Hongjiang Prefecture
The army was stationed, and the city was filled with a tense and solemn atmosphere, tinged with the scent of blood and death. Outside the city walls, corpses littered the ground, broken limbs scattered like debris, while the earth was soaked red from the bloodshed.
Inside the city's government office, a middle-aged man with a square face and a commanding presence sat at his desk, dressed in a black and gold robe. His stern expression alone was enough to inspire fear and respect.
At that moment, a man entered and bowed deeply.
"Captain Si Tian of Heixuanwei pays respects to the king!"
Pei Jing raised his head, his gaze cold and indifferent. "What news?"
"Your Majesty, there's a secret letter from Taishan County in Guangyang Prefecture. Please have a look."
Si Tian respectfully handed over the sealed letter. Pei Jing quickly scanned its contents, his expression darkening.
"Why has this letter taken so long to reach me?"
His voice was sharp with irritation. It had been months since the message was first sent, and though Taishan County was distant, the delay was unacceptable.
As Pei Jing's anger surged, an oppressive aura filled the room. Si Tian immediately dropped to his knees, trembling with fear.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me! The governor of Taishan County has strictly blocked all news. Many of my Heixuanwei agents were killed trying to retrieve this information, hence the delay."
Pei Jing's fury subsided, but his expression remained cold.
"Taishan County... I will deal with them in due time. Luo Yu's death was disappointing, I expected more from a mere Blood Refining Stage cultivator. He proved useless in the end."
His gaze grew distant. "This Gu Qingfeng mentioned in the letter—he seems promising. Still young, with considerable potential. You will go to Guangyang Prefecture on my behalf and extend him an offer to join my Shenwu Army."
"What if Gu Qingfeng refuses?" Si Tian asked cautiously.
"Then replace him with someone who will cooperate," Pei Jing replied curtly, his words sealing the fate of Baishidao without a second thought.
Si Tian nodded without hesitation, fully aware of Pei Jing's authority. A mere island province was insignificant to the Shenwu King, a man who commanded a million troops and ruled over several counties.
With his orders in hand, Si Tian withdrew. Pei Jing remained silent for a moment, staring into the flickering candlelight, his face momentarily shadowed with gloom.
"Danyang County..." he muttered, his voice laced with contempt. "I'll see how long they can resist. This corrupt world needs to be overthrown, and I'll establish a new order."
Just then, another figure entered the room. Pei Jing's stern expression softened.
"Elder Duan, what brings you here?"
"King Shenwu, our Tianyang Sword Sect has received troubling news. The imperial court is making moves, and the Evil Suppression Division has dispatched someone to Danyang County. This could complicate matters."
"The Evil Suppression Division?" Pei Jing's eyes narrowed. "Do you know who they sent?"
"A thousand-household officer, Your Majesty. They are not to be underestimated—at least at the Fusion God level, if not higher. If they make progress, it could cause serious problems."
Elder Duan's tone was grim, but he quickly added, "However, our sect's old ancestor is willing to assist, but he requires the flesh and blood of a thousand people to prepare."
Pei Jing remained calm. "If the ancestor is willing to help, that's excellent news. The blood of a thousand is a small price, especially during wartime."
His gaze hardened. "If the Tianyang Sword Sect can help me conquer Danyang County within three years, I'll offer an additional 100,000 troops."
Elder Duan's face lit up. "I will relay this to the ancestor immediately. Our sect is fully committed. With our assistance, Your Majesty will soon ascend to the throne."
Pei Jing nodded. "If I do, the Tianyang Sword Sect will become the state religion, and I will never forget your contribution."
Elder Duan bowed with a satisfied smile, his mission complete.
Taishan County, Guangyang Prefecture – Baishidao
Within the Gu family estate, Gu Qingfeng sat immersed in a large medicinal barrel, filled with a concoction designed to strengthen his bones. This bone-strengthening soup was both consumed and applied externally, meant to temper his body inside and out.
As he soaked in the medicinal bath, an intense, burning sensation spread through his body, as if his bones were being scraped with steel knives. Gu Qingfeng's face contorted with pain, but he gritted his teeth and endured, swallowing a prepared elixir.
Suddenly, a surge of powerful energy erupted from his abdomen. The internal and external forces combined, scouring his body and slowly cleansing his bones of impurities.
To accelerate the process, Gu Qingfeng mobilized the energy of his Fiery Sun Palm technique, guiding it along with the medicinal power to temper his bones faster.
This was the path to the Bone Refining Realm—the cultivation stage where all 365 bones in the body must be tempered, aligning with the Zhoutian cycle.
Tempering bones, however, was an arduous and dangerous task. A single mistake could result in severe consequences. Cultivation methods passed down through generations made the process safer, but for those without them, the risks increased tenfold.
Gu Qingfeng had no such top-grade martial arts manual. But the Fiery Sun Palm he practiced held secrets of bone refinement. As he perfected this technique, its energy circulated through his body, touching all 365 bones.
Now, he simply needed to harness the Fiery Sun Palm's route and temper his bones to break through to the Bone Refining Realm.
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