Perfection

The next day.

Jiang Chen followed his rigorous training routine step by step.

He rose early in the morning to train for six hours, then spent another six hours standing in a horse stance in the afternoon.

With the aid of Blood Ginseng Powder, his martial arts qi and blood had increased gratifyingly, reaching 68%.

At this rate, he would be able to break through again tomorrow morning, reaching the late stage of the First Qi and Blood Gate.

The sky gradually darkened.

By evening, many disciples were leaving the Martial Arts Hall to return home.

Jiang Chen went to the cafeteria to finish his meal and ordered another portion of Blood Ginseng Powder.

"That kid drinks Blood Ginseng Powder every day; he must have at least dozens of taels of silver on him."

Several figures watched from not far away, their eyes red with envy; it was Zheng Hao and his cronies.

They had originally assumed that Jiang Chen's hard training was just for show and that he would soon revert to his old self.

But looking at the past two days, it seemed Jiang Chen had truly turned over a new leaf.

What made them even more jealous was Jiang Chen's daily expenditure.

Between the Blood Ginseng Powder and his meals, Jiang Chen was spending at least six taels of silver every day.

This was enough to show just how deep Jiang Chen's pockets were.

If that money could fall into their hands, they would be able to pay off their gambling debts.

"Jiang Chen, it's already evening, why are you still drinking Blood Ginseng Powder?"

Just then, Luo Yang walked over with his meal and couldn't help but speak up when he saw the Blood Ginseng Powder.

Even if Jiang Chen had a decent constitution, he couldn't handle such a toll.

Drinking Blood Ginseng Powder continuously might leave Medicine Toxin in his body, which would be a loss that outweighed the gains.

"I have no choice. I wasted too much time over the past half-year. If I want to catch up, I have to use ruthless methods."

Jiang Chen gulped down the hot soup.

He was able to improve his cultivation so rapidly, and the Blood Ginseng Powder deserved much of the credit.

"By the way, Zheng Hao and his group have been watching you."

As they ate and chatted, Luo Yang glanced at Zheng Hao and the others in the distance and offered a reminder.

"I know."

Jiang Chen had naturally sensed it.

Ever since he refused them last time, Zheng Hao and his group had been appearing from time to time.

There was no need to ask; they were definitely up to no good.

However, as long as he didn't leave the Martial Arts Hall, no matter what Zheng Hao and the others wanted to do, they could only stare helplessly.

Inside the Martial Arts Hall, anyone who resorted to violence would have their martial arts crippled.

"I heard they've been looking for people to scrape together money these past few days. Keep your guard up and be careful of getting ambushed," Luo Yang whispered.

Zheng Hao and his group usually spent their time either in brothels or gambling dens; they were likely eyeing Jiang Chen to extort money.

"They had better not get any ideas."

Jiang Chen smiled, not particularly concerned.

Although Zheng Hao and the others had entered the Second Qi and Blood Gate early, their strength was nothing special.

And at his current speed of cultivation, he would reach the perfection of the First Qi and Blood Gate by tomorrow.

Even if the difficulty of cultivation increased at the Second Qi and Blood Gate, it wouldn't take him long to break through.

By then, with his abilities, he could easily handle Zheng Hao and his group.

One had to remember that in his past life, he was a veteran of a hundred battles with extremely rich combat experience.

If Zheng Hao and his friends dared to provoke him, he wouldn't mind sending them on their way.

"Luo Yang, why didn't you go home today?"

After finishing the Blood Ginseng soup, Jiang Chen realized something and asked.

If he remembered correctly, Luo Yang disliked the communal dormitory at the Martial Arts Hall and went home to sleep every day.

"I don't know what got into the gangs in the East District these days, but they've been fighting every single day. In our Willow Catkin Ward alone, dozens of people have already died."

"Just to be safe, my father told me to stay at the Martial Arts Hall."

Luo Yang said with a helpless expression.

White Cloud County was divided into five districts, partitioned into East, South, West, North, and the Main District.

Within each district, there were "wards" of varying sizes.

Even the smallest "ward" is more prosperous than the towns outside.

With more people and more factions, conflicts and disputes naturally arise.

"I heard that the chaos in our East District has to do with the City Lord stepping down."

"Jiang Chen, isn't your Jiang Clan connected to the City Lord's Mansion? Do you have any inside information?"

Seeing that Jiang Chen was not very interested in these matters, Luo Yang asked curiously.

"Do you think that with my status, the clan would tell me such news?"

Jiang Chen chuckled.

He only possessed ordinary aptitude, so the clan had never held any expectations for him.

Among the younger generation of the Jiang Clan, it was likely only Jiang Xuan who could access core secrets.

"That's true."

Luo Yang nodded.

