Alchemy

After waiting for more than an hour, the medicine was finally brewed! Jiang Liu held the porcelain bowl of dark green medicinal soup in both hands, somewhat afraid to drink it.

Jiang Liu thought, Should I find someone to test whether it works? But who? And how would I explain what kind of medicine this is?

Besides, this one bowl cost a hundred copper coins. Jiang Liu's heart ached just thinking about it. Ten copper coins were enough to cover an ordinary person's food for an entire day.

In the end, his thirst for strength overcame his reason. After all, what man who had grown up on Blue Star had never dreamed of becoming a great hero?

Who did not want to be clad in robes white as snow, traveling the Jianghu alone with a sword in hand? In this world, those skilled in martial arts could leap across eaves and scale walls, split mountains and crack stones as if it were nothing!

There were even stronger experts who could overturn mountains and seas. With one strike, not a living thing remained within a hundred li! Jiang Liu had heard this from guests staying at the inn shortly after he crossed over, though he had no idea whether it was true. After all, in a place with as much traffic as an inn, one could hear anything.

Jiang Liu gritted his teeth and tipped the medicinal soup in his hand into his mouth. He only felt a current of heat rise from his lungs and entrails before swiftly spreading through his entire body.

His whole body felt light and relaxed. The lingering effects of overtraining yesterday vanished, and he was now filled with strength!

Jiang Liu hurriedly assumed a stance and began practicing according to the standard moves! Once.

"Ding!"

Fierce Tiger Fist (Not Yet Initiated 3/10)

It worked. He immediately practiced another round. By the third round, the medicinal effect had become negligible. Jiang Liu barely finished the third round before feeling prickling pain all over his body! This was the feeling of depleted vitality and blood, so he hurriedly stopped.

He looked at the dark blue panel. Fierce Tiger Fist (Not Yet Initiated 4/10). No experience had been added during that last round?

The medicine's effects must have run out at the end, causing his movements to become distorted.

It seemed a single dose of medicine could only support two rounds of cultivation.

Brewing medicine could increase Alchemy proficiency. Could he use this to make money? Otherwise, he would not be able to afford martial arts training! After all, the few copper coins he earned from other people's tips were nowhere near enough to cover the expense.

No sooner thought than done! He went to the first pharmacy where he had previously bought medicine.

"Shopkeeper, are you taking apprentices here?" Jiang Liu asked.

The shopkeeper of An Sheng Pharmacy was an elderly doctor with a white beard named An Yuan. "Little brother, do you want to study medicine? Can you read?"

"I can. I attended Elementary School for a few years."

"Good, come with me!" Doctor An Yuan said as he walked into the back hall, and Jiang Liu hurriedly followed.

Doctor An Yuan took out a thick book and said, "Take a look. How much of this can you recognize?"

Jiang Liu accepted it and saw the words Complete Compendium of Medicinal Herbs written on the cover! Opening to the first page, he found a detailed introduction to one medicinal herb's habits, growing environment, harvesting requirements, drying requirements, processing and storage requirements, conditions for its use in medicine, and medicinal effects.

Jiang Liu flipped through several pages in succession and found that he could recognize every word. He said to Doctor An Yuan, "Doctor, I can recognize almost all the words here."

"Good! From today onward, you will study under me! First, memorize this entire book on medicinal herbs. As a junior apprentice here, you will receive thirty copper coins a month, with two meals included. Are you willing?" Doctor An Yuan asked.

"I am!" Jiang Liu replied.

"Good! Read here for now. Oh, right, what is your name?" Doctor An Yuan said. "Before you go home tonight, I will test you."

"My name is Jiang Liu," Jiang Liu answered. Doctor An Yuan nodded after hearing this, then went out to attend to his work.

Jiang Liu sat alone with the Complete Compendium of Medicinal Herbs and studied it carefully, doing his best to memorize every kind of medicinal herb.

