Five Animals Technique: Timely Aid

"At last... at last, my blood and qi have transformed. Body Tempering is complete!"

Yang Ning muttered to himself. Without tending to the wound on his hand, he willed a panel into existence before his eyes.

[Yang Ning]

[Realm: Body Tempering]

[Technique: Tiger Soul Fist (Tendon Changing 0/1000)]

Looking at the tangible figures on the panel, he let out a long breath.

Once the exhilarating rush and wild joy of his breakthrough had passed, a complicated feeling welled up in Yang Ning's heart.

Not long ago, he had still been a mud-legged peasant and a vulgar nobody in the eyes of Fei Yan, the lofty steward of Hundred Herb Hall. Now, he had finally stepped through the gates of martial arts, entered Body Tempering to stand on equal footing with him, and obtained the key to controlling his own fate.

For a moment, his heart was filled with indescribable emotion.

Casting aside the stray thoughts in his heart, Yang Ning turned his mind back to everything he possessed.

The wooden stake had long since shattered, so Yang Ning practiced a full set of Tiger Soul Fist alone in the space.

As he assumed the stance, Yang Ning felt his blood and qi surge through his body.

He threw a punch, and the sound of air splitting echoed endlessly through the cramped space.

"Bang—bang—"

From that sound alone, it was clear that his strength had increased exponentially.

It was far beyond anything comparable to when he had been at the fifth Foundation Establishment barrier.

Every punch he threw now seemed capable of tearing apart that Ironwood stake from before.

Just how strong am I now?

That was the question troubling Yang Ning.

After breaking through to Body Tempering and undergoing a transformation of blood and qi, Yang Ning felt that he could no longer test the limits of his strength here.

He was constrained by the limitations of this place. After all, its former owner—the martial arts school disciple from before—had only been a Foundation Establishment martial artist.

"Looks like it's time to find another place to test myself."

After finishing the set of boxing, he cleared away the wooden fragments in the small training room, then entered the bathroom beside it and washed himself.

To his delight, the wound on his hand had already scabbed over.

"After my blood and qi transformed, even my recovery ability has improved by a huge margin? What an unexpected delight..."

He dried himself and changed into a clean set of clothes.

Daylight had already broken outside. Yang Ning opened the door and headed straight for the pharmacy he had been visiting often lately.

After arriving at the shop, Yang Ning skillfully selected several packs of medicinal plasters for external application and two jars of medicinal paste for internal consumption.

At the counter, he took out his money pouch—then suddenly froze.

The pouch was already empty.

The money Steward Fei had given him had been completely spent. Yang Ning had trained relentlessly these past days, consuming enormous amounts of medicine and food. Those pieces of patterned silver had vanished in the blink of an eye.

The shop owner was a taciturn, one-eyed old man who kept quite a number of birds.

Seeing this regular customer, who had often visited lately, hesitate before the counter, the old man unexpectedly spoke for the first time.

"You are an interesting young man. If I remember correctly, you bought medicine for internal and external martial training not long ago. Why do you need so much again now?

What, having money and not spending it makes you uncomfortable?"

Yang Ning clasped his hands and replied,

"You jest, sir.

I was born poor. Where would I find money to waste? Training simply consumes a great deal, so I came to purchase more."

This was another of Yang Ning's secrets. He trained diligently and progressed rapidly, but his consumption of cultivation resources was equally swift—far greater than that of ordinary people.

"Hm, I can tell.

You were born poor. The medicines you use are all blends of cheap ingredients, yet their effects are not bad. Do you understand medicine?"

"My elder brother came from a family of herb gatherers."

"I see, a herb gatherer's family. Yet you still had the courage to practice martial arts? Your courage is commendable.

How far have you reached among the five Body Tempering barriers?"

Yang Ning's eyes flickered. The old man ran this shop, so he was surely a martial artist as well. Yet Yang Ning could not see through his realm, which likely meant it was not too exaggeratedly high.

"I have already reached Dragon Bone Pass."

"Hm?"

The old man shed his earlier indifference. He stared straight at Yang Ning and said softly,

"The fourth of the five Foundation Establishment barriers?

No wonder you dared to practice martial arts despite being born poor. You actually possess talent?

To think that at such a young age, you have already reached Dragon Bone Barrier. You can be considered quite capable.

But from the looks of you, it seems you have not joined any gang or faction?"

Yang Ning answered honestly,

"I have not joined any gang or faction. Although my elder brother was once an outer hall member of Hundred Herb Hall,

for various reasons, I was unable to join Hundred Herb Hall. At present, I cultivate martial arts alone."

"You have not joined any faction?

A wise choice. Undercurrents are surging through the city now, and conflicts never cease. Even entering someone's sect may leave you unable to guarantee your safety from one morning to the next."

The old man murmured, but his thoughts soon returned to the medicine business.

"I see that you are usually straightforward and generous, but judging by how you look today, are you facing some difficulties?"

Yang Ning nodded and gave a bitter smile.

"You are correct, sir. I have been too absorbed in martial training these past days and failed to notice my funds being depleted. Now they are completely exhausted."

Just as he turned to put the medicines back where they belonged, a voice sounded behind him.

"Young friend, how about we make a deal?"

"Oh?"

Yang Ning turned around and stared directly at this old pharmacy owner, who seemed to have quite a background.

"May I ask, sir, what sort of deal?"

"Very simple. I want you, young hero, to display your skills before me."

"This is..."

