Chapter 97: Chapter 91: Demon Talisman
In the Grey Clothes Tower, Chen Ku couldn't help but look back the moment that person spoke.
The newcomer also wore a conical hat, obscuring their appearance and age. Judging only by their voice and their two visible hands, Chen Ku guessed they were unlikely to be over forty years old.
The man's fingers were not rough and lacked wrinkles or spots. They were slender, and his nails were neatly trimmed.
Could this person... be the Peace Path Incense Master that the Transformation Diagram warned me about, the one who intends to issue a bounty for my capture?
Chen Ku's thoughts flashed like lightning.
To avoid revealing his identity, despite his anxiety, he glanced only once before turning his head away, pretending to continue perusing the Bounty List.
Indeed, the other person did not notice Chen Ku.
After all, Chen Ku was not only wearing a conical hat, but his stature and features had also completely transformed into those of Du Xiaodao.
After confirming the newcomer wished to issue a bounty, the grey-robed person behind the counter pointed towards the stairs and said, "Someone on the second floor will take care of you."
"Mm."
The man with slender hands, presumed to be the Peace Path Incense Master, nodded briefly and proceeded to the second floor.
Chen Ku seized this opportunity to put away the Bounty List. After a brief word with the grey-robed person, he quickly left.
Stepping out of the Grey Clothes Tower, Chen Ku deliberately turned into a dark alley. He then transformed into a small white mink and tucked his clothes behind a stack of bamboo poles with his small paws.
Then, with his palm-sized body, he doubled back towards the Grey Clothes Tower.
Remembering the man's scent, Chen Ku, now a small white mink, quickly reached the eaves of the Grey Clothes Tower's second floor.
Directly below the eaves, separated by less than three meters vertically, was the man in the conical hat. With the hearing of a tiger and a Flower Fox Mink—abilities overlaid from his Transformation Diagram—Chen Ku easily heard the conversation below.
"You wish to place a bounty on Chen Ku, the new disciple recently accepted by the two Masters of Medicine King Hall? How much are you willing to offer?"
"Ten Thousand Taels for his head."
"Possible, but you must pay half as a deposit upfront. That's the rule."
"I'm aware."
These few simple sentences made Chen Ku's heart pound violently.
Indeed! It was this person! This man was the Peace Path Incense Master!
A powerful Martial Practitioner at the peak of the Meridian-Opening Realm, further augmented by the various mysterious Talisman Papers of the Peace Path.
Chen Ku didn't understand how he had offended the Peace Path for them to willingly spend ten thousand taels on his life.
Such a price! Even Blade-Handlers and assassins of the Mystic Barrier Realm could be lured by it!
At this moment, it seemed the deposit had been paid below.
Five thousand taels, produced so readily, all just for his life.
"Very well. If a Blade-Handler or assassin takes his head, our Grey Clothes Tower will light a bonfire at the agreed-upon location at Three Quarters Past Noon. At that time, you may come with the remaining half of the bounty to collect the head."
"Mm, I'm leaving."
"Please take care."
The small white mink that Chen Ku had become crouched on the eaves, watching the Peace Path Incense Master exit the Grey Clothes Tower and head towards the outer market square.
Its red nose twitched. Firmly locking onto the man's scent, Chen Ku waited until he was three to four miles away before returning to the dark alley, changing back into his clothes, and resuming his pursuit.
「South Street, Baojiao County Outer City.」
Chen Ku hadn't expected the man's return path to be in the same direction as his own small courtyard in the outer city.
He waited until the man passed his small courtyard. Then, he detoured to his courtyard to retrieve weapons, just in case.
His staff was being repaired and wasn't ready yet.
So he retrieved another, more formidable weapon: the Blood Blade!
Following the Peace Path Incense Master's scent, Chen Ku continued towards the outermost residential alley of South Street, where the man seemed to enter a particular courtyard.
Inside that courtyard, he detected the scents of a dozen other people.
As Chen Ku considered his chances of successfully reporting these people and having them all captured, he hesitated. Ultimately, he decided to eavesdrop first, hoping to learn more secrets.
Thus, as he stealthily approached from that direction, a white mist simultaneously shot from between his eyebrows, transforming into a Flower Fox Mink that trailed towards the courtyard.
