Another Breakthrough and Leaving the City

As Lu Yuan passed Old Huang's house, he first told him to notify his men to head out of the city early tomorrow morning.

Then, he returned home to prepare for his breakthrough.

He had barely stepped through the door and removed his armor.

Without a moment's hesitation, he chose to break through.

Immediately, his body began to change; his arms thickened by a full circle in a short span of time, yet they became firmer and more compact.

They were also significantly more agile than before.

It felt as if he had an inexhaustible supply of strength.

The calluses on his palms grew another layer thicker.

[Technique: Five-Tiger Array-Breaking Blade (2035/30000 Perfection)]

With the blade technique perfected, Lu Yuan's combat prowess received a massive boost.

Next came his body, which was undergoing subtle changes. Every realm, once perfected, would cause the physical body to transform; if one were to observe Lu Yuan's bones now, they would appear as if they had turned into jade.

If anyone else were to see this, they would surely be shocked, for such a state only occurs after the Bone-Forging stage is perfected.

Even for disciples of noble clans supported by vast amounts of heavenly treasures, reaching this step was incredibly difficult.

However, for Lu Yuan, this was not the limit; what he aimed for was Spirit-Cultivation.

Only by doing so could he be truly invincible when facing those of the same realm.

Furthermore, the more solid the foundation, the further one could go in the future.

Otherwise, no matter how great one's talent, without a solid foundation, one would be unable to control the strength gained from subsequent advancements.

[Tiger-Subduing Stance Bone-Forging (3291/30000 Perfection)]

Once I return from outside the city, I should be ready for Spirit-Cultivation. It will be the perfect time to exchange for cultivation supplies.

In truth, Lu Yuan secretly hoped to reach the Tendon-Refining stage.

After all, breaking through to that realm meant he could officially become a Centurion, a significant step forward.

At the same time, he would stand at the same level as Zhang Zhe.

He would let the Zhang Clan know exactly who the real trash was.

Following this, as Lu Yuan's bone transformation concluded, his physical body began to improve once more. The Iron-Bone Golden Bell Cover was not only effective for skin and flesh, but also provided enhancements to tendons, bones, and internal organs.

Thus, with the breakthrough of this technique, Lu Yuan's tendons, bones, and organs were tempered once again.

Outside his body, a faint golden bell faintly emerged, rising and falling with Lu Yuan's breath.

The inscriptions upon it were now clearer.

A sense of power permeated its mystery.

[Iron-Bone Golden Bell Cover (1308/30000 Perfection)]

Following the breakthrough of his external technique.

Immediately after, a vast amount of experience regarding the Cloud-Piercing Crane-Wing Formation flooded Lu Yuan's mind. Things he had not understood in the past were instantly mastered.

The bonus to his soldiers' strength reached an astonishing threefold, and most importantly, he could now slightly borrow the momentum of heaven and earth.

[Cloud-Piercing Crane-Wing Formation (2510/30000 Perfection) Additional Effects: Wind-Borrowing, Armor-Piercing]

Wind-Borrowing, as the name suggests, allows one to utilize the wind to increase speed.

Armor-Piercing allows the unit led by Lu Yuan to possess greater armor-penetrating capabilities.

This was Lu Yuan's trump card.

Once his breakthrough was complete, he felt a wave of hunger in his stomach.

He stood up, and too lazy to cook, he went to the Beef Offal House, devoured a pot of beef offal and three catties of beef, then headed toward the City Defense Bureau.

A short while later, he brought Doctor Tian to the gate of Xiao Hua's courtyard.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Lu Yuan struck the gate with his palm.

"Coming! Who is it?" a girl's crisp voice rang out from inside.

"It's me," Lu Yuan replied.

"Click."

The courtyard gate opened, and the young girl's face appeared before him.

"Brother Yuan."

Seeing Lu Yuan, Xiao Hua looked quite happy.

