Chapter 144: The Frontier Army Arrives, Initiation into Marrow Cleansing

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Shang Lu took the wooden box, quite surprised. “The bounty from Guling County arrived so quickly?”

“What Guling County? This is a reward from our Witch Academy,” Wang Chao corrected him.

“By capturing the Blood-Age Spirit, you not only stopped the infiltration and destruction of the secret realm by the demon ghosts but also put our county ahead of Guling County.

When this news reached the Witch Academy, the Chief Priest was very pleased and specially ordered the Swift Ghost to deliver to you a box of Marrow Refining Pills. They want you to cultivate diligently, striving to step into the Marrow Washing realm as soon as possible. When our academy formally recruits new students, you will be able to pass the assessment and become one of the Witch Academy’s apprentices.”

After explaining the origin of the reward, Wang Chao continued, “As for the bounty from Guling County, that will take some time. We have already notified them about capturing the Blood-Age Spirit. They still need to send people here to confirm, and the whole process won’t be completed so quickly.”

Hearing that the wooden box contained Marrow Refining Pills, Shang Lu was overjoyed.

This reward came at just the right moment.

He hurriedly asked Wang Chao how to use the pills.

“Once a week, one pill each time. Heat up some yellow wine, dissolve the pill in it, and swallow both the wine and the medicine together. Don’t be greedy; the pill is potent. Taking it too frequently or in excess won’t refine your marrow but will damage your blood and energy.”

After hearing Wang Chao’s advice, Shang Lu nodded in agreement.

He recalled his first attempt at refining marrow, which failed because he didn’t control the internal fire of his five organs well enough, letting it burn too fiercely.

Instead of turning his blood energy into marrow paste, it was burned directly into charcoal.

After explaining the usage of the Marrow Refining Pills, Wang Chao gave a few more reminders and then prepared to leave.

“Cultivate well. I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave first.”

“Won’t you have some tea before you go?” Shang Lu politely invited.

“No, thanks.”

Wang Chao waved his hand. “Old Yuan has found some new leads. Those rats from Chu Kingdom are planning something big. We need to expose them as soon as possible!”

With that, he hurried away, not mentioning the matter of the bell, leaving Shang Lu’s prepared excuses unused.

Watching Wang Chao’s retreating figure, Shang Lu was curious.

“Aren’t the spies from Chu Kingdom targeting the secret realm? What other big plans could they have?”

Curiosity aside, he decided not to pry further.

These matters would be revealed when the time was right. Asking too much when one shouldn’t only invites suspicion.

After seeing Wang Chao disappear around the corner, Shang Lu turned back into the courtyard.

The gate closed on its own, separating the two worlds inside and outside.

Shang Lu opened the wooden box, revealing six dark red pills.

From the pills, he sensed not only a dense spiritual energy but also a fierce fiery force.

It seemed the Marrow Refining Pills also worked by strengthening the internal fire of the five organs to refine the blood into marrow.

Picking up one pill, Shang Lu followed Wang Chao’s instructions, warming a pot of yellow wine, dissolving the pill, and swallowing both the wine and medicine together.

Confident in his Five-Organs Temple, Shang Lu was not afraid of any adverse effects from the pill.

The wine-tempered pill emitted a spicy flavor, making Shang Lu wonder whether he had swallowed medicine or chili peppers.

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After the pill entered his stomach, Shang Lu felt a surge of heat churning inside.

It was as if a fire had been added to the furnace of his physical body, doused with oil!

The internal fire of the five organs instantly blazed up!

The Marrow Refining Pill brought Shang Lu not only firepower but also a hint of malevolent energy.

This malevolent energy was immediately drawn out and purified by his Liver Spirit, leaving no harm to Shang Lu.

Yet he was still quite surprised.

“More malevolent energy?”

Earlier, the spiritual grease and spirit fluid given by the Witch Academy hid malevolent energy as well.

Why would the Marrow Refining Pill be any different?

Could it be that the Chief Priest’s personally awarded pill was also defective?

That shouldn’t be the case.

There must be some hidden truth here!

Shang Lu pondered, deciding to find an opportunity to inquire with Feng Boyuan and others to understand the true situation.

As the malevolent energy was purified by his Liver Spirit, Shang Lu immediately activated the Internal Meridian Organ Refining Diagram, then visualized the form of the Divine Phoenix in his mind, practicing the Phoenix Walk method from the Five Spirits Technique.

The combination of the Marrow Refining Pill and the Phoenix Walk method raised the internal fire of the five organs to the most suitable level, allowing Shang Lu to control it freely.

This was the experience Shang Lu had summarized and explored during yesterday’s marrow refining.

