A Qi Nourishing Pill

A Qi Nourishing Pill

Zhou Leng returned home, sat down on the sofa, and stared blankly for a while.

His mind was filled with thoughts of the school's medicinal pill rewards and the mysterious forest.

Before long, Zhou Leng took out his phone, which was set to silent.

He glanced at the class group chat. No one was talking.

Then he checked the Xiaoru Village group and saw a video of Big Yellow. He clicked on it and watched for a while.

Big Yellow was having a wonderful time playing with the children.

He opened the "Guoyun Development Company Second Branch Demonic Beast Processing Factory Fifth Workshop" group and skimmed through it. Aside from a few company announcements, there was nothing useful.

For the college entrance examination, Zhou Leng had requested a month and a half of leave from the Pioneer Company.

Zhou Leng put down his phone, thought for a while, and sent Martial Arts Committee member Mo Hai a message.

"Mo Hai, I have some things to deal with at home. I won't be training with everyone for the next three days. I'm going back to my hometown to train. Sorry."

Not long after, Mo Hai replied.

"Okay, I understand. Get some good rest."

Outside the Eighth Middle School gates, Mo Hai put away his phone, sighed, and said, "Guess who's dropping out of training for three days?"

The three people beside him all turned to look at him.

"Zhou Leng gave up. He said he was going back to his hometown to train."

Xu Qingjin lightly bit her lip.

Mo Hai said, "What a pity. He probably ran into some trouble."

"Maybe he didn't give up. He just changed his training plan."

"Actually, even if he gave up, it wouldn't be a big deal. After all, he's injured so badly..."

"Let's go."

After resting for a while, Zhou Leng searched for powerful tree-shaped demonic beasts from all realms. None of them resembled the Frost Giant Tree. He did, however, find something about the Ice Snow Cult, though there was very little information.

After checking the time, Zhou Leng put down his phone and was about to exercise when he noticed a message from Xu Qingjin.

"Why aren't you coming to train with us?" There was also a kitten with a questioning expression afterward.

"There's something going on at home. You know I like training in the back mountains of Xiaoru Village. It's quiet there, and the training is more effective."

"But... the school has teachers giving guidance. Wouldn't that be better?"

"You've met my neighbor, Uncle Li. He's a Vitality Stage expert, and his practical experience is richer than the teachers'. With him around, you can rest easy. If that still doesn't work, I can knock on Zhang Xinglie's door in the next unit. We grew up playing together, and he taught me plenty in the past."

"Mm, that's true. You look much better today than before. Don't forget to rest properly."

"Thank you." Zhou Leng replied with a smiling-face emoji.

"See you at school on Friday. Also, say hello to Big Yellow for me." Xu Qingjin sent a goodbye image made with Big Yellow. In the picture, Big Yellow's right paw, formed from black lines, was waving vigorously.

"Okay!"

Zhou Leng stared blankly at the dark blue-black window.

After a long while, Zhou Leng opened his phone again and searched through the prices of Qi Nourishing Pills and Essence Replenishing Pills over and over.

Once he won the Progress Champion Award, he would receive medicinal pills worth at least 130,000 yuan.

Although training there would be somewhat dangerous, but...

Zhou Leng searched through the text messages from Zhongwu Bank and tapped on one.

Zhou Leng stared at the balance in the bank message.

12.

After the college entrance examination, the state would stop issuing subsidies.

Zhou Leng stared at it for a long time.

He opened the calculator on his phone and calculated his basic expenses for the next month. After going over it several times, he finally confirmed that he could spend around 1,800 yuan right now.

Zhou Leng first opened the Wuhu app and searched for the most cost-effective foods for training. Then he went downstairs and headed straight for a nearby supermarket, where he bought high-calorie ingredients and food, along with a small amount of martial artist food, for a total of 1,479 yuan.

After returning home, he began stewing a large pot of pork belly, because pork had the highest energy density among common meats.

While the pork stewed, he began frying peanuts.

Peanuts were much cheaper than other nuts, while having similarly high energy density,

Zhou Leng searched through every cabinet and chest, preparing for his training in the mysterious forest.

After tidying up, Zhou Leng opened his schoolbag and took out the books one by one, checking whether there was anything he needed to bring.

