A Small Red Packet

[Pang Bo: @Lu Qingshan, Group Leader, I'm about to reach Mars. What should I do?]

Although Pang Bo was usually rather carefree, he was still worried about what was about to happen.

While he and Ye Fan had narrowly escaped danger after danger on Mars in the novel and had even obtained considerable opportunities, who knew whether they would still make it through safely this time?

Moreover, according to the records in Shrouding the Heavens, many of their classmates had died on Mars.

Although he was nowhere near as close to those classmates as he was to Ye Fan, if possible, he still did not want them to die like this.

[Lu Qingshan: This... It'll be difficult for me to help with what happens on Mars right now!]

Although Shrouding the Heavens had never mentioned Crocodile Ancestor's exact cultivation realm, the fact that it had been suppressed by Shakyamuni meant that, even if it was not a Great Sage, it was at least a Saint King.

A terrifying powerhouse of that caliber was far beyond what a mere Immortal Army Lord like Lu Qingshan could handle.

[Cao Cao: Even the Group Leader is powerless? Pang Bo, have you encountered some danger?]

By now, Cao Cao had completely accepted the wondrous nature of the chat group. After seeing Pang Bo's message, he naturally wanted to learn more.

[Pang Bo: I'll grant everyone access. Take a look for yourselves!]

[System Notification: Pang Bo changed the viewing permissions for Shrouding the Heavens. All group members may now view it!]

After seeing the permission change for Shrouding the Heavens, Cao Cao, Yue Buqun, and Han Li quickly entered to watch it.

[Cao Cao: What an unbelievable and powerful world. I never imagined such inconceivable experts existed!]

[Yue Buqun: Though I've cultivated a little martial arts, before such terrifying demons, I'm nothing more than an ant. I simply can't help you!]

[Han Li: This junior is only at the Qi Refinement realm and likewise cannot be of any help!]

[Pang Bo: Sigh, if there's really no other way, I can only take things one step at a time! At most, Ye and I will be more careful, then try to look after a few classmates we're closer to.]

[System Notification: Group Leader Lu Qingshan uploaded a group red packet: four jin of Millennium Spirit Marrow.]

[Lu Qingshan: Although I can't help you deal with Crocodile Ancestor, this Millennium Spirit Marrow should slightly improve your physical condition and raise your chances of survival.]

[Lu Qingshan: As for the other three portions, consider them my greeting gifts for you all. @Cao Cao, @Yue Buqun, @Han Li.]

[Lu Qingshan: Try them first and see whether they work. If they do, I'll send more later.]

[System Notification: Pang Bo claimed the Millennium Spirit Marrow.]

[Pang Bo: Thanks, boss.JPG]

[System Notification: Cao Cao, Han Li, and Yue Buqun claimed the Millennium Spirit Marrow.]

[Cao Cao: Many thanks, Group Leader!]

[Yue Buqun: Many thanks, Group Leader!]

[Han Li: Many thanks, Group Leader!]

[Lu Qingshan: The effects of this Millennium Spirit Marrow are mild. You can consume it directly, and it will transform your bodies in a short period of time.]

In truth, this Millennium Spirit Marrow was only the lowest-grade item Lu Qingshan possessed. In his inner world, it was nothing more than a lake used for decoration.

It was not that Lu Qingshan was unwilling to give them something better. At their current level, Pang Bo and the others were not very strong, and the Millennium Spirit Marrow was the treasure most suitable for them.

In the world of Shrouding the Heavens, inside the Bronze Ancient Coffin.

After claiming the red packet, a piece of information immediately appeared in Pang Bo's mind—he only needed a thought to retrieve what he had claimed.

Therefore, after Lu Qingshan explained how to use it, Pang Bo quickly walked into a corner. Once he was sure no one was paying attention, he retrieved the Millennium Spirit Marrow into the mineral water bottle in his hand.

The Millennium Spirit Marrow was a milky-white liquid that looked much like milk, except it was far denser.

One jin of Millennium Spirit Marrow occupied only one-fifth of the mineral water bottle, roughly two hundred milliliters.

"I'd like to see what effect this Millennium Spirit Marrow the Group Leader sent actually has."

With that thought, Pang Bo quickly drank half the Millennium Spirit Marrow in the bottle.

Only moments later, Pang Bo's body began to heat up.

He had not cultivated any technique, so after entering his body, the Millennium Spirit Marrow could only slowly alter his physique.

Yet even that slight change was enough to noticeably improve his physical abilities.

Ye Fan, beside him, noticed steam rising from Pang Bo's body and quickly asked with concern, "Pang Bo, why are you so hot? You're not sick, are you?"

"I'm fine! I've never felt better!"

Looking at Ye Fan beside him, Pang Bo unhesitatingly handed him the remaining half of the Millennium Spirit Marrow. "Ye, drink this Spirit Marrow, quick!"

"Spirit Marrow?"

Ye Fan had initially thought the mineral water bottle contained milk Pang Bo had poured into it, but the moment he took it, he noticed something unusual.

Still, out of trust in Pang Bo, he quickly swallowed the remaining Millennium Spirit Marrow before asking, "Pang Bo, what exactly was that thing you made me drink?"

"Of course it's good stuff!"

Pang Bo asked with a smile, "Ye, do you feel your body heating up? Has your strength increased greatly?"

"No."

Ye Fan shook his head. "I just feel a little more energetic, but I don't know whether that's an illusion."