In the blink of an eye, evening arrived. Before Jiang Liu went home, Doctor An Yuan tested him on the Complete Compendium of Medicinal Herbs he had read today! He discovered that Jiang Liu had already memorized a tenth of it.

Doctor An Yuan thought, I never expected him to have such a good memory. It seemed he would soon have a capable apprentice. The look in his eyes as he watched Jiang Liu grew a little more kindly.

Jiang Liu returned home and brewed another dose of Fierce Tiger Fist medicinal soup to drink! He practiced two rounds before resting. He was afraid that if he kept practicing, he would not be able to get up tomorrow. Progress had to be made step by step; he could not train like a madman as he had on the first day!

Auxiliary System:

Name: Jiang Liu

Realm: None

Fierce Tiger Fist (Not Yet Initiated 6/10)

Alchemy (Not Yet Initiated 2/10)

Jiang Liu closed the panel in satisfaction. He loved the feeling of seeing his strength improve every time.

Thus, two uneventful days passed. That evening, Jiang Liu finished the second round of Fierce Tiger Fist practice!

"Ding!" Fierce Tiger Fist (Initiated 0/100)! A surge of heat suddenly flowed out and coursed through his entire body. The skin of his body felt tighter and harder. When he touched it with his hand, it felt like old cowhide!

It was as though more than a year, nearly two years, of Fierce Tiger Fist cultivation—its insights and experience—had all been stuffed into his mind at once.

Auxiliary System:

Name: Jiang Liu

Realm: Body Refinement (Skin Tempering)

Fierce Tiger Fist (Initiated 0/100)

Alchemy (Not Yet Initiated 4/10)

He had finally entered the gate! Jiang Liu felt that he could now take on several ordinary people without any problem.

He practiced another round of moves in succession, each strike producing banging sounds. After finishing the set, his heart felt unburdened! He took a towel and wiped away his sweat.

Fierce Tiger Fist (Initiated 1/100). Seeing his experience increase, Jiang Liu was overjoyed. Being able to see the fruits of his efforts was a happy thing.

How many people who proclaimed themselves exceptionally talented gave up on themselves because they could not see even the slightest improvement after several years? In the end, they accomplished nothing!

The next day,

Jiang Liu went to the pharmacy to continue studying. The moment he entered, Doctor An Yuan's eyes lit up. "Jiang Liu, your complexion is different today! You also seem much more robust! Have you achieved something in martial arts?"

Hearing this, Jiang Liu froze. He had not expected his flaw to be spotted so soon after beginning martial arts training. Had the changes really been that obvious?

He secretly examined himself. Yes! He had grown so much taller! The clothes he had worn before had become much tighter as well. The changes were indeed quite significant! No wonder Doctor An Yuan had noticed at a glance.

It seemed he needed to be more careful! This martial skill's origins were unknown, after all. If someone discovered it, trouble would surely follow. What could he do? Jiang Liu was lost in his thoughts and did not answer Doctor An Yuan's question for a while.

Seeing that Jiang Liu did not answer, Doctor An Yuan did not mind. He shook his head and continued with his own work.

Crack! Crack! Crack! Jiang Liu stood and stretched his body, which had grown stiff from sitting. He had now memorized more than half of the Complete Compendium of Medicinal Herbs. He should be able to finish it in another three days. If he had possessed this kind of memory in his previous life, what could he not have accomplished?

But could he still return? Jiang Liu shook his head and flung these wild thoughts from his mind. He should just live well in the present!

He had just broken through last night and had not yet had the chance to test his strength. Should he give it a try tonight? His own courtyard was definitely inconvenient, though. Where would be suitable?

He had it—the abandoned courtyard where he had thrown the black cloth bundle before. That place seemed like it would work! He would go take a look tonight.

Deep within Flowing Cloud Alley, before an abandoned residence, Jiang Liu carefully pushed open the courtyard gate and walked inside.

PS: Healer ranks: the apprentice tier, divided into junior, intermediate, and senior. The Entry Grade healer tier, with ranks identical to martial artists. Grandmaster-level healers were collectively known as Medical Saints.