Only upon entering the city did Zong Shou realize that the City Lord of Cloud Saint City was currently absent. The person in charge within the city was someone else entirely.

However, the martial masters serving as the guards remained exceptionally respectful and cautious. Even the few Xiantian-level martial masters dared not act arrogantly. They immediately arranged lodging for the trio near the City Lord's manor, an area heavily guarded, with even two Xiantian martial masters stationed nearby. Clearly, they were aware of Zong Shou's current predicament.

This suited him perfectly, saving him the necessity of paying respects and engaging in tedious social calls. For several consecutive days, he secluded himself within his quarters. Any matters requiring attention were delegated to Yin Yang and Chu Xue; he did not step outside at all.

First, he sketched out several schematics, tasking Yin Yang to find the city's sole armory staffed by eight high-tier Spirit Forgers. There, he placed a new order for fifty talisman swords, alongside some peculiar components and medicinal herbs for a furnace.

The talisman swords he requested this time were to qualify as high-grade talismanic artifacts. Even with all materials assembled and eight high-tier Spirit Forgers working in concert, crafting and receiving them would require at least half a month. The other items, however, could be completed within a few days.

He compiled another list for purchasing several medicinal pills, some metals, and spirit beast bones to feed Little Gold. In addition to these, there were dozens of confusing, miscellaneous ancient texts.

After that, he spent his days relentlessly practicing the Great Sun Brilliant Fist. Lacking elixirs for aid, Zong Shou purchased several vials of Cloud Whale Essence Oil to apply externally.

Though named a whale, the Cloud Whale possessed the ability to soar through the skies, roaming freely within the Eastern Sea of Clouds.

Its wings were short, and its flight speed far inferior to that of birds. Yet, its massive form rendered it virtually unchallenged within the cloud sea, save for the whaling vessels operated by humans.

Its bones were incredibly light, yet possessed the hardness of perfectly refined steel, utterly solid. This Cloud Whale Essence Oil was rendered from the marrow and fat of its bones, mixed with various spirit herbs, making it a premier secret medicine for bone refinement. While its effects wouldn't yield instant breakthroughs, its key advantage was the complete absence of hidden side effects.

Each time he slathered the oil across his body, Zong Shou felt a scorching heat akin to being seared by fire. Yet, whenever he seized the momentum to execute a set of the Great Sun Brilliant Fist, he would feel an intense, inexpressible euphoria wash over his body.

However, the effect on bone tempering was not particularly significant.

“In martial cultivation's inner refinement, one practices breath retention, bone marrow, vital energy and blood, the five viscera, the six bowels, and the skin and flesh. Only the tempering of bone and skin is the most arduous! The skin and membrane are difficult to subject to stress, making their training exceptionally hard; one can only rely on elixirs or the slow process of constant attrition to toughen the membrane. As for bone tempering, the bone structure is inherently dense and hard; even the power of medicine struggles to penetrate. Ordinary spirit herbs are generally ineffective—”

After three days of arduous practice, progress remained minimal. Though Zong Shou was not disheartened, his ambition to achieve further breakthroughs in meridian circulation waned.

His soul power, however, continued to increase daily, growing rapidly thanks to the Heaven Devouring Primordial Transformation Great Law and the Heavenly Mirror Soul Reflection Art.

His last breakthrough occurred twenty days prior. Yet, in this short span, he had already accumulated enough energy to reach the peak of the Soul Perception Realm.

Still, Zong Shou was not satisfied.

“In fifteen days, I should reach the Soul Stabilization Realm, but refining my bones will require at least two months, which is still too slow. To possess the strength to protect myself, it seems I must rely on that item. A shortcut, while somewhat improper, is unavoidable given the current circumstances—”

Cloud Saint City was now tantalizingly close to that location. Zong Shou felt an intense yearning, yet he managed to steady his mind, diligently continuing his fist practice and meditating for soul refinement.

He deliberately dredged a Breath Sealing Art from his memory, intending to practice it in conjunction with his circulation guide and the Great Sun Brilliant Fist.

This technique was also created by cultivators from a later era. Normally, it sealed all bodily aura within the practitioner, preventing unnecessary waste.

Using inner breathing guidance to stimulate qi and blood, it did possess some efficacy in tempering the bones. However, Zong Shou’s primary reason for practicing the Breath Sealing Art was to prepare for that item in a few days; it was an absolutely crucial step.

