Three punches shattered the demonic soul, young hero, I'm an honest man!

Northern Garrison Command.

Pei Yun's secluded little courtyard.

Pei Yun opened the sandalwood box.

A perfectly round pill, radiating a soft, precious light, lay quietly inside.

An indescribable fragrance wafted through the air.

Pei Yun inhaled just a wisp of the air and felt as if his internal organs had been cleansed, leaving him feeling completely refreshed.

Nine-Aperture Exquisite Elixir.

The bet was sent by that old-fashioned Yan Xiu.

Pei Yun picked up the pill.

A warm sensation spread through my fingertips, and the immense essence contained within seemed to burst forth from them.

"Lord Yan is really going all out this time."

As a military commander, Yan Xiu's collection of treasures was naturally extraordinary.

It's no exaggeration to say that it's something every cultivator at the Innate Realm dreams of!

Pei Yun smiled and tossed the pill into his mouth.

It melts at the entrance.

An indescribable, gentle yet vast warm current burst forth instantly.

Like the Milky Way pouring down from the heavens, it washed over Pei Yun's limbs and bones, and through his meridians.

This medicine is many times more potent and refined than the Crimson Sun Warm Jade Grass!

The Crimson Sun Warm Jade Grass is at best one of the nine rare materials used to refine precious pills.

As for rare items like the Crimson Sun Warm Jade Grass, the Nine Orifices Exquisite Pill requires a total of nine kinds!

Pei Yun dared not delay and immediately sat down cross-legged, beginning to circulate the "Supreme Immortal Chapter".

Within the dantian, the newly formed crystal foundation seemed to awaken a sleeping giant, emitting a deep hum.

Nine star-like innate acupoints lit up simultaneously, connecting with each other to form a star map!

boom!

It was like a long-accumulated flood that had finally found its outlet.

A torrent of powerful medicinal energy surged in without any obstruction, being absorbed into the crystal foundation like a whale swallowing the sea.

The profound Dao patterns of the Supreme Immortal Chapter flowed and swirled on the Dao Foundation.

It was refining this extremely pure energy at an unbelievable speed.

If an ordinary eighth-rank martial artist obtained this pill, it would be enough to push his cultivation from the initial stage all the way to the peak of perfection.

We might even be able to glimpse the threshold of the seventh rank!

The medicine is so potent that it can overwhelm the meridians and dantian of someone with a weaker foundation.

But the situation was different with Pei Yun...

The medicinal power, enough to transform an ordinary eighth-rank martial artist, seemed to vanish into thin air after entering the Glazed Foundation.

The glazed foundation was like a bottomless pit, greedily devouring everything.

The nine innate acupoints, like fledglings eagerly awaiting food, frantically absorbed the refined true energy.

Pei Yun could clearly feel that his true energy was growing and condensing at an alarming rate.

His bones crackled and popped, and his flesh and fascia became even more resilient under the nourishment of this power.

Eighth-grade Innate Realm, early stage, middle stage...

With a soft sound.

Pei Yun felt a certain barrier within his body being broken through.

Mid-stage Eighth Rank Innate Realm!

Become!

The vital energy surged like a great river, flowing freely through the meridians, and finally converging into the nine star-like acupoints.

However, as the medicinal effects gradually wore off and Pei Yun stabilized at the mid-stage of the eighth-grade innate realm, he frowned slightly.

He could clearly feel that the total amount, purity, and physical strength of his true energy had all increased significantly.

It's much better than before.

But the medicinal power of the Nine Aperture Exquisite Pill was only enough for him to break through one small realm.

but……

Some of the essence of the elixir did not completely dissipate.

Instead, it settled deep within those nine star-like innate acupoints, nurturing its Dao foundation.

Like a seed, it lies dormant, no longer to be refined.

Pei Yun's mind stirred slightly, and he tried to sense it.

That dormant energy seemed to subtly echo the glazed foundation and the "Supreme Immortal Chapter," exuding a sense of "transparency."

"This thing... seems to be of great benefit to my future Foundation Establishment?"

Pei Yun seemed to be deep in thought.

The Nine-Aperture Exquisite Pill truly lives up to its reputation as Yan Xiu's most treasured possession.

only……

"Damn, this is way too much food."

