The Innate Pill.
It was the size of a bird's egg, perfectly round, with a pale yellow surface. Inside, it seemed to flow like a clear, gurgling spring.
Upon closer inspection...
A brilliant Spiritual Light seemed to shine within, like a galaxy of stars.
A gentle sniff brought a lasting, profound fragrance that lingered long in the air.
This elixir could increase a Seventh-Grade Martial Artist's chances of advancing to the Sixth Grade. It was also an essential elixir for upper-stage Seventh-Grade Martial Artists to break through to a higher realm.
It was similar to a Foundation Establishment Pill.
Besides increasing the odds of advancement, the Innate Pill also contained a wisp of Innate Qi. Consuming it could strengthen one's tendons and bones, alter their constitution, and improve their Cultivation.
Of course.
Compared to reaching the Sixth Grade, these benefits were nothing. But they were precisely what Zhu Ju needed.
GULP...
With a flick of his hand, he tossed an Innate Pill into his mouth, and it slid down his throat into his stomach.
If any outsider were to witness this, they would surely curse him for his outrageous wastefulness.
An Innate Pill was a treasure that Sixth-Grade Martial Artists dreamed of. For a Ninth-Grade Martial Artist to consume one was a complete waste.
BOOM!
The moment the elixir entered his stomach, a savage heat erupted.
This heat wouldn't be much for a Seventh-Grade Martial Artist, but for a mid-stage Ninth-Grade, it was immense.
Dragon Elephant Force!
'Refine!'
Zhu Ju's eyes snapped open, a Spiritual Light flashing within them. The skin and flesh of his Physical Body trembled, and under the stimulation of his Divine Soul Power, his digestive abilities increased frantically.
In a short time, he was like a Taotie that devoured everything.
RUMBLE RUMBLE...
As the violent energy was rapidly devoured and refined, Zhu Ju's Physical Body underwent a visible transformation.
His skin and flesh grew more refined, his pores began to shrink, and his tendons and bones grew amidst a series of CRACKLING sounds.
In just a few moments, he had actually grown three centimeters.
His aura also grew stronger.
'Upper Ninth-Grade?'
"Almost there."
Muttering softly, Zhu Ju picked up a second Innate Pill and swallowed it without hesitation.
As the elixir's power was refined once more, the aura around him surged violently.
His Qi Blood churned and condensed, sweeping through him like a great river until it shattered a barrier, allowing him to step into a whole new realm.
Upper Ninth-Grade!
'Primordial Yang Qi!'
The Innate Qi from the Innate Pill was useless to Zhu Ju, and letting it dissipate would be a waste, so he decided to use it to cultivate the Primordial Yang Qi Technique.
Cultivating Primordial Yang Qi could also increase the chances of a Seventh-Grade advancing to the Sixth Grade. Even if he didn't use it himself, he could sell it to others.
The key was that consuming Primordial Yang Qi could also increase his strength to a certain extent.
「Several days later.」
Zhu Ju walked out of the Quiet Chamber and slowly stretched his limbs. A series of soft, popping sounds immediately followed.
"Young Master!"
Nursing Director Zhang, who had been guarding near the Quiet Chamber, had his eyes light up. He hurriedly cupped his fists in a salute.
"Young Master, congratulations on achieving Great Success with your Divine Skill! With time, you will surely attain a Martial Arts Saint Body."
"Heh..." Zhu Ju chuckled and shook his head.
"I've only reached Upper Ninth-Grade. Nursing Director Zhang, you exaggerate."
"Not at all." Nursing Director Zhang shook his head, his expression serious.
"Young Master, it has been less than a year since you formally began practicing Martial Arts, yet you've gone from being ungraded to Upper Ninth-Grade. Such progress would be considered top-tier even in the greatest Noble Families or Martial Arts Grand Sects. What's more, your prowess in combat is unparalleled, and your strength far exceeds that of other Martial Artists at the same Cultivation level. This kind of Talent is not something that can be gained through hard training alone."
"I'll take that as a good omen." Zhu Ju didn't want to say more and asked,
"Has anything happened recently?"
"Everything is as usual at the mansion." Nursing Director Zhang bowed.
"The city, however, has been a bit chaotic. Over the past few days, people have been constantly reporting disappearances, causing a nonstop clamor."
"Oh?" Zhu Ju's brow furrowed slightly.
"The business..."
"Is booming," Nursing Director Zhang said.
"Miss Qian has a photographic memory. Her mental arithmetic is faster than an old master's abacus, and she's both quick and accurate. Even Old Liu is full of admiration."
"Qian Shiyao?" Zhu Ju's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Let's go see her."
