The Ice-Cold True Qi

"Circulating the Fire Qilin's demonic poison to temper the body brings a sensation of agony, as if one were standing in a raging inferno. But now, with the icy chill of the Cold Flood Dragon's poison, the two can perfectly neutralize one another. They restrain each other like Yin and Yang; the scorching heat of the Fire Qilin is no longer a problem. Furthermore, I can utilize the Fire Qilin's demonic poison to temper my body."

Zhang He immediately realized that he could use the icy demonic poison of the Cold Flood Dragon to neutralize the scorching demonic poison of the Fire Qilin, thereby tempering his body. The Fire Qilin's demonic poison was highly effective for tempering, but its intense heat was unbearable. Now, with the icy demonic poison, he could dissolve that heat and exploit the poison's benefits for physical refinement.

After his body recovered, it had also undergone a round of tempering. When he absorbed the Cold Flood Dragon's demonic poison again, he clearly felt that the sensation was not as intense as it had been at the start. Because his physical constitution had grown stronger, he was naturally more resistant to the cold.

Zhang He's speed in absorbing the Cold Flood Dragon's demonic poison increased by a notch. After this second absorption, his True Qi rose by another thirty percent. Since the first absorption had already increased his True Qi by thirty percent, this new gain—built upon that previous foundation—meant that Zhang He had absorbed even more of the Cold Flood Dragon's poison than the first time.

Whenever his body grew numb from the cold, Zhang He would pause his absorption of the Cold Flood Dragon's poison and use the Fire Qilin's demonic poison to dissolve the chill within him, simultaneously tempering his body. It was the best of both worlds; Zhang He's True Qi grew continuously, and his physical constitution improved steadily.

As time ticked by, the blood-colored True Qi on Zhang He's skin grew increasingly dense. At first, that blood-colored True Qi could only circulate beneath his skin, but as his True Qi continued to grow, it was finally able to circulate across the surface of his skin.

"In the Blood Qi Realm, True Qi can only circulate beneath the skin. In the Body Protection Realm, True Qi can break free from the meridians and circulate directly upon the skin's surface. Although it is only separated by a thin layer of skin, the difference between the two is vast. Upon entering the Body Protection Realm, True Qi transforms into armor, and one's defensive power skyrockets; ordinary people with common blades would find it difficult to cause any harm."

Zhang He's eyes gleamed. He had not expected that after breaking through to the True Martial Realm, his advancement in cultivation would be so smooth. Not only had he successfully crossed into the Blood Qi Realm, but he had also ascended another level, reaching the Body Protection Realm directly! Moreover, the True Qi on Zhang He's skin at this moment was a true blood-red, a testament to how incredibly thick and potent his True Qi had become. At this moment, seven apertures had opened within Zhang He's body, and each aperture was equivalent to a Dantian. While others had only one Dantian to store True Qi—possessing at most the capacity of a single Dantian—Zhang He now possessed the equivalent of eight!

How thick and potent his True Qi must be! When such dense True Qi circulated to the surface of his body, the armor it formed was even more refined and solid. It looked almost like a physical entity, appearing both eerie and astonishing.

"An ordinary person in the Blood Qi Realm can exert twenty shi of force. An adult horse possesses ten shi of force, which is one horse-power. By calculation, an ordinary Blood Qi Realm cultivator can possess two horse-power! Once they reach the Body Protection Realm, their True Qi cultivation improves, and an ordinary cultivator's strength can reach four horse-power! My volume of True Qi is at least five or six times that of others. While physical strength is not directly proportional to the thickness of one's True Qi, there is still a related connection. The stronger the True Qi, the more powerful the physical body will be. I estimate that my current physical strength should be at least eight horse-power!"

Even within the Body Protection Realm, Zhang He's physical strength could reach eight horse-power—twice that of an ordinary Body Protection Realm cultivator! And this was merely a conservative estimate.

"The medicinal power of the Void Insight Pill has completely faded. Now that I have entered the Body Protection Realm, breaking through to the third stage, the Possession Realm, will require a massive amount of True Qi as a foundation. More importantly, it requires a certain level of control and comprehension of True Qi. For others, neither of these is easy; they require a great deal of cultivation to achieve. But for me, it is the easiest thing of all."

As a transmigrator, Zhang He had already reached the peak of the True Martial Realm in his previous life. With his wealth of experience, walking the path he had trodden before was something he could do with his eyes closed; it was incredibly easy. Regarding the control of True Qi, Zhang He did not need extensive practice because he already knew exactly how to control it to achieve the "possession" of his body.

"To break through to the third stage of the True Martial Realm, the Possession Realm, I only need to continuously improve my True Qi cultivation. I have only absorbed half of this Cold Flood Dragon Poison Pill; once it is fully absorbed, my True Qi will increase significantly, and breaking through to the third stage of the True Martial Realm will be no problem at all."

Zhang He was full of confidence. Having broken through to the Body Protection Realm, there was no need to be so anxious about the rest.

The constant absorption of the Cold Flood Dragon Poison Pill had been a task that consumed a great deal of mental energy. Now, Zhang He felt somewhat fatigued. Since he had already reached the Body Protection Realm, he could take the rest slowly.

