"What do you think of Mo Xiang?"

  "She's very beautiful."

  "I'm pnning to take Mo Xiang as my adopted daughter. Once you reach the Spirit River Stage, I'll betroth her to you. What do you think?"

  "Mother-in-w, please accept my bow!"

  After speaking, Chen Shi kowtowed several times with a thud.

  During this, his gaze inevitably fell on the embroidered shoes of the beautiful dy in front of him.

  They were exquisitely crafted cloud-embroidered shoes, and through the red gauze skirt, he could vaguely see a pair of legs wrapped in flesh-colored silk stockings—sensuous yet slender.

  Looking at those legs, a thought suddenly arose in Chen Shi's mind.

  With legs this long... they could probably touch the shoulders even when lying down, right?

  [Ding!]

  [Your bond with Lin Manqing has deepened.]

  [Destiny Points +50.]

  Huh??

  50 Destiny Points?

  Does this count as changing history??

  Chen Shi suddenly couldn't understand the System's judgment mechanism.

  "You brat, you're quite quick. Stand up now."

  Lin Manqing said with a smile at the corner of her mouth, "But since you've already called me mother-in-w, I should show some gesture. How about this: if you can break through to the Spirit River Stage within a year, I'll personally arrange the wedding for you. How about that?"

  Personally?!

  Just collecting the gift money would be unbeatable!

  Chen Shi excimed excitedly, "Mother-in-w's kindness, I can never repay in a lifetime!"

  Seeing his obsequious demeanor, Lin Manqing couldn't help but feel a trace of contempt in her heart.

  After all, he was just a servant. No matter how extraordinary his talent, he was still lowly at heart. A little favor could win his gratitude, but in the future, she still needed to be cautious to prevent him from developing ambitions.

  "Don't speak of this matter outside, and in front of others, you must not call me mother-in-w. Understand?"

  She paused, perhaps feeling her words were a bit harsh.

  She added, "Do you have any other requests? As long as it's not too excessive, I'll agree to it."

  Chen Shi immediately said, "I want some gold and silver, as much as possible."

  "What do you need these mundane things for?"

  Lin Manqing frowned slightly, "Food, clothing, cultivation elixirs, I'll arrange everything. You don't need to worry about these trivial matters."

  "Uh..."

  Chen Shi was thinking of an excuse when he saw Lin Manqing wave her hand, "Forget it, forget it, you may leave now. The gold and silver will be sent to your residence ter."

  After speaking, she called over an Old Servant and pointed at Chen Shi, "Take him to the Martial Practice Field and tell Li Ping to meet this Young Master's requests as much as possible, without refusal."

  The Old Servant replied respectfully, "Yes."

  "Thank you, mother-in-w."

  Chen Shi also bowed in thanks and left the hall.

  Before leaving, he didn't forget to mention Song Chengye.

  ***

  Leaving the Inner Court.

  Chen Shi changed into a new set of clothes and followed the Old Servant to the Martial Practice Field.

  On the way.

  He silently calcuted his pn in his mind.

  Now, by revealing his cultivation, he had gained Lin Manqing's protection. The Mastermind would find it difficult to frame him now.

  This Seventh Madam, her family was the Spirit Sword Sect, and her husband was Song Tianyuan. She had always had a significant voice in the mansion. Even the head of the Song family, Song Tiangang, respected her greatly.

  As her prospective son-in-w.

  He was no longer the stable hand who could be trampled upon.

  And these, the Mastermind probably didn't know yet. He might be able to use this to his advantage, following the simutor's previous trajectory, to lure those who wanted to frame him into the open.

  Interrogate them.

  He would surely uncover the Mastermind!

  ***

  Martial Practice Field.

  Under the guidance of the Old Servant.

  Chen Shi met a middle-aged man dressed in bck training clothes.

  His expression was cold, standing nearly two meters tall, with a straight back like a sword or spear. Standing before him felt like facing a mountain, making it hard for Chen Shi to breathe.

  Chen Shi forced a smile, "Brother, how should I address you?"

  "My name is Li Ping. I used to be a personal guard of the Marquis of Great Wei, and now I'm the deputy manager of the Martial Practice Field. Since you're sent by the Seventh Madam, I'll do my best to teach you."

  Li Ping stared at Chen Shi with sharp eyes, "You seem to have a Magical Artifact that conceals your Vital Qi and Blood. I can't see through it. Tell me, how far have you progressed in Bone Refining?"

