"You brat, you really know how to open your mouth like a lion!"
Su Jianguo was speechless.
Liu Huixian was helpless too.
Pills and Spirit Weapons.
Both were worth a fortune.
Spirit Weapons were manageable enough. After all, they were weapons for self-defense; as long as they were not damaged, they could be used indefinitely after purchase.
Pills were different.
These things started at several Gold Coins apiece. The pricier ones could cost hundreds or even millions, and they were gone once consumed—the very definition of a money furnace!
"But since you've asked, your dad can't be stingy."
Su Jianguo directly pulled a white porcelain bottle from his pocket. "These are the Blood Nourishing Pills the group gives me every month. There are three in total. I haven't taken them yet, so you can use them first."
Su Zhan knew about Blood Nourishing Pills.
On the market, one pill cost at least 1 Gold Coin.
They were one of the pills Martial Artists used to aid Qi and Blood cultivation, and could even serve as hard currency.
Three Blood Nourishing Pills a month—Dad's company was pretty reliable!
Jade Body: "Pills! Boss, I can sense the aura of pills!!"
Basic Qi and Blood Method: "I can sense it too. It should bring considerable benefits; the results definitely won't be bad!"
Su Zhan smiled. "Don't worry, there's enough for everyone!"
Su Jianguo pulled out another Bank Card. "This card contains all my savings from all these years. I bought a High-grade Spirit Weapon some time ago and spent quite a bit. There are only 320 Gold Coins left in it now. They're all yours... For your living expenses from now on, use your mother's for the time being."
320 Gold Coins!
Su Zhan was delighted.
How many pills and Spirit Weapons could that buy?
Then Su Jianguo took a longsword wreathed in a flowing azure glow out of the room. "I need my current Spirit Weapon for missions. This is the Primary Spirit Weapon I used before... But I remember you seem to specialize in sabers? Forget it, take it anyway. Use it if you can; if not, you can exchange it for some Gold Coins."
Nine Fire Saber: "A Spirit Weapon! A real Spirit Weapon! I'm drooling, Boss. Let me eat a Spirit Weapon!"
Su Zhan said, "Does it still help if your saber technique eats a sword-type Spirit Weapon?"
Nine Fire Saber: "Of course! I can eat any type of Spirit Weapon! Even armor-type ones!"
Su Zhan suddenly understood.
Weapon techniques craved weapons and had almost no desire for anything else.
Body Tempering Techniques craved pills and enhancers, and likewise had almost no desire for anything else.
Su Zhan's understanding of what his techniques needed to devour grew much clearer.
"Xiaozhan, your dad's abilities are limited."
Su Jianguo sighed. "Pills that can alter aptitude and cleanse the tendons and marrow start at hundreds of thousands each. Even if I worked myself to death, I couldn't afford one."
"But if you want to strive for the Martial Sciences exam, then I'll fulfill your wish and let you give it your best shot."
Su Jianguo's words warmed Su Zhan's heart.
At the same time, his confidence soared.
With so many resources helping him, let alone striving for the Martial Sciences exam, he might even have a chance at Qing Martial University or Bei Martial University!
And there was another crucial piece of information: among pills, there were ones capable of changing aptitude!
Su Zhan could not afford such expensive pills right now.
But with his cheat in hand, the future was bright.
Once his aptitude improved, there was no doubt that all his techniques' cultivation speeds would soar along with it... By then, he would only grow stronger even faster!
"Thanks, Dad!" Su Zhan grinned. "I'll work hard and give you all a surprise!"
Neither Su Jianguo nor Liu Huixian took those words seriously.
After all, with Lowest Grade aptitude, it would be difficult for him to even become a Martial Artist in this lifetime, much less strive for the Martial Sciences exam.
"Xiaozhan, don't put too much pressure on yourself over Linger."
Liu Huixian comforted him. "Forget about meeting on Saturday. Your father and I will talk to them about it. Whether they agree or not doesn't matter. In my heart, my son is the best!"
Right.