Pei Yun muttered to himself with a hint of helplessness.

His solid foundation is immeasurable, with boundless potential and a level of solidity far exceeding ordinary people's imagination.

However, the side effect of this is that the consumption of cultivation resources is also far greater than that of ordinary people.

A single Nine-Aperture Exquisite Pill requires ten years of arduous effort from others.

For him, it was just a small step forward.

To quickly improve one's strength, return to one's former peak, or even surpass it, the resources required would be astronomical.

"Looks like we need to find a way to make money and acquire resources."

Pei Yun rubbed his temples, looking somewhat helpless.

To continue to improve rapidly, we need more rare and precious materials and more cultivation resources.

What about the meager salary and occasional rewards from the Northern Garrison Command?

A drop in the ocean.

Looks like I need to find a way to make money.

No, it's about acquiring resources.

……

Meanwhile, inside the Northern Garrison Command's office.

The atmosphere shifted subtly, becoming somewhat strange.

Ever since Pei Yun cracked the Star-Inducing Sand case with swift and decisive measures, exposing the remnants of the previous dynasty.

After he killed a powerful seventh-rank Blood Burning expert with a single finger in the outskirts of the capital, the way people in the government looked at him completely changed.

The already curious gazes now turned into awe and unfathomable apprehension.

Especially the garrison commander Yan Xiu, who was known for his impartiality, strictness and rigidity.

The change in attitude surprised all the Imperial Guards.

"Have you heard? Yesterday, Lord Yan summoned all the commanders to a meeting and gave Commander Wang and his men a thorough dressing-down."

"How did you curse?"

"What else can I say?"

"They say they're timid and hesitant in handling cases, lacking any drive or spirit, like wooden stakes!"

"Hey, that's typical of Lord Yan."

"The key point is what happened next! Lord Yan actually used Commander Pei as an example, saying something like..."

"Look at Pei Yun, so young, yet he's ruthless when necessary and incredibly shrewd when it comes to using his brain!"

"'With both swift and decisive action and cunning strategy, this is what the Embroidered Uniform Guard should be like! You all need to learn from them!'"

As soon as these words spread, the entire Northern Garrison Command was in an uproar.

Who is Yan Xiu?

He was notoriously old-fashioned, intolerant of any imperfections, and always had a cold face towards everyone.

Getting a compliment from him is harder than climbing to heaven.

Not to mention, it involves Pei Yun, a former "useless person".

Now, the centurion, though having regained his cultivation, is still relatively inexperienced and is reprimanding the senior captains.

"Tsk tsk, who would have thought that Lord Yan would praise someone like this?"

"There's nothing we can do; Commander Pei is just that capable."

"We investigated the Yinxingsha case for several days and didn't even get a clue, while they caught the perpetrators red-handed in just three days and uncovered such a huge inside story."

"Yes, I heard that Lord Luo treats him differently, and the one in the palace seems to know his name as well."

"Compared to Commander Pei? Forget it, he's a prodigy, we're just mortals."

"We used to laugh at him for losing all his cultivation and spending his days in brothels and teahouses."

"Now?"

"They're an eighth-rank innate cultivator; they could crush us with a single finger. They've solved a major case, and with powerful backers, who would dare to disobey them?"

The discussions were filled with helplessness, envy, and perhaps even a hint of jealousy.

But more than anything, it reflects a sense of recognition and awe for the strong.

Pei Yun's status in the Northern Garrison Command has been elevated once again without anyone realizing it.

He is no longer just the "former genius" who only secured his position as a centurion by relying on Lord Luo's connections.

Instead, they were truly powerful officials with real authority, whose abilities and tactics were feared by many.

When Pei Yun reappeared at the Northern Garrison, the gazes he received were noticeably different.

Colleagues encountered in the corridor, whether captains or lieutenants, all had a more respectful look in their eyes.

Even some of the most arrogant and senior figures would nod in agreement.

Pei Yun remained smiling, seemingly oblivious to everything.

But a hint of understanding flashed deep within those peach blossom eyes.

In the end, the Imperial Guard and the capital city are places where strength speaks volumes.