In the blink of an eye, another month had passed.
The morning sun rose, its rosy hue fading as golden light spread across the land.
Inside Emerald Cloud Valley, Shen Mu had already practiced the Army-Breaking Saber Technique several times. Bare-chested, he was wreathed in a layer of crimson mist.
"Rumble, rumble~"
After Shen Mu finished another round of the Army-Breaking Saber Technique, his stomach began to rumble right on cue.
"I've finally digested enough beast meat. I can make a push for Fourth Stage Boiling Blood."
Looking at the fourth root of the Martial Dao Tree, now completely solid, Shen Mu couldn't help feeling delighted.
After more than two months, he had finally nurtured enough blood qi to break through to Fourth Stage Boiling Blood.
Shen Mu first took a shower, then put on a clean set of gang clothes and headed toward the valley entrance.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Shen Mu knocked on Hong Jingcheng's door.
"Who is it?"
Hong Jingcheng's slightly displeased voice came from inside.
Shen Mu said, "Brother Hong, it's me, Shen Mu."
"Creak."
The door opened, and Hong Jingcheng stood in the doorway with his clothes in disarray. Smiling, he said, "Brother Shen, you're here early. Is something the matter?"
Ever since Shen Mu had helped him earn over a thousand taels of silver, he had spent half a month downing Blood Qi Pills in bulk and successfully raised his cultivation to Boiling Blood Eighth Layer. He was now just one stage away from reaching the Ninth Grade.
Hong Jingcheng could afford to slight the other guardians in the valley, but he absolutely had to show Shen Mu respect.
"Brother Hong, I've reached Boiling Blood Third Layer. I came to ask for leave so I can return to Firewood Gang headquarters and register."
Shen Mu