The Martial Saint, starting with daily intelligence.

"The exact time is yet to be determined. I will find a way to notify you once the extraordinary reagent arrives."

"Oh, right, go find Jemin before you leave."

"Um?"

Zhong Ming was a little confused; what did the chairman want to see him about?

Mundo then added.

"You need to renew your subscription. You have completed the first-tier transcendental stage. If you want to continue to the second-tier transcendental stage, you need to continue paying the subscription fee."

Zhong Ming was stunned.

"You want more money? I thought..."

"I thought I could get something for nothing because of my perfect body."

···

President's Office.

When Chairman Benjamin saw Zhong Ming arrive, he felt an inexplicable disgust.

"The price of a Tier 2 Transcendent Supreme spot has increased by 50%, to 300 silver dollars. Pay the membership fee and get out of here, I hate seeing you."

"President Steelbone, what's wrong? What's bothering you? Why are you taking it out on me?"

What do you think?

"Don't you have any idea how many of my extraordinary reagents you've used?"

"The membership fee you paid isn't even enough to cover a fraction of the reagent cost."

"Steelbow President Benjamin glared at me with dissatisfaction."

Zhong Ming touched his nose, feeling a little embarrassed.

I've used nearly a hundred doses of the extraordinary reagents on myself.

Normally, two or three doses of the extraordinary reagent would be enough, but Zhong Ming used thirty or forty times that of an ordinary person.

A single sample of extraordinary reagent can sell for more than a dozen silver coins, and this is even an extraordinary reagent with defects and hidden dangers.

Zhong Ming used only supernatural reagents with no hidden dangers, each one costing dozens of silver coins.

If it's only two or three portions, the Steelbone President can still make a profit.

But with nearly a hundred orders at once, and Mundo also purchasing a large amount of supernatural materials in the name of the Steelbone Club, Benjamin really lost a fortune on this deal.

Most of this year's profits have been wiped out.

Moreover, this is only for supplying Zhong Ming, a first-tier transcendent being.

  

Benjamin foresaw that with the next two, three, and even four levels of transcendence, there would be no profit to be made.

It would be good enough if we didn't lose all the profits from the past ten years or so.

Under these circumstances, it would be strange if Chairman Benjamin gave Zhong Ming a friendly look.

Benjamin was able to continue to indulge Zhong Ming partly because the Extraordinary Contract had a certain degree of binding force.

If there is a breach of contract, it is not a possibility, but a certainty that one will suffer a backlash from the extraordinary power, which will manifest as being eroded and transformed into something bizarre.

Of course, if it's just the backlash from the extraordinary contract, Benjamin's abilities are enough to withstand it; at worst, he'll just have to stay in bed for a few months.

The real reason Benjamin continued to maintain the Extraordinary Contract was actually Mundo Edwards.

Given Mundo's power and status, coupled with their decades-long friendship, this was a significant factor.

Even if it meant losing more than a decade's worth of wealth, Benjamin accepted it.

Benjamin was well aware of his own abilities and talents, none of which he was particularly outstanding.

The reason they've achieved what they have today is simply because they know how to choose sides!

More than 30 years ago, Benjamin was stuck at the third level of transcendent. It was only because he stood by Mundo's side that he was able to successfully advance to the fourth level of transcendent. Even now, having reached the sixth level of transcendent, he has achieved this largely with Mundo's help.

Benjamin knew that as long as he clung tightly to Mundo's coattails, one day he might be able to break through to the seventh level of transcendence and create a true noble family!

Therefore, as long as it is Mondo's order, no matter how much loss there is, Benjamin will do it without any discount!

···

Daily Intelligence System

Martial Arts Realm: Early Stage of Bone Forging (118 drops of essence blood)

Body Refinement Realm: Qi and Blood Manifestation Level 1 (Proficiency: 4965/10000)

Transcendent System: Transcendent Tier 1 (Proficiency: 22/1000) [Erosion Level: 8.9%]

Exercise: Spirit Turtle Gazing at the Moon Stance (Proficiency: 125/10000) [Five Stars]

武技：伏虎拳法大成（熟练度：353/400）【三星】，青雀三掠小成（熟练度：184/200）【四星】，降龙掌法小成（熟练度：52/200）【三星】，灵蛇七缠功入门（熟练度：37/100）【四星】

Secret Technique: Concealing Breath Technique [Three Stars]

Extraordinary Inscription: Tier 1 Super Strength [Three Stars]

Superpowers: Three-Light Eye Technique [Five-Star], Petrified Skin [Four-Star], Skin Hardening [Three-Star], Bone Manipulation [Four-Star], Blood Burning [Four-Star]

Root bone: 38 (B-grade)

Comprehension: 42 (C)

XP: 358

Zhong Ming looked at his system panel and felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

"Another day of striving to become stronger!"

