Marrow-Cleansing Pill

Zhou Cheng put the God-Slaying Saber into the Earth Cauldron, opened the courtyard gate, and had Chang Qing instruct the kitchen to send over dinner—with extra meat.

Chang Qing acknowledged and left.

Watching Chang Qing's departing figure, Zhou Cheng pondered that he needed to cultivate his own power base.

But how was he supposed to cultivate it?

It was quite the headache.

Before long, the kitchen delivered dinner. Since Zhou Cheng had specifically instructed them, there was plenty of meat.

Zhou Cheng wolfed it down.

Ever since learning that actively practicing martial techniques could greatly increase their cultivation progress, Zhou Cheng had begun to feel there simply was not enough time in the day.

After wolfing down his meal, Zhou Cheng went to the study and read for a while to digest his food. Then he headed into the courtyard and continued practicing the Wind-Facing Willow Steps, Roaming Dragon White Tiger Fist, and Demon-Subduing Saber Technique.

Just as Zhou Cheng had immersed himself in the realm of the three martial techniques, Chang Qing knocked on the courtyard gate and said it was time for his medicinal bath.

Only then did Zhou Cheng realize that the moon was already hanging high in the sky.

While soaking in the medicinal bath, Zhou Cheng poured in the remaining portion of the specially prepared body-refining medicinal bath as well. The system had only said that he could soak in one portion of the special body-refining medicinal bath per day; it had never said he could not soak in it together with an ordinary body-refining medicinal bath.

Sure enough, soaking in both medicinal baths together caused no discomfort whatsoever.

After finishing his medicinal bath, Zhou Cheng continued practicing the three martial techniques. He did not stop until the hour of midnight, twelve o'clock deep into the night. After washing up contentedly, he went to bed.

He slept until he woke naturally. When Zhou Cheng opened his eyes, dawn had only just begun to break. Looking through the attic window at the sun poking its little head over the horizon, Zhou Cheng stretched lazily.

With the system at his side, his cultivation advancing by leaps and bounds, and parents who loved and doted on him, this life was pretty good.

While washing up, Zhou Cheng examined the face in the bronze mirror. Hmm, his features were delicate, and he was rather good-looking—at least better-looking than he had been in his previous life.

Then, he summoned the system.

Host: Zhou Cheng

Black Tortoise Divine Technique: Fourth Layer (Progress 6)

Indestructible Vajra Divine Technique: Second Layer (Progress 18)

Wind-Facing Willow Steps: Beginner Level (Progress 14)

Roaming Dragon White Tiger Fist: Beginner Level (Progress 14)

Demon-Subduing Saber Technique: Beginner Level (Progress 14)

He had only begun cultivating the three martial techniques last night. It had not even been twelve hours by this morning, yet their progress had already reached 14. Such cultivation speed could truly be called lightning-fast.

However, after breaking through to the fourth layer, the Black Tortoise Divine Technique's cultivation speed had noticeably slowed.

But that was normal. As one's realm rose, the time required to break through to the next realm would only grow longer.

The task section kept flashing. Zhou Cheng opened it and found that there was another new task.

"Task: Collect Lianzhi Herb, Seven-Colored Flower, Purple Root... thirty-eight types of medicinal herbs in total, one jin of each."

"Reward: One Marrow-Cleansing Pill."

"The Marrow-Cleansing Pill can cleanse the sinews and marrow, improve one's innate constitution, and strengthen one's memory."

Cleanse the sinews and marrow, improve his innate constitution, and strengthen his memory!

Zhou Cheng's heart jolted.

Previously, his cultivation speed had been slow precisely because his innate constitution was ordinary. To a certain extent, this had affected the cultivation progress of both the Black Tortoise Divine Technique and the Indestructible Vajra Divine Technique.

If the Marrow-Cleansing Pill could improve his innate constitution, then his cultivation speed would definitely become even faster in the future!

It was just that he had spent nearly seven hundred taels over the past two days. He did not have much savings left—only six or seven hundred taels. He did not know whether that would be enough to purchase the thirty-eight medicinal herbs required for the task.

