Gou Zai Xianwu Chaos World, Physical Sainthood

"Lord Xue, if I said this was a misunderstanding, would you believe me?"

Xue Yin did not answer, but instead handed the knife to his right hand, dragged it, and strode toward Lu Cheng.

The thick-backed, broad-bladed sword made a clanging sound as it scraped the ground, which, along with the dull thud of Xue Yin's boots, echoed through the streets and alleys.

Lu Cheng's expression suddenly changed.

Xue Yin's steps appeared slow, but each step was a build-up of momentum.

And after taking the first step, the aura emanating from the blade had already locked onto Lu Cheng.

Although there were more than ten steps between the two, for a martial artist like Xue Yin who had reached the peak of Qi Refining, it only took a burst of energy to cross the gap instantly.

Therefore, if Lu Cheng were to turn around rashly, he would only be struck down on the head by Xue Yin's broadsword.

A fully charged strike from someone who has reached the pinnacle of internal energy cultivation is likely unstoppable by anyone except those who have mastered body cultivation.

"Hiding in the dead of night, with dirty money tucked in his pocket."

Xue Yin, dragging his sword, stopped less than ten feet away from Lu Cheng. His voice wasn't loud, but every word seemed to be squeezed out from a crack in the rock: "What do you want me to believe?"

Lu Cheng glanced at his chest.

The three money pouches made her clothes bulge out of her chest.

It felt a bit like getting mud down your crotch.

Lu Cheng did not rush to explain.

Xue Yin had already formed a preconceived notion, so the more he explained, the worse it would become.

Seeing Xue Yin about to swing his sword, Lu Cheng, in a moment of inspiration, immediately said:

"Isn't Lord Xue afraid of being blamed by Commandant Shen for doing this?"

As expected, Xue Yin paused very briefly upon hearing this.

A barely perceptible pause occurred in the flow of Qi.

A gap appeared in that ever-increasing aura.

good chance!

Although the gap was fleeting, this was the opportunity Lu Cheng had been waiting for, and he couldn't possibly miss it.

He immediately exerted force with his feet, advancing instead of retreating, and charged towards Xue Yin.

"Huh? Interesting!"

Upon seeing this, Xue Yin raised an eyebrow and smiled.

Lu Cheng's move was somewhat unexpected by Xue Yin.

His aura had already enveloped an area of ​​about ten feet in radius.

Within a zhang (approximately 3.3 meters), the greater the distance, the greater the power of this strike.

Unless Lu Cheng can escape this area in an instant, he will definitely not be able to dodge this slash that has been building up for five or six steps.

Lu Cheng's decision to charge forward shows that he saw through the true nature of the attack.

But just because you can see it doesn't mean you can avoid it.

Even if he gets close, without gathering his strength, Xue Yin is still a martial artist who has reached the peak of the Qi Refining stage.

Xue Yin's smile vanished, and he managed to utter a curt "overestimating himself."

Before he finished speaking, the sword in his hand instantly changed its move, from a slashing motion to a horizontal press.

It was precisely the direction in which Lu Cheng advanced that was being suppressed.

Lu Cheng was prepared. Looking at the thick-backed broadsword pressing down on his chest, he took a deep breath and dropped an iron plaque into his hand.

He pressed his fingers against the metal plate and rubbed them hard against the blade.

With a "ding," Lu Cheng used the momentum to lean back, barely avoiding the blade.

Then, he pushed off with his feet and slid three or four steps along the ground.

As soon as Xue Yin changed his move, the momentum he had built up over those few steps dissipated.

Therefore, even if Lu Cheng turned to run away at this moment, he no longer needed to fear being locked onto by Xue Yin's aura.

However, given Xue Yin's strength, escaping wouldn't be so easy.

Xue Yin's face darkened.

He didn't expect that Lu Cheng would break his charged attack so easily.

This made him feel like he had been played by Lu Cheng.

But Lu Cheng's words about manipulating his energy still piqued his interest, so he had to suppress his anger and ask in a low voice:

"You little thief, tell me quickly, what has Commander Shen done to me?"

Ok?

Xue Yin's words startled Lu Cheng.

He didn't know the details?

Or am I wrong?

When Lu Cheng first realized Xue Yin's identity, his expression turned strange for a moment.

This strangeness wasn't entirely due to his helplessness at being "bumped into" by Xue Yin.

There was also the surprise of Xue Yin appearing here.

Just as Lu Cheng had analyzed for the three chubby boys.

Shen Yi couldn't possibly have been unaware of what the seventeen families might do, given that he demanded such a large sum of money from them.

Those people acted as thieves to "make a good omen" for Shen Yi.

The appearance of this centurion is rather intriguing.

According to Lu Cheng's thinking, there are only two possibilities.

Firstly, Xue Yin was an upright man. Upon hearing that several martial artists in the south of the city had been committing theft and murder recently, he personally came out to apprehend them.

I was just unlucky to run into him.

Secondly, Shen Yi did it on purpose.

He proposed that huge sum of money, never expecting the seventeen families to honestly contribute it.

