[Name]: Blood Bodhi
[Effect]: Rapidly heals severe injuries and restores consumed stamina. If uninjured, it improves the body and enhances one's strength.
[Note]: The Qilin's demonic blood contains a certain level of corruption. Exercise caution when consuming. However, consuming points can remove the demonic nature and increase the concentration of Qilin essence.
"Demonic nature? Right, the Fire Qilin was a demonic beast, Nie Feng's family's demonic nature came from it."
Although the character in the story had no problem eating it directly, Su Han frowned. "Still, this thing must have some hidden side effects."
He asked the system, "System, what happens if I strengthen it with points? And what does it mean by Qilin blood concentration?"
The system quickly replied, "Host, consuming 500 points can evolve the Blood Bodhi into a Qilin Blood Sacred Fruit. It will enhance your body and grant you a trace of Qilin bloodline. However, since there is only one fruit, the resulting bloodline will be very weak."
Su Han nodded thoughtfully, then asked again, "I see. What if I consume 1000 points? Can I increase the blood concentration?"
If spending 500 points could purify and enhance it, then spending 1000 should strengthen the bloodline even further, right?
Sure enough, his assumption was confirmed.
"Yes. However, due to current system permissions, the host may only upgrade twice."
"Then upgrade it!"
A mere thousand points didn't bother Su Han in the slightest. If he could gain a Qilin's bloodline, the benefits would far outweigh the cost.
As the points were deducted, the fiery-red fruit in his hand began to glow hotter and brighter. Without hesitation, Su Han swallowed it whole.
A scorching current surged through his body like molten fire, rampaging through his meridians.
His once frail body was being reforged; every bone and muscle brimmed with newfound power.
It felt as if he were soaking in a hot spring beneath the blazing sun—painful yet intoxicating.
The transformation lasted for an entire incense stick's time.
When Su Han finally opened his eyes, his appearance had changed drastically. His once-black hair now carried streaks of dark red, resembling Hu Tao's chestnut hue.
His eyes had turned from black to a fierce amber, radiating a majestic aura.
What shocked him most was the strength pulsing through his body, at least a hundred times greater than before.
When he threw a casual punch, the air itself cracked under the force.
The fruit's effects were immediate and overwhelming.
He closed his eyes again, testing his senses, and was startled to find that everything within a hundred meters was now crystal clear in his mind.
Every sound, from merchants shouting on the street to footsteps outside his shop, echoed vividly in his ears.
After a moment, Su Han opened his eyes, awestruck. "Unbelievable."
A single fruit had granted him such tremendous change. What would the next rewards be like?
Just then, a knock sounded from outside, interrupting his thoughts.
"Who is it?"
"Boss, it's me!"
"Come in."
The clerk entered and froze upon seeing his employer. Although only Su Han's hair and eyes had changed, an invisible aura made the man feel like prey before a predator.
His legs trembled uncontrollably.
Realizing the cause, Su Han quickly suppressed his aura, and the man finally relaxed.
"Speak. What's the matter?"
"Ah, yes, Boss! We're almost out of stock, and customers keep pouring in! Where's the rest of the supply?"
Hearing that, Su Han chuckled. "Don't worry. It'll be ready soon. Tell Old Li to bring in all the blank paper, we'll need to prepare a warehouse soon."
"Right away!"
Soon, carts of fresh paper arrived, easing the shortage.
Meanwhile, in a corner of the city, a young man with blue hair walked through the crowd with his servant trailing behind, rambling about family affairs.
"Young Master, you're finally back! The Master and Young Lord have been waiting for you for half a month!"
But the elegant youth ahead said nothing, he was completely absorbed in the martial-arts novel in his hands.
After a long pause, he murmured, "So that's how it is? Sir Li truly acted out of good intent… truly admirable."
"…"
The servant sighed helplessly. All his talking had gone to waste.
Another old retainer beside them chuckled. "Young Master, there's something new in town today. You might find it quite interesting."
"Oh? What is it, Butler Li?"
Hearing his tone of interest, the butler smiled knowingly. "You'll see soon enough. Over there, the long line. That's for something called manhua."
"Manhua?"
Xingqiu had never heard of the term before, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
The butler explained with a grin, "Indeed. Early this morning, someone lit firecrackers in the streets. Turned out it was Miss Hu Tao's guest, Mister Su Han, opening his own shop. Manhua are illustrated storybooks, sequential art, so to speak.
The one on sale now is a martial-arts story. I believe you'd find it very much to your liking."
At the words martial arts, Xingqiu's eyes lit up. The book in his hands suddenly felt dull in comparison.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
Throwing decorum aside, he dashed off like the wind, excitement gleaming in his eyes.
The younger servant stared after him, speechless. "Butler… didn't the Master tell us to stop the Young Master from wasting time? Why did you let him go?"
The butler smiled mysteriously. "Ah, you don't understand. Sometimes, guiding is better than restraining. The elder Young Master himself advised this."
The servant blinked, utterly confused. If the goal was for the second Young Master to learn business, how could reading manhua possibly help?
Xingqiu spent an entire hour waiting in line.
But the moment he held that comic in his hands, all impatience vanished.
From the vivid characters on the cover to the breathtaking scenery inside, every page overflowed with the essence of martial heroes and rivers-and-lakes adventures.
"So this is it…" he whispered, trembling slightly.
"The spirit of the martial world I've longed for all these years, it's right here."
He found a quiet corner and immediately started reading.
And around him, countless others were doing the same. Even in a crowd, no one stood out, each was lost in the story.
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