Free Web NovelChapter 49: Chapter 49: Advanced Medicated Bath, Great Increase in Progress
Outside the pharmacy, Xie Yuan cupped his hands toward the man inside, who wore a blue robe, a small cap, and a white cloth mask.
"Senior Brother Lu, I’m here to collect the advanced medicinal bath."
The man inside was the second senior brother of the Iron Cloth Shirt Gate, Liu the Monk’s second Direct Disciple, Lu Hong, who was in charge of the pharmacy.
Although Lu Hong was also a Martial Artist at the First Training level, he seemed to prefer researching medicinal ingredients. He was the martial hall’s dedicated Pharmacist and physician, and most of the formulas for the medicinal baths and supplements were developed by him.
At this moment, he looked at Xie Yuan with a gaze full of approval. Normally stern and unsociable, he offered a rare compliment:
"Junior Brother Xie, you are a rare talent. You saved the martial hall from a crisis, and I am in your debt."
"I’ve added a little something extra to this advanced medicinal bath formula for you. Its effects will be a bit better than the ordinary one. Go on."
Lu Hong was the one in charge of the pharmacy, so he knew exactly how great the impact would have been if the martial hall’s share from the medicine guilds had been reduced, or even revoked.
Taking the wooden token from Lu Hong, Xie Yuan cupped his fist again.
"Thank you, Senior Brother Lu!"
’The sect is full of so many good people! Once you contribute, suddenly everyone around you is kind.’
Xie Yuan followed the directions on his token and found a private room deep within the bathhouse.
An attendant was already waiting there. Upon seeing him, the attendant quickly added water, mixed in the medicine, and filled the wooden tub with a pitch-black medicinal liquid.
After the attendant left, Xie Yuan couldn’t wait to strip naked. He glanced at the steaming medicinal bath, then carefully stepped in, trying not to splash a single drop and waste it.
’A single tub costs twenty taels of silver. Every drop splashed is worth a few copper coins!’
’The advanced medicinal liquid, huh? Let’s see what this is all about... YEEOW!’
Xie Yuan let out a strange cry. In an instant, his entire skin felt as if it had been doused in boiling water!
The liquid was hot, but nowhere near this temperature. It was the effect of the medicine. The advanced medicinal bath was so potent that the moment he got into the tub, the herbs began to take effect!
Beads of sweat, as large as beans, formed on Xie Yuan’s forehead and rolled down his face.
’The medicinal effect is so intense! It feels like my skin has been completely saturated, changing constantly under the medicine’s power, almost visibly... It’s like I’ve been thrown into a pot to be steamed, my skin is about to be cooked through...’
’Damn, what the hell did Senior Brother Lu add to this? Spices?’
Xie Yuan instinctively circulated his Blood Qi to cover his entire body and found that it immediately felt much better. Moreover, with the Blood Qi and the medicinal liquid tempering his skin in tandem, the progress of his Iron Cloth Shirt shot up right before his eyes.
However, at his current realm, his Blood Qi was still very thin. Even if he mobilized all of it, he couldn’t cover his entire body, and the consumption was immense. He could see his Blood Qi visibly fading.
’No wonder he didn’t mention using Blood Qi for Skin Training. Even though the experience and the results are better, I just don’t have the reserves for it at this stage.’
’But, if Blood Qi isn’t enough, my internal energy will have to do!’
An idea struck Xie Yuan, and he began to circulate his internal energy through his meridians. He had discovered last time that although his current internal energy couldn’t yet permeate to his skin, it still gave off a faint coolness wherever it passed, effectively alleviating the discomfort.
Lu Hong’s reason for adding the extra ingredients was simple: the stronger the medicine, the better the effect. As for not being able to stay in for long... well, few people could fully absorb the medicinal properties of a bath anyway. Giving Xie Yuan the maximum possible potency within a limited time was his senior brother’s simple, honest intention.
But Xie Yuan was different. With the help of his Inner Power, he began to operate his Internal Cultivation Methods right there in the wooden tub. The boiling-hot medicinal liquid seemed to transform into a cool spring, no longer unbearable.
The rising progress numbers marked the passage of time.
When the medicinal liquid in the tub became clear once more, Xie Yuan stood up, his skin as red as a cooked shrimp.
[Iron Cloth Shirt · 3rd Layer: (907/1000)]
Over two hundred points!
