Testing the Blood Surge Pill on Site

Jia Lie Ku stood quietly, waiting for the crowd's discussion to gradually subside.

"All of you are mercenaries who travel far and wide, crossing mountains and valleys. You must understand how important it is to raise your strength by a minor realm in a short time when facing a life-or-death situation."

Jia Lie Ku smiled. "To give everyone a more direct understanding of the Blood Surge Pill's effects, I'll arrange for someone to test the medicine on the spot."

He pointed at the boulder and the log. "These are props I specially had prepared."

As soon as he finished speaking, a man walked up to the boulder.

He was a guard from the Jia Lie Clan. The badge on his chest showed that he was a six-star Dou Fighter.

The man looked at Jia Lie Ku. After seeing him nod, he turned his gaze to the boulder, took a deep breath, and threw a punch.

"Hah!"

The boulder trembled slightly from the blow, leaving behind a fist imprint.

The man repeated the same action, leaving a slightly deeper fist imprint on the log.

Another Jia Lie Clan member stepped forward and measured the two imprints.

"Green Rock fist imprint: two fingers deep. Iron Essence Wood fist imprint: two and a half fingers deep," he announced loudly.

Jia Lie Ku looked at the sea of people and pointed at the man who had punched. "Jia Mu Li is the captain of the marketplace. Everyone should know him. He cultivates a high-grade Yellow-tier technique and is a six-star Dou Fighter."

After introducing the man, he looked toward the crowd. "If anyone doubts that he didn't use his full strength, you may send out another six-star Dou Fighter who cultivates a high-grade Yellow-tier technique."

After a pause, he smiled. "Don't worry, your effort won't go unrewarded. You'll receive one Blood Surge Pill."

Hearing that two punches could earn them a first-grade pill, the crowd instantly erupted. Countless people raised their hands and shoved forward, scrambling to be first.

A mercenary near the front rushed to the boulder first. "Sorry, everyone, but this Blood Surge Pill is mine. My name is Ironhead. I'm a six-star Dou Fighter, and I cultivate the Iron Fist Art."

Several companions beside him spoke up to vouch for him.

"Go ahead." The man recording the test data took two steps back.

Ironhead smiled, then clenched his fist and struck out seriously.

Two more fist imprints appeared on the boulder and the log in succession.

"Green Rock: two fingers. Iron Essence Wood: two and a half fingers." After measuring them, the man announced the results loudly.

Jia Lie Ku took out two small jade bottles and tossed one each to Jia Mu Li and Ironhead.

"Thanks." Ironhead opened the bottle and took a sniff. Satisfied, he cupped his hands toward Jia Lie Ku before returning to the crowd.

Jia Mu Li poured out the pill and swallowed it. Within a few breaths, his skin rapidly flushed red. It was as though the blood in his body had begun to boil, and a surging force welled up within him.

"Hah!" The veins in Jia Mu Li's arms bulged as he threw two punches with all his strength.

A three-finger-deep fist imprint was left on the Green Rock, while the imprint on the Iron Essence Wood deepened by another finger.

After hearing the results, everyone stared intently at Jia Mu Li and silently counted the time. After around five minutes, the bloody redness faded from his body. He swayed unsteadily, as if completely drained of strength.

At that moment, Jia Lie Ku's voice rang out. "The price of taking the Blood Surge Pill is that you won't be able to use dou qi for three days, and your body will enter a weakened state."

"Only being unable to use dou qi for three days—what kind of price is that?"

"Compared to death, if three days can buy back your life, it's completely worth it."

"We have to keep one on us. Better safe than sorry."

Upon hearing that there were side effects, the mercenaries were not surprised. On the contrary, they quickly accepted them.

If taking a Blood Surge Pill in the face of danger could raise their strength and resolve the crisis, then everything was worth it.

Besides, the Blood Surge Pill would not prevent them from cultivating in the future or stop them from breaking through their realms.

"I'm sure everyone is curious about the price of the Blood Surge Pill. Don't worry, I'll tell you now. Buying one Blood Surge Pill only costs..." Seeing the eager expressions on everyone's faces, Jia Lie Ku was overjoyed, as though he could already see the pills being snatched up frantically.

