Night of Cramps (Thanks to Alliance Leader Night of Cramps)

Drinking the medicinal soup from his bowl, Zhang Rongfang felt a steaming warm current flow into his stomach.

Listening to the strange cries echoing from the darkness of the Back Mountain, Zhang Rongfang was suddenly filled with an inexplicable sense of melancholy.

If this had been his Previous Life, there probably would not have been so much activity in the mountains.

Because anything that could move would probably have nearly died out.

Near places where humans lived, few animals would have dared howl recklessly.

Tilting his head back, Zhang Rongfang drained the medicinal soup in one gulp. He exhaled a breath of heat, feeling warmth spread through his entire body.

After tidying the medicine pot and packing it into a cloth bag, he carried it back to his room. He drank Four Substances Decoction for many days in a row, until he had finished all five doses. Only then did Zhang Rongfang clearly feel the Attribute Warm Current gathering within his body.

Time slowly passed, and in the blink of an eye, another month had gone by.

Inside Shangde Garden of Qinghe Temple.

Amid the surrounding trees.

Xiao Rong sat calmly and steadily in a Grand Tutor's Chair.

Before him stood five Martial Cultivation Disciples in a row.

Senior Brother Jiao Teng had a robust build and thick body hair. Though he was only twenty-four, his full beard made him look more like one of the Hu Xi People.

Second Senior Brother Chen Wuyou was temporarily absent. Standing second was a strong man with short yellow hair named Hong Da.

Third Senior Sister Zhao Dacong was likewise powerfully built. She stood with her hands behind her back, her aura profound and her body like a rock wall.

Fourth was Chen Hui, also a Female Daoist—a female Daoist priest. She was tall and well-proportioned, with ordinary features.

Fifth was Zhang Rongfang, who had only recently entered the sect.

Today was Xiao Rong's third assessment of his disciples. Five people were assessed each time; every Martial Cultivation Disciple who had taken him as Master had to be tested to examine their progress.

After all, he personally covered his disciples' expenses. If one of them proved inadequate or failed to satisfy him, that disciple's future resources might be reduced.

As the disciples stepped forward one by one to demonstrate their martial arts.

Xiao Rong remained expressionless, nodding faintly from time to time. In truth, he already knew their general progress.

The assessment was merely meant to deepen their sense of crisis, so they would not become lazy and lose all motivation.

It was a form of urging them onward.

At this point, the first three had already finished their demonstrations. All three had long since reached First Grade or above. Several months had passed, and though they had improved, the progress was not great.

When it came to Chen Hui, who stood fourth, her expression was cold. Though her appearance was ordinary, she possessed an inexplicable, aloof confidence.

She was a new disciple Xiao Rong had accepted only a few days ago. She had not bribed anyone, nor had she relied on any connections. She had simply been suddenly accepted.

In fact, everyone, including Senior Brother Jiao Teng, was somewhat curious about her.

They did not know what Chen Hui had done to deserve such favor from their Master.

"Chen Hui, you have recently learned the Yue Type Talisman. Come demonstrate it for everyone." Xiao Rong shifted his gaze to Chen Hui in the fourth position, and his tone softened considerably.

Clearly, he treated her very differently.

"Yes." Chen Hui nodded respectfully, stepped forward, and cupped her fists toward the others in a slight salute.

Smack! Her fist and palm suddenly jabbed forward, immediately unleashing the opening stance, Dot Clear Wind. After that, every move of the Yue Type Talisman shifted from fast to slow, her motions naturally carrying a certain rhythm.

"Amazing! You really can't tell she has been learning it for less than a month!" Zhao Dacong could not help whispering, her eyes filled with astonishment.

Jiao Teng lightly bit his lip. His expression did not change, but a trace of crisis rose in his heart.

After only one month of study, she had mastered the foundational Yue Type Talisman to such proficiency. Without question, Chen Hui was a genuine martial arts prodigy.

Standing at the very end, Zhang Rongfang was also full of admiration.

If he had not possessed Attribute Points back then, there was no way he could have brought the Yue Type Talisman to such a level.

One had to know that it had taken him two months merely to enter the beginner stage of the Yue Type Talisman. Yet someone like Chen Hui was already nearly on par with his current Yue Type Talisman in terms of move proficiency.

