Chapter 42: Six Cycles Complete and Departure For Jade City

Yu Liang sat in the medicinal bath for the sixth time, body submerged in the dark, glowing liquid. The pain had become familiar now, not easier but... predictable. He knew when it would peak, when it would fade, and how to breathe through the worst of it.

The first cycle had taken three days to complete, including preparation and recovery. By the second cycle he had reduced it to two days. Now, on the sixth, he moved through the process with more efficiency.

The water around him churned as his marrow absorbed the final traces of medicinal energy. His bones ached deeply, a sensation that reached into his core, but underneath the discomfort was something else. A sense of surging power that hadn’t been there before.

When the burning finally subsided, Yu Liang opened his eyes. The water had turned black again, thick with expelled impurities. He stood slowly, stepped out of the tub, and reached for a cloth to dry himself.

Six cycles complete. Six out of twelve.

He went up to where the crates were and opened each one, looking at what had left.

Empty. Empty. Nearly empty.

The Crimson Eyed Bear marrow was gone. The Blood Root had been used up two cycles ago. Only a small amount of Jade Essence powder remained, and the Blacksteel Ore was down to its last fragments.

He had known this would happen. The materials Ding Yun had procured were enough for exactly six cycles. The remaining six would require even rarer, more expensive materials like Heavenly Dragon marrow instead of bear, Spirit Jade Root instead of Blood Root, and ores infused with elemental essences.

Yu Liang had deliberately not ordered those materials yet.

They were expensive, yes, but more importantly, they weren’t immediately necessary. The first six cycles had given him what he needed, a body strong enough to travel safely. The rest of the cycles could be done at Jade City, where the materials would be easily accessible and where spending money in huge amounts wouldn’t matter much.

He dressed slowly, feeling the difference in his body with every movement.

His muscles felt denser, his joints more stable. When he clenched his fist, the motion carried explosiveness that hadn’t existed before. He walked to the center of the cave and dropped into a stance, testing his balance. It’s solid and unshakeable.

He threw a punch without channeling any Qi, relying purely on raw physical strength. The air cracked faintly from the force. His arm remained steady as he followed with a kick, then a series of rapid strikes, each one precise and controlled.

He felt no exhaustion nor any strain as his bones were denser, his blood rich with vitality. Even without circulating Qi, his body felt like a weapon.

He thought back on the ambush while returning from Jade City. The commotion, the fighting, the near fatal blow that Wang Shen landed on him. He was in Peak Body Tempering realm at the time. Strong by normal human standards but weak compared to a Qi Condensation realm cultivator.

Now?

Yu Liang smiled faintly.

If Wang Shen hit him with equal force now, he would feel pain, for sure. But it wouldn’t break his ribs. He wouldn’t fly away like a toy made out of wood. His body would withstand it. In combat, this was the most important thing of all.

He walked to the small desk and sat down, pulling out a blank piece of parchment. His brush moved as he wrote a brief note to Ding Yun, thanking him for the materials and informing him that he would be away from the sect for a while then he sealed the note and set it aside to deliver later.

Then he opened the mission scroll picked up from the hall two days ago.

Mission: Escort Mission to Jade City

Destination: Jade City

Duration: Approximately three weeks

Objective: Escort a group of sect personnel safely to Jade City and return with them.

Reward: 800 Contribution Points and 2000 low grade spiritual stones.

The mission involved escorting a merchant caravan that traveled between the sect and Jade City regularly. It was a common route and relatively safe, but the sect still required at least one cultivator to accompany each caravan in case of trouble.

Most disciples avoided long missions like this. Three weeks away from the sect meant three weeks of missed lectures, missed training opportunities, missed chances to compete for resources. For disciples focused on rapid advancement, it was a waste of time.

But for Yu Liang, it was perfect.

He had completed enough short missions over the past month to satisfy the sect’s requirements. Taking a long mission now would be more ideal as it would simply look like he was maximizing his contribution points.

And more importantly, it gave him a legitimate reason to be in Jade City for an extended period of time.

Yu Liang rolled up the scroll and tucked it into his robe. He stood and began packing his belongings, simple travel clothes, his sword, a few medicinal pills for emergencies, and enough spirit stones to cover expenses without drawing attention.

When everything was ready, he locked the cave behind him and made his way to the mission hall.

The clerk barely looked up when Yu Liang approached the desk.

"Returning from a mission?"

"No. Accepting one."

The clerk glanced at the scroll Yu Liang placed on the counter, then raised an eyebrow.

"Jade City escort? That’s a long one. You sure?"

"Yes."

The clerk stamped the scroll and handed it back.

"Caravan leaves tomorrow at dawn from the eastern gate. Don’t be late."

Yu Liang nodded and left the hall.

The rest of the day passed quietly. He delivered the note to Ding Yun’s residence, visited the training grounds briefly to spar with a few disciples, winning more often than losing now then returned to his cave for rest.

In that evening, he began meditating while circulating his Qi and allowing his body to settle in its new form. The six levels of refinement made him more powerful, but there was a slight imbalance. He needed time to allow his body and Qi to balance out.

By the time dawn arrived, he felt refreshing.

Yu Liang slung his pack over his shoulder, locked his cave one last time, and made his way toward the eastern gate.

The caravan was already gathered when he arrived. Three large wagons loaded with goods, a dozen hired guards, and a stout merchant who looked like he had made this trip a hundred times before.

The merchant glanced at Yu Liang, taking in his outfit and the sword at his side.

"You are from the outer sect?"

"Yes."

"Good. Stay close to the lead wagon. If anything happens, you handle it. Clear?"

Yu Liang nodded.

The merchant grunted and climbed onto the lead wagon. The guards took their positions, and the caravan began to move.

Yu Liang walked by the side of the leading wagon, eyes surveying the way ahead.

The sect’s gates loomed behind him, growing smaller with each step. The forest stretched out ahead, dense and thick.