Closing the special effects panel, Li Mugui flipped over two books.
The first was the martial arts training notes of the Shadow Guest over the years, attached with the incomplete manuscript of the "Shadowless Sword Sutra" he practiced and the movement skill he derived from it called "Shadowless Step".
Although he now had the experience of genuine special effects and was familiar with how to cultivate and break through the Wanxiang Realm, understanding how others cultivate could still be helpful to his own cultivation.
Moreover, the Shadow Guest had recorded his experiences traveling across the country in these notes, which could broaden Li Mugui's horizons.
Of course, the most important were the "Shadowless Sword Sutra" and the Shadowless Step.
After all, if a martial art was prefixed with the word 'sutra', it meant that it was created by a powerful expert at least at the fifth realm!
It was invaluable!
However...
"Why does this so-called 'Shadowless Sword Sutra' seem so underwhelming?" Li Mugui frowned as he held the book.
He realized that this precious sword sutra was far inferior to the swordsmanship contained in the "Dragon Roar in the Box" special effect he mastered.
"Is it because this sword sutra is incomplete, or because..." he pondered, then his eyes lit up: "The rank of the martial art corresponding to my special effect is higher than the 'Shadowless Sword Sutra'!"
This realization made Li Mugui feel incredible.
But he also felt it was reasonable.
If the martial art corresponding to "Dragon Roar in the Box" was inferior to the "Shadowless Sword Sutra", how could he have easily slain the Shadow Guest?
Having figured this out, Li Mugui decided to abandon the "Shadowless Sword Sutra" and focus on mastering the Dragon and Tiger Sword Qi of "Dragon Roar in the Box".
"However, I can still learn the Shadowless Step."
It was, after all, a lifesaving technique.
Then, Li Mugui turned his attention to the other book.
This book was Ying Yanxin's "Thousand Faces Illusion", which recorded methods that allowed Ying Yanxin to change her appearance and go unnoticed.
It included techniques on how to conceal cultivation, hide auras, shrink bones, and alter facial features.
Although these techniques could not rapidly enhance Li Mugui's abilities, they could help him deal with some troubles to a certain extent.
More importantly, in situations where it was not appropriate for Feiying City Lord Li Mugui to appear, he could change his appearance and identity.
Combined with his special effects system, it would be a true transformation.
Especially since his cultivation was rapidly improving and he would soon break through to the Wanxiang Realm.
Some things could no longer be handled by Li Mugui's identity.
A young man with no background or influence breaking through to the Wanxiang Realm in his twenties was considered a prodigy.
But if he broke through to the fourth realm of Jiaotai, he would be considered a monster.
After all, once a martial artist stepped into the fourth realm of Jiaotai, they would truly transcend the ordinary.
The most obvious benefit was an increase in lifespan.
A fourth realm martial artist had a lifespan of three hundred years.
At that time, some attentive individuals would notice him.
They would believe that he had obtained some miraculous encounter or hidden secret.
That would be troublesome.
Therefore, Li Mugui planned to suppress the growth of his apparent cultivation for some time.
When encountering situations beyond his apparent abilities, he would change his identity to handle them.
This would create the illusion that he had powerful backers.
He had already planned this out when he subjugated Ying Yanxin.
Opening "Thousand Faces Illusion", Li Mugui was about to carefully study it when he suddenly heard footsteps outside the room.
"My Lord, I have returned," Ying Yanxin's voice sounded outside the door.
"Come in," Li Mugui closed the book and said calmly.
"Yes," Ying Yanxin pushed open the door, holding a jar of wine in her hand.
"My Lord, I have retrieved the resources as you instructed," Ying Yanxin said, feeling a pang in her heart.
After all, a significant portion of those resources were accumulated through her hard work of wiping out clans and sects over the years.
But she had no choice. Her life was now in Li Mugui's hands, and compared to that, these resources were not as valuable.
"Good," Li Mugui nodded and looked at the wine Ying Yanxin brought, asking, "What is this?"
"My Lord, this is my treasured Tiger Bone Wine," Ying Yanxin explained. "It is brewed using the bones of a second-realm peak tiger demon combined with various herbs."
"Although it may not be of much help to our cultivation as third-realm martial artists, it has a strong and mellow flavor that I believe will suit your taste."
As she spoke, Ying Yanxin opened the Tiger Bone Wine, releasing a fragrance that immediately filled the room.
Li Mugui took a light sniff and felt the pure essence and strong medicinal power contained within.
"Excellent, you have shown great consideration," he praised her.
As Ying Yanxin had said, the Tiger Bone Wine was not particularly beneficial to the cultivation of third-realm martial artists.
However, Li Mugui's true cultivation was at the mid-level of the second realm of washing the furnace!
This jar of wine, brewed from the bones of a peak second-realm tiger demon, was perfect for him.
Especially since he was currently lacking in accumulation, this high-quality Tiger Bone Wine could help him make up for that.
With that in mind, Li Mugui added, "This wine suits my taste well. See if you have any other good wines or liquors and bring them to me."
After a moment of consideration, he realized that these things had originally come from Ying Yanxin, and he couldn't be too greedy. So, he added, "You can keep half of the remaining resources."
Ying Yanxin was delighted to hear this and felt grateful that she could retain some of her wealth. She immediately bowed and said, "My Lord, your generosity will be forever remembered in my heart!"
"Very well, you may retire now," Li Mugui waved his hand.
He was eager to enjoy this jar of Tiger Bone Wine and see how much it could enhance his cultivation.
"Yes," Ying Yanxin respectfully backed away.
Li Mugui opened the wine and took a small sip, immediately feeling a strong fragrance spread from his tongue throughout his body, rushing straight to his head.
The powerful medicinal energy traveled down to his dantian.
Li Mugui immediately began circulating his cultivation technique, directing this medicinal energy through his meridians.
He felt as if his body was being burned by a ball of fire, with waves of heat and his muscles twitching.
Fortunately, his meridians were strong and could withstand this burning sensation.
As time passed, the medicinal energy traveled several rounds through his meridians before gradually dissolving, forming warm currents that returned to his dantian.
"Excellent!" Li Mugui opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath of wine-scented air, satisfied with the results.
He hadn't expected just a small sip of Tiger Bone Wine to enhance his cultivation by a fraction!
However, he didn't continue drinking immediately but took a moment to stabilize his cultivation by circulating his Golden God Qi normally.
Relying solely on external aids could rapidly boost one's strength, but it would also lead to a shaky foundation.
If he didn't take the time to stabilize his foundation, it would create significant obstacles to his future cultivation.
Li Mugui was not shortsighted in this way.