Cultivation Accomplished, Senior Sister Arrives!

Hearing that Han Qi would handle the matter of the young beggar, Liu Chu did not dwell on it any further.

He then added, "I've rented a small courtyard near the Dragon Tiger Martial Arts Hall. Why don't you move in with me? Now that I've entered the ranks, I should be able to protect you!"

Han Qi had helped Liu Chu quite a bit, so now that Liu Chu had broken through to the ranks, it was only natural for him to offer some support in return.

Han Qi shook his head upon hearing this. "I originally wanted you to flee to the territory of the Changle Gang to avoid the clutches of the Green Tiger Gang. After all, neither of us can escape the fact that the Green Tiger Gang leader's brother-in-law died, and there's no guarantee they won't come after you."

"But now that you've broken through to the ranks, I can rest easy. However, I think I'll stay in the Changle Gang's territory for the time being."

"After all, even though you've entered the ranks, you still need to train at the martial arts hall; you can't possibly guard me day and night."

"Furthermore, with the Golden Fish Gang destroyed, I'm not willing to let years of hard work go to waste. Staying with the Changle Gang, the worst that happens is I start over from scratch!"

Speaking of this, Han Qi gritted his teeth.

He had struggled for years and built up considerable prestige within the Golden Fish Gang, but now that the gang had been wiped out, all his efforts had vanished into thin air.

"A Qi, this world ultimately respects martial power above all else. Gang prestige and the like are hollow; you should spend more time and energy on martial arts cultivation."

Liu Chu reminded him, "Joining a gang was originally just a means to earn money to buy medicinal meals and meat for cultivation."

"You have sixty taels of silver on hand now, enough to focus on cultivation for a while. Why not settle your mind and dedicate yourself to some hard training?"

He felt that Han Qi had put the cart before the horse, straying from his original intention for joining a gang!

Joining a gang was meant to earn silver to purchase cultivation resources, with the hope of achieving a breakthrough in martial arts.

But now, he was deeply mired in gang prestige, getting caught up with small-time thugs and having his time and energy drained by gang infighting.

With silver but no time or energy to focus on training, he was being hindered by all sorts of trivial matters and conflicts.

Without martial cultivation, what good was high prestige? He still wouldn't be able to become a hall master or a gang leader!

Conversely, as long as one possessed martial cultivation, one could establish their own faction in the blink of an eye!

Han Qi was struck with a sudden realization!

He widened his eyes and said in astonishment, "You're right! I joined the gang to earn silver for medicinal meals and cultivation... yet I've become so mired in gang disputes that I've been running myself ragged, with no time or energy left to train!!"

Looking back, he realized he had fallen into the quagmire of gang life and had forgotten his original purpose!

Thinking of this, he took a deep breath, looked at Liu Chu, and said solemnly, "A Chu, you're right. If you hadn't reminded me, I'm afraid I wouldn't have realized my own state at all!"

"I really should focus on training and stop letting gang affairs drain my energy!"

He said seriously, "I've decided to stay in the Changle Gang's territory for now without joining them. I'll clear my schedule to train diligently and see if I can break through to the ranks!"

"It's best that you can see it that way!"

Liu Chu nodded, feeling relieved.

Although Han Qi clearly hadn't completely let go of his gang ambitions, realizing this was a good start.

After all, he had been training for several years, and combined with the brawls in the gang, his foundation was solid. Now that he had unexpectedly acquired sixty taels of silver, there was a significant chance he could break through to the ranks!

After escorting Han Qi back to the Changle Gang's territory, Liu Chu returned to his day-to-day training.

The Combat Technique was already perfected, with no room for further improvement.

Now, he focused on the Nourishing Practice and his blade technique.

The Nourishing Practice was not far from reaching Great Success; after just a few days of training, he successfully achieved a breakthrough!

"Dragon-Tiger Nourishing Practice, Great Success!"

Liu Chu felt his internal blood and qi surge violently, giving birth to two more strands of energy. They coursed through his body, running parallel to the existing two strands, forming four streams of blood and qi that filled his entire frame.

With a thought, the four streams of blood and qi surged like a raging river, roaring through his body and scouring his tendons as if tempering fine iron, aiming to forge them into steel!

The lower three ranks: Skin Refining, Tendon Refining, Bone Refining!

Liu Chu's skin had already undergone a transformation, and he was currently at the stage of scouring and tempering his tendons.