The technique was not difficult, and he possessed prior experience from his past life. In just a few days, Zong Shou achieved remarkable proficiency. With a mere thought, his entire vital energy signature could be completely suppressed. Even Chu Xue, learning alongside him, could manage this feat with some effort.

It was precisely when he had achieved minor success with the Breath Sealing Art that Yin Yang finally retrieved the strange components he had ordered earlier.

They were all forged from Cloud Whale bone, hence their uniform milky white color. Each piece possessed an extraordinarily bizarre shape. The runes inscribed upon them were also highly specialized.

Yin Yang and Chu Xue regarded them with immense curiosity, forcing themselves not to inquire. Zong Shou, however, wore a look of pure delight and, paying no mind to them, began assembling the parts one by one.

Before long, all the components were fitted together. They resembled the structure of human skeleton, though the frame was slightly broader, encompassing only the legs and waist. Furthermore, a recess was fashioned into the waist section.

Yin Yang, who had been observing quietly, finally let his expression change: “This is Mechanist Art?”

The ‘skeleton’ in Zong Shou’s hands, though far inferior to the Sword Puppets of the Lingyun Sect, clearly belonged to the domain of Mechanist Art. It was no wonder the previously ordered items had been so unusual.

“I call this the Wind-Walking Spirit Bone; it is a type of exoskeleton—”

Zong Shou smiled faintly and proceeded to slip the mechanism onto his own leg. It fit his form perfectly.

He then inserted a second-tier Wind Elemental Beast Crystal into the recess, activating the spirit lines carved onto the Cloud Whale bones. Zong Shou instantly felt his body lighten, and walking required no effort whatsoever.

He was overwhelmingly joyful. After taking a few experimental leaps, he found his movements completely natural and unrestrained.

Chu Xue didn't fully grasp the significance, only finding it somewhat novel. Yin Yang, however, was profoundly astonished. After observing intently for a long moment, he nodded slightly: “Truly a stroke of ingenious thought, exquisitely crafted. Congratulations, Young Master. While Yin Yang does not know the meaning of ‘exoskeleton,’ I know that with this device, Young Master should be able to move freely henceforth.”

Zong Shou’s lips curved slightly. How could it not be exquisite, having been jointly designed by dozens of Mechanist Grandmasters from a later age?

The so-called exoskeleton was one of the branches of Mechanist Art that evolved millennia later, reaching its absolute zenith. Even a person with no martial strength could possess the power to lift millions of jin with a top-tier exoskeleton.

Zong Shou’s Wind-Walking Spirit Bone was merely the most common and ordinary type among them. He had specifically assembled it solely for locomotion.

“Today, I can finally walk on my own without worrying about exhausting my stamina. However, the Cloud Whale bone is still slightly insufficient; it is acceptable for traveling, but inconvenient in combat. Moreover, the consumption rate of the Wind Elemental Crystals is extremely high—”

Zong Shou shook his head inwardly. Top-tier exoskeletons could certainly be used for fighting. But this ‘Wind-Walking’ model was designed in later ages specifically for those with physical disabilities. Legend claimed it allowed one to traverse any terrain as if it were flat ground, enabling effortless movement even in the wilderness.

Yet, it was sadly ironic that he, who suffered no actual disability, was no different from those who did.

Without the carriage, he would often exhaust his strength after just two hours of walking.

With this device, he could move freely without exerting himself; though much slower than a carriage, it was far more convenient.

“Though it is somewhat lacking, it is more than enough to retrieve that item.”

Musing on this, Zong Shou donned a wide, flowing robe over the Wind-Walking Spirit Bone, completely concealing any trace of it. His gaze then turned to Yin Yang: “Uncle Yin, tomorrow, Xue’er and I plan to leave the city for a trip. You will remain here this time; you need not accompany us—”

Yin Yang gasped, and the chair behind him instantly crumbled to dust.

He sprang to his feet, but before he could speak, Zong Shou tossed several ancient texts onto the desk before him: “Uncle Yin, have you ever read the Great Desolation Scripture? If not this one, then surely you know the Ancient Records of the Cloud Desolation or the Ancient Scripture of Desolate Beasts?”

Yin Yang raised an eyebrow. The Great Desolation Scripture was mandatory reading for every child in the Eastern Lin Cloud Path, how could he not know it? The Ancient Records of the Cloud Desolation and the Ancient Scripture of Desolate Beasts were similarly widespread. But why was Zong Shou suddenly bringing up these specific books?