As he practises, the bone dust becomes like a second set of limbs—fluid and adaptable, yet deadly. He manipulates the dust to create a wall-like shield in front of him. With a simple thought, the shield shifts, transforming into dozens of pointed spikes that shoot forward with lethal intent.
Li Wei's mind races with possibilities. He can adapt the bone dust to any situation, creating barriers, weapons, or even traps. And all of it stems from the same basic principle: manipulating the bone he produces.
He grins, the possibilities invigorating him. "This is the best thing I have," he thinks, the words echoing in his mind. "If I can master this, I'll be unstoppable."
The more he experiments, the more he realises how crude the techniques he had learned were. Bone Shot? Skeletal Gale? They were nothing more than simple applications of a much broader principle. Why limit himself to pre-defined techniques when he could create something far superior?
Li Wei begins experimenting more intensely with the bone dust, determined to understand it. He focuses on controlling the dust in its various forms. When he keeps the dust together in a dense cloud, like a liquid, it moves with a fluidity that allows him to shape it, compress it, and even weaponize it into spikes or a solid sheet. The applications for both offence and defence are vast, and he finds himself impressed with its versatility.
However, as he tries to disperse the dust further into its mist-like state, he quickly encounters significant challenges. The finer the dust becomes, the more difficult it is to control. When the particles are spread thin, they start to lose cohesion, and he notices that some of the dust dissipates entirely, slipping out of his control. The more he manipulates it in this dispersed form, the more he loses. It becomes clear that moving the dust like a liquid—keeping it dense and together—preserves its mass, but when he tries to move it like a gas, spreading it too thin, it almost all dissipates, leaving him with significantly less than what he started with.
Li Wei's thoughts race as he contemplates the potential of his bone dust technique. "There's real potential here," he muses, the possibilities unfolding in his mind. But caution tempers his excitement. "I need to be careful. If I lose too much of the dust, it won't be effective. The key might be in finding the balance—keeping it dense enough to control while still flexible enough to use in different ways."
"The mist is too costly to be used carelessly. It might be best reserved for situations where I can use just a small amount," he concludes, thinking strategically about how to maximise the utility of his limited resources.
"I'll keep it in its liquid state," Li Wei decides, weighing the practicality of the situation. The bone mist, while powerful, is costly to maintain. "The bone mist can be a one-time thing, or I can use just a little of the dust when necessary." He contemplates further, knowing the value of conserving his resources. "But I can't afford to waste it. Creating new bone growth in a battle, grinding it down—it's not realistic."
Li Wei considers how to further experiment with the bone dust and decides to see if he can replicate the Basic Bone Armour technique. Instead of using solid bone growth to form crude armour beneath his skin, he opts to coat the surface of his skin with the bone dust. The fine, powdery substance adheres seamlessly to his skin, forming a layer that is both flexible and durable. Unlike Basic Bone Armour, which creates a layer beneath the skin that restricts movement, this layer of bone dust feels like a second skin. It offers protection without hindering his mobility.
Li Wei applies the bone dust to all of his body, watching as it forms a visible yet tightly packed layer against his skin. The bone dust creates a distinct layer of protection, blending well with his natural skin tone but not completely invisible. The dust clings to his body, forming a durable shield that offers significant defence. In certain lighting or quick movements, the layer becomes less noticeable, but it remains a visible and crucial form of armour. The bone dust's texture is coarse yet smooth, wrapping around him, ready to harden and protect against incoming attacks.
Li Wei tests his new bone dust armour. When he strikes the cave wall, the result is far more than he expected. His fist doesn't just connect with the stone; it pulverises the rock upon impact. The bone dust, hardened and compacted by his qi, functions as a formidable shield that not only absorbs the force but reflects it back with immense power. The wall shatters, debris flying, leaving a deep crater where his fist landed.
"Fuck my life," Li Wei mutters under his breath, feeling the toll on his energy reserves. "This saps qi fast as shit."
