Two hours later, the medicine's effects faded, and Li Cunxiao collapsed to the floor with a smack.
His entire body was soaked in sweat. He panted like a bellows, while the lingering palpitations refused to fade.
"Untreated Demon Meat is actually this sinister, yet its effect on my fist training has increased so greatly."
"Is it only Tiger Form Fist that works this way, or is it the Flying Tiger Escort Agency as well, or...?"
Li Cunxiao did not wish to think further. He forcibly shifted his attention to the Vajra Scepter, and only then did he feel some comfort in his heart.
The golden light had already reached the center of the Vajra Scepter, nearly halfway.
This unprocessed Demon Meat could increase its charge by roughly one-eighth at a time. In other words, if he ate it for another four or five days, the Vajra Scepter would be fully charged. By then...
When Li Cunxiao woke from the floor, it was already close to the Tiger Hour. Even his sweat-soaked clothes had dried completely.
Fortunately, he had already reached the Sensing Qi realm, and he had eaten Demon Meat the previous night, so his Blood Essence was abundant. Otherwise, after sleeping on the ground for a whole night in this early autumn weather, he would likely have fallen seriously ill.
He hurried out of the inn and returned to the escort agency. In the training ground, the earlier-rising hands were already up and practicing. Run Dong, his roommate, was conspicuously among them.
Ever since Li Cunxiao and He Bi had broken through to Sensing Qi and been taught combat techniques, Run Dong had grown increasingly taciturn. He trained with ever more desperation each day, even adding several hours of practice at night, refusing to sleep until the beginning of the Rat Hour. After resting less than four hours, he would rise again for morning training.
Seeing his diligence from afar, Li Cunxiao felt a moment of emotion.
Sometimes, people always hoped to change the outcome through hard work. But reality was that talent could sometimes matter even more than effort.
Run Dong had taken over two months just to sense qi. At that pace, he was only slightly better than those who took the full three months. To put it bluntly, his talent was below average.
If Sensing Qi was slow, then controlling qi would be even harder. Perhaps after another four or five months, he could manipulate blood essence, but that would only mean he had barely touched the threshold of becoming an escort.
Once he reached the Strengthening Qi realm, with Blood Essence running through the major and Minor Circulation, that would be true water-dripping-through-stone labor. With Run Dong's talent, it might take more than a decade—until he was in his thirties—for him to attain Blood Qi Perfection.
Yet just beyond a single wall, in the courtyard north of the training ground, nearly all the young masters from the inner city had reached Blood Qi Perfection.
From birth, they had never lacked medicinal baths or nourishing food. Their foundations were robust, their Blood Essence already incomparably solid. So long as they obtained the Tiger Form Fist method, they could enter the discipline in a few days and achieve minor mastery in one or two months.
Even for the more difficult Strengthening Qi realm, their families would naturally hire seasoned Martial Masters to teach them hand in hand. The quicker ones could attain Blood Qi Perfection in one or two years.
While others were already gazing toward higher steps, children like Run Dong bit their lips until they bled, stumbling as they chased that sliver of hope.
"If not for the Vajra Scepter, I would not dare consume Demon Meat so recklessly."
"My cultivation progress probably would not be much better than Run Dong's."
Li Cunxiao silently watched the sweat-drenched youth, his craving for power growing ever stronger.
"Brother Li," He Bi walked over. For some reason, he felt that Li Cunxiao looked somewhat different today.
Had he been too impatient and eaten too much Demon Meat?
"Brother He, thank you for what happened last night."
Li Cunxiao solemnly cupped his hands. Seeing the clarity in his eyes, He Bi finally relaxed and waved a hand.
"Brother Li, there is no need for this. To put it plainly, I simply think highly of you and am making a small investment."
No, Brother He, you do not understand.
Li Cunxiao gathered his thoughts and slowly assumed the opening stance of the Tiger Form Eight Styles.
Anyone willing to help me grow stronger is a friend I will repay like a gushing spring.
And anyone who obstructs my path to strength or harms my family is...
Li Cunxiao planted both feet on the ground. Even in routine practice, his face remained as savage as a tiger's as he threw a vicious punch—
An enemy!
Another three days passed.
Over these days, besides fist training, Cui Yao had separately taught Li Cunxiao and He Bi a basic staff technique. It was said that every escort preparing for an escort mission had to learn it, so they could form formations against enemies while on the road.
After all, when traveling outside, relying solely on bare fists would inevitably put one at a disadvantage. But if they wished to learn blades and spears, they needed to manipulate blood essence and truly become escorts before they were qualified.
