I use my future dreams to prove immortality.

Chapter 21 Dark Night

After the dream ended, Zhou Qiuyuan ate breakfast as usual, went to the Treasure Pharmacy, bought a Wild Bull Bone Strengthening Pill, and then arrived at his master's villa.

Everything was just like yesterday. Luo Tong was cultivating, and Lu Chengping arrived late, carrying a cold and aloof aura that kept strangers at bay.

Both senior brothers were very serious about their cultivation, so Zhou Qiuyuan didn't want to disturb them rashly. He quietly found a place and used the Thunder Breathing Technique to increase his lung capacity.

When a cultivator is in the Body Tempering Realm, he needs to combine the Wild Bull Bone Strengthening Pill with lightning spiritual power in order to maximize the effect of the pill. He is becoming more and more adept at controlling lightning spiritual power, so perhaps he can try it ahead of time.

Zhou Qiuyuan was unsure whether there were any hidden dangers in this idea. When it was Lu Chengping's turn to use the Thunder Blade, Zhou Qiuyuan went up to Luo Tong and humbly asked for his advice.

Luo Tong chuckled and said, "You're being too hasty. You haven't even learned to walk yet, and you're already thinking about running."

"The human body has special protection. A large amount of thunder spirit power must be accumulated in the Yang Lei Lung and condensed into a wisp of thunder spirit energy before it can break through the restrictions and flow into all parts of the body."

"After the Yang Thunder Lung is mastered, the power of thunder flows to the outside of the airways and lungs. The cultivator uses the power of thunder to allow the medicinal power to penetrate deep into the skin, blood, bone marrow and internal organs."

"Before you can refine the Yang Thunder Lung, you still need to take the Breath Protection Pill. The two different medicinal powers conflict with each other. At this moment, absorbing the Thunder Spirit Power will only cause the Thunder Spirit Power to get out of control, which will lead to endless troubles."

"This is advice from someone who's been there."

"Thank you, Senior Brother Luo!" Zhou Qiuyuan's doubts were resolved. He bowed to Luo Tong to express his gratitude and then took out a Wild Bull Bone Strengthening Pill and swallowed it.

A tingling and itchy sensation came from his bones, and the effects of the Bull Bone Strengthening Pill began to take hold. The tingling and itching were unbearable all over his body. His long-depleted body was like parched land receiving rain, greedily absorbing the hard-won nutrients.

Before he knew it, more than half an hour had passed, and Zhou Qiuyuan let out a long breath.

He moved his body, and strange noises came from his bones. His well-fitting clothes were stretched very tight, and the cuffs were a little shorter.

Not bad!

The effects of the Bull Bone Strengthening Pill were no less than those in the future dream, increasing strength by about 30%.

The changes were so drastic, but ultimately it was because his foundation was too weak.

Regardless of the type of pill, the first dose is the most effective, and subsequent doses of the Wild Bull Bone Strengthening Pill will not have such a significant effect.

Lu Chengping handed over the Thunder Blade only after he finished cultivating.

Zhou Qiuyuan took the Thunder Blade and began to breathe deeply. Four hundred Thunder Spirit Roots drew Thunder Spirit Power from heaven and earth, and the Thunder Spirit Power began to surge into his lungs. He focused all his efforts on tempering his Yang Thunder Lungs.

After completing his two-hour daily cultivation session, Zhou Qiuyuan returned the Thunder Blade and bid farewell to Luo Tong before heading home.

After having dinner, he went straight to the West Market area under the pretext of visiting a friend.

Zhou Qiuyuan bought a set of black clothes and a black cloth to cover his face from the secondhand market for eighty coins. This outfit must have belonged to some petty thief.

After changing his clothes, he strolled around Tianxianglou, not stopping at the main entrance where there were many people, but quietly waiting in the shadows of the side entrance.

After nightfall completely enveloped Blackswamp City, the ordinary people, unwilling to waste lamp oil, went to bed early.

Nantian Street was quite bustling. The shops on the main street hung lanterns, and people were often entertaining guests. Tianxianglou was doing very well.

Zhou Qiuyuan waited for more than an hour, and the guests in the restaurant left one by one, and the restaurant gradually returned to its quiet state.

The manager of Tianxianglou Restaurant walked out through the back door, and the waiters loaded the swill buckets onto a wooden cart, which was then handed over to a special peddler to take away.

Gong Lei wiped the grime off his hands and cleaned up the spilled mess on the floor, muttering under his breath, "I'm exhausted! When will this ever end!"

The shopkeeper couldn't stand anyone being idle. Even though Gong Lei worked from dawn till dusk every day, spinning like a top, he would still get a beating if he did anything to displease the shopkeeper.

Beneath his thin clothes, his body was already covered with wounds, dozens of whip marks.

The only advantage of Tianxianglou is that you can get a full meal. When the dishes are served, if you are quick-witted, you can even steal some delicious meat dishes. This is one of the few joys that Gong Lei experiences.

Do you want to change your destiny?

"Do you want to become a body refiner, or even a cultivator, able to command the wind and rain?"

A hoarse, low voice came from the darkness, like the whisper of a devil, stirring up the longing that had been building up in his heart for many years.

Who would willingly be born inferior to others?

Gong Lei had also fantasized about becoming a body refiner so that the shopkeeper could experience the power of his whip.

However, this is ultimately a beautiful dream that one is unwilling to wake up from, and there will eventually come a time when the dream ends.

"I can give you this opportunity." A figure in black emerged from the darkness, completely covered by black clothing, with only his eyes exposed.

Gong Lei took a step back in fright, his eyes filled with vigilance.

This outfit makes it clear he's not a good person.

Having witnessed the fickleness of human relationships, Gong Lei understood that there is no such thing as love without a reason, nor is there ever a free lunch. This person must have some ulterior motive.

Even though I didn't know what the other person wanted, I couldn't resist the temptation of their persuasive words.

"What do you want me to do?"

Zhou Qiuyuan's lips, hidden under the black cloth, curled up slightly, his smile becoming even brighter.

"Gather information for me!"

"I don't want secrets about important figures, just rumors about making money circulating in the streets, limited to events that happened today. The more detailed the time, place, and specific information, the greater the benefits."

"The faction I belong to is called Dark Night. It has many powerful members. If you provide useful information, you can exchange it for money, spiritual tools, and the opportunity to become a Body Refiner in the alliance."

Gong Lei's eyes flickered slightly, and he said in an icy voice, "Why should I believe you?"

Believe it or not, you've already been given the chance. Missing it only proves that you enjoy wallowing in the mud.

Zhou Qiuyuan took out a thousand coins and casually tossed them over, saying, "This is the monthly allowance for members of Dark Night. The higher the rank, the more you receive."

"I will return to this place at this time tomorrow to await your news!"

His figure disappeared into the darkness, vanishing without a trace.

"Wait a minute, could you keep this money for me?" Gong Lei held a thousand coins, looking slightly dazed, but at the last moment he called out to the departing man in black.

How could a servant have his own private savings?

Generous customers would tip the waiters, so the manager of Tianxianglou would search them every day. Money can be hidden for a while, but not forever.

This was the first time a stranger had given him so much money without reservation, which inexplicably made him feel trusted. Most importantly, the other party promised him a future.

A monthly salary of one thousand coins—where could an ordinary person find a job with such pay? Not to mention that providing useful intelligence in the Dark Night would earn even more money, or even allow one to become a Body Refiner.

This is my chance to escape my slave status, and I must seize it no matter what.