Chapter 603 - 202: Yunqiao Jade Marrow, Rapid Progress

Hong Qingzhu’s heart lurched, and she hurriedly opened her mouth to explain, "Father, it’s not what you think! Young Master Xu was just—"

"Silence!" Hong Shixian cut her off, his face as cold as ice. His tone was filled with an undeniable authority. "You don’t have a choice! I’ve already decided. This marriage is not for you to refuse!

"From this moment on, you are to sever all ties with that boy, Xu Hong. You are forbidden from meeting him in private and from exchanging any letters!"

He took a step forward, his gaze sharp as a knife, piercing straight into Hong Qingzhu’s eyes. "If you dare to defy me, dare to have any further involvement with that boy, and let so much as a whisper of gossip reach Yang Jing’s ears, jeopardizing this crucial marriage alliance... then when the time comes, don’t blame me for being ruthless!"

Hong Qingzhu’s body went rigid. In the eyes of the father who had always doted on her, she clearly saw a glint of bone-chilling killing intent.

That gaze was cold and resolute, devoid of any warmth. It made her feel as if she had been plunged into a cellar of ice.

In that instant, she was truly terrified. Her heart trembled violently, and her back was already soaked in a cold sweat.

She had never seen such a ruthless side of her father, nor had she ever imagined that the man who had always loved and doted on her would say such heartless things for the sake of family interests.

For a moment, Hong Qingzhu felt as though everything that had happened today was just an absurd nightmare.

She suddenly realized that she knew far, far too little about her father, her family, and the entire political landscape of Jintai Prefecture.

This world was not just the bustling streets, exciting hunts, and fragrant rouge she was used to.

Beneath that veneer of prosperity, a coldness and cruelty she had never before encountered lay hidden.

And in the end, her life, too, could not escape the fate of being shackled to the interests of her family.

...

「Hidden Dragon Lake, Fushan Island.」

At the Xuanzhen Sect’s Lingxi Peak, the training room area was built right into the mountainside. A winding path paved with bluestone meandered through, flanked by lush greenery that exuded a deep, natural aura.

Yang Jing strolled leisurely along the mountain path. Any disciple he passed, whether from the Inner Sect or the outer one, would stop, bow, and greet him as "Senior Brother Yang," their voices filled with unconcealed awe and admiration.

Before he even realized it, his status among the Lingxi Peak disciples had become second only to Senior Sister Si Jiawen, turning him into a figure everyone looked up to.

Yang Jing arrived at the Affairs Department for the training rooms. The wooden door was ajar, and from within came the soft scratching of a pen on paper.

Seeing Yang Jing enter, the manager hastily put down his pen and rose to greet him, a respectful smile spreading across his face. "Senior Brother Yang, what an honor. Are you here to use a Training Room?"

"Yes, I’d like to rent a Level B Training Room," Yang Jing said, handing over his Sect Token.

The Sect Leader had personally granted him long-term access to the Level B Training Rooms, so he was no longer restricted to using Level C rooms as before.

The manager accepted the Token with both hands. After respectfully deducting the required 1,200 Contribution Points, he presented the Token back with both hands. "Senior Brother Yang, Level B Training Room number three is currently vacant. It’s quite spacious; you may head there directly."

Yang Jing took back the Token, gave a nod of thanks, and turned toward the designated Training Room.

Outside the stone entrance to Level B Training Room number three, he saw that the door was carved from a single block of black jade. Its surface was etched with complex Spirit Gathering Patterns, giving it an ancient and profound aura.

Yang Jing reached out and pressed his Sect Token into an indentation on the side of the stone door. With a soft CLICK, the door slowly swung inward.

He stepped into the Training Room, and a rich, mellow aroma of Exotic Beast Musk washed over him, instantly enveloping his entire body.

This incense was exceedingly precious. When burned, it helped to focus the mind, calm the spirit, gather Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, and accelerate the circulation of Inner Qi. While the Level C Training Rooms also had it, the concentration was nowhere near as potent as in a Level B room.

Yang Jing closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He felt the aroma surge through his nostrils into his lungs before spreading through his limbs and out to every corner of his body, making every pore relax and open.

He had been rewarded with ten days’ use of a Level B Training Room after taking first place in the Cyan Qilin Battle, and he had never forgotten the experience. The cultivation efficiency, where a single day inside was equivalent to eight or nine days outside, was something he had dreamed of having long-term access to ever since.

Now that his long-held wish had been fulfilled, Yang Jing was naturally ecstatic.

The daily cost of over a thousand Contribution Points was hardly a concern for him anymore.

The 300,000 Contribution Points that had just been deposited into his Sect Token were enough for him to cultivate in peace for a long time, free from any short-term worries about a lack of resources.

Yang Jing walked over to a meditation cushion in the corner of the stone room and sat down. The cushion was soft yet resilient and carried the faint, fresh scent of medicinal herbs.

He took a porcelain vial from his robes—one of the containers holding the Yunqiao Jade Marrow.

Although he also had the even more precious Heart Inquiry Pill, his internal injuries from the final battle on Fushan had not yet fully healed. The Heart Inquiry Pill was incredibly potent, and taking it now could risk damaging his meridians.

The Yunqiao Jade Marrow, however, was gentle. It could both aid his cultivation and nourish his internal organs to repair injuries, making it the perfect choice for his current condition.

Yang Jing twisted open the stopper, and a clear, refreshing fragrance instantly filled the air. It was purer than the Exotic Beast Musk, carrying the sweet scent of plants and the gentle essence of jade.

He tilted his head back, angled the vial slightly, and a single, plump, glistening white drop slowly fell onto the tip of his tongue.

The Yunqiao Jade Marrow felt soft on his tongue, dissolving instantly without any need for chewing. It transformed into streams of exceptionally pure energy that flowed like rivers through his meridians, seeping into every limb and bone.

Yang Jing could clearly feel the meridians and organs that had been damaged in the fierce battle rapidly healing under the nourishment of this energy. The circulation of his Inner Qi, once sluggish, now flowed much more smoothly.