Gou Zai Wudao Shi Lian Shen

As the martial arts exam draws near, the atmosphere in Chixia County grows more tense day by day.

From dawn till dusk, the sounds of fists and feet cutting through the air can be heard in the training grounds of various martial arts schools.

The Canglong Martial Arts School, Qianhe Martial Arts School, and Weiyuan Hall almost all closed their doors to train hard.

The young disciples crammed at the last minute, actively preparing for the martial arts exam.

While they diligently practiced their skills, their demand for drugs also increased significantly.

As a result, the business of medicinal pills in Chixia County also boomed.

People line up outside Wangji Yam Shop every day at dawn.

Blood-Activating Powder, Bone-Strengthening Pills... all sold out every day. Ge Ye was extremely busy refining pills in the alchemy room. Wang Ji simply hired two more alchemists to help.

After a month, Wang Ji made a fortune.

Even the usually composed Wang Shouyi couldn't suppress the corners of his mouth when he walked.

In the new month, Wang Shouyi personally visited Lu Chen's residence.

Two assistants followed behind him, one carrying a box of pills and the other carrying a heavy silver chest.

Lu Chen was finishing his training in the courtyard when he saw Wang Shouyi enter. He cupped his hands and said, "Manager Wang."

Wang Shouyi smiled and waved his hand.

"No need for such formalities."

"Lu Chen, our Wangji really benefited from your success; we've made a fortune this time."

Lu Chen asked, somewhat puzzled, "Why do you say that, shopkeeper?"

Wang Shouyi pointed outside and laughed, "You defeated Shen Shijun in Qingliu Lane a few days ago, and the name of Wang Ji's young retainer has spread."

"Nowadays, many young martial artists in Chixia County believe that the pills from my Wang family are effective, which is why they flock here."

"Tell me, isn't this all your doing?"

Lu Chen chuckled and said, "Haha, that's excellent. However, Master Ge refined the elixir, so I dare not steal his credit."

After Wang Shouyi sat down, he patted the silver box and said, "The elixir was indeed refined by Master Ge Ye."

"But in business, you're not just selling medicine, you're also selling your reputation."

"The more famous you are, the stronger our Wangji brand will be."

As he spoke, he opened the silver box.

The gleaming white silver ingots came into view, shining brightly in the sunlight.

Wang Shouyi smiled and said, "This is last month's profit share."

"A total of three hundred and eighteen taels."

"I'll round it up for you, three hundred and twenty taels."

Three hundred and twenty taels is only 20% of the profit, which shows that Wang's business earned more than a thousand taels last month.

In a small place like Chixia County, earning over a thousand taels a month is already quite remarkable for a pharmacy.

Lu Chen looked at the silver box and couldn't help but feel a slight stirring in his heart.

When he first entered the martial arts school, he was penniless and relied entirely on his senior brother Chen Chong's family to provide him with two taels of silver every month so that he could drink a bowl of tiger bone soup every day.

But now, in less than a year, he can earn several hundred taels a month.

"Indeed, practicing martial arts can be quite lucrative!"

Lu Chen couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

He then reached out and took the silver box, saying thank you, "Thank you, Manager Wang."

With this box of silver, he now had savings of over five hundred taels of silver, enough to buy a fine house in the county town.

He planned to bring his parents to the county town after the martial arts exam was over so they could live a peaceful life.

Wang Shouyi laughed and said, "This is what you deserve."

He then pointed to the box of pills.

"Here are the cultivation pills for you this month."

"And Master Ge specially prepared a Qi-strengthening Pill for you."

"Master Ge said to follow the plan step by step, and that you can't rush things."

Lu Chen nodded: "I understand."

Wang Shouyi looked at him and added, "Right now, the most important thing is still the martial arts exam."

"Everyone in Chixia County is holding their breath this time."

"Qianhe Martial Arts School and Weiyuan Hall have many skilled fighters."

"Lu Chen, be careful in this martial arts exam. There's no need to be reckless when you encounter a strong opponent."

Lu Chen said confidently, "Don't worry, Manager Wang, I know what I'm doing."

Wang Shouyi looked at the young man before him.

Last year, Lu Chen was just a young martial artist who had just entered the world of martial arts.

Now, he has become the true pillar of Wang's business.

Wang Shouyi smiled and said, "Okay."

"Then I'll wait and see if you pass the martial arts exam."

Lu Chen looked up at the growing sunlight outside the courtyard, his eyes burning with even more intensity.

……

Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School.

The sound of fists had been echoing in the martial arts arena for quite some time in the early morning.

