Looks of contempt

Not only the Corpse-Burning Valley, but even the Shed Quarantine Zone began to see members of the Demon Extermination Palace.

Under such intense suppression, the unrest in the Shed Quarantine Zone was finally quelled.

As for those who had died... they became nothing more than a pile of cold, lifeless numbers.

Lu Mian could finally turn his attention back to practicing his fist technique and preparing for the assessment that would soon arrive.

One day.

Lu Mian stayed inside his stone hut, arranging packets of medicinal herbs.

These were the blood-replenishing herbs Chen Xiuzhu had procured for him through the Agriculture Office.

Each dose cost nearly five taels of silver, an exorbitant price.

Chen Xiuzhu had spared no expense, buying twenty doses at once so Lu Mian could take one every day.

After putting the herbs away, Lu Mian took out one dose and began simmering it in a medicine pot.

He boiled it for nearly an hour before pouring it out.

The decoction was dark but clear, with a bitter smell.

Lu Mian paid that no mind. He blew on it a few times, then swallowed the entire bowl in one gulp.

Gulp...

Once the decoction entered his stomach, a scorching heat rose from his lower abdomen.

"So hot..."

Lu Mian took a deep breath, held that searing heat within his body, and began practicing the Tortoise-Snake Fist.

As the medicine's potency spread, this round of Tortoise-Snake Fist left him feeling thoroughly invigorated.

Only a little of the heat in his lower abdomen had been consumed. Plenty remained.

Naturally, he did not stop. He continued practicing until the scorching heat inside him had completely dissipated.

"Phew..."

"I don't feel tired at all..."

"My Tortoise-Snake Force has grown a little stronger!"

Lu Mian took stock of the changes in his body.

With the medicine fully absorbed, he felt filled with strength. His muscles were firmer than before, and his explosive power had increased.

Most importantly, the Tortoise-Snake Force within him had grown noticeably stronger.

I can't stop taking this medicine!

Next, Lu Mian emptied the dregs from the medicine pot and began simmering another dose of blood-replenishing medicine.

This was his advantage.

An ordinary person could never do what he did. Absorbing a medicine's potency took time, and taking too much at once would leave an excess that placed a serious burden on the body instead.

Lu Mian had no such concern.

With his gluttonous stomach talent, he could quickly absorb the medicine's potency.

And speed was not his only advantage. His absorption efficiency also surpassed that of ordinary people, allowing him to absorb every bit of the decoction's essence.

As Lu Mian gained access to more cultivation resources in the future, this talent would become even more useful!

Time flew, and more than half a month quietly passed.

That night, Lu Mian did not report for duty in the shed district. Instead, he slipped back to his stone hut.

Naturally, Chen Xiuzhu had arranged everything.

"Tomorrow is the Guard Hall's assessment."

"Over these past days, the constant nourishment from meat, eggs, and blood-replenishing medicine has made my body stronger and stronger. My blood and qi even feel as though they've reached their limit."

"Tonight, I'll try to bring the Tortoise-Snake Fist to major mastery!"

Lu Mian's gaze was resolute.

He crossed his arms and assumed the opening stance of the Turtle Fist.

His fist technique now exuded a steady, profound presence.

It was like a calm sea. Though no waves disturbed its surface, anyone could sense the power it contained.

This was the Turtle Fist.

The next instant.

Lu Mian's left hand shot out viciously like a snake's head.

Whoosh!

His entire arm became a blur, punching through the air with a faint hiss.

Then Lu Mian unleashed a rapid series of strikes, like hundreds of nimble snakes dancing through the air.

Despite this tremendous burst of power, his breathing remained perfectly even, calm and steady.

With each punch, his blood and qi surged more fiercely until they finally erupted within him.

Crack!

The membranes surrounding every bone in Lu Mian's body crackled at once, accompanied by a faint sound like rushing water.

This phenomenon only appeared once the Tortoise-Snake Fist reached major mastery.

Blood and qi surged like waves!

At that moment, Lu Mian felt a tingling numbness throughout his body. His frame seemed to have grown a little larger, his muscles were becoming denser, and the Tortoise-Snake Force within him was fiercer and stronger than ever.

