I'll write a manual called the Sunflower Manual, and the entire martial arts world will turn in

A corner of the Central Court's martial arts training ground.

Ma Tie and Wu Wei discussed it for a while.

"Ma Tie, Brother Wei Dian has become the adopted son of the second-in-command of the Dragon King Gang. He just spoke to me privately, hoping I would go and work for him. What do you think?" Wu Wei asked softly.

Ma Tiedao: "Brother Wei Dian also talked to me. Before, we were just holding positions in the Dragon King Gang. This time, we're going there to sever ties with Yong Sheng Martial Arts School and become full members of the Dragon King Gang. Following Brother Wei Dian is definitely more promising than staying at the martial arts school. The main problem is that my father thinks the Dragon King Gang has a bad reputation and doesn't want me to work there. What do you think?"

Wu Wei looked troubled. "My dad doesn't want me to go to the Dragon King Gang either, but I feel that following Brother Wei Dian is better than staying at the martial arts school. Besides, now that Brother Wei Dian has left the sect, we are already regarded as Wei Dian's faction by the others in the martial arts school. If we stay, I'm afraid we will be ostracized and targeted everywhere."

Ma Tie sighed: "I'm worried about that too. If you go, I'll go."

"Then let's go together. Following Brother Wei Dian will definitely lead to a brighter future."

"Alright. We're not direct disciples, so leaving the martial arts school isn't that complicated. Let's go find Wei Xiang and explain the situation together."

The two went to find Wei Xiang together, and then left the martial arts school together.

All of this was observed by Mai Qiuyan, Pang Tong, and Liu Jiang, who were in a corner of the courtyard.

Liu Jiang's expression was grave. "Ma Tie and Wu Wei have probably left the martial arts school and gone to the Dragon King Gang with Wei Dian. Wei Dian also came to me, hoping I would join him in the Dragon King Gang. He even said he would soon become the third leader of the Dragon King Gang. If that happens, he will surpass my Zhenwei Escort Agency. My whole family will have to depend on him for their livelihood. It's a really unpleasant feeling. Just half a year ago, he was just a servant."

Pang Tong, standing beside him, felt even worse: "You're upset, but I'm even more upset. Half a year ago, Wei Dian was still following me around like a puppy, calling me 'brother' all the time. Yesterday, he led dozens of Dragon King Gang members to surround the small government office, stormed in, and demanded that I join his gang. I... I really can't accept that. If he really becomes the third leader of the Dragon King Gang, my small government office will have to live at his mercy."

Mai Qiuyan frowned: "Yesterday, Wei Dian brought his men to our canal gang with quite a show. My father had no choice but to bow his head and give him a hundred taels of silver to settle the matter. He wants me to become his woman and serve him day and night from now on..."

The three poured out their hearts to each other, expressing their grievances and dissatisfaction.

No one could have imagined that those three junior brothers who had once received their financial support would now rise to power and treat them with disrespect.

It's truly heartbreaking.

Finally, Liu Jiang summarized, "Alright, let's discuss whether we should leave the martial arts school and join the Dragon King Gang. Brother Pang, you're now a constable in a minor government office, what do you say to that?"

Pang Tong gritted his teeth: "When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. Sooner or later, you'll have to live at Wei Dian's mercy. It's better to go sooner rather than later, and you'll avoid being targeted. Besides, putting aside personal pride, following Wei Dian is clearly better than staying at the martial arts school. I'll go find Wei Xiang in a bit and leave the martial arts school to join the Dragon King Gang."

Liu Jiang interrupted, saying, "Brother Pang sees things clearly and has guts. Then I won't hold back either; I'll follow Wei Dian to earn a better future. If we're late, Wei Dian will definitely make things difficult for us. Junior Sister Mai, what about you?"

Mai Qiuyan hesitated. "I understand what you're saying. But you're just going to work for him, while he wants me to be his woman. Let me think about it some more..."

Hmm.

Liu Jiang sighed, "I really misjudged him before. I didn't expect Wei Dian to rise so quickly. Junior Sister Mai, try to think more positively. I think Wei Dian's future is limitless. There's nothing wrong with you being a woman. You won't find a more promising young man in Wuqiao Town than Wei Dian."

Mai Qiuyan stamped her foot, her face turning bright red. "But Wei Dian himself has become the adopted son of the second-in-command, and that second-in-command has always been fond of men. I really can't accept it."

Liu Jiang said, "Actually, all men are the same when the lights are off. Why is Sister Mai so stubborn?"

"Indeed, men and women are the same when the lights are off. Junior sister, you need to make a decision soon, lest you go too late and be targeted by him, bringing trouble to your family." Pang Tong comforted her, then took Liu Jiang to find Wei Xiang.

Before long, the two left the martial arts school together.

Watching the two figures leave, Mai Qiuyan felt a pang of sadness.

She was originally the apple of her parents' eye, their precious jewel. But after Wei Dian brought his men to their door last night and showed off his power, her parents changed their ways and forced Mai Qiuyan to submit to Wei Dian.

After Mai Qiuyan expressed her objection, her father slapped her hard across the face, saying that she was selfish and disregarded the family's interests.

This was the first time Mai Qiuyan had ever been slapped by her father since she was a child.

In an instant, Mai Qiuyan felt a deep sense of grievance, as if the whole world had abandoned her and no one cared about her grievances and emotions anymore.

Because of this, Mai Qiuyan had a big fight with her parents last night and left home crying this morning.

Fortunately, Mai Qiuyan was resilient and was not defeated. She grew up in the martial arts world and had seen many women's fates.

