Chapter 6：Marrow Cleansing

A lady in a purple shirt was standing behind a massive tree located not far from the two figures.

Blessed with finely chiseled features, her eyes were charming and enchanting. Her perfect figure was exquisite and curved at all the right parts. If Ji Mo was present at that moment, he would have undoubtedly displayed his disgust towards this woman, Du Jia.

Du Jia wiggled her fingers absent-mindedly while eavesdropping on the conversation between Ji Shan and Nangong Ye. 

'That wretched trash just said that it wouldn't belong to him even if there was a fortuitous encounter. Doesn't he know that the tiny cauldron is no longer with Nan Hao? It seems like he's also been kept in the dark. The whereabouts of that tiny cauldron containing the Nine Suns True Qi is still unknown. I have to notify Nan Hao immediately and get him to scour that place again. Maybe he'll find some clues,' she thought to herself.

Then, Du Jia performed a strange technique and her silhouette disappeared behind the massive tree instantly. 

...

Ji Mo was heading home alone. Reflecting back on what Ji Shan had said earlier, he finally understood how unpredictable the human mind could be. Even his own cousin from the same clan was prejudiced towards him, trying to coerce him through bribery. It was for no other reason than the fact that among all the disciples of the clan, Ji Mo was the one most likely doomed with a bleak future. He had always been looked down on, even among the brothers.

However, it appeared that after these past few days, Ji Mo had matured tremendously and learned to be more accepting.

Ji Mo noticed a pretty young girl as soon as he entered the courtyard of his house. He knew this young girl named Cai Die as she was his mother's trusted maidservant.

Cai Die was cradling a simple box in her arms.

"You're finally home, Young Master." She walked over with the box.

"Cai Die, do you have to carry this thing so solemnly as if it contains the ashes of bones? How depressing," he teased jokingly.

Laughter escaped Cai Die's mouth. "Young Master, you sure are great at jokes. This box contains ten Purple Spirit Fruits that Madam has especially entrusted me to bring over to you. She received your message early this morning and told me to bring ten Purple Spirit Fruits over for you in the fastest way possible. Even Master doesn't know about this."

With that, Cai Die handed that box over to Ji Mo.

"Mother really acts quickly. I just sent the message over this morning and I already receive the package the same evening. Thanks, dear." Ji Mo accepted the wooden box and opened it. A waft of fragrance immediately caressed his face. Inside the wooden box, each of the sparkling and translucent Purple Spirit Fruits was of the size of a baby's fist.

The Purple Spirit Fruit was a second-grade spiritual medicine that contained an abundance of heaven and earth spiritual energy. Each month, two of the fruits would be distributed to every disciple in the clan. Although cultivation practice was not major in the Ji Clan, several cultivators emerged among them. Ji Mo's parents, for instance, used to be disciples of the Tianshan Sword Sect. Later, they bid farewell to the sect and returned home to manage the clan. Some would call them a half-cultivated family.

Furthermore, Ji Mo's Elder Brother and Second Sister were pursuing cultivation in other prestigious sects. They were true cultivators.

"Young Master, I shall take my leave if there's nothing else that I can be of your assistance," Cai Die said.

"Hmm, okay." Ji Mo dismissed the girl with a simple wave of his hand. He was in no mood to care about her.

In fact, Cai Die was extremely curious to know why he had requested for ten Purple Spirit Fruits. She had practically grown up under the care of Ji Mo's mother, hence she was familiar with Ji Mo's personality. Her Young Master was only interested in classical texts and did not bother about cultivation. Furthermore, he had never really taken advantage of the two Purple Spirit Fruits distributed to him each month.

Disciples of other clans regarded the Purple Spirit Fruit as a precious treasure, but it was nothing but a common fruit in her Young Master's eyes. 

However, why did he request for so many Purple Spirit Fruits all of a sudden? Had he made up his mind to study diligently from now on? Cai Die only shook her head at the thought of this. 'Madam wouldn't be so troubled if he had put in more effort. Perhaps he wants to trade for something else with this great gift,' she thought to herself.

That was already a common behavior of Ji Mo's when he was still living in the clan. Once, he had traded the clan's premium iron-cast sword for an ancient classic. He had been reprimanded by his father because of that incident. Ever since then, his father had completely exhausted any expectations he had for his young son. He thought that that son of his was not cultivation material since the boy only enjoyed ancient texts.

If Ji Mo's mother had not insisted on enrolling Ji Mo into Tianyuan Academy, perhaps he would have still been at home, engrossed in his "research."

After dismissing Cai Die, Ji Mo sat cross-legged in the room alone.

He had already memorized the Celestial Devil Tempering Art by heart, but in order for him to learn that particular art right now, he would have to destroy the Tiger Leopard Tempering Art which he had learned before this. That would be a painful process of intense cramping as if his bones were being dug out of his body. A common person could hardly stand the torture. Besides, a Marrow Cleansing Pill was required in order to destroy the old Body Tempering Art.

The purpose of the Marrow Cleansing Pill was to thoroughly wash away any effects that had been caused to the mortal body by the previous Body Tempering Art. It could cleanse through every muscle, meridian, and bone in the body, and revert them to their original state. Otherwise, apart from causing bizarre results in one's body, mixing two Body Tempering Arts would cause the mortal body to refuse to accept the changes.

Ji Mo ransacked the house to locate a black medicinal pill. Each disciple of the Ji Clan received one of these black pills when they first started practicing a Body Tempering Art, in hopes that they could utilize it to thoroughly clean their mortal body and retrain when they discovered a better Body Tempering Art in the future.

"Sigh, I bet this will be miserable," Ji Mo muttered as he heaved a sigh. He clenched his teeth and popped the pill into his mouth.

As soon as the Marrow Cleansing Pill entered his mouth, he quickly swallowed it without chewing because it had a tremendously bitter taste.

Its effect spread rapidly.

"Arghh!"

In an instant, an intense pain radiated throughout Ji Mo's body, making him cry out in pain.

The Marrow Cleansing Pill had taken effect. Ji Mo felt like every inch of his flesh was being pulled apart alive, and all his internal organs had been set on fire. The intense suffering was drilled into his bones. Next, the meridians in his body felt like they were being tugged at by an enormous force. Perspiration formed all over his body due to physical suffering.

In addition, after the muscles and meridians underwent the purifying process, the Marrow Cleansing Pill began to clean Ji Mo's bones. The agony permeated into the depths of his bone marrow as if it was trying to extract the essence from each of his bones.

Ji Mo felt like he was about to pass out, but he persisted with gritted teeth.

Although he could faint at any moment, he must continue waiting until his bones had been cleaned thoroughly. Then, he had to perform the Celestial Devil Tempering Art immediately to strengthen his mortal body. Otherwise, any sequelae that might occur would be a constant obstacle to his cultivation path.

The agonizing torment carried on. 

Ji Mo felt that every minute dragged past like years. The short span of half an hour felt as long as ten centuries.

It would be great if marrow cleansing could be as relaxing as a mere reboot.