In the courtyard at the end of the residential alley, as the man in the conical hat entered, someone asked, "Incense Master Yao, how did it go?"
Yao Wensu replied, "The bounty has been placed. We can also dismantle this underground hideout in the city. It's no longer safe to stay, especially recently."
Meanwhile, the Flower Fox Mink had silently reached the corner of the courtyard wall.
Yao Wensu entered a room and informed the dozen or so cult members inside of the evacuation plan.
"We're evacuating already? Shouldn't we leave some people in the city? Otherwise, the Path will be completely in the dark about the situation in Baojiao County City."
A woman spoke up, "I'll stay. Among all our brothers and sisters, my cultivation is the weakest; I've only just developed Qi Sensation. If I'm discovered, it won't be a significant loss for the Path."
Yao Wensu said calmly, "Every brother and sister in the Path is our family. We are all born equal; the death of any one of us is a loss. Furthermore, after breaking through to the Mystic Barrier, Shangguan Yun gained some kind of mental and spiritual aptitude and now practices the 'Spirit Capturing Heart Method.' If one of our members is killed in the city, that's one thing. But being captured alive by him is what we fear most, as it would expose too many of the Path's vital secrets."
"Ling E understands. It was rash of me. Please forgive me, Incense Master Yao," the female cultist named Ling E said apologetically.
Chapter 98: Chapter 91: Demon Talisman_2
Another voice spoke up, "How much silver did the Incense Master spend to put a bounty on that Disciple of Yang Luochen?"
"Ten thousand taels."
"So much? How does that kid deserve it? Even our Path brothers who have reached the Third Realm of Jade Skin would only have bounties ranging from ten to thirty thousand taels," a buzzing-voiced person complained, dissatisfied.
"Before Yan Hongwen drew his last breath, he managed to send a message via Talisman Paper. It said that although Chen Ku is young, he could lift Yang Luochen's twelve-thousand-jin dragon head stick with one hand. Yan Hongwen speculated that it wouldn't be long before Chen Ku would be taken in as a Disciple by Yang Luochen. With such Root Bone Qualifications, he is certainly top-notch. Moreover, he is a seed from Medicine King Hall, an entity with which we of the Peace Path already have an irreconcilable enmity. If we can kill him for just ten thousand taels of silver, then this deal is a steal."
Yao Wensu said indifferently, "This was always just an extraneous move before our withdrawal. If it works, all the better; if not, there's no real loss. Alright, matters are almost settled. Starting now, let's withdraw separately. After leaving the city, we will regroup at the Snake Fish Town branch."
「A mile or two away.」
Chen Ku's true body was waiting here. Suddenly, he smelled the scents of a dozen or so Demon People in that yard. One after another, they scattered in every direction.
Is this... Are they planning to evacuate, to flee?
Chen Ku was stunned. Then, he immediately sensed his Flower Fox Mink clone chasing after one of the Demon People fleeing in a particular direction.
At once, a thought struck him, and he chased in that direction as well.
Before long, the Demon Person, the Flower Fox Mink, and the pursuing Chen Ku were all outside Baojiao County.
「They reached a forest.」
A Peace Path female cultivator named Ling was heading towards the Snake Fish Town branch headquarters via a dispersed route.
Suddenly, she sensed a fist-sized white shadow dart through the forest and pounce straight at her.
Eh? There's a Demon in this forest!
In an instant, Ling judged from the white shadow's size and speed that it had to be a Demon that had cultivated Demonic Qi.
Indeed, as the white shadow approached, she saw it was a white mink, about the size of a large mouse.
Beast, you're courting death! Such a small Demon, though very fast, actually dared to attack me? It's completely oblivious to its own doom.
Her Martial Arts had only reached the Qi Sensation stage of Inner Qi. However, with the Path's Talisman Paper, she could even contend with opponents in the later stages of Robust Qi.
She immediately drew the peach wood talisman sword from her back. The sword, adorned with talismans, streaked a line of fire in mid-air, blocking the white mink.
However, the next scene left Ling wide-eyed.
The small white mink, facing the line of fire that should have stopped it, suddenly swelled up, transforming into a one-zhang-tall, white-furred Strange Beast...
WHOOSH!
Facing the thin line of fire, it leaped over in a flash, pouncing towards her head, its massive jaws snapping shut!
