The Way to Make Money (Revised)

In the courtyard, Zhang He stared at the yellow-black sandbag before him. This sandbag was bound with cowhide and filled entirely with crushed sand and stone. It served multiple purposes, used both for strength training and for tempering the body.

He took a light breath, his body suddenly whipped around, his left leg lunged forward, and his torso pressed downward. His hands, which had been hanging at his sides, clenched into fists and suddenly sprang into motion.

"Wild Ox Horn!"

His arms surged upward, thrusting out violently from below. A fierce, imposing aura suddenly erupted from Zhang He's body. Wild Ox Horn was the third move of the Wild Ox Fist.

The Wild Ox Fist was a first-grade martial art used specifically in the Martial Child Academy for young students to loosen their joints and bones. Consequently, this set of techniques was mostly for show and lacked sufficient power for actual combat.

Yet now, this ordinary Wild Ox Horn move was executed by Zhang He with the ferocity of a tiger!

Two afterimages streaked through the air. The next moment, the cowhide sandbag before him gave a slight jolt, followed by two muffled thuds.

It was a move of great momentum, yet upon landing on the cowhide sandbag, it only caused the bag to tremble slightly. Anyone else watching would surely have laughed. However, if they were to inspect the cowhide sandbag, their jaws would drop in shock.

Two clear fist imprints had appeared on the cowhide, the edges of which were torn, leaking sand. This specially crafted cowhide sandbag had been doused in water; even a blade would struggle to cut through it. Now, after Zhang He's two punches, not only were there two distinct imprints, but the bag had actually been ruptured, spilling sand.

That required terrifying explosive power!

"Without six hundred pounds of force, there is no way to break this cowhide sandbag. Six hundred pounds—that is the seventh stage of the Force Martial Realm, something only achievable once one has formed a True Qi seed."

Zhang He licked his lips, staring at the sandbag before him.

The Force Martial Realm consisted of nine stages: Health Preservation, Tendon Opening, Strength Building, Skin Tempering, Bone Refining, Marrow Refining, True Qi Seed, Godspeed, and Brute Force. These nine stages could be roughly divided into three major phases. In the first three stages, one could exert two shi of force—the strength of a sturdy man—but no matter how one trained, one remained a mere mortal.

Only upon entering the Skin Tempering Realm could one become different from the common folk.

"Skin Tempering Realm, three shi of force. Bone Refining Realm, four shi of force. Marrow Refining Realm, five shi of force."

However, those in the middle three stages were still only slightly superior to ordinary people, capable of working as guards for wealthy households.

"True Qi Seed, eight shi of force—three shi more than the Marrow Refining Realm! The Godspeed Realm allows one's running speed to rival a fine steed. The Brute Force Realm further elevates one's strength to ten shi!"

The final three stages began with the True Qi Seed. Anyone who reached the True Qi Seed stage before the age of eighteen was hailed as an elite genius. Because cultivating True Qi before eighteen signaled great potential, with high hopes of reaching the fourth stage of the True Martial Realm!

Those in the final three stages could become officers in the military, enjoying a status of great respect.

Zhang He looked at his own fists, which were already red and swollen, throbbing with a dull ache. He couldn't help but offer a wry smile.

"By utilizing True Qi, the destructive power of a single punch reaches the level of the seventh stage of the Force Martial Realm, but my body is still too fragile. This punch is a case of 'killing a thousand enemies while suffering eight hundred in return'."

A punch could injure an opponent, but he would be injured as well. Although Zhang He had cultivated True Qi, his physical body had not yet been tempered and remained at the third stage of the Force Martial Realm, making it quite fragile.

Feeling the thin wisp of True Qi within him, Zhang He smiled bitterly again. He focused his mind to circulate the True Qi, wrapping it around his fists, and only then did the pain subside.

"The amount of True Qi is too low right now. To unleash this Wild Ox Horn with such power, I can use it at most three times before the True Qi I worked so hard to cultivate is completely exhausted!"

With the meager amount of True Qi currently in his body, he could only perform such a move three times in succession before running dry.

"Fragile body, low True Qi... I still need to work hard."

