Marrow-Cleansing and Bone-Replacing

For real?

Li Sanshun pinched the gold-bladed dagger, turning it over and over for a long while.

The four characters "Obeying Heaven and Following Fate" were carved deeply, feeling somewhat cold to the touch. In the television dramas of his past life, only emperors loved to keep such phrases on their lips. Could it be that in this life, he had truly stumbled upon the identity of a royal descendant?

But he shook his head soon after.

Could a royal descendant end up like him?

Li Sanshun wrapped the gold blade back up and tucked it into his undergarments. He continued rummaging through his pack, finding three sets of clothes, twenty taels of silver shards, and a map of the northern Qingxuan Continent.

The map marked dozens of cities, with the words "Tai Xuan Sect" circled in cinnabar. On the back, two lines of small text remained.

"Take the Primordial Origin Art to the Tai Xuan Sect; pass the three trials to enter the immortal gate."

"Do not show the gold blade to others lightly."

Li Sanshun stared at the handwriting for a moment, then folded the map and put it away.

"The old man hid things deep. He didn't even explain the dangers clearly. If something really goes wrong, where am I supposed to find you to settle the score?"

The horizon was already turning gray.

Shouts echoed from the village. Zhang Laosan's home had been ransacked, and his wife had called out half the village; neighbors were carrying lanterns, searching everywhere for the culprit.

Li Sanshun had no intention of staying long.

He took out the Marrow-Cleansing Pill. It was only the size of a dragon's eye, its surface coated in a dark gold medicinal film. The medicinal fragrance drifted into his nose, and a mechanical prompt followed.

[You have absorbed a wisp of Marrow-Cleansing Pill medicinal vapor.]

[Air quality: Excellent.]

[Life energy increased by 2 points.]

[Prompt: The source medicinal vapor has thinned; continued absorption will yield no additional benefits.]

Trying to repeatedly milk benefits by sniffing the pill wouldn't work.

Li Sanshun didn't delay any further; he raised his hand and popped the Marrow-Cleansing Pill into his mouth.

The pill entered his stomach and quickly turned into a hot current. At first, it was just a warmth in his abdomen, but after a few breaths, a sour, numbing sensation surged through his meridians to his entire body. His flesh and bones began to itch.

"Hiss..."

Li Sanshun gritted his teeth and sat cross-legged, circulating the Primordial Origin Art.

The medicinal power surged more and more violently. He hadn't even sat for a quarter of an hour before he tumbled off the stone platform, his hands clawing at the withered grass on the ground. Fine, crisp sounds emanated from within his body as black filth was expelled through his pores, and a foul, fishy stench quickly filled the dilapidated temple.

This wasn't just cleansing marrow; it was clearly tearing a person apart and scrubbing them clean!

Had it been the injuries from last night, he would have long since passed out. Now, with sufficient life energy, his body recovered rapidly as soon as it was struck by the medicinal power. The two forces—one destroying, one repairing—tossed him about for half an hour before finally stopping.

Li Sanshun lay on the ground, his mouth full of grass clippings.

The mechanical voice sounded once more.

[Marrow cleansing complete.]

[Physique improved.]

[Life energy cap increased by 50 points.]

[Longevity cap increased by 5 years.]

[Circulation efficiency of Primordial Origin Art improved.]

Li Sanshun pulled up his panel.

[Name: Li Sanshun]

[Longevity: 22/90]

[Realm: Qi Refining Level 1, 12/200]

[Mental Method: Primordial Origin Art Entry-level, 8/100]

[Life Energy: 250/250]

[Immortal Power: 10/10]

He propped himself up on the stone platform and stepped over the collapsed offering table. He failed to control his strength, and his shoulder slammed into the temple door; the entire wooden frame detached and flew into the courtyard, shattering into pieces.

Li Sanshun touched his shoulder.

His body was fine, but the door had fallen apart first.

The Marrow-Cleansing Pill was indeed a good thing.

He went to the river to wash off the filth, changed into a clean short shirt, and left Linshui Township before the villagers could surround him.

The Tai Xuan Sect was over three hundred miles away.