Under the stimulation of the Internal Meridian Organ Refining Diagram, the blood energy circulated through the meridians and the five organs, undergoing refinement by the internal fire, gradually condensing into a paste...

Two days passed in a flash.

During these two days, besides greeting his parents and attending to official duties at the county magistrate’s office—such as arranging patrols and defenses—Shang Lu devoted all his remaining time to marrow refining.

With the aid of pills, spiritual meals, the Five-Organs Temple, and his cultivation techniques, his progress was remarkably rapid.

Not only had he completely refined the marrow in the right ulna, but more than half of the marrow in the radius had also been refined.

Judging by this progress, he had a hope of breaking through to the entry level of the Marrow Washing realm before the effect of the first Marrow Refining Pill fully wore off.

One day, after finishing official duties and preparing to leave work early to continue refining marrow and strive for the Marrow Washing realm, a clerk hurried over to report:

“County Magistrate, we just received a dispatch by fast horse. Two hundred-man squads transferred from the border army entered our Luoshui County yesterday afternoon and are expected to arrive at the county seat later today.”

The border army’s arrival was unexpectedly swift.

After a moment’s thought, Shang Lu instructed, “Once they arrive, have them go to the training ground outside the city where the local militia drills. There are buildings enough to house around two hundred people. Tell the border troops that their journey has been arduous and to rest well there. When I’m done with these few days’ business, I will meet them and arrange assignments.”

Pausing briefly, he added, “Inform them not to leave without my order!”

“Yes, sir.” The clerk bowed and took his orders.

At his current cultivation level—halfway to Marrow Washing—Shang Lu was capable of controlling these two hundred soldiers from the border army.

But since he wanted to establish authority, a fully-fledged Marrow Washing level cultivation would certainly be more imposing and commanding.

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Moreover, letting the border troops rest for a few days in the training ground to recover from their long march would also prevent them from using excuses to cause trouble if they were defeated.

That evening, the two hundred soldiers transferred from the border army arrived at Luoshui County.

The local militia captains had already received orders and awaited them on the official road.

After some negotiation, the two hundred border soldiers were led to the training ground outside the city to settle in.

Once the soldiers were settled and resting, two border army captains gathered together, speaking quietly about the situation.

One was a towering, bald, bear-like man.

He elbowed his old friend and whispered, “Old Feng, do you think this county magistrate, the constable, is just trying to intimidate us by leaving us here at the training ground? If he thinks such tactics can control us, he’s too naive!”

The other captain was the complete opposite in build—short and thin—but his eyes gleamed sharply.

He held a piece of bread, chewing it as he replied, “Who cares if it’s just a show of force? There’s food and rest; let’s just relax. After fighting so many years, we deserve a break.

When the boss arrives, we’ll see what he’s really capable of.

If this county magistrate is truly competent and wants to convert us into county soldiers, fine, I’ll accept it.

But if he’s just an official who clawed his way up by flattering and bribing, let whoever wants him. I won’t serve him!”

“Won’t serve? Can we even return to the border army then?”

Captain Feng choked on his bread from eating too fast. The bald giant hurriedly patted his back.

“Calm down, calm down. Damn, are you trying to save me or kill me with that pat?”

After a few complaints, Captain Feng said, “We have to find a way. It’d be best if he sends us back. If not, we’ll do the work, but no need to risk our lives.”

The bald giant nodded, then sneered, “The local defense is really lax. I see the militia captains are merely at the initial Meridian Opening stage. With that strength, they couldn’t even be company commanders in the border army! I heard this county magistrate was just a small constable not long ago—his cultivation is probably even weaker...”

“Don’t underestimate him,” Captain Feng warned. “Maybe this county magistrate really has some skill. Luoshui County is under the witch officials’ control now; they’re not easy to fool.”

The bald giant scoffed, “Even if he has skill, it’s limited. How could he possibly break through from bone cutting to marrow washing in just a few months?”

Neither captain knew that the man they looked down on, Shang Lu, was currently giving his all to break into the Marrow Washing realm!

They wanted to teach Shang Lu a lesson, and Shang Lu also wanted to give them a taste of his power.

Seven days passed.

The two hundred border troops had been waiting in the training ground for seven days. At first, they were relaxed and happy, but later grew impatient and began clamoring to see the county magistrate.

While the clerks in the county magistrate’s office were at a loss, Shang Lu finally completed the refinement of the marrow in his right arm!

From upper arm to forearm, to palm and finger bones...

The entire marrow of his right arm had been replaced with vibrant new marrow.

Shang Lu’s cultivation officially entered the Marrow Washing realm!