Meditating, I practiced my punches, intending to use a medicinal bath.

The sky was barely light when Li Bufan woke naturally. A night of deep sleep, combined with his body's enhanced recovery after the breakthrough, left him feeling full of vitality. The exhaustion from yesterday's training had vanished completely, as if he'd been reborn—energy brimming with no outlet.

He turned his head to look at his younger brother Ping'an, still sound asleep beside him. The little boy's lips curled slightly upward, as if lost in a sweet dream, his cheeks rosy, snug in the new cotton quilt. Watching his brother's peaceful, happy sleeping face, Li Bufan couldn't help but smile warmly. All this effort and risk—it was all to protect this simple warmth.

He rose quietly, careful not to disturb Ping'an. After a quick wash, he pushed open the wicker door and stepped into the crisp air outside.

The small courtyard in the early dawn was covered in a thin layer of white frost. The biting cold invigorated Li Bufan. Instead of launching into intense training, he slowly assumed the starting stance of the three-move Nameless Fist Technique.

It was time to thoroughly refine this technique, already at Grand Completion. Practiced to this level, it granted him long, steady breath and abundant stamina. It had done stellar work chasing the fox in the snowy mountains and fighting for his life by the cliff wall.

If he could reach Perfection Realm, it would surely be another level up!

With the thought, his blood and qi flowed naturally. First move: Thousands of Soldiers Split Easily! It wasn't a simple sweep, but carried a sharp intent to cut through all obstacles, to break and scatter. His fist shot out like lightning, stirring the air with a faint whoosh.

Next, second move: Directly Strike the Yellow Dragon! His body tensed like a bow, then snapped open, concentrating all power into a single point. His fist blasted forward like a meteor, pursuing extreme speed and penetration! A faint crack sounded in the air.

Third move: Feint to the East, Attack to the West! His fist shadow flickered, shifting between real and fake. His intent and blood qi moved with it, seeming to strike left but hitting right, embodying the essence of deception and unpredictability.

He wasn't using full force, focusing instead on grasping the "meaning" within these three moves and the subtle changes in his blood qi as they flowed. Building on the Grand Completion foundation, he pushed toward a deeper, more harmonious level.

Under the blessing of the [Heaven Rewards Diligence] destiny, each punch, each shift in technique deepened his understanding of the fist art. Countless insights from past training surged forth, cross-referencing and merging into one.

His movements grew smoother, the transitions between the three moves seamless, no longer any stiffness. The fist intent was sometimes fiercely unstoppable, sometimes condensed to a single point, sometimes elusive and tricky. His blood qi surged and flowed in sync with the forms, making these simple three moves feel naturally whole.

Before he knew it, the east had brightened. The morning sun burst forth, golden light flooding the small courtyard.

Li Bufan slowly withdrew his stance. The white breath from his mouth shot out like an arrow over a foot before dissipating. He closed his eyes, focusing on the increasingly smooth blood qi within and the fist technique's essence ingrained in his bones, along with the feedback from his destiny in his mind.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence]

Nameless Fist Technique, Grand Completion (788/)

In just one morning's practice, proficiency had surged by hundreds of points! Perfection Realm no longer seemed out of reach.

"This Nameless Fist Technique is truly profound. Every step forward after Grand Completion brings a clear improvement, especially in controlling blood qi and understanding the moves' intent," Li Bufan thought with secret delight.

Amid the joy, a thought involuntarily surfaced: "Now, with the Cinnabar Fruit, my training speed is already very fast. If... if I could also use that potent medicinal bath I had at Lin Manor, training both internally and externally, how fast would my progress be?"

He recalled the medicinal baths used in the Guard Camp at Lin Manor right after breaking through to Skin Tempering Realm. Those decoctions, though not comparable to heavenly treasures like the Cinnabar Fruit, could still greatly nourish blood qi, warm the body, relieve fatigue, and make training more sustained and efficient.

