Gou Zai Wudao Shi Lian Shen

Lu Chen and Qian Ming waited outside Master Ge's alchemy room until evening.

On this day, the furnace fire in the alchemy room never went out.

Through the heavy wooden door, Lu Chen could occasionally hear Master Ge Ye's hoarse reprimands coming from inside.

"Add three more drops of the Crimson Blood Ginseng Juice!"

"Fool, don't touch that jade cup!"

The two apprentice doctors were scolded until they were covered in bumps.

Lu Chen and Qian Ming leaned against the wall, looked at each other, and both frowned.

This Master Ge doesn't seem like someone easy to get along with.

A moment later, the wooden door opened.

A strong, sweet fragrance wafted out.

Master Kuzuha came out from inside.

He looked exhausted, his hair was disheveled, and his gray robe was stained with medicine ash, but his eyes shone with an alarming light. He clutched a jade box in his arms as if it were some rare treasure.

Clearly, the Qi-strengthening Pill has been successfully refined.

The two followed Master Ge Ye and escorted him to Qiao Yuan's residence.

Qiao Yuan's courtyard is very close to Master Ge Ye's residence, obviously with the consideration that if something happens to Ge Ye, Qiao Yuan can come to his rescue immediately.

However, Qiao Yuan's courtyard was very spacious, the largest courtyard in the entire yam business.

It was even larger than the main courtyard of the Wang family, which shows how much the Wang family valued Qiao Yuan.

The courtyard was unattended.

Qiao Yuan's martial arts skills are the best in the yam industry; no one can protect him, and they are in his way.

Lu Chen followed Ge Ye into the courtyard.

The courtyard was spacious, paved with blue bricks, and there were no extra decorations around. Several thick ironwood stakes stood against the wall, two of which had been hammered with deep palm prints, and another was broken in the middle, with the wood grain cracked at the break, as if it had been shattered by some enormous force.

In the center of the courtyard stood a tall, middle-aged man.

He wasn't wearing a long gown, but only a loose short jacket, revealing his two thick arms.

Those hands were enormous.

With wide palms and thick fingers, rough and hard knuckles, and calluses covering the palms, it doesn't look like a human hand at first glance, but rather like two polished iron palms.

Lu Chen's gaze fell on those hands, and his heart skipped a beat.

According to Zhao Yiting, Qiao Yuan once shattered a mountain rock with a single palm strike and could catch a blade with his bare hands.

What's even more eye-catching are Qiao Yuan's legs.

He stood there, his body seemingly still, yet his leg muscles moved like an old ape crouching, his knees and hips slightly lowered, his feet firmly planted on the blue bricks. The muscles in his calves were taut like vines, as if they could spring out at any moment.

A pair of large hands, a pair of ape legs.

Palms like Vajra, legs like mountain apes.

This is Qiao Yuan, the pillar of Wangji Yam Shop!

"Qiao Yuan, the Qi-Strengthening Pill you requested has been refined!"

Ge Ye handed the jade box to Qiao Yuan, "Two pieces from one batch. You're lucky."

Qiao Yuan accepted it solemnly.

"Thank you, Master Ge."

He opened the jade box and glanced at the two pale gold pills inside.

The pills are round and smooth with fine lines on the surface. They have a rich and deep medicinal aroma, unlike the pungent Blood Qi Powder. Instead, they have a warm and gentle aroma that makes one feel a slight warmth in the chest and abdomen after just one whiff.

A flicker of emotion finally appeared in Qiao Yuan's eyes.

He lingered too long at the Blood Transfusion Center.

So long ago that even he himself could hardly remember when he last broke through to a higher realm.

"This attempt might be my last chance in this lifetime."

He closed the jade box, his gaze swept over the three people, and finally landed on Lu Chen.

"Are you new here?"

His eyesight was sharp, and he instantly noticed an unfamiliar face.

Lu Chen hurriedly clasped his hands in greeting: "Junior Lu Chen, disciple of Canglong Martial Arts School, greets Senior Qiao."

"Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School..."

Qiao Yuan pondered for a moment, "Qin Wuhe's disciple?"

Lu Chen nodded and said, "My master is indeed Qin Wuhe."

Qiao Yuan glanced at him.

The boy was agile and muscular, with a maturity beyond his years.

He said calmly, "I once fought with your master. His Azure Dragon Tongbei Fist was unparalleled. I hope you can learn half of your master's skill."

