Half a Month, Blood Qi Realm Second Layer!

After Zhang Su swallowed the Blood Replenishing Pill, he cultivated through the night before completely refining it.

Yesterday, although Blood Qi had been born within Zhang Su's body, there had only been a mere thread of it.

But now?

A full hundred threads!

Moreover, those hundred threads of Blood Qi had already condensed into a single strand.

A hundred threads of Blood Qi made one strand, and twenty strands of Blood Qi would allow one to step into the Blood Qi Realm Second Layer.

Zhang Su had lived with Du Tian and the other two for a year, so he knew roughly how their cultivation was progressing.

Generally speaking, Du Tian and the others were considered geniuses.

They could cultivate several to ten threads of Blood Qi in a day, which was more or less their limit.

Even at the maximum rate of ten threads of Blood Qi per day, they would cultivate three hundred threads in a month, enough to condense three strands of Blood Qi.

In roughly seven months, they could enter the Blood Qi Realm Second Layer.

Of course, if medicinal meals, medicinal baths, or other great tonics assisted their cultivation, their progress could be even faster.

Yet Zhang Su had nurtured a hundred threads of Blood Qi in a single day.

Ten times that of Du Tian and the others!

Of course, it was not because Zhang Su's talent was especially high.

It was the Blood Replenishing Pill's doing.

"One Blood Replenishing Pill is equivalent to the Blood Qi Du Tian and the others would painstakingly nurture over ten days. No wonder their eyes turned green when they saw the pills. These Blood Replenishing Pills truly are great tonics for Blood Qi Realm martial artists."

"If I take one Blood Replenishing Pill every day, I'll only need twenty days to reach the Blood Qi Realm Second Layer..."

Twenty days!

That speed was simply lightning-fast!

Of course, his Taotie Blood Nourishing Technique was only at the Initiation Realm.

Once the Taotie Blood Nourishing Technique reached the Minor Accomplishment Realm or Major Accomplishment Realm, its efficiency would be even greater.

By then, he might only need ten days to enter the Blood Qi Realm Second Layer.

However, whether it was ten days or twenty, there was one crucial factor: the Blood Replenishing Pills.

Zhang Su had to ensure that he had one Blood Replenishing Pill every day.

Zhang Su immediately opened the wooden box.

He carefully counted the Blood Replenishing Pills inside.

There were fourteen Blood Replenishing Pills left in the wooden box.

To ensure he had a Blood Replenishing Pill every day, he would need thirty pills for one month.

"I remember that the Guiyuan Sect seems to sell Blood Replenishing Pills as well, though they appear to be rather expensive."

Zhang Su thought for a moment.

He decided to use up these Blood Replenishing Pills first.

Thus, Zhang Su stayed in his room.

Every day, he swallowed Blood Replenishing Pills and cultivated.

Occasionally, he also practiced his two sword techniques.

The days passed one by one.

As the Taotie Blood Nourishing Technique improved, his efficiency in refining the Blood Replenishing Pills grew higher and higher.

The amount of Blood Qi he gained each day also increased.

However, Du Tian and the other three seemed to be growing increasingly agitated.

They had planned to use the conflict between Wang Hai and Zhang Su to teach Zhang Su a lesson.

Yet Zhang Su never left the room.

How was Wang Hai supposed to teach Zhang Su a lesson?

The three of them were worried sick.

"Zhang Su, Elder Gu is publicly demonstrating a top-tier martial skill today. Aren't you going to take a look?"

Du Tian asked.

Zhang Su shook his head. "A top-tier martial skill isn't something I can cultivate. I won't be going."

A few days later, Zhao Feng asked, "Zhang Su, Senior Sister Jiang and Senior Brother Liu, the outstanding disciples of our Outer Sect, are sparring. It's drawn many people to watch. Aren't you going to take a look?"

"No! Both of them have reached the Blood Qi Realm Ninth Layer and are only one step away from giving birth to Internal Force. They're far too distant from me. Even if I watched, it would be useless."

Zhang Su refused again.

Du Tian and the other three frowned.

During this period, they had repeatedly tried to persuade Zhang Su to go out, using all kinds of excuses.

Yet Zhang Su had not gone out even once.

Judging by their expressions, all three were deeply disappointed.

"You all really want me to go out?"

Zhang Su's words made their hearts skip a beat.

