Upgrade

After the dinner gathering ended, Li Fei rode back to the Overseeing Bureau's family compound with Lu Changwu and the sons of four other squadron captains.

After parting ways with Lu Changwu and the others, Li Fei returned home and immediately told Li Lei about what had happened that day.

"Uncle Li, what is your relationship with that Captain Lu like?"

Li Fei asked.

There were surely power struggles within the Overseeing Bureau as well. If Li Lei and Captain Lu were not on the same side, then Li Fei would have to be especially careful in his future dealings with Lu Changwu.

"It's rare for you to specifically come ask me about this."

A gratified smile appeared on Li Lei's face. He felt that the boy truly had grown up.

"That Captain Lu is almost certain to be promoted to Deputy Overseeing Bureau Chief. The other two captains have no way of competing with him."

Li Fei immediately understood. With no conflict of interests, at the very least, the two sides would not be hostile toward each other.

In that case, his dealings with Lu Changwu would not cause trouble for Li Lei.

"What Lu Changwu told you today was basically the truth. The Tiger Sabre Gang has practically turned Xing City Military Academy into its own backyard. If you want to secure a spot in the university's Conflict Mitigation Department, you are bound to run into the Tiger Sabre Gang. So you can befriend people like Lu Changwu, but be careful not to let anyone use you as a spear. Do you understand?"

Li Lei looked at Li Fei.

"I understand. Don't worry, Uncle Li."

Li Fei nodded.

"Do you need money for anything while studying martial arts under Mr. Hao?"

Li Lei asked again.

Li Fei did not hesitate and nodded once more. "Yes. Teacher taught me a body-tempering martial art today and gave me a prescription. I need to buy the medicine at the Military Academy."

"A body-tempering martial art?"

Li Lei had not expected Hao Yi to teach Li Fei that, but he trusted Hao Yi's judgment and ability. Without hesitation, he took out his wallet, pulled out a stack of banknotes, and handed them to Li Fei.

"Here's two hundred yuan. Take it and use it for now. If it isn't enough, tell me."

Li Fei accepted the stack of bills with both hands and said seriously, "Thank you, Uncle Li."

"It's nothing. Your Uncle Li still has some savings, so don't stand on ceremony with me."

Li Lei said casually.

His official monthly salary was one hundred yuan, but he actually had all kinds of other income as well. After all these years, he had indeed managed to save up a bit.

But even all those savings might not be enough to support Li Tianyu through university, let alone setting aside part of them for Li Fei.

Looking at the stack of bills in his hand, Li Fei had only one thought: A drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring!

Early the next morning, Li Fei habitually checked the Myriad Blood Bead within his body: Level: 1, 72% Blood Souls: 10

After a night had passed, the level progress had increased by 1%. This came from the Myriad Blood Bead automatically absorbing the energy within his body, while his Blood Souls had recovered to ten.

From his observations, Li Fei estimated that Blood Souls recovered at a rate of one every twenty-four hours. In other words, no matter how grievously injured he was, he could return at full health ten days later.

After getting dressed and eating breakfast, Li Fei ran to the Military Academy and immediately went to the Materials Building to buy medicinal ingredients.

"Hello. A full set of medicine on this prescription costs thirty-five yuan."

After looking over the prescription, the Materials Department administrator said to Li Fei.

"Give me one set first, please."

Li Fei handed over thirty-five yuan.

One full set of medicine could be used ten times. Li Lei had given him two hundred yuan, enough for him to cultivate the Heavenly Star Overlord Body fifty times.

After receiving the medicine, Li Fei carried the large bag of herbs toward the Practice Building.

He first applied to use a Medicinal Bath Room with Sister Zhang. After obtaining the key to Room 304, he went upstairs and entered it.

Skillfully lighting the gas stove, Li Fei began boiling water, then poured the heated water into the wooden tub.

Once the tub was more than half full, he poured a packet of medicine into it according to the prescription.

Before long, the room was filled with the scent of medicinal herbs.

When the time seemed about right, Li Fei swallowed a packet of medicinal powder, removed all his clothes, and immersed himself in the wooden tub.

This was an essential step in cultivating the Heavenly Star Overlord Body—taking medicinal powder internally and soaking in a medicinal bath externally to stimulate his body's potential. Afterward, cultivating the Heavenly Star Overlord Body would yield twice the result with half the effort.

Li Fei soon felt his body growing hot, as though something were burrowing into him.

Not only that, he noticed that his Blood Souls were decreasing.