Ling's face drained of color.
At the critical moment, two Talisman Papers at her feet flashed, allowing her to unbelievably sidestep. But even so... an arm was still bitten off and swallowed by the Strange Beast, which was as large as a White Elephant.
"Ah! My arm! What kind of monster is this?!"
Ling had seen her fair share of Demons, but those so-called Demons only generated Demonic Qi within their bodies. To alter their size and form like this... isn't that something only those at the level of Five Internal Strong can achieve?
But just as Ling screamed, blood gushing from her severed arm like a fountain, her vision darkening as she staggered back in agony...
SWISH!
She then felt an immensely forceful and terrifying saber wind coming from behind, aimed at cleaving her in two.
What? There's someone else behind me?!
Ling was horrified. Instinctively reacting to this life-or-death crisis, she performed an Iron Plate Bridge maneuver, simultaneously swinging her peach wood sword behind her.
[System notification: Ling desires to kill the Diagram Master...]
CLANG!
The Blood Blade collided with the peach wood talisman sword, surprisingly showering sparks. Both weapons seemed evenly matched, and there was a strange sensation, as if they were drawn to each other, struggling to break free from their wielders' grasp.
In the next instant, both the Blood Blade and the peach wood talisman sword exerted a great force, breaking free from the hands of Chen Ku and Ling.
What?
Chen Ku was also startled. The Blood Blade was renowned for its sharpness, capable of Metal-Splitting Stone-Breaking. To think it couldn't cut through a peach wood sword... And what's this bizarre attraction to the peach wood sword all about?
But he hadn't forgotten his purpose: to coordinate with the Flower Fox Mink to kill this Peace Path Demon Person. From this exchange, he also sensed that this Demoness's strength was likely at a level he could handle if he went all out. That must be why the Flower Fox Mink clone specifically chose to pursue her.
At this moment, with both combatants' weapons knocked from their hands, it came down to a battle of fists and feet.
The Demoness activated a talisman beneath her foot. With a piece of Talisman Paper stuck to her hand, she lunged at Chen Ku, her face a mask of ferocity.
Chen Ku reacted even faster, utilizing the Piercing Sound Step taught to him by Master Shang. Although he hadn't even reached the entry-level yet, his footwork was already far more refined than before. With a swift movement, he dodged the Talisman Paper in her hand...
He knew that thing was tricky.
He immediately used his palm as a blade, chopping towards her wrist.
Ling, not understanding his intent, met Chen Ku's strike with her own hand.
Unexpectedly!
"Ah!" she suddenly screamed.
Her wrist, intact moments before, was sliced clean off by Chen Ku's palm-blade. First her arm, now her hand severed—even someone with an iron will couldn't endure such agony. The pain caused her to black out.
CRACK!
The Flower Fox Mink seized the opportunity, bit down, and swallowed the agonized, shaking Ling whole.
[System notification: Diagram Master killed Ling, obtained a strand of Evil Qi from the Inner Qi Realm.]
Chen Ku breathed a sigh of relief.
He beckoned, retrieving the Flower Fox Mink, and immediately understood why the Peace Path had put a bounty on him.
It turned out that the Peace Path Incense Master, whom Master Yang had killed with a single blow that day, had seen me pass the staff. He must have considered me a threat from that moment on...
Hmm? The Peace Path is actually withdrawing everyone from the city and transferring their forces to the countryside? Are they planning to encircle the county seat using rural strongholds?
Chen Ku was particularly concerned upon hearing that one of their branches was in Snake Fish Town. I must bring my family into the city as soon as possible.
He decided to secure the courtyard within the next couple of days.
Then, he looked down at the two entangled weapons.
He saw strange phenomena on both the Blood Blade and the peach wood sword: blood-red lines appeared on the Blood Blade, and flesh-like buds were growing on the Talisman Paper of the peach wood talisman sword...
Chen Ku hesitantly reached out towards the peach wood sword.
Instantly, the flesh-like buds stretched out towards him.
[System notification: Diagram Master has encountered a Taisui Demon Talisman. It is detrimental to the Master and is provoking Evil Qi...]
