Breaking Through to the Peak of the Refining Essence Realm

Out in the courtyard, Cui Lang lifted the stone bench with one hand, even tossing it half a zhang into the air before catching it effortlessly.

The stone bench weighed a full hundred jin. Before, let alone tossing it half a zhang high, he had struggled just to lift it with one hand.

It seemed he really had broken through.

"Brother, are you done resting?" Cui Ling walked in from outside the courtyard. "I'll make dinner. It'll be ready in half an hour."

Cui Lang asked tentatively, "Xiao Ling, is it dinner time already? How long did I sleep?"

"Nearly two hours." Cui Ling raised the piece of meat in her hand. "We're stewing meat tonight. You practice martial arts, so you can't go without meat."

"You practice. I'll call you when the food is ready."

Two hours?

Cui Lang remembered that before, after holding the Fierce Bull Stance for half an hour, his legs had felt as though they were filled with lead. This time, he had held it for two whole hours.

Only now did he truly confirm that he had broken through. Moreover, he had crossed the late stage of the Refining Essence Realm and reached the peak of the Refining Essence Realm.

Back in his room, Cui Lang still found it unbelievable.

He vaguely remembered his father from his previous life mentioning when he was young that masters skilled in alchemy could refine demon blood into essence blood, removing its toxins. It was of immense benefit to martial artists, especially those in the Refining Essence Realm.

Could the liquid poured out by the little pot be refined essence blood?

"What exactly is that little pot? Why does poisonous demon blood turn into nourishing essence blood after it absorbs it and pours it back out?"

Had he known it had such an effect, he should not have dodged when slaying the demon today. How wonderful it would have been to let more demon blood splash onto him.

But on second thought, that would have drawn too much suspicion. This was better. He could say he had not gotten much on himself to begin with, so the effects were minor.

Someone at the late stage of the Refining Essence Realm could become a constable. Now that he was at the peak of the Refining Essence Realm, the position of constable was within easy reach.

After some thought, Cui Lang headed to the kitchen. "Xiao Ling, let me cut the meat."

Without giving his sister a chance to speak, Cui Lang took the kitchen knife and began slicing the meat on the chopping board.

Blood from the meat stained his hand, but even after he had finished cutting all of it, the little pot in his mind did not stir in the slightest.

Was it because this was merely ordinary sheep blood rather than demon blood, and the energy within it was too little?

Later, he would find a chance to try chicken blood, fish blood, and the like, to see whether ordinary flesh and blood simply could not be refined into essence blood.

Working together, the siblings quickly finished preparing the meal.

While eating, Cui Lang noticed that his sister did not pick up a single piece of meat. She had been eating only pickled vegetables.

"Xiao Ling, you're still growing. Eat more meat."

"Don't worry, Brother. You've already broken through. You'll soon become a constable, and our family won't lack meat anymore."

"Brother, you broke through?!" Cui Ling's face lit up with delight, but she immediately lowered her voice. "Brother, even if you become a constable, you still need to save money. Practicing martial arts requires silver, and you'll need money to marry a wife too."

"You need to eat more meat to have strength, so your essence blood can grow and you can become a true martial artist. Besides, I don't practice martial arts, so I don't need to eat meat."

Without further discussion, Cui Lang scooped half the meat into his sister's bowl. "If people see that my little sister cannot even afford to eat meat, what woman would be willing to marry into our family?"

"You don't need to worry about money. I'll find a way. Besides, I don't need to eat that much meat for my martial arts to improve. Otherwise, how could I have broken through?"

"I've only just broken through. Once I stabilize my realm for two days, I'll go see Magistrate Zheng."

At noon, he had still been at the middle stage of the Refining Essence Realm, yet by afternoon he had broken through to its peak. That was far too conspicuous. He could use the time to make up a proper excuse.

Three days later, after breakfast, Cui Lang hurried toward the county yamen.

