Top-Tier Body-Tempering Technique

Cui Lang chuckled to himself. Sure enough, Constable Li was dead. If he acted a little more eager for merit, Zheng Fengyun would take the initiative to recruit him.

Ecstasy appeared on his face. "Magistrate Zheng, is this subordinate really suitable to be a constable chief?"

"But this subordinate has only been a constable for a short while. I'm merely at the peak of the Refining Essence realm, my saber techniques aren't refined enough, and I don't even know a movement technique. Will the other constable brothers be convinced?"

Zheng Fengyun said with a hearty smile, "Indeed, your strength is still too lacking. If you were in the Gathering Origin realm—even merely at its initial stage—with the merit of slaying demons and my recommendation, the position of constable chief would be yours for the taking."

"So, you need to help me keep the other demons and monsters in line, so they will be willing to hand over more Blood Pills. That way, you can receive more as well, break through into the Gathering Origin realm, and smoothly take over the post of constable chief."

Unfortunately, the Blood Pills Constable Li had secretly stashed away had all been destroyed. Once they turned to powder, they lost their effects.

But Cui Lang definitely had not searched Constable Li's body before this. Otherwise, he would have swallowed all that powder before its efficacy completely faded.

Cui Lang: "..."

So he was just dangling a carrot in front of me?

"Magistrate Zheng, this subordinate certainly wants more Blood Pills as well, but with my strength, I can't suppress those demons and monsters. If they make a move, I'm afraid I won't even have time to flee."

Cui Lang felt that what he lacked most right now was a movement technique. That hint was clear enough, wasn't it?

Zheng Fengyun patted Cui Lang on the shoulder. "Cui Lang, the other demons and monsters know my methods. They will follow the rules."

"How do you think I should report this matter to my superiors?"

Cui Lang said loudly, "Constable Li suspected that demons and monsters had gathered here, so he brought this subordinate to investigate and verify it. Upon discovering that the demons intended to massacre the village, he led this subordinate in slaying them."

"In the end, all the demons were put to death. Constable Li fought desperately to protect the people of Cloud Mountain County and died a worthy death."

"Cloud Mountain County averted a great calamity in advance. We should request credit from the prefectural yamen and give Constable Li a proper burial."

More than dying a worthy death—hadn't he practically been ground to dust, heart and brain spilled out?

Zheng Fengyun burst into laughter. "No wonder Constable Li thought so highly of you. You really are quick-witted."

"That's right. Those are the facts. If any superior from the prefectural yamen comes to verify them, answer exactly like that."

"Think through the specific details carefully. Don't leave any loose ends."

"You assisted Constable Li in slaying demons this time and earned merit. I shall reward you with a precious technique I obtained years ago. This technique is far more valuable than many movement techniques."

"Remember to go negotiate with the other demons and monsters as soon as possible. There are still some death-row prisoners in the jail who can be sent to them. The number of Blood Pills must not decrease."

"When the others arrive shortly, they will load all the demon corpses onto carts. Return to the city with me, lest more commoners see them at daybreak and panic."

Before long, other constables and yamen runners arrived with carts. Ordinary packhorses did not dare approach the demon corpses at all, so the yamen runners had no choice but to serve as oxen and horses, pulling the carts themselves.

As though recalling something, Cui Lang hurried to the corner and retrieved silver wrapped in clothing. "Magistrate Zheng, this silver was found in the house. It must all have been secretly hoarded by the demons. Please accept it."

Zheng Fengyun looked at the demon blood staining the clothing and roughly estimated that there was not much silver inside. He even seemed to hear copper coins clinking. Putting on a generous act, he said, "Cui Lang, you rendered merit in slaying demons this time, and I should have rewarded you with some money in the first place. Take some out and distribute it among those who came, then keep the rest for yourself."

Cui Lang did not know how to give gifts either. Wait until I get home before offering it—there are so many people here. Is it appropriate for me to be holding this silver now?

