Chapter 93: Grade 4 Cultivation Technique
After leaving the Baihua Courtyard, Lu Yuan headed for the Captain’s Mansion. As soon as he got home, he had someone fill the bath with water.
He poured all the Fierce Flood Dragon Blood into the bath.
Then, he stripped off his clothes and stepped into the water.
The next moment, he felt a scorching sensation spread throughout his body.
Various runes pulsed continuously on his skin.
A massive amount of blood essence seeped into his body through the pores of his skin, tempering Lu Yuan’s physique.
Moreover, this True Blood of the Flood Dragon seemed to be of great benefit to his kidneys.
It caused a vast amount of Life Essence Qi to fill his body.
Lu Yuan felt his strength growing greater and greater. On impulse, he took out the Water Element Pills and consumed them.
Swallowing them one by one, he could clearly feel the speed at which he absorbed energy increasing.
As time passed, Lu Yuan’s five viscera and his skin were all undergoing an astonishing transformation.
An unknown amount of time passed.
BUZZ!
Following a tremor that ran through his skin, Lu Yuan knew his body had almost reached its peak. It was time to break through.
When he opened his eyes, he discovered that the dark red, bloody water in the bath had, at some unknown point, become clear.
A system notification appeared in his mind.
[Third-Grade Cultivation Skill > (Kidney Refining): (10371/10000 Great Success). Proceed with breakthrough?]
[Third-Grade Cultivation Skill >: (63102/50000 Entering the Stance). Spend 10,000 Skill Level points to infer an advancement?]
Lu Yuan didn’t hesitate and immediately chose to break through.
The next moment, a powerful force once again surged from within his body.
His life force was increasing, and he now felt as if he had an inexhaustible supply of strength.
[Third-Grade Cultivation Skill > (Kidney Refining): (371/30000 Perfection)]
’I’ve finally reached Perfection in Kidney Refining,’ Lu Yuan thought.
A look of joy appeared in his eyes.
’Perhaps it won’t be long before I achieve Great Success with all five viscera.’
At the same time, the Inference process for the > began. Information about Body Refining cultivation techniques continuously surfaced in his mind.
It was as if he had been practicing them for decades, or even a century.
This new knowledge complemented his existing experience.
Finally, with a sudden epiphany, a higher-grade cultivation technique appeared in Lu Yuan’s mind.
[Fourth-Grade Cultivation Skill > (102/1000 Minor Achievement)]
With the appearance of this cultivation technique,
the Qi and Blood Power within Lu Yuan’s body actually began to change, becoming somewhat more formidable than before.
The strength of his body, meanwhile, had increased severalfold.
The same was true for his physical power.
Upon closer inspection, one could see faint, bloody striations appearing on Lu Yuan’s body.
He lightly struck his arms together, and it felt as if blades were colliding.
They were comparable to any sharp weapon.
A trace of joy showed on Lu Yuan’s face. A Fourth-Grade Cultivation Skill was considered a very high-level technique, even in Dayong.
At the very least, he knew that the Zhou Family seemed to use a Fourth-Grade Cultivation Skill.
This alone showed just how rare high-level cultivation techniques were.
They were definitely treasures that could be passed down through a family.
’It might not compare to the cultivation techniques of the great aristocratic families and nobles, but it’s definitely not worse than what most people have.’
Moreover, and most importantly, Lu Yuan had achieved Divine Containment in every realm.
Because of this point alone, even if he encountered someone at the same realm who practiced a Fifth-Grade Cultivation Skill, he would still be able to put up a fight.
On the battlefield, many factors determined victory or defeat. The cultivation technique, the depth of one’s own foundation, and one’s comprehension of stances were all crucial.
After completing his breakthrough, Lu Yuan stood up and stepped out of the bath.
Once dressed, he headed for the General’s Mansion next door.
Although the Charm Demon Sect at Icefield Pass had been annihilated, the matter wasn’t over. The Sun Family was a local power, and now their Patriarch, Sun Qian, was imprisoned.
The rest of the family would certainly not let this go.
Sure enough, when he reached the front hall, Zhou Xiong cupped his fist and said, "Sir, the members of the Sun Family are all kneeling outside the General’s Mansion, demanding that the General give them justice. They’ve also brought many commoners with them. It’s said they’ve already sent people to the State City to pull some strings."
"Heh. Besides the Sun Family, what other local family can contend with them?" Lu Yuan said softly.