This meant his body was sustaining damage.

Hao Yi had explained it to him beforehand. Although the medicine used to cultivate the Heavenly Star Overlord Body could help him progress quickly, it would also cause a certain amount of damage to the body, so it could not be used excessively.

But this was nothing to Li Fei. He had the Myriad Blood Bead to share the damage, reducing the harm caused by the medicine to a minimum. And even if there was damage, he could completely recover within ten days without worrying about lasting effects.

After soaking in the wooden tub for about an hour, Li Fei climbed out and got dressed again.

He "looked" at the Myriad Blood Bead: Level: 1, 91% Blood Souls: 9 +82%

The medicine had harmed him, but it had also allowed the Myriad Blood Bead to absorb energy. Now it needed only the final 9% of energy to level up!

A moment later, Hao Yi walked in.

"Teacher."

"Mhm. Take the Heavenly Constellation Stance."

After giving Li Fei a glance and confirming that he had already taken the medicine, Hao Yi spoke crisply.

"Yes."

Li Fei began the stance. Perhaps because he had soaked in the medicinal bath and taken the medicinal powder, even his breathing felt scorching, and his body gradually began to heat up.

At the side, Hao Yi removed the black leather gloves from his hands, revealing blood-red palms. Then, palm after palm, he struck all parts of Li Fei's body.

Smack! Smack! Smack! Dull impacts echoed through the room.

Each time Hao Yi struck Li Fei, Li Fei felt a stream of heat penetrate his body. The spot that had been struck rapidly reddened and swelled, producing a painful sensation.

Knowing that Hao Yi was helping him train, Li Fei took the initiative to sever his connection with the Myriad Blood Bead and allowed his body to bear all the damage.

Not all damage was harmful to the body. Muscle tissue, for example, had to be torn apart and rebuilt again and again before it could grow stronger and stronger.

The various body-tempering arts followed a similar principle. Li Fei could actively control his connection to the Myriad Blood Bead, making it easier for him to practice such techniques.

Perhaps due to the medicine's effects, Li Fei felt as if his body were a taut oxhide drum filled with air, absorbing the force of each impact before rebounding it outward.

"Control your breathing rhythm. Keep up with my strikes. Imagine a current of qi flowing within your body."

As Hao Yi continued striking, he guided Li Fei.

He required that whenever his palm landed, Li Fei's breathing rhythm and body movements would correspond perfectly, with the qi within his body appearing at the point being struck.

This process was quite difficult. If Li Fei had not already mastered the Primal Chaos One Qi Stance, he definitely would not have been able to keep up with Hao Yi's rhythm now.

From time to time, Hao Yi stopped to let Li Fei catch his breath. The two continued like this for more than an hour.

After this round of training ended, visible white steam continuously rose from Hao Yi's blood-red palms, and clear fatigue showed on his face.

It was evident that maintaining this kind of training consumed no small amount of energy.

Li Fei, on the other hand, felt thoroughly refreshed after the training, with an indescribable sense of comfort.

Looking at the visibly fatigued Hao Yi, Li Fei clasped his fists toward him.

"Thank you, Teacher. You've worked hard."

Hao Yi waved a hand. The sternness in his expression softened somewhat. "This step is called circulating qi. It activates your body and fills every part of you with qi. Next comes impact-resistance training. The process will be similar to before. You must do your best to make your qi keep up with my strikes."

Having said that, he picked up an iron rod lying nearby with one hand and brought it down on Li Fei.

Thud! Thud! Thud! The iron rod's strikes sounded heavy and dull. Just as before, Li Fei used the Heavenly Constellation Stance to withstand the blows.

During this process, he occasionally reestablished his connection with the Myriad Blood Bead, allowing it to bear the damage.

He was not doing this to slack off or because he feared pain. He wanted the Myriad Blood Bead to absorb more energy and level up faster.

Every strike Hao Yi delivered with the iron rod contained ingenious force, maximizing the vibrations in Li Fei's skin and muscles while minimizing injury to him.

Even so, each blow was full of force, and the Myriad Blood Bead could absorb quite a bit of energy.

After continuing like this for more than half an hour, Li Fei suddenly felt the Myriad Blood Bead inside him tremble. A warm current surged forth, making him feel as though he were soaking in a hot spring. All the pain and fatigue throughout his body vanished without a trace.

He hurriedly checked the Myriad Blood Bead within his body: Level: 2, 1% Blood Souls: 12

The Myriad Blood Bead had finally leveled up!