The Martial Saint begins by collecting corpses.

Lu Ming used the Ghost Refining Technique!

This is a secret technique obtained from Qin Xiaoyi.

If one truly wants to train a ghost that can be controlled by someone from the Ghost-Tricking lineage, then it is very difficult to train.

However, if it's just about raising an uncontrollable monster, then it's much simpler.

He couldn't bear to use it on ordinary people, but it didn't matter to the smuggling gang that treated human life like dirt.

However, given the haste of today, his success in refining the ghost was also partly due to luck.

A thought flashed through Lu Ming's mind, and he smiled slightly:

"What a coincidence! Even if the Snakehead Gang leader hadn't turned into a zombie, nothing unexpected would have happened today."

Ah Lang was skeptical, but since Lu Ming said so, he didn't ask any more questions and nodded:

"I have already returned the blacksmith's package. In the end, his family accepted the reality and asked my brother and me to thank him. After all, even the government had no definite information about this matter."

"But brother, I heard from the blacksmith's son that quite a few people have gone missing recently."

Lu Ming's expression turned slightly serious as he said:

"That's why I asked you to do those things; something's not right in Heishui County."

"We need to prepare an escape route."

"I'm staying here to see if I can truly get on the court's radar. If things don't work out, we'll leave immediately."

Ah Lang nodded solemnly and said, "Yes."

Lu Ming returned to his room and, remembering that he hadn't cultivated yet today, brewed a packet of Qi-boosting powder, drank it all in one gulp, and began cultivating the Canglang Stance Technique.

Hmm? In the past, after drinking Qi-boosting powder and cultivating, he would feel his blood boiling and his Qi and blood slowly increasing in no time.

Although I felt more comfortable practicing today, my blood and energy levels were weaker.

Lu Ming was somewhat puzzled. The increased comfort was likely due to his improved physical constitution, but the weakening of his blood and qi circulation... could it be...?

He looked at the bowl of dark, murky medicine left on the table, his brow furrowing slightly; the medicine's potency seemed to have weakened.

He thought for a moment, then brewed another packet of Qi-boosting powder and drank it.

It took two packs combined to barely feel anything.

However, after only an hour of cultivation, the medicinal power within his body was completely depleted.

Lu Ming stood up, having finally determined that the medicine was too weak.

It seems that muscle-training martial artists need better supplements!

Lu Ming seemed to be deep in thought. That night, he stopped cultivating and fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, he went to the archives of the town's night office to report his success in resolving the corpse demon the previous day.

"One Class D merit."

The colleague in the archives was an indifferent young man in black, with no expression on his face, seemingly a cold and aloof person. After hearing the report, he registered it in the register.

A Grade D merit? I don't know if it'll even work. Lu Ming turned around and wanted to go to the pharmacy to check.

Shen Mo had mentioned to him that he could buy tonics at the pharmacy, but the level of tonics that a night watchman could buy varied depending on his merit.

Just then, a handsome young man dressed in black robes walked in. He was slightly taken aback when he saw Lu Ming, then smiled and said:

"You must be Lu Ming? The assessment caused quite a stir."

Lu Ming asked in confusion, "Who are you?"

The young man smiled and said, "My name is Lin Xiaojie."

"Master Lin!"

As the two were talking, Lu Ming saw the manager of the Dark Poison Depot quickly walk past him and stand in front of Lin Xiaojie, a smile plastered on his face.

The warm and welcoming service was so impressive that Lu Ming could hardly believe it. He looked closely and wondered if this was the same person who had been expressionless just moments before.

It seems... they do look the same, but their attitudes left him bewildered; the difference was too great.

The steward then smiled and said:

"Lord Lin, I needed to see your uncle this morning, but I couldn't find him. Do you know where he went?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiaojie's expression suddenly turned serious:

"Don't call me uncle. I've told you so many times, in the Town Night Guard, you have to call him Lord Commander."

The steward quickly said:

"Yes, yes, Lord Sizheng."

Lin Xiaojie's expression softened slightly, and he nodded, saying:

"This morning, the Chief Justice went to see the County Magistrate to discuss the proposed list of virtuous and talented individuals. There should be one person from our Zhenye Division who will be on that list."

The steward smiled and said:

"That would be none other than Lord Lin. In terms of merit, who in the entire Night Watch Division can compare to Lord Lin?"

Lin Xiaojie smiled slightly, then suddenly turned to Lu Ming, who was preparing to leave, and said:

"I've heard that Lord Lu is quite capable. He just took office and already dealt with a corpse demon. However, he made quite a commotion. We should be careful about that in the future."

Lu Ming was somewhat confused; he'd even offered a suggestion?

Seeing that Lu Ming did not react, the manager's face immediately darkened, and he shouted:

"Lord Lin is the night watchman for the entire eastern part of the city."

"The night patrols in the east, southeast, and northeast directions are all under Lord Lin's jurisdiction, and he is your immediate superior!"

"Why aren't you listening to Lord Lin's teachings?"

After speaking, he immediately turned around, quickly added a few strokes to the table, then returned to Lin Xiaojie and smiled:

"A disturbance caused by a zombie occurred in the Zhengdong District yesterday, but it has been resolved. Lord Lin has added another Class D merit to his record, congratulations!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Ming's gaze sharpened.

Only then did he realize that Lin Xiaojie hadn't done anything, yet he had received the same credit as him! It was simply because he was his superior.

Seeing that Lin Xiaojie and the manager were both staring at him, Lu Ming said calmly:

"I admire Lord Lin's excellent leadership."

After speaking, he turned and walked away quickly.

The steward frowned and said:

"What's with this person's attitude?"

Lin Xiaojie shook his head:

"Although Lu Ming is a bit impulsive, he is still capable. If there is another round of recruitment, the spot in the Zhenye Division will definitely belong to him..."

Lu Ming faintly heard the words coming from the secret archives, and immediately frowned. What was Lin Xiaojie still pretending to be so generous for? Was there going to be another round of recruitment?

Even if it exists, who knows when it will be?

He felt a little annoyed. He went to the pharmacy and saw an old man with a white beard sitting inside, humming a tune with his eyes closed.

The pharmacy, which was filled with the strong smell of medicine, was empty except for a young apprentice who was packing medicinal herbs.

Upon seeing Lu Ming enter, the apprentice quickly wrapped up the medicinal herbs and stepped forward, saying:

"The apothecary is resting. If you need anything, please let me know."

Lu Ming said bluntly:

"I'd like to buy an even better tonic than this one for my cultivation. Do you have any?"

As he spoke, he took out a dose of Qi-boosting powder and handed it to his apprentice.

The apprentice sniffed it and nodded:

"Yes. May I ask what the highest level of your achievements is, sir?"

Lu Ming said, "Level D."

The apprentice immediately said:

"There's only one type of intermediate-level tonic that can be purchased with Rank D merit points: the Qi-Boosting Pill. One Qi-Boosting Pill is roughly twice as potent as this tonic."

Upon hearing this, Lu Ming frowned slightly. Twice? That probably wouldn't be enough.

He took two doses of Qi-boosting powder last night, but he still felt barely okay.

He immediately asked, "Is this all? Are there any stronger ones?"

The apprentice said:

"Given your achievements, if you absolutely need a more potent tonic, then the only option is the internal cultivation secret medicine."

"However, the secret medicine for internal cultivation is very precious. Not only does it require silver to purchase, but each purchase also consumes one merit point."

Lu Ming raised an eyebrow and said, "It still requires merit points? What's so special about this internal cultivation elixir?"