For two consecutive days, Wu Yuan, accompanied by Chieftain Wu Qiming, navigated the opulent banquets of Li City’s upper class, acquainting himself with many of its important figures. He was introduced to various high-ranking officials within the county, the city guard, the army of defense’s thousand-soldier lieutenant colonel, captains, and more.
As they exchanged pleasantries, Wu Yuan could not deny that Chieftain Wu Qiming possessed a remarkable finesse in navigating these social intricacies. In the past, he simply lacked the platform to shine.
Meanwhile, with the assistance of the Wu Clan, the family completed their relocation in two days. Both Wanqin and Wu Yijun settled into the large mansion.
…
Night descended.
Inside the Wu mansion.
The central courtyard, separating the outer and inner sections of the mansion, was usually the last line of defense in a large mansion to protect the family. Here, Wu Yuan finally found a moment to meet the protection squad dispatched by the city guard.
“Uncle Wu, I didn’t think you’d be the one to come.” There were only ten of them, but each exuded an extraordinary aura. Among them, Wu Yuan spotted a familiar face – the city guard’s hundred-soldier captain, Wu Xiong!
He was Wu Yuan’s father’s sworn brother, as well as Wu Sheng’s father. Over the years, Wu Xiong had taken good care of Wu Yuan. Wu Yuan was naturally delighted to see him.
“Haha, Wu Yuan, once I heard about your situation, I immediately reached out to the county magistrate, offering my services as your protector until you reach the sect. The magistrate kindly appointed me as the captain of this protection squad,” Wu Xiong, donned in sturdy armor, revealed a simple and honest smile. His robust physique mirrored his name, Xiong (bear).
“I will be troubling you then, Uncle Wu,” Wu Yuan laughed.
“No trouble at all!” Wu Xiong boomed with laughter. “I have watched you grow since you were a child. Your hard work and dedication to cultivation have always surpassed that rascal Wu Sheng. I knew from the start that you would achieve great things.”
“However, I was still astounded when I heard that you attained the strength of a martial virtuoso at fourteen! You surpass your father and myself by leaps and bounds,” Wu Xiong grinned.
The other guards were third-rate Adepts, mostly hundred-soldier captains from the city guard. However, all of them behaved courteously towards Wu Yuan, only Wu Xiong acted casually.
“My father?” Wu Yuan’s mind drifted back to the past.
“Sigh, your father was truly unfortunate,” Wu Xiong sighed, seemingly reminiscing about the Battle of Hillstride.
He turned to Wu Yuan, “If he knew how strong you’ve become, he would be thrilled, no doubt about it.”
Wu Yuan gave a slight nod.
“Actually, I have ulterior motives for accompanying you,” Wu Xiong chuckled. “I heard you were heading to Southdream Province, so I thought I’d take this opportunity to drop by and see that scoundrel Wu Sheng. He’s been at the Southdream Martial Academy for three or four months now, but he hasn’t bothered to send a single letter home.”
“Perhaps he’s just immersed in training at the tertiary martial academy and forgot to write,” Wu Yuan responded with a smile, trying to defend his friend.
“As if he’s that busy.” Wu Xiong shook his head. Realizing they were getting off-topic, he swiftly changed the subject. “Rest assured, Wu Yuan. Your Uncle Wu will do everything in my power to ensure your safety on this journey. With the ten of us working together, even a second-rate Adept wouldn’t dare to harm you.”
Wu Yuan expressed his gratitude to each of the nine guards, looking at them one by one. “Thank you, Uncle Wu, and seniors, for going through all this trouble for me.”
“Haha, not at all!”
“It’s nothing, the Southdream Province is the heartland of our sect. Few forces dare to act arrogantly here. I doubt anyone would be reckless enough to obstruct us.”
“Rest assured,” the ten experts responsible for guarding him all came forward, each pledging their commitment to protecting Wu Yuan while thumping their chests.
They were all confident in themselves. A second-rate Adept? They weren’t afraid!
As for a first-rate Adept? How many of them could be found in all of Southdream Province? Even if other forces had hidden agents, they would rarely reveal their true strength for such matters.
Wu Yuan acknowledged each guard’s assurance.
“Alright, Uncle Wu, if you need anything, just let the steward know. I’m going to practice in the martial hall.”
“Haha, alright, off you go!” Wu Xiong said.
With that, Wu Yuan turned and entered the inner courtyard.
The inner courtyard of the mansion was quite spacious. Besides the garden, bedrooms, and other living and entertainment areas, there was also an enormous custom-built martial hall.
The indoor martial hall was eighteen meters long, ten meters wide, and six meters high. To put it simply, it was gigantic! Apart from Wu Yuan, the only other person who came here was Gu Ji, who was the ‘steward’.
“Uncle Ji,” Wu Yuan turned to the black-robed middle-aged man. “I’ve settled most of my affairs in Li City. Before heading to Southdream Martial Academy, I wish to consume a Soul Condensing Pill.”
“Certainly. There is no issue as long as you reach the Southdream Martial Academy within a month,” Gu Ji gently replied. “Young Master may rest assured. I will guard you throughout the period of your cultivation.”
Wu Yuan nodded. Having carefully observed Gu Ji for the past two days. He had gained a sense of the man’s abilities and character: discreet and quiet.
Entering the martial hall, he closed all the windows and extinguished the lamps, plunging the hall into complete darkness.
I can’t see anything beyond three meters.
In absolute darkness, even those with exceptional vision would be unable to see anything without a source of light.