Setting aside the physical enhancement brought by Attribute Points and martial arts, in terms of moves alone, Chen Hui could now easily exchange techniques with him.

At this moment, Zhang Rongfang had no choice but to admit that some people were simply born for this line of work.

He had spent two months merely getting started, while she had taken one month to reach the level of mastery.

"Very good." Xiao Rong lightly applauded, his face full of praise. "Chen Hui has made great progress. The rest of you should learn from her. Whatever you do, you must focus with all your strength. There can be no carelessness or laziness whatsoever. Only then can you achieve results as quickly as possible. Do you understand?"

"Understood!" everyone answered in succession.

After Chen Hui finished, it was Zhang Rongfang's turn.

He did not reveal much of his foundation. He merely performed the thirty-two forms of the Yue Type Talisman in a conventional manner. His moves were proficient, but nothing else stood out.

To reach the level of proficient mastery in the Yue Type Talisman, one needed to display that Essence, Qi, and Spirit of every movement rising and falling like mountain ranges.

Zhang Rongfang deliberately performed it in an ordinary, restrained manner, completely concealing his true level.

His greatest concern now was that no one must discover he had killed someone.

Otherwise, his fellow Mountain Bandit's companions might trace it back to him and bring disaster upon his head.

Soon, the martial demonstration ended. Zhang Rongfang withdrew his stance and returned to the line.

Xiao Rong then began explaining the essentials of the Yue Type Talisman. He was not truly a good teacher; his explanations were obscure and difficult to understand. When the mood took him, he would even raise his wine gourd and take a light sip.

From time to time, he would also compose an impromptu poem.

The others found it utterly exhausting to listen to.

At first, Zhang Rongfang listened especially carefully. Later, he realized that with his improved Yue Type Talisman, he had long since grasped everything Xiao Rong was explaining, so he lowered his head and began slacking off.

At that moment, he was watching the Attribute Panel expectantly. Under Free Attributes, another Attribute Point had appeared.

This Attribute Point had suddenly emerged just as the martial demonstration assessment began.

From taking the medicine until now, only one month had passed, yet he had gained one Attribute Point.

Clearly, this was the effect of the Four Substances Decoction.

And this was only a formula made with medicinal herbs less than three years old.

If the formula were made with high-age medicinal herbs, Zhang Rongfang felt he might just take off on the spot.

What a pity. It's too expensive, and the medicine shops can hardly gather all the ingredients.

Watching Xiao Rong's lips fly up and down, his thoughts drifted elsewhere of their own accord.

Soon, Xiao Rong finished explaining the Yue Type Talisman. After pausing, he looked toward Senior Brother Jiao Teng and Zhao Dacong beside him.

"Jiao Teng, Zhao Dacong, the two of you have now reached Second Grade. Entering the Ranks is the first Breaking Limits. After that, every rise in grade requires another Breaking Limits to accomplish.

"However, Breaking Limits is quite damaging to the body. Only by combining suitable internal and external nourishing formulas can one minimize the hidden dangers of internal injuries. If you make progress, remember to collect Heart Nourishing Pills from the Elixir Room before Breaking Limits," Xiao Rong instructed.

"Yes!" Jiao Teng knew this was directed at him.

Because Zhao Dacong had only recently broken through to Second Grade. Of those present, he was the only one about to break through to Third Grade.

He cupped his fists respectfully and thanked his Master for the help.

Xiao Rong offered a few more words of encouragement, then said no more and rose to leave.

Jiao Teng sighed and glanced over the other junior brothers and sisters. Without saying anything, he left on his own.

Other than Zhao Dacong, the rest were merely ordinary people in his eyes. Only Chen Hui was worth paying some attention to.

The others looked at one another in silence, then gradually followed the stone path out of Shangde Garden.

Zhang Rongfang lifted his head and glanced at Chen Hui. Her appearance had truly allowed him to see, from close range, what a genius looked like.

Then he thought of Si Tunan. They had once been friends, yet now they were already like strangers on opposite roads.

As he walked out of Shangde Garden, he clearly saw Zhou Ze, Si Tunan, and Tao Mengjie standing together with Senior Brother Jiao Teng and several others.