[System notification: Taisui Demon Talisman. Material: Yellow paper. Created by drawing a talisman with Taisui blood and Divine Soul Power. It is slowly developing supernatural properties and can merge with peach wood to create a weapon possessing the might of a 'sharp weapon'.]
Sharp weapon? It seems to be on the same level as the Blood Blade, both capable of Metal-Splitting Stone-Breaking. No wonder they were stuck together during the fight.
Chen Ku looked at the Talisman Paper on the peach wood sword, determined to destroy it. I don't believe my Four Symbols Power can't tear apart a mere talisman like this.
But before he tore it up, an idea struck him as he looked at the Blood Blade.
Since both are sharp weapon-level and contain Taisui demon blood, can these two items devour and suppress each other?
With that thought, Chen Ku picked up the Blood Blade again and touched it directly to the Talisman Paper.
This touch had significant consequences.
[System notification: Diagram Master has destroyed the Blood Blade and permanently acquired its Evil Qi. There is no longer a need to suppress it with the Suppressing Technique.]
[System notification: Diagram Master has destroyed the Taisui Demon Talisman and acquired a strand of Demon Talisman Fiend.]
Chen Ku looked at the cracking Blood Blade in his hand, the exploding blood strands and flesh-like buds, and the shattered peach wood talisman. All of them transformed into Transformative Evil Qi and entered his Transformation Diagram.
A Taisui Demon Talisman? It can merge with weapons? Enhance a weapon's power?
Chen Ku was tempted. Wouldn't that mean after a transformation, I can give any weapon in my hand a special boost?
Without paying any further attention to the bloody scene, he returned to his small courtyard.
He was eager to see what transformations today's gains would yield.
He took down the second and third diagrams from his Transformation Diagram, replacing them with Ling's Evil Qi and the Demon Talisman Fiend.
[System notification: Ling Transformation! Activate!]... [System notification: Demon Talisman Transformation! Activate!]
Chapter 99: Chapter 92 Inner Qi
Within the quiet room.
EXHALE...
INHALE...
Accompanied by Chen Ku sitting cross-legged on the kang, his breathing was steady and even.
Waves undulated in his Heart Sea.
The two new changes on the Transformation Diagram revealed themselves in different colors, with inscriptions flowing down like a curtain.
[Demon Talisman Transformation! Transform!]
[Demon Talisman: This talisman is created by a Peace Path Warlock. They pray on an altar to the gods of Huangtian, mixing Wood Taisui demon blood and Divine Soul Power with Spells, which are then cast upon Talisman Paper. The resulting talisman holds a trace of the supernatural and possesses abilities such as Fusion, proliferation, possession, strengthening warriors, calming the mind, and Flesh Regeneration.]
[Demon Talisman Transformation·Shapeshifting]
[Transformation Part: Taisui Talisman Gall (enhances warrior strengthening)]
Seeing the ability gained from this Transformation Part, Chen Ku roughly understood. This must be the 'enhancement power' Ling used to strengthen her Peach Wood Sword, allowing it to clash head-on with my Blood Blade.
A simple Peach Wood Sword could actually compare to a Blood Blade capable of sundering gold and splitting stone.
But I wonder, if this power to strengthen warriors is applied to my Refined Iron Dragon Stick, how much would it improve the quality of my staff?
It's a pity the staff is being repaired and will probably take another two or three days. I'll find out then.
Immediately, on the Transformation Diagram, the colors representing the Demoness Ling in his Heart Sea also lit up at her glabella.
[Ling Transformation]
[Ling: She is a female Peace Path Cultivator, twenty-seven years old, and in the Initial Period of the Inner Qi Realm. She has developed Qi Sensation and cultivates Peace Path's unique methods. With medium Root Bone, she masters Peace Path Secret Techniques and the Martial Arts of the Seven Gates.]
[Ling Transformation·Shapeshifting]
[Transformation Part: Intent (Powerful Divine Soul)]
Suddenly, Chen Ku felt his Spiritual Power increase significantly, as if out of thin air.
What was Divine Soul Intent? It probably referred to the strength of one's spiritual mind. For instance, at his current Peak of Force Transformation, the 'Unity of Intent and Force' he was training was his Divine Intent. Only when Divine Intent was strong enough could he use it to influence and circulate his own 'blood,' thereby generating 'Inner Qi.'