The bone dust clings tightly to his skin like a second, much tougher skin, providing a solid, almost impenetrable barrier. When he moves, it adapts fluidly, protecting him from potential attacks without sacrificing his agility.
What sets this armour apart is its ability to self-repair. After every strike, every moment of damage, the bone dust can immediately flow back into place, resealing any cracks or breaks. It offers continuous, unyielding protection, reacting instantly to both his commands and external threats.
But the price is steep. Keeping the armour active drains his qi at an alarming rate, quickly leaving him exhausted.
Manipulating the bone dust into a functional armour is extremely taxing for Li Wei. The continuous effort to keep the dust packed tightly against his skin drains his qi reserves at a rapid rate, leaving him exhausted. Even maintaining the armour for a short period feels like a monumental task, requiring intense focus and constant control. Every movement demands qi, and the effort to keep the dust cohesive and stable without dispersing adds an extra layer of strain.
"This technique is powerful, but it would deplete me too quickly in a real battle," Li Wei thinks, his breath coming in shallow gasps. The strain on qi, combined with the physical demands, makes it clear that this armour is not something he can rely on for long durations. The qi consumption is immense, and without careful management, it could leave him defenceless at a critical moment.
Even though the armour offers exceptional protection, he realises it's unsustainable for long-term use. He'll need to reserve it for critical moments in battle, where its strength can tip the scales in his favour without depleting him too quickly.
He continues his experimentation. Each trial teaches him something new, but it also highlights the need for precision and careful management. The dust is powerful, but it demands a high level of control and strategy to use effectively.
Despite the setbacks, Li Wei feels a growing sense of excitement. The bone dust might be challenging to master, but the potential it offers could be a significant advantage if he can refine his technique. "I just need to practise more," he concludes. "Master this, and it could become my most valuable asset."
Li Wei, curious about the limits of his abilities, continues to experiment. He approaches the sack of bone essence, trying to manipulate it as he would with his own bone growth. He doesn't expect much, but it's worth testing the boundaries of his control.
He extends his hand, focusing his qi on the essence within the sack. For a moment, nothing happens, and that's what he anticipated.
Li Wei drops his hand, noting the result without any frustration.
Finally, he turns his focus to Bone Whisper, the only meditation technique. As he begins to meditate, he feels a subtle connection forming between his qi and the bones within him, a delicate harmony that enhances his awareness. Although he cannot yet follow the system's suggestion to create a Death Qi Gathering Array, the technique feels natural to him, as though it was meant to be part of his repertoire.
The Bone Whisper technique involves the formation of a mind rune during meditation. The rune is the focal point of the technique. The manual explains that a cultivator must form one mind rune to begin, with a maximum of seven for complete control. Li Wei understands that this is typically a Qi cultivation-level technique, but thanks to the bone pills he consumed he has sidestepped the usual progression. While this has accelerated his power, he realises it may have left gaps in his foundational understanding—gaps that Bone Whisper is supposed to fortify for future cultivation.
Li Wei laments the scarcity of information. The mind rune, a pivotal part of his Bone Whisper technique, is the only rune he's encountered so far. It bothers him deeply. "If this exists," he thinks, "there must be more." He considers his options, mulling over the fact that the markets he's visited are likely too low-level to have anything of real value. The lack of advanced materials and techniques leaves him feeling frustrated and restless.
As he finishes his practice, Li Wei lets out a long sigh. "I have to learn all this, and on top of that, I have to worry about paying that direct disciple every month," he mutters. The weight of his responsibilities within the sect feels heavier than ever.
Li Wei spends the next week intensely focused on forming the mind rune. The rune's shape is intricate, consisting of a single, small curve that branches into a downward stroke, almost like a tiny, curved blade. The stroke is precise, tapering to a point at the end, with a slight hook that seems to pull inward. As he visualises it, he carefully traces each line in his mind, ensuring that every detail is perfectly formed.