Guarding the Medicine Field (Ninth update, seeking reads!)

At three in the afternoon, the shift ended.

Chen Yuan did not return to Huo Academy immediately, but instead found a spot to flip through the Dragon-Elephant Prison-Suppressing Body manual he carried in his robes.

After browsing through it, his eyes shone with brilliance.

This was an incredibly profound body-refining technique. It was said that once mastered to a high level, one could grasp infinite, tyrannical laws to suppress all enemies.

However, this thin booklet was only a fragment, recording only the first three levels of the Dragon-Elephant Prison-Suppressing Body. These were merely the most basic body-refining methods, lacking any deeper mysteries; the original owner had jokingly referred to it as the Dragon-Elephant Body-Refining Art.

Even so, it remained exceptionally precious.

The notes candidly stated that if one could reach perfection in the first two levels, no martial artist at the entry-level—those within the Skin Realm and Bone Realm—could harm a single hair on one's head.

Even after passing the Skin and Bone Realms, it would not be an easy task for a martial artist at the Gathering Origin realm to kill you.

If one could master the third level of the Dragon-Elephant Prison-Suppressing Body, one could suppress a cultivator at the Gathering Origin realm with a mere wave of the hand.

It was described with overwhelming dominance.

Chen Yuan felt a surge of longing and began to study the specific cultivation methods in detail. The more he read, the more his brows furrowed, and the joy in his heart dissipated by more than half.

This first level, the Elephant Bone Pattern-Birth realm, was incredibly difficult to cultivate.

It required a combination of internal nourishment and external practice; it was impossible to train without consuming medicinal decoctions.

The booklet listed a series of required herbs. Chen Yuan had never even heard the names of most herbs in the first two tiers; only the third and lowest tier fell within his range of knowledge.

Even that wasn't cheap. One batch of medicine lasted only two days, requiring a constant, endless supply of brewing.

Chen Yuan set off immediately to the nearest apothecary to probe the prices of these herbs.

To avoid potential risks, he visited three different shops in succession, mixing in unrelated herbs while inquiring in batches. After all that trouble, he discovered that a single batch of medicine actually cost one tael of silver.

This made him click his tongue repeatedly. One batch for two days meant fifteen taels a month. His current monthly salary was only seven taels, plus subsidies totaling ten taels—not even enough for the medicine.

He had gained over twenty taels yesterday, but that money had to be spent slowly; he dared not use it openly, or he would inevitably be discovered.

Fortunately, this first level acted directly on the Bone Realm. Since he was currently only in the Skin Realm, it wasn't the optimal time to cultivate it, so there was no need to rush.

At worst, he would train to the entry level and then use his Dao of Survival points to pile up the rest; he would be invincible sooner or later.

The time spent practicing martial arts was monotonous, yet the strength gained from constant improvement gave his days something to look forward to.

A few more days passed, and Chen Yuan finally reached the minor success stage of the Skin Realm. His skin and membranes became increasingly tough, leaving no marks even after being punched or kicked by ordinary people.

He found an opportunity to approach Fan Dajiang and reported, "Boss, I have reached the minor success stage of the Skin Realm."

The reason for the report, of course, was to get a raise.

Fan Dajiang nodded. "Hmm, not bad. I will speak to the internal affairs department and raise your monthly salary to eight taels."

He secretly sized Chen Yuan up, thinking that the person Huang Yan had introduced was truly not bad; it had been less than a month and a half since he broke through the Skin Realm, and he had already reached minor success.

Tian Peng, who had Grade C-Upper aptitude, seemed to have progressed at about this speed.

With another tael added, Chen Yuan smiled and cupped his hands. "Many thanks, Boss."

"Mm, practice your martial arts well and do your job well. The Li Family will not treat you unfairly," Fan Dajiang laughed.

As he spoke, he remembered something else and asked, "Chen Yuan, you've been a guard for the Li Family for over a month now, and you've been diligent and earnest. Do you have any thoughts about a transfer?"

Chen Yuan's heart stirred, but he said calmly:

"Please speak plainly, Boss. If the family has other assignments, as long as I have the ability, I will not refuse."

