Free Web NovelChapter 95: Chapter 95: Great Advancement in Strength
The third stage of External Training was Muscle Training, also known as tendon stretching.
Naturally, the tendon stretching of the Martial Dao was different from an ordinary person’s limbering up.
This stage required stretching out all the muscles and tendons in the body until they were nimble and free. They also had to be strengthened with Blood Qi and Treasure Medicines, making them both strong and tough.
Upon mastery, a Martial Artist’s flexibility would be greatly enhanced, and they could exert force faster and more ferociously, completing a transformation.
However, unlike the previous two stages, the tendons and bones were deep inside the body, hidden beneath thick muscle. Ordinary medicinal baths were no longer effective; only specially formulated medicines could provide assistance.
These external Treasure Medicines, which penetrated deep into the body, were much more expensive. And by the Muscle Training stage, internal supplements were naturally not cheap either.
In the Escort Agency’s exclusive pharmacy, Xie Yuan looked at the list provided by the Pharmacist and sighed softly.
’So expensive! Even the internal prices are this high. It’s probably even more outrageous outside. Without some financial backing, a Martial Artist can only rely on talent and grind it out.’
’Good thing I have talent...’
In truth, even without these external aids, Xie Yuan could still achieve great things just by slowly grinding away with his talent.
But practicing martial arts was exhausting. With nutritional and medicinal supplements, one’s efforts would naturally be twice as effective. With these treasures, even he could train much faster.
Xie Yuan carefully compared the options, then consulted the Pharmacist about prices for a moment before finally ordering several medicinal ingredients.
One was called Dragon Tendon Grass, a wondrous medicine that grew on cliffs. It looked like an unremarkable little plant, yet it could suspend a hundred-pound boulder from a cliff without breaking.
After Dragon Tendon Grass was ground, mixed with other herbs, and decocted, the resulting medicinal liquid, when consumed, could effectively aid a Martial Artist in training their muscles and tendons.
However, the cliffs were hard to reach, and Dragon Tendon Grass was not plentiful. Thus, a small bundle of its stems was worth half a Class B contribution point.
The other medicine Xie Yuan wanted was an ointment called Soft Gold Ointment. When applied to the body, its medicinal properties would slowly seep into the body, reaching the tendons and bones.
This could be applied for long periods, so Xie Yuan directly asked for enough to cover his chest and back, which cost another half a Class B contribution point.
With both an internal and an external treatment, one full Class B contribution point was gone. But Xie Yuan felt it was money well spent, as it should make his Muscle Training much easier.
With his remaining Class B contribution point, Xie Yuan directly exchanged it for a ten-day supply of Blood Replenishing Pills—special pills made by the Longteng Escort Agency to enhance Blood Qi—
and a bottle of Deer Antler Blood-Generating Ointment—also a specialty of the Escort Agency, which generates blood, boosts qi, and strengthens the body, offering many benefits for cultivation.
Just like that, his two hard-earned Class B contribution points were completely spent, making Xie Yuan lament that money never seemed to last.
If he had the choice, Xie Yuan would have liked to exchange for some medicinal ingredients to advance his Inner Power cultivation. However, the Longteng Escort Agency naturally didn’t offer such options, and he himself didn’t know what items could aid his Inner Power, though he figured they must be incredibly expensive.
’In any case, replenishing blood and boosting qi is good for the body, and it should provide a small boost to my Inner Power cultivation speed as well... Maybe I can ask Situ Qin later?’
Xie Yuan suddenly realized that for someone as mysterious and well-connected as Situ Qin, this was surely no secret. Besides, the young miss was the only one who knew he practiced Inner Power, so he could ask her.
’Maybe when I have some free time, I can go visit Yunzhou Prefecture...’
’She did say she wanted to treat me to some good food.’
After thinking for a moment, Xie Yuan turned back to the pile of medicinal ingredients before him and asked the Pharmacist:
"Doctor, these medicines don’t have any side effects, do they? Like, making one’s Blood Qi impure or anything?"
The old Pharmacist stroked his beard and chuckled.
"It’s rare for a young man to have such insight. Most of the other Darts Masters can’t wait to get their hands on as much Treasure Medicine as possible. Truly rare. But don’t you worry. These are all supplementary medicines. As you Martial Artists train, they will gradually dissolve into your bloodstream, their potency dissipating, long since purified by your Blood Qi. It’s those rare heavenly treasures, the ’tiger and wolf’ medicines that skyrocket your strength in an instant, that carry such a risk."
"Besides, a dose this small is nowhere near enough to affect your foundation."