He traveled north along the official road, passed through Taibai County and Anping County, and finally faced one more day of mountain paths. Li Sanshun's pace was far superior to that of an ordinary person, and by the evening of the first day, he was already out of Taibai County.

There were many carriages and horses along the way, mostly wealthy families escorting young boys and girls. The accompanying guards had blades hanging at their waists, and the carriages were piled with wooden chests containing medicinal herbs and jade.

At noon on the second day, Li Sanshun stopped to rest at a roadside tea shed and heard several merchants at the next table talking about the Tai Xuan Sect.

The merchant with the goat-beard lowered his voice: "The Zhao family has booked three inns in Anping County just to send their direct descendant, Zhao Yuanqing, to join the sect. I heard he tested for a high-grade fire spirit root long ago, and they even have someone serving as a deacon in the Tai Xuan Sect."

The red-faced man at the same table took up the conversation: "A high-grade spirit root is only the first trial. Afterward, one must climb the Immortal-Asking Stairs and pass through the Heart-Refining Gate. The Zhao family has been nourishing him with medicinal soups for over a decade; the three trials won't stump him."

Li Sanshun carried his tea bowl and leaned in.

"Gentlemen, is it better to have more spirit roots, or fewer?"

The goat-bearded man sized him up. Seeing his plain attire, he guessed he was also a young man heading off to seek apprenticeship.

"Spirit roots value quality. A single spirit root is best, and dual spirit roots are also good. Three types can still be cultivated, but four types make progress slow. If all five types are present, the immortal sects call it a five-element mixed spirit root, and they usually won't accept them."

Li Sanshun's tea-drinking motion paused.

The Primordial Origin Art happened to be capable of controlling five-element immortal arts.

He couldn't be that unlucky, could he?

He didn't dwell on it too much, thanked the merchants, settled his tea bill, and continued on his way. Whatever his spirit roots were, he would know once he reached the Tai Xuan Sect; guessing on the road was useless.

On the morning of the third day, a tall archway appeared at the end of the official road.

The two characters "Tai Xuan" were carved in the center of the archway, and the stone steps behind it climbed the mountainside toward the clouds and mist. White-feathered immortal cranes flew between the peaks, causing the youths who had come to seek apprenticeship to look up one after another.

Li Sanshun followed the crowd into the valley and tried taking a breath.

[You have absorbed a mouthful of air containing thin spiritual energy.]

[Air quality: Medium.]

[Life energy increased by 0.2 points.]

[Immortal power recovered by 0.01 points.]

[Prompt: Current life energy and immortal power have reached their cap.]

No progress in his realm.

It seemed ordinary spiritual energy could only recover consumption; the kind of energy that could truly improve cultivation wasn't so common.

A mountain gate stood halfway up the mountain, where several disciples in white were checking entry passes. When it was Li Sanshun's turn, the lead reception disciple, Han Zhao, held out his hand.

"Entry pass."

Li Sanshun rummaged through his pack and only found the map left by the Old Rascal.

"I don't have one. My elder told me to come to the Tai Xuan Sect to pass the three trials."

Han Zhao withdrew his hand and pointed to the side.

"No entry pass? Go wait over there. After all those with passes have entered, we'll see if there are any remaining spots."

The brocade-clad youth behind him covered his nose and stepped aside.

"Senior Brother Han, there is only one key cultivation spot left in the Xuan Chu Academy this year. Why waste time on these mountain folk? Letting them in will only slow down the testing."

The brocade-clad youth wore red jade at his waist, with the character "Zhao" carved on the front.

Zhao Yuanqing.

Han Zhao glanced at the Zhao family steward behind him. The steward took advantage of the moment to slip a jade box into Han Zhao's sleeve.

Inside the box were three Qi-Gathering Pills.

Han Zhao tucked the jade box away, took out a temporary identification tag, and then quietly swapped it for the wooden tag hidden in his sleeve, which was carved with a Spirit-Suppressing Rune.

He tossed the wooden tag to Li Sanshun.

"If you want to wait, then wait. But I'll say this first: if sunset comes and there are no spots left, you'll have to head back down the mountain all the same."