He officially stepped into the first stage of the Transcendent Realm, which greatly improved his physique and even increased his proficiency in Body Refinement by more than a thousand.

At the same time, a new entry has been unlocked – Extraordinary Inscriptions!

The Tier 1 Super Strength Inscription, slightly modified by Mundo, increases the strength of the left arm by more than six times and can also be amplified in conjunction with Qi and Blood.

Unfortunately, it's just addition, not multiplication.

The overall increase in blood energy is about five times, and with the amplification from the extraordinary inscriptions, combined with various abilities, the strength limit of the left arm can reach about twelve times.

The left arm itself has a force of forty tons, and twelve times that means that Zhong Ming's left arm force can reach five hundred tons!

Five hundred tons!

The power and impact it generates far exceed that of a missile, and can even be compared to a miniature mushroom bomb.

"It's time to address this hidden danger."

Zhong Ming looked at the [Erosion Rate 8.9%] displayed behind the Extraordinary System.

"I have 358 experience points, which I have been saving for who knows how long. It hurts to spend 89 of them all at once."

Suppressing his heartache, Zhong Ming used experience points to gradually reduce the erosion.

When the erosion level reached zero, Zhong Ming's experience points dropped by 89 points, leaving him with only 269 experience points.

At the same time, due to the elimination of the erosion, Zhong Ming's extraordinary power was also reduced by a small amount, and his proficiency was directly reduced to zero.

Transcendent System: Transcendent Tier 1 (Proficiency: 0/1000) [Erosion Level: 0]

"The extraordinary system can be put on hold for now; Mundo needs time to prepare the extraordinary reagents for himself."

"From now on, I will focus all my energy on martial arts."

Zhong Ming looked at his own martial arts level.

Martial Arts Realm: Early Stage of Bone Forging (118 drops of essence blood)

"We need 18 more points of essence blood to begin the second bone forging."

Zhong Ming closed the proficiency panel and began training.

···

Half a month later, on a night of a blood moon.

"Finally, the essence blood has been condensed to its limit once again."

136 drops of blood-red essence with golden threads remained near the heart.

I don’t know if it’s just my imagination, but when Zhong Ming looked inside his head, he felt that the golden thread had become a little thicker.

"Let's press on with our momentum and take advantage of tonight's blood moon to conduct the second bone forging."

"However, it seems like these are the days surrounding the new stationmaster's inauguration. Should I go and make myself known, or show my loyalty?"

"Never mind, I'll talk about it another day. I need to break through to the mid-stage of Bone Forging first."

With that thought in mind, Zhong Ming cleared his mind of distractions and focused on achieving a breakthrough.

Forging bones requires using essence and blood to break the bones apart and shatter them, and then using pure qi and blood to repair and reforge them!

Every time bones break and are reforged, they become stronger and more resilient!

Having learned from his previous experience, although it was still painful, Zhong Ming was able to endure it completely.

Moreover, this pain is nothing compared to the psychological trauma Mundo inflicted on me back then.

Having learned from his previous experience, Zhong Ming was quite adept at this task.

Each bone was broken into uneven small pieces, which were then repaired and re-glued together until it was perfect.

However, this time the broken bone was much larger than the last time.

The first time I forged my bones, each bone shattered into tiny ant-sized pieces, which were millimeter-sized. This time, they were about the size of a thumbnail, corresponding to centimeter-sized pieces.

Naturally, the bone-strengthening effect this time was much worse than the last time.

If the previous increase in bone strength was ten, this second increase in bone strength will only be five at most.

The next improvement will be even lower.

Therefore, there is no essential difference between the early and late stages of bone forging.

The difference is between steel and pig iron. Steel can break pig iron apart by drying it, which requires time and multiple collisions.

The same applies to the early and late stages of bone forging; everyone's physical strength, speed, and defense are roughly the same, only one side has stronger bones.

It has some advantages, but not many!

Of course, compared to ordinary martial artists, even if Zhong Ming undergoes bone forging for the second time, the improvement in his bones will not be much different from that of an ordinary martial artist during the first time.

Note that this is about 'proportion'.

If we were to convert that into actual numerical values, it would be dozens of times greater than that of an ordinary martial artist.

The extent to which the bone fragments can be increased depends on the degree to which they shatter during bone forging. The smaller and more fragmented the fragments, the better the bone forging effect.

For ordinary martial artists, the second time they forge their bones, they usually only crack, not completely break. Most of the bone will crack, but it will still be able to remain as a whole.

It's completely impossible for someone like Zhong Ming to shatter his bones into pieces during a second bone forging!

At least in this era, no one could do it, not even the most outstanding geniuses.

As dawn broke, the blood moon was about to disappear.

Zhong Ming's second bone-forging process was also coming to an end.

At dawn, the blood moon completely set, and Zhong Ming had completed his second bone forging.

"Second bone forging complete!"