The sooner he started work, the sooner he could receive his salary, support the family, and learn more profound martial arts.

Over the past three days, he had tried killing chickens, fish, and rabbits, but the little pot in his mind had not moved at all. It seemed the little pot was quite proud; it did not deign to acknowledge ordinary things.

Still, it had helped him avoid demon poison and increased his strength. He was already deeply grateful.

After quickly reaching the county yamen, Cui Lang clasped his hands toward the gate guard. "Please inform Magistrate Zheng that Cui Lang requests an audience."

The yamen runner gave Cui Lang a sidelong look. "Do you think just anyone can see Magistrate Zheng? Go on, get lost. Don't stand here blocking the way."

He wanted someone to announce him, yet he did not even offer a little wine money. He did not understand the slightest bit of etiquette!

"Didn't you hear me tell you to scram? Do you want me to teach you a lesson?"

As he spoke, the yamen runner walked down the steps and reached out to shove Cui Lang, only for Cui Lang to seize his wrist.

"Hey, hey, hey, let go! You dare lay hands on me? Believe it or not, I'll have you locked up and beaten with the paddle?"

Cui Lang gave him a light push, and the yamen runner fell flat onto his backside.

With a stern face, Cui Lang barked, "Magistrate Zheng summoned me. Can you bear the responsibility for delaying Magistrate Zheng's business?"

The yamen runner jumped in fright and immediately forced out a smile. "You should have said so earlier. I'll take you to see Magistrate Zheng right away."

Cui Lang was stronger than him, and he had been summoned by Magistrate Zheng. How could he dare stop him any longer?

Entering the county yamen, they passed through a corridor and arrived at the county commandant's office.

"Magistrate Zheng, a man named Cui Lang says you summoned him. He is waiting outside."

Zheng Fengyun frowned slightly. Why had Cui Lang come?

He had promised Cui Lang that once he reached the late stage of the Refining Essence Realm, he would make him a constable. Had Cui Lang thought it over after returning home and realized he had no hope of reaching it within a few years, so he wanted to exchange it for another reward?

For instance, becoming a duty yamen runner. Cui Lang's strength was sufficient for that.

Hmph. He had no sense of etiquette at all, doing whatever he pleased. Did he think the yamen was run by his family?

"Send him in!"

"Cui Lang greets Magistrate Zheng."

Zheng Fengyun sat in his chair, his expression imposing. "Cui Lang, instead of properly practicing martial arts at home, why have you come to see this official?"

Cui Lang raised his head. "Magistrate Zheng, I have not disappointed your expectations. I have already broken through, so I came to ask when I can become a constable."

Zheng Fengyun froze. "You broke through?!"

He sprang from his seat in an instant and landed before Cui Lang, pressing one hand onto Cui Lang's shoulder.

Cui Lang felt a tyrannical force bear down upon him. He used eighty percent of his strength to hold out for two breaths, then pretended he could no longer endure it and collapsed onto the floor.

Zheng Fengyun withdrew his hand. "You do indeed possess the strength of the late stage of the Refining Essence Realm. How did you break through?"

Cui Lang climbed to his feet. "After slaying the demon a few days ago, I felt unwell, so I took a detoxifying pill my father had left behind. Then, while practicing yesterday, I was fortunate enough to break through."

Zheng Fengyun chuckled. "Since you have already broken through to the late stage of the Refining Essence Realm, this official will naturally keep his word. Go report to Constable Li at the constables' quarters. From today onward, you are a constable of the county yamen."

Cui Lang put on an overjoyed expression. "Many thanks, Magistrate Zheng. Many thanks, Magistrate Zheng."

As he watched Cui Lang's departing back, the smile on Zheng Fengyun's face vanished.

He had taken a detoxifying pill and simply happened to break through?

That pill was probably an alchemical pill, wasn't it?

He had an alchemical pill but did not know to present it to him. Cui Lang truly did not understand etiquette. He needed someone to properly knock some sense into him.