More than a fifth of the total progress from a single medicinal bath!
Xie Yuan clenched his fist in excitement.
’It’s worthy of being a twenty-tael medicinal bath, all right!’ ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
He grew even happier when he remembered that he had gotten these twenty taels’ worth for free.
Although the advanced medicinal bath was four times the price of the basic one, its effects weren’t theoretically four times better. It wouldn’t even reach twice the effectiveness.
The more expensive something was, the smaller the proportional increase in its effect. Many precious treasures might cost ten times as much as the next best item, but their quality might only be less than ten percent better.
This was because the further one progressed, the closer one got to the absolute limit of quality. To take even one more step forward required an increase in cost that could be several times, or even ten times, higher.
For Xie Yuan, however, he had utilized almost all of the medicinal properties of the enhanced, advanced bath. Reflected in his progress, the effect was more than double that of a basic medicinal bath!
This time, he had struck it rich!
’Becoming a Martial Artist is just a stone’s throw away!’
Xie Yuan couldn’t contain his excitement.
’After working so hard for so long, isn’t this the very goal I’ve been striving for?’
He cleaned himself up and hurried off to find Liu the Monk, unable to wait any longer.
’First, I need to get my hands on the method for the breakthrough!’
「In the study.」
When Liu the Monk saw Xie Yuan, whose skin was still tinged red, he asked with a smile:
"How do you feel?"
"Better than ever!"
Xie Yuan said, cupping his hands.
"Haha, that’s good. The advanced medicinal bath is precious, but you deserved it. Hmm, you came to see me right after your bath. Do you have a question?"
Xie Yuan thought for a moment before speaking.
"Master, my friction with Lin Tao stemmed from the last medicinal bath..."
He recounted the whole story from beginning to end.
Although Liu the Monk had sided with him without asking for the reason, expelling a Core Disciple who had cultivated for many years was no small matter.
Liu the Monk hadn’t said it aloud, but he had made a calculated choice in his heart. Xie Yuan didn’t want this to become an issue, so he took the initiative to explain, making it clear that the fault was not his own.
"That is how it happened. Master, you can summon Xu Yang for a confrontation. Furthermore, many of our fellow disciples witnessed them coming and going that day. If I have spoken a single false word, I will accept any punishment from you, Master."
Xie Yuan declared firmly.
After listening, Liu the Monk let out a soft sigh.
"I understand. Xie Yuan, you must know that even if he wasn’t at fault, I would still give you preferential treatment after the great service you’ve rendered."
"Thank you, Master. But I am not the type to bully others with borrowed power. That is why I had to explain it clearly to you."
"Good, good! There’s no need for a confrontation. I wasn’t wrong about you, and I wasn’t wrong to expel Lin Tao."
Liu the Monk praised him repeatedly, feeling even more certain that Xie Yuan was a talent worth nurturing.
’A pity. For such an outstanding disciple, our own school is but a small temple.’
He shook his large, plump head and asked in a gentle voice:
"Did you only come here for this matter?"
"Well, there is one more thing. I wanted to ask you, Master, about the method to break through the barrier of Skin Training and achieve mastery of the First Training."
Xie Yuan said with cupped hands.
Liu the Monk asked in surprise:
"Don’t tell me you’re about to break through?"
’Last time I checked, he was still quite a ways off. Although his punching strength is indeed extraordinary... he can’t be this fast.’
’Our school’s advanced medicinal bath is no secret elixir. It’s an advancement of the basic bath, not an advancement in one’s cultivation realm! If one bath could lead to a breakthrough, the Iron Cloth Shirt Gate wouldn’t fear the Divine Weapon Hall or the Black Tiger Fist Hall. We would have fought our way to Yunzhao County long ago.’
"I’m almost there."
Xie Yuan answered truthfully.
But when these words reached Liu the Monk’s ears, he just thought the young man was too proud to be modest and was exaggerating.
"Alright, I’ll find a manual of insights for you to look at."
He chuckled, said no more, and got up to search his bookshelf.
Xie Yuan watched with great anticipation as Liu the Monk rummaged through a pile of booklets.
Suddenly, his attention was drawn to a white booklet with gold-gilded edges. His gaze narrowed slightly.
’On the cover, it looks like a drawing of a bald head... no, is that an Arhat?’