The more risks they take, the more leverage they leave behind.

Once all the evidence is collected, the Zhenwu Battalion can be wiped out in one fell swoop.

At that time, not to mention the huge prize, some of those seventeen companies will likely be uprooted.

Lu Cheng was originally suspicious of the second type, but now, judging from Xue Yin's reaction, it seems like he doesn't know anything about it.

If that's the case...

Lu Cheng immediately made up his mind and said to Xue Yin:

"Lord Xue, to tell you the truth, I came to the south of the city to punish the thieves."

"If you don't believe me, Lord Xue, come with me to take a look. Not far from here, there is a house where three of the guards who patrolled the streets are dead. Although we don't know who the murderer is, I found this iron plaque on him."

As Lu Cheng spoke, he showed the object in his hand and then tossed it to Xue Yin.

Xue Yin reached out and took it, glanced at it, and his expression changed. He turned to Lu Cheng and asked:

"How do I know this isn't yours, or that you got it from somewhere else?"

Lu Cheng shook his head:

"The body is still there, and the murder weapon is still there. Xue Dubo and I will see for ourselves."

Xue Yin fiddled with the iron plaque in his hand for a moment, then slowly put it into his pocket.

"Let's assume what you're saying is true, then you definitely need to come with me."

"Come with me to see Captain Shen and tell him everything that happened here."

Lu Cheng shook his head. If he went to Zhenwu Camp with this kid, he would really become a fish on a chopping board.

"Excuse me, I have urgent business to attend to. But how about we meet again another day, Captain Shen?"

Xue Yin frowned deeply:

"That's not up to you."

As he spoke, without Xue Yin making any move, a cold glint of light enveloped Lu Cheng.

Hearing the whooshing sound, Lu Cheng sighed, felt a chill run down his spine, and curled up into a ball, barely managing to dodge it.

Xue Yin gave him no chance to catch his breath and said calmly upon hearing this.

"Not bad. Let's see how many more times you can dodge!"

He held the knife as he turned, then swept it horizontally across.

Lu Cheng dodged again, but unexpectedly Xue Yin suddenly threw out his long sword and punched Lu Cheng.

"Bang!"

Lu Cheng was thrown back by the shock, his back slamming against the wall. He felt a sweet taste in his throat and coughed up a mouthful of blood.

My arms were numb and painful, and I couldn't lift them for a while.

The power of someone who has reached the pinnacle of internal strength is indeed something he cannot withstand at present.

Xue Yin sheathed his sword, looked at him, and said calmly:

"I won't make things difficult for you. Just tell me who you are and who's behind you, and I'll let you go."

Lu Cheng did not answer.

He leaned against the wall and slowly straightened up.

My right hand hangs by my side, my five fingers moving gently as I wait for the numbness to subside.

Xue Yin frowned, about to speak again, when he suddenly heard hurried footsteps coming from afar.

Two figures ran from the other end of the alley, holding torches in their hands.

"Lord Xue! There's some noise from the west, it sounds like..."

The newcomer took a clear look at the situation and stopped speaking halfway through his sentence.

Xue Yin glanced back, and when he turned back, Lu Cheng was no longer there.

A dark shadow flashed by on the top of the wall.

Xue Yin was playing with a piece of iron, on which was protected by a river of dragon whiskers.

Standing at the street corner, watching the dark figure disappear into the night, he remained silent for a moment before sheathing his broadsword.

"Let's go," he said to his two men. "Follow me to the front to take a look."

……

When Lu Cheng returned to the escort agency, it was already close to his usual training time.

Zhuang Xing swallowed a blood-activating powder to stimulate his meridians, but the severity of his injury meant it would likely take a long time to heal.

Back inside, the others had already undressed and gone to bed. They were then examined.

Lu Cheng then noticed a rather deep wound on his left arm.

Although not as serious as Liu Wan'er's injuries, she still lost a lot of blood.

It seems that Lu Cheng was able to completely dodge Xue Yin's final slash.

He tore off a piece of his clothes, hastily bandaged it, and then lay down on the bed to rest with his eyes closed.

My mind is racing, all I can think about is tonight.

Xue Yin's appearance there was not on Shen Yi's orders, but rather on his own initiative.

But his act of capturing the last person alive made him somewhat unsure.

Shen Yi is not an easy person to get along with. Since he was able to force the Seventeen Families to do such a thing, he naturally wouldn't mind playing tricks on them again.

Both possibilities match.

But Lu Cheng can't tell which one is true right now.

He knew too little about Shen Yi.

That person's thoughts were hidden within layers of political intrigue, and he couldn't easily see through them.

The only certainty is that the Zhenwu Battalion has already begun its operations.

Whether it's catching thieves or closing in on a criminal, this area in the south of the city can no longer be visited casually.

Lu Cheng turned over, trying to stop thinking about it.

He took out his spoils from the evening from his pocket, and poured three money bags onto the bed. The loose silver and copper coins, roughly counted, amounted to more than sixteen taels.

Buying a pill-making furnace and a batch of medicinal herbs should be enough.