Zhang He stretched his body and tidied up his things. He heard movement coming from inside the house.

The door creaked open.

"Mother, are you feeling any better?"

Mother Zhang emerged from within. Although her complexion was still somewhat pale, she had regained a bit of vitality.

"Much better. What kind of medicine did you give me? It's so effective."

"Er... it's a formula I learned at the Martial Child Academy," Zhang He lied casually.

"Brother!" Zhang Yu rubbed her eyes as she came out of the room. Seeing Zhang He, she immediately ran over with a grin, reaching out to be held.

Zhang He picked up Zhang Yu at once.

"Brother, why have you become so pretty?" Zhang Yu's large eyes looked at Zhang He in confusion. Her small hand brushed back his bangs, revealing that the birthmark there was gone.

Mother Zhang also suddenly noticed that Zhang He was smiling brightly, looking every bit the handsome youth.

"Little sister, 'pretty' is for praising Mother. To praise Brother, you must say I'm 'handsome,' understand? Come, say it again." Zhang He teased Zhang Yu with a smile. Having consumed the Ten-Perfect Dominant Qi, which cleansed the marrow and cut the bones, he had developed a sense of Qi, naturally purging the impurities accumulated in his body. It was only natural that he looked radiant now.

"Brother is so thick-skinned!" Zhang Yu giggled.

Mother Zhang stood to the side, looking on in astonishment. In her heart, the birthmark on Zhang He's forehead had been a heavy burden.

"He-zi, how did your birthmark... disappear?" Mother Zhang asked, her face full of wonder.

"The medicine I gave you yesterday can purge toxins. The birthmark on my forehead was also a buildup of toxins. So, taking that medicine helped me clear it away." Zhang He thought to himself that the Five Poison Beads were indeed capable of detoxifying and beautifying the skin.

"I never expected this medicine to be so miraculous. Back then, I spent so much effort..." Mother Zhang suddenly stopped, refusing to continue.

Zhang He smiled. He knew his mother was referring to the time when she was still the First Lady of the Wang Family. Back then, Zhang He was called Wang He, the eldest legitimate son and young master of the Wang Family. Ever since his mother had left the household with him when he was young, he had been nothing more than a common martial child. Perhaps fearing she would touch upon his pain, she had stopped speaking.

"He-zi, the potatoes in the pot are still warm. Let's not cook this morning; just make do with those," Mother Zhang said softly.

Zhang He nodded. Seeing his mother move to tidy up the ingredients for salted vegetables, his expression shifted slightly. He immediately put Zhang Yu down, stepped over quickly, and stopped her.

"Mother, you cannot work right now. You need to properly recover your health. Everything at home is up to me."

"Silly child, if I don't make the salted vegetables, how will we have money to eat? Your body has only just recovered; you mustn't move around too much, you need to recuperate!" Mother Zhang was stubborn. She pushed Zhang He aside, intending to continue her work, but her vision suddenly went black. She staggered, and had it not been for Zhang He's quick reflexes in catching her, she would have fallen to the ground.

"Mother, you have been overworked for a long time, and your body is weak. After being bitten by that venomous insect, you nearly never woke up again. Do you want Little Sister and me to be without a mother?" Zhang He said sternly, helping Mother Zhang onto the bed. "Everything at home is my responsibility. We still have money for now; resting and recovering your health is the most important thing."

"Mother~" Zhang Yu tugged at Mother Zhang's clothes, looking pitiful.

"Sigh..." Mother Zhang offered a bitter smile. She knew her own condition well, but she simply couldn't just lie there.

A sharp glint flashed in Zhang He's eyes. I cannot let Mother suffer any longer. If there is no money at home, I will go earn it! As soon as he thought of making money, thousands of grand schemes flashed through his mind. He quickly settled on an excellent plan: "I have the True Qi Condensing Liquid, something that anyone at the sixth level of the Force Martial Realm would covet. As long as I take it out to sell, people will surely scramble to buy it!"

According to Zhang He's memories, he knew the bitterness of cultivation. In this world, the concept of True Qi Condensing Liquid seemed not to exist. Even for cultivation geniuses, condensing a True Qi seed relied entirely on one's own ability to sense and gather Qi; thus, the success rate for forming a True Qi seed was incredibly low.

