2: A complete transformation, the dragon's reverse scale

One hour later.

Jiang Yunfan rode his horse to the foot of Dragon-Coiling Mountain, a hundred li away. He tied his horse to a tree and ascended the mountain on foot.

The mountain was covered in dead branches and weeds, making walking difficult.

Half an hour later, Jiang Yunfan arrived at the halfway point of Dragon-Coiling Mountain.

The sun had set, and night was approaching.

Fortunately, with the map provided by the System, Jiang Yunfan found the location of the demonic Cultivator.

Soon, Jiang Yunfan found the demonic Cultivator lying on the ground at the bottom of a slope.

Sensing someone approaching, the demonic Cultivator clutched at him like a drowning man grasping a straw.

"Save me."

Jiang Yunfan was startled.

"Damn System, what's going on? Didn't you say he was seriously injured and unconscious? You gave me false information; you're trying to get me killed!"

"This System does not release false information. When the information was released, he was indeed unconscious. He is awake now."

This explanation was reasonable, leaving Jiang Yunfan speechless. He hesitated whether to risk going down.

"I am a Disciple of an immortal sect, gravely injured. If you save my life, I will surely repay you. I can even bring you into an immortal sect."

If I didn't know you were a demonic Cultivator, I would have believed your lies.

Fortune favors the bold. Jiang Yunfan decided to turn the tables and find an opportunity to kill the demonic Cultivator.

"Wait there, I'm coming to save you."

He descended the slope and saw the severely injured demonic Cultivator, whose face was as pale as a ghost.

The demonic Cultivator, whose Meridians were damaged and who couldn't move, raised his eyebrows and looked at Jiang Yunfan. He immediately saw that he had Houtian Fifth Layer Realm Cultivation Level and began to scheme, planning to drain his vital essence to recover once his Meridians were restored.

Jiang Yunfan said, "Who injured you so severely?"

The demonic Cultivator weakly said, "I was injured by another demonic Cultivator. I can't move now. Take out the Storage Pouch from my embrace; there are Medicinal Pills for healing inside."

Lie, keep lying.

Jiang Yunfan dared not be careless; who knew if the demonic Cultivator was truly unable to move.

He cautiously approached and reached into the demonic Cultivator's embrace. Seizing the opportunity, he grabbed his neck and twisted it, breaking it.

The demonic Cultivator's raised hand immediately drooped.

"Good thing I struck first, otherwise I would have fallen victim to your venomous hand."

Jiang Yunfan retrieved the Storage Pouch from the demonic Cultivator's embrace. Upon opening it, he found some Spirit Stones, a blood-colored sword, and three jade bottles.

The jade bottles were labeled: bone rebirth pill, Rejuvenation Pill, and qi gathering pill.

He had heard of the qi gathering pill; it was a Medicinal Pill used by Innate Realm Experts to restore True Qi. The Rejuvenation Pill was likely the healing Medicinal Pill the demonic Cultivator mentioned.

He put the Storage Pouch into his embrace and quickly left.

By the time he reached the foot of the mountain, it was almost dark. Jiang Yunfan found his horse and immediately rode away.

Along the way, the System suddenly pushed a piece of information.

[Today's Intelligence (White): Zhao Family's spy, Zhuo Bufan, sent into the Jiang Family, is waiting for you outside Tai'an City. Returning will surely lead to an ambush.]

Whoa!

Jiang Yunfan suddenly pulled the reins and stopped.

"Elder Zhuo is actually a spy sent by the Zhao Family."

Elder Zhuo was a Guest Elder with Innate Realm Cultivation Level. He had been in the Jiang Family for five years, meaning the Zhao Family had been preparing for five years.

"Why do they want to kill me?!"

Jiang Yunfan quickly figured out the reason: he was to become a matrilocal son-in-law to the Ji Family. Zhuo Bufan wanted to kill him to prevent the alliance between the Jiang Family and the Ji Family. He was taking the fall for Jiang Beixuan.

Fortunately, the System's intelligence warned him, otherwise, he would have surely died if he had returned rashly.

He rode off the main road and into the dense forest beside it.

After tying up his horse, Jiang Yunfan took out the Storage Pouch and opened it. He took out the jade bottle containing the bone rebirth pill.

Opening the jade bottle, a medicinal fragrance wafted out.

He poured out one Medicinal Pill, and there was only one.

He swallowed it in one gulp.

A powerful medicinal force surged through his limbs, bones, and Meridians. Suddenly, he felt excruciating pain, as if his bones were being crushed.

Ah!