At this moment, with the significant boost in Spiritual Power from the Ling Transformation, Chen Ku felt as if his realm and spirit at the Force Transforming Realm were like a completely filled water bucket. His Spiritual Power was the water inside...
Now, the water in the bucket had increased by half, overflowing directly.
As a result, the moment Chen Ku closed his eyes, he could distinctly 'hear' the sound of blood flowing throughout his body.
Within the blood vessels of his limbs and torso, the blood was like countless, ever-flowing streams, pumped from the heart, circulating, and then returning to the heart. This circulation was like a Great Formation of Life constantly operating within his body.
A surge in Spiritual Power allows me to feel the flow of blood. When the blood moves, Qi is generated. Isn't this a sign from the 'Everlasting Youth Classic—Internal Qi Chapter,' indicating that I can begin to circulate blood and develop Qi Sensation?
Chen Ku had always thought he couldn't produce Inner Qi quickly. He believed the Vital Energy converted from the things he ate was still accumulating. He assumed that one day, when enough had gathered, Inner Qi would arise naturally.
Now he understood.
That was certainly one way, but it was too slow. Actually, as long as my Divine Intent is sufficient, I can circulate Essence Blood at any time. I can generate Qi from the blood, then replenish it from external sources, and then circulate blood to generate more Qi. This forms a continuous cycle of replenishment and strengthening.
This... the conditions to break through to the Inner Qi Realm are met. Let me try!
Immediately, Chen Ku focused his mind, sensing the flow of blood within him. He tentatively used his Intent to guide the blood in his body according to the Blood Moving Secret Technique from the 'Internal Qi Chapter.'
As he began this cultivation, changes appeared on Chen Ku's exterior. One moment, Blood Qi would surge, turning his face bright red; the next, his face would turn deathly pale, devoid of color... This was an external manifestation of his Blood Qi being forcefully circulated in large quantities throughout his body.
Ordinary people also have similar experiences: when extremely nervous or furious, Blood Qi rushes to their face, making it red; when mentally exhausted, their face turns pale. But those are results of the body's instinctive responses. This was unlike a Martial Practitioner who, with a powerful spirit and secret techniques, could direct Blood Qi at will with natural ease, sending it wherever they wished once their spirit was strong.
「Thus, a night passed.」
As Chen Ku circulated his Blood Qi throughout the night, right up to the moment the sun began to rise, finally...
The greatly nourishing Vital Energy from the Treasure Herbs and medicinal ingredients he had consumed, energy that had dissolved into his blood, finally revealed faint traces of a special Qi Sensation during its circulation.
It was as if the Qi formed from the essence of food and water, which was originally evenly distributed in the blood like an emulsion of milk and water, had now been refined out of the blood by the Blood Moving Secret Technique, forming a pure 'Qi.'
Qi Sensation!
Chen Ku felt that thread-like Inner Qi; this was Qi Sensation. I can feel the existence of Inner Qi! I've stepped into the Inner Qi Realm!
As Chen Ku sensed that thread-like wisp of Inner Qi traveling through his blood vessels with his blood—more agile than Force Power—he also felt his physique's strength, under the circulation of this wisp of Inner Qi, had completely stepped into a new stage.
People often speak of 'physical strength,' which ordinary individuals rely on, focusing on brute force. But after stepping into the Inner Qi Realm, the term changes to 'Qi Power.' This signifies using Qi to direct power, capable of multiplying the body's overall strength severalfold... Let me see how much Qi Power I can generate under the Four Symbols Power when guiding my strength with Qi?
Chapter 100: Chapter 92 Inner Qi_2
Chen Ku searched around inside the room. He found many small stone locks he had purchased during his Strength Training phase, each weighing over one hundred pounds. These could be used to add weight to the larger stone locks. The small locks were made of Pine Steel Rock, a material unique to this world, which had a high mass density; each one, despite weighing over one hundred pounds, was only about the size of a watermelon.
He casually bent down to pick one up, his eyes shining like lightning. He channeled a strand of Inner Qi mixed with the Four Symbols Power of the Flower Fox Mink, concentrating it all on his fingertips, and swung the hundred-pound stone lock. With that movement, he could clearly feel that his strand of Inner Qi, fused with the Four Symbols Power, had created a new type of strength—"Qi Power."
