Gou Zai Wu Dao Chao Shi Xing Nian Da Gong

Hammer Cloud Martial Arts School.

Zhou Sheng stepped through the gate, and some of the early-arriving apprentices greeted him warmly.

He responded as he walked to the backyard, found Liu Cheng, and prepared to collect the Hammer Bone Pill.

Upon seeing him, Liu Cheng said, "Junior Brother Zhou, you've come at the right time. Master asked me to test your cultivation progress."

"Okay!" Zhou Sheng nodded and followed Liu Cheng to a corner of the training ground.

"As usual, we'll look at the stake setting first, then the striking technique," Liu Cheng said.

"Senior brother, watch carefully!"

Zhou Sheng lowered his body, assumed the stance of the Hammer Cloud Stance Technique, and began to practice.

Liu Cheng watched for a while, then reached out and patted his back, chest, abdomen, shoulders, and thighs. He immediately looked surprised.

"Your stance is stable, your skin is firm, and your bones and muscles are resonating. Junior brother, your cultivation progress is incredibly fast! Could it be that you've taken some precious medicine?"

Zhou Sheng laughed and said, "Senior brother's judgment is very accurate. As you know, I come from a fisherman's family and have some connections. I managed to get two precious fish to consume, which is why my progress is faster."

"Moreover, my Mountain-Stepping Leg technique has reached a minor level of mastery! It is indeed very helpful in tempering muscles and bones!"

This was an excuse he had already come up with. His cultivation speed was extraordinary and could not be hidden. He could not expose the fact that he was cultivating a technique, so he could only find an excuse from other aspects.

"Treasure Fish? Mountain-Treading Leg Technique at a minor level? No wonder! Junior Brother's comprehension is truly remarkable. He has a great chance of breaking through the Bone and Muscle Barrier in the future."

Upon hearing this, Liu Cheng believed it to be true and sighed with emotion.

"Then I'll take your kind words as a sign."

"Haha, try your fighting style again. Let me see Xiao Cheng's Mountain-Stepping Leg."

...

At that moment, Zhao Xiong, who was cultivating in the inner courtyard separated by a wall, heard the two people laughing.

"Treasure Fish? A minor achievement in Mountain-Treading Leg?"

He immediately felt very uncomfortable.

Although Zhou Sheng has been quite respectful to him lately, it's a waste for that kid to eat the treasure fish. Such a good thing should be given to a genius like him.

"What's so great about it? My Mountain-Treading Leg technique is already fully developed. Even if you eat a treasure fish, you'll never catch up with me."

He gave a cold laugh and continued cultivating. But he just couldn't seem to calm his mind.

Chen Liangqing frowned and immediately scolded him.

"Zhao Xiong, the worst thing in martial arts is to be distracted. If you can't concentrate, you'll probably waste your superior talent."

Zhao Xiong quickly admitted his mistake and explained, "Master, I know I was wrong! I was just a little shocked to hear that Junior Brother Zhou had achieved the minor success of the Mountain-Treading Leg technique."

"Zhou Sheng is naturally gifted, so it's not surprising that he's achieved some level of mastery in the Mountain-Treading Leg technique. Besides, isn't your Mountain-Treading Leg technique also nearing completion? Remember, the most important thing is still cultivation level. You have superior physique, which is a natural advantage. You should make good use of it and not get bogged down in trivial details," Chen Liangqing admonished.

"This disciple understands!"

Chen Liangqing looked at the obedient Zhao Xiong and sighed inwardly.

"Zhao Xiong's temperament is still lacking. If only he could be as composed as Zhou Sheng!"

......

After the examination, Zhou Sheng received the Hammer Bone Pill and prepared to go home.

As soon as I arrived at the front yard, Wang Teng came to greet me.

"Junior Brother Zhou."

Zhou Sheng's eyes lit up, and he quickly said, "Senior Brother Wang, it's been so long!"

"Haha, junior brother, look at me." Wang Teng stretched out his arm and scratched his skin with his fingernail, as if scraping leather.

"Senior brother, you've broken through the membrane barrier!" Zhou Sheng exclaimed in surprise.

"Haha, just lucky. I haven't been here lately; I've been staying home, focusing on my training. I succeeded by luck, I succeeded by luck. Haha." Wang Teng laughed happily.