"This..."

Seeing that the Millennium Spirit Marrow had no effect on Ye Fan, Pang Bo froze slightly.

Could it be that things claimed from the chat group only work for me?

Pang Bo secretly thought, No, it might also be because of Ye's physique!

Pang Bo quickly recalled Ye Fan's extraordinarily special physique—the Desolate Ancient Sacred Body!

Though he was a descendant of a demon god, his physique was far inferior to Ye Fan's Desolate Ancient Sacred Body.

Half a jin of Millennium Spirit Marrow could be effective for him, but for Ye Fan's Desolate Ancient Sacred Body, it was surely far too little.

I wonder whether the Group Leader has much Millennium Spirit Marrow there?

Pang Bo secretly made plans. If he has a lot, I can find a way to trade for more!

Pang Bo had not considered directly asking Lu Qingshan for it. Instead, he planned to collect more Buddhist artifacts from Great Thunderclap Temple on Mars, then trade them to Lu Qingshan for more Millennium Spirit Marrow.

In the Yue Kingdom, within Yellow Maple Valley.

"So this is Millennium Spirit Marrow?"

Looking at the small bottle of milky-white liquid that had suddenly appeared in his hand, Han Li's heart stirred slightly. There really is some spiritual qi within it, but I wonder whether its effects are as the Group Leader described!

Still, I should carefully inspect it before using it!

With that thought, Han Li quickly began using every method he knew to examine the Millennium Spirit Marrow he had just obtained.

In this world, even masters would scheme against their disciples for the sake of cultivation. Having survived many crises, Han Li naturally needed to be even more cautious.

Thus, although he had already begun to trust the people in the chat group, he still needed to maintain the proper vigilance.

Meanwhile, Cao Cao in the allied army camp and Yue Buqun on Mount Hua also did not immediately consume the Millennium Spirit Marrow after receiving it. They likewise began trying to examine it.

Only after confirming that the Millennium Spirit Marrow was beneficial and harmless did they prepare to consume it.

Inside Mount Hua's main hall.

After consuming less than half of the Millennium Spirit Marrow, Yue Buqun quickly sensed the changes within his body. He hurriedly sat cross-legged and began circulating the Mount Hua Sect's Purple Dawn Divine Skill.

The pure energy formed from the Millennium Spirit Marrow within Yue Buqun's body, once he circulated the Purple Dawn Divine Skill, rushed into his meridians in a single surge. Following his already completely opened Ren Vessel upward, it passed through the Magpie Bridge and entered the Du Vessel.

In the martial world, anyone who could open the acupoints of the Du Vessel had already stepped into the realm of first-rate masters.

However, opening the Du Vessel's acupoints was simply too difficult. It often took years of hard work just to reopen a single acupoint.

Therefore, after martial artists entered the first-rate realm, aside from continuing to cultivate their internal energy, they would also diligently study swordsmanship, saber techniques, movement arts, and the like to increase their strength as much as possible.

For this reason, although Yue Buqun was the head of the Mount Hua Sect, he had previously opened only five of the Du Vessel's twenty-eight major acupoints.

Yet his Mount Hua swordsmanship was exceedingly refined. Combined with that cultivation, it made him one of the foremost first-rate masters in the martial world.

But now, after the energy contained in the Millennium Spirit Marrow entered his Du Vessel, Yue Buqun felt as if a spoonful of scalding oil had been poured into it.

He had no time to think. He could only control that astonishing energy with all his might as it coursed downward along the Du Vessel.

When the overwhelming energy reached the Central Pivot acupoint he had previously been trying to break through, it encountered some resistance. Yet the energy was simply too immense. After consuming only a small portion of it, the Central Pivot acupoint was directly forced open.

Afterward, that astonishing energy continued surging downward...

Central Pivot, Tendon Contraction, Utmost Yang, Divine Platform, Divine Path, Body Pillar, Pottery Path, Great Vertebra, Mute Gate, Wind Palace, Brain Door, Strong Interval, Rear Summit...

By the time the energy within the Millennium Spirit Marrow was exhausted, he had opened thirteen major acupoints in the Du Vessel in one go. Even the Baihui acupoint atop his head had begun to loosen precariously.

"This..."

Feeling the powerful Purple Dawn internal energy within him, Yue Buqun was slightly dazed. "The effects of this Millennium Spirit Marrow are far too potent. It actually allowed me to open the Rear Summit acupoint in one go!"

One had to know that even his master, Ning Qingyu, the previous head of the Mount Hua Sect, had only opened the Strong Interval acupoint before his death!

Back then, Ning Qingyu had led the Qi Faction to victory over the Sword Faction. Aside from Feng Qingyang, the Sword God who possessed peerless swordsmanship, no one in the Sword Faction had been his match.

Ning Qingyu had also been the leader of the Five Mountains Alliance. Yet after the Sword-Qi Conflict, the Mount Hua Sect's strength was severely damaged, and Ning Qingyu himself suffered grave injuries, forcing him to relinquish the position of alliance leader.

"With my current cultivation, I should be slightly stronger even than Chongxu of Wudang and Fangzheng of Shaolin, shouldn't I?"

Thinking of the more than half of the Millennium Spirit Marrow still remaining in his hand, Yue Buqun was filled with endless emotion.

He truly had not expected that merely one greeting gift from the Group Leader would instantly dissipate the pressure in his heart and completely change his future fate!