Effects

After the two had eaten and drunk their fill, Wang Hai paid the bill. They had just stepped out of Ju Xian Lou when a commotion rose from the street corner.

The pedestrians on the street scattered like startled birds, ducking into the shops on either side. The bustling street instantly cleared a path.

Following everyone's gaze, Li Xiao saw a procession of nearly a hundred people marching toward them in grand formation.

The leaders wore bright yellow robes tied with red belts. Their steps were uniform as they shouted slogans:

"Yellow Robes save the world, delivering all living beings from suffering!

Join the Yellow Robe Cult, and illness will not cling to you; every disaster will keep its distance!"

Wherever the procession passed, the owners of the roadside shops looked tense. Some even shut half their doors in advance.

Several Yellow Robe Cult members reached the entrance of a cloth shop and pushed their way inside, calling out, "Alms for Virtue."

The cloth shop owner piled smiles onto his face, though he unwillingly handed over several bolts of cloth. Only after watching them stride away did he dare secretly wipe the sweat from his brow.

"It's the Yellow Robe Cult!"

Wang Hai's expression changed. Grabbing Li Xiao, he pulled him back toward Ju Xian Lou. "Get inside and hide!"

Li Xiao was dragged back through the doorway. Seeing this, the Attendant hurriedly shut half the door, leaving only a narrow crack for them to watch outside.

"What is this Yellow Robe Cult?"

Li Xiao asked quietly. From the look of things, they resembled a Government Office procession, yet there was a sinister air about them.

"A cult that cropped up in the Outer City recently. They say some powerful figure is backing them."

Wang Hai lowered his voice, his brows tightly furrowed. "They claim to save the world and heal people, but in truth they seize and plunder by force. They call it 'Alms for Virtue,' but it's just robbery!

The Government Office turns a blind eye and keeps the other shut."

As they spoke, several Yellow Robe Cult members arrived at the entrance of Ju Xian Lou. The leader was a man with Triangle Eyes. His gaze swept over the signboard, and he sneered.

"This Ju Xian Lou is certainly lavish. I presume it is willing to accumulate virtue and do good deeds for our cult as well."

Just as he was about to push open the door, Ju Xian Lou's Shopkeeper hurried out from inside, his face plastered with a fawning smile.

"You Daoist priests have worked hard. This humble establishment has long prepared an offering. Please step into the Back Hall to inspect it."

As he spoke, he discreetly slipped over a heavy money pouch.

Triangle Eyes weighed the pouch in his hand, and his expression eased somewhat. "Many thanks for your charity, benefactor."

Then he waved a hand and led his people elsewhere.

Only after the yellow-robed procession had gone far away did the people on the street slowly dare to emerge.

The street regained some of its life, but it was now filled with hushed whispers and sighs.

Only then did Wang Hai let out a breath and pull Li Xiao from Ju Xian Lou.

"Let's go. Bad luck."

Li Xiao turned to look in the direction where the Yellow Robe Cult procession had vanished, his brows slightly drawn.

The waters of Willow City ran deeper than he had imagined.

Outside, gangs and Martial Arts Halls fought and struggled; within, great clans entrenched themselves. And now this overbearing Yellow Robe Cult had emerged. For ordinary people to live out their days in peace was unexpectedly difficult.

"Does no one deal with the Yellow Robe Cult?" he asked.

"Deal with them? Who would dare?"

Wang Hai curled his lip. "I heard their cult leader is a Great Martial Master.

Quite a few gangs have to show them respect. We'd better avoid provoking them. Training our fists is what matters. Once we have strength, we won't have to watch these people's faces."

The two chatted as they walked back to the Martial Arts Hall. The sun had not yet tilted westward.

More than half the Disciples had left the Martial Arts Training Ground, but Li Xiao walked straight into the center and assumed the opening stance of Iron Wire Fist.

The warm current seeping from the Golden Thread Eel Meat had yet to dissipate from within his body.

As his fists and feet unfolded, it seemed to be stirred alive, slowly flowing through his Muscles and Bones.

He threw a punch with Iron Chain Crossing the River and felt the force in his shoulders and back grow several degrees stronger than before. His fist wind swept through the air with a faint howl.

"Again," Li Xiao muttered, withdrawing his fist and shifting his stance.