The martial hall was now nearly pitch black, with only faint rays of light seeping through the cracks.
I must rely on perception. Wu Yuan closed his eyes, silently sensing the changes in the environment inside the martial hall.
The entry of light rays, the flow of air, and other sensations gradually formed a mental image of the martial hall in his mind. This was what many martial artists referred to as ‘mind’s eye’.
When he reached a completely tranquil state, Wu Yuan uncorked the jade vial and a Soul Condensing Pill fell into his hand. An invigorating fragrance filled the air, instantly revitalizing his spirit.
This? The aroma of this Soul Condensing Pill bore some resemblance to the spiritual liquid he had obtained, but there was a fundamental difference.
The spiritual liquid primarily alleviated physical exhaustion, whereas simply smelling the Soul Condensing Pill seemed to improve his mental state, dispelling his mental fatigue. As for his body, even with Wu Yuan’s heightened sensitivity to its changes, he detected no noticeable difference.
This Soul Condensing Pill is indeed a divine object, let’s give it a try. Wu Yuan trusted the Cloudstride Sect and believed there weren’t any irregularities with the Soul Condensing Pills they gave him.
He had concealed his true strength all along, ensuring that the chances of being discovered were near zero. Additionally, Gao Yu had no motive to set a trap for him.
At most, this Soul Condensing Pill would yield no benefits for him. The likelihood of it causing harm was almost nonexistent.
Gulp! Gulp! He swallowed two Soul Condensing Pills in succession, and the strong digestive ability of the stomach instantly dissolved the two medicinal pills.
Hmm? Wu Yuan’s eyes flickered in surprise.
Just as he was preparing to direct his musculoskeletal system to absorb the medicine, he noticed that the two dissolved medicinal pills transformed into strands of unfamiliar energy, rushing straight toward his brain!
With Wu Yuan’s powerful soul, he was barely able to sense this process via Internal Vision. It thoroughly startled him.
How mysterious was the brain? It was a vital organ of the body!
However, everything occurred in a flash. Before Wu Yuan could react, that peculiar energy had already entered his brain. A moment later, waves of drowsiness flooded his mind, and his eyelids fought to stay open. Still in his seated position, Wu Yuan drifted into a deep slumber.
For a strong martial artist like Wu Yuan, even if he had been administered the most potent sleeping drug, he should not have succumbed to sleep so swiftly. Yet, it was happening at this very moment.
The brain was where one’s upper dantian lobe resided. From Wu Yuan’s mysterious upper dantian lobe, strands of strange blood-red energy suddenly gushed out, coursing through the meridians connected to the three dantian lobes. It flowed from the upper dantian lobe directly into the middle dantian lobe, and then from the middle dantian lobe into the lower dantian lobe.
Finally, it was dispersed from the three dantian lobes and merged with every part of his body. Skin, sinew, internal organs, muscles, blood. Every fiber of Wu Yuan’s being, after assimilating with this peculiar crimson energy, began to evolve.
It didn’t enhance Wu Yuan’s physical constitution directly, but mended the tiniest of internal injuries. Deep within the cellular mitochondria, the very building blocks of flesh and blood, it brought about a profound transformation of his DNA!
Miraculous! Unbelievable!
Should Gao Yu or even the hall master of the Finance Hall witness this spectacle, they’d likely be left agape. None would have been able to imagine that the Soul Condensing Pill could have such extraordinary effects.
Gu Ji, standing guard outside, was completely oblivious to Wu Yuan’s metamorphosis.
…
After a considerable duration, Wu Yuan’s consciousness returned
Hm? His eyes flew open, and a flicker of astonishment danced within his pupils.
What happened to me? Did I doze off after taking the Soul Condensing Pill? Wu Yuan recollected the moments preceding his loss of consciousness.
No, that doesn’t seem right.
My soul? Wu Yuan stilled his mind and realized that he seemed to clearly ‘see’ his blood flowing through his veins, ‘hear’ the vigorous rush of every drop of blood in the instant his heart thumped, and even sense every tremor in his musculoskeletal system!
His Internal Vision had sharpened significantly.
My soul! Has it grown stronger? Wu Yuan was astonished.
The soul, residing in the upper dantian lobe, was a true enigma. It was something martial artists generally couldn’t actively cultivate.
Typically, the stronger one’s physical constitution, the more nourished the upper dantian lobe, thus indirectly fortifying the soul. It was a passive process, and individuals with robust bodies often possessed stronger wills.
And yet, within an incredibly brief span, Wu Yuan’s soul had experienced a noteworthy surge in strength! Undoubtedly, this miraculous transformation was the work of the Soul Condensing Pill.
My… upper dantian lobe? With his strengthened soul, he involuntarily began to perceive his brain via Internal Vision.
He could vaguely sense a mysterious place in the depths of his brain. A place that seemed to be shrouded in layers of mist and clouds.
It’s the upper dantian lobe! I can sense the existence of my upper dantian lobe? Wu Yuan was startled. I am still in the Strength Training phase, yet I can sense it?
As Gao Yu had mentioned, even many of the Grandmasters from the Land Rankings were unable to sense it. In his previous life, Wu Yuan had just barely managed to detect a sliver of his upper dantian lobe through special methods after many years of cultivation. The clarity he experienced now far surpassed anything he had ever known.
Could it be that the strength of my soul surpasses that of the Land Rankers? Wu Yuan couldn’t help but cast a curious glance at the jade vial before him. Just by consuming two Soul Condensing Pills, such wondrous effects have manifested.
What if I were to consume them all?