Danger Perception

On the way back to the village.

Looking at the panel, 38 disposable points remained.

Yesterday there were 357 disposable points. Last night, he first upgraded the standing meditation technique to Great Accomplishment.

[Realm: Mortal Martial Great Accomplishment (1/1000)]
[Broken Fist Standing Meditation Technique: Great Accomplishment (1/1000)]
[Effects: Physique +15, Damage Resistance +15, Bonus Damage +15, Critical Hit +2]

This made Cui Hao's understanding of the standing meditation technique reach a new height. He also felt as if he had practiced for many years, becoming incredibly familiar with it, like an extension of his own arm.

The movements and footwork, which were originally a bit stiff and disjointed, now became incredibly smooth.

His physique, build, and blood energy also seemed to have been tempered through countless trials, becoming stronger and more abundant!

After that, he upgraded Archery to Great Accomplishment.

[Archery: Great Accomplishment (1/1000)]
[Effects: Soreness -20, Arm Strength +20, Accuracy +20, Critical Hit +1]

His understanding and application of bows and arrows reached a new level.

Originally, he could only draw a two-stone bow five or six times, but now he could draw it continuously without getting tired.

His accuracy also significantly improved; hitting a rabbit at a hundred paces was no problem.

Returning to the village, Cui Hao saw Su Yun, whose expression was slightly flustered.

"Brother Hao," Su Yun greeted him, "Aunt Li said the City Guard Commander is dead, is that true?"

Cui Hao nodded.

"The village chief said we might have to pay extra taxes?"

"Sister Yun, don't worry too much, I'm hungry."

"Go inside and sit, I'll heat up the pancakes and meat, you can eat soon."

"Sister Yun, I'll heat them up, you two go sit inside." Lingdang, who had been living at home for over a month, trotted off to the kitchen to get busy.

Cui Hao soon ate meat and pancakes. The meat was fatty pork, glistening with oil, feeling rich, and tasting delicious.

Practicing martial arts was tiring; without eating meat, the body would be depleted.

The Qi and Blood Powder was also like that. If he didn't use it, his body couldn't withstand the daily training, and his blood energy would regress.

Moreover, Cui Hao gradually felt that a pack of Qi and Blood Powder couldn't last three days; it would be gone in just over two days.

"Oh, right," Su Yun suddenly thought of something, "Someone from the Wusheng Sect came to the village this morning to spread their teachings."

Cui Hao frowned slightly. The night he took in Lingdang, someone had climbed over the wall looking for her.

After that, there was no movement for more than a month.

This morning, the City Guard Commander died in an explosion, and the Wusheng Sect, which had been absent for over a month, entered the village to spread their teachings at the same time... Was there any connection between these two events?

He didn't bother with other people's affairs. After eating his fill, he rolled up his bow and arrows in a rag and went into the mountains to gather herbs!

[Gathering: Novice 114/300]
[Effects: Affinity with Flora +5, Danger Perception +5]

The next day, just after noon, Xu's Pharmacy.

"Qingming Grass."

"The main ingredient for Qingling Powder, it can alleviate a hundred poisons and is most suitable for clearing the impatience generated by practicing martial arts or the poison from inferior pills. One stalk is two hundred wen. You have sixteen stalks here, so I'll give you three taels of silver."

At Xu's Pharmacy, the shopkeeper Xu, who had a goatee, paused. Seeing the second type of herb, he was stunned. "This is... Dragon Saliva Grass!?"

"Shopkeeper Xu, don't doubt it," Cui Hao's tone was firm, "It is Dragon Saliva Grass."

"Good stuff!" Shopkeeper Xu was convinced. "Dragon Saliva Grass only grows in the crevices of cliffs where hot veins flow. It's the main ingredient for formulating the high-grade wound healing medicine, Dragon Blood Paste. These two stalks are worth three taels of silver."

As before, Cui Hao collected the herbs. "I'll go ask at the other two shops."

"Young Master Cui..." Shopkeeper Xu hurried out from behind the counter and stopped Cui Hao. "I was wrong before. The prices I just quoted you are the actual prices. Sell them to us."

"Your reputation is already gone." Pushing past Shopkeeper Xu, Cui Hao met his fifth senior brother outside the door – Xu Ren.

"Junior Brother Cui..." Seeing Cui Hao covered in dust, "Are you back from the mountains?"

"Yes, I went into the mountains yesterday afternoon but had no harvest. I went in this morning and got some good things."

Just then, Shopkeeper Xu came out. "Young Master, Junior Brother Cui has sixteen stalks of Qingming Grass and two stalks of Dragon Saliva Grass, but he refuses to sell them to us."

"Junior Brother Cui... uh... what did we do wrong? Please point it out."

Cui Hao looked at Shopkeeper Xu. "Shopkeeper Xu, tell him yourself."

Beside the bustling street, Shopkeeper Xu briefly recounted what had happened before.

"Uncle Xu, integrity is paramount. You don't know about this? Your salary will be reduced by one level," Xu Ren stared at the shopkeeper. "If there's a next time, you'll be sent back home."

Shopkeeper Xu bowed his head in agreement.

Turning, Xu Ren looked at Cui Hao. "Junior Brother Cui, this was our fault. You can shop around and compare prices. After you get the prices, we will purchase the herbs you have at a ten percent premium."

Feeling that Xu Ren was somewhat reliable, just as Cui Hao was about to make his next move, he was unexpectedly interrupted.