Repaying Kindness

The many parts of Song Ankang's body that had already been tempered could not only help the Seven Injuries Qi and Blood break through deeper bottlenecks and shackles, but also effectively protect his body.

As mentioned before, the Seven Injuries Demonic Scripture was inherently astonishingly powerful. The parts it tempered were often extraordinarily hard and resilient, but they lacked coordination with one another, resulting in grave hidden dangers.

Yet with the Heavenly Book of Fate Defiance on him, which could effectively turn side effects into benefits, those parts were now not only coordinated but also smooth and flawless.

Coupled with his solid, deeply rooted foundation and his dense, pure Seven Injuries Qi and Blood, all the side effects had become positive effects. This transformed the Seven Injuries Demonic Scripture, already considered first-rate in the world, into one of the Profound Desolate Great World's most peak-level Foundation Establishment divine arts.

With a robust foundation, a powerful body, and limitless prospects... he possessed all manner of advantages when breaking through bottlenecks and shackles.

"Thump thump thump thump..."

As strange chiming sounds rang out within his body, the bottlenecks leading to his bone marrow shattered piece by piece. Thread after thread of Seven Injuries Qi and Blood began following mysterious trajectories, tempering and nourishing his bone marrow.

Marrow Refining!

He had officially broken through!

Song Ankang's strength entered a new realm. His qi and blood had entered his marrow, his moves flowed as he wished, and his forms became instinct. When he used various martial arts, everything came smoothly and naturally, allowing him to unleash astonishing power.

Song Ankang took another Ninth-grade Mid-tier Pill to stabilize his current realm before beginning to adapt to his explosively increased strength.

With every gesture, he possessed nearly ten thousand jin of tremendous strength. He could easily destroy a small earthen hill, and even several hundred people joining forces could not harm him in the slightest.

His speed had reached a hundred meters in a few seconds, while his reactions had reached the level of striking several times in an instant. If such combat prowess and destructive power were placed on Earth, he would be a bona fide little Superman.

Even in the Xia Kingdom, where Demonic Creatures and Ghosts ran rampant, he counted as a second-rate expert. Among warriors in the Inner Refinement Realm, basically none could stand against Song Ankang.

If Song Ankang faced Miss Lilac again, he could blow her apart in roughly three punches, leaving her unable to stir up any more waves.

As for Miss Lilac's illusions, Song Ankang was now immune to them. His spiritual will had increased greatly from its original foundation. Unless it was the illusion arts of a Ninth-Rank High-Tier Ghost Spirit, anything below that rank would have little effect.

At this moment, Song Ankang's overall strength was scarcely inferior to Jiang Yunhe's. Jiang Yunhe might still far surpass Song Ankang in combat experience and fighting techniques, but in a true life-and-death battle, even if Song Ankang could not defeat Jiang Yunhe, escaping would still be easy.

Relying on the lightness skill movement technique Treading Snow Without a Trace, Song Ankang was even confident he could slowly grind Jiang Yunhe to death.

Song Ankang's strength had already placed him at the pinnacle of Chaoyun Manor, and likewise at the pinnacle of Tongxin Town.

Within a radius of roughly ten li, Song Ankang was enough to reign supreme.

After carefully sensing and adapting to his soaring strength, Song Ankang stopped and began to worry.

Although his strength had risen swiftly during this period, allowing him to break through to the Marrow Refining Realm in the blink of an eye, with overall strength even comparable to a Blood Replacement Realm warrior, the consumption had also been astonishing.

The pills his cheap wife Tang Yelan had sent him had already been used up by nearly half. What remained would at most be enough for him to break through to the Blood Replacement Realm. After that, he would have to find another way to obtain resources.

Fortunately, Chaoyun Manor's workshop was gradually getting on track and should barely be able to support his cultivation. However, the further he progressed, the more resources he would need, so it was better to prepare himself mentally in advance.

Thinking of this, Song Ankang sighed. Poor scholars, rich warriors—it truly was so.

After leaving the Training Room, just as he was about to get something to eat, he received word that Hao Jiyong had come to visit and had brought him a large bundle of good things.

Song Ankang looked at the dozens of precious medicinal herbs in the bundle, including quite a few ginseng roots over five years old. He looked at Hao Jiyong in surprise. "Steward Hao, did you bring over all the more precious medicinal herbs from the storehouse?"

"That's right. Any good medicinal herbs in the storehouse with even a little age on them are all here," Hao Jiyong said.

Song Ankang was speechless. "Steward Hao, if you do not give me an explanation for this, do not blame me for removing you from your position as storehouse steward."

"Manor Lord, this year's weather has brought a severe drought. While Chaoyun Manor's harvest has dropped drastically, the Demonic Creatures and Ghosts nearby are also faring poorly, so they have set their sights on the surrounding villages and manors," Hao Jiyong said solemnly. "Several Earthworm Beasts have also been lingering around Chaoyun Manor, and they could sneak into the manor to eat people at any moment."

"Although the Qinggang Stone pavement within the manor can keep the Earthworm Beasts out, most places are still bare earth. If those Earthworm Beasts insist on coming in, it will not be too difficult for them. Chaoyun Manor is therefore in grave danger."

Song Ankang asked, "What does that have to do with you bringing the medicinal herbs from the storehouse to me?"

"During extraordinary times, the family has special rules. More medicinal herbs, money, and the like may be advanced beforehand to certain warriors, allowing them to raise their strength as quickly as possible to deal with the current crisis," Hao Jiyong explained. "So I advanced the Manor Lord's monthly salary for the coming year and used these medicinal herbs as payment, so that you can raise your strength as quickly as possible. This is permitted by the family rules."

Song Ankang was taken aback, then patted Hao Jiyong on the shoulder. "Good. These medicinal herbs have come at exactly the right time. But aren't you afraid that doing this will leave the manor struggling this year, unable to pay its taxes?"

"If the workshop had not appeared, I would not have dared to do this either," Hao Jiyong said with a smile. "But the workshop has been earning considerable profits lately. Unless something unexpected happens, it will certainly be enough to pay the taxes, so I thought of these medicinal herbs."

"I also happened to hear from Miss Qiushi that the Manor Lord has been immersed in cultivation lately. With the manor facing the Earthworm Beasts' covetous gaze as well, I brought these medicinal herbs over."

Song Ankang nodded. "You have courage and strategy, a quick mind, and know how to repay kindness. I did not risk myself to save you in vain. Still, the position of storehouse steward is somewhat beneath your talents. Learn more, and I will give you a better position in the future."

"Many thanks, Manor Lord." Hao Jiyong bowed in salute.

After Hao Jiyong left, Song Ankang looked at the large bundle of medicinal herbs before him, his face full of smiles.

A pillow arriving just when one felt sleepy—that was exactly it. So many precious medicinal herbs were worth a fortune. Even if the workshop operated day and night, it would not earn that much without a long stretch of time.

But what Song Ankang lacked right now was time. With these medicinal herbs to assist him, along with the pills sent by his cheap wife Tang Yelan, he would not need to worry about resources for the time being.

If nothing unexpected happened, once he had digested these medicinal herbs and pills, Song Ankang's strength would also break into the ranks of First-rate Warriors.