Body Refining Secrets and the Black Pustule Eye Curse

Jiang Yan hadn't expected Ren Yuan to ask about the day's events, but he didn't bring it up at all.

Ren Yuan placed four books on the table, gesturing for Jiang Yan to examine them.

Four books?

Didn't the boss say there were three martial arts manuals?

Seeing the confusion in Jiang Yan's eyes, Ren Yuan explained, "Besides the martial art manual for you to choose from, there's another one covering common issues encountered during the Martial Apprentice realm. You can take a look; I believe it will be of some help."

Ren Yuan handed one of the booklets to Jiang Yan. Jiang Yan glanced at the cover. The writing was messy, clearly a common, mass-produced item.

"Boss Ren, I wonder if this book contains any information on breaking through the Body Refining realm?" Jiang Yan asked casually.

Shaking his head, Ren Yuan's expression turned serious. "There definitely won't be any in this book. The methods for breaking through the Body Refining realm are incredibly precious. Without sufficient contribution, the sect would never pass it on."

"Contribution?"

"Yes! Contribution. You gain contribution by doing things for the sect. With enough contribution, you can exchange it for resources, such as positions, money, cultivation methods, and rare treasures."

This was the first time Jiang Yan had heard of contribution points. He paused for a moment before asking, "So, we get contribution from patrolling too, right?"

Ren Yuan chuckled. "Of course. The patrol team protects the village's safety, they don't do it for free. The village pays them a reward. You earn money for the sect, so naturally, you get contribution."

He continued, "This is also why some older patrol members can leave the patrol team and take on more stable jobs within the sect. They can use their contribution to exchange for a more suitable task."

Monster wouldn't even consider marrying him if he didn't have a son. Back then, he thought the patrol team job was precarious; who would marry him?

"Then, how long would it take to get a Body Refining cultivation method by working in the patrol team?" Jiang Yan suppressed the heat in his eyes and asked calmly.

"Hmm..."

Jiang Yan's question stumped Ren Yuan.

He thought for a moment. "You kid, let's not even talk about how long it would take you to reach the peak of the Martial Apprentice realm. Just for the patrol team job, with no major accidents, it would take about ten years."

Ten years?

Surprise flashed in Jiang Yan's eyes.

"Yes, ten years. The Body Refining cultivation method is that important." Ren Yuan lowered his voice as he spoke, "Breaking through human limits, generating protective Inner Qi, advancing the essence of life, and facing Monsters directly without needing spiritual energy!"

"Do you think the Body Refining cultivation method is important!"

Of course, it's important. Based on Jiang Yan's speculation, after breaking through the Body Refining realm, an individual's essence would likely undergo a life leap.

It seems that to obtain the Body Refining cultivation method, I'll need to secure a good position and take on more important tasks in the future. The order has already been issued; let's see if there's an opportunity to make a move.

Hmm... besides that, let's see if there are any ways to obtain cultivation methods from outside the sect.

His mind raced as he listened to Ren Yuan speak.

Finally, he looked at the three martial arts manuals on the table.

The first one: Fast Sword.

The second one: Fast Spear.

The third one: Fast Knife.

They reeked of cheap market goods. In fact, seeing these three manuals, he felt he had no choice.

He didn't use a knife, so the third one was out. As for the second one, he believed no one on Planet Azure would choose it.

No matter what, they wouldn't choose it.

So, he could only choose the first one.

He picked up the first book and cupped his fists towards Ren Yuan. "Thank you, Boss. I'm skilled with a sword, so I'll choose this one."

Seeing Jiang Yan make his choice, Ren Yuan put away the other two books and stated routinely, "You know the sect's rules; it cannot be passed on."

Then, he stood up. "Tang Long, come with me to the wilderness for a bit. We'll head to the Yellow Alkaline Land and see if there are any traces."

Is he going out to check if there's any clue left by Sheng Fuwu to determine if Sheng Fuwu is missing?

