87: Chapter 87: Tempering Experience, Absorbed Through Medicinal Bath! (4k)

The Poetry Conference held by Wenxin Hall every three years was about to begin.

The entire capital seemed to have been injected with a potent drug, visibly becoming bustling and noisy.

On the wide bluestone streets, carriages and horses were as numerous as scales.

Many scholars and Martial Artists from the Jianghu traveled thousands of miles, just to show their faces at this event, which was second only to the Lantern Festival.

However, with the surge in people from all walks of life in the capital, business at the prison also became "booming."

On the bluestone square of the prison's outer courtyard, heat waves were rolling.

A long line of prisoners wearing heavy shackles was dragging themselves forward.

The iron chains rubbed against the rough ground, making a teeth-grinding "clatter" sound.

Several jailers wearing soap-colored uniforms were covered in sweat.

They gripped cowhide whips soaked in salt water and urged impatiently.

"Hurry up! Stop dawdling!"

Crack!

A harsh, air-splitting sound suddenly exploded.

The rough cowhide whip lashed out an afterimage in mid-air, landing solidly on the back of a curly-haired brute in the middle of the line.

This whip had tremendous force. If it had hit an ordinary person, it would have torn skin and flesh on the spot, leaving them covered in blood.

But the curly-haired brute didn't even frown.

On his bronze-colored back, only a faint white mark was left.

His knotted muscles were like cast iron, forcibly repelling the barbs on the whip tip.

Not only did the brute not cry out in pain, but he also boredly shook the steel shackles on his wrists.

He bared a ferocious smile, and his thick arms sank suddenly. He grabbed the thick hemp rope connecting the shackles with a backhand grip and yanked it hard backward.

"Ouch!"

A brutal, immense force swept along the hemp rope.

The jailer wielding the whip was caught off guard and stumbled. He was dragged forward, flying headlong and crashing miserably onto the hot bluestone, getting a mouthful of dust.

"Hahaha! Officer, your frame isn't up to much!"

"That's right, your footsteps are unsteady and your face is sallow. Don't you eat chaff and vegetables every day in the prison?"

"You don't even have the strength to scratch an itch for Grandpa, yet you're learning to wield a whip?"

Seeing the jailer humiliated, a burst of unbridled, mocking laughter erupted from the prisoners' ranks.

"You... you bunch of rebels!"

The fallen jailer climbed up with the help of his companions. His face flushed red, and the hand holding the whip was trembling slightly.

This batch of prisoners were all Gang members caught causing trouble in the capital recently.

Most of them were Martial Artists who practiced Hard-Refinement techniques.

They had thick skin and strong Qi and blood, paying no mind to ordinary whipping punishments.

Although the jailers were angry, they had no way to deal with these tough nuts.

Just as the situation was about to spiral out of control and the jailers were in a dilemma, a calm, unhurried voice of a young man came from the shadows of the corridor in the distance.

"What, do you all feel the sun outside isn't hot enough, and want to drill in this square?"

The voice was not loud, but it clearly pierced through the noisy laughter and fell into everyone's ears.

In front of the heavy iron gate of the prison.

A tall, upright young man walked out. He wore a dark red Demon Suppression Division Internal Affairs Department brocade uniform, with a standard long saber hanging at his waist. Between his sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes, there was a coldness that ordinary people could hardly look at directly.

He was casually toying with a mysterious iron token in his hand, his gaze sweeping over the clamoring Hard-Refinement Martial Artists with interest.

"Brother Chen!"

"Brother Chen, you've finally arrived!"

The jailers, who had been somewhat fearful, were ecstatic when they saw this young man.

As if they had found their backbone, they hurried to welcome him.

A clever jailer even fished out a wide black umbrella from somewhere. He diligently opened it and held it over Chen Ran's head.

"Brother Chen, the sun is too poisonous today. You are precious, so you must not get sunburned."

Chen Ran stopped and glanced at the jailer with some amusement, casually pushing him aside.

"Go, go, go, stay aside. Holding a black umbrella, don't make it look like I'm some big villain who bullies men and women."

"Alright! Brother Chen, you're right to lecture me!" The jailer nodded and bowed as he retreated to the side, but the flattery on his face did not diminish at all.

This scene, in the eyes of those prisoners, caused the originally noisy crowd to fall silent in an instant.

Especially the curly-haired brute who had been arrogant just a moment ago. His facial muscles twitched violently, and fear that could not be concealed appeared in his eyes.

He recognized the identity of the young man in front of him.

Chen Ran.

A rising star in the Internal Affairs Department of the Demon Suppression Division.

This kid was clearly in Internal Affairs, yet he didn't stay honestly in the archives. Instead, he often ran to the first few levels of the prison to mix with these bottom-level jailers.

What was worse was that word had already spread on the streets. This Chen Ran was not only deeply appreciated by Centurion Zhao Wuji, but recently had even clung to the thigh of that cold-faced divine catcher, Lin Wan.

