A Sneak Attack!

"Qi Li Pills, Blood Pills, Zeng Yuan..."

After looking over the medicines in the shop, Chen Xia could only shake his head inwardly!

A single Qi Li Pill that increased qi and blood cost a whopping nine thousand yuan, and it wasn't just a matter of taking one or two—you had to take them as part of a course of treatment.

Who could afford that?

Besides, none of these pills had any side effects. Even if Chen Xia had the money, he wouldn't choose something like that.

Chen Xia didn't give up. He continued searching the shop, and soon found some high-grade pills with flaws.

For instance, he spotted a Third Grade Lingpo Pill!

It was a red pill stored in an exquisitely crafted round Glass Box.

Taking a Lingpo Pill could greatly strengthen one's meridians, qi and blood, vitality, and Primal Qi. It was a Precious Pill used by martial artists to break through to the next rank. There was a high chance of advancing after taking it. Its side effect was a small chance of damaging the dantian; repeated use could even cause severe damage and leakage.

The Lingpo Pill cost 98,800 yuan.

Its medicinal effects rivaled those of a fourth-grade pill. Because of its side effects, it was rated as a third-grade pill. But compared to fourth-grade pills, which could easily cost hundreds of thousands, it was much cheaper. Even so, it was still expensive for ordinary people.

"If I took this Third Grade Lingpo Pill, it'd be just right for me. Too bad it costs a hundred thousand!"

A hundred thousand yuan was no small sum for Chen Xia. There were too many places his family needed money. Even if he had that much, he couldn't spend it on himself.

The pills with side effects at large pharmacies were all third grade or higher, and were used to break through to the next rank. Lower-grade pills had fewer side effects. After looking around, Chen Xia could only leave in frustration.

He went to other pharmacies, seven or eight large and small shops in all.

The medicines at these shops were a little cheaper, but he still couldn't find what he wanted.

That was only natural. Products with severe side effects sold poorly at reputable shops, and few people bought them, so shops generally didn't stock them.

With no other choice, Chen Xia continued wandering the streets for about an hour.

Fortunately, persistence paid off.

Chen Xia found a pharmacy called Hongguang and managed to find something that suited him.

It was a pill that was both cheap and could give him the greatest possible benefit.

The ancient pill was called the Qianyang Pill. It sat in the farthest corner of the shop's display cabinet, in a spot so inconspicuous it seemed destined to be taken off the shelves.

According to the description, the Qianyang Pill was made from an ancient, incomplete pill recipe. Few people refined it, but because the recipe was relatively cheap, some still did. Its sales were so poor, however, that few remained on the market.

The pill's effects were described simply: after taking it, one's body could temporarily draw on its latent yang potential, stimulating Primal Qi, qi, and blood to amplify one's strength. Its side effect was that it consumed the user's lifespan. The exact amount wasn't specified, but long-term use would shorten one's life.

When Chen Xia read the pill's description, he was overcome with excitement.

Other people certainly wouldn't joke around with their own lifespan, but Chen Xia loved pills like this. The worse the side effects, the better the deal for him.

After thinking it over, Chen Xia suppressed his excitement and looked at the saleswoman before him. He asked slowly, "Does this pill cost six thousand yuan?"

"Yes, sir. Taking it can strengthen your Primal Qi, but it has the side effect of shortening your lifespan. Would you like to buy it?"

"Can you give me a discount?" Chen Xia asked, hesitating slightly as he looked at the pill's description.

The saleswoman smiled. "Sir, the Qianyang Pill's effect on Primal Qi is even stronger than that of ordinary pills worth thirteen thousand yuan. But it can't be taken long-term, or it could shorten your life. That's why it costs a few thousand yuan less. This is already the lowest price."

The saleswoman explained the pill's benefits and side effects, honestly telling him that few people bought it and advising him to think carefully.

Most people didn't want a pill like this. Plenty of customers asked about it, since it was cheaper than other pills, but they usually preferred to spend a little more on another pill rather than buy this one.