"I finally broke through!"

Lu Mian's expression remained calm.

He knew that even with the Tortoise-Snake Fist at major mastery, cultivators would still consider him Unranked.

His meager strength amounted to nothing.

Of course, bringing his Tortoise-Snake Force to major mastery meant passing tomorrow's assessment was practically assured.

In truth, Lu Mian's real goal was to place in the top ten!

According to Chen Xiuzhu, anyone who placed in the top ten would receive special rewards.

Besides, revealing a little of his talent would allow him to obtain more cultivation resources.

Name: Lu Mian

Remaining lifespan: 40

Talent: ten thousand ghost furnace

Supernatural ghost abilities: Starvation Ghost Stomach, Scholar, Sickness-Death Wraith Miasma

"Hm... my lifespan actually increased by ten."

Lu Mian discovered that his lifespan had quietly increased.

After absorbing Sickness-Death Wraith Miasma, he should have had thirty years left.

The sudden addition of ten years was probably related to his achieving major mastery in the Tortoise-Snake Fist.

Vigorous blood and qi naturally prolonged one's life.

Once he entered the realm of cultivation, his lifespan would likely increase even further.

For Lu Mian, this was undoubtedly good news. He no longer had to worry about the limits of his lifespan.

As long as he kept growing stronger and breaking through, his lifespan would increase along with him!

After dismissing the system panel, Lu Mian began adapting to the strength he had gained from bringing the Tortoise-Snake Fist to major mastery.

Power he could not control would only be a disaster for him.

The next day.

Early in the morning.

Lu Mian left home bright and early.

Instead of heading to the Dust-Returning Courtyard, he walked toward the towering city wall.

Under the rules of Thousand Chimes Commandery City, only people from the General Affairs Office were allowed to travel between the Refugee District and the outer city, since they had to enter for work. Those from the Oblivion Courtyard and the Agriculture Office were strictly forbidden from entering.

But today was the Guard Hall's assessment, so an exception could be made.

This was Lu Mian's first time approaching the city gate so closely.

A long line had already formed before the gate. Dozens of Patrol Guards stood on either side, holding spears with stern, grim expressions.

Zhuang Shen patrolled back and forth before the gate, keeping one hand on his saber's hilt as he scrutinized everyone.

"Greetings, Captain Zhuang."

Upon seeing him, Lu Mian stepped forward to greet him.

After all, this captain had saved his life. He had never forgotten that debt.

"Oh... Lu Mian, you're taking the Guard Hall's assessment too?"

Zhuang Shen still remembered the young man's name.

"Yes. I'd like to give it a try."

Lu Mian nodded slightly.

"You certainly look sturdier than before. You must have been training hard."

Zhuang Shen smiled.

"I've just been practicing on my own. I don't know whether I can pass the assessment."

Lu Mian spoke modestly.

"Don't overthink it."

"As long as you persevere, even if you don't make it this time, you'll be fine next time."

Zhuang Shen even offered Lu Mian some encouragement.

"Thank you for your guidance, Captain Zhuang."

"I'll go join the line now."

Lu Mian cupped his fist in salute.

"Go ahead."

Zhuang Shen nodded.

Without another word, Lu Mian went to the back of the line.

Only then did he realize that he was the sole person in the entire line wearing gray.

Everyone else wore either the blue of the General Affairs Office or the yellow of the Agriculture Office.

After all, the vast majority of people in the Refugee District belonged to those two offices.

The Dust-Returning Courtyard had the fewest people and the most dangerous work. Handling corpses all day left their bodies depleted of yin. Simply staying alive was good enough; naturally, no corpse collectors would come to register for the assessment.

This time alone, Lu Mian had appeared as an exception.

"Someone from the Dust-Returning Courtyard actually came to take the assessment?"

"Now I've seen everything."

"He just doesn't know his limits. He'll probably be eliminated in the first round."

The people from the Agriculture Office and General Affairs Office also noticed Lu Mian. Their eyes were filled with contempt and disdain, and none believed this corpse collector could pass the assessment.

Lu Mian paid no attention to the strange looks around him. His expression remained cold and blank, no different from that of an ordinary corpse collector.