Swinging it felt like swinging a light plastic bag.
Then, he drew upon his Golden-eyed White Jade Sculpture. He jumped onto the roof and looked at the fetid ditch several miles away. It was empty and deserted. Holding the stone lock, he gathered all his "Qi Power" and threw it in that direction.
WHOOSH!
As the stone lock left his hand, it shot through the air as if released from a great bow, its speed and force creating a series of sonic booms.
It flew five miles away!
BOOM! It smashed a hole four to five meters wide where it landed, sending dust flying everywhere, as if a cannonball had struck the spot.
Chen Ku was delighted. A hundred-pound stone, and I could throw it so far with just my arm strength! It feels like my Pure Force Power has transformed into "Qi Power" and enhanced every aspect of my abilities, just like a carp leaping through the Dragon Gate. Especially when combined with my Hundred Li Eye, the precision has improved. With this kind of ability, it wouldn't be an overstatement to call myself a human catapult. If the projectile were even harder, I feel like I could even besiege cities! Throwing a hundred-pound projectile from four or five miles away could smash an ordinary county town's stone wall to rubble. I'm practically a human cannon!
And this is just after I joyously entered the Inner Qi Realm and transformed my Force Power into Qi Power! I feel like I've gained the strength of two or three more elephants, bringing me to about six or seven elephants' worth of force. Just a wisp of Qi Power from Qi Sensation can enhance my strength by half. If...
He was just pondering this when he felt the wisp of Inner Qi, as fine as a silk thread within him, suddenly dissipate.
Hmm? So this is Qi Sensation? I can only refine a wisp of Inner Qi as fine as a silk thread, and it's gone after a single use... No wonder there are still the Sufficient Qi, Robust Qi, and Full Qi stages ahead!
Chen Ku understood just from the names that Sufficient Qi wouldn't be like his current state, where his Qi Power was depleted after only a brief exertion.
Replenishing Qi Power is like replenishing physical stamina; it also requires a massive infusion of Vital Energy to be converted into Blood Essence. I read about 'Full Qi' in the Internal Qi Chapter. When one reaches the Great Perfection of the Inner Qi Realm, Qi fills the entire body, every limb and bone. At that point, Qi Power becomes indistinguishable from physical strength. That is the true peak of the Inner Qi Realm.
He sighed. He had only just crossed the threshold of a Martial Practitioner's cultivation; there was still a long road ahead.
The supply of Treasure Herbs must continue. They are precisely the 'food' most needed in the Inner Qi Realm. Now that I have achieved Qi Sensation, the rate at which I can acquire Treasure Herbs will likely determine the speed of my Inner Qi accumulation.
Chen Ku calculated in his mind: One Ordinary Treasure Herb is worth one hundred taels and can save an ordinary Martial Practitioner two to three months of effort. Master Yang said that for an ordinary person cultivating Qi, progressing from Qi Sensation to Full Qi without Treasure Herbs—relying purely on the subtle energies from the five grains—takes at least ten years. By that calculation, to accumulate enough Inner Qi quickly, I'd need at least fifty or sixty Ordinary Treasure Herbs like Tiger's Head Ginseng or Ox Horn Shoot. This would be entirely funded by silver, unless I can get my hands on 'Quality Treasure Herbs' with higher medicinal value... like the Nine-Leaf Sheep-fat Tuber and Hundred-Year Purple Yellow Essence I handled at Medicine King Hall. Those are Quality Treasure Herbs; a single one provides as much Vital Energy as a dozen or twenty Ordinary Treasure Herbs. Or perhaps finished Pills, like these.
Chen Ku took out two Qi Revival Pills from a box in the courtyard, which he had found on Huang Gun.
Among the Inner Qi Realm Pills available at Medicine King Hall, the Qi Revival Pill is considered middle-grade, with one Pill priced the same as a Treasure Herb. All Disciples and regular masters at Medicine King Hall could use their monthly wages to purchase one such Qi Revival Pill, valued at about one hundred taels of silver, for their cultivation. Medicine King Hall does not distribute cultivation Pills to Disciples; it only provides salaries.