Fan Dajiang nodded slightly, stating his meaning:

"Recently, some of our medicinal fields have been attacked, causing significant losses. Although our Li Family is safe and sound, we cannot be careless.

To prevent trouble before it happens, we are preparing to increase manpower. Correspondingly, the compensation will also increase. If you are willing to guard the medicinal fields, your monthly salary can be raised to ten taels."

Chen Yuan did not rush to agree, asking, "Boss, what are the specific duties of guarding the medicinal fields? What level of strength is required to be qualified?"

The question was polite, but it meant two things.

Is it easy, and is it dangerous?

Fan Dajiang said:

"The duties are more leisurely than being a guard. There is only one task: guard the medicinal fields well, mainly preventing attacks from wild beasts and exotic beasts. Therefore, you need to stay near the fields at all times. You can practice martial arts or whatever you like; I would be happy to see you become stronger.

As for strength, your current level is sufficient, so don't worry. If you truly encounter a situation you cannot handle, go find the guest cultivator on duty there for help immediately."

Chen Yuan pondered it; this new job was actually quite good.

Being a guard required patrolling for two hours every day; it was too tiring and a total waste of life.

If he guarded the medicinal fields, he would have about three and a half hours of free time out of every four-hour shift, or perhaps even have nothing to do all day. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

More importantly, the pay was high—a full one-quarter increase.

As for the attacks on the fields, Chen Yuan didn't really believe that anyone in Qingyuan County would dare to strike at the Li Family, one of the four great clans.

If they really came, it would be the same as being a guard: just run away.

After thinking it through, he immediately cupped his hands and said, "Many thanks for this opportunity, Boss. I am willing to guard the medicinal fields."

Fan Dajiang smiled faintly:

"Very well. After your shift ends today, go to the internal affairs office to settle your wages as a guard. I will give them the word, and someone will take you to the medicinal fields this afternoon to familiarize yourself with the duties."

"Understood, Boss. I shall take my leave." Chen Yuan cupped his hands and departed.

He couldn't help but marvel at the Li Family's efficiency. Personnel transfers were completed the same day, and wages were settled on the spot—it easily outperformed fifty percent of the companies from his past life.

Returning to the martial arts arena, after some idle chatter, his colleagues learned of his promotion, pay raise, and transfer to the medicinal fields.

While offering congratulations, they were also filled with envy. The medicinal fields were a lucrative post, and the fact that the boss was willing to entrust this to Chen Yuan showed he held him in high regard.

"Chen Yuan, since you're leaving this afternoon, let me see you off." Tian Peng suddenly spoke up.

As he spoke, he raised his hand, gesturing for a spar.

Clearly, his "seeing off" was a final showdown, much like a parting drink.

Chen Yuan smiled: "Come then, Brother Tian. I'll accompany you to the end."

It was quite interesting how Tian Peng behaved; after suffering a minor setback at Chen Yuan's hands that night, he had requested a shift change to work the morning shift with him, frequently sparring ever since.

By now, Chen Yuan was intimately familiar with the patterns of the Thunder-Bolt Hand.

The battle ended, leaving them both feeling invigorated.

Tian Peng took a swig of water and laughed:

"Chen Yuan, the first time I fought you, I was a bit unconvinced. I kept thinking, how could someone with a D-Grade Bone Structure possibly go toe-to-toe with me?

After a month of sparring, I've realized you truly have talent. You reached minor success in the Skin Realm in just over a month—a few days faster than me!"

He had actually reached minor success in the Skin Realm over a month ago, but since he had broken through the Skin Realm before comprehending Clear Force, he had already been settled in for a while by the time he started working for the Li Family.

Chen Yuan smiled: "You can't compare it like that. I've poured all my effort into nourishing my blood and qi."

Tian Peng nodded. He had sensed it too; Chen Yuan's progress in Six Harmonies Mind Boxing clearly didn't match the talent he had shown by comprehending Clear Force in two and a half months.

"You need to step it up. Just nourishing blood and qi isn't enough; you need balanced development. I'm about to reach minor success in Clear Force. When we spar again then, I won't hold back."

Chen Yuan only smiled.

In a little while, he would finally be able to cash in on his comprehension talent.