Chapter 35: Another Breakthrough and Leaving the City
On his way, Lu Yuan stopped by the Huang Family’s home to tell Old Huang to have his men leave the city first thing in the morning.
Then, he went home to prepare for his breakthrough.
As soon as he entered his house and took off his armor,
he chose to break through without hesitation.
Immediately, his body began to change. In a short time, his arms grew noticeably thicker, yet they became firmer and more compact.
They were also much more flexible than before.
It felt as if he had an inexhaustible supply of strength.
Another layer of calluses formed on his palms.
[Cultivation Technique: "Five Tigers Array-Breaking Saber" (2035/30000, Perfection)]
His Saber Skill had reached Perfection, which would be a tremendous boost to Lu Yuan’s combat prowess.
Next was his body, which began to change subtly. After any realm reaches Perfection, it always induces a change in the physical body. If one could observe Lu Yuan’s skeleton at this moment, one would find that his bones seemed to have turned to jade.
Anyone else who saw this would have been utterly shocked, as such a phenomenon only occurred after Bone Forging reached Perfection.
Even for Noble Disciples, supported by vast quantities of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, achieving this step was incredibly difficult.
However, this was not the limit for Lu Yuan. His goal was Divine Containment.
Only then could he be truly invincible when facing others at the same realm.
Moreover, the more solid his foundation, the further he could go in the future.
Otherwise, no matter how talented he was, he wouldn’t be able to control the power of future advancements without a solid foundation.
["Tiger Subduing Posture," Bone Forging (3291/30000, Perfection)]
’After I get back from outside the city, I should be about ready for Divine Containment. It’ll be the perfect time to trade for cultivation materials.’
Truthfully, a part of Lu Yuan hoped he would reach the Tendon Refining realm.
After all, breaking through to this realm meant he could officially become a Centurion—a major step forward.
It would also put him on the same level as Zhang Zhe.
He would show the Zhang Family who the real waste was.
Next, as the transformation of his bones completed, his physical body began to enhance once more. The Iron Bone Golden Bell Shield didn’t just affect his skin and flesh; it also boosted his tendons, bones, and internal organs.
Therefore, as this Cultivation Technique broke through, Lu Yuan’s tendons, bones, and internal organs were once again subject to Refining.
A faint, pale golden bell materialized around his body, gently rising and falling with his breath.
The Inscriptions upon it grew even clearer.
It exuded a sense of power shrouded in mystery.
["Iron Bone Golden Bell Shield" (1308/30000, Perfection)]
Following the breakthrough of his Outer Sect Skills,
a flood of information about the Cloud-Rushing Crane Wing Array poured into Lu Yuan’s mind. Concepts he had never grasped before were instantly and thoroughly understood.
The power boost it provided to the Warriors under his command reached an astonishing three times. Most importantly, he could now borrow a small measure of the world’s power.
["Cloud-Rushing Crane Wing Array" (2510/30000, Perfection) — Bonus Effects: Borrowing Wind, Armor-Piercing]
Borrowing Wind, as the name suggested, allowed him to use the power of the wind to increase his speed.
Armor-Piercing, meanwhile, granted the troops under Lu Yuan’s command a stronger armor-piercing capability.
This was Lu Yuan’s true trump card.
After he finished his breakthrough, a wave of hunger washed over him.
He stood up, but he was too lazy to cook. He went to the Cow Offal Shop, devoured a pot of offal and three pounds of beef, and then headed for the City Defense Department.
A short while later, he arrived at the courtyard gate of Xiao Hua’s home with Medical Officer Old Tian in tow.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
Lu Yuan rapped his palm against the main gate.
"Coming! Who is it?" a crisp female voice called from inside.
"It’s me," Lu Yuan replied.
CREAK.
The courtyard gate opened, revealing a young woman’s face.
"Yuan."
Xiao Hua looked quite happy to see Lu Yuan.
He turned to Doctor Tian behind him, then said to Xiao Hua, "It’s been half a month since Aunty last saw a doctor. I’ve brought Lord Tian today to get a new prescription."
