Long Chen sat cross-legged in his quarters, the small room barely larger than a closet. Moonlight filtered through the single cracked window, casting pale light across the wooden floor.
In his hand rested on the Marrow Washing Pill.
It was small, no bigger than a marble, with a dark red surface that seemed to pulse faintly in the dim light. Spiritual energy radiated from it in waves strong enough to make his skin tingle just from holding it.
Marrow Washing Pills were rare and expensive. The kind of treasure outer disciples saved for years to afford. And he had one sitting right in his palm.
'Two days until the gathering,' he thought. 'There wasn't enough time to misuse.'
His enemies were many. Dugu Shenlie and his lackeys. The disciples who'd tormented him for years. The elders who looked down on servants. And beyond the clan, there were sect recruiters, rival cultivators, and threats he hadn't even encountered yet.
Time was a luxury he didn't have.
Long Chen placed the pill in his mouth.
It dissolved instantly, heat flooding through his body like molten iron poured into his veins. He gasped, nearly choking as the energy spread from his chest outward, sinking deep into his bones.
Then pain followed.
It started in his marrow, a burning sensation that felt like his skeleton was being scraped from the inside out. His muscles spasmed, sweat poured down his face and every nerve in his body screamed.
He gritted his teeth, activated his martial spirit root and started circulating the Heavenly Demon Cultivation Technique.
The spiritual energy from the pill was wild, chaotic, trying to tear him apart from within. But the cultivation technique gave it structure, guided it through his meridians and his martial spirit forced it to obey.
Hours passed, but the pain didn't stop.
It intensified, his marrows spewing out impurities—black, tar-like substances—seeped from his pores, staining his robes and the floor beneath him.
His dantian swelled, straining against its limits. The liquid qi inside churned violently, condensing further, growing denser.
Then it broke.
The barrier between Qi Gathering Stage 4 and Stage 5 shattered like glass. Spiritual energy flooded in, filling every corner of his dantian, and expanding it beyond what it had been.
[Cultivation Advanced: Qi Gathering Stage 5]
[Marrow impurities purged]
[Foundation significantly strengthened, cultivation speed increases by 5%]
Long Chen opened his eyes.
The pain was gone, and in its place was... clarity. His body felt lighter, stronger, more refined. He flexed his fingers and felt the difference immediately. Every movement was smoother, faster, and more controlled.
He stood slowly, testing his balance. His muscles responded perfectly. There was no hesitation or delay.
'Stage 5, I should probably get that sword seeing as I can't use this one'
Long Chen looked at the sealed sword with a helpless look; it was like having a jade beauty but being unable to touch her.
He decided to make use of the token he got to good use.
He looked down at himself. His robes were ruined, soaked with black filth. He'd need to wash before going anywhere.
The Spirit Sword Pavilion stood near the center of the Dugu Clan compound, a four-story building with curved rooftops and walls carved with intricate sword patterns. Spiritual energy radiated from it constantly, sharp and metallic, like standing too close to a blade.
Long Chen approached the entrance, freshly washed and wearing clean servant robes. The token he'd received from the tower sat tucked inside his sleeve—a small jade slip that granted access to the second floor.
He needed a proper weapon. The assassin's blade had served its purpose, but it was just steel. It had no spiritual properties. No resonance with qi. And against stronger opponents, it would break.
Dragonfang was still sealed. Until he could awaken it, he needed something else.
He was ten steps from the pavilion entrance when he heard the voice.
"Well, well. Look who it is."
Long Chen stopped in his track.
Dugu Shenlie stood near the pavilion's side courtyard, flanked by four lackeys in expensive robes. The Third Young Master looked exactly as Long Chen remembered—sharp features, cold eyes, and an expression that always seemed one step away from cruelty.
The assassins Shenlie had sent after him were dead. The leader had confessed everything before Long Chen left him bleeding in the forest.
And now here he was, standing in front of the man who'd tried to have him killed.
Long Chen's jaw tightened.
Shenlie smiled faintly. "I heard you climbed the tower yesterday. Thirteen floors, was it? Impressive for a servant."
The four disciples around him sneered. One of them—a broad-shouldered youth with a scar across his chin—stepped forward.
"Probably cheated," the disciple said. "No way spiritless trash like him cleared thirteen floors honestly."
Long Chen didn't respond. He just kept walking.
"Hey!" The scarred disciple moved to block his path. "I'm talking to you, servant."
Long Chen stopped one step away from him.
Their eyes met.
The disciple's sneer faltered slightly. Something in Long Chen's gaze made him hesitate.
"Move," Long Chen said quietly.
"What?" The disciple puffed his chest out. "You'll—"
Long Chen moved.
He shot forward in a blur, his hand shooting out, fingers wrapping around the disciple's neck. Before the man could react, Long Chen twisted and drove his knee into the disciple's stomach.
The disciple screamed and dropped to his knees, clutching his stomach as he vomited its content.
The other three disciples froze, hands moving toward their weapons.
Long Chen released the injured disciple and turned towards Shenlie.
A/N
Hey guys sorry for the late upload, I've been so busy anyways thanks for supporting and please don't forget to support me with power stone❤️
Your power stone will always motivate me to write more and if we can get to 50 power stone I will be dropping 1 extra chapter.
I will be dropping one now just because I have it down so yeah thanks for th support again.