Chapter 495 - 172: Sensation in the Sect, Another Breakthrough

Yang Jing had intended to wait until he was back to open the wooden box for a closer look. After all, they were still on a street in the small town, and with people coming and going, it was rather inconvenient.

As he was tucking the wooden box away, he caught a glimpse of Sun Ningxiang’s gaze out of the corner of his eye. It was hovering over the box in his hand, and she was clearly brimming with curiosity.

Upon seeing her expression, Yang Jing couldn’t help but smile. He simply rested the box back in his palm, raised it before them, and placed his other hand on the lid, flipping it open with a light flick.

With a soft CLICK, the wooden box opened.

Sun Ningxiang, at his side, immediately turned, her eyes locking onto the contents of the wooden box. The curiosity in her gaze was no longer possible to hide.

Inside the silk-lined wooden box lay four pearly white elixirs, each the size of a quail’s egg. They were perfectly round and smooth, as if carved from the finest white jade.

As the box opened, wisps of a crisp, mellow medicinal fragrance instantly wafted out, lingering in the air. A single breath was enough to make one feel refreshed and invigorated.

"Elixirs?" Sun Ningxiang looked at the four pills in the box, her brow furrowed slightly. "What kind of elixirs are these?" she asked, a little puzzled. "They look rather extraordinary."

Yang Jing’s gaze fell upon the four pearly white elixirs. He raised an eyebrow and said with conviction, "These are Bone Marrow Tempering Pills."

He recognized them at a glance. The color, the medicinal fragrance, and even the faint halo on their surfaces—these four Bone Marrow Tempering Pills were identical to the ones the Sect had awarded him when he won the Cyan Qilin Battle.

"Bone Marrow Tempering Pills?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Ningxiang looked astonished. Of course she knew how precious Bone Marrow Tempering Pills were. This type of elixir could perform Washing Marrow and Cutting Veins, drastically improving one’s cultivation efficiency. They were highly coveted treasures even within the Xuanzhen Sect.

She couldn’t help but ask, "These four Bone Marrow Tempering Pills... I imagine they weren’t cheap?"

Yang Jing nodded, his voice tinged with emotion. "They’re indeed very expensive. The market price is fifteen thousand taels of silver per pill. Even within our Xuanzhen Sect, it costs fifteen thousand contribution points to exchange for a single one."

Fifteen thousand taels per pill meant that four of them were worth a staggering sixty thousand taels of silver. In Yuhe County, a sum that enormous was enough to bankrupt an ordinary, second-rate family.

Looking at the Bone Marrow Tempering Pills in the box, Yang Jing couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotion.

He had previously considered gritting his teeth and exchanging his points for a few Bone Marrow Tempering Pills to speed up his breakthrough to the Qi Eating Realm of the Indestructible True Skill.

But after considering the exorbitant price, he ultimately couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Yang Jing hefted the wooden box in his hand, sighing to himself.

Excluding the contribution points in his Sect Tokens, all the silver notes he had on hand added up to less than seventy thousand taels.

If he had really gritted his teeth and exchanged for a few Bone Marrow Tempering Pills, he would have had almost no silver left.

If he couldn’t secure another source of income right away, he feared he would have trouble affording essentials like the Training Room and food supplies for his cultivation, making it impossible to maintain his daily training regimen.

As for the rewards for making it onto the Hidden Dragon List, those wouldn’t be distributed until the end of the month. By then, however, the Fushan Grand Tournament would be just around the corner, which would inevitably impact his training.

From that perspective, these four Bone Marrow Tempering Pills from Miss Jinlian were a huge help. They had solved his most pressing problem.

Seeing his expression, Sun Ningxiang, who stood beside him, raised an eyebrow. A teasing smile played on her lips. "Junior Brother, I never would have guessed Miss Jinlian was so generous with you."

Yang Jing shook his head with a wry smile. "Miss Jinlian is known for her chivalry and generosity," he explained. "She isn’t just generous to me. She’s quite liberal with her help to anyone in need."

He paused, then added, "Back when I was in Yuhe County, she often looked out for me, giving me elixirs and Exotic Beast Meat for my cultivation on several occasions."

The two continued to chat as they walked side by side in the direction of Fushan Island.

An evening breeze swept past, carrying the damp air from Hidden Dragon Lake and dispersing the dry heat of the day.

Before long, they reached the docks and boarded a ferry that shuttled back and forth between the shores.

The oars churned the water, kicking up fine spray, and it wasn’t long before they arrived at the Fushan Island docks.

After disembarking, the two ambled along a winding mountain path toward the peaks of the inner island.

The chirping of insects in the mountains rose and fell in waves. As the night deepened, their pace naturally slowed.

Sun Ningxiang gazed at the hazy silhouettes of the mountains in the distance and said softly, "You know, I’m starting to feel a little homesick."

Yang Jing felt a stir in his heart as well and nodded. "Me too. Once the Fushan Grand Tournament is over and we have some free time, let’s go back together and visit Master and everyone."

Sun Ningxiang’s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. "Okay," she agreed.

Chatting all the way, they arrived at the foot of Yunxi Peak before they knew it.

Yang Jing walked Sun Ningxiang all the way to her courtyard, located halfway up the peak. He waited until he saw her push the door open and go inside before turning to leave.

Now that he was returning alone, Yang Jing was no longer in the mood for a leisurely walk.

He channeled power into his legs and unleashed the Body Technique of the Surging Wave Legs.

Although the Surging Wave Legs was only a martial art of the Inner Strength Realm, it still provided a noticeable boost to his current speed. His figure flashed across the mountain path, moving with astonishing quickness.

The evening wind howled past his ears as the trees on either side rapidly receded into the distance.

In just a few moments, Yang Jing had traveled from Yunxi Peak to Lingxi Peak. He then followed the familiar mountain path, swiftly climbing halfway up the slope to his residence, Qing No. 4 Courtyard.

...

「The next day.」

The sky had just begun to lighten, and the morning mist still lingered in the forest, when the door to the main house of Qing No. 4 Courtyard was pushed open with a CREAK.