"+6 to Comprehension, the Six Heavens Blood-Strengthening Art actually reached the sixth tier?"
Lu Changsheng was not entirely surprised that the Six Heavens Blood-Strengthening Art had now reached perfection.
It was merely a little earlier than he had anticipated.
Yet, the attribute panel judging the Six Heavens Blood-Strengthening Art as a sixth-tier martial art did genuinely catch Lu Changsheng off guard.
He only knew that the Six Heavens Blood-Strengthening Art was a superior martial art, far outstripping the ordinary.
With that, Lu Changsheng began to check his attribute panel.
Host: Lu Changsheng
Comprehension: 211 (Significant Potential)
Six Heavens Blood-Strengthening Art: Sixth Layer Perfection
Upon seeing the 211 points of Comprehension on the attribute panel, however, Lu Changsheng could not muster any joy.
Two months had already passed, and without any second-tier martial skills, his Comprehension had practically failed to grow at all.
"My Qi and Blood have already permeated my entire body, reaching near-absolute limits."
"With the limits of the Blood Strengthening Realm reached, I can now safely step into the Bone Forging Realm."
Lu Changsheng took out a manual from the hidden compartment—none other than the Fierce Bull Bone-Forging Skill.
In truth, Lu Changsheng had met the prerequisites for practicing the Fierce Bull Bone-Forging Skill long ago.
Yet, he had not practiced it.
He was waiting for the Six Heavens Blood-Strengthening Art to reach perfection.
Now that the Six Heavens Blood-Strengthening Art was perfected, and his Qi and Blood could advance no further, he could naturally begin practicing the Fierce Bull Bone-Forging Skill.
"Bone forging is, in essence, using Qi and Blood to temper the bones."
"Bones may appear hard, but they are actually quite fragile."
"They require Qi and Blood to temper them from the inside out, time and time again."
Lu Changsheng was already thoroughly familiar with the common knowledge regarding bone forging.
He opened the Fierce Bull Bone-Forging Skill, read through it carefully, and committed every detail firmly to memory.
"Let us begin."
Lu Changsheng mobilized his Qi and Blood, tempering his bones according to the method of the Fierce Bull Bone-Forging Skill.
*Boom.*
During his very first attempt at bone tempering, Lu Changsheng felt a sharp pain.
Yet he endured it, continuing to temper his bones bit by bit with his Qi and Blood.
Thanks to Lu Changsheng's formidable Comprehension, he possessed a profound understanding of the bone-tempering techniques within the Fierce Bull Bone-Forging Skill.
From the very start, he seemed exceptionally skilled, making his bone-tempering efficiency remarkably high.
Even so, completing a full round of tempering would still require at least ten days.
After all, the human body possessed numerous bones; ensuring every single one was thoroughly refined took time and patient tempering.
Roughly two hours later, feeling somewhat fatigued, Lu Changsheng stopped.
He concentrated his focus and checked his attribute panel.
Host: Lu Changsheng
Comprehension: 211 (Significant Potential)
Fierce Bull Bone-Forging Skill: First Layer
Lu Changsheng had not yet finished a complete cycle of bone tempering.
Even so, having stepped into the Bone Forging Realm, Lu Changsheng could distinctly feel that his strength, defense, stamina, and other attributes had grown immensely.
Far surpassing the Blood Strengthening Realm!
"No wonder they say each of the Three Body-Tempering Passes is a realm unto itself."
"In the Bone Forging Realm, even initial bone forging alone yields a physical constitution far superior to that of a Blood Strengthening Realm martial artist."
Lu Changsheng felt deeply satisfied.
Soon, the night passed.
The next day, Elder Wen sought out Lu Changsheng of his own accord, a trace of a smile on his face.
"Changsheng, the matter is settled."
"Doctor Wu Jing has agreed to take you as his disciple."
"However, the proper rites cannot be neglected. Wu Jing places the utmost importance on etiquette; if you wish to become his disciple, you must perform the master-servant bowing ceremony."
A wave of joy washed over Lu Changsheng, and he nodded, saying, "That is only natural. Thank you for troubling yourself on my behalf, Elder Wen."
"Very well, come with me to see Wu Jing now and formally take him as your master."
Guided by Elder Wen, Lu Changsheng arrived at a medicinal shop affiliated with Miaoshou Garden.
Inside stood a sexagenarian with a slight hunch in his back, yet full of vigor, possessing a healthy, rosy complexion and a robust, ringing voice.
"Wu Jing, I've brought the person to you."
Elder Wen spoke directly to the elderly man.
The two seemed well acquainted. Wu Jing glanced briefly at Elder Wen before turning his gaze upon Lu Changsheng.
"Old Wen, is this the genius you mentioned who memorized the Classic of Pharmacy in just a few months?"
"Indeed. If you don't believe it, feel free to test him."
Wu Jing waved his hand dismissively. "There's no need. It's rare for an old fellow like you to praise a junior so highly; what test could possibly be necessary?"
