Bloodforging Powder

At Greenwood Martial Hall's training ground, Zhou Muyun finished a full set of Flurry Fist, drenched in sweat.

"Senior Brother Zhou, here's a towel."

The somewhat green young man handed the towel to Zhou Muyun.

The youth was named Zhang Yu. He had joined the martial hall only half a month ago. Both his parents were fishermen; his family was slightly better off than Zhou Muyun's, but they were still poor.

According to Greenwood Martial Hall's rules, new disciples were taught by senior disciples, so Zhang Yu had naturally been assigned under Zhou Muyun.

After wiping away his sweat, Zhou Muyun said evenly, "How has your training progressed recently? Have you been practicing Flurry Fist properly?"

"Reporting to Senior Brother, I have, but there are some parts I don't really understand."

"Show me."

Zhang Yu hastily adjusted his stance and began earnestly demonstrating Flurry Fist before Zhou Muyun.

Once Zhang Yu had finished, Zhou Muyun pointed out his flaws while demonstrating the moves himself.

"Watch carefully. Windblown Catkin Dance emphasizes blending the feint with the real. Your footwork is too empty; an opponent could easily knock you down. And Dry-Clothes Touch requires you to release and withdraw your strength freely..."

Zhang Yu listened while practicing along at the side. The more he practiced, the greater the respect on his face became.

"Senior Brother Zhou, you're amazing. I feel like none of the other senior brothers in the martial hall explain things as well as you do! With just a few words from you, I already feel the difference. I wonder when I'll become as formidable as you."

"Heaven rewards diligence. Study hard, train hard, and never slack off!" Zhou Muyun replied with a hint of admonition.

"I'll remember it, Senior Brother!"

After continuing to guide Zhang Yu for a while, Zhou Muyun washed up and left the martial hall.

He wanted to visit Hundred Herbs Pharmacy and see whether they had any medicines effective for body refinement.

Now that the Seven-Colored Glazed Body had reached the Copper Skin Realm, relying on his own qi and blood alone made cultivation far too slow.

The cultivation method also mentioned that supplementing it with medicinal herbs or ferocious beast blood could greatly accelerate his progress.

Zhou Muyun made his way familiarly to Hundred Herbs Pharmacy and walked straight inside.

"Esteemed customer, what do you need?" A shop assistant immediately came up to him.

"Please let Little Four know. I'm acquainted with him," Zhou Muyun said calmly.

"Certainly, esteemed customer. I'll call him right away." The assistant was not offended; after all, it was perfectly normal for customers to have familiar attendants.

While the assistant went to call Little Four, Zhou Muyun surveyed Hundred Herbs Pharmacy once more.

The shop was still filled with medicinal fragrance, customers and attendants bustling everywhere—especially that group of enforcers.

"Four Viscera Refinement Realm martial artists, all at mid-stage or above! What an extravagant display."

Looking at the four enforcers whose auras were all stronger than his own, Zhou Muyun secretly clicked his tongue.

In Yunlin County, those at the Viscera Refinement Realm were either constables of the authorities, retained experts of influential families, or the very backbone of martial halls.

Yet Hundred Herbs Pharmacy had four of them stationed here long-term, and none were mere newcomers to Viscera Refinement. They truly had money to burn!

"Esteemed customer, so it's you. Are you buying Qi-Blood Powder again today?"

When Little Four saw Zhou Muyun, his tone immediately became familiar.

Over this recent period, Zhou Muyun had come to Hundred Herbs Pharmacy two or three times to purchase Qi-Blood Powder, and every time, he had sought out Little Four.

Familiar people handled familiar business. That was also why Zhou Muyun had named him specifically.

"That's right, but I'd like to ask whether the shop has any medicine effective for body refinement."

"Medicine for body refinement?" Little Four pondered briefly, then said, "Body refinement is painful and progresses slowly, so very few people choose it. Thus, our shop has relatively few related medicines.

"However, we do have two kinds: Bone-Tempering Paste and Body-Tempering Liquid."

"What is the difference?" Zhou Muyun pressed.

"The effects are roughly similar. Bone-Tempering Paste is applied to the body and only causes a mild warming, prickling sensation. It is gentler, at two taels of silver per box.

"Body-Tempering Liquid, on the other hand, stings like burning when applied to the body, making it hard to endure. Naturally, it is cheaper, costing only one tael of silver per bottle."

Little Four explained slowly.

Pain was naturally nothing to fear for him. After calculating briefly, Zhou Muyun made his decision.

"Give me four packets of Qi-Blood Powder, and four bottles of Body-Tempering Liquid."

"Please wait a moment, esteemed customer. I'll fetch them right away."

Before long, Little Four returned to Zhou Muyun with the medicines and handed them over.

"That will be six taels of silver in total, esteemed customer," Little Four said respectfully.

The Body-Tempering Liquid came in small ceramic bottles. Zhou Muyun pulled out a stopper and sniffed it, catching a sharp, pungent odor.