Shi Hao was shirtless, his body drenched in sweat, and his chest heaving violently.

He practiced the Azure Dragon Tongbei Fist over and over again.

Azure dragon extends its claws, green dragon coils its body, piercing through the clouds and entering the sea, green dragon emerges from the abyss...

All techniques have been mastered.

But we were just one step away from success.

It's missing that one true "Azure Dragon Force".

Song Tieshan stood at the edge of the training ground, arms crossed, watching him for a long time.

He could tell that Shi Hao was holding back a lot of anger.

Song Tieshan stepped forward and comforted him, "Junior Brother Shi, take a rest first, don't be too anxious..."

Shi Hao frowned and said, "The martial arts examination is approaching, how can I not be anxious?"

"Even Lu Chen, that kid who started learning after me, has mastered the Azure Dragon Force. How can I be inferior to him?!"

When he mentioned Lu Chen, Shi Hao's voice became noticeably deeper.

Ever since the battle at Qingliu Lane, the news that Lu Chen had mastered the Azure Dragon Force had been like a thorn in his heart.

He is clearly the true disciple of the Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School.

He was clearly Qin Wuhe's most valued disciple.

But now, when people outside mention the Azure Dragon Tongbei Fist, the first person they think of is Lu Chen.

That abandoned disciple who was expelled from the sect.

He shone brightly at the Gathering of Heroes, defeating masters from Qianhe Martial Arts School and Weiyuan Hall in succession, but his limelight was overshadowed by a discarded pawn.

A hint of resentment appeared in Shi Hao's eyes.

Song Tieshan looked at him and said in a deep voice, "It's because you've been thinking about Lu Chen that you haven't been able to take this step."

Shi Hao's face stiffened: "Senior Brother, I..."

Song Tieshan interrupted him: "Your fists are full of defiance, and you get more and more impatient as you fight. You won't be able to develop the Azure Dragon Force this way!"

"The Azure Dragon Force emphasizes the continuous flow of power, progressing layer by layer."

As he spoke, he walked up to Shi Hao and personally demonstrated for him.

"Watch closely."

Song Tieshan assumed a boxing stance.

With a light step, the waist and hips sink, the back arches slightly, and the shoulders follow suit.

The next moment, he swung his arm like a whip, his shoulder leading his elbow, his elbow leading his wrist, and his wrist leading his fist.

With a single punch, a dragon's roar pierced the sun!

Shi Hao's pupils contracted slightly.

Song Tieshan withdrew his fist and said calmly, "Do you understand now?"

"The power of the Azure Dragon is not in the fist."

"In the feet, in the waist and hips, in the spine, and between the shoulders, elbows, and wrists."

"If you only focus on your fists, of course you won't be able to develop the true Azure Dragon Force."

Shi Hao was stunned.

Song Tieshan's words were like a thunderbolt exploding in his heart.

The power of the Azure Dragon lies not in the fist.

The true dragon resides within the body.

He recalled the hard training he had undergone in recent days and realized the problem that Song Tieshan had mentioned.

He focused on generating power with his fist, but lacked the agility that allowed the energy to flow throughout his body and connect in one continuous line.

Afterwards, Shi Hao seemed to understand something and started practicing his boxing again.

He no longer focused on his fists, but instead concentrated on the flow of qi and blood within his body.

With feet firmly planted, strength rises from the waist and hips, ascending along the spine.

In the movements of a fist, the shoulder, elbow, and wrist are connected, and the power can also be transmitted from the feet to the fist.

He practiced again and again, and the more he practiced, the smoother he became, feeling a sense of well-being throughout his body.

I don't know how much time passed.

After he threw a punch, the force flowed through his bones and tendons, creating an echo.

That sound was like a dragon's roar.

It is the power of the Azure Dragon!

Shi Hao laughed loudly: "Haha, I've mastered it!"

"Master, I have mastered the Azure Dragon Force!"

His talent was already remarkable, and with his tireless practice day and night, coupled with the dedicated guidance of his master and senior brothers, he finally mastered the Azure Dragon Force within a year.

This achievement, without Lu Chen's presence, would be enough to make Chixia County proud.

Qin Wuhe had already arrived at the training ground at some point. He looked at his beloved disciple and a long-lost smile appeared on his face.

On the training ground, the disciples erupted in cheers.

Congratulations, Senior Brother Shi!

"Brother Shi is awesome!"

"Senior Brother Shi will surely have a place on the martial arts ranking list!"

Hearing the cheers around him, Shi Hao finally let out most of the anger that had been building up inside him for so long.