"Hm?"

Zhou Leng's eyes widened. He reached into his schoolbag and took out a small white medicine box.

Red clerical script was printed on the medicine box.

Qi Nourishing Pill.

Who sent it?

Zhou Leng racked his brains trying to remember. Too many people could have passed by his desk and slipped the medicine box inside while he was away.

Was it lost? Impossible. If someone had lost a medicinal pill worth ten thousand yuan, the whole class would have exploded by now.

Could it be a frame-up? That's unlikely too. I haven't made enemies with any classmates.

Especially over the past six months, I haven't argued with anyone.

Zhou Leng stared at the Qi Nourishing Pill, his emotions churning.

Only after a long time did he put the Qi Nourishing Pill into the refrigerator.

Zhou Leng thought for a moment, then sent two words in the Class Three group chat.

"Thank you."

Before long, new replies appeared.

"???"

"What do you mean?"

"Zhou Leng, who are you thanking?"

The students guessed for a long while, but still couldn't figure it out.

Finally, Mo Hai appeared and said, "I understand now. Today is the last day of class, and Zhou Leng is thanking all the classmates who have accompanied him in this group for three years. I'm the same. Thank you to every classmate. I hope our friendship lasts forever. We're classmates at school and friends after graduation."

One row of thumbs-up appeared, followed by another row of thumbs-up...

"Even if Committee Member Mo goes to Dongshan Province, he'll continue rising step by step! This level of thinking is too high! (thumbs-up emoji)" Hu Yi's message appeared.

Mo Hai sent a smiling emoji.

Zhou Leng also sent a row of thumbs-up.

Zhou Leng put down his phone and was about to go downstairs when he looked at the pitch-black sky outside and remembered Uncle Li's reminder.

"Actually, you can go to a martial arts training hall at night, but you'll have to pay..."

Zhou Leng silently spread out his training mat and performed a set of Wave Palm...

Before going to sleep, Zhou Leng continued practicing flicking beans.

After washing up and lying down, Zhou Leng could not feel the slightest hint of sleepiness.

The mysterious forest and the Frost Giant Tree flashed through his mind one moment, the Progress Award's reward the next, and the Qi Nourishing Pill after that...

As the first rays of dawn appeared, Zhou Leng got up at 5:10 as usual and went downstairs to exercise.

When he walked out of the residential compound, six old grandmothers stood to one side, chatting and laughing. Zhou Leng went around them.

After walking a few steps forward, a tall, burly figure approached from not far away.

The man had bronze-colored skin, a square, imposing face, a large hooked nose, and slightly thick lips. His dense black hair stood up slightly, resembling a lion's mane.

His two huge eyes tilted upward slightly. His features looked fierce, yet they also held a childish air completely at odds with that fierceness.

Zhou Leng narrowed his eyes and looked toward the man's nostrils.

He began counting from the instant the nostrils flared.

One second, two seconds, three seconds... eleven seconds.

The nostrils contracted again.

Zhou Leng's eyes widened slightly.

Inhaling for ten seconds meant Qi Nourishing Great Accomplishment.

When Zhang Xinglie breathed, he inhaled for over eleven seconds. He was at least one level above Great Accomplishment, meaning his true qi had been cultivated to Perfection.

At Qi Nourishing Perfection, one could channel strength through the skin and enter the Blood Circulation Stage.

The two sides drew closer, and Zhang Xinglie nodded with a smile.

Although they were the same age and in the same grade, Zhang Xinglie stood a head and a half taller than Zhou Leng. He was like a small iron tower, his muscles stretching his short-sleeved shirt taut. His physique formed a perfect inverted triangle.

His arms were thicker than Zhou Leng's legs.

In front of Zhang Xinglie, Zhou Leng's figure looked no different from that of someone who had never practiced martial arts.

Zhou Leng stopped, clasped his fists, and said, "Congratulations, Senior Disciple, on reaching Perfection and being about to enter the Blood Circulation Stage."

Zhang Xinglie was the top student of Ru City's Eighth Middle School. He ranked first in the science-track written examination, first in the physical examination, and first in the martial arts examination.

His combined written and physical examination scores currently ranked third in the entire city, while his physical examination score ranked first in the city.