So she didn't think Chen Xia was likely to buy it.

"I'll take this one. Please wrap it up for me." Chen Xia understood that pills like this were sold at fixed prices and wouldn't be discounted. Still, six thousand yuan wasn't too much, so he bought it.

After visiting so many shops, he'd found the Qianyang Pill suited him perfectly. Chen Xia had no reason not to buy it.

"Of course, sir! Please pay over here."

With the saleswoman's warm assistance, Chen Xia transferred six thousand yuan and took the pill.

After leaving the pharmacy, Chen Xia turned around and memorized the Hongguang Pharmacy sign.

Taking the Qianyang Pill would strengthen his Primal Qi, and it cost only six thousand yuan. Compared with other pills with the same effect, it was seven thousand yuan cheaper, which meant Chen Xia could save half his money.

If it worked well, he could build a long-term relationship with the pharmacy and buy in bulk to bring the price down.

If he had enough funds, he could even approach a manufacturer's Alchemy Room directly to arrange a partnership. Talented pill refiners were usually hired by companies and manufacturers, so there weren't many Alchemy Rooms refining pills independently.

To work with one, Chen Xia would have to place an order with a manufacturer.

He suddenly felt a little excited. Pills with more severe side effects were much cheaper than normal ones. If he could place bulk orders for these defective pills from a manufacturer, he could save even more.

In the long run, Chen Xia's cultivation costs would be several times lower than an ordinary person's. That didn't even include the future cost of cultivation methods and Martial Skills.

"Besides, I heard that the foreign races have pills and cultivation methods that can greatly boost one's strength for a short time. They may have side effects, but to me, those might as well not exist. If I could get access to that stuff, I could cut my cultivation costs by ten times, or even dozens of times."

That meant Chen Xia could cultivate several times faster than ordinary people.

But for now, Chen Xia's status was too low, and he had no way to access those information channels.

For the time being, he needed to focus on what was in front of him: take the Qianyang Pill and test its effects, then make plans for the future.

After leaving the pharmacy, Chen Xia rode his bicycle home.

It was growing dark, so he sped up to get back.

However, as Chen Xia passed through an alley he often used, his eyebrows twitched.

He sniffed and caught the faint scent of blood lingering in the air.

Chen Xia was on a street in Eight Lane, Xingou Street. This was the Old Town, with few people but plenty of alleys. The smell of blood meant that the Blazing Fire and Justice Alliance people might have clashed here.

That made Chen Xia grow a little wary. He drew the long saber at his waist.

It was a saber issued by the Patrol Inspection Office. Chen Xia carried it everywhere in its scabbard. Out of caution, he began riding faster, intending to race through the alley and get away.

There were many interconnected alleys on both sides of this road, and he had traveled it many times. But just as Chen Xia was about to leave the alley and reach the street ahead, he suddenly caught sight of a strange, dark shadow standing to the side.

As he passed it, a flash of cold light swept in from the side, aiming straight for the left side of Chen Xia's head.

Danger!

Chen Xia instantly raised the saber in his right hand and counterattacked almost by instinct.

He had practiced basic fist and foot techniques and saber techniques, and had gained a solid grasp of Seven Injuries Fist. He also had some strength, and his senses had sharpened considerably. He reacted in time and blocked the slash.

The attacker came from the left, wielding a long saber stained with red blood. Its sharp blade cut through the air with a fierce, vicious force.

The other party had launched a sneak attack—a lightning-fast, killing blow! But the attacker seemed not to have expected Chen Xia to react even faster, or to be so skilled with a saber. Chen Xia had caught the strike with a backhand blow.

Who was it?

Chen Xia let out a loud roar and jolted his saber, then used the momentum to leap off his bicycle. In the heat of the moment, he immediately activated the Inner Method of Seven Injuries Fist, channeled force into his left fist, and smashed it toward the attacker.