*
*
*
Dressed in a long, emerald-green robe, Qian Shiyao placed her hands by her hips, bent her knees slightly, and curtsied.
"This servant greets the Young Master."
Her current identity was that of an inner court Steward of the Zhu Mansion, as well as the manager of the Cloth Workshop business.
To prevent her from absconding with the funds, and also to ensure her own position as the mistress of the house was not threatened, Zhou Ruxuan had specially arranged for her to be registered as an indentured servant.
In other words, Qian Shiyao had now effectively sold herself to the Zhu Family. She didn't even have her own identity documents.
Without the Zhu Family, she was nothing.
Moreover, she knew her place. Thus far, she had shown no thoughts or actions of coveting the position of the main wife.
She dutifully acted as a servant of the Zhu Family.
"Mm."
Zhu Ju nodded, setting the account book aside, a hint of a smile on his face.
"You've done well."
"It is because the Young Master has great foresight and saw the potential of the waterways that the Cloth Workshop's business is able to prosper." Qian Shiyao's voice was respectful.
"The Zhu Family's current assets have more than doubled compared to the Qian Family's at its peak, and the future looks even brighter."
"That's not my skill." Zhu Ju shook his head.
"The Sanhe Gang is backed by the Pai Sect. With the waterways open, trade can reach ten prefectures. The Zhu Family is merely going with the flow."
"If the Zhu Family didn't do it, someone else would."
"Mmm..."
"Zhou Ruxuan sent a letter. She said the city hasn't been very stable recently. Tell our people to be careful."
"Yes." Qian Shiyao acknowledged, then asked with some confusion,
"The Qingyi Gang has already been wiped out, and the Sanhe Gang has taken its place. Why is Taiyuan Prefecture still so chaotic after all this time?"
"Who knows," Zhu Ju said, his expression indifferent.
"As long as it doesn't affect us, there's no need to bother with it. Is something on your mind?"
"...Young Master." Qian Shiyao's expression shifted, and she said in a low voice,
"Could I possibly get a raise in my monthly salary? It's not for me, but Qian Hu's food expenses for his martial arts training have been getting higher and higher. Five taels of silver is barely enough anymore."
"Five taels isn't enough?" Zhu Ju was taken aback.
"How much does he eat in one meal?"
An ordinary family of five spends only about thirty-odd taels a year, an average of three taels of silver a month.
Five taels should have been more than enough for two people.
What's more, Qian Shiyao usually ate in the inner court, so she didn't have to spend her own money on that part.
"He eats at least ten jin of meat in one meal." Qian Shiyao also looked bewildered.
"He could always eat a lot, but never this much. I don't know why. I had a doctor look at him, and they said there's nothing wrong."
'Ten jin of meat in one meal?'
'Judging by Qian Shiyao's expression, that's probably when he's not even full.'
Zhu Ju became thoughtful.
'Qian Hu is a Half-Demon and possesses a special bloodline. The change had occurred when that bloodline was activated.'
"How is his Martial Arts Cultivation coming along?"
"He's about to enter the Grades!" Qian Shiyao's beautiful eyes lit up.
"It must be because he eats so much that he grows so fast. I estimate it won't be long before he surpasses me."
"Interesting." Zhu Ju gave her a deep look.
"You are currently the steward of the rear courtyard and also managing the business. Two jobs should come with two salaries."
"A monthly allowance of ten taels. As for your brother..."
"Tell him to cultivate well!"
"Thank you, Young Master." Qian Shiyao was overjoyed.
"Thank you, Young Master!"
She had been hoping to get even a small increase, but she never expected Zhu Ju to double her monthly salary outright.
'Could it be...'
'Does Zhu Ju still remember the good times we shared?'
As the thought crossed her mind, a strange light appeared in her eyes. But as soon as her gaze met Zhu Ju's, she immediately pushed aside such distracting thoughts.
Zhu Ju's eyes were clear and transparent, containing only curiosity, without the slightest hint of lust.
...
「In the Quiet Chamber.」
Zhu Ju took a deep breath. With a gentle exertion of force, he pulled the Demon-Devouring Iron, which weighed over two thousand jin, closer to him.
'Traditional Magical Artifacts from the Cultivation Realm have things in common with Qi Blood Divine Weapons, but whether they can merge will depend on this experiment.'
'If they can...'
'...then perhaps Cultivation Methods can as well.'
"Huuu..."
He let out a breath of turbid air, then gently flicked his finger. A drop of blood emerged from his fingertip and landed on the Demon-Devouring Iron.
As the drop of blood rolled, the trail it left behind was actually a profound and mysterious rune.