Following his promotion to Attendant-in-Ordinary, Xiao Wuchen's authority and responsibilities increased significantly. He was no longer just someone who delivered documents and carried out assassinations; he began to participate in the Inner Palace Attendant Department's core management.
Chief Evil-Slaying entrusted him with a crucial task: selecting and training a new group of eunuchs entering the palace.
'The foundation of the Inner Palace Attendant Department lies not in martial arts prowess, but in loyalty and usability,' said Chief Evil-Slaying, his tone carrying a chilling insight into human nature. 'Most of these newcomers are here for power and wealth. You will oversee the selection process for me, weeding out all those who are disloyal, unstable or unusable.'
'Your subordinate obeys,' said Xiao Wuchen, bowing in agreement.
This task was both a test of power and a challenge. Xiao Wuchen needed to thoroughly understand the operational model of the Inner Palace Attendant Department and have the power to decide personnel matters.
Xiao Wuchen did not rush to display his martial prowess, but instead adopted a tiered elimination strategy.
First Round: A Test of Character
He personally presided over the interviews with the new recruits, disregarding family background and focusing solely on their views on power and their expectations for the future. Those who were eager for credit and displayed greed were immediately eliminated.
The second round focused on efficiency and meticulousness. A large number of tedious and minor tasks were assigned. Their ability to complete these tasks flawlessly and without error within a very short timeframe was assessed. This test eliminated over 70% of people who considered themselves intelligent, but lacked practical skills.
The third round is a test of loyalty. Xiao Wuchen deliberately spread rumours that were detrimental to the Chief Evil Exorcist in front of the new recruits, or he feigned hints of his own 'disloyalty'. Those who wavered immediately, attempted to curry favour or betrayed 'secrets', regardless of their abilities, were relegated to the lowest ranks and were never given important positions.
In just half a month, Xiao Wuchen's supervision of the selection of eunuchs resulted in a 90% elimination rate. Although only a few dozen remained, these individuals were all calm and reliable, having passed the brutal test of loyalty to the Chief Evil Exorcist.
After hearing the report, the Chief Evil-Repelling Steward gave a rare approving smile. 'Very good. Wu Chen, you know how to hold the hilt of a sword better than I imagined. This group of people will be your 'wings' from now on. If you use them well, they will be more useful than your own martial arts.'
Having dealt with the complex internal affairs, Xiao Wuchen devoted all his energy to the first task in the Meridian Building Guide: perfecting the Tiger Leopard Thunder Sound Body Refining Technique.
The Meridian Building Realm involves circulating powerful true qi throughout the body's meridians to construct the martial artist's 'Heavenly Meridians', thereby bearing higher levels of power and spiritual energy. However, meridians are fragile and, without a strong physical body to act as a vessel, forcibly building them can result in damage at best and immediate death from bodily explosion at worst.
"My physical body must reach the limit that the Qi Refining Realm can withstand!"
Xiao Wuchen understood the urgency of the situation. He reduced his daily Qi Refining meditation time, devoting more time to body refining.
His method of cultivating the Tiger Leopard Thunder Sound Body Refining Technique was extremely intense:
Medicinal Bath Catalysis: using his position as a steward's attendant, he secretly collected a large quantity of rare medicinal herbs to invigorate the blood and strengthen the bones, preparing an extremely concentrated medicinal bath. The liquid was scalding hot, and each soak felt like being bitten by a thousand ants.
Extreme Hammering: After the medicinal bath, he put on specially made iron-sand armour and, using the Tiger Leopard Thunder Breathing Technique, repeatedly hit himself with heavy fists and iron rods. With each breath, his blood and qi stirred, emitting a thunderous sound like a tiger's roar or a leopard's leap.
Breakthrough and Rebirth: He continuously pushed his physical limits of fatigue and pain until his muscles and bones were torn. He then immediately consumed pills and meat to repair the damage, strengthening his body in the process.
Once the effects of the Breakthrough Pill had completely worn off, he used his perfected Qi Refining True Qi to repeatedly cleanse his meridians.
After the effects of the Breakthrough Pill had completely worn off, he used his perfected Qi Refining True Qi technique to repeatedly cleanse his meridians. Combined with the vibrations of the Thunder Breathing Technique, this finally allowed him to break through the final bottleneck of his body-refining technique.
One month later, one night.
While cultivating, Xiao Wuchen's blood and qi suddenly emitted a muffled, thunderous roar. This sound was deep and powerful; it was no longer simply the friction of blood and qi, but it possessed a penetrating force as if a ferocious beast had truly awakened within his body.
[Ding!] [Congratulations, host! You have cultivated the Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound Body Refining Technique to the 'Perfect Realm'!
Your physical strength has reached the limit achievable in the Qi Refining Realm! Meridian Building Guidance (I) achieved!
Xiao Wuchen clenched his fist and felt that beneath his skin was not just flesh and blood, but something forged from refined iron. With a light leap, he could feel the terrifying power erupting from his muscles. Even without using true qi, he could now withstand a full-force attack from an ordinary peak Qi Refining Realm expert with his pure physical strength alone.
Once the Body Refinement task was complete, the system immediately updated the guidance.
Pulse Building Guidance:
Task 1: Body Refinement, Ultimate Realm. Completed.
Task 2: Pulse Building Pill Recipe.
Collect a complete prescription and list of auxiliary ingredients required for the key Pulse Building pill, the 'Dragon Tiger Pulse Building Pill'.
Hint: This pill prescription is an extremely rare ancient alchemy secret, mostly treasured by major sects or royal families.
"Dragon Tiger Pulse Building Pill…" Xiao Wuchen's eyes narrowed slightly. Without high-quality pills, he knew that the risk of breaking through to the Pulse Building Realm would increase exponentially.
Now that he was in the palace and had reached the level of steward, this was his greatest advantage in finding the prescription. He decided to start with the secret archives controlled by the Inner Palace Secretariat and the palace's medicinal herb storehouse.
'Such a secret prescription might exist in sects like the Haoran Sword Sect, but the most likely place to hide it would be in the secret storehouses deep within the palace!'