Just then, a voice interrupted him.

"You only let your own people test the pill. Who knows whether its effects are really that good? Unless you let someone else try it too?"

Who was that? Who was speaking?

Jia Lie Ku frowned slightly and looked toward the source of the voice, but there were too many people. He could not identify the speaker at once.

After that shout, a commotion broke out in the crowd.

"That makes sense. If you can't use dou qi for three days, who would buy one just to test it right away?"

"Exactly. If it's expensive, people will definitely save it for a critical moment."

"Right, right. If there really is a problem, anyone who bought one might already be dead by then, with no way to seek justice."

Behind a closed window, Ao Ba Pa listened to the voices filtering through the crack and secretly felt pleased.

If the Blood Surge Pill was really as good as Jia Lie Ku claimed, it would definitely sell like wildfire in Wu Tan City.

Then Jia Lie Bi might actually be able to repay that borrowed money within the allotted time.

I don't want to watch the marketplace I already have in hand get returned. At the very least, I can't let the Jia Lie Clan have such an easy time.

Looking at the chaotic crowd, Jia Lie Ku felt a headache coming on.

It was not that he was afraid to let others test the pill. The Blood Surge Pill's effects were genuine, so he was not afraid of scrutiny.

The problem was that the other party was clearly trying to stir up trouble.

Even if he found someone else, they would claim that person was a plant—unless he found someone who could leave them speechless.

Jia Lie Ku's mind raced as he considered a solution, his eyes sweeping around.

Suddenly, a figure entered his sight.

Got it!

Jia Lie Ku's eyes lit up. He raised both hands and shouted, "Everyone, quiet down and listen to me. I overlooked something in the testing process. How about this? I'll invite one person from the Xiao Clan and another from among all of you to test it again. Is that acceptable?"

After a few seconds of silence, the crowd agreed to Jia Lie Ku's proposal.

It had long been no secret that the Jia Lie Clan and the Xiao Clan were like fire and water in Wu Tan City because of their business rivalry.

"Captain Pei En, do you dare take a Blood Surge Pill?" Jia Lie Ku called out to the person he had chosen.

The man standing at the entrance of the Xiao Clan Market froze for a moment. He was the captain of the Xiao Clan Market's guard team and utterly loyal to the Xiao Clan.

Having suddenly been called by name, Pei En had yet to react before countless gazes focused on him and voices urged him to agree.

"Pei En, go try it." A stern voice came from behind him.

He turned around and hurriedly said, "Pei En greets the Clan Head."

Xiao Zhan's square face was dark and grim. Three Xiao Clan elders stood behind him.

Seeing that even the Clan Head agreed, Pei En did not hesitate any longer and walked straight toward the entrance of Jia Lie Marketplace.

"Fatty, how about I be the other one?" A rough voice rang out from the crowd.

A bearded man stepped forward.

"Hao Qiang, shouldn't you be at your own tavern? What are you doing here joining the fun?" Jia Lie Ku frowned when he recognized him.

This man was highly famous among Wu Tan City's mercenaries. Years ago, he had won over many mercenaries through his strength. Unfortunately, an injury had damaged his foundation, leaving his cultivation stuck at the nine-star Dou Fighter level, unable to advance any further.

Hao Qiang said flatly, "What, a nine-star Dou Fighter is still a Dou Fighter. Didn't you say any Dou Fighter who takes it can rise by one minor realm? I want to experience what it feels like to be a Dou Master. Is that not allowed?"

"Brother Hao! Brother Hao!"

The mercenaries shouted in unison, their enthusiasm soaring.

Jia Lie Ku was left unable to respond to his retort. He narrowed his eyes, and a dangerous glint flashed through them.

In truth, Jia Lie Bi had never said whether the Blood Surge Pill could temporarily raise a nine-star Dou Fighter to a one-star Dou Master.

What he had said was that the Blood Surge Pill could raise one's strength by one minor realm.

Jia Lie Ku had specifically emphasized Dou Fighters because this was only a first-grade pill.