Dual-wielding! 100x proficiency, I'll grind my way to godhood!

After a night's rest, Chen Mo finally recovered his energy and spirits.

As I pushed open the door, the morning light in the courtyard was just right.

Su Yue was practicing boxing with Qing Zhu.

Su Yue's punches were fluid and graceful, and her moves were already showing promise.

Qingzhu followed behind, her stance crooked and awkward, her punches like a kitten scratching.

"Squat down a little lower."

Su Yue didn't turn her head back.

"It's already very low..."

"Lower it even further."

Qingzhu pouted, moved down half an inch, and her legs trembled like a leaf.

Chen Mo leaned against the door frame and watched for a while.

"Alright, let's rest for a bit. Qingzhu, come here."

As if granted a pardon, Qingzhu rushed over.

Chen Mo turned and went into the kitchen, taking out several items from his bronze ring.

Salt, soy sauce, cooking wine, and a few star anise, among other seasonings, were brought from Blue Star.

The seasoning in Tianxuan Continent is too monotonous; people just add a little salt to their food, nothing else.

Today I'll teach you how to cook a dish.

During the time he spent with Lu Xingyao and Su Wan, he was bored and learned several new skills, including cooking, throwing, and archery, all of which reached the advanced level.

He placed the pork belly on the cutting board, and with a horizontal stroke of the knife, cut it into square pieces the size of mahjong tiles.

Qingzhu came closer, her eyes shining as she looked at the bottles and jars.

"Young master, what are these?"

"seasoning."

Chen Mo said as he cut the meat.

"These were all brought from my hometown; you can't buy them here."

"hometown?"

Qingzhu tilted her head.

"Where is your hometown, young master?"

"In a very far place."

Chen Mo poured the meat chunks into the pot, and with a sizzling sound, oil smoke billowed up.

He picked up a spatula and taught Qingzhu while stir-frying the food.

After simmering over low heat for about half an hour.

"It's almost done cooking, go get the bowls and chopsticks."

"oh!"

Qingzhu skipped away.

The aroma of meat wafted from the kitchen, filling the entire yard.

Qingzhu squatted by the stove from beginning to end, sniffing hard when the pot was boiling.

"Young master, what's that smell? It smells wonderful! I've never smelled anything like it before!"

Su Yue stopped her punches and walked in, glancing into the pot.

"Young master, this dish is even more fragrant than that of Zuixiang Pavilion."

Chen Mo smiled and put a piece on each of their plates.

Qingzhu chewed a couple of times, then suddenly stopped moving.

He lowered his head, and his shoulders trembled slightly.

"What's wrong?"

Chen Mo looked at her.

"I've never eaten anything this delicious in my entire life."

Qingzhu swallowed the meat with difficulty, her voice muffled.

"Back in Zuixiang Pavilion, sometimes we didn't even get leftovers. After following you, young master, I thought white rice was the best thing ever. I never imagined I'd get to eat this. Young master, why are you so kind to me..."

Chen Mo put the piece from his bowl into hers as well.

"You're this moved by just a piece of meat? Have some self-respect."

"I'm such a loser!"

Qingzhu raised her head, her eyes red-rimmed.

"Since I'll be able to make a living by following you, I'll never leave."

"I will always stay by your side, young master, and serve you for the rest of my life."

Su Yue also said softly.

"Alright, alright, you two just stay with me and eat."

Chen Mo ruffled Qingzhu's hair.

Su Yue lowered her head and ate slowly, a slight upturn at the corners of her mouth.

After finishing breakfast, Chen Mo finished his disguise in front of the bronze mirror.

After getting ready, I went out and headed towards Zhao's Pharmacy.

The shopkeeper was leaning over the counter, working on his abacus. There weren't many customers early in the morning.

Hearing footsteps, I looked up and saw a middle-aged man with a goatee walk in. He was a complete stranger, and he put on a businessman's smile.

"Sir, would you like to order medicine or pills? Our shop has just received a batch of top-quality bone-strengthening pills, at a fair price..."

Chen Mo walked to the counter, didn't beat around the bush, lowered his voice, and said two words in his natural tone.

"it's me."

The shopkeeper's smile froze.

He stared at the face, scanning it up and down twice.

He had a goatee, dark skin, and was in his forties. His voice matched, but his face didn't.

His brows furrowed, his lips moved, and he forced a smile.

"You flatter me, sir. And you are...?"