The small circle they formed was surrounded by a larger circle, all of them Martial Cultivation Disciples.

Nearly half the Martial Cultivation Disciples of Qinghe Temple were gathered there.

Jiao Teng and the others who possessed ranks were the first tier. After them came people like Zhou Ze and Tao Mengjie, those with talent or wealth.

Only then came the circle of ordinary Martial Cultivation Disciples.

This was the clearly defined hierarchy among Qinghe Temple's Cultivation Disciples.

People like Jiao Teng were basically Direct Lineage Disciples, and their treatment was entirely different from everyone else's.

Zhang Rongfang and some of the other Martial Cultivation Disciples stood in the distance, watching the scene with their own thoughts before leaving separately.

"What are they all gathered around for?" A woman's voice suddenly asked softly behind him.

"They want to ask the senior brothers and sisters for experience, techniques, and tricks regarding Blood Nourishing Tendon Forging and Entering the Ranks," another woman replied. "There are too many people, after all, and such opportunities are rare. The Masters do not have that much patience to explain everything carefully one by one. Most of the time, you have to rely on asking the senior brothers and sisters."

"I don't know about Entering the Ranks, but is Blood Nourishing difficult? Didn't it pass quite easily?" the first woman asked in surprise.

Zhang Rongfang could not help turning back for a look. He happened to see Chen Hui's faintly surprised expression.

Clearly, she was genuinely puzzled.

Indeed, being able to complete an entire set of the Yue Type Talisman continuously counted as entering Blood Nourishing.

The only difference between Chen Hui and Zhang Rongfang now was the amount of time they had accumulated in Blood Nourishing.

Blood Nourishing would gradually improve one's physique, but that improvement required time.

Zhang Rongfang had merely used Attribute Points to forcibly compress that process into an extremely short period.

"Senior Brother Zhang, why are you looking at me?" Chen Hui asked in confusion. Since she had entered the sect later than him, Zhang Rongfang was indeed her senior brother.

"Nothing. I was just feeling a little sentimental." Zhang Rongfang sighed, then cast one final glance toward Si Tunan.

At that moment, her pretty face was tranquil as she quietly said something to Zhou Ze beside her.

Perhaps sensing his gaze, Si Tunan turned her head and looked over, just in time to see Zhang Rongfang's departing back.

Memories of the days she had spent with Zhang Rongfang flashed through her heart, but she said nothing.

Pang Pangzi, Zhang Rongfang, and Li Suanmei—these were all things of the past to her now.

People climbed upward, while water flowed downward. The people she associated with now would inevitably rise along with her own status.

In the end, only equals could become friends.

Returning to his room for Lunch Break.

Zhang Rongfang lay flat on his bed, looking at the gray-white Mosquito Net Gauze, his heart calm.

After repeatedly confirming it, he had already determined that martial arts in this world were essentially like the martial world from novels in his Previous Life, only without internal force.

The martial world, the Jianghu—the greater one's reputation, the stronger one's strength.

Qinghe Temple was merely a small-to-medium branch sect along Pingyu Road. Its martial arts counted as Xuanmen Orthodox, but its practical combat ability was mediocre.

He had thoroughly confirmed this during his recent patrols outside.

After all, Huaxin County did not have Qinghe Temple as its only faction, and many rumors circulated there.

"Forget it. Having a place to settle down is already quite good."

He took a deep breath, cast aside his distracting thoughts, raised a hand, and focused his gaze.

Soon, the Attribute Panel appeared.

Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately added the Free Attribute Point he had gained by taking Four Substances Decoction and shortening the time required to the Yue Type Talisman.

The Yue Type Talisman, which had previously been at the mastery level, immediately blurred.

Two seconds later.

New words emerged.

'Yue Type Talisman (Perfected)'

"Perfected?"

Before Zhang Rongfang had time to think further, he suddenly felt agonizing pain tear through his entire body.

Every inch of flesh, inside and out, from head to toe, erupted with an ocean of pain.

His entire body curled up at once.

The intense agony made him convulse madly, wanting to scream.

But at a time like this, in a place like this, Zhang Rongfang did not dare make a single sound, terrified that others would discover his abnormality.

He clenched his teeth tightly and could only endure the pain, waiting for the Attribute Point's transformation to end.