Body Refining Complete, Condensing the Perfect Innate Physique

"You actually want the Myriad Demon Blood Prison Scripture!"

Gu Yue's eyes flickered with surprise, then his face shifted dramatically as he stared at Li Lianying in sheer dread.

"What audacious ambition! I never imagined you'd dare scheme for the Forbidden Zone of Chaos!"

"In this era, you may be a figure of unparalleled brilliance, but in the grand scope of the entire Forbidden Zone of Chaos, you amount to nothing."

Li Lianying paid no heed to Gu Yue's words. His expression remained utterly calm, his tone as steady as ever, without a ripple.

"Old Demon Gu, that's not something you need to worry about."

"If you're willing to trade, this eunuch will spare your life. If not, then all of you will stay here!"

Gu Yue's face shifted between uncertainty and fear, but in the end, survival instinct won out.

Taking the Myriad Demon Blood Prison Scripture that Gu Yue handed over, Li Lianying inspected it briefly. Confirming it was genuine, he lingered no longer.

With a flick of his Dust Whisk, the void was torn open. He stepped into it, and in the next instant, his figure appeared within the Great Li Imperial Palace.

"Your Majesty, though I failed to obtain the map and key to the Pill Immortal Secret Realm, this old servant has secured the Myriad Demon Blood Prison Scripture."

Inside the Purple Gold Pavilion, Li Lianying respectfully presented the Myriad Demon Blood Prison Scripture beside the Dragon Bed.

The Dragon Bed was shrouded by Curtains. A hand, withered and covered in dead skin, reached out from behind them to take the scripture.

"Good, this is indeed the Myriad Demon Blood Prison Scripture."

After a long pause, an aged yet deep voice came from within the Curtains.

"By the way, Lianying, what's this about the Pill Immortal Secret Realm?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, those Demon Sect fools were truly useless. They let a girl at the Innate Realm slip away."

Li Lianying hadn't expected the Demon Sect rabble to be so incompetent. Otherwise, he would have acted personally long ago.

"No matter. As long as she's within Great Li's borders, that girl won't escape our grasp."

"Have that Unfilial Son issue an edict, declaring that Medicine Manor has colluded with the Demon Sect. Order the Night Watch Division to capture that girl at any cost."

"As you command, Your Majesty."

Li Lianying withdrew from the Purple Gold Pavilion with deference, then turned to deliver the decree.

Inside a room at Ye Manor.

Ye Jing emerged from his state of absorbed cultivation. Dawn had broken, and roosters crowed.

The medicinal power of the Top-grade Foundation Building Liquid had been fully absorbed by Ye Jing. Sensing the changes in his body, a hint of joy appeared on his face.

Ye Jing felt a surging, torrential power within him, and his physical strength had increased more than tenfold.

When he first stepped into the Innate Realm, Ye Jing had felt no dramatic change in his physical power—barely stronger than an ordinary mortal.

But now, Ye Jing sensed that his body's toughness rivaled metal and stone. His defensive capabilities had undergone a leap in improvement.

A single bottle of Top-grade Foundation Building Liquid had allowed him to complete the first of the Three Innate Steps.

Yet Ye Jing didn't let pride get the better of him. The speed at which he'd finished the first step—Body Refining—had indeed far exceeded his expectations.

But Ye Jing knew that among the Three Innate Steps, the first was the simplest. As long as one had tenacious willpower, it could generally be accomplished.

The hardest was the second step: Marrow Cleansing.

Marrow Cleansing meant purging impurities from the body. In truth, this step was both difficult and simple.

For the mediocre, it was easy. But for those prodigies who aspired to tread the Peak of the Great Dao, it was exceedingly hard.

The more impurities cleansed from the body, the higher the quality of the Innate Physique that could be forged.

Typically, at this stage, many of Great Li's prodigies would linger in the Marrow Cleansing realm for an extended period, all to remove as many impurities as possible.

This allowed them to condense a higher-quality Innate Physique, enabling them to go further in the Contention for the Great Dao.

Ye Jing's ambition was even greater. He wanted to reach the state of Pure and Spotless during Marrow Cleansing, so he could forge the most perfect Innate Physique.

The Pure and Spotless state might be difficult for others, but for Ye Jing, it was hardly a challenge.

Because in the Pill King's Precious Mirror he had comprehended yesterday, there was a recipe for the Marrow Cleansing Pill. The only issue was that the materials were somewhat hard to find.

But compared to the gains, this small delay was utterly insignificant.

Dressing and finishing breakfast, Ye Jing prepared to report for duty at the Hanlin Academy.

As soon as he stepped inside, he heard officials discussing among themselves.

"Did you hear? Medicine Manor actually colluded with the Demon Sect! The court is furious. His Majesty ordered the Night Watch Division to capture the remnant, Yao Qingyin."

"Sigh, I never imagined Medicine Manor would collude with the Demon Sect."

"Indeed. Think of what a figure Yao Xingchen was—a thousand years ago, he joined forces with the Ancestor of Great Li to gravely wound the Devil Master. That was hailed as a tale of glory. To think his descendants would be so unworthy."

Medicine Manor colluding with the Demon Sect! Ye Jing sneered inwardly. Last night, Yao Qingyin had been hunted by Demon Sect disciples and nearly killed. If she were colluding with them, how could she have ended up in such a state?

It seemed the current emperor was also involved in yesterday's affair. Issuing a decree to capture Yao Qingyin now was simply to root out the entire line.

"Brother Ye, you don't believe Medicine Manor colluded with the Demon Sect either, do you?"

Just as Ye Jing was deep in thought, an indignant voice interrupted his reverie.

Hu Jie looked at Ye Jing with great excitement, as if he had found a kindred spirit.

"Those fools actually believe such absurd claims that Medicine Manor colluded with the Demon Sect."

Glancing at the Hanlin Academy officials who were speaking at length, Hu Jie's eyes showed a hint of contempt.

"Brother Hu, be careful with your words. You often make startling claims, and if someone catches wind of them, you could end up in prison. Remember, disaster comes from the mouth."

Ye Jing considered himself on good terms with Hu Jie, but Hu Jie was prone to cynical remarks that could easily be used against him.

Thus, Ye Jing kindly warned him.

Hu Jie's face showed displeasure, and he pointed angrily, saying, "Brother Ye, you're right, but I feel wronged for Medicine Manor!"

"Think of what kind of man Yao Xingchen was—how much he contributed to Great Li, and in the end, for the Lord of Great Li, he suffered the Heavenly Dao backlash and died young."

"His descendants continued to heal the sick and save lives, benefiting countless people of Great Li."

"But His Majesty is ungrateful and unrighteous. Not only did he wipe out Medicine Manor's entire clan, but he also branded them with the eternal infamy of colluding with the Demon Sect."

"Brother Ye, I can't accept it. I can't accept that a family like Medicine Manor, whose good name spread across Great Li, should bear such a disgrace."

"No, I must prove Medicine Manor's innocence and clear their name."

Hu Jie hated evil as if it were his enemy and could not tolerate a single grain of sand in his eyes. Seeing Hu Jie's determination to clear Medicine Manor's name, Ye Jing cautiously looked around and then lowered his voice.

"Brother Hu, the mastermind behind Medicine Manor's case is undoubtedly His Majesty. If you try to clear their name, you may face disaster."

Hearing Ye Jing's warning, a smile appeared on Hu Jie's face. "Brother Ye, rest assured. I appreciate your kind reminder."

"But don't worry, I won't act recklessly. I'll spread word and use public opinion to force the truth to come out."

Ye Jing said nothing more, turned around, sat down in his seat, picked up a book from the desk, and began to read seriously.