Treasured Medicine

The two chatted idly for a few more moments. Then County Magistrate He changed the subject and asked:

"Cheng Heng, what kind of root bone do you have?"

Cheng Heng looked embarrassed at the question and slowly replied:

"Reporting to you, sir, this subordinate has a Low-Grade Root Bone. I was only able to cultivate to the Hidden Force realm through relentless day-and-night effort, and that is how I have achieved what I have today!"

County Magistrate He was taken aback. Clearly, he had not expected Cheng Heng to possess only a Low-Grade Root Bone.

Then he said, "You need not worry either. The world is vast, and all manner of strange things exist. Back when I was in the Sky Net Sect, there were treasured medicines capable of improving one's root bone."

"However, the requirements are exceedingly harsh. If you can place among the top ten in the Martial Examination and enter a sect within the prefectural city, you may not be without hope of improving it!"

A trace of joy flashed across Cheng Heng's face. "In today's Martial Examination, this subordinate will certainly place among the top ten!"

County Magistrate He slowly nodded, then said:

"It is getting late. You may withdraw. Tomorrow, you will officially assume the position of chief constable!"

"Yes!"

Cheng Heng cupped his fists in salute, then slowly departed from the County Magistrate's Residence.

Only after Cheng Heng had left did County Magistrate He's expression turn grave. A chill flickered in his eyes as he said, "Cheng Heng, I want to see whether your blade is truly sharp!"

There was no such thing as a free meal in this world. Everything had already had its price marked in the shadows!

And what County Magistrate He had set his sights on was Cheng Heng's identity as a man from the Outer City!

The reason he had specifically promoted Cheng Heng this time was because he wanted Cheng Heng to serve as the county yamen's blade and strike at the four great lineages of Gaoyang County's Inner City.

When the mountain bandits had robbed the medicinal materials, he had always suspected that someone from among the four great lineages had acted in secret. He had immediately arranged for Wang Ming to begin investigating. The moment they found even the slightest clue, they would move against them at once.

On the surface, Cheng Heng would serve as bait outside, drawing the attention of the hidden mastermind among the four great lineages.

In the shadows, Wang Ming would conduct the investigation and obtain evidence of their crimes.

After Cheng Heng returned home and shut the door, he began quietly pondering the matter.

The more he considered it, the stranger it seemed. In this chaotic age where every man was for himself, no one would treat him so well for no reason!

The county magistrate had given him medicine, promoted him, and made him a chief constable specifically responsible for keeping order in the Inner City.

Cheng Heng tried to devise a countermeasure from these scattered clues, but he possessed too little information and could not yet see through the muddy waters of Gaoyang County.

For now, the way to break the deadlock was still to raise his strength as quickly as possible. If he could reach Skill-Transforming Force soon—

Then no matter what schemes and tricks they had, he could shatter them all with a single punch!

After coaxing Li Qingwan to sleep, Cheng Heng carefully took out the Blood Ginseng.

He had not examined it closely during the day. Now, he saw that the entire Blood Ginseng was a vivid red like congealed blood. Its fine rootlets resembled red silk threads, its skin gleamed with a lustrous sheen, and faint streams of bloody light seemed to flow beneath its surface. When he leaned close to smell it, a dense scent of blood drilled into his nostrils.

It truly deserved to be called a treasured medicine born of heaven and nurtured by earth!

He carefully cut off one-tenth of the Blood Ginseng, washed it thoroughly, placed it into a porcelain pot, and began slowly simmering it over a low flame.

Before long, a rich fragrance filled the entire kitchen.

After smelling that fragrance, Cheng Heng felt utterly refreshed, and even his blood and qi stirred slightly.

The small piece of Blood Ginseng in the porcelain pot had been thoroughly cooked, and even the broth had turned completely crimson.

Cheng Heng took it out and slowly placed the Blood Ginseng into his mouth.