Chen Ku was now a Disciple, no longer an Apprentice who received no salary. He now also received a monthly wage of one hundred taels. This was because Medicine King Hall was, after all, a business, and its Disciples and masters were merely employees. A salary was considered sufficient. Only by becoming a Shopkeeper, a senior master, or one of certain indispensable masters with special talents would one qualify for profit-sharing and participation in the distribution of important resources. However, the bulk of the profits still went to the Owners behind the scenes.
It's just like the workers on the fishing boats in my previous life. On a fishing trip, the boat captain pays a fixed wage, and the workers put in a fixed amount of effort. Whether the catch is worth ten million or a hundred thousand is no concern of the workers; the profit belongs solely to the boat owner. It doesn't mean that if you become one of the captain's fishermen, the captain will provide fish for all the workers' meals on the boat. Even if you were a minor supervisor, you couldn't expect to eat expensive fish like star snapper or tuna every day. The captain wouldn't supply that; such treatment is for his own kin, not for workers. You're given a wage, so why not buy it yourself? Who eats such costly food for every meal anyway?
At this moment, looking at the two Pills in his hand, Chen Ku had already identified them based on the Qi Revival Pills sold in the hall; they were genuine. Previously, not having reached the Inner Qi Realm, he couldn't consume them. But now...
Chapter 101: Chapter 92 Inner Qi_3
GULP. He swallowed.
A strong medicinal power dispersed into his blood, accelerating its circulation. Soon, with the transportation of his Qi Sensation, a new strand of Qi Power was regenerated.
It seems that my next step in cultivation is either to spend money on Pills and Treasure Herb, or...
Chen Ku pulled out the Flower Fox Mink from between his brows and said to it, "You'll need to delve deeper into the Two Realms Mountain area, try your luck, and see if you can find high-quality Treasure Herb, or even... Top-grade Treasure Grass."
Releasing the Flower Fox Mink meant that the first Transformation Diagram couldn't be easily changed for a long time. Only two diagrams remained. One needed to be used continuously for the Ling Transformation to increase a section of spiritual power, which could make his 'transportation of Blood Qi' faster and increase his cultivation speed.
The third diagram...
Golden Eye of Hundred Li... Blood Blade... Demon Talisman reinforced Weapons... and the Fengguang Sword Technique...
Chen Ku calculated the Transformation Diagrams in his mind, sighing inwardly. Though they can be switched, there is ultimately a cool-down time. In one day, a Transformation Diagram slot can only be changed up to four times... Having only three slots for Transformation Diagrams is still too few. Unless I can undergo fetus transformation shape shifting another time and fuse once more.
He considered the requirements for the Golden-eyed White Jade Sculpture to fuse with the Flower Fox Mink.
[Deducing the results of this fetus transformation refining shape: The Golden-eyed White Jade Sculpture Transformation is only at the Shape Shifting Level and has very few strange form parts. Therefore, this affects the success rate of fetus transformation refining shape. If forced, the success rate is only one percent. Additionally, it requires an 'Evil Qi of a Peak Demon of the First Realm' or 'Human Internal Qi Peak Realm Evil Qi' as fuel for refining shape.]
That is to say, fetus transformation refining shape isn't just conjured out of nothing. It requires the Transformation Level itself to first reach at least Perfection, and then be supplemented by a high-level Evil Qi.
Even a skillful woman can't cook without rice. With high-level energy Evil Qi as a base, there is the foundation for a 'high-level new Strange Beast' to form.
To activate the fourth diagram, I will also need an Evil Qi from a Peak Demon of the First Realm... The best plan would be to stealthily attack a Peace Path Demon Person at the Peak Realm of Inner Qi, but with my current strength...
Suddenly, Chen Ku thought of the four Palm Seals he had obtained from the Xu Family Inheritance. Because they lacked mental methods and Inner Strength, they required at least the Inner Qi Realm to use the first move, "Mountain Roar Tsunami Seal."
Chen Ku felt the first Palm Seal in his memory. Experimentally, he tried to activate that wisp of weak Inner Qi in his body to see if he could execute it.
This Xu Family's Mountain-Lifting Palm had an even greater origin than the Furious Ape Mighty Staff's Ultimate Skill. It also primarily used brute force, similar in application to the Furious Ape Mighty Staff.
