The Rich Rely on "Technology"

Hoo~~

In the courtyard, Qi Yu exhaled a breath of turbid air, then stood up and began practicing the "Coiling Form" and "Tongue Flick" from the Spirit Serpent Fist.

"Coiling Form" emphasizes instantaneous power accumulation, using stillness to counter movement, serving as a defensive stance;

"Tongue Flick," however, hides killing intent, transitioning from stillness to movement, containing the seeds of attack.

Tap... tap... tap...

Qi Yu moved around the courtyard in a boxing stance, his body like a serpent, slithering and winding.

This dynamic exercise was far more difficult than static桩功 (standing meditation).

After a long while, he was exhausted and stopped.

He was panting, his inner garments sticking to him.

His muscles felt sore and swollen, as if his very fibers were being torn apart.

He finally understood. His comprehension and natural talent were truly that of a spoiled young master. His comprehension was clouded by money, and his natural talent had been eroded by indulgence.

He suddenly thought of Chu Xiao.

A young man like Chu Xiao, clearly forged in hardship, exposed to the elements, traveling far and wide. His natural talent had grown through this tempering, and his comprehension had been awakened by suffering.

He heard... Chu Xiao only had a sister he depended on. Then... Chu Xiao must have also experienced life-and-death separation, carrying a deep resentment within him.

In contrast, he himself... lived in luxury, surrounded by pleasures. After only a few days of serious practice, he had already earned praise from everyone. He was truly a delicate flower in a greenhouse.

In this world, for every gain, there is a loss.

"Young Master..."

"Young Master!"

As he was thinking, A Bi ran in from outside, holding the handles of a small pot with both hands, her face flushed.

Qi Yu sniffed the air and caught a medicinal scent.

"Didn't we already have Essence Replenishing Soup today?"

"Replying to Young Master, this is the Blood Activating Secret Soup specially sent by Madam.

Madam instructed that this soup can be stored for three days after it's stewed. Before each practice, warm it up slightly and drink a bowl before cultivating.

Do not exceed two bowls a day.

As for the Essence Replenishing Soup... Madam said we can stop it."

"Blood Activating Secret Soup?"

Anything with the word "Secret" in it was a private recipe.

And as a major player in medicinal herbs, the Qi Family had its own channels for ingredients and prescriptions.

He wondered where Madam Liu had gotten this secret soup from.

A Bi placed the small pot in the center of the stone table in the courtyard.

Qi Yu walked over and lifted the lid to look.

The soup was clear, with a faint rosy hue. The aroma that reached his nose was surprisingly sweet.

He took several deep breaths and felt a gentle warmth seep into his limbs and bones with each inhale, already alleviating some of his fatigue.

"Serve a bowl."

A Bi immediately responded, happily taking a jade bowl from the pear wood tray. She carefully scooped a ladleful, then leaned down to blow away the steam before handing it over with both hands: "Young Master, be careful, it's hot."

Qi Yu took the bowl and took a sip. The taste was quite good, with a slightly sour berry flavor.

He quickly drank it all.

As he drank, he felt a surge of warmth spread through his entire body.

This warmth was dense, like countless tiny streams flowing through his flesh and blood, repairing the torn muscles.

Even more wondrously, the medicinal soup had a slight lingering tingle that made his whole body feel hot, even his lower extremities felt warm.

"This..."

Qi Yu clenched his fists, feeling his body filled with strength, an inexhaustible supply of energy.

"This is too amazing..."

He wasted no more time and immediately stood up, resuming his practice of the Spirit Serpent Fist.

One round...

Two rounds...

Three rounds...

This time, his practice was smoother than ever before.

His Blood Essence burned, sweat streamed, like a pot of boiling water. With every movement, every punch, he sent ripples of white mist outward in the deep winter, outlining the impact.

This time, his muscles no longer ached. Instead, the more he practiced, the more comfortable he felt. Each move and stance seemed to be guided by the medicinal power, flowing as naturally as water finding its course.

Qi Yu became increasingly astonished as he practiced.

With such a good item, wouldn't the Qi Family's martial artists have been invincible long ago?

But immediately after, he understood... how could such a secret medicine be popularized?

It was likely extremely cost-ineffective.

It was only because his mother was willing to splurge that she procured this secret medicine for him.

His comprehension might be mediocre, and his foundation might have been hollowed out by alcohol and women, but he couldn't be beaten for having money and a mother.

This Blood Activating Secret Soup was definitely more advanced than the Essence Replenishing Soup.

Poor people rely on mutations, rich people rely on technology. Changing worlds, it turns out... things are still pretty much the same.

By the time he finished his movements, he was drenched in sweat, but Qi Yu only felt incredibly comfortable, a sense of exhilaration as if he had just used up all his strength.

It was then that he noticed a lean elder with slightly frosted white hair standing in the corner of the courtyard.

The elder wore a black felt hat, a brown cotton shirt, a leather medicine pouch hanging from his waist, and kept his hands tucked in his sleeves.

Qi Yu recognized him as Master Zhang from the Rejuvenation Medical Hall in the inner city.

Master Zhang was a renowned massage master in Mount Wei City, specializing in treating hidden injuries to martial artists' muscles and bones. He didn't know what connections Madam Liu had used to get him to come in person.