The former turned his head to look at Doctor Tian behind him and said, "It has been half a month since your aunt's last check-up. I brought Master Tian today to change her prescription."

Discovering there was someone behind Lu Yuan, Xiao Hua blushed and quickly stepped aside to make way.

She addressed the doctor, "Sorry to trouble you, Master Tian."

"Heh heh, no need for formalities, lass. Lord Lu seeking me out is giving me face; let me attend to your mother first." After saying this, he tightened the medicine chest on his back and walked toward the house.

Once inside.

Doctor Tian first checked Madam Xiao's pulse, then turned his head and said, "The injury is stabilizing very well. Change the prescription and take it for a period of time; that should be about enough."

After speaking, he took out brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone and began to write.

When he finished, he handed it to Xiao Hua: "You won't need to change it again after this. Follow this prescription for three months."

"En." Xiao Hua nodded.

Lu Yuan took out two silver ingots and shoved them into Doctor Tian's hand.

After the other party tucked them into his sleeve, he picked up his medicine chest and took his leave.

Following his departure.

Lu Yuan pulled a banknote from his bosom and handed it to Xiao Hua: "This is one hundred taels of silver. It should be enough for three months of medicine. If it's not enough, tell me.

Human life is at stake; don't be polite."

"Brother Yuan, thank you." Xiao Hua lowered her head and said.

Madam Xiao, standing to the side, remained silent, but she had already accepted Lu Yuan from the bottom of her heart.

This was not just one hundred taels of silver; it was her own life, and the future life of her daughter.

The debt of gratitude she and her daughter owed was immense.

Lu Yuan patted Xiao Hua on the shoulder: "No need for thanks. Auntie treats me like a nephew, so it is only right that I see to her medical care."

The latter did not speak again.

Because for a kindness such as this, there was no need for excessive words.

"I am leaving the city tomorrow, so I'm going back to prepare. I will come to see you and Auntie again in a while."

After Lu Yuan finished speaking.

Xiao Hua looked up and asked, "Do you need me to prepare dry rations?"

"No need. There are many people going this time, and there is a supply train following us," Lu Yuan said with a chuckle.

Madam Xiao cast a worried glance at him: "Then the enemy must be even stronger, right? The elite cavalry of the Northern Barbarians are the best in the world and have their own unique strengths. You must be careful in everything."

"Rest assured, I won't have any trouble." After Lu Yuan comforted Madam Xiao, he took his leave.

Returning to his own home, he first practiced for a while, only resting late into the night.

Early the next morning, he donned his armor, strapped on his weapons, and headed out.

Sitting on his warhorse, he gazed out at the misty streets.

Lu Yuan felt a wave of exhilaration.

In this battle, he would surely take another step forward.

When he arrived at the city gate, he found that everyone had already assembled. It was a dark, dense mass; the garrison troops under Wei Yong and the others totaled about sixty or seventy men.

They were all young and strong, with almost no elderly among them.

Although their leather armor was somewhat worn, their spirits were high.

Zhou He and his men numbered eleven, leading over thirty horses. On both sides of each horse hung two large bamboo crates, which seemed to contain quite a few things.

There was grain, meat, water, and all sorts of miscellaneous items.

They had formed a small supply train.

Lu Yuan scanned them and said, "Is everyone here?"

"Everyone has arrived," Wei Yong replied.

"Then let's set off. The mission for leaving the city this time is to find the elite scouts of the Manyan Tribe and wipe them out." After Lu Yuan finished speaking, he headed forward, with the others following closely behind.

Along the way, everyone remained quiet until they neared the Black Pine Forest, where Lu Yuan saw thick smoke rising from within.

He then said to the others, "Wait here; I will be back shortly."

Following that, he signaled to Zhou He and walked toward the front.

Yesterday, Lu Yuan had instructed the other party to leave the city and place a marker in the Black Pine Forest, just to try his luck. He hadn't expected that Wu Han would actually come.