"The power of one Cinnabar Fruit supported Li Bufan's crazy four-hour training session, plus a night of dissipation and digestion, yet it's still not fully absorbed—some residue remains in his body. If I could soak in a potent medicinal bath now, using its power to stimulate and guide the remaining Cinnabar Fruit energy while repairing the minor damage from training... the effect would far exceed just swallowing the fruit or just soaking in the bath alone!"

This idea made Li Bufan's heart pound. In martial arts training, resources—wealth, partners, methods, location—are crucial. Different resources used together often produce a one-plus-one-greater-than-two effect.

Once the thought took root, it spread like weeds. Li Bufan knew that training was like sailing against the current—if you don't advance, you fall back. With a way to speed up, he had to seize it. After breakfast with Ping'an, he packed up and headed out again.

He first went to a pastry shop, carefully selecting a few less sweet cakes that Doctor Liu might like, wrapping them neatly in oil paper before heading to Huichun Hall.

At Huichun Hall, the scent of herbs lingered as always. Doctor Liu sat at the front, wearing reading glasses, leisurely grinding medicinal powder. He glanced up as Li Bufan entered, snorted, and said, "Oh, it's you again. Arm healed? What's wrong this time? Or did you catch some herbs to sell?"

Li Bufan grinned, placing the pastries on the nearby table. "Look at you, sir. Can't I just come to visit you? And... ask for your advice on something."

Doctor Liu set down the grinder, glanced at the wrapped pastries, and his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly before he put on a stern face. "Hmph, nothing for nothing. Spit it out. What scheme are you cooking up? Let me warn you, I don't help for free—I'll test you. If your answers satisfy me, your question will be simple. If not, don't blame me for being stingy and charging you extra!"

Li Bufan knew this was the old man's way of guiding and testing him, and felt warmth in his heart. But he put on an exaggeratedly confident look, thumping his chest. "Haha, bring it on, sir! My martial arts might be rough, but I've been studying herbs day and night lately—I might just hold my own against your test!"

"Oh? Big talk!" Doctor Liu was amused by his act, stroking his beard. "Alright then, I'll test you. First, tell me: the nature and flavor of Panax notoginseng? What conditions does it treat? Any contraindications?"

Li Bufan answered without hesitation, his voice clear: "Panax notoginseng, sweet and slightly bitter in taste, warm in nature. Enters the liver and stomach meridians. Its main effects are to disperse stasis, stop bleeding, reduce swelling, and relieve pain. Used for hemoptysis, hematemesis, epistaxis, bloody stool, uterine bleeding, traumatic bleeding, chest and abdominal pain, and bruises. Contraindications: avoid in cases of blood deficiency without stasis; use with caution in pregnancy."

The answer was smooth and accurate, even going beyond the records of the Herbal Compendium, adding some of his own understanding.

A flicker of surprise passed through Doctor Liu's eyes. He nodded. "Mm, solid foundation. Then let me ask you this: if a hunter goes into the mountains and is bitten by a venomous snake, the wound quickly swelling black and painful, but he has no specific antivenom—how would he use common herbs for emergency treatment?"

This question was more practical. Li Bufan thought briefly, drawing on the Herbal Compendium and his mountain experiences, then replied: "First, tie a cloth strip above the wound toward the heart to slow venom spread, but not too tight, and loosen it periodically. Then, cut the wound to drain the venom, rinsing with clean water or urine. If nearby, find herbs like half-edge lotus, Spanish needles, or Tokyo violet—mash them and apply externally to clear heat and reduce swelling. If accompanied by palpitations or difficulty breathing, seek help immediately; internal medicine requires extra caution."

"Oh? You know to use urine to rinse? Looks like you didn't waste time in the mountains." Doctor Liu's eyes showed more approval. "Is there a special consideration when using Spanish needles and Tokyo violet together?"

"Spanish needles are strong for clearing heat and detoxifying; Tokyo violet also cools the blood and reduces swelling. Together, they work well, but they should be fresh and mashed for best effect."

