I Have Infinite Attributes

Chapter 21

C21 – Eighth Layer of Acquired!

Zhou Jibo no longer had to concern himself with the Zhou family’s affairs. Upon returning to the courtyard, he unsheathed the Blood Stripe Sword and began to limber up, practicing his swordsmanship.

Though he had a deep understanding of the Cool Breeze Bright Moon Sword Technique, having reached its fourth layer, he hadn’t had much opportunity to practice it. As an invisible breeze stirred and the moon’s reflection danced upon the water, Zhou Jibo felt the essence of the cool breeze and the bright moon.

Executing the sword techniques one by one, his movements were in harmony with the refined aesthetic of enjoying the breeze and the moonlight. The Blood Stripe Sword became an extension of his arm, his palm, as his insight and experience grew increasingly profound. After just two repetitions, he had mastered the sword-wielding instincts honed over many years.

After sheathing the Blood Stripe Sword, Zhou Jibo practiced the Mountain Suppressing Palm technique twice more. He instructed Ninghe and the guards to keep a vigilant eye on the courtyard while he dedicated himself to further cultivation.

For several days, Zhou Jibo’s time was consumed by cultivation, with only necessary breaks for rest and nourishment. Despite claiming to possess a low-grade Earth Spirit bone root, he actually had a top-grade one, just shy of the Holy Spirit bone root, teeming with vitality. Yet, his Profound Rank top-grade Frost Mental Cultivation Method was somewhat insufficient for absorbing all this vitality.

Zhou Jibo would practice until he could no longer refine vitality, then he would stretch and drill into his sword and palm techniques. As for the Zhou family’s significant matters, Zhou Kaile would send updates. Unless there was an emergency or an attack from the Yu or Pang families, Zhou Jibo had no intention of stepping away from his focused cultivation.

Zhou Zheyan, Zhou Tong, and others had visited twice, expressing their gratitude for Zhou Jibo’s decisive actions that put an end to the Zhou family’s internal conflicts. They were also thankful for the thirty thousand taels of silver he had provided for the clan’s young and old to acquire cultivation resources and settle debts.

The younger generation, in particular, revered Zhou Jibo as their leader and role model. Zhou Jibo mused that this respect was likely due to Zhou Shuang and others deliberately safeguarding his reputation, ensuring he wasn’t overly burdened with clan affairs.

Zhou Jibo had yet to inquire about the fate of the Great Elder’s son, Zhou Leng. He was also in the dark about the specific arrangements for the twenty-nine Zhou family men who remained loyal to the Great Elder. Nonetheless, he had a hunch that their outcomes were grim.

Had Zhou Jibo taken it upon himself to handle their situation, his standing within the Zhou family would have suffered. He would have been regarded as a devil in the eyes of his kin.

Then there was Zhou Youqing, the thirteen-year-old girl who had grown close to him. She affectionately called him “Jibo” and had become his constant shadow. Daily, she checked whether he was leaving the house, eager to accompany him on his outings.

But recently, Zhou Jibo was preoccupied with his cultivation and had no intention of venturing out, leaving her repeatedly disappointed.

Without realizing it, Zhou Jibo had consumed three Acquired Essence Gathering Pills in his training. With the aid of the pills and days of rigorous practice, his cultivation level neared the eighth layer of the Acquired Realm.

One clear morning, as he resumed his cultivation, he effortlessly broke through the barrier that had held him back.

Upon reaching the eighth layer of the Acquired Realm, the system rewarded Zhou Jibo with another 100,000 attribute points.

This time, without any hesitation, he allocated the points to his mental cultivation method.

His Frost Mental Cultivation Method, though a top-grade Profound Rank and unmatched in Icefair City, fell short when compared to his Earth Spirit top-grade bone root’s ability to harness vitality.

The pills’ potency only highlighted the sluggish pace of his energy circulation, and the overall enhancement of his body was somewhat insufficient.

If the warriors of Icefair City were to learn of his discontent, they’d likely be astounded.

For them, a higher-level mental cultivation method wasn’t always better. Their own bone roots often precluded them from practicing more intricate methods, as they lacked the necessary vitality to sustain them.

But for Zhou Jibo, with his inexhaustible vitality from his bone root and the additional support from pills, such grievances were nothing short of luxurious.

“You’ve already used up 90,000 attribute points, which means you’re advancing from the top-grade Profound Rank Frost Mental Cultivation Method to the medium grade Earth Rank Six Yin Heart Technique.”

A more intricate mental cultivation method flowed into Zhou Jibo’s consciousness, immersing him in the understanding of this new technique.

The Frost Mental Cultivation Method represented the pinnacle of the Profound Rank top-grade techniques, pushing the circulation of vitality to its limits. Its ability to harness coldness to thwart an enemy was considered the most formidable among its rank.

In contrast, Earth Rank techniques focus on refining one’s own abilities through the condensation of vitality, a standard enhancement among mental cultivation methods. By this measure, the Frost Mental Cultivation Method was nearly on par with Earth Rank techniques.

So, what was the nature of the Earth Rank low-grade Six Yin Heart Technique that Zhou Jibo had acquired?

Practicing the Six Yin Heart Technique, Zhou Jibo’s vitality would surpass that of warriors at the same level. Moreover, he could effortlessly channel his vitality into an adversary’s body, freezing them solid or even to death.

Such was the power of the Six Yin Heart Technique.

He no longer needed to depend on the Blood Stripe Sword; his palms alone, channeling vitality, could achieve this formidable effect.

Upon reaching the Innate Stage, Zhou Jibo’s vitality would coalesce into true essence. Once released, this true essence would be even more versatile, eliminating the need for palm contact to incapacitate his foes. A mere release of true essence would suffice to invade and immobilize an enemy’s body.

With the Six Yin Heart Technique under his belt, wielding the Blood Stripe Sword would amplify his offensive power exponentially.

Zhou Jibo wasted no time and began practicing the Six Yin Heart Technique. His Earth Spirit top-grade bone root gathered vitality, which the Six Yin Heart Technique then drew into his system. He proceeded to navigate the vitality through an intricate network of meridians.

By enhancing his absorption and digestion of vitality just a step beyond the Frost Mental Cultivation Method, he would significantly strengthen his physique.

After several days of practice, feeling he had maxed out his vitality absorption for the day, he stood up to take a break.

Just then, he heard faint voices outside. Rising to his feet, Zhou Jibo opened the door to investigate.

Several individuals were gathered at the courtyard entrance, conversing in hushed tones. Among them stood the Patriarch, Zhou Kaile, the Third Elder, Zhou Zhenbo, the respected Elder Zhou Shu, and Zhou Zhenbo’s youngest daughter, Zhou Youqing.

The maidservant Ninghe and two guards stood before them, heeding their directives. This likely stemmed from the recent discovery of a spy in Zhou Jibo’s quarters. As Zhou Kaile and the others happened by, they took a moment to caution the maidservant and the guards.

Upon exiting his room, Zhou Jibo was met with the collective gaze of the assembly.

Zhou Kaile beamed, “How is your training progressing? Would you like to take a half-day break? Your mother is eager for you to rest and is looking forward to preparing your favorite meal.”

Having achieved a recent breakthrough, Zhou Jibo felt no urgency to resume his cultivation and thus accepted the offer.

Both the Third Elder and Zhou Shu acknowledged Zhou Jibo with a nod.