The wrist movements of Spirit Snake Twists Around Tree grew ever more nimble. When he planted his horse stance with Firm as a Rock, the Blue Stone Slab beneath his feet seemed to exert the pull of a thousand catties, holding him steady as an iron tower.

In the past, after practicing five rounds, his shoulders would ache and his arms would grow heavy.

But today, the more he practiced, the more invigorated he became.

That warm current seemed to turn into invisible strength, continuously nourishing his Muscles and Bones and driving away his fatigue.

Round after round, he practiced. Sweat soaked through his clothes and clung to his back, yet he showed no intention of stopping.

All of Li Xiao's focus was immersed in the fist forms.

He could clearly feel that with every form he struck, the Internal Force in his body flowed a little more smoothly, while the numbers on the Panel quietly changed—

Iron Wire Fist Experience +1

Iron Wire Fist Experience +1

Only when the Setting Sun slanted westward did he slowly withdraw his stance.

Standing where he was, he adjusted his breathing for a moment. His whole body felt filled with inexhaustible strength. Not only was he not tired, he instead felt a thoroughly satisfying ease.

He instinctively looked toward the Panel, and his pupils shrank slightly.

Iron Wire Fist (17/500 Minor Accomplishment)

His experience had actually risen by a full fourteen points!

In the past, even if he worked himself to the bone for an entire day, he could only grind out seven points. Today, it had nearly doubled.

"So it really was because of the Exotic Beast Meat."

Understanding dawned on Li Xiao, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

That Golden Thread Eel worth Fifteen Taels of Silver had been worth it.

This was not merely an increase in experience. It had also made him truly understand how much resources could aid a Martial Practitioner.

Exotic Beast Meat could nourish the Muscles and Bones and accelerate the body's absorption of fist principles. Naturally, it allowed one to get twice the result with half the effort.

He flexed his wrist. His knuckles gave a soft crack, carrying an unprecedented sense of power.

At some point, Wang Hai had come to stand at the edge of the training ground, a dry cloth in hand. Seeing Li Xiao stop, he smiled and tossed it over.

"Not bad. You practiced all afternoon without resting. Looking at your fistwork, you're getting the hang of it faster than even Senior Brother Zhao taught."

Li Xiao caught the cloth and wiped away his sweat with a smile.

"Maybe the eel at lunch was too nourishing. I'm full of strength."

"Of course it was."

Wang Hai leaned closer and lowered his voice.

"I heard the Shopkeeper say that Golden Thread Eel Meat can gently nourish the Meridians. If you eat it over a long period, even the speed of cultivating Internal Force can increase by half.

Too bad it's too expensive. We can only have a taste once in a while."

Li Xiao nodded and said no more.

He knew that if he wanted to eat Exotic Beast Meat regularly, he either had to become a Martial Master and receive it as a reward from the Master of the Hall, or find a way to earn money himself.

Whichever path he chose, it could not be separated from the words "become stronger."

Wang Hai suddenly patted his own arm, excitement on his face.

"Come to think of it, lately I've always felt as though little bugs were crawling through my arms and legs. Senior Brother Zhao said that's a sign I'm about to cultivate Internal Force."

He rolled his wrist, and his joints gave soft crack-crack sounds.

"Before long, I should be able to break through and become a Martial Master.

Then I can taste what the Exotic Beast Meat bestowed by the Master of the Hall is like."

Hearing that, Li Xiao understood.

Wang Hai's Dad was the Gang Leader of the Golden Sand Gang, so he naturally lacked no resources.

For ordinary Disciples, reaching the threshold of Internal Force took a year of grinding. With his family's Medicinal Cuisine and guidance, Wang Hai could do it much faster.

As long as he was willing to work hard, becoming a Martial Master would be as natural as water flowing into a channel.

"Then I should congratulate you in advance, Senior Brother," Li Xiao said with a smile.

"Same to you, same to you." Wang Hai waved a hand, unable to hide the anticipation in his eyes.

Li Xiao nodded but did not respond.

Wang Hai's path was different from his.

The other had a family and a gang paving the way for him, while Li Xiao could only throw one punch after another and accumulate experience bit by bit.

But that was nothing. The Panel was his greatest support.