"Young Master Qi, please come inside. I've just finished practicing my massage techniques, and it's the perfect time."

Master Zhang said.

Immediately, the two entered the warm room.

Inside, the charcoal fire burned brightly.

Qi Yu took off his outer clothes and lay down. Master Zhang took out some medicinal paste, applied it first, and then began to massage.

At first, he kept his body tense.

Gradually... gradually... the dual effects of the medicine and the massage completely relaxed his muscles, his eyelids grew heavier and heavier...

Then, he fell asleep in comfort.

When he woke up, Master Zhang had already left, and only a faint medicinal fragrance lingered in the room.

He heard the sound of trickling water; it was A Bi adjusting the water temperature.

Steam rose from the half-height cedar wood bathtub, with grass leaves and medicinal powder floating on the water's surface, bobbing gently with the ripples.

Qi Yu got up and stepped into the bathtub.

A Bi rolled up her sleeves, her arm, like a lotus root, reaching into the tub. Her small hands grabbed a towel and began to wash his body.

When the water cooled slightly, he got out, changed into plain white underclothes, and fell back asleep.

This sleep was more comfortable than ever before.

The next morning...

"Continue."

Qi Yu ate a simple bowl of red date and ginseng porridge, then stepped back into the courtyard, practicing the Spirit Serpent Fist under the rising sun.

And so it went: practicing boxing, massage, medicinal baths, deep sleep... a cycle repeated.

One day, two days, three days...

On the fifth day, Qi Yu had just finished setting up his stance to practice for a while when he suddenly felt his vision blur slightly, and his status panel showed a new change.

[Skill Point: 1]

[Cultivation Method: Spirit Serpent Fist Practice (1/4)]

There was also a faint "+" sign after "Spirit Serpent Fist Practice (1/4)".

Without hesitation, Qi Yu willed it, and the 1 Skill Point was allocated to that "+".

Instantly, time seemed to stand still. He felt the sensation of diligent practice, and the layer of fat around his lower abdomen receded significantly like a falling tide. His arms and thighs tightened inward slightly. As he moved his body, he felt his clothes and pants loosen a bit.

The further one progresses in martial arts, the harder it becomes.

Qi Yu spent another full eight days, practicing boxing from dawn until resting at night.

And his status panel finally underwent its second change.

[Skill Point: 1]

[Cultivation Method: Spirit Serpent Fist Practice (3/4)]

"Allocate."

Qi Yu thought to himself.

As this point was allocated, Qi Yu felt his Blood Essence surge. He clenched his five fingers, stretched his body, and his joints made popping sounds like cracking beans.

His strength seemed inexhaustible. His once soft waist and abdomen were now taut as iron. With a shake of his arm, his sleeves whistled in the wind, appearing half an inch shorter than before.

His status panel had also completely changed.

[Qi Yu]

[Realm: Ninth Rank Leather Armor]

[Combat Power: 9~9]

[Skill Points: 0]

[Cultivation Method: Spirit Serpent Fist Training Method (4/4)]

[Blessing: None]

He had reached Ninth Rank.

The combat power data above his head had changed from the initial "0~1" to "9~9".

He remembered that Old Gu, the coachman who drove him, had a combat power of "7~13" even without a weapon. Some Ninth Rank disciples at the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall had lower bounds of 5, 6, or 7. And that Chu Xiao had "8~8".

So, even with the same technique, some people practiced it with many flaws, while others were merely adequate. Even when mastered, there were still differences in proficiency.

These differences were invisible and intangible to others; you only knew after fighting. However, he could see them very clearly through the combat power data.

And by adding points... he could make his cultivation flawless.

That evening...

A Bi prepared the medicinal bath as usual.

She wore a moon-white servant's uniform. She helped her young master undress, supported him as he stepped into the tub, and then gently massaged his back in the warm medicinal water.

However, as her small hands moved, she felt an exceptionally firm body. Closing her eyes, she even felt as if she were touching a dormant beast.

A Bi's hands began to tremble. Her face turned completely red, and she felt her heart pounding like a drum, each beat making her breath quicken.

A silent night, red candles, and calming incense...

Her gaze darted around nervously, afraid to look again at her young master's powerful physique.

After helping her young master finish bathing, she hurriedly bowed and retreated in a flustered manner, like a startled fawn fleeing back to the side room.

The next morning...

Dawn broke in the sky, and a light mist turned golden. Faint tree shadows fell upon the bluestone slabs of the courtyard.

Qi Yu did not practice as he usually did.

Instead, he sought out Old Gu.

"Old Gu, spar with me."

Old Gu was feeding the horses. Upon hearing this, he quickly brushed off his clothes and stood up respectfully.

Today, he wore an indigo narrow shirt inside and a brown vest outside, tied with a cowhide belt featuring a bronze beast-head buckle. He wore black drawstring pants tucked into a pair of tall leather boots, designed for ease of movement.

The old servant bowed and said with a smile, "Young Master, I am aware of the bet between Madam and you. If you were to fight me, I wouldn't dare hold back. Are you going to fulfill that bet today?"

Qi Yu replied, "No, just a spar."