Chen Ku wondered. If he could activate the Mountain-Lifting Palm's 'Mountain Roar Tsunami Seal' while performing the Skyward Strike, could he combine the force of both palm and staff to strike simultaneously? In that case, perhaps he might try a stealth attack...
However, as Chen Ku harbored this thought and tentatively started to activate that strand of Inner Qi to form the 'Mountain Roar Tsunami Seal,' he found that he could only complete half the Qi Pathway before he felt it was insufficient.
My Qi Power is insufficient. This strand of Inner Qi, following the Qi Pathway of the Mountain Roar Tsunami Seal, hasn't even reached halfway before it feels like carrying a heavy load, hard to sustain. My volume of Qi is too low... This Palm Seal, only at the Qi Sensation level, is definitely not enough to be executed. I'm afraid I need at least the 'Sufficient Qi' stage of the Mid Inner Qi phase to have enough Qi Power to perform it.
Chen Ku exhaled and sighed, "I'll just have to buy my own herbs and practice for now, and see if I can get a chance to obtain the Pill Prescription. Then, I'll be able to concoct the Pills myself!"
Barely two days into his apprenticeship, he was already eager to ask for the Pill Prescription. His intent was too obvious. Even if his master could accept it, it was risky as it might arouse suspicion among the Shopkeepers. After all, that was Medicine King Hall's lifeline.
A single Treasure Herb could at most sell for One Hundred Taels of Silver. With Medicine King Hall's Pill Prescriptions and other Prescriptions, along with some additional auxiliary herbs, ten to dozens of Pills could be produced. But after Pill Formation, each Pill could sell for over One Hundred Taels. In other words, at Medicine King Hall, a Treasure Herb worth One Hundred Taels could be transformed into several thousand Taels worth of product.
Just like some cancer drugs in his past life, the cost of raw materials for a box of medication wasn't much, and the research process wasn't too cumbersome. What was expensive? The secret formula and patent!
Chen Ku resolved internally. Although consuming Pills and Treasure Herb daily is luxurious, I still have to do it. If I can't convert the money I earn into my own real strength, what's the use of having so much money? It's like others hoard weapons and I hoard money; I would just be someone else's treasury.
With such thoughts, he gave himself a reason not to feel the pinch.
Pinching his nose, he went outside and spent Three Thousand Taels to buy thirty ordinary Treasure Grass of various kinds.
The reason he bought Treasure Grass instead of Pills was also with careful thought. Asking for the Pill Prescription on the first two days of apprenticeship was too conspicuous. After some time, it would be okay. By then... He himself wouldn't be able to use up these thirty or so Treasure Grass; perhaps by refining them himself and succeeding in making Pills, there was even a chance to break even!
He secretly stored the thirty Treasure Grass in the cellar of his private, unknown small courtyard, then returned to Medicine King Hall, ready to share the good news of his breakthrough in Inner Qi with his two masters.
However, an Apprentice in the main hall notified him that two people had been looking for him for half a day.
Soon, Wu Gui came over with a slight smile and said, "Store Manager, I've found the residence in the Inner City that you asked me to find, one that can accommodate your family of four. According to your request, the price is between two and three thousand Taels. There's a double-entry courtyard, originally belonging to a family that ran a rouge shop; they no longer live there and want to sell it. I looked at it, and its furniture and decorations are all in good condition. The asking price is two thousand five hundred Taels, but other household items are included, and this price can surely be negotiated further. Do you have time to see it?"
Chen Ku was about to respond when he heard another familiar voice laughing loudly, "Junior Brother Chen, you probably won't have time today. I'm throwing a banquet at Fragrance Pavilion today. You must come. It's the same people as last time. We have fewer people this time, and if you come, you can sit with me."
It was Jiang Shaoyou, his face flush with excitement, arriving at the hall.
Wu Gui tactfully stepped back to let Jiang Shaoyou speak first.
"Oh?" Chen Ku asked curiously, "Senior Brother Jiang, are you hosting a banquet for some joyous occasion?"
Jiang Shaoyou, visibly thrilled and beaming, said, "I've broken through to Inner Qi! Just before I turn twenty next summer, isn't that good news? It means I qualify to participate in next spring's martial examination, isn't that good news?"
"Senior Brother also broke through to Inner Qi?" Chen Ku exclaimed in surprise.
Jiang Shaoyou paused, "Also?"