Du Tian hurriedly said, "Zhang Su, we just think you're working too hard at martial arts. The elders have all said that cultivation should have its moments of tension and relaxation; you can't simply bury yourself in bitter cultivation."

Zhang Su appeared thoughtful.

"No need. My foundation is too poor, so I must work twice as hard to catch up."

After saying that, Zhang Su continued swallowing Blood Replenishing Pills and cultivating Blood Qi.

The three looked at one another, staring at each other in dismay.

"Zhang Su has been cultivating by swallowing Blood Replenishing Pills. Once he uses them all up, he'll naturally go out. Let's wait patiently."

Since Zhang Su refused to go out no matter what, they could only let the matter rest for the time being.

They refused to believe that Zhang Su could keep cultivating forever.

The days passed one by one.

In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.

Zhang Su remained in his room every day, swallowing the final Blood Replenishing Pill as well.

It then transformed into thread after thread of Blood Qi.

When the amount of Blood Qi reached a certain level—

Boom!

Zhang Su felt the Blood Qi throughout his body tremble violently.

"It's done—the Blood Qi Realm Second Layer! It only took fifteen days, several days faster than I expected..."

Zhang Su slowly opened his eyes.

He immediately checked his System Panel.

Host: Zhang Su

Cultivation Base: Blood Qi Realm Second Layer

Taotie Blood Nourishing Technique: Compatibility Rate 91% (Major Accomplishment Realm)

Nine Shadows Sword Technique: Compatibility Rate 93% (Major Accomplishment Realm)

Triple Wave: Compatibility Rate 91% (Major Accomplishment Realm)

Compatibility Points: 0

After half a month of bitter cultivation, both sword techniques and the Taotie Blood Nourishing Technique had reached the Major Accomplishment Realm.

The Taotie Blood Nourishing Technique at the Major Accomplishment Realm was extraordinarily efficient.

Previously, one Blood Replenishing Pill could only cultivate a hundred threads of Blood Qi in a day.

Now, one Blood Replenishing Pill could cultivate a hundred and fifty threads of Blood Qi in a day.

That was an increase in efficiency of fifty percent!

However, Zhang Su could also sense that techniques with Compatibility Rates above ninety percent were relatively easy to raise from the Initiation Realm to the Major Accomplishment Realm.

But advancing from the Major Accomplishment Realm to perfection was not so easy.

Even if he could reach perfection, it would likely take quite some time.

"It's been half a month... Perfect. I've also used up all the Blood Replenishing Pills. I can go see how much the Guiyuan Sect's Blood Replenishing Pills cost."

Zhang Su immediately got up, preparing to leave.

"Huh? Zhang Su, are you going out?"

At that moment, Du Tian and the other three noticed Zhang Su's movements and asked.

"Yes, I'm going out for a walk."

After saying that, Zhang Su pushed the door open and walked straight out.

Du Tian and the other three exchanged glances, and a trace of excitement appeared in all their eyes.

"He finally couldn't sit still any longer. Come on, hurry and notify Wang Hai."

"Wang Hai has wanted to teach Zhang Su a lesson for a long time. It's just that Zhang Su kept hiding in his room, so Wang Hai didn't dare act recklessly. But now that Zhang Su has gone out, this will be easy."

"Let's go."

Thus, the three of them hurried away as well.

Zhang Su paid no attention to Du Tian and the others' movements.

He headed straight for the Guiyuan Sect's Trading Hall.

Here, all kinds of supplies were sold by the sect.

Of course, the sect also purchased certain supplies.

However, different disciples received different discounts.

Outer Sect disciples received no discount whatsoever.

Inner Sect disciples received a twenty-percent discount on all supplies.

True Disciples received a fifty-percent discount on all supplies.

From these discount rules alone, it was clear that within the Guiyuan Sect, only Inner Sect disciples and True Disciples truly counted as disciples of the Guiyuan Sect.

They were worth the sect's cultivation.

As for Outer Sect disciples?

They were raised like venomous insects in a jar.

Only those who could rise above the rest and advance into the Inner Sect would receive the sect's cultivation.

Outer Sect disciples came batch after batch, and the Guiyuan Sect did not care about them in the slightest.

Zhang Su arrived at the Trading Hall and asked about the price of Blood Replenishing Pills.

"One Blood Replenishing Pill costs fifty Contribution Points?"

