Liu Ruyan's Visit

Liu Ruyan's Visit

After counter-killing an Evil Cultivator in the Tendon Refining Realm in Maple Forest County and advancing to the early stage of the realm, Li Yifan knew all too well that the path of martial arts was long. He and the Seventh Squad hadn't rested on their laurels; instead, they began taking on missions one after another. For the past two months, they had been racing from place to place across the counties under Qingzhou Prefecture, specializing in tricky cases that offered high merit points.

Missions had poured in: exterminating ferocious Monster Beasts entrenched in the mountains, hunting down martial artist bandits who roamed from place to place, investigating strange incidents in villages and towns... Relying on his formidable strength in the early stage of the Tendon Refining Realm and his mastery of the Burning Wood Saber Technique and Scorching Sun Finger, Li Yifan had repeatedly defeated powerful foes. Under his leadership, the Seventh Squad had grown more and more coordinated. Zhao Xiong and Sun Shi formed an impregnable defensive line, Qian Xiaoliu scouted and supported with elusive precision, while Chen Feng and Zhang Tie struck swiftly and fiercely from the flanks. Every mission was a trial by fire. Their combat experience accumulated at breakneck speed, and the squad's overall strength steadily improved.

[After completing multiple Grade C missions, Burning Wood Saber Technique Proficiency +70, Scorching Sun Finger Proficiency +50, Spirit Fox Steps Proficiency +40, Iron Bone Technique Proficiency +30, Investigation Proficiency +25!]

Over the past two months, the Seventh Squad had completed seven Grade C missions with outstanding results, earning a total of 1,800 contribution points. After all, Grade C Upper missions weren't always available. Once the points were fairly divided within the squad, Li Yifan, as its captain and main force, received 1,000.

Without hesitation, Li Yifan poured every last one of those contribution points into his cultivation. He returned to the Martial Merit Hall and carefully exchanged them for the following:

He spent 800 points on eight bottles of Strengthening Tendons and Bones Pill. This pill was an excellent aid for cultivation in the Tendon Refining Realm, able to continuously strengthen the tendons and membranes and bolster one's blood and qi.

He spent 200 points on two bottles of Qi Replenishing Pill to restore his true qi.

His contribution points were back to zero.

With his resources secured, Li Yifan seized every spare moment between missions to cultivate. He fought by day and practiced qi at night. The pills' power, refined by the Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique, continuously transformed into pure energy, nourishing his blood and qi and tempering his tendons and membranes. He could clearly feel his strength steadily increasing, his tendons and membranes growing more resilient and his blood and qi becoming more vigorous.

One day, after completing a mission to wipe out river bandits, Li Yifan was resting at the base when he felt the flow of blood and qi in his body reach a critical point. He immediately swallowed his last Strengthening Tendons and Bones Pill and circulated his technique with all his might. The pill dissolved in his stomach into a surging wave of heat that rushed against the tendons and membranes throughout his body! A violent sensation of expansion swept over him, as though his sinews were stretched to their very limits!

Bzzz—!

A low hum rang out from within him. His tendons and membranes trembled as one, and a far more powerful surge of strength suddenly coursed through him! His blood and qi flowed much faster, and his five senses and six perceptions grew sharper!

[With steady accumulation finally paying off, your realm has advanced to: Body Tempering · Tendon Refining (Middle Stage: 201/800)!]

[Your tendons and membranes are resilient, your blood and qi surge like a tide, and your strength has increased significantly once more!]

The middle stage of Tendon Refining—achieved! Four bottles of Strengthening Tendons and Bones Pill remained.

Li Yifan opened his eyes, their light gleaming, and felt the surging power within him. A surge of heroic spirit rose in his heart. He was now more than twice as strong as when he had first entered the Tendon Refining Realm!

However, when he browsed the Martial Merit Hall's exchange list again, a hint of helplessness stirred within him. Yellow Grade Upper and top-grade techniques cost thousands, even tens of thousands, of contribution points. At his current pace of completing missions, who knew how many years it would take to save up such an enormous sum? The contribution point system was better suited to exchanging for pills, basic techniques, and standard equipment. When it came to truly advanced techniques, the rate at which one could obtain them was simply too slow.

Looks like relying solely on the Xuntian Guard's contribution points won't be enough if I want to get advanced techniques quickly. I'll have to find another way. Li Yifan pondered. Perhaps... silver could be more useful through outside channels? He knew that high-level techniques occasionally appeared in the hands of major merchant houses and at underground auctions, but without exception, they required vast amounts of gold and silver.