Chen Mo leaned against the counter, tapping the surface lightly with his fingers, his tone casual as if he were chatting about everyday things.

"Shopkeeper, how are your family members doing lately?"

The shopkeeper seemed to be frozen in place.

The color drained visibly from his face, and his lips trembled several times.

His knees buckled, and he had to grab the counter to steady himself.

"Young Master Zhang...you're back."

Chen Mo reached out and helped him up, pressing him back into the chair.

"Don't panic, I've come to ask you something."

The shopkeeper took a few breaths to catch his breath. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, glanced around, and saw that no one was nearby.

"Young Master Zhang, please ask. This old man will tell you everything he knows without missing a single word."

"What's been going on with the Zhao family lately?"

The shopkeeper lowered his voice.

"The Zhao family recently summoned all their disciples above the Qi and Blood Realm back to the old house. They only left Body Refinement Realm members to guard the outlying businesses, and closed the two pill shops on the street."

Chen Mo hummed in agreement, signaling him to continue.

"Also, the Zhao family spent a lot of money to buy a batch of pills from the county town, which were escorted back by a Qi Refining Realm guest elder. The wooden boxes were sealed tightly, and this old man personally counted them when they were put into storage."

"What's so special about it?"

"There are several bottles of Qi Condensation Pills in this medicine box."

The shopkeeper lowered his voice even further.

"No one in the entire Qing Shi Town can refine the pills used by those at the Qi Control Realm. Only the large pharmacies in the county town have access to them. The price is outrageously high; one pill is enough to buy two shops in town."

"Condensing Essence Pill".

"Yes. Not long after the pills were put into storage, Old Master Zhao went into seclusion."

The shopkeeper licked his dry lips.

"Old Master Zhao is aiming for the mid-stage of the Qi Control Realm. Once he breaks through, his strength will be on par with the Garrison Commander."

Chen Mo tapped his fingers lightly twice on the counter.

"What's the Li family's reaction?"

The shopkeeper shook his head.

"I don't know much about the Li family's affairs, but I heard they're still looking for their precious Li Mingyuan."

Chen Mo didn't press the matter further and changed the subject.

"Does the shop have any pills for those at the Inner Strength Realm?"

"no."

The shopkeeper shook his head.

"Not only do I not have any here, but none of the pharmacies in the entire Qing Shi Town have any. Inner Strength Realm pills are not for sale in this town."

Each family has enough for their own use, so there's no way they'd sell it. If Young Master Zhang wants it, he'll have to go to the county's large pharmacy or find an alchemist for a private transaction.

Chen Mo took out a thousand-tael silver note from his pocket and pushed it in front of the shopkeeper.

"Good job. Keep an eye on things for me. Spend some money to get rid of Xiao Liu's mother, and the rest is yours."

The shopkeeper shuddered in fright.

"Young Master Zhang... Xiao Liu's mother has been killed by the Li family..."

"Oh, I see. That saves me some trouble."

Chen Mo patted him on the shoulder.

"Don't be nervous. Just do your job well, and you'll get your share of the rewards. Give me fifty portions of the bone-strengthening pills out of this thousand taels, and the rest is yours."

The shopkeeper accepted the silver notes with both hands, nodded repeatedly, and went to fetch the medicinal herbs.

Chen Mo took the medicine and turned to leave the pharmacy.

As I walked slowly along the alley, the things the shopkeeper had said came together in my mind one by one.

All those above the Qi and Blood Realm were recalled to their old residences, and all surrounding properties were shut down.

This isn't contraction, it's clenching a fist.

The Zhao family is holding back a big move!

The Zhao family is gambling by spending a fortune to buy Ningyuan Pills from the county town.

I'm betting the old man can break through.

Once they break through to the mid-stage of the Qi Control Realm, their strength will be on par with that of the Garrison Commander, giving the Zhao family more confidence in their actions.

Whom is the clenched fist about to strike?

In Qing Shi Town, the Zhao family's only remaining enemies are the Li family and the martial arts school. It seems the Zhao family intends to wipe out the Li family and the martial arts school in one fell swoop.

However, the garrison commander will be transferred soon, and it is unknown when the new garrison commander will arrive, or what his strength will be.

In any case, the Zhao family will not act rashly before Old Master Zhao breaks through to the next level.

This is a gap period.

It was also his developmental period.

Chen Mo clarified his thoughts.

There was no way to rely on the pharmacy, so I had to rely on myself. Fortunately, I still had plenty of pills in my bronze ring.