Peak Bright Force

Xu Qing walked out of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School. He hadn't learned much that afternoon, only gaining a basic understanding of martial arts from Zhang He.

Also.

The Azure Hawk Force and Eagle Claw Skill at the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School did not have any manuals or secret texts. Xu Qing would need to go to the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School every day to be taught by Zhang He, move by move.

"Please wait a moment."

At this moment.

Xu Qing heard someone call out to him. He looked up and saw another student from the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School. The student wasn't old, appearing to be only fifteen or sixteen, a thin young man.

"What is it?"

Xu Qing asked.

"Young Master Ye wants to see you."

The young man said.

"Young Master Ye? Who?!"

Xu Qing asked.

"The third young master of the Ye family, Ye Langtian."

The thin young man replied.

Immediately.

Xu Qing got a general understanding from the young man. Young Master Ye was the young master of the Ye family. The Ye family was a wealthy merchant family, and while not comparable to the Jiang family, they were quite influential in the outer city.

Therefore.

Many of the outer court students at the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School were taken in as followers by Ye Langtian. The reason for stopping Xu Qing was simple: he wanted Xu Qing to become his follower.

"I'm not interested."

Xu Qing waved his hand and turned to leave.

"He doesn't know what's good for him."

After finding out, Ye Langtian merely said indifferently. He wouldn't go out of his way to cause trouble for Xu Qing over something like this. In Ye Langtian's eyes, Xu Qing was a nobody. Letting Xu Qing be his follower was showing him favor, a stroke of luck for Xu Qing.

If Xu Qing refused, it could only mean he lacked the fortune.

A person without fortune could naturally not achieve greatness.

On the other side.

Xu Qing wanted to continue staying in town, or go back to fight underground black boxing, live at the underground black boxing venue, or find a hotel.

Ideally, he would rent a place.

So.

Xu Qing decided to rent a place.

For this purpose.

Xu Qing specifically went to the underground black boxing venue and found Yu Chen. Through Yu Chen's introduction, he met a real estate agent. Following Xu Qing's requirements, they found a house for rent.

Because Xu Qing was living alone and his finances were not abundant, the house he found was very ordinary, but the rent was not cheap, costing five taels of silver per month.

Moreover.

It had to be paid every three months.

Finally.

Xu Qing paid three months' rent, which was fifteen taels of silver. Added to the thirty taels for tuition and some other miscellaneous fees.

Xu Qing's ninety-three taels of silver were reduced to only forty taels.

In the evening.

In the bedroom.

"I really don't have enough money!"

Xu Qing looked at the remaining forty taels of silver in his hand and couldn't help but sigh. "I spent over forty taels of silver in one go, and the remaining money won't last long."

The expenses for practicing martial arts were simply too high.

Just considering food alone.

After practicing martial arts.

Three meals a day were necessary, with fish and meat in every meal. Sufficient nutrition was essential to avoid depleting the body.

For example, before.

Xu Qing ate at the canteen of the underground black boxing venue, and one meal cost one tael of silver. Now, Xu Qing's appetite was even larger, and one tael of silver was not enough.

And this was just the beginning.

In fact.

According to Coach Zhang He, once a martial artist developed Force, ordinary food would no longer be sufficient to support the daily consumption and training of the martial artist.

"Spirit Food" is a must.

The Azure Hawk Martial Arts School has "Spirit Food" called Tai Sui Spirit Meat. One jin costs ten taels of silver, but it can sustain a day's consumption and martial arts training, and it's also very beneficial for practice.

The ten taels of silver tuition fee only covers the status of an Azure Hawk Martial Arts School student and the path to cultivating Azure Hawk Force and Eagle Claw Skill.

Many other aspects require a lot of money.

"So," Xu Qing said, "with the forty taels of silver I have, I can only buy four jin of Tai Sui meat, which will only last me four days. Even with ordinary food, I spend five taels of silver a day."

"I need to make money! I really need to make money!"

In the evening.

Xu Qing completed ten full sets of Eight Extremities Fist and couldn't continue, his face a little pale, having expended a lot of physical and mental energy.

[Eight Extremities Fist LV3: 10/40.]

"Still thirty more times to go," Xu Qing said. "I'll continue tomorrow."

Time flew.

The next day.

In the morning.

Xu Qing woke up early, ate ten meat buns and drank three bowls of soy milk at a breakfast shop outside, barely filling his stomach before heading to the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School.

Today.

Xu Qing officially began learning Azure Hawk Force.

Yesterday.

Zhang He had already tested Xu Qing's physical fitness and strength, which had reached the level required to cultivate Azure Hawk Force. He didn't need to temper his body like other students.

Time passed quickly.

The day was soon over.

In the evening.

Xu Qing had learned most of the incantations and mysteries of Azure Hawk Force. Zhang He had only taught him the first part, which could only cultivate Bright Force. As for Eagle Claw Skill, it was a complete fighting method, but it was also quite ordinary, not much different from the Eight Extremities Fist Xu Qing had already mastered.

"Instructor Zhang, I'd like to buy a jin of Tai Sui Spirit Meat," Xu Qing said.

"Oh," Zhang He glanced at Xu Qing and smiled. "You've only just started practicing martial arts, and you want to eat Tai Sui Spirit Meat? Alright, follow me."

Martial arts school warehouse.

"Old Man Xiao."

At the entrance.

Xu Qing saw an old man with white hair squatting in a corner. He had set up a chessboard in front of him and was playing against himself.

Zhang He bowed respectfully.

"Something wrong?"

The old man didn't even look up, his mind completely focused on his chessboard.

