In the Study.
Master and disciple remained silent for a long while.
After some thought, Huang Sihai said earnestly, "You have good comprehension. Your martial constitution may be poor, but with diligent study and hard training, worshiping the second gate shouldn't be too much of a problem. As for Tiger Elephant... you can dare to dream."
Li Xiuwen had known Huang Sihai would say that. He smiled. "Don't worry, Master. I know my limits. Once I've reached my goal, I'll try to train on my own as much as possible."
Huang Sihai sighed. "All right. Take care of yourself."
Li Xiuwen did not hurry to leave. After a moment of silence, he scratched his head and smiled. "Master, I've finished those fish balls... Could I get another three or five, just in case?"
Huang Sihai laughed and scolded him. "You little brat... It really does go in one ear and out the other! Fine. Have it your way."
Huang Sihai took out five fish balls and handed them to Li Xiuwen. "Oh, right. The price has gone up. Fifty more per ball."
"Master, don't do this... You know I'm poor."
Huang Sihai snorted. "The ingredients cost more now. Did you think something that directly improves your cultivation could be made from ordinary ingredients? Whether it's rich meat dishes or the common medicinal tonics sold on the market, eating them won't instantly increase a martial artist's qi and blood cultivation. You still have to practice your stance diligently to convert the energy in that food into qi and blood, bit by bit. Only fish balls can build up qi and blood directly, saving you a great deal of hard work... Do you know why?"
Li Xiuwen had always wondered what the fish balls were made from, but Old Huang had refused to tell him before.
Having recently learned a few new things, he asked, "Master, could the ingredient in these fish balls be the legendary... wonder fish?"
He had recently finished the Arts and Anomalies Scroll and the Three Corpses Scroll of Miscellany from the Martial Tomb, and had begun its third volume, the Heavenly Treasures Scroll.
This volume described various things highly beneficial to cultivation that martial practitioners of old had encountered while traveling through mountains and rivers in search of ingredients for medicine.
Broadly speaking, they fell into four categories:
Rare fowl, exotic beasts, wonder fish, and treasures.
The first three corresponded to creatures that flew in the sky, ran on land, and swam in the sea.
The last category encompassed all manner of things, including heavenly materials and earthly treasures, thousand-year-old medicinal herbs, and mysterious iron from beyond the heavens.
In short, all four categories were rare finds. Without knowledge passed down through generations and methods for locating hidden treasures, an ordinary person could spend a lifetime searching without finding any.
There was "chenghuang grass," which could extend one's lifespan when eaten,
"Heluo trout," which could improve one's swimming ability when consumed,
And "Tuo dragon blood," which could grant innate strength when used in medicinal baths.
There was also the "coo-coo bird," which could make one's body as light as a swallow when eaten.
These things grew stranger and stranger, to the point that Li Xiuwen read about them purely as tales of the supernatural.
After all, Miscellany from the Martial Tomb was a mixture of truth and fiction, and could not be trusted entirely.
Still, he felt that since the ancients had recorded them, even listing detailed instructions for consumption and their effects, there had to be some basis for the accounts.
Huang Sihai smiled. "Looks like you've learned quite a bit from Old Chen. You even know about wonder fish."
"Master, what do wonder fish look like? Let me broaden my horizons," Li Xiuwen asked curiously.
"Rare things like that are closely guarded secrets of the various martial arts halls... Are you buying or not? If not, get going," Huang Sihai urged.
Left with no choice, Li Xiuwen spent two thousand two hundred on four fish balls, leaving him with only six thousand.
If he kept practicing Hard Qigong, that money would only last him another month or two.
Cutting expenses was out of the question. Cultivating the Martial Way cost money. He could only find ways to earn more!
Before leaving, he asked, "Master, will the fish balls go up in price again? If they will, I'll stock up now."
Huang Sihai remained expressionless. "If I let you stock up, I'll earn less. Get lost."
"Sure thing. Getting lost now." Li Xiuwen chuckled and left.
