But now, after being tempered by the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Orb and its subsequent subtle effects, Chen Yuan's martial arts talent can definitely be considered genius level.

This can be seen from Chen Yuan's current practice of the Vajra Glazed Body.

Strands of scorching heat seeped into his flesh, and the blood within Chen Yuan's body was undergoing its third refinement.

According to ordinary blood refining techniques, Chen Yuan, at the blood refining level, could already be considered a strong contender. If he were to step into the fourth or fifth blood refinement, Chen Yuan's strength would be able to directly pursue Bone Refinement martial artists.

This is the terror of nine blood refinements.

In comparison, Chen Yuan has already created a gap in his foundation compared to ordinary people.

Of course, this is only in comparison to ordinary people. Chen Yuan guessed that the true geniuses in the Jianghu practice body refining techniques that go far beyond just three blood refinements.

Martial arts foundation building—these four words encompass everything.

The entire foundation building realm is all about forging a solid base for future levels.

This is also why ordinary yamen runners might be able to enter the Blood Refinement level with the passage of time, but very few can enter the Bone Refinement level. Looking at the entire Ping An County Yamen, you can't even find a handful of Bone Refinement experts.

Chen Yuan focused his mind, with scorching Yang energy on the outside and cool Marrow Cleansing spiritual power on the inside. Inside and outside, cold and hot, superimposed on each other, the blood within his body surged like a trickling stream.

In the dark, Chen Yuan seemed to be able to feel the blood flowing.

Stillness.

Chen Yuan maintained the posture for nearly an hour. Suddenly, his brow furrowed, he opened his eyes, and the sound of footsteps came from outside the door. The golden lacquer around his body receded into his flesh.

"Creak."

The door was pushed open, and Wang Ping, dressed in yamen uniform and with a long saber at his waist, walked in with a smile.

"Brother Yuan, still practicing in the early morning?" Wang Ping said, looking at Chen Yuan, who was bare-chested and in a horse stance.

"The year's plan starts in spring, and the day's plan starts in the morning." Chen Yuan smiled, took a deep breath, and stood up.

"There's no hope for Bone Refinement anyway. I'll naturally step into Blood Refinement after a few years. I don't want to work so hard." Wang Ping shook his head.

"Uncle Wang spent money to get you into the Yamen. Isn't it to let you step into martial arts and bring glory to the family? If you're like this, Uncle Wang's efforts will be in vain."

Like Chen Yuan, Wang Ping and most of the Ping An County Yamen runners had to spend money to get in.

"Bullshit, he just wants to send me away. Do you think I don't know about his little secrets?" Wang Ping curled his lip, obviously with some resentment.

Chen Yuan was stunned, then remembered Wang Ping's father. Indeed, he lived up to the name "Old Wang next door," with many romantic affairs, according to Wang Ping.

"Your injury is healed?" Chen Yuan sized him up.

"Healed long ago. If I hadn't wanted to take the opportunity to rest longer, I would have returned to the county Yamen a long time ago." Wang Ping pounded his chest a few times with his fist to show his robustness.

"It's good that you're back now. If it had been before, it would have been dangerous instead."

It must be said that Wang Ping's luck was really good. He didn't get involved in the rebellion of the Unborn Church bandits or the Huang family affair. In the previous battle with the Huang family, the county Yamen suffered quite a few losses.

And Wang Ping, as the most ordinary yamen runner, was very likely to get injured.

Hearing Chen Yuan's words, Wang Ping raised his eyebrows with interest, looked around, stepped forward, and lowered his voice to ask:

"Brother Yuan, I heard that Huang Xing was imprisoned?"

"The Huang family colluded with the Unborn Church bandits. The county magistrate was furious and naturally wouldn't let him go."

"Tsk tsk tsk, the Huang family's reputation in our Ping An County is not small. I didn't expect them to fall so quickly. It's a pity that I didn't see the scene." Wang Ping was a little regretful.

Glancing at Wang Ping, Chen Yuan said:

"With your little physique, if you really got involved, do you think you could get out unscathed?"

Wang Ping smiled brightly and touched his face:

"Brother Yuan, you're right. With my strength, I'm really not good enough."

Chen Yuan turned around and returned to the house, put on his clothes, and slung his long saber around his waist:

"Let's go, to the county Yamen."

......

"Hey, Brother Yuan, you said that Huang Xing and Tie Xuan are both dead this time. Who will take their places? Should we try to get on good terms with them in advance, so that it will be easier in the future?" Wang Ping gently stroked the fine stubble on his chin.

"Just curry favor with me..." Chen Yuan said, glancing at Wang Ping with a smile.

"Brother Yuan, you wouldn't have already gotten on good terms with them in advance, would you?" Wang Ping was a little surprised.

"No."

"Then what do you mean, Brother Yuan... you wouldn't want to be a head constable, would you?" Wang Ping thought about it and suddenly exclaimed in surprise.

Chen Yuan smiled without saying a word, saw Zhou's Steamed Bun Shop, and quickly walked up.

"Hey..." Wang Ping called out and quickly followed.

He didn't ask about the head constable's matter anymore. The position of head constable in a county came with a ninth-rank official title, and generally required Bone Refinement cultivation to attain.

Although Brother Yuan's strength was a little stronger than him, it was only by a limited amount. Wang Ping only thought he was joking.

Without taking action, no one could tell that Chen Yuan's strength had reached the Blood Refinement level.

Of course, during the previous confrontation in front of the Huang family, some yamen runners knew that Chen Yuan might have already begun Blood Refinement. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to kill an old yamen runner with years of experience alone.

"Uncle Zhou, six meat buns, and two eggs." Chen Yuan said, looking at the busy figure of Xiao Fang's father. Several people who wanted to buy buns next to him immediately stepped back a little when they saw Chen Yuan and Wang Ping's uniforms.

"A Fang, get some buns for your Brother Yuan..." Uncle Zhou called out.

"Okay..."

Xiao Fang responded, flicked her braid, and hurried over, picked up a steamer basket, and filled it with some buns.

"Brother Yuan, two are enough for me."

Chen Yuan nodded and looked at Xiao Fang, saying:

"Get eight meat buns."

Wang Ping "......"

Xiao Fang smiled and handed the meat buns and eggs to Chen Yuan. Her fingers inadvertently touched his, and she immediately retracted them, her face as if stained with a layer of blush.

"Let's go."

Chen Yuan smiled, threw two meat buns to Wang Ping, and turned to leave.

Xiao Fang looked at Chen Yuan's back fading away, her face red.

Wang Ping turned his head frequently, looking at Xiao Fang for a while, and then at Chen Yuan for a while. He took a big bite of the meat bun and muttered:

"Brother Yuan, Xiao Fang is a good girl, why does it seem like you..."

Putting the peeled egg into his mouth, Chen Yuan said calmly:

"She's good, but she's not suitable for me."

If it were the former Chen Yuan, marrying such a thrifty woman would be very good, but now, Chen Yuan is determined to pursue the path of martial arts and doesn't want to be bound by romantic entanglements.

It wouldn't be good for her or Chen Yuan.

Once you enter the Jianghu, time flies. Chen Yuan doesn't want her to be implicated by enemies in the future, so it's better to cut off the roots of love in advance.

Wang Ping heard the firmness in Chen Yuan's words, and glanced at Xiao Fang, who was staring straight at them from behind, and sighed, thinking:

"What is this thing called love..."

————

Thank you to book friend Purple Ashes for the reward and support of one hundred book coins.