The "merits" of this batch of Gang members recently caught by Lin Wan's indiscriminate sweep had almost all fallen into Chen Ran's pocket.

Anyone with a discerning eye could see that Chen Ran's rise to the upper echelons of the Internal Affairs Department was only a matter of time.

Chen Ran ignored the jailer's flattery. He paced to the front of the line, his deep gaze falling on the curly-haired brute.

"What, Fang Dahu, are you dissatisfied with our prison's hospitality and want to cause trouble?"

As Chen Ran stared, a faint blue panel that only he could see unfolded before his eyes.

"Prisoner: Fang Dahu"

"Realm: Eighth Rank Middle Stage"

"Sin: Medium"

"Life: One of the hall masters of the Iron Body Gang. Because he collected high protection fees in the South City and injured several merchants, he was taken into custody by the Demon Suppression Division. Specializes in the Hard-Refinement Cultivation Technique 'Iron Body Technique'."

Chen Ran's gaze was very calm. But landing on Fang Dahu, it made him feel a substantial pressure.

Fang Dahu only felt his breathing stagnate, and his originally tense muscles unconsciously relaxed. He swallowed, and the originally arrogant blood drained from his face.

He hurriedly lowered his head and spoke respectfully: "Lord Chen, you are joking, this lowly one... this lowly one would not dare."

The surrounding prisoners, seeing their hall master had chickened out, were even more terrified, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Chen Ran looked at these sheep who had become docile and chuckled.

"It's best if you don't dare. Once you enter the door of this prison, you must curl up if you are a Dragon, and lie down if you are a Tiger. No matter how hard your skin and flesh are, they are not harder than the Demon Suppression Division's guillotine."

He paused, his tone turning cold.

"All of you, honestly get in there. If I see anyone daring to kick up a fuss again, next time, it won't be a cowhide whip that hits you."

"Yes! Lord Chen's teachings, this lowly one will definitely keep in mind!" Fang Dahu, as if granted amnesty, nodded repeatedly.

Chen Ran waved his hand slightly, signaling for the jailers to take over.

"Alright, take them in and detain them according to the rules."

"Thank you, Lord Chen!"

The jailers immediately straightened their backs and shouted at the top of their lungs. The Hard-Refinement Martial Artists no longer had their previous arrogance. One by one, they lowered their heads, dragged their shackles, and hurried toward the depths of the prison, fearing that if they walked too slowly, they would anger this fierce star.

Chen Ran stood in place, his gaze fixed on the few disappearing into the dark corridor.

The moment Fang Dahu and the others were officially registered and locked in their cells.

Deep in Chen Ran's Sea of Consciousness, the simple and vicissitudinous heavenly book of prison suppression began to flip.

On the dark golden pages, lines of text appeared.

"Prisoner Fang Dahu has been detained, calculating participation..."

"Prisoner Li Xiaoluo has been detained, calculating participation..."

...

"You have gained cultivation experience for the Cultivation Technique 'Iron Body Technique'."

"You have gained cultivation experience for the Cultivation Technique 'Vajra Technique'."

"You have gained cultivation experience for the Cultivation Technique 'Iron Shirt'."

...

Several notification messages swept across his eyes like a waterfall.

This batch of Gang members caught by Lin Wan were mostly from poor backgrounds. They all practiced rough techniques to polish their skin and flesh.

Therefore, the rewards calculated by the System were all experience fragments for Hard-Refinement Cultivation Techniques.

Hum—

Dozens of fragmented memories of cultivation turned into specks of flowing light and surged into Chen Ran's mind together.

Chen Ran's breathing paused for half a breath, and he digested all these memories.

These Cultivation Techniques, whether in quality or difficulty of practice, were outrageously low.

They were fundamentally incomparable to his main Cultivation Technique, "Glazed Golden Body Art."

But Chen Ran did not despise them.

All Hard-Refinement in the world leads to the same destination. Whether it is Iron Body Technique or Vajra Technique, the ultimate goal is to temper the Physical Body and break through human limits.

The muscle activation techniques and anti-impact unloading methods contained in these rough techniques became the purest nutrients. They slowly merged into his insights of the "Glazed Golden Body Art."

...

Demon Suppression Division, Internal Affairs Department.

In a fairly spacious and tidy lounge.

Sandalwood incense rose in curls.

Liu Mingyu sat on a chair, holding a cup of hot tea. When he saw Chen Ran pushing the door and entering, his hand holding the tea paused slightly, and his expression revealed some surprise.

"You... your strength has become stronger again?"

Liu Mingyu looked Chen Ran up and down.

Although Chen Ran deliberately restrained his aura, Liu Mingyu could still feel a thick and scorching Qi and blood like a furnace.

This level of Qi and blood fluctuation was at least the Late Stage of the Eighth Rank!

If he could go one step further and break through to the Seventh Rank.

Then even in the entire Internal Affairs Department, he would definitely be considered a good hand.

You must know that most jailers spend their whole lives struggling between the Eighth and Ninth Ranks.

