Immortal Martial: Pushing Through Two Realms From Reality Section 27

As if sensing someone watching him, Jiang Shu turned his head, meeting Luo Yongcheng's complicated gaze.

One month later.

Jiang Shu—

Great Jing Dynasty Language/Writing: Minor Accomplishment (16/1000)

Horse Stance: Great Accomplishment (200/1000)

Hungry Tiger Sitting Cave Stance: Minor Accomplishment (525/1000)

Hungry Tiger Breathing Method: Minor Accomplishment (525/1000)

Tiger Form Three Styles: Minor Accomplishment (230/1000)

"The Hungry Tiger Secret Medicine really is effective! Qi and Blood Transportation, after taking it, the muscle soreness is greatly reduced, allowing me to stand for an extra two hours a day! The continuous effect lasts for three to five days."

"If I take it once every three to five days, my martial arts progress should increase by about fifty percent!"

"It's a shame that only official disciples receive such treatment."

"I wonder how the Heaven and Earth Precious Medicine and Exotic Beast Meat from the Xia Kingdom's Academies will compare to the Hungry Tiger Secret Medicine in the future?"

Thinking to himself, Jiang Shu paid the more than half a silver coin and walked out of Coiling Snake Alley.

Over the past month, within the outer city of Pingling County, the Green Snake Gang and the Black Water Gang had been fighting over territory, leading to numerous conflicts. The civilians and refugees within the territories of both gangs were in a state of panic and widespread discontent.

The monthly protection money had also increased from fifty wen to sixty wen.

Yet, no one resisted.

Jiang Shu followed the crowd into the inner city.

Hungry Tiger Martial Arts School.

The apprentices had already arrived.

Today was another monthly martial arts sparring session at the school.

"Brother Luo."

"Jiang... Junior Disciple Jiang."

Ever since he caught Elder Qiu's attention and successfully reached Qi and Blood Transportation, obtaining the Hungry Tiger Secret Medicine.

Jiang Shu often found Luo Yongcheng looking at him during his free time, his eyes filled with a complex expression. It was as if he wanted to say something but was forcibly holding himself back.

"Another senior disciple has broken through to Full Body Vital Energy Circulation this month. With one less strong competitor, Brother Luo should have a sure win this time for the Hungry Tiger Secret Medicine."

"Yes, I hope so."

Luo Yongcheng's voice was low. Since his last defeat and being subtly hinted at by Elder Qiu, his spirit had plummeted within just one month. He exuded an aura of deep decline, as if he had reached old age.

"Junior Disciple Jiang, do you really think I should still practice martial arts?"

"Brother Luo, do you have a choice?"

As a friend, Jiang Shu naturally knew Luo Yongcheng's true situation.

As the young master of the Luo Family Pharmacy, although he was born prematurely and lacked congenital vital energy, his family had been well-off since childhood, never lacking food or drink. His physical condition was still a few points better than that of starving refugees.

His grandfather had gone out of Pingling County to collect herbs in the deep mountains several times for him.

Finally, two years ago, he succeeded in formulating a medicinal cuisine—Blood Nourishing Medicinal Cuisine.

Under the nourishment of the Blood Nourishing Medicinal Cuisine, Luo Yongcheng quickly became no different from an ordinary person.

The Luo Family Pharmacy, relying on this medicinal cuisine, rapidly gained fame in Pingling County. The silver earned each month was more than ten times what it was before.

However, a man's wealth is his own ruin.

Within half a year, the Luo Family Pharmacy was targeted by the influential Yao Family. Ruffians from the outer and inner cities began to gather in front of the Luo Family Pharmacy, blocking anyone from buying the medicinal cuisine.

Anyone who bought the medicinal cuisine that day would be beaten up by the ruffians.

Even when reported to the authorities, the county constables turned a blind eye.

The ruffians only beat people; they didn't steal the medicinal cuisine. They would be imprisoned for a few days and then quietly released.

