Promise!

Chapter 44, Strange Beast

Zhuang Jin came to the General Affairs Department and found Chang Hetong. Today was the end of the year and the end of the month, which was the busiest time of the year in the General Affairs Department. Chang Hetong was very busy, but he still took time out to register for his promotion to a second-level servant.

Chang Hetong took the certificate and asked, "Is your assessment over? What were the results? Did you manage to master the Black Evil Palm?"

"Time is too tight, there's still a little bit of a gap." Zhuang Jin sighed lightly.

"It's already pretty good, don't be discouraged."

As Chang Hetong spoke, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If it was true that Zhuang Jin had cultivated to the second level and mastered the Black Evil Palm in a month, then he would be truly extraordinary.

It's not that he is jealous, but since the recruitment of martial artists, there has not been a single person like this in several sessions. If Zhuang Jin can do it, it would be too conspicuous. Standing out from the crowd may not necessarily be a good thing!
"I was planning to tell you about the mission, but I'm so busy today that I'm afraid I can't. So, you can go ask Ping Yongfeng. I'm sure he'll be happy to tell you."

Chang Hetong finished recording Zhuang Jin as a second-level servant, replaced his waist badge, and handed him two sets of second-level servant clothes. "In my Shen family, every promotion to a servant brings significant changes. After being promoted to a second-level servant, you will have a completely different level of food, clothing, housing, and transportation."

Zhuang Jin nodded when he heard this. He had already felt it. Apart from anything else, this second-line servant was given two sets of clothes for free. When he was a one-line servant, he only had one set of clothes.

"As for 'clothing', you've already felt it. As for 'housing', you've been promoted to a second-stripe servant and can live in a single room. As for 'transportation', we servants haven't reached that level yet. As for 'food', we have a special benefit..."

……

At noon, the warm sunshine enveloped the earth, which was particularly refreshing in this winter weather. Zhuang Jin, carrying the packed wine and food, found Ping Yongfeng who was about to go to the cafeteria.

When Ping Yongfeng saw Zhuang Jin, he first asked about the assessment results with concern, and after listening, he also comforted him. Then, he noticed the wine and food he was carrying. Suddenly, he was relieved and complained at the same time. He turned and led him to his room, saying as they walked, "You just broke through to the warrior level not long ago. You don't have much money. You can just go to the cafeteria for a meal. Why bother with this? It's a waste!"

He said this because he was sincere. If the relationship was just average, the more gifts someone gave him and the more extravagant they were, the more face he would feel!
Ping Yongfeng brought Zhuang Jin to the room, found a small table and two stools, put down the wine and food, sat opposite each other, and opened them one by one.

When one of the meat dishes was opened, an extremely tempting aroma wafted out.

"Is this...exotic beast meat?!" Ping Yongfeng said in surprise.

"Exactly, Master Ping has good eyesight!"

This is exactly the special benefit Zhuang Jin gets in terms of food after being promoted to a second-level servant: he can purchase a limited amount of one kilogram of exotic beast meat at the price of one penny of silver every month!

——You should know that normal pork, mutton, beef, etc. only cost a dozen or twenty cents per pound.

Before that, after he registered for promotion to a second-level servant, he spent one penny of silver to buy a pound of exotic beast meat as this month's benefit, found a restaurant outside to cook it, and packed some other food and drinks before coming here.

"This is good stuff. It can boost your Qi and blood and speed up your cultivation. But it would be a waste if I eat it!"

Ping Yongfeng spoke, looking at Zhuang Jin with a complicated expression, and then he picked up a large piece of exotic beast meat for him. "Master Ping, eat too." Zhuang Jin also picked up two pieces of exotic beast meat for Ping Yongfeng with his chopsticks, and then he took a bite of the exotic beast meat in the bowl. It tasted extremely fresh and chewy, and the flavor was very delicious.