He couldn't help but let out a painful scream, writhing on the ground in agony, "It hurts so much!"

Fortunately, he was outside, otherwise his screams would surely attract attention.

A moment later, Jiang Yunfan stopped rolling. The pain disappeared, and he felt completely refreshed, full of energy and spirit.

"I've undergone a Body Refining transformation."

Jiang Yunfan discovered that the True Qi in his body had surged, and all eight Meridians were now clear, allowing True Qi to circulate through his entire body. His Cultivation Level directly Broke Through to the Houtian Ninth Layer Realm, a leap to the heavens.

[Today's Intelligence (White): Host has undergone Body Refining transformation, Aptitude has increased from Fourth Grade to Ninth Grade.]

Jiang Yunfan was a little disappointed. He hadn't expected his original Aptitude to be only Fourth Grade, no wonder his Cultivation Level was so slow. It seemed he wasn't some Child of Destiny.

Aptitude is divided into nine grades, with Ninth Grade being the highest. Above Ninth Grade, there are special Physiques like Spirit Body and Saint Body. Ninth Grade is already very good.

A pungent stench wafted over.

"Why is it so smelly!"

Jiang Yunfan realized the stench was coming from his own body. He tore open his clothes to look.

Ugh!

He almost threw up from the smell.

His body was covered in black grime, as if he hadn't bathed in decades. He immediately went to find water to wash himself.

Jiang Yunfan found a small river. He took off his clothes and jumped into the river.

Splash!

The river water was incredibly cool. He washed off the grime, and his skin was as white as snow, and also elastic and delicate, even more tender than a woman's skin.

[Today's Intelligence (Orange): Acquired Realm is the foundation of cultivation. Before ancient times, the Acquired Realm was divided into ten layers. The first nine layers refine the Body Refining and open the Meridians. The tenth layer tempers the spine and opens the Great Dragon of the Spine, which can transform into a Divine Meridian. Opening the Great Dragon of the Spine has a chance to Awaken a hidden Physique.]

"The Acquired Realm actually has a tenth, extreme layer."

This was the first time Jiang Yunfan had heard of a tenth layer in the Acquired Realm.

He only knew that the Acquired Realm had nine layers, and above the Acquired Realm were the Innate Realm, Profound Connection Realm, Spirit Transformation Realm, Yin and Yang Realm, Heaven and Man Realm, Dharma Idol Realm, Nirvana Realm, Saint Realm, Great Saint Realm, and Emperor Realm.

If the System said there was a tenth layer, then there must be.

I must Breakthrough to the tenth layer and unleash my potential.

Jiang Yunfan had a belief in becoming a strong Cultivator in his heart. Even if he was just an ordinary body, he wanted to become an peerless strong Cultivator.

"With my current strength, I'm still no match for Zhuo Bufan."

Zhuo Bufan was a Innate Realm Expert. Even with his Houtian Ninth Layer Realm Cultivation Level, he couldn't defeat him. He suddenly thought of the blood-colored sword in the Storage Pouch.

He immediately went ashore, picked up the Storage Pouch, and opened it. He took out the blood-colored sword. He swung it at the lake, and a terrifying Sword Qi struck the surface, causing the lake to instantly explode with splashing water.

"How powerful! It seems this sword is a Treasure Artifact."

Weapons are divided into Profound Weapon, Treasure Artifact, Spiritual Artifact, Sacred Artifact, and Emperor Weapon.

The Jiang Family even had a Treasure Artifact.

With this sword, he could kill Zhuo Bufan.

By this time, it was already dark. The moon was bright, and the road was still clearly visible. Jiang Yunfan rode back to Tai'an City overnight.

Half an hour later, Jiang Yunfan was about to arrive at Tai'an City.

Suddenly, a masked man appeared and attacked him with a palm strike. He quickly tried to block but was sent flying, injured and spitting blood, by the palm. He crashed to the ground and spat out another mouthful of blood.

Jiang Yunfan knew the masked man was Zhuo Bufan. He deliberately said, "Who are you? Why are you killing me?"

"I am the Young Lord of the Jiang Family. If you don't kill me, I'll give you whatever you want."

He clutched his chest and struggled to stand up, his hand already reaching into the Storage Pouch, gripping the blood-colored sword.

"Dead men don't need to know."

Before the masked man could finish speaking, Jiang Yunfan swung his sword, and a blood-colored Sword Qi slashed towards him. At such close range, he couldn't dodge. He was hit by the Sword Qi, his protective True Qi was broken, and he was sent flying by the Sword Qi.

Pfft!