The old and the young went back and forth in the herb hall. Doctor Liu's questions ranged from shallow to deep, from herb properties to formulas, from harvesting to processing, even touching on diagnostic reasoning for difficult cases. Li Bufan fully mobilized all the accumulation brought by the [Heaven Rewards Diligence] destiny—the practical experience of moving and drying herbs at Huichun Hall two months ago, his thorough memorization of the Herbal Compendium, and his firsthand observations of herb growth environments and characteristics in the mountains.

He realized his understanding of herbs was far deeper than he'd thought. Much knowledge seemed instinctive, coming to him effortlessly, even allowing him to draw inferences and offer his own insights.

The [Heaven Rewards Diligence] destiny was spinning rapidly. All his past knowledge and experience with herbs were being sorted, merged, and elevated through this intense Q&A session!

After what felt like nearly an hour, Doctor Liu finally stopped questioning, clapping his hands and laughing with satisfaction. "Good! Good! Good! Fine lad! You've really put in the work! Not only have you memorized the books, but you can connect it to reality with insight! Excellent, truly excellent!"

Li Bufan quickly bowed. "All thanks to your past guidance, sir. I dare not forget." His gratitude was genuine.

Doctor Liu stroked his beard contentedly, then suddenly shifted the topic, his sharp eyes fixed on Li Bufan. "You're full of energy, your blood qi far stronger than before. What's your cultivation level now?"

Li Bufan answered honestly: "By luck, sir, I broke through to Initial Muscle Tempering a few days ago."

Even though he'd anticipated it, surprise flashed in Doctor Liu's eyes. He studied Li Bufan carefully, then slowly nodded. "From Minor Success in Skin Refining to Initial Muscle Tempering in over a month... at this speed, you're among the best of the younger generation in Huaiyuan County. But..."

The old man's tone turned serious. "Remember: don't get complacent. The martial path is long and perilous. In all my years, I've seen geniuses come and go like fish in a river, but few ever achieve anything. Most fail due to weak character—either arrogance and laziness, or collapse at the first setback. Only perseverance, with humility and caution, is the true path."

"Your words are etched in my heart, sir!" Li Bufan's expression sobered, committing the lesson to memory.

"Mm." Doctor Liu nodded, said no more, and picked up a brush to write a prescription on a sheet of paper, handing it to Li Bufan. "Take this. It's what you want. Go to the counter and get the herbs—tell the shop assistant to charge you at cost. But keep it quiet."

Li Bufan took the prescription. One glance and his heart jolted. The listed herbs were mostly top-grade for boosting qi and blood, strengthening tendons and bones, and nourishing the body—some quite rare—exactly what was needed for a potent medicinal bath! The combination of sovereign, minister, assistant, and envoy was exquisitely balanced, far superior to the common stuff he'd used at Lin Manor.

The old man's kindness choked him up. He bowed deeply again. "Sir, your great kindness—"

"Enough, enough. Spare me the act." Doctor Liu waved impatiently, cutting him off, but a gentle smile lingered on his face. "Go on. I'm tired and need to rest. From now on... just come visit this old codger now and then."

With that, he pulled out a thicker, more ancient thread-bound book from a drawer and casually handed it to Li Bufan. "Take this to read too. Might be of some use."

Li Bufan took it. The yellowed pages bore four bold, ancient characters on the cover: Complete Herbal Compendium! This was clearly the advanced version of the Herbal Compendium—its value incalculable!

He looked at the old man before him, seemingly eccentric but generous with his knowledge and care. A thousand words stuck in his throat, finally condensed into one solemn, nearly ninety-degree bow. All gratitude, left unspoken.

Prescription and Complete Herbal Compendium in hand, he went to the counter. The shop assistant, clearly instructed beforehand, quickly gathered the herbs, charging only cost price and even grinding them into convenient powder.

Carrying the heavy bundle—heavy with meaning—Li Bufan walked out of Huichun Hall. The sunlight warmed him, filling his heart with warmth and strength.