After swallowing it, I soon felt a sensation similar to that of practicing meditation and concentrating my inner breath. My body felt warm, as if I was sitting by a fire in winter. It was indescribably comforting and cozy.

"How is it? Does it taste good? The exotic beast meat is indeed delicious, but what's more important is its efficacy. After swallowing it, your Qi and blood will be exceptionally vigorous within half a day. During this period, the efficiency of refining the Black Yuan Powder will be accelerated. This is why exotic beast meat can speed up cultivation." Ping Yongfeng said with a smile.

"Refining Black Yuan Powder, practicing tranquility, and concentrating internal energy also have the effect of replenishing the body and invigorating Qi and blood. This effect is slow, but it is a permanent improvement... and the effect of exotic beast meat on invigorating Qi and blood seems to be immediate, but it has a time limit!"

Zhuang Jin pondered this thought, and then thought: "I have broken through the second meridian so quickly, and my body has been greatly replenished. When I break through the second, third, and fourth meridians quickly in the future, I will be able to catch up with and even surpass ordinary people. This exotic beast meat can allow me to experience that feeling in advance."

Even if that time really comes, his body's energy and blood will be much more vigorous than that of ordinary people, so the exotic beast meat will not be ineffective. This effect is actually a bonus on the original basis.

When he thought of this, his eyes lit up: "This exotic beast meat is indeed a good thing!"

"Master Ping, when I went to collect the meat of the exotic beast, I saw Uncle Chang was busy and it was difficult to ask in detail. I only knew its name... I wonder what the legend of this exotic beast is?" Zhuang Jin asked.

"Haha, I actually know something about this strange beast."

Ping Yongfeng explained with a smile, "The foundation of our transcendence as warriors lies in our inner energy. As the name suggests, exotic beasts are different from other beasts. They are able to gather extraordinary energy within their bodies, thus far surpassing ordinary beasts."

"Exotic beasts can't cultivate and open up their meridians like we humans do. Therefore, the realms of exotic beasts are divided differently from those of warriors like us. Our Qi Condensation Realm corresponds to the Skin and Flesh Realm of exotic beasts, which is further divided into the Skin Grinding Realm and the Flesh Refining Realm. The Skin Grinding Realm of exotic beasts has entry-level, minor success, major success, and perfect strength, which roughly corresponds to the strength of warriors like us at the first to sixth meridians."

He briefly introduced the beast, then exclaimed, "Speaking of this beast, it's truly a treasure trove. Its hide can be made into armor, which, when worn, effectively blocks and weakens the energy of warriors like me. Its bones and flesh can be eaten to boost Qi and blood, nourish the body, and accelerate cultivation."

"However, the most precious are the beast treasures! Ordinary beasts, under special circumstances, can form pig treasures, bezoars, musk, and the like in their bodies. Naturally, exotic beasts also have a very small chance of producing treasures in special parts of their bodies. These are the beast treasures. Swallowing beast treasures directly can replenish vitality, supplement potential, and slightly improve aptitude. However, using them in this way is a waste of natural resources. The most appropriate use is to use them as auxiliary ingredients in elixirs that break through bottlenecks, which can increase the efficacy of the elixir by 10% or 20%!"

"This is just what I know. It is said that higher-level beasts have other wonders, but that is not something I can know."

Zhuang Jin listened with great interest and nodded in agreement. This strange beast was indeed full of treasures!

"Speaking of exotic beasts, you'll also be on duty starting next month. If you're in the medicinal fields outside the city, you'll inevitably come into contact with exotic beasts. The herbs we warriors use for training are quite attractive to exotic beasts, so exotic beasts often appear in the medicinal fields outside the city. After killing them, the exotic beast meat is considered a benefit..."

Ping Yongfeng said, then changed the subject: "That's right, next I will tell you about the mission and errand."

When Zhuang Jin heard Ping Yongfeng talking about serious matters, his expression also became serious. He sat up straight and said, "Please give me some advice, Master Ping."

……

(End of this chapter)