Before Yang Ning could voice his doubts, the old man added,

"If your skill and realm truly match what you have said, then I will count these several dozen taels' worth of medicine as aid for you.

It will be like sending charcoal in the snow. I am betting on your extraordinary talent, hoping that when your cultivation bears fruit in the future, you can offer me a measure of protection.

What do you think, young friend?"

Yang Ning immediately became highly wary. He knew well that free things were the most expensive.

I have neither kinship nor acquaintance with him. Why would he do this?

A display of skill—does he want to determine my strength?

This does not seem like the style of a Hundred Herb Hall shop either. Fei Yan would not waste time probing me like this. He would only send people to cause trouble.

Right. Whatever he is plotting, I have already left myself a safeguard by concealing my cultivation. No matter how things develop afterward, good or bad, I will be able to handle it calmly.

Having reached this conclusion, he immediately said,

"Then this junior will make a fool of himself."

After adjusting his breathing and calming his mind, Yang Ning lightly moved his joints. The bones throughout his body began to crack one after another in a strange rhythm.

The old man's ears twitched, and his eyes lit up.

The next moment, within the tiny confines of the shop, Yang Ning swiftly assumed the stance of Tiger Soul Fist and lowered his back.

The blood and qi throughout his body seemed deliberately suppressed. Yet in the next instant, Yang Ning abruptly raised his head and stood tall!

The blood and qi that had been suppressed poured out like floodwaters through an opened sluice gate, flowing from his lower body up his waist and spine, then cascading down along his back.

Roar!!!

This punch actually carried the sound of a tiger's roar, reverberating through the surroundings and shaking the heart.

"Good! Good tiger fist! Fine mastery!"

The moment Yang Ning unleashed Tiger Soul Fist, every trace of appraisal vanished from the old man's eyes.

"Your Body Tempering technique is Tiger Soul Fist?

Did you cultivate it by yourself? You have no master or lineage?"

"Your eyes are keen indeed, sir. That is correct. I practiced this set of boxing by myself."

The old man stepped out from behind the counter and came before Yang Ning, examining him closely. He could not help but praise him.

"To cultivate it to this level and break through the great Dragon Bone barrier is truly not simple. This boxing art originated from the once-renowned Five Animals Technique. It is a subsidiary art of that method.

Although this boxing art has a long history and is spread throughout major factions, there are very few practitioners. That is entirely because it is difficult to cultivate. With few martial artists practicing it, a vicious cycle has made this method increasingly decline."

It sounds rather like the health-preserving Five Animals Exercise from my previous life.

Yang Ning set aside his thoughts and said seriously,

"Thank you for telling me, sir. My family acquired this method by chance, and we had never known its origins. Thank you!"

"No need for courtesy. My surname is Song, so just call me Elder Song.

I truly did not expect that you, boy, did not even know the origins of this boxing art or understand its related tricks and techniques, yet you forcibly relied on your own talent to reach this point..."

"I have merely studied diligently and trained hard."

Hearing Yang Ning's modest words, the approval in Elder Song's eyes deepened.

"Very good! You are very good!

What is good about you is that although your talent is extraordinary, your temperament is even more mature. Not bad, not bad."

He then entered the storeroom behind the counter and placed box after box of richly scented medicinal paste together with the medicines Yang Ning had just selected.

"Elder Song, what are you doing?"

"They are merely medicines to be taken internally and applied externally. With such talent, you cannot let it be buried.

You come from a herb-gathering family, so you understand these medicines as well. Their ingredients are not costly; what matters most is the method of preparation. They are not truly precious."

"But..."

"What?

Do you think your future worth will not exceed these medicinal pastes?

I do not run a charity hall either. Since you have this strength, you have the right to take these things.

Do not put on the airs of a delicate young lady. Just accept them with peace of mind."

With things said to this point, Yang Ning could only carefully put away the medicines and clasp his hands in thanks.

Seeing his worn, thin clothes and thinking of Yang Ning's circumstances, Elder Song slowly said,

"If you are struggling somewhat in life now, and do not know the details of the factions in the city, leaving you with nowhere good to go,

you might try your luck at the Martial Arena."

"The... Martial Arena?"

Yang Ning was stunned, apparently not expecting the old man to say this. He hurriedly asked,

"May I ask, Elder Song, what is this Martial Arena...?"

"It is merely an arena where martial artists fight one another, built to cater to the tastes of nobles and red-eyed gamblers.

When martial artists fight, victory depends entirely on their own ability.

The battles are fierce, dragons fighting dragons and tigers battling tigers, and gamblers' money gathers there in an endless stream.

At the same time, when the nobles enjoy the spectacle, they spend money more generously. This line of work earns money, grants personal freedom, and comes with fewer constraints from factions..."

By this point, Yang Ning already understood the old man's meaning and silently nodded.

After exchanging a few final pleasantries with Elder Song, he carried the medicinal pastes and took his leave.

Watching Yang Ning's departing figure, Elder Song returned behind the counter.

Yet instead of quickly taking out his abacus as usual to calculate his gains and losses from just now,

he took out paper and brush, then began writing and sketching on it. Before long, a simple portrait of Yang Ning's face appeared on the page.

Though the drawing was simple, it was remarkably lifelike. If someone followed the portrait, they would surely recognize Yang Ning at a glance.

Elder Song wrote a line of small characters beside it, rolled the paper into a scroll, opened a birdcage nearby, and fastened it to the bird's leg.

Watching the bird spread its wings and fly away, Elder Song slowly sank into his chair, as though he had become once more the taciturn pharmacy keeper.