"Lu Changsheng, is it? Since you are recommended by Old Wen, this old man accepts you."
"But if you prove lazy or incompetent, this old man can expel you from the sect at any moment, and you can simply go back to being a common apothecary. Do you understand?"
Lu Changsheng nodded. "Your disciple understands."
In truth, Lu Changsheng was somewhat surprised; Doctor Wu Jing truly was just as the rumors described—possessing rather a prickly temper.
He might actually expel a disciple even after accepting him into the fold?
Yet Lu Changsheng harbored no fear.
With a staggering 211 points of Comprehension, would he ever need to worry about failing to satisfy Wu Jing?
And so, Lu Changsheng served tea and kowtowed to Wu Jing, completing the formal apprenticeship ceremony to officially become the disciple of the renowned physician Wu Jing.
This was no mere errand boy or apprentice.
Apprentices were arranged by Miaoshou Garden, whereas disciples were the ones who inherited the master's mantle and legacy; the two were fundamentally different.
Wu Jing had apprentices under his command, and quite a few of them at that.
Yet Lu Changsheng was his sole and only disciple.
When Elder Wen prepared to leave, Lu Changsheng walked him out.
Elder Wen exhorted him earnestly, "Changsheng, the truth is, Old Wu did take on a few other disciples previously, but he was dissatisfied with every single one of them and cast them out directly."
"Thus, this old man truly hopes you won't end up being expelled by Old Wu."
"Eccentric though his temperament may be, Old Wu is genuinely a man of true skill. You must follow him closely and learn well."
A slight chill stirred in Lu Changsheng's heart. It turned out his new master wasn't just making idle threats—he actually expelled disciples without hesitation.
What a truly eccentric temper.
After Elder Wen departed, Lu Changsheng remained by Wu Jing's side.
Wu Jing's apprentices were hardly what one would call friendly toward Lu Changsheng.
After all, Miaoshou Garden had assigned them as apprentices precisely in the hope that they might become Wu Jing's disciples and master his medical skills.
Now, Lu Changsheng had barged in halfway and directly claimed the position of Wu Jing's disciple; it would be a wonder if they could muster pleasant expressions.
Yet Lu Changsheng paid them no mind.
His sole purpose in following Wu Jing was to learn medicine, so he naturally had no inclination to engage in petty intrigue with these apprentices.
Over the next few days, Lu Changsheng spent his days at Doctor Wu Jing's side, learning the art of healing.
Endowed with astonishing Comprehension, he grasped the principles of medicine and diagnostic differentiation simply by observing.
In just a few short days, he deeply impressed Wu Jing, prompting the physician to begin imparting true medical arts.
Yet the art of medicine was vast and profound.
No matter how high Lu Changsheng's Comprehension was, he could not master it in a mere few days.
Still, with a renowned physician like Wu Jing providing hands-on instruction, Lu Changsheng's medical proficiency advanced at a blistering pace.
In the blink of an eye, over a month passed.
On this day, Lu Changsheng arrived at the medicine shop as usual, preparing to assist Wu Jing.
He was now capable of conducting preliminary inquiries into patients' conditions before reporting to Wu Jing, making him a genuine assistant.
Suddenly, a flurry of hurried footsteps echoed from outside.
"Quick, quick, hurry and find Doctor Wu! Someone has suffered internal organ injuries and is in critical condition!"
"Where is Doctor Wu?"
"Save them, quickly..."
Dozens of people suddenly surged into the medicine shop, packing it almost to capacity.
They were carrying individuals who had sustained injuries; every single one of them had a complexion as pale as gold paper and was clinging to life by a thread.
"What happened?"
A cold jolt went through Lu Changsheng's heart.
"Miaoshou Garden has been raided by bandits."
"Those daring, heinous scoundrels! Not content with ransacking a medicine shop last time, they've actually gone and plundered Miaoshou Garden itself!"
"Countless apprentices, apothecaries, physicians, and even members of the security guard have been killed. Even the clan head has been wounded—Miaoshou Garden is awash in blood!"
"Damn those bandits..."
Wailing and weeping filled the medicine shop from every corner.
Lu Changsheng felt a profound shock.
Miaoshou Garden had been plundered?
One had to remember that Miaoshou Garden had Viscera-Cleansing martial artists holding down the fort—how dared those bandits?
"Elder Wen? What about Elder Wen?"
Lu Changsheng demanded immediately.
He remembered clearly that Elder Wen was right there at Miaoshou Garden.
"What is all this racket?"
"If you aren't wounded, get outside."
"Changsheng, what are you standing there spacing out for? Hurry up and check their injuries..."
Wu Jing arrived, rapidly restoring order to the chaotic situation.
Taking a deep breath, Lu Changsheng forced his emotions to settle and set about assisting his master in treating the wounded.
Yet a lingering, quiet anxiety regarding Elder Wen remained deeply rooted in his heart.