Lu Cheng closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into his sea of ​​consciousness.

The golden pillar of light still stood there, reaching to the heavens and the earth, serene as water.

Now, all we need to do is wait for the prescription.

……

The next morning, Liu Chang'an and the other two came to say goodbye.

After the three left, Lu Cheng went to the street and bought a small alchemy furnace.

It wasn't big, just big enough to sit on a table, and could only make a maximum of twenty doses of medicine at a time. I spent two taels of silver and bought a few simple tools—a pestle, a sieve, and a medicine storage jar—and another half tael of miscellaneous items.

Back at the escort agency, he placed the alchemy furnace in the corner of the room and began to take blood-activating powder and practice standing meditation.

Although he was slightly injured in his fight with Xue Yin last night, he gained a more direct understanding of the strength of someone who had reached the peak of the Qi Refining stage.

With powerful and rapid reflexes, his swordsmanship is simple yet each strike carries overwhelming force.

I am currently at the level of a fully-fledged Qi Refining expert, but I am still a step away from achieving it.

It's not that my skills are lacking, it's that my foundation is weak. My proficiency with the Black Eagle Stance is only at the minor mastery level, still more than two hundred points away from perfection. At the current pace, it will take at least two months.

Two months later, the competition began.

Lu Cheng took a deep breath, stopped thinking about it, and focused on practicing his skills.

As another dose of blood-activating powder was applied, a wave of heat swept over his entire body, and Lu Cheng quickly began practicing stance training.

……

Liu Chang'an returned before it got dark that day.

He took out a neatly folded piece of mulberry paper from his pocket and handed it over.

"This is the basic formula for the elixir. The proportions and processing methods of the eighteen ingredients are all written on it. As for the techniques and heat control during the refining process, they are not written on it, and I cannot obtain them."

Lu Cheng took it, unfolded it, and looked at it.

The paper was covered with densely packed small characters, detailing the names, dosages, origins, harvesting seasons, and processing methods of the medicinal herbs. The proportions were also clearly stated, specifying which herb was the principal ingredient and which was the auxiliary ingredient, outlining the roles of the main, assistant, and adjuvant herbs.

However, there is no refining process.

In other words, with this prescription, you only know which medicines you need and how much of each, but you don't know how to combine them together.

How to control the heat, the order in which to add the herbs, and when to add each herb all depend on the alchemist's experience and technique.

This is also what makes Danfang so precious.

A complete prescription is not just a list of medicinal materials, but also a complete refining process.

"That's enough." Lu Cheng folded the mulberry paper neatly and put it into his pocket.

Liu Chang'an looked at him, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

Lu Cheng knew what he wanted to say.

Making medicine isn't just about being literate. Without a master to teach you step by step, you can't make medicine just by relying on a list of medicinal materials.

But he did not explain.

Lu Cheng returned to the room and closed the door.

He lit an oil lamp, sat down at the table, unfolded the mulberry paper again, and read it word by word.

Eighteen kinds of medicinal herbs.

Each ingredient has a different origin and different processing requirements.

Some need to be picked and used fresh, some need to be dried for three days, and some need to be steamed and then dried, repeating this process nine times.

The proportions are also quite particular.

The dosages of the main ingredients are similar, but the addition or subtraction of the auxiliary ingredients will directly affect the course of the medicine.

Too much and it's too intense; too little and it's too weak.

Lu Cheng read it twice and memorized all the contents of the paper.

Then close your eyes and let your consciousness sink into your sea of ​​consciousness.

A golden pillar of light stood tall in front of them.

He focused his attention on the "Blood-Activating Powder Formula".

Not only were the proportions and order of the medicinal materials written out, but also the details.

It even includes the changes and reactions of each medicinal herb at different times after it is put into the alchemy furnace.

Lu Cheng eagerly picked up the yellow paper and carefully read it from beginning to end.

As soon as I finished reading it, golden light shone brightly in my mind.

[Destiny - All Laws Return to One]

I have learned the [Essence Refining - Blood Activating Powder] method. Shall I proceed with the derivation?

Lu Cheng was pleasantly surprised, but also breathed a sigh of relief.

The intention was immediately given:

Deduction!

[Essence Refining - Blood-Activating Powder] Deduction Completed!

Within the towering golden pillar of light, a black figure sat cross-legged, his hands outstretched as if refining elixirs.

【Essence Refining - Blood-Activating Powder】

[Rank: None]

[Level: Beginner (170/200)]

[The auxiliary medicine used to restore the body in the Refining Strength Realm is not difficult to refine; one only needs to understand pharmacology and the properties of the medicine.]

……

Before Lu Cheng could recover from the excitement of learning how to refine the Blood-Activating Powder, [Destiny] flashed again.

Another message arrived.

[Alchemy] I have learned it. Shall I perform the deduction?

Ok?

besides?

Alchemy...

Is there any difference?

Lu Cheng subconsciously gave the intention to deduce.

[Alchemy] is currently being deduced...

After waiting for a long time, the words "in progress" remained unchanged.