"Second Young Master, the master wants you to come over." Chang Qing knocked on the courtyard gate as he spoke.

"Got it. I'll go over now," Zhou Cheng replied.

Because the border situation was urgent, Zhou Wei had to set out for the border this morning.

Zhou Cheng left the courtyard and followed Chang Qing to the front hall.

When he arrived at the front hall, he saw that many wooden chests had already been laid out there, filled with clothing, daily necessities, and the like.

Seeing Zhou Cheng arrive, Zhou Wei naturally gave him a round of instruction.

In short, while he was away, Zhou Cheng was to cultivate diligently and strive to break through to Body Refining Level Four before he returned at the end of the year. Otherwise, he would break Zhou Cheng's legs.

Thus, Zhou Cheng's legs were threatened by Zhou Wei once again.

Zhou Cheng could only smile wryly. "Rest assured, Father. Before the end of the year, when you return, I will definitely break through to Body Refining Level Four."

Only then did Zhou Wei's expression ease. "In this world, it is difficult to survive without great strength. I hope you understand your father's painstaking intentions."

"You are grown now as well. While I am away, help your mother look after this household. Do not cause her trouble."

Hearing Zhou Wei mention this household, Zhou Cheng's heart tightened. "I will."

In the end, Zhou Wei and the soldiers accompanying him rode away, vanishing beyond the horizon.

Only after a long while did Luo Shui and Zhou Cheng turn and return to the residence.

"Mother, don't worry. Father will return safely," Zhou Cheng comforted her.

Luo Shui nodded and squeezed her son's hand. For some reason, this time her husband was traveling far away, she could not shake the feeling of unease.

After returning to the courtyard, Zhou Cheng swallowed the remaining Ancient Body Refining Pill.

Immediately.

"Due to the medicinal power of the Ancient Body Refining Pill, the cultivation speed of your Black Tortoise Divine Technique and Indestructible Vajra Divine Technique has skyrocketed!"

"Progress increased by 1."

"Progress increased by 2."

"Progress increased by 3."

"Congratulations, Host. The cultivation progress of the Black Tortoise Divine Technique's Fourth Layer has reached 26."

"The cultivation progress of the Indestructible Vajra Divine Technique's Second Layer has reached 58."

Swallowing an Ancient Body Refining Pill really was exhilarating.

"I wonder how much strength I have now?" Zhou Cheng clenched his fists, circulated the Black Tortoise Divine Technique, and struck the stone pedestal in the corner of the courtyard with fists as hard as iron.

Bang!

The stone pedestal, weighing several hundred jin, was sent rolling several meters away by Zhou Cheng's punch.

It crashed against the ground with a thunderous boom.

And that was only the strength from circulating the Black Tortoise Divine Technique. If he circulated both divine techniques at once, one could imagine just what level his strength would reach.

While Zhou Cheng was cultivating, in Dongsheng Province in the south of the Great Feng Dynasty, the Prince of Southern Ming of the Demonic Cult, his body billowing with demonic aura, stared coldly toward the Great Feng Capital City.

"Zhou Wei has left the Capital City, correct?" He gave a cold smile and said to the Demonic Cult general Wu Chen beside him, "Have the Four Great Dharma Kings depart at once. Bring Zhou Wei's head back to me as our congratulatory gift to the Mongol Kingdom."

The Demonic Cult's Four Great Dharma Kings were all Xiantian Grandmaster Level Three experts. With the strength of the four of them, they were more than capable of assassinating Zhou Wei amid an army of thousands.

"Yes, Cult Master."

After practicing martial techniques in the courtyard for a while, Zhou Cheng left the General's Mansion and headed to the Four Seasons Apothecary.

When the apothecary manager saw Zhou Cheng arrive, his face split into a broad grin. "Oh, the young master is here. What medicinal herbs would you like to buy this time, Young Master?"

Whenever he smiled, he always gave people the impression of a furtive, rat-faced thief.

Zhou Cheng took out the list of the thirty-eight medicinal herbs he needed to collect.