That was equivalent to fifty taels of silver per Blood Replenishing Pill.

It was indeed very expensive.

No wonder Uncle Guan had said that his elder brother had obtained the Blood Replenishing Pills only with great difficulty.

However, Zhang Su was not short on Contribution Points for the time being.

He immediately exchanged for thirty Blood Replenishing Pills, exactly one month's supply. The equivalent of fifteen hundred taels of silver vanished just like that.

No wonder people said, "A poor scholar, a rich martial artist." Zhang Su now understood this deeply.

Of course, unless one came from a fabulously wealthy family, it was impossible to eat Blood Replenishing Pills like meals.

Zhang Su had originally planned to leave directly.

However, from the corner of his eye, he spotted some weapons.

Zhang Su had been practicing swordsmanship recently, so naturally he could not do without a sword.

Although the sect provided standard longswords, their quality was quite ordinary.

When martial artists clashed, a good weapon could undoubtedly increase one's combat strength.

Otherwise, if the other party had a fine weapon, then in a contest between the two, they might sever his sword with a single slash.

What would there be left to fight with then?

Zhang Su came to the weapons section and carefully selected a sword.

There were several stewards in the weapons section.

Zhang Su directly asked, "May I ask, Steward, how should this disciple choose a sword?"

The steward glanced at Zhang Su and asked, "What sword technique do you mainly practice?"

"The Nine Shadows Sword Technique and Triple Wave."

Zhang Su answered truthfully.

"Hm? The Nine Shadows Sword Technique emphasizes 'speed,' while the Triple Wave Sword Technique emphasizes 'power.' Most people only focus on one, yet you practice both... Then this Lengshuang Sword suits you very well."

"The Lengshuang Sword is tough in texture and unafraid of chopping or slashing, making it suitable for your Triple Wave Sword Technique. Moreover, it is not heavy. Once stimulated by Blood Qi, it produces gusts of cold wind, and when paired with your Nine Shadows Sword Technique, it will be like adding wings to a tiger."

"Its only drawback is that it's expensive!"

Zhang Su reached out and gripped the hilt of the Lengshuang Sword.

At once, a cool sensation flowed from the hilt.

Clang!

Zhang Su drew the sword. It truly carried a chilling aura.

He was extremely satisfied.

"How much is it?"

"One thousand Contribution Points."

Zhang Su could not help widening his eyes.

That was equivalent to one thousand taels of silver!

But Zhang Su thought that a good sword could sometimes even save his life. One thousand taels of silver was indeed expensive, but it was worth the price—and besides, he was not short of that amount of silver now.

"Alright, then I'll exchange for this Lengshuang Sword!"

Another thousand contribution points were deducted from Zhang Su's Identity Token.

Adding the fifteen hundred contribution points he had just spent on Blood Replenishing Pills,

only twenty-six hundred contribution points remained on his Identity Token.

With thirty Blood Replenishing Pills tucked away,

and the Lengshuang Sword in hand, Zhang Su walked out of the Trading Hall.

He could not help but sigh inwardly.

Having money really was wonderful!

If he had no money, he would probably be like most Outer Sect disciples, racking his brains to take on sect missions in order to earn contribution points or silver.

How could he possibly practice martial arts in peace?

Zhang Su had not gone far.

When his footsteps suddenly halted.

Because he saw a figure standing ahead.

The other person held a sword in his arms, his gaze fixed squarely on Zhang Su.

"Zhang Su, I thought you had some backbone. I never expected you to be just like your brother, spending without shame the silver your live-in-son-in-law brother swindled from the Su Family?"

"No, you're even more useless than your elder brother. At least your brother knows how to sweet-talk and deceive Zhenzhen. But what about you? A whole year, and you only managed to cultivate Blood Qi? You're the most worthless of all worthless trash!"

Zhang Su recognized the sword-hugging man.

Outer Sect disciple Wang Hai, Blood Qi Realm Third Layer!

He also had another identity: the Wang Family's legitimate son.

At the same time, he had once been his elder brother's "love rival."

He had pursued the Su Family's young lady—now Zhang Su's sister-in-law—but failed to win her.

Wang Hai could not deal with Zhang Su's elder brother.

So he often came looking for trouble with Zhang Su instead.

But before, Zhang Su's "companions," Du Tian and the others, had always stepped in to help him out.

But now?

Where were Du Tian and the others?