Only then did Su Zhan remember that he had a fiancée. They were supposed to meet this Saturday and settle the matter.
But now that his Lowest Grade aptitude had been revealed,
this marriage was probably hanging by a thread.
Just as well.
If the marriage fell through, then so be it.
He needed to get pills and Spirit Weapons for his techniques first. Taking off was what mattered!
"Also, Xiaozhan, Dad needs to remind you: don't have too much contact with Lin Jinyu from now on," Su Jianguo cautioned.
"Don't worry, Dad. I know my own place." Su Zhan smiled. "But since you specifically warned me, did something happen to her recently?"
"I heard she was tested recently too. She has Commander Rank aptitude!"
Whoa!
Su Zhan was stunned.
Aptitudes were divided into [Lowest Grade], [Low Grade], [Ordinary Grade], [Master Rank], [General Rank], [Commander Rank], [Marquis Rank], and [King Rank]... corresponding respectively to the Martial Artist rank system: Quasi-Martial Artist, Martial Artist, Martial Master, Martial General, Martial Commander, Martial Marquis, and Martial King.
Commander Rank aptitude meant that Lin Jinyu had a high chance of entering the ranks of Martial Commanders in the future, becoming one of the top great figures!
Once she became a Martial Commander,
she could become the person in power of the Lin Group in the future and rise to the clouds.
Lin Jinyu's father, Lin Fanlong, was the head of the Lin Group, one of the three major groups in Base City No. 108, and a genuine Martial Commander!
Two Martial Commanders from one family.
The gap between Su Zhan and her could not have been greater. It was fine if he stayed away, but getting involved would only invite trouble!
After repeatedly warning Su Zhan and confirming that he truly had no thoughts about Lin Jinyu, his parents finally left for work with peace of mind.
Su Zhan was left alone at home.
He glanced at the system notifications that were frantically popping up:
"Ding! Jade Body wishes to devour 1 of your Blood Nourishing Pills. Allow?" "Ding! Basic Qi and Blood Method wishes to devour 1 of your Blood Nourishing Pills. Allow?" "Ding! Nine Fire Saber wishes to devour 1 of your Primary Spirit Weapon longswords. Allow?" "Ding!..."
Clearly, the techniques were all impatient, practically going crazy with urgency.
Su Zhan: "Alright, don't rush. One at a time—everyone will get a share!"
Su Zhan: "Basic Qi and Blood Method is the big brother, so he goes first!"
Jade Body: "No problem. Let big brother go first!"
Basic Qi and Blood Method: "Boss, thank you!"
The excitement of Basic Qi and Blood Method was evident between the lines.
"Allow!"
With a thought from Su Zhan,
"Ding! Basic Qi and Blood Method devoured 1 of your Blood Nourishing Pills. Cultivation accelerated threefold. Current Cultivation Multiplier: 4!"
Hiss—
One Blood Nourishing Pill had directly accelerated it by three times?!
Although Su Zhan had expected the increase to be substantial, he was still thoroughly shocked by the result and sharply drew in a breath.
A bottle of Qi and Blood Enhancer had only brought a 10%, 0.1-times increase.
Based on the ratio of one bottle of Qi and Blood Enhancer costing 20 Silver Coins and one Blood Nourishing Pill costing 1 Gold Coin... even ten bottles of Qi and Blood Enhancer, costing 2 Gold Coins, could at most reach 100%—an increase of only one time.
But one Blood Nourishing Pill directly accelerated it by 300%, threefold. It had completely blown past the limit!
A pill truly was a pill.
It was ferocious!
Jade Body: "Big brother, how is it? Is the Blood Nourishing Pill's effect strong?"
Basic Qi and Blood Technique: "Strong! Very strong! Extremely strong! Based on my own feeling, my cultivation speed is now at least four times what it was before!"
Basic Qi and Blood Technique: "At the current pace, I only need around twenty-five days at the fastest to break through to Intermediate Grade!"
Nine Fire Saber: "Holy shit?!"
Jade Body: "Holy shit?!"
Before you continue