28

Seeing Li Muyun's dazed state, Qingchen, wanting to extract more information, feigned surprise and asked, "Is that so? Why would these immortals do such a thing?"

Li Muyun, unsuspecting, hiccuped and continued, "I'm not entirely sure of the specific reasons.

But my wife once said that there always seem to be strange flagpoles and huge patterns on major battlefields.

Perhaps it's related to some purpose of the immortals."

Qingchen silently noted this information; he wasn't yet qualified to explore these secrets.

Recalling his past cultivation path, Qingchen was filled with emotion.

A few months ago, Qingchen was just a brothel henchman, lacking not only medicinal herbs and tonics, but even eating meat was a problem.

Therefore, his skill had never reached the level of a third-rate master, always just a step behind.

However, since Qingchen became ruthless, taking over the Twin Eagles Society, and gaining a source of income, no longer resorting to petty theft and extortion of street vendors, he was finally able to purchase some blood-replenishing pills.

That's why he used the breakthrough of his Qi and blood to transform it into internal energy, breaking through the level of a third-rate master.

Now it's completely different.

He holds the high position of a seventh-rank Assistant Commander, wielding immense power and influence.

Rare medicinal herbs are naturally readily available; blood-tonifying pills are considered inferior.

Qingchen now consumes top-quality pills like Earthworm Pills and Snow Ginseng Pills.

Each time he takes and refines them, his internal energy surges wildly, greatly increasing his skill.

This accumulation of rare resources provides powerful support for Qingchen's internal energy cultivation.

Furthermore, his diligent practice of the *Changchun Neijing Gong* and his months of immersion in the study of the Daoist Canon have given him a comprehensive understanding and the ability to draw inferences from one instance to another.

This has led to a deepening comprehension of the *Forging Jade Gong*, and the sudden enlightenment of some previously unclear points in the techniques.

His cultivation speed is truly remarkable.

Qingchen was inherently gifted, and with his past life's experiences, his cultivation was unconstrained by any limitations.

Now, Qingchen's skill was nearing the breakthrough to a second-rate master.

Whenever he circulated his internal energy, he could feel the surging power within his body, as if it were inexhaustible.

Activating the *Jade Forging Technique*, his skin subtly shimmered with a white jade-like sheen, a sign that the technique was nearing completion.

He also possessed the *Shadow Clone Technique*, which he had acquired from the vanguard army's spoils.

Having previously practiced the Gecko Wall-Climbing Technique, he was agile, and this lightness skill was quick to master, achieving minor proficiency in just one month.

Last night, he tested it in the courtyard; his toes left a trail of afterimages as he touched the ground, leaving even Niu Dali dumbfounded.

As dusk fell, Qingchen didn't return to the official residence but went straight back to the Qing family mansion.

Beside the dry well in the backyard, he moved the third bluestone slab, revealing a dark entrance. Ten steps down led to the underground chamber he had dug.

Inside, only an oil lamp burned. On the nanmu wood table sat a translucent white jade bottle, the very one he had brought from the secret chamber in Beiman Mountain.

Qingchen sat on a futon, staring at the jade bottle for half an incense stick's time.

He had tried countless times with this bottle. He tried the hand seals described in the *Xuanyou Jianwenlu*, but to no avail;

He even tried channeling his inner energy, but that didn't work either. The bottle was as slippery as if it had been coated with oil, leaving not even a Dao imprint.

"Damn it, I'll take a gamble!"

He gritted his teeth and stood up. "If it contains pills that can help me advance to the second rank, my chances of seizing the token will be much higher; if it's empty, at worst I'll just lose the bottle!"

He picked up the jade bottle, swung his arm in a wide arc, and slammed it hard onto the ground!

With a loud crash, even the oil lamp shook, but the jade bottle bounced up, rolled twice on the ground, and didn't even crack.

Qing Chen was stunned. He squatted down, picked it up, and touched it. The bottle was still warm, as if it hadn't been hit at all.

"This is strange!"

He activated the *Jade Forging Technique*, gathering his inner energy at his fingertips, and pinched the bottle hard!

His knuckles turned white, but the jade bottle remained intact.

With a determined heart, he drew the ring-pommel sword from his waist. This sword, stolen from bandits, hadn't even dulled after cutting through stone.

He gripped the sword with both hands, poured all his inner energy into it, and unleashed the White Tiger Leaping the Ravine from the *Five Tigers Soul-Severing Blade*!

"Clang!"

A spark landed on the oil lamp, the blade vibrating so hard it made his hand go numb. Only a hair-thin mark remained on the jade bottle.

Qingchen didn't stop, slashing again and again.

Sweat dripped from his chin onto the ground. After using three different blades, finally, with a "crack," the jade bottle shattered open.

Three shimmering green pills rolled out, landing on a pre-laid jade cloth, still emitting faint white steam, smelling of bitter pine needles.

Qingchen picked one up; the pill was as hard as a small pebble. He scraped off some powder with a knife, then turned and walked to a corner of the secret room.

There, an iron cage held three black cats, three hunting dogs, and five bound death row inmates—they he had Niu Dali 'borrow' from the prison.

He first sprinkled the powder on the black cat. The cat licked it, and before half an incense stick could burn, its body suddenly arched, making a whimpering sound. Blood slowly seeped from its seven orifices, and after convulsing twice, it lay still.

The hunting dog did the same; after eating the powder, it collapsed, its belly swollen as if it were about to burst.

Qing Chen's face darkened. He scraped off some more powder and stuffed it into the mouth of the first condemned prisoner.

The condemned prisoner was a thief who had never practiced martial arts. After swallowing the powder, his face instantly turned red, he clutched his chest and cried out in pain, and soon blood gushed from his mouth and nose. His head lolled to the side, and he died.

The second and third were the same; they all seemed to die from overeating.

Until the fourth, a third-rate internal martial arts master who had committed murder, Qing Chen scraped off half a spoonful of powder and fed it to him.

The man frowned at first, then suddenly opened his eyes wide, moved his wrists, and his voice brightened:

"My lord, I... I feel my internal energy is flowing smoothly!"

Qing Chen was overjoyed and quickly went over to check his pulse. The pulse was deep and steady, much stronger than when he had first entered.

"Just as I thought!" he exclaimed softly. Ordinary people couldn't withstand the medicinal power, but those with internal energy could digest it!

Several hours passed, and the man was still fine, even radiant!

Qing Chen, in high spirits, beheaded him with a single stroke.

Next, he dragged the bodies of the condemned prisoners out and threw them into the dry well, then buried the cat and dog. When he returned, he was still clutching the pill.

He cut off a tiny piece with a knife, took a deep breath, and put it in his mouth.

The pill melted instantly upon entering his mouth, a cool current rushing down his throat with a "whoosh," several times stronger than the Snow Ginseng Pill!

Qingchen quickly sat down cross-legged and activated the *Jade Forging Technique*. His internal energy surged like a tide, enveloping the qi flow and guiding it towards his dantian.

The qi flow stung his meridians, especially the Quchi acupoint on his arm, which felt like it was being pricked with needles!

This energy was stronger than three Snow Ginseng Pills combined, yet still a little lacking.

Qingchen opened his eyes; his forehead was covered in sweat.

He stared at the remaining half of the pill, his gaze growing increasingly fierce: "Just a little bit more, I'll gamble!"

He cut off another small portion and swallowed it in one gulp.