Mastering Spear Techniques

The weapon racks, Xu Bin didn't want them, of course, they shouldn't be wasted.

Coincidentally, Chen Sanshi's Plum Blossom Spear was too ordinary. While it didn't hinder his strength when used, it offered no improvement either.

Inside the armory, various weapons filled the shelves.

Most were standard issue, a small portion were finely crafted weapons for military officers. Among these, spears were the least common, with only two or three types available.

Chen Sanshi's gaze fell upon a long spear in the center of the last row.

This spear was about ten feet long, its head slender like a reed leaf, with a red tassel behind the blade. The shaft was slightly thicker than the Plum Blossom Spear, made of white ash wood inside, but after being oiled, it was wrapped with bamboo strips and lacquered black. The end featured a conical spear butt.

"This spear is called the Reed Leaf Spear,"

The armory keeper introduced, "It was left behind by a Hundred Household Commander and has been gathering dust here. Officer Chen, if you fancy it, feel free to take it."

"Thank you."

Chen Sanshi took down the long spear, weighing it in his hand. It was about twenty to thirty pounds. He immediately began practicing outside the armory.

The basic soldier's spear techniques were designed for long weapons.

Holding the Reed Leaf Spear, his spear techniques became much more fluid and natural.

After practicing for about half an hour, he began to feel the depletion of his qi and blood.

"Practicing martial arts is truly a bottomless pit!"

Chen Sanshi left, carrying his spear.

The armory was not far from the pharmacy.

From a distance, the aroma of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs wafted over.

The pharmacy was quiet, with only an old man, two assistants, and several pots bubbling away.

"Old man, I'm here to collect Blood Replenishing Soup."

Chen Sanshi handed over the slip.

The old man took the slip. "Have you cultivated qi and blood yet? You can't drink Blood Replenishing Soup without cultivating qi and blood."

Chen Sanshi had no experience with tonics and knew nothing about this. "There's such a thing?"

"Of course."

The old man stroked his beard. "Medicine has its toxicity. Only martial artists who have cultivated qi and blood can expel the toxins through sweat during practice. Otherwise, drinking too much can lead to poisoning, and over time, internal organs will rot, and you'll be crippled."

Chen Sanshi nodded, indicating that he had already cultivated qi and blood.

"That's good then."

Only then did the old man accept the slip and get up to select medicinal ingredients, preparing the decoction on the spot.

While waiting, the two got acquainted.

The old man's surname was Jiang. He was a hereditary medical officer in the Thousand Household Office, without any official rank.

After waiting quietly for half an hour, Chen Sanshi held a bowl of dark, viscous medicinal soup.

He took a small sip and almost gagged.

The taste was not only bitter and astringent but also carried a faint smell of a dirty ditch. No wonder it was said to be toxic!

After drinking it, he didn't feel his qi and blood surge immediately like with Bear Heart. Instead, he felt a foreign object in his abdomen, causing slight discomfort.

This must be the medicinal effect, which needed to be digested through practice.

Officer Jiang said, "Next time you need Blood Replenishing Soup, you can let me know in advance to save you waiting."

"Okay."

Chen Sanshi's ration was one bowl of Blood Replenishing Soup every three days. He asked curiously, "Officer Jiang, if I finish my quota, is there any other way to get the medicine?"

"Buy it."

Officer Jiang used a fan to control the heat. "But not from me. You'll have to buy it from the pharmacies opened by martial arts schools outside. The ingredients for one dose of Blood Replenishing Soup cost ten taels of silver, which can make about two bowls."

"How much?!"

Chen Sanshi was stunned.

A single Bear Heart only cost twenty taels of silver.

Ten taels of silver was enough for an ordinary person to live for a year in a prosperous year in Taiping, yet it could only buy two bowls of medicine?

"Things that can improve cultivation are not ordinary medicinal ingredients. They often require ten years or more of growth and are very rare. How could they not be expensive? But that's just one reason."

Officer Jiang explained patiently, "The main reason is monopoly."

"Monopoly?"

Chen Sanshi asked, "You mean the martial arts schools?"

"That's right."

Officer Jiang exhaled slowly. "Medicinal ingredients specifically used for improving cultivation have very strict requirements for their growing environment. There are only so many lands suitable for medicinal gardens. More than half of them have been resold to the martial arts schools, so how could they not be expensive?"