As was customary, all the students of the Eighth Middle School called him Senior Disciple.

Zhang Xinglie split his mouth into a wide grin. "We grew up wearing the same pair of pants. Don't call me that."

As he spoke, his gaze swept over the green bracelet on Zhou Leng's left wrist.

"When did you advance?" Zhou Leng asked.

"Three days ago."

"Impressive! Even at Yunhua University, you'll rank near the top." Zhou Leng praised him sincerely.

"Your body has recovered well. Getting into Martial Arts University will definitely be no problem!"

Zhang Xinglie reached out with his large hand and patted Zhou Leng's shoulder. At the end, he gave it a light squeeze, stared into Zhou Leng's eyes, and nodded firmly.

Zhou Leng nodded as well.

"Others might not know, but I do. The predicament before you won't be able to stop you! No matter how the martial arts examination goes, you're someone who can stand with me, Zhang Xinglie, at the peak of martial arts! When the time comes, we'll march together and destroy West Sea Demon City, crush the Eighteen Levels of Demon Prison!" Zhang Xinglie laughed loudly, flashing his white teeth, and strode forward.

The corner of Zhou Leng's mouth lifted slightly. Zhang Xinglie had been like this since childhood, with his head full of thoughts about becoming a sage and ascending to godhood.

And he believed in it without the slightest doubt.

Zhou Leng continued forward, while the old people's laughter and chatter came from behind him.

"Tsk, tsk. My grandson hasn't even gotten up yet, and that boy has already finished his morning exercise. How could a child like that not come first?"

"Xinglie, once you go to Yunhua University, don't forget us old aunties."

"I won't, I won't. Even if I go to Xiantian Mountain, I'll never forget you." Zhang Xinglie, known as "Mad Lion," was still humble and polite in front of the aunties.

"Just look at Zhang Xinglie..."

Zhou Leng raised his head and glanced at the sky.

Zhou Leng had tried getting up even earlier, but his body was always weak and his mind muddled. Getting up at five was already his limit.

The students in his class were the same. Aside from those who often ate Meat Medicinal Cuisine, Qi Nourishing Pills, or Essence Replenishing Pills, no one could get up especially early while also ensuring that their training and studies remained normal.

He was not as perfect as Zhang Xinglie, but he had done his best.

Zhou Leng ran all the way to Xiaoru Village. Big Yellow came running from far away, pounced onto him, and panted heavily with his mouth stretched wide.

"Come home with me?" Zhou Leng said.

Big Yellow suddenly jumped down, barked at Zhou Leng, then rolled his eyes and repeatedly raised his chin toward Rugao Mountain.

Zhou Leng took one look and solved the mystery. That was how Big Black Wild Boar had given directions.

The mist around Rugao Mountain had already dispersed. Zhou Leng looked in the direction Big Yellow faced, which seemed to lead toward a gap between the mountain's rocks.

Zhou Leng glanced around and asked in a low voice, "You want to go see the Frost Giant Tree?"

Big Yellow nodded repeatedly.

Zhou Leng said oh, then suddenly asked, "Can you understand me better now than before?"

Big Yellow froze for a moment, then shook his head frantically, even flinging saliva everywhere.

Zhou Leng said oh again and continued, "So it's the same as before. Sometimes you understand me, and sometimes you don't, right?"

Big Yellow nodded rapidly.

He had gotten smarter, but not by much.

Zhou Leng said, "Wait here for me. I'll run home, finish eating, and come find you."

Big Yellow bared his teeth and stuck out his tongue, laughing hehe.

Zhou Leng rubbed the dog's head, turned around, and ran back.

After eating Uncle Li's Meat Medicinal Cuisine once again, Zhou Leng did not circulate his energy to digest it. He took two Qi Nourishing Pills from the refrigerator, put on his mountaineering pack, and headed straight for Rugao Mountain.

On the way, he bought a large bag of dog food.

When he reached the village entrance, he brought Big Yellow along and hurried up the mountain.

After running for a while, Big Yellow suddenly let out a loud bark.

Zhou Leng stopped and looked in the direction Big Yellow was facing.

The forest ahead shook, and seven wild boars—one large and six small—walked out.