Noticing there was someone behind Lu Yuan, Xiao Hua blushed and quickly stepped aside to let them in.
She addressed Medical Officer Tian, "We’ll have to trouble you, Lord Tian."
"Heh, no need to be so formal, young lady," said Medical Officer Tian. "It’s an honor that Lord Lu sought me out. Let’s see to your mother first." With that, he adjusted the medicine chest on his back and walked into the house.
Once inside,
Doctor Tian first took Madam Xiao’s pulse, then turned and said, "Her condition is stabilizing very well. We’ll switch to a new prescription for a while, and that should be enough."
He then took out a brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone and began to write.
When he was finished, he handed the prescription to Xiao Hua. "You won’t need to change it again. Just follow this one for three months."
"Okay," Xiao Hua nodded.
Lu Yuan took out two silver taels and pressed them into Medical Officer Tian’s hand.
The man tucked them into his sleeve, picked up his medicine chest, and took his leave.
After he left,
Lu Yuan pulled a silver note from his tunic and handed it to Xiao Hua. "This is one hundred taels of silver. It should be enough for three months of medicine. If it’s not, just let me know.
This is a matter of life and death, so don’t be polite."
"Yuan... thank you," Xiao Hua said, lowering her head.
Madam Xiao, who stood nearby, said nothing, but in her heart, she had already given Lu Yuan her full approval.
’This isn’t just about one hundred taels of silver,’ she thought. ’This is my life, and my daughter’s future.’
’This is a debt we can never repay.’
Lu Yuan patted Xiao Hua’s shoulder. "Don’t mention it. Aunty treats me like a nephew, so it’s only right that I help with her medical care."
Xiao Hua said no more.
For a kindness this great, words were no longer necessary.
"I’m leaving the city tomorrow, so I need to go back and prepare. I’ll come visit you and Aunty again in a while."
After Lu Yuan finished speaking,
Xiao Hua looked up. "Do you need me to prepare any rations for you?"
"No need," Lu Yuan said with a chuckle. "There are a lot of us going this time, and we’ll have a supply column with us."
Madam Xiao, however, glanced at him with concern. "Then the enemy must be stronger as well, no? The Northern Barbarians’ Elite Cavalry are said to be unmatched, truly a force to be reckoned with. You must be careful."
"Don’t you worry, I’ll be fine," Lu Yuan reassured Madam Xiao, then took his leave.
He returned home and cultivated for a time, not resting until late into the night.
Early the next morning, he donned his armor, slung his weapon over his shoulder, and headed out.
Seated on his warhorse, he gazed out at the misty streets.
Lu Yuan felt a sense of ease.
’This battle will definitely be another step forward for me.’
When he reached the city gates, he found everyone had already assembled. They formed a dense, dark crowd; the Garrison Soldiers under Wei Yong and the others numbered about sixty or seventy men.
They were all young and able-bodied, with hardly any older men among them.
Although their leather armor was somewhat worn, their spirits were high.
Zhou He and his group consisted of eleven men leading over thirty horses. Two massive bamboo cages were slung on each side of every horse, and they appeared to be packed with supplies.
There was grain, meat, water, and all sorts of other miscellaneous items.
They formed a small supply detachment.
Lu Yuan scanned the assembly. "Is everyone here?"
"All present," Wei Yong replied.
"Then let’s move out. Our mission this time is to find the Elite Cavalry Scouts of the Manyan Tribe and eliminate them." After speaking, Lu Yuan moved to the front, and the others fell in behind him.
Everyone rode in silence. It was only as they neared the Black Pine Forest that Lu Yuan spotted thick smoke rising from within it.
He turned to the others. "Wait here. I’ll be right back."
He then beckoned to Zhou He, and they headed forward together.
The day before, Lu Yuan had sent Zhou He out of the city to leave a marker in the Black Pine Forest. He was just trying his luck, but he never expected Wu Han to actually show up.