"Qi Transformation Pills not only replenish inner force directly, but also increase the capacity of the dantian to hold inner force..."
Zhou Yun picked up the glossy black pill in his hand. Just holding it, he could vaguely feel the inner force in his dantian stirring.
It seemed to be a superior version of the Blood Coagulation Pill, but its medicinal effects were many times stronger. The fact that it could increase the capacity of the dantian alone made it incomparable to the Blood Coagulation Pill.
He had just practiced spear techniques until his inner force was somewhat depleted, so he swallowed it without hesitation.
The inner force in the pill dissolved in his stomach, turning into the purest inner force and replenishing his dantian without any resistance.
The Blood Coagulation Pill had replenished his blood and qi, which he then had to convert into inner force himself. The Qi Transformation Pill simplified the process, making replenishment more than twice as fast.
What was more, Zhou Yun also sensed that his dantian, which could previously hold only seven fingers' worth of inner force, seemed on the verge of holding eight.
"To think it can increase the dantian's capacity for inner force. That's practically a direct improvement to one's talent."
Zhou Yun remembered what Shen Qingxue had told him: for an ordinary Bright Force practitioner, reaching seven fingers' worth of inner force in the dantian meant one had reached perfection and could attempt to break through to Dark Force.
But if he could fill it to eight fingers, his endurance in a prolonged fight would be beyond what an ordinary Bright Force practitioner at the peak of mastery could match.
Perhaps it would even give him a considerable advantage when he tried to break through to Dark Force later.
"In that case, I might as well strike while the iron's hot and master it in one go."
Zhou Yun felt strength flooding his body again. After more than half a day of hard spear practice, he was just one step away from understanding the spear form.
The inner force in his body had also reached four fingers' breadth, and after replenishing it, he seemed close to breaking through the five-finger mark.
Better now than later. Zhou Yun picked up the Black Iron Spear and continued swinging it in the courtyard.
Pure inner force kept coursing through his limbs, making him feel as if he had strength to spare.
He practiced the first turn of the Thunder Meteor Spear Art for a full hour without stopping once.
The spear tip cut through the air so quickly it nearly left afterimages. Its form already carried the force of a falling meteor, and the great spear seemed to bear the weight of a thousand jun. Its sheer presence could leave a person struggling to breathe.
Bang!
Zhou Yun slammed the spear into the ground, leaving a fist-sized hole.
"The key to the first turn of the spear art is force!"
Zhou Yun suddenly understood. In his mind, the Black Iron Spear was no longer a weapon. It was a meteor dropping from the sky, crushing its opponent completely.
No wonder that when he'd asked Master Liang if he had a spear suited to him, Master Liang had chosen this one. It was meant to overwhelm others with sheer force.
If blades and soldiers blocked his path, he would crush his way straight through!
Bang, bang, bang!
The great spear whistled through the air as it came down again and again.
At last, the Black Iron Spear in Zhou Yun's hands was no longer an unfamiliar object, but a weapon he could truly wield with ease.
"I've mastered the first turn of the Thunder Meteor Spear Art."
Zhou Yun lowered the spear and stood upright, delighted.
Not only that, but the inner force in his dantian had also reached five fingers' breadth. He was just one step away from the six-finger peak of Bright Force.
The first turn of the Thunder Meteor Spear Art was called Falling Meteor. He should have understood its meaning long ago, but he'd been too focused on the speed and shape of the spear, overlooking the great spear itself.
"The weight of two hundred and sixty jin suits me pretty well."
Zhou Yun hefted the great spear. Ordinary martial artists would struggle even to lift it, let alone hold it in both hands without gasping for breath.
Only those at the Bright Force stage or beyond, as well as martial artists like Zhou Yun with a solid foundation, could wield the great spear so effortlessly.
After all, not everyone used their blood and qi as if it were free. Most people steadily circulated it in their dantian, saving it for breaking through to a higher level.
"I'm a little hungry."
Zhou Yun felt his limbs growing weak, and hunger crept over him from head to toe. It was an aftereffect of intense martial training, and the only cure was food.
What was more, his head was swimming, and he was starting to stagger.
"The price of swinging a two-hundred-and-sixty-jin spear is that my body burns through blood and qi faster."
Zhou Yun rubbed his stomach and immediately headed for the Inner Courtyard dining hall.
"I get this hungry after every training session. Next time, I'd better eat something beforehand."
With that in mind, he quickened his pace and reached the dining hall in no time.
One good thing about the Inner Courtyard was that its dining hall never closed. The cooks took turns on duty, ensuring that the Inner Courtyard disciples could get a hot meal at any hour.
After all, the Inner Courtyard disciples were either of Three-Form Bone Structure or skilled Bright Force practitioners. Their martial training consumed many times more blood and qi than the Outer Courtyard disciples', so they absolutely needed enough food.
"Chef, three jin of stewed beef, cooked until it's nice and tender."
Zhou Yun called out at once.
The chef was quick with the food. Zhou Yun didn't have to wait long before a large bowl of steaming, tender stewed beef was brought over.
The savory aroma of meat simmered with nourishing herbs wafted toward him. The price was still very reasonable: just one string of coins.
Never mind the beef itself. The nourishing herbs used in the stew were already quite expensive.
Zhou Yun dug in. Seeing several Inner Courtyard disciples coming and going from the second floor, he couldn't help feeling a little envious.
He still remembered what Liang Chengshi had said, but he'd taken the offer to put meals on his tab upstairs as a joke.
The rare, expensive fish and exotic beasts were certainly tempting, but he couldn't casually put himself in someone's debt.
"Junior Brother Zhou, what a coincidence!"
Just then, a familiar person came down from the second floor.
It was Chen Jingping, who had sponsored Zhou Yun. He looked as if he'd just finished eating and was on his way down.
"Having power and influence really is nice," Zhou Yun sighed inwardly. But he stood and cupped his hands all the same. "Senior Brother Chen, long time no see."
"Junior Brother Zhou, why are you eating on the first floor? You can usually go to the second floor for nourishing meals that benefit martial artists. You're a martial artist sponsored by my Chen Family, so you're entitled to a twenty-percent discount."
Chen Jingping handed him a Chen Clan Token and said apologetically, "I forgot to give you this last time. That was my mistake."
"Thank you, Senior Brother. I don't pay much attention to food, so don't worry about it."
Zhou Yun answered politely, but inwardly he'd already made up his mind to check out the second-floor dining hall next time.
"You're too modest, Junior Brother... But since I've run into you here, it's rather convenient."
Chen Jingping smiled gently. "My Chen Family is going to face off against the White Phoenix Martial Hall in Black Stone County. It starts tomorrow. Would you be interested in going to watch?"
"Face off? What for?"
Zhou Yun asked.
"For some minerals used to forge weapons. You may not know about this yet."
Chen Jingping explained, "Those of us who practice martial arts have needs in four areas: pills, nourishing food, cultivation methods, and weapons."
"My Chen Family happens to forge weapons in Xiang City. We want to open a new ironworks in Black Stone County, but the mineral vein we need happens to overlap with the White Phoenix Martial Hall's territory."
"The White Phoenix Martial Hall is one of the three martial halls in Black Stone County, isn't it?"
Zhou Yun considered this, then couldn't help frowning as he asked, "If there's a conflict, couldn't you just send people to negotiate and resolve it? Why do you need to face off?"
"Because the mineral vein my Chen Family wants lies directly beneath the White Phoenix Martial Hall."
Chen Jingping smiled with quiet elegance.
Before you continue