Canghe County.
A secluded residence.
Gu Sheng was practicing his punches.
This residence was purchased by Gu Sheng last year as a temporary foothold. Occasionally when he passed through Canghe County, he would stay here for a few days. Having a private and secretive place made things much more convenient. After all, with his financial means, buying a small courtyard was not a difficult matter.
There was a glint of excitement in Gu Sheng’s eyes.
Earlier, he had acquired a Bone Protecting Pill from Ge Qing. To avoid any delays or uncertainties, he decided to come directly to the secluded residence and consume it.
At this moment, the medicinal power of the Bone Protecting Pill had already taken effect within his body. Gu Sheng could feel waves of its potency coursing through his bones, as if a mysterious force was enveloping them, causing subtle changes that made them filled with newfound ’resilience’!
"So this is the principle behind the Bone Protecting Pill?"
Gu Sheng mused to himself.
His hands, however, never stopped their movements. Performing his most practiced technique, Iron Stone Fist, he began channeling Qi Blood Power to temper his bones.
Swish, swish!
The Qi Blood Power surged like a raging river, a world of difference compared to before he had the Bone Protecting Pill. He felt that the amount of Qi Blood Power he could now summon was more than ten times higher than before, and his bones no longer showed any signs of imminent rupture.
A hint of joy appeared on Gu Sheng’s face but quickly dissipated as he refocused on tempering his bones.
It was unclear how much time had passed.
Gu Sheng felt a ’fullness’ in his bones, signaling that he had reached his limit, and only then did he stop training.
"The difference with and without the Bone Protecting Pill is too vast! Tenfold efficiency—it’s like one month of bone tempering now equals a year of doing it solo!"
This was indeed quite exaggerated.
Normally, solo bone tempering might take four or five years, but now, with an adequate supply of Bone Protecting Pills, Gu Sheng estimated it would only take him five months.
"One Bone Protecting Pill provides enough medicinal strength to last a month, which means I need five pills."
Gu Sheng calculated silently.
Since Ge Qing only sold one pill every three months, this would take over a year, at an expense of fifteen thousand taels!
"I guess I’ll have to come up with another plan."
Changing his appearance to buy from Ge Qing again?
Gu Sheng had already abandoned this idea. Upon his return, the more he thought about it, the more something felt off. Ge Qing’s final words seemed to carry a subtle warning, perhaps indicating that his disguise and altered shape had been seen through.
If it weren’t for the lack of conflict in interest between him and Ge Qing, he would have vanished completely from Ge Qing’s sight.
Even so,
He didn’t want to risk violating Ge Qing’s rules to buy pills.
Ge Qing gave him an impression of being too enigmatic and unfathomable. Even Liu Yuanhu hadn’t left him with such an impression. Back at the estate, Gu Sheng had faintly felt that he was being watched, though he couldn’t identify the source.
"Better to focus on cultivation for now and come up with a plan later."
Seeing the late hour, Gu Sheng decided to return to the manor tomorrow.
She didn’t wait for Pei Xuansi to respond, hoisting him onto her back in one swift move. Her body swayed slightly before stabilizing, and she continued running.
Although Helian Tie Lan’s cultivation was decent, her forging sessions often lacked proper sustenance. After enduring battles and now fleeing, staying on her feet was already impressive, let alone carrying someone.
Pei Xuansi panicked, pleading in a low voice:
"Tie Lan, let me down. This way neither of us will make it out alive. We’re only twenty miles from the county town—your chances are better alone!"
Helian Tie Lan snapped:
"Stop moving! Since we’re not far, just stay on my back quietly! If you slow me down, my chances of survival will be even lower."
Her eyes carried a steadfast resolve. If it were anyone else, perhaps she would have left them behind. But Pei Xuansi... she refused to abandon him.
Moved and helpless, Pei Xuansi laid as low as he could to reduce wind resistance.
Helian Tie Lan pressed forward.
However, carrying another person significantly slowed her speed and consumed her energy at an alarming rate. Gasping for breath, drenched in sweat, her gaze alone remained unwavering.
Stopping for a few seconds to catch her breath, she prepared to move again.
This was when both their faces changed.
In unison, they turned toward the direction behind them.
In the distance, faint noises could be heard. The Black Sand Gang’s forces—they had caught up!
Helian Tie Lan gritted her teeth, her leg muscles tensing visibly. With a powerful burst of speed, she surged forward. She refused to surrender so easily.
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