"Jade Marrow, take it orally..."
After all, there was only one drop of Jade Marrow, so naturally it couldn't be smeared over the body like Dragon Blood.
"The Jade Marrow's medicinal properties are mild. Using it won't be as painful as Dragon Blood. It'll greatly improve physical fitness and slightly increase cell activity. Once you've taken it, you can go straight to the Gravity Chamber to train and speed up absorption."
Xu Ai couldn't count on increasing her cell activity. After all, she'd used so much diluted Vegetation Spirit solution that her cell activity had already reached the limit for the Apprentice Level.
To break through that limit, she'd either have to make a major breakthrough in cultivation or increase her Gene Level.
Both methods were still a long way off...
Xu Ai went to the Gravity Chamber, and Hen Ren happened to come out just then, heading for the bathroom.
Although she hadn't sweated since reaching the Planetary Level, Hen Ren still made a habit of showering after exercising.
She'd picked that habit up from Xu Ai. After all, Xu Ai was the only one who sweated after exercising...
Xu Xin had already completed the Quasi-Warrior Assessment. When she got back, she was sent off to practice 'Five Hearts Towards Heaven.'
With her cell activity, sensing the universe's energy wouldn't be difficult. She just had to focus and try a few more times.
As for Xu Ai, she naturally planned to use the Jade Marrow to break through.
The Jade Marrow looked like a crystal-clear jade bead. After opening the container it had been stored in, Xu Ai poured it straight into her mouth.
It melted as soon as it touched her tongue. A cool sensation spread through her body, and Xu Ai hurriedly switched on nine times gravity. Then she sat down cross-legged and silently began practicing the 'Five Qi Towards Origin' cultivation method and the 'Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown' Guidance Technique.
The cool sensation of the Jade Marrow circulated through Xu Ai's body. Combined with nine times gravity and the cultivation methods, her physical fitness improved rapidly, while her cell activity remained more or less unchanged.
By the time Xu Ai finished training, seven hours had passed.
"I've passed kilograms. I should be around kilograms now—Intermediate War General."
Xu Ai clenched her fist and estimated her current physical fitness.
"I'll train for another month and reach Advanced General-Level. Then I'll pass the combat assessment on August 1 and use Dragon Blood to break through to Elementary War God Level."
Thinking of that, Xu Ai remembered the considerable number of Vegetation Spirits Hen Ren had.
Vegetation Spirits that could increase the user's physical fitness, such as the Millennium Willow Heart, were generally even more potent than Dragon Blood.
In the original story, Luo Feng had used the Millennium Willow Heart not long after finishing the Dragon Blood. He probably had the potential of a Spirit Reader helping him digest the effects of both. Otherwise, who knew what might happen if he took too much?
"I'd better play it safe. I'll train for a month each time, then take another experience pill..."
As always, Hen Ren could shoulder the risks. Xu Ai would take things slowly!
Xu Ai stood up, switched off the nine times gravity, and opened the door to the Gravity Chamber.
As soon as she stepped out, she saw her older sister walking down the corridor.
Hearing the door open, Xu Xin looked over, and their eyes met.
"Sis, did you succeed?"
The moment she saw Xu Xin, she noticed something had changed. Her figure was more or less the same, but she seemed about a centimeter taller!
That was clearly the result of successfully practicing the method and optimizing her genes!
"Mm-hmm, that's right! I successfully practiced 'Five Hearts Towards Heaven'! My punching power went up by more than two thousand kilograms!"
Xu Xin said with a smile. She'd practiced for nearly seven hours straight and had broken through to Intermediate Warrior Level!
More than two thousand kilograms of punching power was an exceptionally talented result for a first attempt. It was normal for there to be some changes.
"Congratulations, Sis! Uh..."
Xu Ai opened her arms and gave Xu Xin a big hug. Only then did she realize that Xu Xin was drenched in sweat...
The sweat didn't stink, but Xu Ai still couldn't stand it!
Why couldn't she stand it? It was like finding out that a fairy or goddess used the toilet...
"Come on, Sis. Let's take a shower."
As she spoke, Xu Ai hurriedly pushed Xu Xin toward the bathroom.
Xu Xin let Xu Ai push her along with a wry smile.