Although Jiang Chen had condensed his qi and blood, he was only at the First Qi and Blood Gate, not even as strong as Luo Yang himself, so the Jiang Clan naturally would not value him.

"I'm off."

Once the effects of the Blood Ginseng Powder kicked in, Jiang Chen walked quickly toward the Practice Field.

He trained until the Zi Hour, only then ending his day of arduous practice.

[Cultivation: First Qi and Blood Gate · Mid-stage 84%]

On the Myriad Dao Chart, his cultivation was getting closer and closer to the late stage of the First Qi and Blood Gate.

If he practiced for a few more hours tomorrow, he would be able to break through again.

The next day, Si Hour.

Boom!

As Jiang Chen stood in his stance with a calm heart, the martial qi and blood within his body surged once more, turning into a rolling heat that swept through his limbs and bones.

A surge of majestic vitality filled his entire body.

[Cultivation: First Qi and Blood Gate · Late-stage 0%]

On the Myriad Dao Chart, the cultivation column had changed.

"Three hundred jin of force!"

Jiang Chen clenched his fists, feeling the abundant martial qi and blood within him, unable to hide the smile on his face.

Less than ten days had passed since he awakened his intelligence.

In less than ten short days, he had already achieved such impressive combat power.

This naturally made him excited.

As long as he was given enough time, he would sooner or later reach the pinnacle of martial arts!

"Continue!"

After throwing a few punches into the air, Jiang Chen composed his thoughts and returned to his stance, entering a meditative state.

Upon reaching the late stage of the first gate, one must use martial qi and blood to temper the limbs and bones.

In a flash, it was the noon hour, with the scorching sun hanging in the sky.

[Cultivation: First Qi and Blood Gate · Late-stage 8%]

Jiang Chen retracted his fists and straightened his body, feeling the boiling qi and blood within him; his eyes were as bright as stars.

When he was at the mid-stage of the First Qi and Blood Gate, he could only take on a few grown men.

Now that he had stepped into the late stage of the First Qi and Blood Gate, he could easily take down a whole group of strong men.

A breakthrough in realm, besides an increase in strength, brought about a transformation in all aspects.

More importantly, at his current speed of cultivation, he would reach the perfection of the First Qi and Blood Gate by tomorrow.

By then, his Primordial Energy would be fully stimulated, and his overall combat power would soar once again.

The situation did not exceed his expectations.

On the third day, at dusk.

Boom!

A vast and lingering ancient sound echoed in Jiang Chen's mind.

[Myriad Dao Chart]

[Dao Master: Jiang Chen]

[Technique: White Ape Stance · Perfection]

[Cultivation: First Qi and Blood Gate · Perfection]

[Martial Art: Stone Moving Method · Perfection]

The Myriad Dao Chart bloomed with light, and the cultivation column shifted.

Finally, perfection!

Feeling the tyrannical qi and blood surging within his body, Jiang Chen's heart stirred with excitement.

The Primordial Energy had been thoroughly stimulated.

From this day forward, he would step into a new stage of cultivation.

"Senior Brother Sun."

Thinking of this, Jiang Chen hurried out of the Practice Field to find Sun Wu in the Inner Courtyard.

"You've reached perfection in the First Qi and Blood Gate?"

Sun Wu, having just finished his meditation, didn't react immediately upon hearing Jiang Chen's words.

When he returned to the Martial Arts Hall a few days ago, hadn't Jiang Chen said he had only just condensed his qi and blood?

How much time had passed since then, and he had already reached perfection in the First Qi and Blood Gate?

Even if he were drinking Blood Ginseng Powder every day, this speed was astonishing, wasn't it?

"Senior Brother Sun, pardon me."

Seeing Sun Wu's reaction, Jiang Chen spoke and threw his fists repeatedly toward him.

Bang, bang, bang...

Sun Wu snapped back to reality and blocked with one hand, easily neutralizing Jiang Chen's attacks as if he were playing with a small child; the two were simply not on the same level.

So this is the True Martial Realm!

The moment they made contact, Jiang Chen's heart skipped a beat.

His attacks landed on Sun Wu's hand like stones sinking into the ocean, unable to stir up even the slightest ripple.

There was no need to ask; Sun Wu's cultivation had already stepped into the True Martial Realm.

No wonder he was qualified to teach on behalf of their master.

"It really is perfection in the First Qi and Blood Gate!"

Seeing that Jiang Chen could throw dozens of punches in a row without changing his expression, Sun Wu's eyes gleamed.

Beyond reaching a strength of three hundred, as well as enhancements to defense, speed, and reaction, perfection in the First Qi and Blood Gate also granted astonishing stamina.

Judging by Jiang Chen's performance, he had indeed thoroughly stimulated the Primordial Energy and condensed it into martial qi and blood.