But with the True Qi Condensing Liquid, the probability of successfully condensing Qi into a True Qi seed would be greatly increased.

Zhang He immediately made up his mind.

On the main street, Zhang He followed the clues in his memory, searching for his target among the various shops.

"Biyuan Pavilion."

The three large characters caught his eye. The information beneath the plaque told Zhang He that this place purchased medicinal pills. He looked over and saw many people bustling in and out of the entrance.

Biyuan Pavilion was a very famous shop in Mengyin City. Many martial children from the Martial Child Academy came here to buy pills, so it had left a deep impression on Zhang He.

"It really is a thriving business; so many people are here to buy medicine." Zhang He felt a flash of amazement as he looked at the crowd at the door.

A large crowd meant Biyuan Pavilion had a large business. The larger the business, the more discerning the people at Biyuan Pavilion would be. Zhang He had absolute confidence in the True Qi Condensing Liquid and was certain he could sell it for a very high price.

As Zhang He stepped inside, the discussion of several people reached his ears.

"I heard these poisonous insects are called Corpse Poison Beetles, and they all flew in from the mountains to the west. Some hunters in West Mountain were bitten to death while hunting. Now, many hunters are fleeing, not daring to return to the mountains."

"Sigh, this is truly a disaster. It is said that anyone bitten by those Corpse Poison Beetles is doomed to die."

"Isn't it said that the Rejuvenation Pill has some effect? As long as one's constitution is strong enough, there is a certain chance of surviving it."

"The Rejuvenation Pill is not a panacea. Taking it can only alleviate the symptoms, not eradicate the poison. Even Physician Qin, with his miraculous hands, couldn't purge the poison using his True Qi. He's already exhausted himself to the point of collapse. Sigh, this is truly a natural and man-made disaster!"

Corpse Poison Beetle? What a strange name. Zhang He's expression shifted slightly, a thoughtful look appearing on his face. It seems Mother being bitten was no accident. These poisonous insects are unusual, and there are quite a few people who have been bitten.

Zhang He immediately noticed two people in the crowd supporting a middle-aged man with a sallow, gray complexion. At a glance, Zhang He could see that the man's symptoms were exactly the same as those Mother displayed after being bitten by the insect.

Zhang He immediately understood: these people waiting in line must be here to buy life-saving medicine!

A sharp light flashed in Zhang He's eyes. Now, I should be selling the Five Poison Beads.

This juncture was the perfect time to sell the Five Poison Beads. If people knew that the Five Poison Beads could purge the poison of the Corpse Poison Beetles and save their lives, they would surely scramble to buy them.

Zhang He immediately strode toward the interior of Biyuan Pavilion.

"What? The price of one Rejuvenation Pill is three gold coins? Are you trying to rob me? A few days ago, wasn't a Rejuvenation Pill only one gold coin? You can't raise the price this fast."

An indignant voice came from ahead.

"Hearts are filled with panic now; the Rejuvenation Pill is becoming priceless and hard to find. A price hike is only natural. My friend, you tell me: is money more important, or is your life?" The person selling the medicine inside didn't get angry, merely offering this advice.

"Sigh, give me three!" The customer sighed and pulled out the money.

Zhang He's expression couldn't help but shift slightly. A single Rejuvenation Pill is actually selling for three gold coins?

Three gold coins, which was three thousand silver coins, was what an ordinary farming family of three would have to toil for an entire year to earn without eating or drinking. Even Mother Zhang could only earn one gold coin after a year of hard labor.

Zhang He looked at these people; those coming here to buy medicine were all well-dressed, clearly wealthy or noble.

The Rejuvenation Pill cannot cure the root cause, but the Five Poison Beads can completely eradicate the illness. The Five Poison Beads have great 'money' prospects!

Zhang He felt even more confident in the Five Poison Beads.

"Hey, go to the back of the line to buy medicine." A voice rang out as a young clerk looked at Zhang He with an unkind expression. Seeing Zhang He's tattered clothes, a look of clear contempt appeared in his eyes.