"I was going to go anyway. There's no need to rush..."
"Hello? Xiao Ai, what do you need?"
Xu Gang asked in confusion. Usually, he was the one who called his younger sister. Xu Ai and Xu Xin had never called him before.
They must need a favor!
As it happened, Xu Ai really did need Xu Gang's help.
"Bro, you must know some people at the Yi'an District Detention Center, right?"
"Uh, did a friend of yours get in trouble? Is it a guy or a girl?"
That was a very important question. The gender part especially!
"A guy. Uh, that's not important. What matters is..."
Xu Ai said slyly.
"See if they've got a record on him. If they do, get me a copy of the photo!"
That was what Xu Ai was after!!!
Ever since the college entrance exams, when a photo of Luo Feng with the Wenwu Two Ancestors and Luo Hua had come into existence, Xu Ai had developed a peculiar hobby!
Taking photos to commemorate some of the main character Luo Feng's more interesting experiences!
Luo Feng getting sent to the detention center was one of the rare occasions in the original story when he suffered a setback. Xu Ai couldn't possibly let it pass.
"...Uh, what are you planning to do with it?"
Xu Gang didn't understand. Shouldn't she be asking him to help get someone out? Why did she want a photo of the person's record instead?
Was she kicking him while he was down? No, that didn't make sense either. If she wanted to do that, wouldn't she ask him to arrange for the other inmates to 'take care of' the guy?
"Don't worry about it. His name's Luo Feng. Look into it for me, and if he has a record, make sure to get me a copy of the photo!"
Xu Ai said with a smile.
By rights, fighting usually didn't result in a criminal record, but Luo Feng had beaten people until they were vomiting blood and breaking bones.
Maybe people in Swallowed Star had such tough physiques that the injuries didn't count as serious, but he'd injured so many people that it shouldn't be difficult to get him a record.
Besides, it was 2056 in Swallowed Star. With so many people practicing martial arts, the law would probably come down hard on an Advanced Student like Luo Feng for fighting.
Anyway, if Luo Feng really got a criminal record, she wanted a photo of it!
"All right, all right."
As long as his younger sister wasn't dating in secret, Xu Gang didn't care what she wanted to do.
He had no idea why Xu Ai wanted a photo of someone's criminal record, but whatever. He'd just handle it!
But this Luo Feng was the guy who'd taken the Quasi-Warrior Assessment with his sister today, wasn't he!?
The guy was suspicious. He'd actually managed to get his sister's attention! And he was a guy, at that!? Xu Gang would have to look into him carefully!!!
He was so concerned about his sister that it never even occurred to Xu Gang to wonder how Luo Feng, a Quasi-Martial Artist, had ended up in the detention center...
After hanging up, Xu Ai came out of the bathroom.
It was better to keep the fact that Luo Feng was about to end up in the detention center from Xu Xin.
Hen Ren was still training. Since reaching the Planetary Level, she'd barely slept at all.
But Xu Ai couldn't do that. Her body wouldn't be able to take it.
So Xu Ai decided to go to sleep.
Xu Ai climbed into bed and hugged Xu Xin, who was lying there playing on her phone.
Just think: while Luo Feng was suffering in the detention center, Xu Ai was cuddling his wife to sleep. What a feeling... Tsk!!!
I'd finally become the person I most wanted to be!!!
"What are you doing?"
Xu Xin looked at Xu Ai in confusion. Why did the girl suddenly seem so excited?
"Nothing, Sis. Let's take a picture together!"
Xu Ai adjusted her phone's camera settings so the photo would include a timestamp watermark...
Before Xu Xin could react, Xu Ai put an arm around her shoulders.
Their cheeks pressed together, with the whole headboard in the background. The thin strap on Xu Xin's right shoulder had slipped down, and with a click, the photo was taken!
At the same time, Luo Feng had just changed into the standard gray prison uniform and stood beside a wall marked with height measurements. He, too, had his photo taken...
Luo Feng was quite unhappy about it, but reason told him that once his Quasi-Warrior status was verified, his criminal record would be expunged.
Little did he know that after Luo Feng was taken into the holding cell, the male police officer who'd taken the photo made a copy and sent it out...
Before you continue