Li Qiuhai, Eldest Young Master of the Li Family

After setting down the Blood Changing Cultivation Method, Bai Ze began to cultivate.

One had to know that blood and qi were vastly different from inner qi. Even with special methods, cultivation was by no means simple.

Bai Ze closed his eyes. Powerful blood and qi surged forth as he deliberately controlled it, stimulating his acupoints bit by bit.

The muscles throughout his body tensed, and his temperature gradually rose. Beads of sweat could not help but trickle down his forehead.

A few minutes later, Bai Ze rose to his feet, drew his longsword, and shot forward.

He continuously performed the Star Point Swordplay in the courtyard, every strike pushed to its utmost. The blood throughout his body also began to flow rapidly.

Bolstered by his powerful blood and qi, it was like boiling water.

Half an hour later, Bai Ze stopped, his breathing growing noticeably heavier.

With the help of Boiling Blood, he could clearly feel that his Blood Changing Degree had increased by several points.

However, the muscles all over his body began to tremble slightly, forcing him to stop for the time being.

If he continued cultivating by force, his body would inevitably suffer damage.

It could be said that after every cultivation session, he had to recover before cultivating again. As his Blood Changing Degree rose, the intervals of rest would also grow longer.

Thinking of this, Bai Ze inwardly thought, It seems I not only need to obtain enough Blood Changing Pills as soon as possible, but also buy some medicinal agents to restore my body.

Otherwise, once the intervals become too long later on, it will greatly affect the speed of my blood changing.

But either one requires a great deal of silver to purchase.

After all, if one wished to go farther down the path of martial arts, both cultivation talent and all kinds of resources were indispensable.

Three days later, By then, Bai Ze had exhausted all his Blood Changing Pills. At the same time, he had repeatedly used Boiling Blood to increase the speed of his blood changing.

He had even cultivated the two martial techniques he had obtained earlier from the Cultivation Technique Pavilion, the Thunder Leg Technique and Rainstorm Needles, to the Minor Success stage.

At a thought, he glanced at the translucent system interface.

Blood Changing Realm (31%)

Clearly, in just three short days, his Blood Changing Degree had risen by seven percent—not bad at all.

After leaving the courtyard, Bai Ze headed toward the Mission Hall. Along the way, he saw quite a few Li family disciples.

They had evidently learned of Bai Ze several days earlier. Seeing that he had become a retainer with only Blood Changing Realm strength, they were all rather curious.

"See that? That's Bai Ze, our Li family's new retainer. He's only at the Blood Changing Realm."

"No way. How old is he, and he's already reached the Blood Changing Realm?"

"Exactly. Even with the Li family's resources, we've only reached the Viscera Refining Realm."

"I heard through the grapevine that he made an exception and became a retainer because he saved the Eldest Young Lady's life."

"Hehe, but he has the talent. Do you?"

Just as the disciples were whispering among themselves, a young man approached from nearby and coughed twice.

Upon hearing the sound, everyone hurriedly fell silent, their eyes filled with reverence as they looked at him.

The man before them was the Li family's eldest young master, Li Qiuyu's biological elder brother, Li Qiuhai. At only nineteen years old, he had already reached the second layer of the Inner Qi Realm.

Even in all of Pingfeng City, his talent was undoubtedly among the very best of the younger generation.

Though there was no definite news, everyone knew that he had already been chosen as the next family head.

After walking over, he smiled and said, "Retainer Bai."

"Eldest Young Master."

"Haha, just call me Brother Li. I still haven't thanked you for saving Qiuyu before!"

Li Qiuhai wore a smile, looking exceedingly warm and approachable.

Glancing at the Mission Hall beside them, he smiled and said, "Is Retainer Bai short on cultivation resources? I happen to have some Blood Changing Pills here that I no longer need. I specially brought them to give to you."

"Don't refuse. Consider it my thanks to you. After all, I only have this one younger sister."

"This..."

Hearing this, Bai Ze could not very well refuse again. He nodded and accepted them directly.

His gratitude was one reason, but winning Bai Ze over was another.

Even knowing that accepting them would mean owing the other man a favor, Bai Ze could not refuse at this stage. After all, he was precisely in need of Blood Changing Pills.

Moreover, he had just learned in the Cultivation Technique Hall that a single Blood Changing Pill cost two thousand taels of silver.

Considering his own situation, he still needed around twenty-five pills, which came to roughly fifty thousand taels of silver.

Based on his monthly stipend, it would take him at least three months to save that much.

After accepting them, Bai Ze cupped his fists and thanked him. "Then I thank you, Brother Li. If there is ever anything you need from me, feel free to command me. If it is within my power, I will never refuse."

"Ha ha ha!"

Clearly, this was exactly what Li Qiuhai had been waiting to hear, and he was thoroughly satisfied.

Smiling, he said, "With those words from Brother Bai, I can rest easy."

"However, I really do have a small matter here. It is not really anything major—you will learn about it soon enough anyway."

"In the City Lord Competition a month from now, I will need Brother Bai's help!"

However, Bai Ze did not immediately agree. He had only been in Pingfeng City for a short while and was still unfamiliar with many things.

Seeing his somewhat puzzled expression, Li Qiuhai smiled and began explaining.

The resources within Pingfeng City were limited, so they had to be distributed each year after a competition among the Four Great Families.

This time, it happened to coincide with the once-in-a-decade City Lord Competition, so the two would be held at the same time.

The resource competition was divided into two parts. One was a competition among Blood Changing Realm martial artists. The champion could win ten percent of the total resources for their family, second place five percent, third place three percent, and fourth place two percent.

It could be said that the competition among Blood Changing Realm martial artists accounted for a total of twenty percent.

Of the remaining eighty percent, the City Lord took twenty percent, while the competition among martial artists under twenty-five, with no restriction on realm, accounted for thirty percent.

Of the remaining thirty percent, twenty percent was divided equally among the Four Great Families, while the final ten percent belonged to the other small families.

After the other party's detailed explanation, Bai Ze understood the specifics.

It seemed that no matter where one went, strength still decided everything.

Bai Ze could not help clenching his fists. He said calmly, "Since I am a retainer of the Li family, if I am needed, I will certainly not shrink from my duty."

"However, as for what rank I can achieve in the competition, I can only say that I will do my best."

"Good, good. That is enough."

Hearing this, Li Qiuhai said with a smile, "It is fine. As long as you do your best, that will be enough. Besides, there is still a month to prepare."

"If Brother Bai takes first place with his formidable strength, the family will also offer one percent as a reward."

"If you need anything, tell me as much as possible. After all, we are working to make the family stronger."