The masked man spat out fresh blood. He looked at the blood-colored sword in Jiang Yunfan's hand in shock, "You actually have a Treasure Artifact."

"Don't kill me."

Jiang Yunfan quickly stepped forward and pierced his chest with a sword. The blood from his body was sucked dry by the blood-colored sword, turning him into a dried corpse.

Jiang Yunfan pulled out the blood-colored sword, "I didn't expect this sword could also absorb blood. From now on, I'll call you Blood Drinking Sword."

He put the sword into the Storage Pouch, then took out the jade bottle containing the Rejuvenation Pill. He opened it, poured out a Medicinal Pill, and swallowed it. His injuries quickly recovered.

He flipped onto his horse and rode away.

Soon after.

Jiang Yunfan returned to the Jiang Family.

As soon as he returned, the news reached Jiang Beixuan's ears. He didn't pay much attention; as long as Jiang Yunfan returned, that was enough.

Jiang Yunfan returned to his own courtyard, which was small and ordinary.

"Brother."

Jiang Yurou ran over, "Brother, where did you go? Why did you come back so late!"

She then noticed the bloodstains on him and immediately became anxious, "Brother, you're injured."

Jiang Yunfan didn't want her to worry, "It's not my blood. I encountered some bandits who tried to rob me. I killed them, and this is their blood."

"It's late. You should go back and rest first."

Jiang Yurou then left at ease.

Jiang Yunfan said to the maid Ningxiang, "You should also go down and rest!"

Ningxiang said, "Yes, Second Young Master. No, I should change my address to Young Lord."

Jiang Yunfan self-mockingly said, "This Young Lord of mine is only a Young Lord in name."

After returning to his room, he sat in meditation to Cultivate.

The next day.

Early in the morning, the System pushed a piece of information.

[Today's Intelligence (White): A century-old ginseng has matured in Wuyun Mountain within the Great Zhou territory (map has been transmitted).]

"A century-old ginseng, what's the use of that?"

It might have been useful before his Body Refining transformation, but now it was almost useless.

It would be useful for Yu Rou, but Wuyun Mountain was too far, over five hundred li. Even with a thousand-li horse, a round trip would take a day.

He was going to become a matrilocal son-in-law to the Ji Family tomorrow, so he had no time at all.

"Let's go to the Scripture Pavilion first to find the Northern Darkness Profound Art!"

His strength was too weak. If he could obtain this incomplete Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique, his strength would surely rise another level.

He opened his door and went out.

Ningxiang saw the Young Lord come out and immediately went to fetch water to serve him in washing his face, then brought breakfast. After eating, Jiang Yunfan left the courtyard and headed to the Scripture Pavilion.

The Scripture Pavilion was an important place. Even Jiang Family Disciples could not enter and exit at will. Jiang Yunfan had only been in once. Now that he had become the Young Lord of the Jiang Family, he could enter and exit the Scripture Pavilion at will.

As he passed the covered bridge, he encountered several Jiang Family Disciples who often bullied him. It was truly a narrow road for enemies. He didn't want to bother with them, but Jiang Haitao deliberately provoked him and blocked his path.

"Oh! Isn't this our new Young Lord of the Jiang Family?"

"Why aren't you guys paying your respects?"

"What kind of respects? He's only a Young Lord for two days. What kind of Young Lord is that? Tomorrow, he's going to become a matrilocal son-in-law to the Ji Family, marrying out just like a woman."

"Hahahaha!"

The others burst into laughter.

Jiang Yunfan clenched his fist, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"Shut up."

Afeigned anger came.

Jiang Yurou came rushing over, furious. She had heard Jiang Haitao and the others' words, and she would never allow anyone to humiliate her brother.

"Yu Rou."

Jiang Yurou, without a word, attacked Jiang Haitao with a palm strike. She wanted to vent her anger for her brother.

Jiang Haitao tried to block but was forced back by the palm.

"Houtian Sixth Layer Realm."

Jiang Haitao was startled. He hadn't expected Jiang Yurou, that girl, to have such high Aptitude, having actually Broke Through to the Houtian Sixth Layer Realm. "Let's all attack."

Jiang Chen and the other two attacked Jiang Yurou. Jiang Yunfan was enraged. His sister was his inverse scale; whoever touched her would die. He unleashed the Rolling Stone Fist, punching out. The force of his punch was as fierce as a rolling stone. Jiang Chen and the other two were sent flying, injured and spitting blood.

Jiang Haitao was dumbfounded.

The next second, he was sent flying by Jiang Yunfan's punch.

Pfft!

A mouthful of fresh blood spurted out.