  Chen Shi looked a bit embarrassed, "Brother Li, I'm currently only at the Organ Refining Stage."

  "Only at Organ Refining?"

  Li Ping seemed a bit surprised, then nodded, "Starting cultivation at five, reaching Organ Refining at eighteen is a bit slow, but don't worry. I'll create a special training pn for you. With some effort, I can help you refine Iron Bones, if not Copper Bones."

  Chen Shi looked puzzled, "What are Iron Bones? Copper Bones?"

  "You don't know?"

  Li Ping was also taken aback.

  Chen Shi uncertainly asked, "Should I know?"

  Li Ping's expression grew more peculiar, staring at Chen Shi for a moment before saying, "Bone Refining is divided into four levels: Iron Bones, Copper Bones, Silver Bones, and Golden Bones. It's a crucial stage, and it's no exaggeration to say it directly determines a warrior's potential. If you don't train well in Bone Refining, you'll pay a hundredfold, even a thousandfold, to make up for it ter."

  Chen Shi nodded and asked, "How do you refine Golden Bones?"

  Li Ping gnced at Chen Shi, feeling this kid was a bit overconfident, "Refining high-grade bones depends on many factors. Postnatal effort accounts for thirty percent, and innate talent accounts for seventy percent. Some people are born with pure roots and can easily refine high-grade Copper Bones or even Silver Bones just by following the steps... like the offspring of Innate Realm Experts, their children are born with innate energy, and with resources, even Silver Bones aren't impossible.

  But some people are born with mixed roots, struggling to even achieve basic Iron Bones. Such people make up ninety-nine percent of the world's warriors, and even after a lifetime of effort, they struggle to break through to the Spirit River Stage.

  Those who achieve Iron Bones are elite warriors, capable of reaching the Spirit River Stage.

  Those who achieve Copper Bones are genius warriors, capable of reaching the True Lake Stage.

  Those who achieve Silver Bones are prodigious figures, their bones like silver, uncorrupted for a thousand years after death, with wider Spirit Rivers and rger True Lakes, having potential for the Innate Realm, and even glimpsing Heaven and Human! Such people are extremely rare, and among ten thousand Copper Bone geniuses, one might not appear."

  Hearing this, Chen Shi was stunned.

  Silver Bones are that impressive?

  Then Innate Realm Experts, if they keep having children, can't they mass-produce Silver Bones?

  Seeing Chen Shi's thoughts, Li Ping expined, "Innate Realm Experts can only pass on innate energy to their first child. Even so, subsequent children of Innate Realm Experts are hundreds of times stronger than ordinary children. That's why countless nobles and wealthy merchants want to send their wives and daughters to Innate Realm Experts, hoping to improve their family's talent."

  Li Ping shook his head and ughed, "But how many who reach the Prenatal Realm are willing to do that? Mating with mortals not only harms the purity of their innate body but also affects their success rate in advancing to the Heaven-Human Realm."

  Chen Shi frowned, "So practicing martial arts requires abstinence?"

  Li Ping nodded, "That's right. To refine high-grade bones, one must remain pure below the Spirit River Stage. The union of yin and yang affects the purity of one's vital essence."

  Chen Shi suddenly felt sympathy for the Song family disciples.

  Practicing martial arts already stirs one's blood.

  Keeping it in check like this, even an iron rod would wear down to a needle.

  Luckily, he had the Simutor, and simuting a few times would get him there, no problem.

  Then he asked, "What about Golden Bones?"

  Li Ping's eyes showed a hint of longing, "Those who achieve Golden Bones can rival ancient prodigies. When Golden Bones are mastered, even buried underground for ten thousand years, they remain golden, as hard as meteoric iron. Such people often dominate an era, not appearing for hundreds of years. If they don't die young, they can steadily reach the Heaven-Human Realm!"

  Saying this, Li Ping sighed, "Marshal Song in his lifetime was a Golden Bone prodigy... and so is the current head of the Song family, Song Tiangang."

  Chen Shi was a bit taken aback.

  Hundreds of years without one, and the Song family has two in one generation??

  That luck is unmatched.

  He thought for a moment and asked, "Is there a grade higher than Golden Bones?"

  Chen Shi asked casually, but Li Ping actually nodded, "According to ancient texts, above Golden Bones are Jade Bones, crystal clear as jade, uncorrupted for eternity. Over time, they are nourished by heaven and earth, gaining sentience, transforming into some kind of heavenly treasure, achievable only by those with great fortune.

  Legend has it, the Great Wei Founding Emperor had Jade Bones."