Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 279: Chapter 160: First Harden the Will, Then Tire the Body_2

Liu Yuanhu landed on the ground and grimaced in pain, his face contorted. He looked toward Lu Junyi with some confusion: ”Elder Lu, what are you...?”

Lu Junyi shot Liu Yuanhu a fierce glare and barked, ”Who gave you the audacity to chop down Master Ge’s door? We don’t need you here anymore—leave!”

Hearing this, Liu Yuanhu discerned a hint of respect in Lu Junyi’s tone. Enduring the pain, he struggled to his feet and limped away, muttering curses under his breath, ”Tsk, if this wasn’t about settling scores, you could’ve said so. Made me worry for nothing! And that kick—damn, it hurts!”

After Liu Yuanhu left, Lu Junyi carefully adjusted his attire before approaching the door with some hesitation and lightly knocking on the door ring.

Lu Junyi had barely knocked twice when Ding An opened the door and stepped out.

Ding An bowed slightly and cupped his hands toward Lu Junyi: ”Greetings, Elder Lu.”

Lu Junyi looked at Ding An with slight astonishment: ”You know who I am?”

Ding An smiled and shook his head. ”I don’t know you, but my master informed me ahead of time, asking me to await your arrival here.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Junyi’s face lit up with joy. ”The master knew I was coming? Then I must ask you to lead the way!”

Although Ding An appeared to Lu Junyi as nothing more than a lowly servant, his status as one of Ge Qing’s people naturally warranted higher regard. Lu Junyi dared not show any arrogance; his speech even took on a respectful tone.

Ding An shook his head and presented a silk pouch to Lu Junyi: ”Elder Lu, my master is currently secluded in alchemy and cannot meet with you. Beforehand, he left this pouch for me to deliver to you.”

Lu Junyi promptly opened the pouch and found a small scroll inside. He eagerly unfurled it.

On the scroll, it was written: ”If Heaven is to entrust a great mission upon someone, it must first temper their will and strain their body.”

Lu Junyi stared at the content of the scroll, feeling somewhat perplexed and unable to grasp its deeper meaning.

Seeing Lu Junyi’s confused expression, Ding An couldn’t help but chuckle. ”My master mentioned that if Elder Lu becomes puzzled, he should look at the back of the scroll.”

Lu Junyi quickly flipped the scroll over, discovering four bold characters written across the back: ”Start from zero.”

Ding An then took out a brocade box and handed it to Lu Junyi. ”This item is a gift from my master to your sect.”

Lu Junyi accepted the box and opened it. Inside was a folded piece of brocade cloth. Upon unfurling it and seeing its contents, Lu Junyi exclaimed in shock, ”The recipe for the Bone Marrow Building Pill!”

Lu Junyi’s expression was one of astonishment, his face filled with disbelief.

His reaction was understandable—the recipe for the Bone Marrow Building Pill was extraordinarily valuable!

The Bone Marrow Building Pill was a top-grade Mystical-level pill! It should be noted that even the Holy Pill Sect, which was rooted in alchemy, only possessed recipes for mid-grade Mystical-level pills like the Bone Marrow Refining Pill. Despite this, these mid-grade recipes had long cemented their position as the undisputed leader of alchemy within Red Cloud Prefecture!

To alchemists, pill recipes were akin to a special form of Martial Arts. Without access to higher-level recipes, an alchemist could never advance further in their craft. It’s akin to a prodigy martial artist who ascends rapidly to the Golden Bone Realm but, lacking a Guiding Method, finds it impossible to break through to the Marrow Refining Realm—no matter how gifted they are. Higher-level recipes hold similarly critical importance to alchemists!

Both the Sect Master of the Holy Pill Sect and Lu Junyi himself were alchemists of mid-grade Mystical-level. They had mastered their craft to perfection at this level but had been stuck for years, unable to progress further due to the absence of higher-level recipes.

The Bone Marrow Building Pill recipe now in their possession was immensely significant. If utilized effectively, it might elevate the Holy Pill Sect’s influence within Red Cloud Prefecture, possibly rivaling or even surpassing the Governor Mansion!

In these turbulent times, no one knows how much longer Da Liang’s imperial court can endure. Everyone is eager to amass power and resources, striving to secure an edge to survive the chaos.

Lu Junyi’s hands trembled violently as he held the recipe, overwhelmed by excitement.