The energy erupted by the four streams of blood and qi was far superior to the previous two, constantly scouring and tempering his tendons, causing them to develop tiny micro-tears before fusing with the energy to regenerate into even tougher tissue!

"With the Nourishing Practice at Great Success, I've cultivated four streams of blood and qi, which will take my training speed to the next level!"

Liu Chu felt the four streams of blood and qi flowing incessantly within him and couldn't help but show a look of joy.

Although his natural talent was mediocre, his double comprehension was enough to compensate for the defect, making him no worse than someone with superior talent!

Status Panel:

Host: Liu Chu

Comprehension Multiplier: 2x (Can sacrifice: 10 Treasure Fish / 100 taels of silver, or 3 years of lifespan)

Dragon-Tiger Nourishing Practice (Great Success 1%)

Dragon-Tiger Combat Technique (Perfected)

Dragon-Tiger Blade-Breaking Technique (Minor Success 38%)

"I have a hundred taels of silver on me now. If I sacrifice another three years of lifespan, I could increase my comprehension once more!"

Liu Chu's eyes flickered as an impulse surged within him; he knew all too well the exhilarating, refreshing sensation of having his comprehension elevated.

If his comprehension were to increase once more, it would undoubtedly take his cultivation speed to the next level, and perhaps it wouldn't be long before he could step into the Eighth Rank Tendon Refining realm.

However, he forcibly suppressed this urge, curbing the greed in his eyes: "Sacrificing for comprehension is simply addictive. If I get hooked on sacrificing my lifespan, there's no guarantee I won't end up sacrificing myself to death one day..."

A trace of lingering fear rose in Liu Chu's heart.

One year of lifespan, three years of lifespan—they seemed insignificant, but who knew how much lifespan the next sacrifice would require?

Perhaps the next time it would be ten years, then thirty years, one hundred years...

"I wonder if stepping into the Upper Three Ranks of cultivation can extend one's lifespan?"

Liu Chu already knew that the Lower Three Ranks and Middle Three Ranks basically could not extend one's life; at most, they allowed a person to live for a hundred years without illness or disaster.

Of course, if one sustained injuries from fighting others, the accumulation of hidden and visible wounds could even cause a martial artist to live several decades less than an ordinary person!

Liu Chu could not guarantee that he wouldn't end up fighting others in the future and sustaining permanent injuries.

In short, he had to ensure he had sufficient lifespan!

"If I reach the Upper Three Ranks or even higher realms in the future and gain longevity, only then, in unavoidable circumstances, will I sacrifice my lifespan!"

Liu Chu set a rule for himself: he must never abuse the act of sacrificing his lifespan!

He had to avoid sacrificing himself to death before he even reached the realm of longevity!

"If I cannot sacrifice my lifespan, then I can only sacrifice ten Treasure Fish..."

Liu Chu calculated secretly: "Ten Treasure Fish would cost two or three hundred taels of silver to purchase, and I am still quite short of that."

"Come to think of it, the Green Tiger Gang has taken over the territory of the Golden Fish Gang, and the entire Heilu Bay is under their control. Perhaps I could gather ten Treasure Fish if I killed their gang leader and took his place..."

Thinking of the Treasure Fish, Liu Chu couldn't help but think of the Green Tiger Gang.

He needed money to sacrifice and improve his comprehension!

Before he had entered the ranks, he naturally couldn't make money, because every source of silver was backed by a martial artist.

Even if he relied on the experience from his past life to do business, he would only be making wedding clothes for others, or worse, lose his own life.

But now, he had entered the ranks and possessed a certain ability to protect his wealth.

This caused the thought of replacing the Green Tiger Gang leader to sprout in his mind.

But immediately, he shook his head: "Although I can kill a Ninth Rank Skin Refining martial artist in a few moves, the Green Tiger Gang leader is an Eighth Rank Tendon Refining martial artist; I might not be able to defeat him."

"At the very least, I must cultivate my blade technique to Great Success first!"

Liu Chu resumed practicing his blade technique. If his blade technique reached Great Success, even if he were surrounded, he would have a chance to carve a bloody path out.

Otherwise, once trapped in an encirclement, fists and feet would be no match for blades, making it very difficult to break through!

"Junior Brother Liu!"

Suddenly, a crisp voice tinged with coldness interrupted Liu Chu's practice.

Liu Chu turned to look and saw a cold, elegant figure dressed in white martial attire, standing gracefully and looking toward him.

"Senior Sister Luo?"

Liu Chu looked at Luo Qingyue in surprise, not expecting her to seek him out on her own initiative.