"No need."
The only answer Yuan Tieyi received was a departing figure.
Before long, he would be heading to the County Town and a broader world. Becoming his disciple now was utterly meaningless. Besides, Yuan Tieyi, who had once been able to decide his life or death with a single word, could now do nothing but look up to him.
This was the harvest brought by Rampant Liver Martial Arts. Time would reveal everything.
"What a pity. In the end, I missed my chance."
Yuan Tieyi was filled with regret. It hurt him even more than losing a disciple to death.
However, he never connected Zhou Qiming with the matter of Xiao Tian's death. Although reaching the Muscle Cultivation level was monstrous, it was still far from Minor Bone Forging Accomplishment, let alone surviving the coming clash with the Jinsha Gang.
At that moment, Yuan Tieyi also recalled what the youth had said at the martial arts school three months ago, the words echoing before his eyes as though they had been spoken yesterday.
"So what if I have Low-grade bone structure? As long as I study and train diligently, I may yet break through the Innate realm limit and transcend to sainthood."
He had truly done it!
"Cheng Yu, go and give him the few Treasure Fish I've been raising in my courtyard, along with the three bottles of Bone forging pills kept at the bottom of the chest. I hope they can help him survive this calamity."
It was too late to say anything now. A missed chance was a missed chance, but forming a good connection with him now was still an option.
"Master, you..." Cheng Yu was stunned as well. She had not expected him to suddenly think so highly of Zhou Qiming. Sure enough, he had risen because of his Root Bone, and fallen because of his Root Bone.
Clearly, if Zhou Qiming could raise his Root Bone to Medium-grade bone structure, he was extremely likely to continue breaking through. He might even reach Heaven-grade bone structure!
"Xiao Tian is already dead. Keeping the things prepared for him is useless. Besides, with the Jinsha Gang as our great enemy, I have no use for them anymore."
Yuan Tieyi's tone was decisive. Perhaps, if these resources were given to Zhou Qiming, he really could reach the Hua Jin level.
Meanwhile, after sleeping for a while, Zhou Qiming went to the tavern to work.
Clearly, with something having happened to the Xiao Family, panic had already spread through the town. Many people had not come to the tavern that day. Perhaps they had already packed their belongings and fled to escape the disaster.
"Brother Zhou, the Wu Wen and Wu Wu brothers went to the County Town to seek refuge with their Second Uncle in the Luoshan Army." Chen Ping came over to greet him, worry showing on his face.
"Why are you still staying at the tavern?" Zhou Qiming asked with concern.
"I think I'll be safest if I stick with you, Qiming." Chen Ping gave a carefree laugh.
That was true, but in this day and age, even if they fled, could they really outrun the Jinsha Gang's swift blades and fast horses?
Unexpectedly, the town remained peaceful that day, like the calm before the storm.
It was only toward evening that Yang He, the Qingfeng Hall Master, led his men over. Every one of them was tall and well-fed, coming to bleed the people dry as they collected money for the right to remain safe.
"By head count, it's five taels of silver per person. Have it ready within three days."
Yang He's voice was cold and left no room for argument.
"Master Yang, this is just a small business. How could I possibly gather several hundred taels of silver on such short notice?"
Xu Hailai hurried out, smiling obsequiously as he pleaded for mercy.
"Bah! Don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. We're collecting your money because we think highly of you. Do you want to join the Xiao Family in the Yellow Springs?"
Yang He spat, then threw back his head and laughed as he swaggered away.
"Boss, why be polite with them? If all the brothers rushed in, that tavern wouldn't have the strength to resist." The gang members below were puzzled.
"What do you know? First, give the weak a sliver of hope for survival. That way, they'll obediently hand over their money, instead of losing both their wealth and their lives."
Yang He's expression was icy, a sinister grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
The Hantian Army was waiting for the tavern cooks to be sent to the army kitchens to chop firewood and prepare meals. If they directly attacked and slaughtered everyone, they might end up delaying the Gang Master's grand plans.
The hardest bone to gnaw was still the Iron Clothes Martial Arts School. There was no need to hurry with the other scraps.
Watching the Jinsha Gang members, who looked like jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards, Xu Hailai was at a loss. He glanced at Zhou Qiming and said helplessly:
"I told you to leave early and seek refuge in the County Town. Look at you now. You can't even leave if you want to."
