Liu Ruyan's Visit

Chapter 27: Liu Ruyan Visits

After defeating the Muscle-Refining evil cultivator in Maple Forest County and advancing to the early stage of Muscle-Refining, Li Yifan understood that the path of martial arts was long. He and the Seventh Squad did not linger on their accomplishments but instead began to continuously accept missions. For the past two months, they had been non-stop, traveling between various prefectures and counties under Qingzhou Prefecture, specializing in handling difficult cases that yielded high contribution points.

Missions poured in: eradicating fierce Monster Beasts lurking in the mountains, pursuing rogue martial artist bandits, investigating strange occurrences in villages and towns... With his formidable strength at the early stage of Muscle-Refining and his mastery of the Burning Wood Saber Technique, Scorching Sun Finger, Li Yifan repeatedly defeated powerful enemies. Under his leadership, the Seventh Squad's coordination grew increasingly seamless. Zhao Xiong and Sun Shi formed an unshakeable defensive front, Qian Xiaoliu's reconnaissance and support were elusive, and Chen Feng and Zhang Tie's flank attacks were swift and fierce. Each mission was a tempering, accumulating practical combat experience rapidly, and steadily improving the team's overall strength.

[Successfully completed multiple Class C missions, Burning Wood Saber Technique proficiency +70, Scorching Sun Finger proficiency +50, Spirit Fox Steps proficiency +40, Iron Bone Technique proficiency +30, Detection skill proficiency +25!]

Over two months, the Seventh Squad completed seven Class C missions, achieving remarkable results and accumulating 1800 contribution points, as Class C-high missions were not always available. After a fair internal distribution within the squad, Li Yifan, as captain and absolute main force, received 1000 points.

Li Yifan unhesitatingly invested all these contribution points into his cultivation. He went to the Martial Merit Hall again and carefully exchanged them for:

800 points spent on eight bottles of "Muscle Strengthening Bone Solidifying Pills." These pills were excellent for Muscle-Refining stage cultivation, continuously strengthening tendons and ligaments while boosting vital energy and blood.

200 points spent on two bottles of "Qi Nourishing Yuan Replenishing Pills" for recovering true qi.

His contribution points returned to zero.

With resources in hand, Li Yifan seized every moment between missions for intense cultivation. He fought during the day and practiced qi at night. The power of the pills, refined by the Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique, was continuously converted into pure energy, nourishing his vital energy and blood, and tempering his tendons and ligaments. He could clearly feel his strength steadily increasing, his tendons and ligaments becoming tougher, and his vital energy and blood becoming more robust.

One day, after completing a mission to clear out water bandits and while resting at their post, Li Yifan felt his vital energy and blood surging to a critical point. He immediately took the last "Muscle Strengthening Bone Solidifying Pill" and circulated his cultivation technique with full power. The pill entered his stomach, transforming into a surging hot current that impacted the tendons and ligaments throughout his body! A violent sense of expansion came, as if the muscle fibers were stretched to their limit!

"Buzz—!"

A low hum sounded from within his body, the muscle fibers throughout his body vibrated in unison, and a more powerful sense of strength suddenly coursed through him! The circulation of vital energy and blood accelerated, and his five senses and six perceptions became even sharper!

[Success! Accumulated strength leads to breakthrough! Realm advanced to: Body Tempering · Muscle-Refining (Mid-stage: 201/800)!]

[Tendons and ligaments strengthened, vital energy and blood like tides, strength significantly increased once more!]

Muscle-Refining Mid-stage, achieved! 4 bottles of "Muscle Strengthening Bone Solidifying Pills" remaining.

Li Yifan opened his eyes, a sharp glint within them. Feeling the surging power within him, his heart filled with ambition. He was now more than twice as strong as when he first entered the Muscle-Refining stage!

However, when he browsed the exchange list in the Martial Merit Hall again, a hint of helplessness arose in his heart. High-grade and top-grade Yellow Grade cultivation techniques cost thousands or even tens of thousands of contribution points. At his current mission completion rate, it was unknown how many years it would take to accumulate such a massive amount of contribution points. The contribution point system was more suitable for exchanging pills, basic cultivation techniques, and standard equipment. For truly high-level cultivation techniques, the acquisition efficiency was too low.

"It seems that to quickly obtain advanced cultivation techniques, relying solely on Xuntian Guard contribution points might not be enough. I must find another way," Li Yifan mused. "Perhaps... silver, in external channels, can play a greater role?" He knew that some large merchant guilds and underground auctions occasionally had high-level cultivation techniques appear, but they invariably required vast sums of gold and silver.