Xie Yuan fell silent, looking at the ingredients he could carry away in just two handfuls. Two Class B contribution points only bought this much. To get more, he’d have to spend actual money.
’I’ll try out the effects first,’ Xie Yuan decided. ’I’ll take a few days off and focus on training.’
Xie Yuan entrusted the Pharmacist with decocting the Dragon Tendon Grass into a potion. After taking it with him, he drank it in the mornings and evenings and applied the Soft Gold Ointment. As expected, he could feel a perceptible strengthening of the fascia and tendons within his body.
He also took the Blood Replenishing Pills and Deer Antler Blood-Generating Ointment as needed. Training diligently day and night, Xie Yuan maximized the effects of the medicines.
「Ten days later.」
[Chopping Wood: (6357/10000)]
[Golden Bell Shield - 1st Layer: (319/500)]
[Body-Nourishing Art - 3rd Layer: (1206/3000)]
[Eight Trigrams Mountain-Shaking Fist - Initiate: (288/500)]
[Moon-Cutting Axe - Initiate: (179/500)]
[Rushing Wolf Saber Skill - Greater Mastery: (869/2000)]
[Black Celestial Book: (???/???)]
In his room, Xie Yuan scanned his list of Cultivation Techniques.
Like the Body-Nourishing Art, Chopping Wood progressed slowly but steadily, inching ever closer to the next breakthrough.
His Golden Bell Shield 1st Layer was more than halfway complete, and his Defense Power had increased significantly. Correspondingly, the Blood Qi in his chest had grown much more robust, and his entire body was brimming with Qi and Blood. Thanks to his recent hard work, his Muscle Training had progressed greatly, increasing his flexibility, explosive power, and strength in tandem. All of this contributed to an overall increase in his combat strength.
As for his combat skills, although the Eight Trigrams Mountain-Shaking Fist was powerful, he limited himself to practicing it twice a day for now, ensuring steady progress. He took a more natural approach with his Rushing Wolf Saber Skill, not forcing its advancement.
His focus was on his axe technique. He had now reached the Initiate stage with the Moon-Cutting Axe and was quickly familiarizing himself with it. It could already be of great use in actual combat!
Combined with the Moon-Cutting great-axe and his enhanced Blood Qi realm, Xie Yuan’s current combat power was worlds beyond what it had been when he went to Yulin.
"All in all, it’s been remarkably effective."
Letting out a breath, Xie Yuan was very satisfied with his recent progress.
The growth of his Blood Qi and the fact that his Muscle Training was already more than halfway done—such progress was all thanks to the Treasure Medicines he’d exchanged those two Class B contribution points for.
’If you want to advance quickly, you have to earn more contribution points. When the Darts Masters are motivated, the Escort Agency’s business thrives. Then the agency can provide more treasures, which motivates the Darts Masters to improve, making them stronger, and in turn, the agency prospers even more.’
Xie Yuan could feel this positive feedback loop. To advance his Martial Dao cultivation, he was willing to take on a few more escort missions.
But after training so hard for so long, he could afford to relax a little. A balance between work and rest was important.
Today was the day he had promised to celebrate with Kong Chun and the other four at the Jude Building. As their team leader, he naturally had to keep his word.
The base silver for a high-level Darts Master was twenty taels a month, not to mention the cut from missions. And given Xie Yuan’s knack for hitting the jackpot every time, treating them to a meal was no financial strain at all.
"Master Xie, this way, please. Your colleagues are waiting for you upstairs."
The waiter respectfully led Xie Yuan to a private room on the second floor. Pushing the door open, he found Kong Chun and the others already seated.
"Brother Yuan, you’re here!"
"Thanks for saving our lives last time, Brother Yuan! We’re not leaving till we’re drunk tonight!"
...
"The Escort Agency has a major escort coming up soon. It’s heading east."
A man with a serious expression spoke softly in an elegant, quiet room.
"Oh? Who’s leading it?"
Across from him, a slightly chubby, pale-faced man in fine clothes gently lifted his teacup and took a sip.
"Zhao Xingyang."
The man’s teacup paused, and he said slowly,
"Zhao Xingyang’s Escort Team is handling a major escort... That means Xie Yuan will be there too, right?"
"Most likely."
"Good, very good..."
Yu Chunsheng looked at the man across from him and smiled.
"You really are reliable. Don’t worry, what was promised to you will be delivered."
Hearing these words, which sounded both mocking and scornful, the man opposite him remained expressionless, staring at the tea foam floating in his cup without a word.
