual Qi, nearly losing himself.

When he finally sensed a vague semblance of realization within, feeling he had gained considerably, he found that several days had already flown by...

The method of acquired cultivation is certainly profoundly mysterious!

But the good news is that his Ice and Fire Spirit Root cultivation progress increased by 1, currently at 2/100.

This speed could be called astonishing.

But what's the situation here at the manor?

It seems very quiet?

Wang Wu skillfully hacked into the control of the Five Elements Spirit Array in the next second, starting to review the past records.

Fortunately, the manor master hadn't returned.

And that old woman didn't seem to be stirring any trouble.

Though Madam Jiayan would come to his place every day with an indifferent expression, attempting to awaken him with a Jade Talisman.

Besides that, she would go to the Five Elements Spirit Fruit Tree every day, staying there for a while. It was apparent she genuinely cared about the spirit plant, even mobilizing eight bodyguards and a Mountain Guardian Spirit Beast for protection.

So, her previous poisoning incident to harm the Five Elements Spirit Fruit Tree was just to engage in palace intrigue against that old woman for power?

Wang Wu didn't believe it at all; this lady was not simple.

But during these past few days, she indeed hadn't taken any rash actions, spending her afternoons playing in the mountains and fields with her two daughters outside of cultivation time. The scene didn't seem to be faked, as they were truly her daughters.

However, her attitude and feelings towards the manor master were quite subtle.

After thinking about it, Wang Wu decided not to log in to the account of Master Mu anymore. Anyway, there was an official explanation, so it was normal for him to remain dormant for three to five years. As for when to reunite with the lady?

Then it's really a matter of fate.

Next, Wang Wu took out another Ninth-Grade Five Elements Spirit Pill and consumed it, activating it again through Ice and Fire Spiritual Qi, and the effect was superb.

Unfortunately, Ninth-Grade is the lowest grade, each use only lasting 120 seconds. Wang Wu, being a poor child who had to take charge early, dared not waste a bit, diligently comprehending and experiencing for over ten days, absorbing every bit of nutrients and details to their fullest, with no negligence at all.

He truly achieved studying from dawn till night, precisely the time for youthful cultivation.

But even so, after consuming all ten of the Ninth-Grade Five Elements Spirit Pills, half a year had passed, and Wang Wu's cultivation progress had barely reached 11/100.

He didn't feel that his cultivation aptitude or the Spirit Root he cultivated had shown any remarkable growth.

In other words, at that moment, Wang Wu genuinely realized that in Acquired Cultivation, he was nothing more than a small-town underachiever.

Even more troubling was that at this moment, the Five Elements Spirit Array in Jade Mountain Manor had reached a point where some of its hard Array Stones were on the verge of being damaged and could fail at any time.

Now, Wang Wu faced a choice: either immediately stop cultivating to study the Array Stones for timely replacement, or try to inform the lady of the manor, making her aware of the Five Elements Spirit Array's impending damage, and quickly request someone to repair it.

"I'm afraid the Array Stones need to overcome some technical challenges as well; it's definitely not as simple as installing ordinary Array Stones."

Wang Wu was now inside the Five Elements Spirit Array, with a dark red Array Stone before him, its complex array patterns flowing across its surface, appearing beautiful yet seemingly overloaded with energy.

Because other normal Array Stones emitted a faint blue spiritual light.

"Can't hold on for much longer, at most three days."

Wang Wu furrowed his brow, feeling vexed, wondering what the owner of Jade Mountain Manor was thinking, not knowing to maintain their own property?

It hardly resembled a powerful clan, and the manor had too few people, with fewer than two hundred souls in total, including spirit beasts.

What kind of nobility is this?

"However, in the past six months, the lady hasn't caused any trouble, nor has the old lady. They seem to get along quite peacefully. What's going on?"

Wang Wu was quite anxious, primarily because the Five Elements Spirit Array pertained directly to his fundamental interests, especially since he would need the array for refining the Five Elements Spirit Pill next.

Not to mention the sense of security the array provided him.

"Hmm? There's a voyeur!"

Wang Wu suddenly captured an image through the Five Elements Spirit Array, not detected through his Danger Perception, but found through direct operation of the array for reconnaissance.

In the image, about two to three hundred miles away, in a desolate wilderness, an old man in a Profound Robe stood within an array, holding a Celestial Observation Compass, distantly locking onto Jade Mountain Manor, looking very grim and displeased.

"Could this be another of the lady's old flames? Doesn't seem like it!"

Though Wang Wu was busy cultivating over the past six months, his attention on Madam Jiayan was far from low. He almost monitored her from all angles, around the clock, sometimes directly spying when time allowed, and reviewing the Five Elements Spirit Array's records when not, discovering that Madam Jiayan never left the manor even once.

As for collecting Spirit Essence every morning, the entire manor engaged, with her fully maintaining it; when would she have the chance to communicate with outsiders?

Moreover, any previous old flame had direct access; it was clear permissions for entry and exit were granted.

"Hmm, this old fellow doesn't seem to bear good intentions, deploying a Concealment Spirit Array, maybe been lurking here for quite some time. But the lack of action might be due to fear of the fully operational Five Elements Spirit Array?"

Wang Wu didn't continue watching, as just in that moment, the wear level of the Array Stone before him had increased again.

Now only one day of use remained.

"It's too late to replace or purchase new Array Stones."

Wang Wu felt an inexplicable sense of urgency. Though he couldn't gauge the strength of the spying old man, who was alone, he knew if he didn't take measures now, he would soon start yet another escape journey.

Or he might charge out directly—

"Alright, not even a thought worth considering."

"Could adjusting the software of the Five Elements Spirit Array delay the issue?"

Wang Wu sensed the Spiritual Qi changes throughout the Five Elements Spirit Array with his Level 12 Spirit Essence, truly complex and perfect, like a piece of ultraprecise machinery.

Therefore, it wasn't feasible. He could temporarily adjust the details of the Spirit Qi flow through the array's control for Array Stone replacement, but it was impossible to fundamentally alter or redesign it. He wasn't that skilled, perhaps might never reach that level in his lifetime.

Because these were two different concepts.

He could hack into the Five Elements Spirit Array's control because his Level 12 Spirit Essence allowed him to super-intuitively sense Spiritual Qi changes, like having eyes that see electrical currents' paths, making switch control seemingly easy.

But it didn't mean he understood the core concept of the Five Elements Spirit Array or could surpass the original designer.

"Seems there's only one way."

Wang Wu steeled himself; he had to seek help from Madam Jiayan.

It's the simplest method.

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