After some deliberation, Mai Qiuyan suddenly gritted her teeth.

"It's better to let Xie An benefit than Wei Dian. Xie An is more handsome..."

After saying that, Mai Qiuyan took the booklet and slowly walked towards Baicaotang.

……

Xie An went to Shougong Hall and had lunch with his senior brother, comforting him and then inquiring about his doubts regarding Mingjin and the Mingjin Inner Breath Pill.

Upon hearing that Xie An had obtained a Mingjin Inner Breath Pill, Chen Lutang, who had been feeling listless, finally perked up a bit: "Junior brother, you have good fortune. It seems that the prefect Wang Zhuo has taken a liking to your talent and intends to invest in you."

Xie An handed the wooden box to Chen Lutang: "Please explain the Inner Strength and Breathing Pill in detail, Senior Brother."

Chen Lutang opened the box, took out the pills, and examined them carefully. "The pills are genuine. This Bright Mirror Inner Breath Pill is made by a renowned pharmacist from Desolate Thunder City. It requires the bones of a treasure fish and more than a dozen precious medicinal herbs to be blended together. Special attention is paid to the heat and the craftsmanship. After taking it, a Bright Strength martial artist can strengthen their internal energy and external bones. It is a rare and precious medicine that can accelerate the improvement of Bright Strength."

"Thank you for your verification, Senior Brother." Xie An accepted the wooden box with both hands. Although it was a gift from the Prefect, he still wanted his Senior Brother to examine it carefully to be on the safe side.

Chen Lutang nodded: "That Wei Dian betrayed our sect, causing me to lose face in the martial arts world. Junior brother, you must work harder and strive to break through to the Dark Force realm as soon as possible, so that I can regain my honor. It will also let that scoundrel Wei Dian know that betraying our sect is the biggest regret of his life."

Xie An said, "Don't worry, senior brother, I will definitely not let you down."

Chen Lutang finally smiled broadly, "That's good. But we can't be too hasty. We should proceed steadily and leave the rest to fate."

"Yes."

It was past noon when we returned to Baicaotang.

Xie An went into the room, sat cross-legged, took out the Mingjin Inner Breath Pill from the wooden box, and swallowed it in one gulp.

The pill tastes slightly bitter upon entering the mouth, but then leaves a pleasant aftertaste.

A powerful medicinal force spread from the stomach, flowing throughout the body and limbs. Before long, the whole body became burning hot, and the muscles, bones, and meridians felt tingly and numb.

Xie An was no longer a novice in martial arts training; he also had extensive experience with taking drugs, so he immediately made a rough assessment of the effects of the Mingjin Inner Breath Pill.

An extremely rare precious elixir!

Unlike the precious catfish, this Inner Breath Pill is specifically designed to help Ming Jin martial artists regulate their breathing and internal energy; it's a precise prescription. Its effects on Ming Jin are particularly noticeable.

Xie An immediately activated the Vajra Vigorous Body Technique, guiding the medicinal power to circulate throughout his body's meridians, repeatedly cleansing his muscles and bones.

"Compared to the slow enhancement of the Treasure Fish, the enhancement of Ming Jin Internal Breath Pill is much more forceful and violent. If one is not physically strong enough, one may be harmed by the power of this medicine."

Two hours later, it was already dark.

Xie An also finished practicing his internal energy and opened the panel to take a look.

[Martial Arts Realm: Ming Jin (Minor Success: 48/100)]

"My Ming Jin realm has increased by a full 14 points! What an incredible boost!"

Xie An was taken aback by the progress.

Previously, after consuming two tiger catfish pills consecutively, his progress only increased by 8 points. This tiny pill, however, increased it by 14 points. It's practically insane.

"They say the poor study literature, the rich study martial arts, and that's absolutely true. Two people with exactly the same talent and aptitude, one who doesn't use drugs and the other who does, can have a world of difference in a few years. No wonder those talented young people are so desperate to squeeze into powerful sects and wealthy families. It's all for the sake of obtaining precious resources. And those powerful sects and wealthy families only need to monopolize resources to command countless martial arts masters at will..."

However, Xie An also knew that everyone's body develops resistance to drugs. The effect of a certain elixir is strongest the first time it is taken, and it will gradually decrease with each subsequent use.

The same applies to the Treasure Fish and the Bright Strength Inner Breath Pill.

In the short term, taking drugs has remarkable effects.

In the long run, talent and hard work ultimately determine the upper limit.

When all the precious medicinal herbs are used up, who can go the furthest... it really comes down to talent and hard work.

The problem is that many children from poor families simply can't afford the drugs, which means they don't even have the chance to get on the track, let alone compete for talent and hard work.

Having mastered the new Ming Jin realm, Xie An got up and went to the courtyard. His younger sister was still busy in the backyard and had not yet returned.

dong dong dong.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Xie An opened the door and was immediately startled by the sight before him.

Standing outside the door was Mai Qiuyan, dressed very lightly. Her upper body was tightly wrapped in a white silk tube top, revealing her fair neck and collarbone, and her slender abdomen could be grasped with one hand. She wore a white silk mini skirt, revealing a pair of long, shapely, fair legs.

This is Mai Qiuyan, whom Lin Chong rejected when he offered her a gift, someone he couldn't possibly be close to.

Xie An composed himself. "What do you want with me?"

Mai Qiuyan rubbed her legs together, lowered her head, gritted her teeth, and put on a pitiful look. "I had a big fight with my parents yesterday and was kicked out of the house. I'm afraid I can't go back today. It's cold outside, so I'd like to ask to stay at my uncle's place for the night. Is that convenient?"