Chapter 68 - 67: Breakthrough!

The summer passed in a flash, and in the blink of an eye, autumn arrived.

Miss Chun was bustling around the earthen stove, boiling water and cooking meals. In the wooden basin nearby lay the clothes of Xu Guang’s family, waiting to be washed later.

Ji Xiaolu and Mrs. Xu sat in the distance, chatting. Hai, whose body was growing increasingly massive, sprawled beside them like a mountain of meat. It was the creature that had consumed the most Blood of Transformation, and the Qi Mechanism emanating from its body was now incredibly powerful.

In the distance, Wang Wen, who had just returned from school, was playing with Xing Hua in the courtyard.

"Lu, have you felt like vomiting recently?"

Hearing this, Ji Xiaolu looked a bit shy and lowered her head. "My husband said he was on the verge of a breakthrough, so we haven’t shared a bed for several days."

"Hmph, that brat!" Mrs. Xu muttered.

"I heard from your older sister that a plague broke out in the Outer City recently?"

Upon hearing this, a trace of fear appeared on Ji Xiaolu’s face. Only someone like her, who had lived among refugees, truly understood how terrifying a plague could be. A perfectly healthy person, once infected, would stop breathing in just three to five days.

"Yes, Older Sister told us not to wander around during this time. This plague isn’t simple. Those infected turn into lunatics, biting anyone they see, as if they want to tear people apart alive."

"Sigh, why is the world getting worse and worse? Last year brought refugees and war. I thought this year would be better, but right after the autumn harvest, a plague breaks out in the city..."

Mrs. Xu stopped abruptly, seemingly remembering that her daughter-in-law used to be a refugee.

Ji Xiaolu didn’t mind and simply said, "The Government has already sent people to handle it. Don’t worry, Mother."

Meanwhile, in an empty room in the backyard, thin wisps of smoke curled upwards. It was an incense that could calm the mind. Wang Ming had received it from his superiors after his recent promotion and had sent some over.

Xu Guang’s expression was solemn, his eyes tightly closed. He knelt on the ground in a bizarre posture—one foot slightly raised, the other touching the floor only with its toes, while his hands formed a strange seal.

He was currently attempting to break through in Refining Viscera. Xu Guang hadn’t expected the breakthrough in Refining Viscera to be so difficult. It had been three months since he consumed the Five Spirits Grass. His vitality and blood had long entered his viscera, but he had yet to generate the so-called Power within them.

This was his ninth time Nourishing Force.

Suddenly, his body trembled violently. The vitality and blood in his bones and flesh seemed to have gained Vitality, beginning to circulate according to a specific, unique rhythm.

As a thought flashed through Xu Guang’s mind, the abundant vitality and blood acted like cavalrymen receiving orders. They were directed effortlessly through his viscera, transforming within his lungs into a denser, more compact form in a bizarre manner.

Vitality and blood were somewhat ethereal, more like an essence flowing within the bloodstream that could only be mobilized through movement. However, Power was different.

Power was like a Cultivator’s Magical Power; it moved according to one’s will. With just a single thought, Power could surge from the viscera.

At this moment, the nearly endless vitality and blood within Xu Guang’s Blood Eye seemed to receive a command, eagerly flooding into his body.

Under Introspection, his dark red lungs seemed to expand, and in the blink of an eye, the energy surged towards his kidneys.

One Viscera Nourishing Force, Two Viscera Generating Force. Xu Guang’s vitality and blood were so overwhelmingly abundant that, during his breakthrough, he effortlessly utilized the vitality and blood in his Blood Eye to reach the Realm of Two Viscera.

Even among the older generation, this was considered the mark of an expert.

His expression remained unchanged, and he didn’t stand up right away. He was practicing five different Cultivation Techniques. The Power generated by the first, the Golden Willow Skill, was already being nourished in his lungs. Following his own theory, his kidneys had also completed the assimilation of vitality and blood, meaning he could now proceed with Nourishing Force there.

Practicing five Cultivation Techniques simultaneously was an immense advantage, and Xu Guang had no intention of giving it up.

After an unknown amount of time, a low BUZZING sound echoed from within Xu Guang’s viscera, and an incredibly profound change welled up in his heart.

Xu Guang opened his eyes, his face alight with excitement.

The level of Two Viscera Generating Force was by no means weak within the Refining Viscera stage.

Filled with anticipation, he opened his status panel.

[Name: Xu Guang

Bloodline Talent: Blood Eye, Stone Skin, Ghost Hair, Blood of Transformation, Painted Hide!

Physique: 35, Will: 28

Cultivation Technique: Golden Willow Skill (Refining Visceras Chapter 20%), Beidou Skill (Refining Visceras Chapter 20%), Returning Mountain Skill (Bone Forging Chapter 100%), Flying Dragon Skill (Bone Forging Chapter 100%), Blood Coagulation Skill (Bone Forging Chapter 100%)

Skill: Golden Willow Step Method (Refined Skill 60%), Gale Fist Technique (Refined Skill 10%), Six Returning Mountain Spears (Refined Skill 100%), Flying Dragon Thirteen Blades (Entering the Hall 20%), Flying Dragon Long Fist (Entering the Hall 10%), Flying Dragon Dart (Initial Insight 60%)

Combat Power Assessment: Elite Level]

Reaching Elite Level Combat Power at the Two Viscera Realm left Xu Guang highly satisfied.

With the strengthening of his organs, his physical strength had also shattered the ten-thousand-jin limit. Now, a single punch from him carried the force of at least twenty thousand jin!

Xu Guang opened his palm. A subtle Power, which only he could perceive, swirled within three inches of his palm like a miniature cyclone.

He wondered, "Is this Power?"

