A Sudden Incident at Miraculous Garden!

"The new medicinal herbs have arrived."

"The trade route has finally reopened. I heard the Prefect mobilized the Imperial Garrison and swept away those bandits blocking the route with the force of thunder."

"That's right. With the army sweeping through, how could a mere band of bandits survive? Still, we need to be careful. I heard some Martial Path experts among the bandits escaped and slipped into nearby cities, committing crimes from time to time."

"Those damned bandits, never letting anyone live in peace..."

The Apprentices and Apothecaries within Miraculous Garden were all discussing the matter. Clearly, they all deeply hated the bandits.

The bandits had cut off the trade route, preventing medicinal herbs from being transported into Nanyang City. This had directly affected Miraculous Garden's business.

Fortunately, the trade route had reopened. With medicinal herbs once more available, Miraculous Garden's business could recover.

"Bandits..."

Lu Changsheng naturally knew about this as well.

The bandits had been defeated by the Imperial Court's army, but some Martial Path experts had scattered through the various prefectures and counties, roaming about and committing crimes, giving constables everywhere a terrible headache.

After all, they were Martial Path experts. Capturing them was extremely difficult.

What was more, they committed crimes on the move—grabbing a haul and leaving. There was no way to pursue them.

Thus, Nanyang City's security had been very poor recently. Several wealthy households had been robbed one after another, and Miraculous Garden's Guard Team had been deployed frequently, stepping up patrols.

For the time being, nothing had happened to Miraculous Garden.

"Lu Changsheng, come lend a hand. This basket of medicinal herbs is too heavy..."

Liu Yang called out to Lu Changsheng.

"Coming."

Lu Changsheng saw Liu Yang carrying a basket of medicinal herbs on his shoulder.

But the basket was too large. Liu Yang had underestimated its weight, and the herbs had him trembling from head to toe. Clearly, he could not bear such a heavy load.

Lu Changsheng quickly ran over and grabbed the basket. Liu Yang immediately felt the weight lift from his shoulder.

"Come on, let's carry it down together."

Liu Yang said.

"No need for that trouble."

Lu Changsheng exerted strength with both hands and directly lifted the entire basket of medicinal herbs.

A flicker of astonishment appeared on Liu Yang's face.

That basket had nearly crushed him so badly he could not straighten his back. It weighed at least six or seven hundred jin.

Yet now, Lu Changsheng had lifted it alone.

And judging by Lu Changsheng's appearance, his face was not red and his breath was steady. He looked utterly at ease.

Clearly, this weight had not yet reached Lu Changsheng's limit.

"Lu Changsheng, has your Great River Blood Strengthening Technique reached the entry level?"

Liu Yang seemed to think of something and immediately asked.

"Yes, it has."

Lu Changsheng did not reveal much more.

After all, his Great River Blood Strengthening Technique had done far more than reach the entry level. He had already perfected it!

Liu Yang was also an Apothecary Apprentice and had arrived two or three years before Lu Changsheng.

He lacked talent for martial arts and had long since given up on the Martial Path.

Liu Yang knew that Lu Changsheng persisted in martial arts training, but he had never thought much of it.

Which Apothecary Apprentice had not once persisted?

Yet in the end, they all gave up.

Without Medicinal Cuisine and without talent for the Martial Path, it was nearly impossible to achieve anything through martial arts.

But Lu Changsheng had clearly reached the entry level in the Great River Blood Strengthening Technique and had even strengthened his blood and qi.

Otherwise, he could never possess such tremendous strength.

"I really envy you."

"Forget Apothecary Apprentices—even among Apothecaries, there aren't many who have reached the entry level in the Great River Blood Strengthening Technique."

Liu Yang's face was full of envy.

Lu Changsheng merely smiled and said nothing.

Martial arts naturally had their benefits. Strengthening the body alone brought countless advantages.

Still, envy was one thing. Liu Yang did not say anything further.

Even if Lu Changsheng had reached the entry level in the Great River Blood Strengthening Technique, he could not enter the Guard Team. For Apothecary Apprentices like them, the most important thing was still becoming an Apothecary.

Although Nanyang City was unsettled, Miraculous Garden was very safe.

Day after day, Lu Changsheng read books, identified medicinal herbs, and practiced martial arts. He neglected none of them.

In just two short months, Lu Changsheng had progressed at a tremendous pace.

