Fantasy: Immortality Begins with Absorbing Demons

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Rewarding Meritorious Service

Guard camp, training ground, early morning

Instructor Lin unusually refrained from issuing any tasks, instead gathering all his disciples early in the morning.

The mountain shadows shifted, the sun was high in the sky, and the cicadas chirped incessantly in the trees. The glaring summer sunlight shone on people's faces, making them feel unbearably hot.

"This awful weather! Why did they make us come here so early in the morning? Who's got the nerve to do this for us?!"

"Shh, shh, a big shot has come today. I heard from my connections in the inner sect that he's here because of the Black Wind Stronghold bandits incident a few days ago."

"Is your news true?"

"It must be genuine. My seventh great-uncle's friend's daughter is the concubine of the elder of the Foreign Affairs Hall!"

"roll!!"

The disciples on the training ground grew impatient and started chattering amongst themselves. Instructor Lin tried to stop them several times to no avail, so he simply left the training ground, hoping to avoid further trouble.

About half an incense stick's time later.

"quiet!"

Instructor Lin strode into the training ground. His voice was loud and stern, and the disciples immediately fell silent.

"Elder Qu, all the disciples are here, there are ten teams in total..."

A respectful voice, tinged with a hint of ingratiation, rang out.

The guard camp manager, Wang, followed closely behind a middle-aged man dressed in a gray robe with a crimson flame embroidered on the cuff.

Manager Wang had been working his way up in the Crimson Flame Sect for many years and knew that some people could be messed with, while others could not be taken lightly, such as Elder Qu, who was an elder of the Enforcement Hall.

The Enforcement Hall oversees the behavior of all disciples, both inside and outside the Crimson Flame Sect, and holds the power of rewards and punishments within the sect, making it a very high-ranking position.

Elder Qu nodded in response to Steward Wang, and then stood in front of the disciples of the guard team.

“Recently, you may have heard some rumors that some petty scoundrels are causing trouble on our Crimson Flame Sect’s territory. But all disciples must remember that such trivial matters are just minor ailments, which can be easily dealt with by the Crimson Flame Sect!”

As he spoke, Elder Qu's lips merely moved, yet his voice was full of energy, resounding throughout the entire training ground, clearly indicating that Elder Qu was also a person of high cultivation.

Han Yi glanced at Elder Qu a few times, and sure enough, the value floating beside him was as high as '115~150'.

"So he's also a Qi Refining stage martial artist..." Han Yi thought bitterly. "I'm only at the Bone Refining stage right now..." "It seems I need to strengthen my strength as soon as possible!" He made up his mind.

"...There is another matter I have come here for. During the recent mission to escort the 'Fire Crystal Stone,' several disciples were fearless and performed outstandingly, successfully protecting the 'Fire Crystal Stone.' However, a few other disciples were negligent and deserted during the mission!"

When he said this, Elder Qu spoke sharply and decisively.

Everyone perked up when they heard this. Skipping over the formalities and pleasantries, this was the real show!

There was not a sound on the training ground at this moment. People occasionally looked at Han Yi's Ninth Squad, while others glanced at Zhang Yun, who was standing alone in the Fourth Squad's position.

The Ninth Squad, needless to say, performed outstandingly and deserves a reward, but as for the Fourth Squad, no one can say for sure...

Since Han Yi and the others returned to camp with Li Xiong that day, Song Qing from the fourth squad had not appeared. The guards had many different opinions about Song Qing's whereabouts; some said he was killed by the Black Wind Stronghold bandits, while others said he panicked and ran into a demon's lair.

But Han Yi knew that Song Qing had already safely returned to the Song family in Anyan City and was now lording it over everyone!

This was the news Li Feng received from his family a few days ago when he went to the sect to report on the delivery mission. He spoke of it with gritted teeth, his anger practically bursting forth.

Looking at Zhang Yun, who was in the fourth squad's position, his arms were crossed and he was rubbing them back and forth. His face was pale and his forehead was covered in cold sweat. He probably knew that his fate was not good.

"The sect is naturally fair and just; those who make contributions will be rewarded, and those who commit wrongdoings will be punished!"

"Ninth Squad!"

Elder Qu shouted loudly at this moment.

"exist!"

Li Feng, Han Yi, and the others quickly responded. "Given the outstanding performance of the Ninth Squad in the transport mission, their courage in fighting the enemy..."

"Captain Li Feng bravely stepped forward, disregarding his own safety, to block the Black Wind Stronghold bandit Tie Sha... He is hereby awarded one 'Pulse-Breaking Pill'!"

'Breaking Meridian Pill', a high-grade Yellow Rank pill, a breakthrough pill for those who have broken through to the Meridian Opening stage!

The disciples were filled with excitement, while several inner disciples exchanged glances and couldn't help but smile wryly.

Everyone works themselves to the bone participating in the sect trials, all for this 'Pulse-Breaking Pill,' only to find that before the trials are even over, others no longer need it…

"Pan Sheng, Wang Meng, and Han Yi, working together with one heart and one mind, have successfully defeated Tie Lu, a bandit from Black Wind Stronghold... Pan Sheng is rewarded with one 'Marrow Tempering Pill' and one 'Blood Transformation Pill'."

Wang Meng is awarded a bottle of 'Nourishing Pill' and appointed as the manager of the mining camp effective immediately! 'Marrow Tempering Pill' and 'Blood Transformation Pill' are mid-grade Yellow Rank pills, essential for breaking through to the Blood Refining stage!

Many disciples in the Bone Refining stage revealed a hint of longing in their eyes.

There are two major hurdles in breaking through from the Bone Refining stage to the Blood Refining stage.

The first challenge is to create new blood. This involves transforming the blood produced in the bone marrow into a wisp of innate qi and blood during the later stages of bone refining. This process is extremely painful, and even the slightest mistake can damage the fragile bone marrow.

The amount of bone marrow in the human body is extremely limited. If one fails to produce new blood once or twice, it will be difficult to achieve anything in martial arts for the rest of one's life, and may even leave lifelong damage!

The 'Marrow Tempering Pill' can not only increase the success rate of bone marrow tempering, but also avoid the aftereffects of failed breakthroughs.

The second stage is the transformation of old blood. After a wisp of innate blood energy is generated in the later stages of bone refining, it needs to be gradually strengthened and then transformed into acquired blood using the water-milling technique. Therefore, this stage is sometimes called the 'blood-milling' period. This stage is not as difficult as creating new blood, but it is extremely time-consuming. The 'blood-transformation pill' is made for this purpose and can greatly accelerate the transformation of acquired blood.

As for the reward for Wang Meng, it's clear to everyone that this is compensation for the end of his martial arts career.

The 'Nourishing Pill' is just an ordinary pill that nourishes the body, while the title of mining camp manager sounds impressive, and perhaps in the eyes of outer disciples, it is an enviable position.

However, for many inner disciples, being in charge of the camp is a place to retire and wait for death. This is a choice that only disciples who are old and frail, whose strength has not improved, and who have no merit would make.

"Furthermore, Han Yi made a great contribution in killing Tie Lu and repelling Tie Sha this time..."

Elder Qu's unhurried voice rang out again.