Just as he was considering how to obtain resources in the future, a guard's announcement came from outside the courtyard. "Captain, Captain Liu Ruyan is here to see you."

Liu Ruyan? Li Yifan's thoughts stirred. She had joined the guards at the same time as him. Talented and aloof, she came from the Liu Family, a renowned martial arts clan in Qingzhou Prefecture, and was now the captain of her own squad. Why had she suddenly come to visit?

After straightening his robe, Li Yifan went out to greet her. Liu Ruyan was still dressed in white, her figure graceful and her features lovely, but a trace of barely perceptible gravity lingered between her brows. Her aura... had already reached the early stage of the Tendon Refining Realm as well! The resources of a prominent family truly were extraordinary.

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

Liu Ruyan gave a slight nod, her cool gaze lingering on Li Yifan for a moment as a flash of surprise crossed her face. "Captain Li... congratulations on reaching the middle stage." She sensed the aura around him, even more solid and substantial than her own, and couldn't help feeling wary.

"You're too kind, Captain Liu." Li Yifan invited her inside to sit, then asked directly, "What brings you here today?"

Liu Ruyan pondered for a moment before speaking. "To be frank, I've accepted a Grade C Upper mission, but I don't feel confident about handling it alone. I'd like to ask for your help, Captain Li."

"Oh? Tell me more."

"The mission is in the Icy Abyss in North Xuan Province. The objective is to gather a Mystic Ice Lotus that's about to mature. It's a rare primary ingredient for refining advanced cold-element pills," Liu Ruyan explained. "But according to reliable intelligence, an Ice Scale Python in the middle stage of the Tendon Refining Realm is guarding it. Its icy poison is extremely potent, and it's especially effective against those who practice pure-yang or hard-hitting techniques. My Ice Palm gives me an advantage in the environment of the Icy Abyss, but the odds of me defeating an Ice Scale Python in the middle stage of the Tendon Refining Realm alone are slim."

She looked at Li Yifan, her gaze clear. "Your Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique is pure yang and powerful, the natural bane of icy poison. With your help, we'd have a much better chance of overcoming the Ice Scale Python and successfully gathering the Mystic Ice Lotus. The mission offers 1,000 contribution points. I can give you sixty percent."

Li Yifan quickly weighed the situation. An Ice Scale Python in the middle stage of the Tendon Refining Realm would be formidable, but he had just broken through to the middle stage, and his technique countered it. With Liu Ruyan at his side, they stood a good chance. The contribution point reward was decent. But more importantly... he saw another opportunity.

"Captain Liu," Li Yifan said slowly, "I'm willing to work with you. But besides the contribution points, I have one condition."

"Go ahead."

"If we succeed in killing the Ice Scale Python, I'd like to handle its body and demon core," Li Yifan said. "Of course, if you need them, I can give you first refusal at the market price. I know the Liu Family specializes in refining cold-element pills and weapons. The Ice Scale Python's materials should be useful to your family."

A flicker of surprise crossed Liu Ruyan's eyes, then she understood. Quick-witted as she was, she immediately realized what Li Yifan was after—he was short on money and wanted to sell Monster Beast materials for silver.

"Agreed." Liu Ruyan accepted readily. "If we succeed, my family can buy the python's materials at market price. If you're willing to sell the demon core, we can offer even more."

"Good! It's a deal!" Li Yifan felt reassured. This wasn't just a partnership for a mission; it might also open a channel for turning Monster Beast materials into money through the Liu Family's connections. Only by accumulating silver could he seek out advanced techniques beyond the guards. That would be far faster than relying on contribution points alone!

"Let's meet at the north city gate in three days. I'll share the full mission dossier with you then," Liu Ruyan said, rising to take her leave.

After seeing Liu Ruyan off, Li Yifan's gaze turned deep and thoughtful. North Xuan Province, the Icy Abyss, the Mystic Ice Lotus, an Ice Scale Python in the middle stage of the Tendon Refining Realm... This was more than just a Grade C Upper mission. It was the beginning of an attempt to use his own advantages to open up a new way of obtaining resources. Perhaps building a good relationship with the Liu Family would greatly benefit him in the future.

A new challenge—and a new opportunity—lay just ahead.