However, apart from the two of them, the other apprentices whose progress was slower received no such treatment. Great Escort Cui Yao's favor had greatly stirred the hands' enthusiasm for martial training.
Qin Yu became increasingly warm toward Li Cunxiao and He Bi, while Run Dong grew still quieter, sleeping less and less each night.
Beyond his morning training, Li Cunxiao also began practicing extra at night. One or two taels of Demon Meat each day made his Blood Essence swell at a breakneck pace. From time to time, his punches were already able to carry force, while the golden light on the Vajra Scepter steadily increased until—
"Nearly a month after Zhao Heishe's death, the Vajra Scepter is finally full."
Closing his eyes and focusing inward, Li Cunxiao saw that the single-pronged Vajra Scepter in his mind had lost all its dimness. Even every carved line on its Lotus Seat was filled with faint golden light.
At this point, a blessing of inspiration came to Li Cunxiao's heart, and he naturally understood that until he expended this golden light, eating more Demon Meat would no longer store any charge.
This was his first time using the Vajra Scepter, and he did not know whether it would cause a great disturbance. To be safe, Li Cunxiao informed the steward, then, while the sky was not yet too late, ran home in a flash.
Looking at the familiar, shabby house, complicated emotions surged in Li Cunxiao's heart.
He stroked the tabletop, polished smooth by years of use. He had once sat here and given the meatier bone to his younger brother.
The low bed covered in straw could no longer accommodate his nearly six-foot body. Yet when Wood Fork had still been small, the two brothers had rolled about on that bed. Their father cooked thin porridge by the stove, while their mother, beneath an oil lamp, altered his worn-out clothes into smaller ones for his younger brother.
The shabby house was deathly silent. When Li Cunxiao opened his eyes again, only calm remained within them.
"Vajra Scepter, break through for me!"
Vajra meant indestructible; one who wielded the Vajra Scepter shattered all afflictions and faced no obstruction!
At that instant, it was as if an invisible current of cool qi swept from the Baihui point atop his head through his entire body like wind.
Countless experiences and insights flooded his mind. Li Cunxiao did not hesitate. His feet stepped in living stances, his hands formed tiger claws, and for a moment, his entire body resembled a mad tiger. The Blood Essence within him raced according to his will, flowing through his hands, elbows, feet, and knees.
The muscles of his body engorged and swelled. His leopard-like head and ringed eyes turned purple-red as well, making him resemble a hunting leopard in the forest. Yet even so, Li Cunxiao's fists showed no intention of slowing in the slightest.
Faster, faster still!
He had to break through controlling qi faster! Break through Strengthening Qi! Break through Blood Essence!
He had to make a name for himself with a single cry, enter Chief Escort's notice again before his impression faded, and continually display his talent to win greater resources;
He had to grow stronger at a faster pace before this chaotic age arrived, until he could use his own shoulders to bear every raging wind and torrential rain!
The room suddenly fell quiet.
A moment later, Li Cunxiao, restored to normal, walked out.
He raised an arm. At a thought, Blood Essence naturally gathered toward his five fingers, making them rapidly engorge and swell. His palm immediately became as large as a cattail fan.
His five fingers curled into a claw and suddenly seized the nearby Zhu Zi.
Wood chips exploded, leaving behind five uneven finger holes. Yet his fingers felt no pain at all.
"Compared to Instructor Cui, I am still far behind."
The next day, at the martial training ground.
Cui Yao watched the group of hands holding Horse Stances and secretly shook his head.
Sensing Vitality was not difficult. So long as one was willing to nourish oneself, if several months did not suffice, then a year would.
Manipulating Blood Essence was not difficult either. Again, it came down to nourishment. If a year did not suffice, then two or three years would.
But such people could not become escorts.
The escort agency only wanted youths who could sense qi and control qi within three months. Only with such talent was it possible to reach complete Blood Qi Perfection before the age of twenty, then use their most vigorous spirit and fullest Blood Essence to charge at the next barrier.
That way, even if they failed once, they would still have another chance.
He turned and walked toward the other side of the training ground.
The hands practicing exchanges and sparring—these were the true reserve force of the escort agency.
Cui Yao inspected them inch by inch. Suddenly, he frowned, because he discovered that Li Cunxiao, who had always been diligent, was somehow not training today.
Li Cunxiao had even noticed his gaze and taken the initiative to walk over.
"Instructor Cui," Li Cunxiao said respectfully. Behind him, He Bi's mouth hung open in shock, not yet closed.
"I have already manipulated Blood Essence. The Tiger Form Fist..."
"Minor mastery."