Only a very few people with good talent and willingness to risk their lives could make it to the Seventh Rank and get a managerial position.

"Just good luck."

Chen Ran walked to the table and sat down, pouring himself a cup of tea, his tone casual. "The canteen's food has been good lately, with exotic beast meat supplied every meal. Plus the previous accumulation in martial arts, I luckily broke through a little while practicing last night."

He answered very simply.

The Eighth Rank Late Stage Realm was not stunning in a place like the Demon Suppression Division where geniuses gathered. But it was definitely out of the category of "mediocre."

Chen Ran knew very well that to get by in the prison and enter deeper cells to contact those high-level prisoners, it was absolutely impossible without sufficient strength as a stepping stone.

Properly revealing some strength would not only not cause trouble, but on the contrary, would prove his value and attract more "investments" from big figures like Zhao Wuji and Lin Wan.

Liu Mingyu nodded thoughtfully after hearing this. He put down the teacup, suddenly remembered something, and said with a smile.

"It just so happens that you have been on duty in this front courtyard for a full month. According to the rules, you can go to the warehouse to collect this month's salary."

As he spoke, Liu Mingyu lowered his voice and leaned closer. "Let me tell you, our Internal Affairs Department's salary is not like the broken silver of the ordinary yamen runners outside. Besides money, there are real Medicinal Pills as subsidies. You just broke through, and you can just use these Medicinal Pills to stabilize your Realm and speed up your cultivation progress."

"Medicinal Pills?"

Chen Ran's gaze flickered slightly.

"Let's go, I'll take you to collect them." Liu Mingyu stood up and greeted him enthusiastically.

Half an hour later.

Chen Ran returned to his independent small courtyard.

He locked the door and placed the small porcelain bottle he had collected from the warehouse on the table.

Uncorking the bottle, a rich medicinal fragrance immediately filled the air.

Inside the bottle were three Medicinal Pills the size of longan, dark red all over—Bone Tempering Pills.

This was a secret medicine specially prepared by the Demon Suppression Division for low-to-mid-level Martial Artists, containing extremely pure Qi and blood power, which had great effects for Martial Artists in the lower three ranks.

But for him now, it wasn't that important.

Chen Ran put down the Medicinal Pills and, without hesitation, took off his coat.

He walked to the corner of the courtyard, where a huge wooden barrel filled with hot water had long been prepared.

Various pungent black medicinal herbs were soaking in the water, and the surface was bubbling, with a frighteningly high temperature.

This was a Body Tempering medicinal bath he had specially prepared according to the secret recipe in the "Glazed Golden Body Art", and this recipe was also obtained from the memory of the second prisoner, Li Luo.

Now that he had absorbed many memories of Hard-Refinement Cultivation Techniques, he urgently needed to verify them.

And just this one barrel cost nearly a hundred taels of silver.

It's no wonder the ancients said that literature is for the poor and martial arts are for the rich; ordinary people really can't afford to Cultivate.

Chen Ran picked up a Blood Nourishing Pill from the delicate jade bottle beside him and swallowed it.

Then he stepped directly into the scalding medicinal bath barrel and began to operate the Cultivation Technique following his memory.

Boom!

As the Medicinal Pill entered his abdomen, it turned into a violent hot current.

Like a wild horse off the leash, it rampaged through his limbs and bones.

At the same time, the pitch-black medicinal liquid in the wooden barrel seemed to come alive. It crazily drilled into his body through all 108,000 pores on his body.

"Hiss—"

Chen Ran bit his teeth hard.

The violent medicinal power and the Qi and blood power of the Medicinal Pill intersected in his body.

It felt as if countless small steel knives were crazily cutting and tearing his muscle fibers.

But Chen Ran's eyes were unusually bright. He crazily operated the method of "Glazed Golden Body Art", guiding this massive power. He reorganized, compressed, and tempered the torn muscles.

With every tear and reorganization, his Physical Body density was climbing at a terrifying speed.

Time passed minute by minute.

The medicinal liquid in the wooden barrel, originally as black as ink, was fading at a speed visible to the naked eye. Finally, it turned into a barrel of clear white water.

All the medicinal power was squeezed dry by Chen Ran's Physical Body like a sponge absorbing water.

Splash!

Chen Ran stood up abruptly from the wooden barrel, water splashing everywhere.

He looked down at his hands.

The surface of his originally bronze-colored skin now faintly flowed with a strange dark golden luster.

Like the finest Glazed Treasure Artifact, indestructible.

Chen Ran's chest heaved, and his five fingers closed abruptly, clenching into a fist.

Pop!

In the palm of his hand, the air was forcibly squeezed and exploded, making a dull popping sound.

He glanced at the bathtub that had lost its medicinal power.

"If I want to speed up the cultivation of Hard-Refinement Cultivation Techniques, I can also put the medicinal bath on the schedule..."

Knock, knock, knock.

Just then, there was a knock on the door of the courtyard.