Starting as The Young Master of A Pharmacy, He Trained Swordsmanship in Seclusion For Twenty Years - Chapter 63

Lu Xuan walked over to where his luggage was placed, took out an intact black robe, and changed out of his torn clothes.

Then, he sat cross-legged, focused his mind, and the system panel appeared before him.

Host: Lu Xuan
Realm: Internal Energy Realm (Intermediate)
Techniques:

• Blazing Saber Art (3/9 – Can be evolved)

• Gale Step Technique (1/9 – Can be evolved)
  Points: 105

Host, please confirm whether to spend 45 points to evolve the Gale Step Technique.
Host, please confirm whether to spend 60 points to evolve the Blazing Saber Art.

With a large number of system points now at his disposal, Lu Xuan didn’t hesitate for long this time.

He decided to evolve both martial techniques at once—fortunately, he had enough points for both.

“Confirm!”

With that thought, he made his decision without further delay.

The moment he confirmed, all his system points were instantly depleted!

A long time passed—about two hours—before a terrifying aura surged from Lu Xuan’s body within the cave. A fierce wind howled through the cavern as an overwhelming pressure radiated outward.

The horse tied at the back of the cave suddenly thrashed violently, as if frightened.

The black stallion struggled desperately against its restraints, trying to get as far away from Lu Xuan as possible, as though he were some savage primordial beast.

At that moment, Lu Xuan opened his eyes and reined in his aura.

“I actually broke through!”

Originally, he had thought he was still some distance away from reaching the Peak Internal Energy Realm.

Yet, by evolving both techniques simultaneously, his martial realm had risen along with them, allowing him to break through to Peak Internal Energy in one go.

This power…

So this is what a Peak Internal Energy martial artist feels like?

Lu Xuan sensed the mysterious energy within him—far surpassing what he had before.

However, after only briefly savoring this newfound strength, he stood up and walked toward the wooden chest he had taken from the Lotus Life Temple.

Hunger.

An intensity of hunger he had never experienced before, so severe that his body even felt weak from it.

It seemed tonight’s exertions had been too great.

Fighting the White Lotus Purification Sect members all night, then evolving two martial techniques back-to-back—even for an Internal Energy Realm martial artist like him, exhaustion was inevitable.

Just as he reached out to open the chest, a rustling sound came from outside the cave’s boulder barrier.

It sounded like the heavy footsteps of a beast, its massive paws crunching on dried leaves.

Lu Xuan paused, immediately raising his head to look at the crevice leading outside. There, a massive dark figure approached the cave entrance.

“A wild beast?”

Through the gap, two glowing green eyes stared in, its maw gaping to reveal rows of razor-sharp fangs, drool dripping from its jaws.

Seeing this, Lu Xuan felt no fear. Instead, a smile curled his lips.

Perfect.

He had been hesitant about consuming the potent medicinal herbs taken from the Lotus Life Temple.

Now, this beast could serve as a test subject—to see if there were any adverse effects.

With that thought, he strode confidently toward the cave entrance, pressing his right hand against the boulder and pushing it aside with ease.

As the massive rock shifted, the cave’s entrance was fully exposed once more, revealing the interior in plain sight.

By the firelight inside, Lu Xuan could clearly see the beast blocking the way—a black leopard, as large as a full-grown man.

“So, a black leopard.”

The leopard seemed momentarily stunned, as if confused by how effortlessly the boulder had been moved.

For a few breaths, man and beast simply stared at each other.

Then—

Snap!

A series of loud cracks echoed—the sound of bones breaking.

Lu Xuan gripped one of the leopard’s legs, dragging it deeper into the cave.

The moment he had touched it, he had used his Internal Energy to shatter all four of its limbs.

Two hours later…

Lu Xuan had cut a small piece from each of the potent herbs taken from the Lotus Life Temple and fed them to the leopard.

Seeing that the beast showed no ill effects, he finally relaxed.

Then, with a swift motion, he ended the leopard’s life.

“Seems the herbs are safe.”

No longer suspicious, he reached into the wooden chest with his left hand, grabbed a handful of the medicinal herbs, and began devouring them ravenously.

Only after consuming every last herb did he finally feel a warm, revitalizing energy spreading through his body.

The rich medicinal essence nourished every inch of his flesh, banishing the earlier hunger and replacing it with an overwhelming surge of power.

Lu Xuan sat cross-legged again, absorbing the remaining medicinal energy with furious intensity.

A moment later, with a thought, the system panel reappeared before him.

Host: Lu Xuan
Realm: Internal Energy Realm (Peak)
Techniques:

• Blazing Saber Art (4/9)

• Gale Step Technique (2/9)
  Points: 20

Lu Xuan glanced at the remaining 20 points—leftover from the medicinal herbs’ residual energy.

Just as he had expected.

He sighed inwardly.

“All those potent herbs… and only 20 points to show for it.”

Oh well.

Dawn was approaching, and Lu Xuan had no time to dwell on it.

He quickly retrieved the 1,000 taels of gold from the chest, stuffing them into his travel pack.

Before long, a black stallion galloped out of the cave at the first light of dawn, its rider none other than Lu Xuan.

…..

Dengfeng County Town

At daybreak, the city gates were already crowded with travelers coming and going.

At the heart of Dengfeng County stood an imposing structure—the County Magistrate’s Office.

But today, the office was unusually busy, heavily guarded, as if some important figure had arrived.

In the main hall at the back, numerous figures had gathered.

At the forefront stood three large chairs, each occupied by a man.

Most striking was that all three wore sapphire-blue brocade robes, embroidered with the mysterious black Xuan Bird.

The man seated in the center was in his fifties or sixties, his black hair streaked with white, his chin adorned with a neatly trimmed beard.

Standing before them were the county’s leading officials—the Magistrate, Deputy Magistrate, and Sheriff, among others.