"Mid-stage Bone Forging, complete."

"Moreover, the essence blood was not completely used up. There was even more left this time, more than thirty drops."

Zhong Ming gave a wry smile.

"Other martial artists are afraid of not having enough essence and blood when they forge their bones, so they don't dare to break them too much. But I'm breaking my bones to the point of death!"

"As a result, not only was it completely shattered, but there were still more than thirty drops of essence blood left unused."

"What's the point of working myself to the bone for over a month?"

"If I'd known it would be this easy, I should have broken through long ago!"

Zhong Ming shook his head helplessly.

"Well, what's done is done. Let's take a shower first and then eat."

After bone forging, a lot of impure blood will flow out of the body, which is a simplified version of cleansing the meridians and marrow. This blood contains a lot of impurities and fragments from the bones.

Zhong Ming was filthy all over.

After taking a shower, eating, and taking a nap, Zhong Ming woke up in the afternoon.

Zhong Ming opened the system panel to check.

Martial Arts Realm: Mid-stage Bone Forging (18 drops of essence blood)

Body Refinement Realm: Qi and Blood Manifestation Level 1 (Proficiency: 6465/10000)

"My body refinement level has also improved considerably, reaching approximately 1,500 proficiency points."

"I think the last time it was around 3,000 proficiency points?"

"Next time, I reckon it'll have to be halved again!"

Bone forging only strengthens the hardness of bones, serving as a form of self-defense, but it does not increase strength or speed.

"But an increase in proficiency in body refinement means that one's blood and energy are stronger and more refined!"

Zhong Ming surrounded himself with blood energy, which was indeed much denser than before.

For other martial artists, body tempering doesn't significantly increase combat power; it merely increases their margin for error.

Zhong Ming, however, was different. His bones were strong, and his body refinement level also increased. This reflected in his blood energy, making it more condensed and substantial, thus increasing his strength, speed, and defense.

···

Yanliu Street Intelligence Station.

Zhong Ming glanced at the signboard above; the original Li Family Pawnshop had been changed to Pu Family Pawnshop.

A few days ago, Li Weimin left, and the new station chief was a Qi Refining martial artist surnamed Pu.

The new station manager had paged him a few days ago, but at that time Zhong Ming was about to undergo his second bone-forging.

So instead of coming to report, he explained his situation through the radio.

"Hopefully, the other party won't make things difficult for me because of this incident, especially since I was a close confidant promoted by the previous station chief and because I have conflicts with the previous station chief's faction."

"Damn, it feels like all the buffs are stacked up."

"Never mind, there's always a way out."

"You'd better be willing to maintain a semblance of decorum, otherwise I don't mind helping you maintain it."

Zhong Ming thought to himself.

"At worst, we can just change the site administrator."

Strength is a man's courage.

Zhong Ming didn't take ordinary Qi Refining martial artists seriously at all.

If he really pisses me off, I'll find a secluded spot, knock him out with a stick, and stuff him into a sack.

Anyway, this isn't the first time something like this has been done.

Zhong Ming is very familiar with this process.

Especially in the mass burial grounds outside the city, Zhong Ming has become a frequent visitor. There are many rules about where to bury someone and how deep to bury them.

"Listen to the world."

Facing the unfamiliar fellow in front of him, Zhong Ming lowered his voice and uttered the code.

"Listen to the world."

The other person's eyes lit up.

"So it was one of our own."

"Please come in~"

Zhong Ming nodded, and then followed the other person to the backyard.

The other person kept turning back every three steps, as if afraid that Zhong Ming would get lost.

"I have no experience."

"His ability to read people is far inferior to that of Xiao Wu and Xiao Li."

Zhong Ming internally complained.

"And there's the code word."

Zhong Ming was speechless. It was too careless, or rather, too sloppy. At least compared to Li Weimin's era, this site seemed very unprofessional in many ways.

It lacks attention to detail.

"Your subordinate, Zhong Ming, greets the stationmaster."

Zhong Ming bowed to the middle-aged man in front of him.

The other person had a mole on the corner of their left eye and a triangular mark on their forehead, which looked like a birthmark or a scar. Their thick beard was neatly trimmed.

Zhong Ming's first impression of him was not good; he looked somewhat fierce and didn't seem like an easy person to talk to.

"The bell tolls?"

"I looked for you a few days ago, and you said you wanted to break through to the mid-stage of Bone Forging. Now that you're here, you must have successfully broken through, right?"

The other party asked in a questioning tone.

Zhong Ming forced a smile: "Thanks to the stationmaster's good fortune, I managed to break through."

"It's your own ability, what does it have to do with me?"

"Furthermore, I don't care what you were like before, but now I'm in charge of this intelligence site. Since you're under my command, you should follow my rules."

The other party spoke seriously, with the air of a superior scrutinizing a subordinate.

"Yes, stationmaster, I understand."