Unfortunately, it still couldn’t be projected outside his body.

In addition, the various bloodlines in his body had undergone another transformation, giving birth to all sorts of unimaginable abilities.

By integrating all his Combat Power, and adding the explosive methods hidden within his blood and bones, he felt his Combat Power could definitely reach the Heroic Level!

Of course, during his days of secluded cultivation, the Searcher hadn’t stopped operating either.

He had three ways to kill Han Qing. The first was to join the City Guard’s Mansion. The second was to carry out an assassination himself. The third was to join the Yellow Heaven Sect.

Judging by the ranking provided by the Searcher, joining the City Guard’s Mansion to become a Marshal of the Feiyun Guard was the most suitable method, as well as the one that would bring him the most satisfaction.

He had considered the consequences of exposing his true strength. However, he had already entered the sights of Feiyun City’s upper echelons. Even though Li Zongkang was currently suppressing the matter, people would inevitably come to test him in the future. Exposure was just a matter of time.

It would be better to follow the Searcher’s suggestion and join the City Guard’s Mansion first. If the situation turned sour, with his current strength, he could simply leave!

Previously, people in the city had been looking for him to seek revenge, which meant they had some backing. Now, however, his strength was no longer considered weak in the city. He was ready to step onto the main stage.

A strange look flickered across Xu Guang’s face.

Ever since he returned from Qingyang Mountain, people from the City Guard’s Mansion had sought him out several times, inviting him to join the military. Clearly, certain parts of the city were beginning to rot, and ’talents’ like him were being recruited.

Now that the Yellow Heaven Sect was wreaking havoc outside, no one living in Feiyun City could stay out of it. Xu Guang knew he needed to make a choice.

After dedicating himself to Cultivation for so long, it was finally time... to officially step onto the stage.

"Brother Guang, you’re out!" Seeing Xu Guang, Ji Xiaolu rushed toward him with excitement.

Xu Guang caught the beautiful woman in his arms and spun her around in the air. "You must be bored out of your mind not being able to go out recently, right? We’ll be moving again in a few days."

During his breakthrough, he had used the Searcher to locate Han Qing and learned that Han Qing hadn’t left the Han Family’s satellite city for the past year.

While confident, he didn’t want to be reckless. Since the City Guard’s Mansion intended to recruit him, he could perhaps borrow the power of the Feiyun Guard and lead troops to wipe out the Han Family!

During his secluded cultivation, feeling restless, he had secretly observed the Han Family’s territory and once spotted a Marshal of the Feiyun Guard lurking in the shadows.

Clearly, the City Guard’s Mansion had noticed the unusual movements of the Han Family.

Barring any accidents, the City Guard’s Mansion was going to make a move against them.

The Han Family... was nothing but a fading memory!

Seeing the couple like this, Mrs. Xu wore a fond, knowing smile and left them in peace, fully satisfied.

Ji Xiaolu knew Xu Guang intended to compete for the position of Marshal of the Feiyun Guard. Noting that Mrs. Xu had left, she whispered, "Mm, do your best, Husband!"

"Come on, I’ll take you out for some fun!"

The night was as tranquil as water, yet there was no chill in the air. It was September, the best time of the year.

Ji Xiaolu happily linked arms with her husband as they strolled down the streets of the Inner City.

The pleasure boats on both sides were as prosperous as ever. Drunkards stumbled along the streets, and sounds of arguments would occasionally break out.

The bustling market was teeming with mundane vitality. Scalding meat soup gave off thick steam, obscuring the faces of the vendors, while the rich aroma of grilled fish drifted through the air, enticing passing women.

Deep within the market, vendors hawked all sorts of cosmetics and fine silks.

"Brother Guang, look at this tiger balm! It would definitely be good for Mother. Her legs always ache a bit on rainy days."

"Brother Guang, look at that monkey! It can even dance."

Xu Guang stood beside Ji Xiaolu, listening to her excited, incessant chatter, smiling and agreeing with whatever she said.

"The Inner City is so lively," Ji Xiaolu sighed in genuine admiration.

Xu Guang chuckled. "If you like it, we can come out for walks more often in the future."

"No way. If Brother Guang isn’t here, I won’t come out by myself," Ji Xiaolu said coquettishly.

She had been dragging Xu Guang along, running the entire way. She was panting slightly, with crystalline beads of sweat forming on the tip of her nose.

Thinking of how he had neglected her over the past three months, Xu Guang couldn’t help but feel a surge of tender affection.

"Let’s go. The pastries in the Cang Mang Tower ahead are delicious. I’ll take you there to have some, Lu," Xu Guang said softly.

Seemingly sensing the apology in his tone, Ji Xiaolu flipped her hand to clasp his large palm. "Mm."

Her tone was as gentle as always, and her watery eyes were so bright they made the moon pale in comparison.

She was a woman who had given her entire heart to Xu Guang.

Soon, the couple found a spot in a somewhat noisy corner of the Cang Mang Tower’s main hall.

Xu Guang immediately felt a bit embarrassed. As a commoner, he wasn’t qualified to book a private room. In the past, when he was alone, he was used to sitting in corners listening to others chat to gather information, but bringing Ji Xiaolu here felt slightly inappropriate.

However, in a few days, when he joined the Feiyun Guard and became a Marshal, his status would undoubtedly rise. He would definitely try out a private room then...

As the night deepened, the two ate some pastries and fruit before leaving the Cang Mang Tower.

Ji Xiaolu’s heart ached for the silver they had spent. "Why was it so expensive? That little bit of food wasn’t even enough to fill our stomachs, and it actually cost three taels of silver! What a bunch of profiteers!"

Xu Guang burst into hearty laughter.