"Why sell them?"

Chen Sanshi was a little confused. This was an absolutely strategic resource.

Officer Jiang said with a chuckle, "What else could it be for? The officials are short on money.

"I heard my father say that when he was young, the medicinal gardens of our Thousand Household Office, scattered around, totaled over two hundred plots. Later, with each change of County Magistrate, a portion of the land was sold. After decades, of course, they're all gone?

"Young man, you just arrived and don't know. Back in the day, not only were there arrears in pay, but also in medicine. Many people ran away, willing to go to the prefectural or provincial capitals to live under assumed names as household slaves for major sects, rather than stay in the Garrison.

"If it weren't for Elder Yan's reforms and the reclamation of some land, you wouldn't have your medicine to drink.

"However, most of it is still held by the Martial Arts Schools. Even the Lord Hundred Households don't have as much as they want."

"Exaggeration."

Chen Sanshi summarized it in two words.

With corruption reaching this level, he didn't think the imperial court had many years left.

No wonder Xiang Tingchun wanted to do something, but had to resort to extortion, and even that might not work.

He took his leave and returned to the training ground.

The Reed Leaf Spear danced.

Posture training, spear techniques, breathing techniques, coupled with the mobilization of qi and blood, his body began to operate under high load.

At this moment, the effect of the medicine truly showed.

Every time his qi and blood were trained to the point of near depletion, the medicine would begin to transform, stimulating every organ in his body, accelerating the refinement of qi and blood. This cycle continued until the second wisp of qi and blood was generated, signifying entry into the Proficient Blood Tempering realm.

After several sets of spear techniques, Chen Sanshi broke out in a foul sweat, but his proficiency surged. At this rate, it wouldn't take long for him to master the spear techniques.

Moreover, the medicinal power from that bowl was still present and hadn't been fully consumed. It would last for at least two more days of training.

"My realm is still low, one bowl of medicine every three days is just enough for now. I don't need to spend money buying more."

"Buying more beast meat in between can also push my cultivation speed to the extreme!"

"Dinner!"

The sky had grown late, and Chen Sanshi packed up his things to go home.

Dinner was already prepared at home. As soon as he entered, Lan Jie'er helped him remove his armor, brought him water, and after he finished eating, she heated water for his bath, serving him comfortably through the entire routine.

"Oh, right."

Gu Xinlan carried a wooden basin. "Someone came looking for you today. They said they wanted to invite you to be their guest tomorrow."

Chen Sanshi asked, "Who?"

"Tianyuan Martial Arts Academy."

Gu Xinlan finished pouring out the bathwater and began to massage Chen Sanshi. "It seems to be a luxurious place like Chunman Tower. If I remember correctly, Qin Xiong's younger brother practices martial arts at Tianyuan Martial Arts Academy, right?"

Chen Sanshi lay on the bed, pondering the reason Tianyuan Martial Arts Academy was looking for him.

Qin Feng? Possible, but unlikely.

He was now an elite selection Officer. His identity would be directly registered with the Governor's Mansion. If it wasn't...

It was also possible it was for the Immortal Treasure.

The matter of the Immortal Treasure was purely coincidental.

Before he went to kill Qin Feng, who would have thought he would encounter a Barbarian?

Young Master Liang probably suspected he had obtained the Immortal Treasure...

Fortunately, the other party was also speculating, without any substantive evidence. Coupled with the unpleasantness between the Martial Arts Schools and the army, he wouldn't dare do anything to him at this juncture.

However.

He really should speed up his efforts to increase his influence.

"If they come again, just refuse them directly."

For the next few days, Chen Sanshi, apart from carrying out patrol duties, devoted all his remaining energy to practicing martial arts.

With the Blood Replenishing Soup, beast meat, and Xu Bin's sparring, his progress exceeded his expectations. Six days later, he successfully broke through.

"Ugh--"

Exhausted, Chen Sanshi plunged the butt of his spear into the ground. A second surge of hot blood coursed through his body.

No, it was different from others.

His qi and blood, to be precise, were not "wisps" but "streams."

Technique: Basic Soldier Spear Technique (Proficient)

Progress: (0/1000)

Effect: Fierce spear momentum, astonishing endurance, abundant qi and blood.