Host: Lu Changsheng

Comprehension: 198 (Average Talent)

Instant Kill Technique: Major Accomplishment

Iron Sand Palm: Major Accomplishment

Six Heavens Blood Strengthening Technique: Fourth Layer

On the Attribute Panel, Lu Changsheng's Comprehension had already reached 198. He was only 2 points away from 200, nearly twice that of an ordinary person.

Lu Changsheng greatly anticipated whether reaching 200 Comprehension would unlock a new evaluation.

Would his Comprehension then rise to an entirely new level?

Moreover, it was not only his Comprehension that had improved rapidly over the past two months. Lu Changsheng's Instant Kill Technique was also close to perfection. He could feel that it might be perfected within a few days.

The Instant Kill Technique might be a third-tier or even fourth-tier Martial Skill. Once perfected, it would surely be no small matter.

Finally, there was the Six Heavens Blood Strengthening Technique.

Lu Changsheng had already cultivated it to the Fourth Layer.

The Six Heavens Blood Strengthening Technique truly deserved to be called a Superior Martial Art. One layer, one heaven; every heaven brought an earth-shattering transformation.

Lu Changsheng's blood and qi were now so powerful that it was simply inconceivable.

Even at only the Fourth Layer, Lu Changsheng now possessed boundless strength and could easily split steles and shatter stone.

One had to know that Master Meng of the Flying Crane Martial Arts School had been a Bone Forging Realm martial artist, yet he too had only been capable of splitting steles and shattering stone.

Lu Changsheng was still in the Blood Strengthening Realm, yet his strength was already no weaker than Master Meng's.

Once he reached the Sixth Layer, how terrifying would his strength become?

Clang, clang, clang.

"Quick, all Apprentices, come out and help."

Suddenly, Steward Zhang's shout rang out within Miraculous Garden, his voice carrying a trace of urgency.

"What happened?"

Lu Changsheng immediately set down his work and went to Miraculous Garden's square.

Steward Zhang's face was livid as he said in a deep voice, "Half an hour ago, a group of criminals robbed one of Miraculous Garden's medicine shops."

"Many Doctors, Apprentices, Apothecaries, and even members of the Guard Team were killed or seriously injured."

"Now, all Apprentices are to go to the front hall and assist under the Doctors' direction in treating the wounded."

The Apprentices were shaken.

A Miraculous Garden medicine shop had been looted?

And the casualties appeared severe?

Lu Changsheng immediately thought of the bandits who had been swept away by the Imperial Court's army.

Only those fierce bandits would dare so brazenly loot a Miraculous Garden medicine shop in broad daylight.

Before the Apprentices had time to think further, Steward Zhang led them all to the front hall.

There were many stretchers on the floor of the front hall.

Some of the stretchers were covered with white cloth.

Clearly, those under the white cloth were dead.

With a rough glance, nearly a dozen people had already died.

There were also dozens of wounded. Some were missing arms or legs, while others had faces like gold paper, clearly not long for this world.

This sight struck every Apprentice hard.

Many Apprentices even went pale. Clearly, they had never seen such a "ghastly" scene before.

Lu Changsheng's expression remained unchanged, but his heart was heavy.

Miraculous Garden was a major power in all of Nanyang City.

Every medicine shop had guards. How could the losses have been so severe?

There was only one explanation: the enemy was too strong!

Under the Doctors' direction, the Apprentices began helping treat the wounded.

Before long, a group of people dressed in luxurious robes arrived at the front hall.

Someone recognized the leader as Zheng Renxin, the current Family Head of Miraculous Garden.

Miraculous Garden had been founded by the Zheng Family's ancestor and had endured for more than one hundred years.

This generation's Family Head, Zheng Renxin, was not particularly skilled in medicine, but it was said that he possessed excellent talent for the Martial Path and was an extremely powerful martial artist.

The people behind Zheng Renxin were basically all upper-ranking members of Miraculous Garden.

When they saw the miserable scene, every one of them gritted their teeth in fury.

"Family Head, these criminals are far too brazen. They actually dared lay hands on our Miraculous Garden. Give me a squad of guards, and I will personally lead them to capture these criminals."

"It has been many years since something this vile happened at Miraculous Garden. They must be severely punished."

"Family Head, give the order, and the Guard Team will search every corner of the city to find those criminals!"

These elders and upper-ranking members were all filled with righteous indignation. Clearly, what these criminals had done had caused Miraculous Garden devastating losses.

The silver alone amounted to more than three thousand taels.

Not to mention the valuable medicinal herbs, which had also been looted clean.

So many people had died as well. The follow-up treatment and compensation for the bereaved would also be a huge expense.