Just as he was contemplating future resource acquisition channels, the voice of a guard outside the courtyard announced, "Captain, Captain Liu Ruyan is here."

Liu Ruyan? Li Yifan's heart stirred. This woman, who joined the guards in the same period as him, possessed outstanding talent and a cool demeanor. She hailed from the renowned martial arts family, the Liu Family, in Qingzhou Prefecture, and was now a captain leading her own squad. Her sudden visit, what was the reason?

Adjusting his robes, Li Yifan went out to meet her. Liu Ruyan was still in white, her figure graceful, her appearance beautiful, but there was a hint of unspoken solemnity between her brows. Her aura... had also reached the early stage of Muscle-Refining! The resources of a prominent family were indeed extraordinary.

"Captain Liu, it's been a while," Li Yifan said, cupping his fists.

Liu Ruyan nodded slightly, her cool gaze lingering on Li Yifan for a moment, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. "Captain Li... Congratulations on breaking through to the mid-stage." She sensed the more condensed and profound aura emanating from Li Yifan and couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.

"You flatter me, Captain Liu." Li Yifan invited her in to sit and asked directly, "Captain Liu, what brings you here today?"

Liu Ruyan pondered for a moment before speaking, "To be honest, I've accepted a Class C-high mission, but I don't feel confident enough on my own and would like to ask for Captain Li's assistance."

"Oh? I'd be happy to hear about it."

"The mission location is in 'Icy Abyss' in 'North Xuan Province.' The objective is to collect a 'Mystic Ice Lotus' that is about to mature. This item is a rare main ingredient for refining high-level ice-attribute pills," Liu Ruyan explained. "However, reliable intelligence indicates that a mid-stage Muscle-Refining 'Ice Scale Python' is guarding it. This python's cold poison is potent and has an additional suppressing effect on those who cultivate pure yang or fierce cultivation techniques. My Ice Palm has an advantage in the Icy Abyss environment, but my chances of defeating a mid-stage Muscle-Refining Ice Scale Python alone are very low."

She looked at Li Yifan, her eyes clear. "Captain Li's Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique is extremely yang and fierce, precisely the nemesis of cold poison. With your help in suppressing the Ice Scale Python, our chances of successfully collecting the Mystic Ice Lotus will greatly increase. The mission reward is 1000 contribution points, and I can give you sixty percent."

Li Yifan quickly calculated: a mid-stage Muscle-Refining Ice Scale Python was powerful, but he had just broken through to the mid-stage, his cultivation technique was a counter, and with Liu Ruyan's cooperation, there was indeed a chance of success. The contribution point reward was acceptable. But more importantly... he saw another opportunity.

"Captain Liu," Li Yifan said slowly, "We can cooperate. However, besides contribution points, I have one more condition."

"Please, speak."

"If we successfully kill the Ice Scale Python, its carcass and demonic core will be handled by me," Li Yifan stated. "Of course, if Captain Liu needs them, I can prioritize selling them to you at market price. I know the Liu Family excels at refining ice-attribute pills and weapons. The materials from this Ice Scale Python should be useful to your esteemed family."

Liu Ruyan's eyes flashed with surprise, then understanding. Being intelligent and perceptive, she immediately grasped Li Yifan's intention—he was short on money and wanted to exchange Monster Beast materials for silver.

"Agreed," Liu Ruyan readily accepted. "If successful, our Liu Family can purchase the carcass materials at market price. If you are willing to sell the demonic core, the price will be even higher."

"Good! It's a deal!" Li Yifan felt a sense of certainty. This was not just a mission cooperation, but potentially a channel to monetize Monster Beast materials through the Liu Family's influence. Accumulating silver was the key to seeking advanced cultivation techniques in the outside world! This was much faster than relying solely on contribution points!

"We'll meet at the north city gate in three days. I will share the detailed mission scroll with you then," Liu Ruyan said as she stood to leave.

After seeing Liu Ruyan off, Li Yifan's gaze deepened. North Xuan Province, Icy Abyss, Mystic Ice Lotus, mid-stage Muscle-Refining Ice Scale Python... This was not just a Class C-high mission, but the beginning of his attempt to utilize his strengths and open up new avenues for resource acquisition. Perhaps establishing a good cooperative relationship with the Liu Family would be greatly beneficial in the future.

New challenges, and new opportunities, lay before him.