Lu Chen replied, "This junior will certainly be diligent."

Qiao Yuan didn't pay much attention to a newcomer at the initial stage of Blood Transformation. He put away the jade box and turned to look at his meditation room.

"I will be going into seclusion for three days."

Ge Ye, Lu Chen, and Qian Ming all wisely withdrew from the courtyard.

On the way to escort Ge Ye back to her room to rest, Lu Chen seized the opportunity to ask Ge Ye for advice: "Master Ge."

Ge Ye glanced at him sideways: "What's up?"

Lu Chen clasped his hands and said, "I have just entered the Blood Transformation Realm, and my Qi and blood are only just beginning to take shape. I wonder which medicinal herbs I should use to aid my cultivation in order to ensure the best results?"

Ge Ye paused in his steps.

He sized Lu Chen up and down a few times, then snorted, "You certainly know how to pick your time. I'm exhausted after refining a batch of Qi-stabilizing pills."

Lu Chen said, "If it is inconvenient for you, Master, I will ask again another day."

Ge Ye reached out and smoothed his messy beard, saying, "Never mind, I'll just give you a few pointers on the way."

Lu Chen's expression turned serious: "Thank you, Master."

As Ge Ye walked, he said slowly, "You are at the initial stage of Blood Transformation. The most important thing is not to just keep replenishing your energy, but to follow the three steps of cleansing, nourishing, and strengthening."

"Washing is to cleanse and refine the body."

"Nourishment" means nourishing and replenishing the body's vital energy and blood.

"Strong" means to strengthen the body and vital energy.

Lu Chen listened attentively.

Ge Ye continued, "The most common mistake you young martial artists make is thinking that the more pills the better. You're always thinking about swallowing Blood Qi Powder, wishing you could take three a day, feeding yourselves like pigs."

He sneered, "But the Blood Qi Powder is very potent; if it can't be absorbed, it becomes poison."

Lu Chen felt a slight chill. If it weren't for this question today, he would have really been prepared to exchange all ten taels of silver for Blood Qi Powder, indulging to his heart's content and accelerating his advancement.

Then, Ge Ye pondered and asked, "How much silver can you use each month?"

Lu Chen said, "Ten taels."

Ge Ye raised an eyebrow: "Ten taels?"

Ge Ye hadn't realized that Lu Chen, a new guard, was so young, yet had so much money.

However, he didn't ask where it came from, only saying, "All ten taels?"

"Use all of them."

Lu Chen's tone was firm: "Money in your hand is just money. It's your ability to convert it into vital energy."

Kuzuno glanced at him. "That's quite true."

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Ten taels of silver isn't a small amount, but you're doing this..."

"First, there's the medicinal bath."

"In the initial stage of Blood Transformation, the muscles, bones, skin, and flesh have not yet been fully nourished by Qi and blood. If you practice boxing and standing meditation every day, your body will suffer from hidden injuries and stagnation. If you do not cleanse and refine these areas in time, the flow of Qi and blood will be obstructed over time."

"You should take a medicinal bath every five days."

"The prescription uses Red Blood Vine, Iron Bone Grass, Old Ginger Root, Tiger Bone Powder, and a small amount of Blood-Activating Flower. This prescription is not very potent, but it can activate blood circulation, clear the meridians, cleanse the tendons and open the skin, making it most suitable for a martial artist like you who has just entered the Blood-Activating stage."

Lu Chen noted it down and asked, "Approximately how much does a medicinal bath cost?"

Ge Ye said, "At market price, a set would cost at least one tael. Since you are a martial artist, you should be able to get a discount if you buy it from Wang Ji."

Lu Chen nodded slightly.

Ge Ye continued, "Secondly, Blood Qi Dispersing."

"Blood Qi Powder is the most suitable elixir for Blood Refining Realm warriors to nourish their blood and qi, but it cannot be eaten as food. With your current condition, taking three pills a month is the limit."

"If you take too much, it will be a waste if the medicinal effects can't be neutralized."

Wang Ji would supply Lu Chen with one Blood Qi Powder every month. If he bought two more, he would get a 30% discount, so Lu Chen would only need to spend two taels and eight mace.

"Use the rest of the money to buy meat. Blood and flesh essence are especially important to martial artists," Ge Ye concluded.

Lu Chen silently noted it down and said gratefully, "Thank you for your guidance, Master Ge."