Since then, the Luo Family Pharmacy's business had declined, relying entirely on past savings to get by.

In anger, Luo Yongcheng came to the Hungry Tiger Martial Arts School to practice martial arts, attempting to become a martial artist and revive the pharmacy.

He practiced day and night without rest for a full year.

However, his start was too late, and it was still unknown how long it would take him to reach the realm of a martial artist.

"Brother Luo, I once heard someone say that in a certain part of the world, there is a bird without feet. It only has wings and no bird feet. Its entire life, it can only fly and never land. It's a desperate gamble; if it doesn't fly, it dies."

"In Pingling County, we are the same."

Jiang Shu's voice was very low. On the field, apprentices had already started sparring.

"The influential families in the inner city, the gangs in the outer city; to surpass them, we can only fly; we cannot stop."

After saying this, he stood quietly. During his first month at the Hungry Tiger Martial Arts School, Luo Yongcheng had educated him on much of the county's situation, and he felt increasingly fortunate that he had been cautious and never tried to pawn modern items at the pawnshops in Pingling County.

Unlike the counties of his previous life's dynasty, in this world where martial arts reigned supreme.

Beyond the county yamen, the powerful families, possessing martial artists of the Bone Forging Realm, were the very heavens of Pingling County.

The vast majority of pawn shops, pharmacies, restaurants, and even martial arts schools in the county town were backed by these influential families.

Cheap items couldn't fetch a high price at the pawn shops.

As for precious goods, if he were to carry them, he'd likely be targeted by the families' men before even leaving the pawn shop.

In Pingling County.

Or rather, in this world, the only thing one could do was practice martial arts.

Constantly practice martial arts.

Until one surpassed the Bone Forging Realm.

"Next round, Jiang Shu and Yuan Chengcai!"

"It's my turn. Brother Luo, there's no choice."

Jiang Shu took a deep breath and walked to the center of the courtyard.

The more he understood this world, the more fortunate he felt to have been reborn into the Xuan Star. In the Xia Kingdom, there was stable social order. Even with the world's current changes, the Xia Kingdom was focused on maintaining stability while continuously discovering talented martial arts practitioners.

The martial arts system was already considered extremely fair.

As long as one had talent, they could obtain martial arts resources at any academy.

But in this world, in Pingling County, the most basic resource for practicing martial arts, meat, was already firmly monopolized by the powerful families. Even with unparalleled talent, ordinary people would spend years of family savings to train at a martial arts school, at best becoming martial artists of the Skin Grinding Realm.

And then what?

Then, naturally, they would be recruited by the powerful families to become their retainers.

It wasn't quite a case of the dragon slayer becoming the dragon.

This was the only path for ordinary people.

If this was the situation in one county town.

What about a whole prefecture?

What about a whole province?

A glimpse through a crack in the door reveals the whole house.

"Please."

"Please."

Exchanging polite bows, Jiang Shu withdrew his focus. His body swayed slightly, like a hungry tiger about to emerge from its den. His eyes, in the first instant, sharpened with coldness.

It was as if, before him, was not his fellow disciple.

But a prey waiting to be captured.

"Ah!"

Yuan Chengcai let out a loud roar, leaping forward with his entire body, lunging at Jiang Shu!

He had achieved Qi and Blood Transportation last month.

This was his first time on the stage, and he had been defeated in a few moves. This time, facing Jiang Shu, who had only achieved Qi and Blood Transportation later than him, he was determined to win.

The Hungry Tiger Secret Medicine.

It was his turn!

Jiang Shu shifted his body, lunging from the side.

In plain sight, Jiang Shu naturally wouldn't pull out any quicklime, but his accomplished Tiger Form Three Styles were enough to deal with Yuan Chengcai, who was clearly only at the introductory level.

Yuan Chengcai, who hadn't expected Jiang Shu to lunge from the side, was caught off guard.

He was suppressed by Jiang Shu in the very first instant.