Jiang Yan remained silent. Sheng Fuwu had died in the Red Willow Forest, not far from the village. Although his flesh and blood might be completely gone, his clothes, identity token, perhaps his money, talismans, and other items might still be there.

He believed they would find them soon. As for other traces, it had rained heavily the day before; what traces could possibly remain?

In the plaza, Jiang Yan practiced his sword.

After Ren Yuan departed, he had already announced Jiang Yan's appointment as a minor leader to the patrol team.

Now that the appointment was official, more suitable and important tasks would await him.

From now on, like Tang Long and Fei Shan, he could patrol freely or be stationed in the plaza, ready to respond quickly to signals for support.

Of course, this kind of work would involve more encounters with Monsters, increasing the danger.

But he didn't refuse. Firstly, he would accumulate more contribution this way, and secondly, he could gain more Monster points.

He understood clearly what the Monster value meant to him.

Gradually, the sun began to set in the west. Ren Yuan and Tang Long still hadn't returned. He had thought the day would pass uneventfully, but instead of seeing any patrol members fire distress signals, villagers from Yuyang Village approached him.

A dark-skinned woman came forward, her face etched with anxiety. "Sir, my child might have encountered a Monster!"

The woman saw that Jiang Yan was very young, and her eyes flickered with a strange light, as if surprised by his youth.

"A Monster?"

Jiang Yan's gaze sharpened as he looked at the woman. "Do you know what you're saying?"

This world had too many Monsters. Even with the patrols providing protection, some Monsters could stealthily infiltrate populated areas, feasting on flesh.

At the same time, people were overly sensitive and fearful of Monsters. Strange and unusual events, anything inexplicable, were attributed to Monsters.

The Monsters of this world were truly the kings of scapegoats.

Villagers often mistook things they didn't understand for the lurking presence of Monsters.

True Monsters were rare; most cases were miscellaneous incidents.

In the parlance of the Azure Planet, this was like filing a false report, wasting law enforcement resources.

The patrols were fed up and annoyed, so they crudely implemented a new system.

If there was a genuine Monster, it would be dealt with. If there wasn't, the accuser had to pay a fee.

"Sir, of course, I know what I'm saying." The woman was startled by Jiang Yan's gaze, but she insisted.

"Alright." Jiang Yan picked up his long sword and a talisman. "Since you insist, let's go!"

After turning down a few streets, Jiang Yan arrived at the farmer's wife's home.

Inside, a little boy was crying with whimpers.

A young man was sighing, his face full of worry.

Jiang Yan walked in and saw a row of black, pustule-like sores on the little boy's arm.

The pustules were arranged in a regular, straight line, slowly spreading upwards.

More and more pustules appeared.

The little boy's cries grew louder.

Having been with the patrol for some time, he had gained more experience.

He brought his left hand slightly closer to the boy's arm and felt a faint, almost imperceptible coolness.

This was the Black-Eyed Monster.

Being cursed by it resulted in the Black Pustule Eye Curse, also known as the Insect Curse.

If not treated promptly, the cursed person would develop pustules on a part of their body. Inside the pustules were the eggs of the Black-Eyed Monster. The pustules would eventually spread to the eyes, and at that point, the cursed person's entire essence and blood could give birth to new Black-Eyed Monsters.

"This is the Black Pustule Eye Curse."

Thinking of this, he recalled the method to break the Black Pustule Eye Curse: to prick the topmost pustule and kill the insect eggs.

"Just prick the pustule, find the insect eggs, and remember to burn them."

The Black-Eye curse was relatively easy to break. As long as one knew its characteristics, even an ordinary person could break it.

So, he directly told the family how to do it. Also, these Black-Eye insect eggs probably wouldn't yield any Monster value even if burned, because they were... too weak.

Shaking his head, amidst the thanks of the woman's family, Jiang Yan quickly departed.

ps: Please vote for your recommendation tickets, thank you!