"Uncle Xu, don't say that anymore. The tavern gave me a place to live and food to eat. If I ran at the first sign of danger, I'd look down on myself."
Zhou Qiming remained unmoved, earning a look of deep approval from Xu Hailai.
That night, after returning to the Small Courtyard given to him by the Cheng Family, Zhou Qiming had just been about to swallow Refined Iron and cultivate Bone Forging when Cheng Yu arrived with a pleasant surprise.
"These few Treasure Fish are worth quite a lot. Master Yuan has raised them for a long time and has always been reluctant to eat them, but they've ended up benefiting you." Cheng Yu laughed heartily as she placed the Golden-patterned Five-colored Carp into the water vat. There were also four bottles of Bone forging pills.
They were all in the same trench now, with their lives hanging by a thread. It was better to concentrate all their resources and hopes on Zhou Qiming. As for the outcome, they could only take things one step at a time.
"Thank you for going to the trouble. These Treasure Fish will help me greatly."
Zhou Qiming nodded and accepted them without hesitation.
With these Five-colored Carp, he could recover a great deal of Root Bone Value within three to five days. Perhaps he could even achieve Iron Cloth Skill Third Breakthrough!
Once he had decided to do something, Zhou Qiming immediately took two fish and began cooking.
His cooking skills had long since reached perfection. Even in a tavern, he would have been one of the finest chefs. Before long, he had prepared several dishes, some steamed and others braised in soy sauce.
Cheng Yu watched hungrily. In the end, she at least satisfied her craving for soup before leaving reluctantly. Zhou Qiming ate far too much—she simply could not compete with him.
After cultivating for the entire night, Zhou Qiming took the remaining ginseng, then bathed and went to sleep.
[Name: Zhou Qiming] [Level: Early Bone Forging] [Root Bone: 3/14 points] [Woodcutting Saber Technique Second Breakthrough] [Iron Cloth Skill Second Breakthrough] [Earth Fiend Legs Minor Accomplishment 91%]
Zhou Qiming drew a deep breath. His entire body was sore, yet his eyes were filled with delight. He had no idea what Yuan Tieyi's Treasure Fish were made of, but their effects were countless times stronger than the ginseng he had eaten before.
After eating two, he had recovered nearly three points of Root Bone Value in a single night. If he ate a few more, wouldn't he instantly revive at full health and activate his attribute-point allocation mode?
"Earth Fiend Legs is also close to reaching great accomplishment. By then, I'll be able to gain a little more Root Bone."
With fourteen points of Root Bone, the effects of cultivation were doubled with half the effort. Coupled with the talent transformation from Iron Gall, after refining three jin of Refined Iron in one night, Zhou Qiming successfully completed the tempering of his left leg and stepped into the Bone Forging level.
"If I had Hundred-forged Fine Iron, or even top-grade materials like Star-patterned Steel and Extraterrestrial Meteorite Iron, my speed and achievements in Bone Forging would be even more terrifying."
Zhou Qiming lowered his head and pondered. However, this was only a remote little town. He would have to reach the County Town, or even Tianhe Prefecture, before he could spend money to buy such materials.
Still, the resources in his hands were barely sufficient for now. A meal had to be eaten one bite at a time. He would deal with the Jinsha Gang first.
Zhou Qiming left for work. As the day passed, the streets grew even more deserted. Gambling houses, pawnshops, and the like all closed down and went bankrupt, while many others submitted to the Jinsha Gang's might.
Some obediently paid the exorbitant money for the right to remain safe. Others directly joined the Jinsha Gang and became subordinates of one of its halls. Those who dared to resist, or who fled with their money like the Xiao Family, were all exterminated and hung along the official road outside the town.
"It's time to buy more goods from the Blacksmith Shop today. Cheng Yan should be back by now, right?"
Zhou Qiming paid no attention to the other people in town and could not be bothered to invite trouble onto himself. Seeing the situation grow increasingly tense, he planned to buy a large amount of high-quality Refined Iron from the Blacksmith Shop in one go and stock up. The Limit Breaking talent of Iron Gall had great returns, making it worth investing more money and time.
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