"There is also the Huang Family. However, because Sun Qian holds the position of Imperial Censor, the Huang Family has always been at a disadvantage," Zhou Xiong quickly replied.
"Send someone to the Huang Family. Tell them their good days are about to begin. I’ll take care of the Sun Family’s leaders, and they will be responsible for pacifying the commoners who followed them to the General’s Mansion.
If they are willing, give them one night to resolve this matter. From now on, I will guarantee the Huang Family a place in Icefield City."
Lu Yuan’s voice was indifferent. A flicker of understanding crossed Zhou Xiong’s eyes as he immediately said, "As you command!"
Then, he withdrew.
Lu Yuan, for his part, walked toward the General’s Mansion.
He had to finish this business today; he still had to find Wu Han tomorrow.
In the past, he might not have paid much mind to that military force Beyond the Passes, but after the experience of campaigning against the Northern Barbarians, he was now completely determined to control a force of his own for self-preservation.
Just as he arrived at the entrance to the cells, he saw Zhou Hongling walking out.
She looked a little surprised to see Lu Yuan. "You’re here this late?"
"The matter isn’t finished yet. I’m going to see the prisoners," Lu Yuan said softly.
"Have you heard about what’s happening at the gate? Don’t worry too much, though. The Sun Family are locals, which makes things a bit troublesome, but this time we have proof that Sun Qian colluded with the Charm Demon Sect. The imperial court certainly won’t be lenient. The rabble below will cause a fuss for a few days and then quiet down," Zhou Hongling said.
Lu Yuan said nothing, merely glancing around.
Zhou Hongling understood his meaning and said to the two Personal Guards behind her, "You are dismissed."
Then she asked, "Alright, speak. What’s on your mind?"
Her tone was questioning.
Lu Yuan replied, "It’s a fact that the Sun Family colluded with the Charm Demon Sect. But they have considerable power locally. Even if Sun Qian is killed, leaving the rest of the Sun Family around will just be trouble later on.
It would be better to deal with them all at once and install someone obedient in their place."
A flicker of light crossed Zhou Hongling’s eyes, but she said nothing.
Lu Yuan continued, "The person in charge of the Charm Demon Sect is in our cells right now. Whoever she accuses of having ties to the Sect will be implicated. This is an opportunity."
"What about the commoners they’ve brought with them?" Zhou Hongling asked, looking at Lu Yuan.
’Killing the Sun Family members is one thing, but there are local commoners in the crowd outside.’
"The Sun Family isn’t the only local power. The Huang Family can also keep the commoners in check. Let them be responsible for handling the people."
"Fine, let’s do it that way. You’ll be in charge of this. If anything goes wrong, I’ll take the fall for you," Zhou Hongling said, looking at Lu Yuan.
At the same time, she felt a trace of gratification.
He had slowly grown from that ordinary Garrison Soldier he once was.
Lu Yuan nodded immediately. Then, as if remembering something, he pulled a stack of silver notes from his robes and said, "This was confiscated from the Baihua Courtyard today. This is your share."
"How much?" Zhou Hongling’s earlier seriousness was gone, replaced by a smiling expression.
"Fifty thousand taels."
"Oh, that’s quite a lot. You keep it," Zhou Hongling said, crossing her arms.
Lu Yuan grinned. "I know your expenses are high, too. You’ve been providing me with medicinal meals these past days. Just consider this payment for my food."
"Alright, then. I’ll just save it for you. Let me know whenever you need it." Zhou Hongling had been about to refuse, but when she thought about Lu Yuan going to the Baihua Courtyard, she couldn’t help but accept the silver notes.
Lu Yuan replied, "Great. As long as you take it, that’s all that matters."
’Zhou Hongling had spent quite a bit on him recently.
Lu Yuan had taken note of it all; after all, she had her own cultivation to worry about.’
He then continued, "Well, I’m heading in. This time, I’m going to turn the Sun Family’s house upside down."
With that said, he entered the dungeons.
In truth, this was another of Lu Yuan’s goals.
A single branch of the Baihua Courtyard wasn’t enough to satisfy him. But if he added the Sun Family’s wealth to the pile, that would be about right.
In the vault of the former, he had found a jar of Fierce Flood Dragon True Blood.
He refused to believe that the Sun Family, after so many years, hadn’t accumulated some good things of their own.