"A student wants to buy Tai Sui Spirit Meat."

Zhang He said.

"Give me the money, and you can get the spirit meat from the warehouse yourself."

Old Man Xiao said.

"Xu Qing."

Zhang He called out.

"Yes."

Xu Qing stepped forward quickly, took out ten taels of silver, and placed them respectfully in front of Old Man Xiao. After confirming it was correct, Zhang He entered the warehouse and retrieved a piece of Tai Sui Spirit Meat.

Throughout the entire process.

Old Man Xiao didn't say a word to Xu Qing, and Xu Qing didn't have the right to enter the warehouse to get the meat.

"Here you go."

Zhang He handed the Tai Sui Spirit Meat to Xu Qing.

"Thank you, Instructor Zhang."

Xu Qing's expression showed a hint of joy as he took the Tai Sui Spirit Meat. It was a square piece of spirit meat, shaped like a brick, wrapped in oil paper.

In the evening.

Xu Qing returned to his residence.

First.

Xu Qing lit the kerosene lamp, took out paper and pen, and recalled the Azure Hawk Force and Eagle Claw Skill he learned at the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School that day. He then wrote them down completely, word for word.

Time passed.

Until deep into the night.

Xu Qing finally finished memorizing the Azure Hawk Force and Eagle Claw Skill.

"Phew..."

Xu Qing breathed a sigh of relief, his face filled with exhaustion. He glanced at the sky outside the window, which was already deep into the night. "Finally, I'm done memorizing it."

"It's not enough."

Xu Qing shook his head. "I've only studied for one day, and I'm only one-third of the way through the Azure Hawk Force and the first part of the Eagle Claw Skill. At this rate, it will take me another two days to memorize the complete Azure Hawk Force and the first part of the Eagle Claw Skill."

"No rush, no rush."

Xu Qing said.

Next.

Xu Qing put down the paper and pen, took out the Tai Sui Spirit Meat, and lifted the oil paper, revealing the bright red meat inside. It looked like beef, with snowflake-like marbling, and emitted an alluring aroma.

According to Coach Zhang He.

Tai Sui Spirit Meat was best eaten raw. If cooked, some of its nutrients would be lost. Moreover, Tai Sui Spirit Meat had no unpleasant taste when eaten raw and tasted good.

After thinking about it.

Xu Qing did not choose to eat it raw. Instead, he found an iron plate, placed it over the fire, and grilled the Tai Sui Spirit Meat in the style of a steak.

Sizzle...

The Tai Sui Spirit Meat sizzled as it cooked, releasing an incredibly tempting meaty aroma that almost made Xu Qing drool. After grilling it to medium-rare, Xu Qing stopped.

Next.

Xu Qing feasted on the Tai Sui Spirit Meat. The deliciousness bloomed on his taste buds, and his mouth was slick with oil. In a flash, Xu Qing finished it all.

"Delicious! So delicious!"

Xu Qing's eyes were shining. "As expected of Spirit Food!"

Buzz! Buzz!

At the same time.

After the Tai Sui Spirit Meat went down, he clearly felt a surge of warmth spreading from his abdomen to all parts of his body.

Inevitably.

The slight weakness and fatigue Xu Qing had felt these past few days completely disappeared.

"So good! So refreshing!"

Xu Qing laughed heartily.

"Eight Extremities Fist!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Without hesitation.

Xu Qing leaped up, struck a pose, and began to punch rapidly. His movements were powerful, and his fists generated strong winds. He practiced for a full three hours before he was drenched in sweat, with steam rising from his head.

[Eight Extremities Fist LV3: 25/40.]

"Almost there, I'll be able to level up again soon."

Xu Qing smiled.

The next morning.

Xu Qing woke up early. After washing his face and brushing his teeth, he didn't need to eat breakfast. The Tai Sui Spirit Meat he ate last night had not been fully digested yet. One jin of Tai Sui Spirit Meat could support a Bright Force martial artist's daily consumption and training.

Azure Hawk Martial Arts School.

Xu Qing arrived early and continued to learn the first part of the Azure Hawk Force and the Eagle Claw Skill from Coach Zhang He, diligently memorizing the incantations for the Azure Hawk Force and the movements of the Eagle Claw Skill.

Evening.

Xu Qing found Zhang He again and spent another ten taels of silver to buy a jin of Tai Sui Spirit Meat from Old Man Xiao. He brought it home, grilled it to medium-rare, and devoured it.

Subsequently.

Xu Qing then memorized the first part of the Azure Hawk Force and the Eagle Claw Skill he had learned that day.

"Eight Extremities Fist."

Boom! Boom!

Xu Qing continued to practice his boxing. He couldn't practice the Eight Extremities Fist at the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, so Xu Qing had to practice it at home in the evening. In the blink of an eye, another three hours passed.

[Eight Extremities Fist LV3: 40/40 (Upgradeable!)]

"Good."

Xu Qing's eyes lit up, a slight excitement in his voice. "Finally, I can upgrade Eight Extremities Fist again."

"Upgrade."

Xu Qing said.

Bzzzt!

As soon as he spoke.

The Omni-Codex flashed with fluorescence.

[Eight Extremities Fist LV4: 0/80 (...)]

At the same time.

Xu Qing felt his consciousness enter a mysterious space once more. Within this space, he continuously practiced Eight Extremities Fist, deducing and innovating upon it.

Boom!

It was like a sudden enlightenment for Xu Qing. Eight Extremities Fist became increasingly powerful in his hands, and the Bright Force within him faintly reached a peak.