Starting as The Young Master of A Pharmacy, He Trained Swordsmanship in Seclusion For Twenty Years - Chapter 81

Before long, Shen Yunwei calmed down.

He glanced around and noticed the servants and guards nearby, their faces pale as if they had seen a ghost.

“Alright, that’s enough staring,” Shen Yunwei said softly. “No one is to speak a word of what happened here, or you will face the family’s discipline. Now, all of you, follow me.”

…..

“Broken through… the Peak Inner Breath Realm!”

Inside the room, the bed on which Lu Xuan had been sitting cross-legged was now shattered into pieces.

Countless wood splinters, scraps of fabric from the canopy, and other items flew upward toward a hole in the roof above Lu Xuan.

Unaware of this, Lu Xuan remained seated on the lone remaining plank of the bed.

Has my inner breath condensed into liquid?
Lu Xuan raised his right hand, palm open. Streams of transparent liquid swirled and intertwined above it, like agile little snakes.

Though the inner breath coiling in the air appeared gentle and docile, Lu Xuan knew all too well its immense power.

The Master of Primal Yuan!

It seems I am not far from that realm now.

The next moment, Lu Xuan withdrew his power and opened his system panel.

Host: Lu Xuan
Realm: Inner Breath Realm (Peak)
Techniques: Blazing Flame Saber Art 6/9, Wind-Chasing Steps 3/9, Indestructible Golden Body 2/9
Points: 1

Lu Xuan had deduced the Blazing Flame Saber Art twice—the first time costing 100 system points, and the second a staggering 200 points.

He had deduced the Wind-Chasing Steps once, consuming 60 points, and spent the remaining 83 points fully on Iron Shirt.

Finally, after evolving the external technique Iron Shirt into a higher level—the Indestructible Golden Body—only 1 point remained on the system panel.

Indestructible Golden Body!

Lu Xuan silently recited the name, a faint golden light glinting in his eyes. The muscles all over his body shrank to about one-tenth of their original size rather than growing.

Yet, these reduced muscles contained several times more explosive power than before.

It was no exaggeration to say that Lu Xuan’s current physical strength was now ten times greater than that of his meteoric iron blade.

So this is what an external technique is like?

It certainly didn’t disappoint. However, after deducing this external technique, Lu Xuan felt an increasingly intense hunger.

It seemed that deducing the external technique consumed far more energy within him than deducing the Blazing Flame Saber Art or Wind-Chasing Steps had.

Without overthinking it, Lu Xuan stood up and walked toward the table where the potent medicinal herbs were placed.

His physical strength had now reached an incredible level.

The potent medicines were swallowed and, within just a few breaths, his astonishing digestive ability had completely absorbed everything in the large wooden box—not even a trace of residue remained.

After finishing, Lu Xuan glanced again at the system panel and noticed the points had only increased by 10.

Host: Lu Xuan
Realm: Inner Breath Realm (Peak)
Techniques: Blazing Flame Saber Art 6/9, Wind-Chasing Steps 3/9, Indestructible Golden Body 2/9
Points: 11

After consuming so many potent medicines, the remaining vast medicinal energy only provided 10 system points?

Lu Xuan felt a wave of emotion at the thought.

There was a time when these potent herbs had been greatly beneficial to him.

But now, for Lu Xuan, they only served to barely fill his stomach.

It seems what those people said holds some truth.

For martial artists at higher realms, the benefits of potent medicines are far from sufficient.

Enough!

Lu Xuan stopped dwelling on it. Once he reached the prefectural city of Baidao, he would learn more about these so-called “heaven and earth spiritual treasures.”

In truth, Lu Xuan was quite willing to join the Xuaniao Guard.

Their mission aligned perfectly with what Lu Xuan had always done: slaying supernatural anomalies, eliminating dangerous demonic beasts, and hunting down the Lotus Sect of Purity.

Each of these was exactly what Lu Xuan aimed to accomplish.

Moreover, most importantly, the Xuaniao Guard offered ample heavenly and earthly spiritual treasures, as well as potent medicines.

A place where he could both eat and take—it seemed tailor-made for him.

That was the conclusion Lu Xuan had drawn regarding his own benefits from the Xuaniao Guard.

…..

The next day!

Zhao Sheng and the other two arrived early near the main gate of the Shen residence.

Next to the entrance, three long lines had formed.

The people in line were mostly impoverished citizens, dressed in ragged clothes and looking weary.

Zhao Sheng and his companions couldn’t squeeze through, so they had to stop where they were.

Nearby stood an ancient tree whose shade they rested under. Four white steeds were tethered to the trunk.

“Wow, Old Zhao,” Qian Hao remarked, looking on with curiosity. “The Shen family seems to be distributing aid to the poor in the city. They’re actually rare benefactors.”

Zhao Sheng and Li Daren nodded slightly in agreement.

Having served in the Xuaniao Guard, they had traveled extensively and witnessed many things, but it was rare to see a family like the Shens willingly using their own wealth to help the poor.

…..

Inside the Shen residence.

“Old Master, I’ll be taking my leave now.”

“I’ve watched Qingqing grow up. If she acts a little spoiled, I hope you’ll be understanding.”

“Of course, Xuan. Don’t worry,” Shen Yunwei said, stroking his white beard as he nodded gently. “I already see Qingqing as my own daughter.”

“As long as I live, no one in the Shen family will dare mistreat her.”

Satisfied with Shen Yunwei’s response, Lu Xuan felt relieved.

Then, he turned a cold face to Shen Yuan, who was standing to the side, and warned, “Shen Yuan, you’d better behave yourself. Don’t bully Qingqing, or I won’t let you off easily!”

Finally, Lu Xuan turned to Lu Qingqing.

Her eyes were red, on the verge of tears.

“Qingqing, your big brother is leaving now. When your child is born, I’ll bring Father to see you.”

After speaking these gentle words, Lu Xuan vanished from the Shen residence like a fading shadow.

“Take care, Big Brother!”

“Take care, Brother Xuan!”

Shen Yuan held Lu Qingqing close to his chest, and together they whispered their blessings in the direction where Lu Xuan had disappeared.

Under the ancient tree in the distance from the Shen residence’s main gate, Lu Xuan’s figure appeared as if from nowhere.

Zhao Sheng and the other two were startled nearly out of their wits by the sudden appearance.

Only when they recognized who it was did they relax, bowing respectfully.

“Senior!”

“Mm, let’s go.”

………..

“Sir, they’ve all left.”

In a hidden spot not far from the city gate, a few figures watched silently as Zhao Sheng and the others departed.

It was Magistrate Zeng Fan and the chief constable of the county office.