Cui Lang put on a grateful expression. "Magistrate Zheng is considerate toward his subordinates. It is truly admirable."

Now he could keep half the silver—no, two-thirds of it.

After all, given Zheng Fengyun's disposition, rewarding each person with two mace of silver was already more than enough. Giving too much now would only make things difficult for Magistrate Zheng when rewarding his subordinates in the future.

Since Cui Lang was "seriously wounded," he did not help carry either the demons or Constable Li's corpse. In the end, he even rode back on the cart.

Some people were somewhat displeased, but after returning to the city and seeing Cui Lang take out pieces of silver from his person to distribute among them, all their dissatisfaction vanished like smoke.

Following Zheng Fengyun back to Zheng Residence, Cui Lang waited in the hall for a while before Zheng Fengyun tossed him a booklet. "This technique is exceedingly profound. If you master it completely, ordinary demons and monsters will pose no threat to you. Even experts in the Core Embracing realm will find it difficult to harm you in the slightest."

"Forget Cloud Mountain County—even in all of Azure Cloud Prefecture, there is no second person who has cultivated it. I think very highly of you. Tomorrow, go settle matters with those creatures. Do not disappoint me."

Cui Lang clasped his hands with both fists. "Thank you, Magistrate Zheng. This subordinate will brave fire and boiling water for you."

After Cui Lang left, Zheng Fengyun departed from his home again. Such an important matter had to be reported face-to-face to the county magistrate before being submitted to the prefectural yamen.

Holding the booklet, Cui Lang hurried home through the night.

"Who is it? My brother is a yamen constable responsible for night patrols. Leave at once!" Cui Ling's voice came from inside the house.

Cui Lang said with a smile, "Xiao Ling, I'm back."

"Go get some rest. I'll fetch some water to wash up, then I'll sleep too."

His little sister was quite alert. She was still awake so late at night, and no lamp was lit in the room. Was she cultivating?

The Blazing Sun Technique from before was unsuitable for his sister. Zheng Fengyun had happened to given him a new technique this time, so he could let his sister try it later.

Back in his room, Cui Lang lit a candle and impatiently took out the technique Zheng Fengyun had given him to read.

"Bloodfire... What Body? Why has one character in the name been covered by ink? Could the contents inside be like this too?"

Cui Lang hurriedly flipped further back. After taking a quick look, he found that all the writing was intact, without any traces of being smeared over.

"No, doesn't it say this technique has seven levels? Why are there only three here?"

Cui Lang was somewhat angry. Just as he thought—Zheng Fengyun would not be so kind as to pass a profound technique on to him. It turned out to be incomplete.

But after examining it carefully, he found that even though it was incomplete, after cultivating all three levels, one could indeed fear no ordinary Core Embracing realm experts.

Yet this technique was extremely unusual. It was a body-tempering technique.

It required one to use qi and blood, true essence, and the like to continuously temper one's sinews, bones, and skin, making the body difficult to harm with blades and spears while also increasing one's strength.

"No wonder Zheng Fengyun said no one in all of Azure Cloud Prefecture had cultivated it. It isn't just incomplete—the cost of cultivating it is far too great. Ordinary people could not afford to cultivate it even if they wanted to."

The resources needed to cultivate this technique were several times greater than those required for other techniques. With the same amount of resources piled into cultivation, others would have long since broken through to the Core Embracing realm, while this technique would only reach its second level, no stronger than the peak of the Gathering Origin realm. Naturally, no one would be willing to cultivate it.

Only someone with more resources than they could ever use would cultivate this to make up for their shortcomings.

"Zheng Fengyun doesn't want to teach me a movement technique, so he plans to fob me off with this. He thinks that once I cultivate it, I'll definitely need vast amounts of qi and blood. Then I'll cherish every opportunity to obtain Blood Pills even more and surely won't betray him?"

But he did not need Blood Pills at all. Demon essence blood was even more nourishing than Blood Pills.

This technique had practically been tailor-made for him!

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Cui Lang carefully read the technique and began cultivating.