"By the way, I wonder what the effect will be when I put all this absorbed Cold Flood Dragon demonic poison to use?" Zhang He suddenly thought of this question, his heart filled with curiosity. The Cold Flood Dragon's demonic poison possessed an icy attribute; when he absorbed it, he had nearly been frozen stiff by that bone-chilling cold. Now that it had been refined and absorbed by his Rejuvenation True Qi, the power it unleashed would only be stronger, not weaker.

At this moment, the sky in the east was already beginning to brighten.

Here in Mengyin City, because of its proximity to the mountains and forests, the humidity was very high. The temperature difference between day and night was relatively large, so there was mist in the mornings and evenings. Zhang He went straight into the courtyard, where the cowhide sandbag had already been mended by his clever mother. Because of the mist, the surface of the cowhide sandbag was damp.

"Wild Ox Horn!"

Zhang He executed this move once again. Wild Ox Horn was the technique in the Wild Ox Fist most suited for testing a person's strength. The Zhang He of today was no longer the same as in the past; as he unleashed the Wild Ox Horn, his fist speed was like a thunderbolt, and with a muffled thud, his fist landed directly on the sandbag.

The sandbag trembled slightly, as if brushed by a breeze. Such a fierce punch landing on the sandbag had only caused it to sway gently; anyone who saw this would have felt a sense of astonishment. However, when the fist struck the sandbag, a crackle sound came from the back of it, and the sturdy cowhide sandbag split open directly from the middle.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh. A fine stream of stone powder spilled out from the sandbag, quickly forming a small pile on the ground.

The sandbag had originally been filled with sand and gravel. When Zhang He struck it, the force penetrated into the interior of the sandbag, instantly shattering the sand and gravel inside and turning them into powder. His ability to strike through an object to hit the target behind it had improved once again. If he were to fight Wu Xuan again now, Zhang He could make Wu Xuan's body end up just like this sandbag with a single punch.

Not only that, but on the sandbag itself, the damp cowhide was already covered in a layer of hard ice. The surrounding mist condensed and turned into snowflakes, falling toward the ground.

A single punch had not only possessed terrifying destructive power but also carried a bone-chilling cold that turned the mist directly into snowflakes!

"The Rejuvenation True Qi absorbed the Cold Flood Dragon's demonic poison, so when I unleash it, it can also possess an icy attribute. A punch like this can turn mist directly into snowflakes, which shows just how cold it is. If I were to fight someone, once they were struck, it would affect their blood circulation, muscle movement, and even the circulation of their True Qi." Zhang He could foresee the impact that using the Cold Flood Dragon's demonic poison would have on an opponent during a fight. At the very least, it would slow their movements; in actual combat, sluggishness was enough to cost one their life.

This icy-attribute True Qi was absolutely a lethal weapon when fighting others!

However—

Zhang He looked at the ruptured sandbag again and frowned slightly, seemingly dissatisfied: "It's a pity that the attack power is still a bit weak; the full power of the Half-Step Blast Fist still cannot be unleashed. Only by cultivating to the first stage of the Rejuvenation True Explanation and opening all eight apertures can I possess the power of a critical strike and unleash the full force of the Half-Step Blast Fist. A punch like that would turn the entire back of the sandbag into dust, rather than just having a fist-sized tear like this!"

"Having absorbed those Cold Flood Dragon demonic poisons, I have now opened seven apertures. I am only one short of opening all eight, and then I can reach the first stage. Sigh, with the Cold Flood Dragon Poison Pill, I believe I can reach the first stage before the Martial Child Assessment!"

Zhang He already had sufficient confidence regarding the upcoming Martial Child Assessment.

The sun was bright on the wide, clean bluestone road.

Rum-rum, rum-rum. The carriage moved along, the wheels rolling over the stone slabs with a rhythmic sound. Mother Zhang sat inside the carriage, looking at the scenery receding outside with a look of confusion: "This should be the wealthy district, right? Where are you taking us?"

Early in the morning, Zhang He had found a carriage. Without saying what he was doing, he had simply brought Mother Zhang and his little sister, Zhang Yu, onto it. The driver seemed to know where to go; throughout the journey, he drove toward this area without needing Zhang He's guidance. Now that Mother Zhang saw the rows of luxurious houses around them, she couldn't help but mutter to herself.

"Please be patient, Mother. We will arrive in a moment, and then you will naturally understand everything." Zhang He smiled slightly, refusing to reveal the truth.

Seeing Zhang He being so mysterious, Mother Zhang couldn't help but shake her head with a smile. This boy was actually playing the mystery card with her.

A moment later, the carriage finally stopped, and the driver said respectfully: "Mr. Zhang, we have arrived at your mansion."

Zhang He jumped off the carriage. Mother Zhang and the others behind him heard the driver's words and looked up at the exquisite residence before them, immediately stunned. On the plaque at the entrance, the words "Zhang Mansion" were clearly written.

"What is going on here?" Mother Zhang looked at her son in confusion.