Li Xiuwen had told no one else that he had reached the black membrane realm.
Huang Sihai had not publicized it either. After all, it was a private matter concerning Li Xiuwen's cultivation, and it also involved the contest for the Second Floor.
Thus, everyone else at the Martial Arts Hall thought Li Xiuwen was still at the purple membrane stage.
As the contest for the Second Floor drew closer, Liu Chun and Li Xiuwen became the last two people to leave the Martial Arts Hall each day, quietly competing with one another.
Liu Chun, in particular, refused to leave until she saw Li Xiuwen go.
Once home, Liu Chun also spent money hiring several sparring partners in the black membrane realm from other martial arts halls.
Each cost fifty a day. It was very expensive.
After all, they were black membrane experts, and they spent the entire day here.
Chun Liu had poured far too much effort and money into securing a place on the Second Floor.
"Chun, don't put so much pressure on yourself. If you don't make it this year, there's always next year. You're only sixteen." The middle-aged man had a large belly and a prosperous look about him.
"Dad, sixteen isn't that young anymore. Only by getting onto the Second Floor will I have a chance of entering the Community School next year. I'm still a long way from the peak where my qi and blood become permanently stable," Chun Liu said stubbornly.
"Ah, aren't there supposed to be no particularly formidable people at your Martial Arts Hall? Why is getting onto the Second Floor so difficult? If I'd known, I would've sent you to the Night Heron Martial Arts Hall instead."
"That was true before, but then Li Xiuwen joined. His martial constitution is poor, but his comprehension is good, and his fighting techniques are improving at an incredible pace... I can't match him."
"Should I hire someone to take care of him? Your dad still has some old friends in the gang." Murderous intent showed on the middle-aged man's face.
Chun Liu's expression changed dramatically, and she hurriedly said, "I want to defeat him fair and square. If you do that, I'll feel guilty and my mind won't be at ease. It'll affect my chances of passing the gate."
"You're still too kindhearted." The middle-aged man smiled and sighed. "I'll listen to you. I was only joking. How would I dare offend Master Huang?"
There were twelve days left before the contest for the Second Floor.
At the Sihai Martial Arts Hall,
Li Xiuwen finished his stance practice, squeezing the last trace of medicinal potency from the fish ball, and looked toward the [Incense Burner].
[Sea of Stake Training: major mastery (18%) → major mastery (20%)] [Stage: black membrane (18%) → black membrane (20%)]
He loosely clenched his fists. His muscles tightened, power concealed within that tiny space, poised to erupt.
Li Xiuwen let out a long breath and thought:
These ten or so days of cultivation have stabilized my black membrane realm. I've moved past the initial stage and finally built up some foundation.
In terms of cultivation, I've basically caught up with Chun Liu. Whatever small gap in qi and blood remains, my technique should be enough to make up for it.
Reality was not a game. When the gap was not too large, fighting was not simply a comparison of qi and blood. Far too many factors came into play. Their fighting techniques, luck, combat instincts, and resolve could all affect the final outcome. Every day, Li Xiuwen sparred with Chun Liu in the Great Void Illusion Realm. The illusion realm had simulated each and every one of her moves hundreds of times.
Even how many hairs Chun Liu had under her arms,
He knew that too.
No one in this world understood Liu Chun better than Li Xiuwen!
After his rest, Huang Sihai interrupted Li Xiuwen's thoughts.
"A Wen, someone's here to see you. A Straw Sandal from Hesheng Tu."
Behind Huang Sihai, a girl with dyed blond hair, hot pants, a little white midriff-baring tank top, and sunglasses walked in with her hands in her pockets.
She took off her sunglasses, revealing lively, animated eyes. She had an oval face, two little dimples, and smooth skin, and looked only fifteen or sixteen.
"I'm Little Loudspeaker. You're Li Xiuwen?" Chewing gum, the girl leaned against the wall and looked down at her canvas shoes as she spoke with a faintly roguish air.
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