Chapter 2: Small Achievement Stage of the Body Refining Realm, Lei Yong's New Fortune
Shen Mo, upon waking up, immediately felt a surge of energy and clarity he hadn't experienced in a long time. Opening the wooden box, the Marrow Cleansing Pill inside exuded a refreshing herbal scent, bringing a tired smile to his face.
Without hesitation, he swallowed the pill. Once ingested, the Marrow Cleansing Pill quickly dissolved, unleashing a powerful medicinal force that spread through his limbs, flesh, and bones. Shen Mo's skin turned red and warm, and steam seemed to rise from his head. Deep within his bones, there was an itching sensation as if ants were crawling inside, signaling rapid growth and healing, as though broken parts were fusing back together flawlessly.
Then, intense pain struck. Shen Mo found it increasingly difficult to bear, struggling to maintain consciousness before eventually passing out from the overwhelming discomfort.
An hour later, he slowly awoke, feeling refreshed and invigorated as if reborn. To his surprise, all the aches and fatigue had vanished under the potent effects of the Marrow Cleansing Pill. The strength coursing through his arms and legs had significantly increased, a clear indicator of his enhanced condition.
"The Marrow Cleansing Pill not only repaired my foundations but also boosted me into the minor achievement stage of the Body Tempering Realm!" Shen Mo was elated. This meant he no longer had to worry about the upcoming outer disciple assessment in three months.
He quickly introspected and noticed changes in his panel:
[Name: Shen Mo.]
[Realm: Minor Achievement of Body Tempering Realm.]
[Fate: Son of a Pharmacist, Innate Wisdom, Sword Dao Enthusiast.]
[Destiny: Poisoned the day before the outer disciple assessment two months later, foundations destroyed, failed the assessment, expelled from the mountain. Chased by rogue cultivators on the way home, too weak to defend, dies from excessive blood loss.]
[Recent Opportunity: (Obtained) Found a small cloth bag containing a Marrow Cleansing Pill while chopping spirit wood.]
Shen Mo, frustrated, muttered, "Damn it, why am I still getting poisoned, and why are these rogues after me?"
He quickly surmised that his sudden recovery might have alerted whoever was behind the original poisoning, prompting them to act against him again. "I'm still not strong enough; I need to break through to the Qi Condensation Realm as soon as possible."
The cultivation realms included the Body Tempering Realm, Qi Condensation Realm, Foundation Building Realm, Core Formation Realm, Nascent Soul Realm, and the Divine Transformation Realm. Each realm was subdivided into five stages: entry, minor achievement, major achievement, perfect, and peak.
Most outer disciples were in the Body Tempering Realm, while inner disciples were almost all at the Qi Condensation Realm, with a few elites reaching the Foundation Building Realm.
The Qi Condensation Realm was sufficient to hold the position of a deacon in the Qingxuan Sect, while the Foundation Building Realm allowed one to become an outer sect elder.
The Core Formation Realm was the level of the sect leader, deputy sect leader, and inner sect elders of the Qingxuan Sect. The stages beyond, the Nascent Soul and Divine Transformation Realms, were seen only in more powerful sects.
If Shen Mo could quickly return to the Qi Condensation Realm, he would certainly be able to protect himself.
...
The next day.
As soon as Shen Mo woke up, he heard crying outside. Opening his door, he saw Lei Yong and his two lackeys ganging up on another outer disciple, beating him while hurling insults.
"Last month you borrowed twenty low-grade spirit stones from me, and with the agreed interest, you owe me thirty this month!"
His lackeys, taking advantage of their position, chimed in, "Right, right, Brother Lei is only asking for twenty-five this time, he's already being more than fair!"
The beleaguered disciple pleaded, "That's what I saved to buy Body Tempering Pills. Without them, I can't pass the end-of-year assessment. Brother Lei, please give them back, I'm begging you."
The other outer disciples watching the scene showed two starkly different attitudes. Those who were stronger, either close to or above Lei Yong's level, watched with arms crossed, indifferent and uninterested in intervening.
