A Faster Way to Grind Proficiency?

The merchant gazed into the air, as if recalling his younger days.

"I was like Fang Chen too, with below-average natural talent."

"Back then, I was poor as well, but I trained in Martial Arts with tremendous diligence. Everyone saw it, yet no one believed I could successfully reach the Entry Realm."

"So I trained even more desperately, just so that after breaking through, I could finally hold my head high."

"But breaking into the First Realm of Martial Arts requires the aid of powerful medicines. Their medicinal force drives a massive surge of qi and blood, battering the flesh like a flood within a short time and thoroughly opening the pathways for tempering the body."

"And powerful medicines cost a great deal of money. Back then, how I wished someone could have funded me..."

The attendant had not expected his master to have such an experience.

Moved, he said, "My lord, so you intend to fund Fang Chen?"

To his surprise, the merchant shook his head.

"No. The one I intend to fund is Yang Hua."

The attendant looked at him in utter confusion.

The merchant sneered. "Someone did fund me later on... but even now, I have yet to step into the First Realm of Martial Arts. So I understand better than anyone how difficult this is."

"I am a merchant. How could I possibly make a losing deal?"

The attendant immediately wiped the emotion from his face and said quietly, "I will go invite Yang Hua over at once."

When Yang Hua heard that someone wished to fund him, an indescribable joy filled his heart.

Like Fang Chen, he came from a poor family. Both of them hoped that practicing Martial Arts could change their lives and bring their families better days.

Yang Hua had only joined the martial arts school yesterday, yet a merchant was already willing to fund him today.

This undoubtedly made Yang Hua feel the value of his own potential.

Yang Hua could not help looking toward Fang Chen, who had also come from a poor family.

This senior brother had been here for several days. It seemed that only Senior Brother Qin Yun and Senior Brother Zhou treated him well, yet no wealthy merchant had ever come to invest in him.

Yang Hua could not help sighing for this senior brother whose status and background were so similar to his own.

"If Senior Brother had natural talent like mine, that would have been great."

He no longer dwelled on it and happily began chatting with the merchant.

In the end, they agreed to have a meal together at Drunken Fragrance Tower that evening.

Yang Hua nodded repeatedly in delight. He had only ever heard of Drunken Fragrance Tower's reputation and had never visited it. Now, he finally had the chance.

Some disciples with poor natural talent looked at Yang Hua with envy.

In just a day or two, his life had undergone earth-shaking changes simply because his natural talent was better. It was truly enviable.

But in this world, the quality of one's natural talent basically determined the quality of one's Martial Arts potential.

Once someone was found to have good natural talent, their life naturally changed at once.

Fang Chen, standing in the distance, roughly understood what was happening, but his heart remained calm.

After all, he had just picked up fifty taels of silver yesterday...

Zhou Hai walked over and teased, "Looks like they do not think much of you."

"Fair enough. A talent like you, with such high compatibility with cultivation techniques, can only be discovered by someone as experienced and sharp-eyed as yours truly."

Fang Chen merely gave a faint "Mm," not particularly concerned.

But Zhou Hai could not help suggesting, "How about I fund you?"

Fang Chen looked at Zhou Hai in surprise. He had not expected things to suddenly take such a turn.

Zhou Hai smiled and explained, "To break into the First Realm of Martial Arts, you must have the aid of powerful medicines."

"Senior Brother should know that any powerful medicine is expensive."

"With Senior Brother's financial means, you probably cannot afford powerful medicines, so you need someone to fund you."

"What does Senior Brother think of me funding you?"

If you think this book is good, please remember to add it to your bookshelf so you do not lose it next time.

Fang Chen did not answer immediately. Instead, he looked at the panel and began to ponder.

Logically speaking, this panel quantified Martial Arts experience. As long as he could grind his experience points to the limit, advancing would be as natural as water flowing into a channel!

So perhaps he did not need the aid of any powerful medicine at all. Things like bottlenecks simply did not exist for him.

This was another enormous advantage of the panel. He would never waste time being stuck at a bottleneck, so his advancement speed would naturally far surpass that of ordinary people!

But powerful medicines could nourish fresh qi and blood and increase the strength of one's qi and blood. They were different from things like Qi and Blood Pills and Qi Supplementing Powder, which restored qi, blood, and stamina.

A thought arose in Fang Chen's heart.

"Could taking powerful medicines let me grind proficiency faster?"

After all, proficiency was merely the quantified measure of Martial Arts progress. Every point of proficiency could increase some of his qi and blood strength.

If qi and blood were nourished faster, then proficiency would naturally be grinded faster as well, and the insights in his mind would naturally increase.

At that thought, Fang Chen changed his mind. Since Zhou Hai was willing to fund him, there was no reason to refuse.

He looked at Zhou Hai and said with a smile, "I wonder what exactly Junior Brother has in mind?"

Zhou Hai replied, "Every two months, I will provide you with one portion of powerful medicine, along with the Qi and Blood Pills and Qi Supplementing Powder needed for Martial Arts training."

"Senior Brother, do you find those terms acceptable?"

Fang Chen considered it for a moment, then smiled and nodded.

"Alright. I wonder what Junior Brother will need me to do in the future?"

Zhou Hai said with a smile, "Just consider it that you owe me a favor. If I need you for something in the future, you cannot refuse."

Fang Chen thought for a moment.

"As long as it is something I can do and does not go against my principles, I will not decline."

Zhou Hai said happily, "Fine. But one thing is one thing, and another is another. The wager between us still stands."

The wager Zhou Hai meant was naturally to see which of them would reach the First Realm of Martial Arts first.

Fang Chen joked, "Junior Brother is funding me like this. Aren't you afraid that I might reach the First Realm of Martial Arts before you?"

Zhou Hai burst into laughter.

"Senior Brother is too confident. Not only is my natural talent superior, I also take a portion of powerful medicine every half month. My qi and blood are nourished at an astonishing rate. Senior Brother cannot possibly be faster than me."

Fang Chen cursed inwardly.

Damn it, this rich bastard is actually taking medicine like candy.

But with the panel, Fang Chen still believed he would be faster than Zhou Hai.

Just thinking about a portion of powerful medicine made him drool.

After discussing the funding, the two continued practicing Martial Arts on their own.

The afternoon quickly passed. During that time, Fang Chen guided Zhou Hai once more.

By the time nearly everyone else had left, only Fang Chen and Zhou Hai remained in the martial arts school.

After Fang Chen completed another set of Tiger Subduing Fist, a change appeared on the panel.

Tiger Subduing Fist Proficiency +1

Martial Arts: Tiger Subduing Fist (Beginner 23/300); Whirlwind Blade Technique (Beginner 0/150)

Fang Chen glanced at the sky outside and was about to leave when a delighted cry suddenly rang out.

"I've finally reached the Entry Realm!"

Zhou Hai's face was full of joy. He had successfully reached the Entry Realm in only three days. That level of comprehension was exceptionally impressive!

He turned to Fang Chen and said with a laugh, "Haha, Senior Brother, I'm going to start catching up to you!"

Moving qi and blood and nourishing qi and blood—this was precisely when his superior natural talent would come into play!

Fang Chen smiled faintly.

"Congratulations, Junior Brother!"