”Elder Lu, if you have nothing further to discuss, I kindly ask that you leave. My master values peace and quiet, and your earlier commotion was quite disruptive.”

Ding An’s words immediately brought a flush of embarrassment to Lu Junyi’s face: ”My fault—I assure you it won’t happen again!”

With that, Lu Junyi knelt down before the residence with a loud thud. Ding An smiled casually and did not stop him, merely retreating two steps to make room.

”Lu Junyi extends the Holy Pill Sect’s profound gratitude to Master Ge for this generous gift!”

Lu Junyi kowtowed thrice in succession before Ding An helped him up. ”Elder Lu, there’s no need for such excessive courtesy. My master mentioned that while he entrusts you with tasks, he also compensates you—it’s merely a fair exchange of interests, and you need not dwell on it.”

Lu Junyi cupped his hands toward Ding An, uttering his thanks, then turned and left.

Ding An closed the door and walked toward the courtyard.

At that moment, Ge Qing was seated in a small courtyard, deeply focused on a porcelain basin the size of a millstone before him.

”Master, Elder Lu has departed.”

Ge Qing didn’t reply, merely gesturing for Ding An to leave. His gaze never wandered from the porcelain basin.

Within the basin was clear water, but on the surface, countless stars shimmered.

The stars shifted and radiated brilliant colors, appearing exceptionally mystical. After observing for a long while, Ge Qing picked up a small teapot from the table, took a sip, and smacked his lips with a smile: ”Heh, this boy truly is extraordinary. Despite my years of cultivation and my full efforts to divine his fate, I cannot discern his destiny. How peculiar! Still, judging by the purple light in his brow and his remarkable energy, he is clearly no ordinary person. I only hope my efforts will forge a connection with him. Who knows? In the chaos to come, he might very well be the key to breaking the stalemate!”

Ge Qing extended a single finger and gently stirred the water within the basin. A mysterious force emanated from him, causing the basin to erupt with brilliant seven-colored light. Moments later, the light faded, and the basin was left entirely empty.

Meanwhile, Lu Junyi, holding the Bone Marrow Building Pill recipe from Ge Qing, was in high spirits, humming as he strolled along. His mind was already envisioning the Holy Pill Sect’s future ascension to unprecedented heights of influence.

When Lu Junyi returned to the city wall, Liu Yuanhu and Mo Chen were already waiting there.

The guards on the wall had long since withdrawn, leaving only a few routine patrols. The rest had been replaced by an honor guard.

Upon seeing Lu Junyi return, Liu Yuanhu and Mo Chen hurried forward. ”Elder Lu, how did things go? Is there anything further we can assist with?”

Buoyed by his good mood and newfound curiosity about Gu Sheng, Lu Junyi took the initiative to ask Liu Yuanhu: ”How powerful is the Gu family in Canghe County? Do they deal in pills or medicinal ingredients?”

Liu Yuanhu fell into deep thought before furrowing his brow and responding, ”Elder Lu, within Canghe County, there is no prominent Gu family. However, there’s a small village fortress named Gu’s Manor, which accounts for nearly 90% of the county’s Gu surnames.”

”A village fortress?”

Now it was Lu Junyi’s turn to furrow his brow tightly.

Gu Sheng, though only seventeen years old, had already reached the Perfect stage of the Blood Refining Realm. Such martial arts talent would be considered extraordinary in Canghe County and even within Red Cloud Prefecture. Yet, Lu Junyi was stunned to learn that Gu Sheng wasn’t from a prominent family in the county but hailed from a humble village fortress.

Canghe County was already remote and resource-starved. The resources held by even the strongest clans within the county were very limited, let alone a small village fortress.

This saying—”Martial arts require wealth”—was no joke, especially in the realms of Refining Skin, Blood Refining, and Bone Refining. Without a continuous supply of pills, the cultivation rate was slower than a snail’s pace! Nevertheless, Gu Sheng had managed to reach his current realm under such arduous circumstances, a testament to his exceptional talent, resolute will, and extraordinary perseverance!

Suddenly, Lu Junyi understood why Ge Qing had humbled himself to ensure Gu Sheng joined the Holy Pill Sect—he must have been moved by his admiration for such talent!

Liu Yuanhu noticed Lu Junyi’s deep frown and grew anxious. He cautiously asked, ”Elder Lu, did someone from Gu Family Castle offend you?”