"Senior brother, you've successfully passed the trial! I must celebrate with you! See you at Drunken Immortal Pavilion tonight!"

Zhou Sheng said happily.

"Haha, see you at Zuixianlou. But just showing up is enough; I'll host the celebration banquet. Invite a few more of my fellow disciples over, and we'll have a good drink together," Wang Teng said with a smile.

"Alright then." Zhou Sheng didn't argue any further.

He was truly overjoyed that his friend had successfully overcome the obstacle. He was especially grateful for Wang Teng's great help, including saving his father; he would remember these acts of kindness. He would repay them slowly in the future, there was no rush.

......

Xinghu Hall, west of the city.

A tall, elderly man wearing a straw hat walked into the hall. Zhang Fa, the shopkeeper who was doing the accounts, saw the newcomer and immediately showed a look of surprise and joy, and warmly greeted him.

"Oh dear! I knew I heard magpies calling early this morning. It turns out Mr. Chen is coming."

"Manager Zhang, how have you been?" Zhou Fugan greeted him with a cupped-hand salute.

"Haha, long time no see. Mr. Chen, please!" Zhang Fa then invited Zhou Fugan to the private room.

After the guests and host were seated, Zhang Fa asked with a beaming smile, "Mr. Chen, what would you like to order for our occasion?"

"I've come here to ask if Manager Zhang has any prescriptions for medicine?" Zhou Fugan stated his purpose directly.

"prescription?"

Zhang Fa was taken aback upon hearing this. He naturally knew that the prescription the other party mentioned was not an ordinary prescription for treating illnesses, but a prescription for tonics needed for martial arts practitioners' cultivation.

His face immediately showed a troubled expression, and he said, "We do have the prescriptions, but these prescriptions are the foundation of our Xinghu Hall's survival, and we cannot sell them."

The person in front of him is a big client, otherwise he would definitely have turned hostile. Who comes in expecting to take someone's job right away?

Zhou Fugan quickly explained, "Manager Zhang, you misunderstand. I'm not after your prescriptions. I just want to know if you have any prescriptions you can sell, or if you can provide any clues. It's not limited to tonics; I'm open to prescriptions for common longevity remedies, other prescriptions with special effects, and even poisons."

He bought the prescriptions to refine medicine. Since the cheat code allowed him to instantly master medicine refining, he naturally couldn't waste this function. Martial arts skills were relatively difficult to obtain, but he felt that prescriptions should be easier to acquire, which was why he disguised himself and came to Xinghu Hall today.

"I see. We do have those, but they're all prescriptions for prolonging life, and some for enhancing sexual pleasure. As for poisons, we're a legitimate pharmacy, so we don't have any here," Zhang Fa replied with a sigh of relief.

"Alright, I'll take one too. Manager Zhang, name your price." Zhou Fugan accepted all offers; since he was idle anyway, he might as well give it a try. What if he managed to create a life-extending medicine? Wouldn't that be a tremendous windfall?

"A mere prescription, why mention money? I'll take the liberty of giving it to Mr. Chen," Zhang Fa said generously, waving his hand.

"Thank you very much, Manager Zhang. Could you also give me twenty Xuanjia Peitu Pills?" Zhou Fugan cupped his hands in greeting and then asked.

"Okay. Same price as always. I'll go get it for you, please wait a moment."

Zhang Fa's eyes lit up, and he turned to get the item. But then he suddenly remembered something and turned back, saying, "By the way, Mr. Chen, if you want to buy a prescription, why don't you go to the black market in a few days? They might sell prescriptions there, but whether they're genuine or not will depend on your discerning eye."

"Wasn't the black market auction over?" Zhou Fugan asked in surprise.

After returning from the prefectural city, he discovered that the auction date had passed, so he stopped paying attention to it, and the invitation was just gathering dust at home.

"The auction is over. Regular black market transactions will still take place frequently, and there will be items that are usually hard to find. The black market will open again in three days at night, at the City God Temple in the inner city. Mr. Chen, if you are going, please remember to arrive on time. You can enter the inner city in advance by showing your invitation from the last auction."

After explaining, Zhang Fa turned around to prepare things.

"The black market? That's something I'd like to check out." Zhou Fugan was intrigued.