The weaker ones were filled with fear, terrified that they might be the next targets, and likewise, they dared not step forward to help.
In the end, they could only watch helplessly as the outer disciple was beaten bloody.
Lei Yong stood on the disciple's chest and sneered coldly, "Remember, you still owe me five low-grade spirit stones!"
His two lackeys chuckled, "Let's go, Brother Lei. Let's head to the Dining Hall for a meal."
Lei Yong grunted, "Yeah, after eating, we'll go to the Scripture Pavilion. I need to pick a badass martial technique."
With that, the three of them swaggered off.
Shen Mo watched from his room; his current strength was not sufficient to intervene.
Moreover, he recognized the beaten outer disciple.
When his predecessor was still the top outer disciple, he was generous and often helped the weaker disciples.
This beaten disciple was one of them.
However, after his predecessor's fall back to the entry level of the Body Tempering Realm, none of those he had helped returned the favor.
This disciple was no exception.
"Nevertheless, Lei Yong seems to have found another opportunity," Shen Mo thought reflectively.
He had clearly seen Lei Yong's panel information:
[Name: Lei Yong.]
[Realm: Major Achievement of Body Tempering Realm.]
[Fate: Family Scion, Skilled with Blades and Spears, Somewhat Lucky.]
[Destiny: Ultimately stops at the Great Achievement of the Qi Condensation Realm, serves as a deacon of the Qingxuan Sect, and is killed by a passing demonic cultivator while on a mission seven years later.]
[Recent Opportunity: Feeling his defensive techniques were lacking, he went to the Scripture Pavilion to choose a martial technique and accidentally found a Profound-grade martial technique in the cover of 'Tiger's Roar Fist'.]
Shen Mo noticed two things.
First, Lei Yong's destiny had undergone significant changes.
Previously, he was destined to stop at the peak of the Qi Condensation Realm, but now he was downgraded to Great Achievement.
This indicated that the Marrow Cleansing Pill had indeed greatly enhanced Lei Yong.
After all, it could cleanse the marrow and eliminate bodily impurities, effectively accelerating his future cultivation.
Secondly, Lei Yong's recent opportunity.
"Going to the Scripture Pavilion to choose a martial technique and accidentally finding a Profound-grade martial technique... that's something straight out of a novel's protagonist's luck," Shen Mo mused.
Cultivation techniques and martial skills, like treasures, are categorized into four tiers: Heavenly, Earthly, Profound, and Yellow, each with four grades: low, middle, upper, and supreme.
Outer disciples can select a Yellow-grade cultivation technique or martial skill for free from the Scripture Pavilion every time they break through a minor realm.
Other times, they must pay with spirit stones.
A Profound-grade martial skill, however, is available for free only to inner disciples, or else it costs at least three hundred low-grade spirit stones.
When his body's former owner was the top outer disciple, he had also wanted to save up for a Profound-grade martial skill.
But coming from a poor background, he could only rely on himself.
Spirit stones also needed to be spent on Body Tempering Pills.
Thus, he could never save enough spirit stones.
If he could acquire this Profound-grade martial skill, his strength would surely soar!
"Taking advantage of him going to the Dining Hall for breakfast, I'll head to the Scripture Pavilion first and take that Profound-grade martial skill before he does!"
Thinking this, Shen Mo immediately set off for the Scripture Pavilion.
The Qingxuan Sect was established within the Qingcang Mountain Range.
The tallest and largest of these, Qingcang Mountain, towered above all.
Menial and outer disciples lived at the foot of the mountain.
Buildings like the Scripture Pavilion, Treasure Pavilion, and the inner disciples' quarters were located on the mountainside.
Further up were the residences of the elders, deputy sect leader, and sect leader.
As Shen Mo climbed the steps, the peak in front of him emanated a formidable spiritual energy.
A great white waterfall, like a flowing ribbon, cascaded from the summit into a deep pool below, its thunderous roar echoing like a herd of charging horses.
Mighty trees with branches twisted like dragons lined the staircase, with many pavilions and halls hidden among them.
This was Shen Mo's first time witnessing such a celestial scene, stirring his spirit profoundly.