"This is our new home from now on. I know your doubts, but this house was obtained in a perfectly upright manner; you don't need to worry. I earned a little money, enough to afford a house like this. Mother, you have worked hard for so long; it is time for you to enjoy life! My little sister also needs a good living environment. As the only man in the family, I should do more for this home. Let's go in and take a look. If there is anything you are not satisfied with, we can find someone to modify it." Zhang He smiled.

Mother Zhang, however, furrowed her brows and stared at Zhang He, saying sternly: "The houses here are all worth a fortune. This one in front of us must cost at least a thousand gold coins! Where on earth did you get the money?"

"I mentioned to you before that I had a master who was an apothecary and taught me the skills of alchemy. Not long ago, when the Corpse Poison Beetle outbreak occurred, I refined the Five Poison Beads, which sold like wildfire and earned me a lot of money. I used that money to buy this house. So, you don't need to worry that the source of my money is improper." Zhang He explained patiently. He knew that if he didn't explain clearly, his mother would never go inside.

Hearing Zhang He's words, Mother Zhang was half-believing.

Zhang He gave a wry smile: "Please rest assured. In a moment, I will show you something else, and you will know that what I said is true."

Seeing her son speak this way, Mother Zhang said nothing more. The driver had been specially arranged by Wang Pengyu; after parking the carriage, he immediately stepped forward to open the door for Zhang He: "Mr. Zhang, our Young Manager is already inside and has prepared a banquet to celebrate your housewarming."

Hearing this from the side, Mother Zhang felt confused. Young Manager? Who was that?

Wang Pengyu was indeed thoughtful; everything had been prepared so meticulously. Zhang He nodded slightly and led his mother inside. As soon as they entered, what met their eyes was an exquisitely arranged garden with rockeries, waterfalls, and a pond filled with red carp. It was all there, and among it all, a large number of flowers were competing in beauty, their fragrance hitting the nose.

Mother Zhang was fine, as the environment she had lived in before was no worse than this, but Zhang Yu had left the Wang family since birth and had only known hardship; she had never seen such a beautiful setting. With wide eyes, she cheered and leaped at the sight of butterflies fluttering by, and upon spotting the red carp in the pond, she immediately ran to the Nine-Turn Bridge, curiously gripping the railing and leaning over to peer inside. Zhang He was so startled that he immediately followed, shielding Zhang Yu to keep her from falling into the water.

Seeing this scene, Mother Zhang could not help but sigh. Her two children had suffered too much by her side; she had failed to provide them with a good life, yet now her son had proven his worth and actually built such an estate.

"Haha, Zhang He, you've finally arrived. Madam, I am the manager of the Wang Family Pharmacy. On this joyous occasion of your housewarming, I have brought a small gift, and I hope you will do me the honor of accepting it." Wang Pengyu suddenly emerged from around the corner, laughing heartily as he presented a gift box with both hands.

Because he had opened up the market for the Wang Family Pharmacy in Mengyin City, Wang Pengyu's status had been elevated, and he had become the head of the Mengyin City branch. All of this was thanks to Zhang He's Five Poison Beads.

Mother Zhang looked at Zhang He with a puzzled expression. Zhang He immediately stepped forward to introduce him: "Wang Pengyu is the manager of the Wang Family Pharmacy and also my friend. The money I earned came through the Wang Family Pharmacy; truth be told, he has helped me a great deal."

Mother Zhang suddenly understood.

Wang Pengyu chuckled, "That's not quite right; in truth, it is you who have helped our Wang Family Pharmacy a great deal." As he spoke, Wang Pengyu looked at Mother Zhang and offered his congratulations, "Madam, you have raised a fine son. Pharmacist Zhang is not only highly skilled in alchemy but also incredibly filial. He went to great lengths to acquire this residence, all so that you would no longer have to suffer and could finally enjoy a comfortable life."

Wang Pengyu sang Zhang He's praises in front of Mother Zhang. As parents, everyone loves to hear others compliment their children.

Hearing Wang Pengyu's words, Mother Zhang beamed with joy, though she modestly replied, "Hehe, thank you. My Zhang He is hardly a pharmacist; isn't it all thanks to your patronage? If anything, I should be the one thanking you." Mother Zhang was a woman of experience and knew a thing or two about the business world. Often, merchants spoke only to please, and one could not take everything at face value. She assumed Wang Pengyu was saying this purely to gild Zhang He's reputation.

"Zhang He isn't considered a pharmacist?" Wang Pengyu shook his head. "If he isn't a pharmacist, then there are no pharmacists in all of Mengyin City. Madam, you may not know this, but Zhang He is now the youngest Iron-Rank Pharmacist in the Pharmacist Association!"

"What? An Iron-Rank Pharmacist of the Pharmacist Association?" Mother Zhang clearly knew of the Pharmacist Association, and upon hearing Wang Pengyu's words, she could not help but be stunned.

Pharmacists within the Pharmacist Association held esteemed positions and were individuals whom any great family would strive to recruit. Her own son was actually an Iron-Rank Pharmacist of the Pharmacist Association?