Chapter 15: 50 Taels

In just a moment's time, Chen Yuan's body was completely covered in golden paint, looking from afar like a golden statue!

Skin Refining Perfection!

At this moment, Chen Yuan had finally reached the perfection of the Skin Refining Level, his strength surged wildly, and with clenched fists, streaks of golden light flashed.

Opening his eyes, a sharp glint flashed through Chen Yuan's gaze.

After Skin Refining comes Blood Refining. To successfully enter the core ranks of the County Government, usually, only seasoned Government Officials who have endured several years can enter into the Blood Refining Level.

As for Bone Refining, it requires not only resources but also one's own aptitude to qualify; only then can one hope to step into the Bone Refining Level.

To refine a body with the Vajra Iron Bone.

After a long while, Chen Yuan exhaled a breath of turbid air and took out a piece of shiny, mysterious paper from his chest, starting to ponder over it carefully.

Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes, expressionless.

Ordinary Body Refining Techniques record three times of blood cleansing inside the body, also known as Blood Exchange. However, the Vajra Glaze Body requires nine Blood Refinings until the blood in one's body glows with a pale golden light.

The strength will surge, and both the meridians and bones will greatly strengthen during the cleansing, laying the foundation for future cultivation.

Without hesitation, Chen Yuan knew that although nine Blood Refinings would increase the need for resources several times over, it could pave the way for the future. The path of cultivation is about moving forward step by step.

If the road ahead is well laid, the future will be smooth.

A night passed without words. Chen Yuan woke up early, and before dawn, he went to the small courtyard to practice his swordplay until a thick heat began to emanate from his body before slowly ceasing.

If nothing unexpected happened, he would still patrol unremarkably for the day.

For the ordinary Government Officials in the Ping'an County Government, they actually didn't look forward to encountering traces of Demon Dao thieves, but with strict orders from above, no one dared to protest.

Sword in hand, Chen Yuan's gaze was sharp like an eagle's as he led four White Servants patrolling the streets, questioning anyone who appeared suspicious.

Suddenly, Chen Yuan's ears twitched, and in an instant, he sidestepped and whipped out his long sword, slicing at something that was approaching.

"Snap."

It was a wooden stick used to prop up a window, which Chen Yuan cleaved in two with his sword.

Above, a beautiful woman with a pretty face let out a scream, standing at the window stunned and panicked.

Chen Yuan furrowed his brows slightly and exchanged a glance with the gorgeous woman upstairs.

Such a familiar scenario!

This doesn't seem to be Qinghe County either...

"Presumptuous!" a White Servant beside Chen Yuan suddenly reprimanded the woman above.

Chen Yuan raised his hand, stopping their movements, and said in a low voice,

"Continue patrolling."

The White Servants exchanged glances, not daring to argue.

Casting another glance at the frozen beautiful woman by the window, Chen Yuan turned and shook his head; he had no interest in being some lord from the West Gate.

Right now, his goal was strength, making money!

And the Huang Family's Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl!

However, Chen Yuan wasn't sure how to go about it for the time being. Compared to him, the Huang Family had power and influence, and Huang Xing was his immediate superior, with far more strength than him.

It was not an easy target to strike, and during the patrolling intervals over the past few days, Chen Yuan had been pondering without much clue.

The only bit of progress was that Chen Yuan had intentionally gotten somewhat closer to Huang Xing, but with dozens of Government Officials under his command, his impression of Chen Yuan was probably not very deep.

After all, Chen Yuan had only joined the County Government for a year.

In the dead of night.

Wrapped in black clothes, Chen Yuan left the small courtyard without a sound; seven days had passed, and it was time for Old Sixth Song's Tiger Bone Pill to be ready.

Without elixirs to aid him, the speed of cultivation would plummet, not to mention that the Vajra Glaze Body required nine Blood Refinings, making the process several times more difficult than ordinary Body Refinement Techniques.

Still in Old Sixth Song's quiet courtyard, Chen Yuan observed from the outside for a long while, confirming there were no problems before vaulting over the wall to enter.

Walking quietly to the door, Chen Yuan knocked lightly.

"Knock knock..."

Song Lao Liu, seated within the room, instantly opened his eyes, flashing a glint of sharpness as he spoke softly:

"Brother, please come in."

Feeling the black kerchief on his face, Chen Yuan pushed the door open and entered. The candlelight in the room flared up in an instant, revealing Song Lao Liu's figure, and the two men locked eyes for a brief moment.

Song Lao Liu was the first to speak:

"I wonder where Brother has been to actually find Song's offer of Tiger Bone Pills for sale."

"I have long heard of Brother Song's reputation, which is why I dared to disturb you. I hope Brother Song is not annoyed," Chen Yuan said with a cupped fist salute.

"Annoyed? That's not something to speak of, Brother, please have a seat..."

Without any pretense, Chen Yuan sat opposite Song Lao Liu.

Song Lao Liu pointed to a wooden box in front of him and said:

"Inside is the Tiger Bone Pill you requested. Feel free to examine it."

Chen Yuan nodded, took the box with great care, and gently opened it. Three thumb-sized, jet-black pills lay within.

Drawing closer to smell, there was a distinctive pungent odor, undoubtedly that of the Tiger Bone Pill.

After securing the elixir, Chen Yuan tossed a brocade pouch onto the table:

"Here is the remaining silver."

Song Lao Liu did not even look, merely chuckling lightly:

"Song has faith in you, Brother."

"Brother Song is straightforward. If I seek elixirs again, I will certainly go through Brother Song's channels..." Chen Yuan's hoarse voice came from beneath the kerchief.

However, Song Lao Liu was staring into Chen Yuan's eyes, smiling and asking:

"To be friends with Brother is also Song's fortune. I haven't yet asked, what name does Brother go by?"

Chen Yuan paused for a moment before uttering two words:

"Yuan Chen!"

"So you are Brother Yuan..." Song Lao Liu nodded, not prying further as he obviously understood the name to be a pseudonym.

"Is Brother Yuan using the Tiger Bone Pills for cultivation?"

"Indeed."

"Has Brother Yuan stepped into Bone Refining?" Suddenly, Song Lao Liu asked in a low voice.

Chen Yuan stared at him and shook his head:

"Just shy of it."

Speaking of strength, Chen Yuan's power at the Blood Refining Level was also among the top tier, greatly enhanced by the Vajra Glaze Body.

Disappointment flashed in Song Lao Liu's eyes.

"What, Brother Song is looking for a Bone Refining expert?"

"Indeed, there is a matter for which I hope to engage the services of a Bone Refining expert. Does Brother Yuan have any acquaintances to recommend?" Song Lao Liu's eyes held a hopeful expression.

"After I return, I will make inquiries. May I know what task requires a Bone Refining expert?"

"Rest assured, Brother Yuan, it's nothing dangerous. If a Bone Refining expert is willing to assist, Song is willing to offer fifty taels of silver as a reward."

Song Lao Liu stretched out five fingers.

"Fifty taels!" Chen Yuan's heart stirred.

This signified five Tiger Bone Pills, enough to greatly advance his cultivation.

Advancing the Vajra Glaze Body required nine cycles of Blood Refining, and the time consumed was too long; Chen Yuan did not wish to cultivate slowly.

"Is it necessary for the expert to be at the Bone Refining Level to assist Brother Song?"

Song Lao Liu hesitated for a moment before speaking softly:

"A Blood Refining Martial Artist might also suffice, though it involves some risk."