The crisp, tender ginseng flesh split apart, and its rich fragrance instantly filled his mouth. It turned into a warm current that slowly spread along his meridians. Then, a searing torrent abruptly erupted, causing the blood and qi throughout Cheng Heng's body to become blazing hot.

"It truly is a treasured medicine. Its effects are several times stronger than the Essence-Blood Pill!"

Cheng Heng suppressed the joy in his heart and struck while the iron was hot, beginning his Stance Training.

With this treasured medicine assisting him, practicing the Stance Training once was equivalent to practicing it several times.

At the same time, he thought to himself, If I could keep taking this kind of treasured medicine, perhaps I could reach Skill-Transforming Force before the Martial Examination!

Of course, such a beautiful dream could only remain a dream!

Not only was this treasured medicine worth one hundred and fifty taels of silver, but in all of Gaoyang County, it was likely something with a price but no market!

Even the core disciples of the five great martial halls and the four great lineages likely did not receive such treatment.

Meanwhile, at the Li Family of Gaoyang County.

The Li Family had been established here for several centuries. They controlled the local medicinal-materials trade and were among the foremost local tyrants. Even the county magistrate had to fear them by three parts!

Inside a dark hall within the Li Family residence.

"County Magistrate He has already begun to suspect us? I never expected him to trace it to the Li Family so quickly!"

A middle-aged man in white robes, tall and straight in bearing, his brow tightly furrowed, spoke in a grave voice.

This man was the current head of the Li Family, Li Wen, a Skill-Transforming Force martial artist.

"Father, there is no need to worry. This matter was carried out seamlessly, without leaving behind any loose ends. Those wastes from the county yamen will never discover that we did it!"

Beside him stood another youth in white robes, his face as handsome as carved jade. He was the Li Family's young master, Li Teng, a Hidden Force martial artist.

"That is good. Though he suspects us, he will not trace it back to us anytime soon. If not for the enormous sum of silver spent on purchasing that pill, I would never have provoked the county yamen by targeting that batch of medicinal materials!"

Li Wen nodded and spoke slowly.

Li Teng's face reddened. "Thank you, Father. If not for my aptitude, Father would not have been forced into such a difficult position!"

Li Wen waved his hand, his expression solemn.

"Your father has already passed the time when his blood and qi were at their peak. My cultivation can no longer advance another step. But you are the future hope of the Li Family. This is what I should do."

"In another two months, that pill should be brought back from the Heavenly Treasure Sect. When the time comes, the problem with your root bone will be completely resolved!"

The Heavenly Treasure Sect was a renowned major sect within the prefectural city, famous for its pill refinement. It had another name as well: the Pill Sect!

Nearly seventy percent of all pills in the entire prefectural city came from the Heavenly Treasure Sect.

The Li Family had purchased from the Heavenly Treasure Sect a pill capable of improving one's root bone. Even with the Li Family's considerable wealth, they had nearly smashed their pots and sold their iron to afford this single pill!

The medicinal materials the county yamen had been transporting to the prefectural city had been seized because the Li Family had secretly colluded with the bandits of Black Crow Mountain. Their purpose was to gather enough silver to purchase the pill that could improve one's root bone.

And the reason for it all was Li Teng's root bone. As the Li Family's eldest son, his root bone had been tested as only Low-Grade.

For all these years, it had been a problem the Li Family had been unwilling to face.

Li Teng had been diligent and hardworking over the years, with treasured medicines, treasured fish, and other cultivation resources supplied without interruption. Yet at the age of twenty-two, he had only just broken through to the Hidden Force level!

Those who practiced martial arts especially needed to cultivate while their blood and qi were at their peak. Once their blood and qi declined, their progress in martial arts would plummet like a landslide.

The Li Family still had Li Wen, a Skill-Transforming Force martial artist, holding things together. If Li Wen were to pass away, Li Teng, with his mere Hidden Force cultivation, would be a lone tree struggling to hold up a collapsing building!

By then, the Li Family would likely be swallowed up by the other lineages!