Starting as The Young Master of A Pharmacy, He Trained Swordsmanship in Seclusion For Twenty Years - Chapter 5

“You’re right, Uncle Li. My cultivation has progressed recently, and I lost control of my strength for a moment.”

Lu Xuan spoke calmly, deliberately leaving these traces uncovered.

This was a necessary move. Over the past few days, the Lu family had been in turmoil due to the incidents involving Lu Yun’an and the others. To stabilize the situation and prevent further trouble, Lu Xuan needed to demonstrate some of his power.

What?!

Hearing Lu Xuan’s confirmation, Li Mingzhong was inwardly shocked, his face filled with awe.

The reason for his reaction was simple—Li Mingzhong himself was a martial artist at the peak of the Flesh-Tempering stage. Yet, he knew he couldn’t possibly leave such terrifying marks on the sturdy bluestone floor.

The fact that Lu Xuan had done so meant his strength had already surpassed Li Mingzhong’s.

Had he reached the perfected stage of Flesh-Tempering? Or… had the young master already broken through to the Bone-Forging stage?

Li Mingzhong clearly remembered that just a few years ago, Lu Xuan had only been at the Skin-Tempering stage. Yet in such a short time, his progress had been earth-shaking.

At just twenty years old, the young master had already surpassed him.

Cold sweat beaded on Li Mingzhong’s forehead as the realization struck him—after decades of martial training, he had been overtaken by someone half his age.

If even Li Mingzhong was this stunned, the ordinary guards were even more overwhelmed. They stared at Lu Xuan in disbelief, as if he were some kind of monster.

How could a human—let alone their own young master—cause such destruction?

Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Lu Xuan spoke again:

“Once the flames die down, gather the ashes of the deceased and bury them properly.”

Then, he turned to two others and pointed.

“Second Brother, Third Brother, I leave this matter to you. That over there is Yun’an’s remains. Take care of them and hand them over to Uncle Qing for burial.”

“Yes, Eldest Brother!”

With that, Lu Xuan gestured to a few servants.

“You there, help the master back to his quarters to rest.”

“At once, Young Master!”

No one dared to question his orders. Every person present watched him with reverence.

Once everything was arranged, Lu Xuan wasted no time lingering—he still had important matters to attend to.

His mind was already racing, eager to return and verify something.

…

In a secluded, elegantly arranged courtyard, several swords and sabers were placed alongside towering meter-high boulders.

At the center of the courtyard sat a young man—Lu Xuan, who had just returned from the rear hall.

After a quick wash and changing into a fresh black brocade robe, Lu Xuan focused his mind.

Instantly, his attribute panel appeared before him:

Host: Lu Xuan
Realm: Blood-Forging Stage (Perfected)
Technique: Blazing Saber Art 9/9 (Mastered) — [Can Evolve]
Points: 11

[Spend 11 points to evolve Blazing Saber Art?]

Without hesitation, Lu Xuan confirmed.

In the next moment, his points reset to zero.

A flood of vast, profound knowledge surged into his mind—entirely new saber techniques unfolded before him like a grand performance.

A golden figure, glowing with mysterious light, wielded a saber, executing profound and intricate maneuvers.

At the climax, a sinister crimson flame erupted from the blade, radiating scorching heat capable of melting all creation.

The moment that terrifying flame appeared, Lu Xuan’s eyes snapped open.

An indescribable power surged through his body, flowing into every cell, nourishing and strengthening him.

Simultaneously, his muscles swelled, his frame growing larger, his aura intensifying.

Before long, the fluctuations in his energy stabilized before gradually receding.

“Almost there… Just a little more.”

Lu Xuan could feel it—his strength had reached the absolute limit of the Blood-Forging stage. The next step would be the legendary Internal Energy realm.

Host: Lu Xuan
Realm: Blood-Forging Stage (Perfected)
Technique: Crimson Flame Saber Art 1/9
Points: 0

Still not enough.

One more upgrade, and he would break through to the fabled Internal Energy stage.

Crimson Flame Saber Art…

Lu Xuan picked up the saber beside him, recalling the techniques of this new art.

In an instant, his aura erupted.

Like a black bolt of lightning, his blade tore through the air with overwhelming force, slashing toward a nearby boulder.

A sinister, blazing crimson saber-light—like a living serpent of fire—coiled around the blade.

The scorching heat distorted the air, making it ripple as if space itself had become unstable.

BOOM! BOOM!

Two deafening explosions followed.

The massive boulder split cleanly in half, the cut surface smooth as polished glass.

At the center of the split, a charred black mark remained, as if seared by hellfire itself.

Such terrifying power…

The heat of these flames far surpassed his previous Blazing Saber Art, multiplying his strength several times over.

And this was only the first level.

Yin energy.

A fierce glint flashed in Lu Xuan’s eyes—hunger for more.

Just a few traces of yin energy had given him ten system points.

If he could find more—or even the source of yin energy—his strength would skyrocket.

At that point, no place in the world would be beyond his reach.

Even his deepest, most hidden ambition could become reality.

Eternal life.

No mortal could resist the allure of immortality.

Death meant the end of everything—all achievements, all possessions, vanishing like smoke.

Originally, Lu Xuan had planned to lie low and develop his strength within the safety of the county.

But now, the temptation of yin energy had changed his mind.

It was worth the risk to venture beyond the city.

He could already feel it—as his martial prowess grew, the medicinal herbs that were treasures to ordinary people had diminishing effects on him.

The rate at which he gained points had slowed to a crawl.

The Lu family’s herbal business could no longer sustain his cultivation alone.

With nearly a hundred mouths to feed, he couldn’t possibly monopolize the family’s resources.

The herb trade still needed to operate, still needed profits to survive.

Ping’an Village…

Lu Xuan had only briefly looked into it—the place where his cousin had met his end.

But if supernatural phenomena had appeared there, he needed to investigate thoroughly.

He wouldn’t let his newfound strength blind him to caution.

One misstep could lead to eternal regret.