The Qi-Blood Powder was still in small packets, but he discovered there were two extra packets.

"I only asked for four packets. Why did you give me six?"

Hearing this, Little Four gave a faint bitter smile. "Esteemed customer, you may not know this, but a medicine called Bloodforging Powder has appeared on the market these past two days.

"Its effects are similar to Qi-Blood Powder, but it costs only half as much.

"The owners of Hundred Herbs Pharmacy are unwilling to lower prices casually, so we have no choice but to use this measure—buy two packets and receive one free."

After hearing Little Four's words, Zhou Muyun nodded, but inwardly began to calculate.

"Half the price, with the same effects.

"Wouldn't that mean one tael of silver could buy four packets of Bloodforging Powder? I should go see what exactly is going on with this medicine."

Besides, even Hundred Herbs Pharmacy had been forced to respond.

That was enough to show that the medicine was not problematic and had already spread throughout the county.

After all, martial artists in Bone Tempering, Viscera Refinement, and even the Blood Exchange Realm all used medicines like Qi-Blood Powder.

Bloodforging Powder had undoubtedly touched Hundred Herbs Pharmacy's cheese. Zhou Muyun believed that, behind the scenes, the pharmacy's owner had definitely already begun to strike back.

But that was none of his concern. So long as it could increase his strength, Bloodforging Powder and Qi-Blood Powder were one and the same.

After collecting the medicines, Zhou Muyun left Hundred Herbs Pharmacy.

Not long after he stepped outside, a man dressed as a peddler approached and began hawking Bloodforging Powder.

Zhou Muyun was not surprised. The quickest way to seize customers was naturally to wait like a hare by someone else's storefront.

He bought one packet of Bloodforging Powder from the man and left.

As for why he did not buy more, he still found it somewhat strange. The same effects for half the price.

No matter how he looked at it, that sounded like a business that would barely make money. He planned to take it back and ask his master, Li Qingliang.

As the master of a martial hall, Li Qingliang had traveled far and wide for many years and had broad knowledge. Perhaps he might know something.

When Zhou Muyun returned to Greenwood Martial Hall, he did not go directly to find Li Qingliang. That was treatment reserved for personal disciples.

Though he had already broken through to Viscera Refinement, no one besides himself knew it yet.

Since that was the case, he chose to train at the practice ground instead. He believed others would not be able to tell, but Li Qingliang certainly would.

If not today, then tomorrow. In any case, using Qi-Blood Powder was the same for him.

Time trickled away second by second. Sweat once again soaked through his clothes as Zhou Muyun freely poured out his sweat upon the training ground.

[Willow Stake Mastery (2/2400)]

[Willow Stake Mastery (3/2400)]

...

Before he knew it, evening had arrived, and the vast martial hall gradually emptied.

Soon, Zhou Muyun was the only one left on the training ground.

He had long grown accustomed to it and continued training tirelessly.

Li Qingliang emerged from the rear courtyard. Tonight, he intended to pay an old friend a visit.

As he walked into the front courtyard, Zhou Muyun's back as he trained caught his attention.

"It's that lad. Nearly four months now, and he is still this diligent. Such a temperament is rare and precious. No, wait..."

Observing Zhou Muyun's aura and his practiced movements, Li Qingliang could not help but form a thought.

"Could this lad have broken through to the Viscera Refinement Realm?"

He quickly came behind Zhou Muyun and asked slowly, "When did you break through to the Viscera Refinement Realm?"

"This disciple was fortunate enough to break through yesterday."

Zhou Muyun had long noticed Li Qingliang's arrival. He withdrew from his stance and answered with neither servility nor arrogance.

"Yesterday?" Li Qingliang narrowed his eyes slightly, though a trace of surprise rose in his heart.

With Ding Zhong's bone structure, reaching the Viscera Refinement Realm in less than four months—could this boy possess extraordinary comprehension?

Or was this the reward for his usual hard work?

Once again, a faint desire to nurture talent rose within him.

But it swiftly died away. He had already taken Bai Yu as his final disciple; cultivating Zhou Muyun further would inevitably invite criticism.

Sighing inwardly, Li Qingliang said gently, "It was no easy feat. Come with me."

With that, he turned and headed toward the rear courtyard, with Zhou Muyun following behind.

Li Qingliang thought that since he could not properly cultivate him, he could still offer a few small favors.

Upon reaching the rear courtyard, Zhou Muyun stood respectfully within the yard.

Li Qingliang entered the room. Before long, he emerged holding three bottles of pills and said slowly,

"These are Foundation-Stabilizing Pills. They are greatly beneficial to cultivation at the Viscera Refinement Realm. Your family circumstances are poor, and training in martial arts must not have been easy for you in ordinary times. Consider this a small reward from your master."

"Thank you, Master." Joy appeared on Zhou Muyun's face as he respectfully accepted them.

He knew about Foundation-Stabilizing Pills. Hundred Herbs Pharmacy sold them for twenty taels of silver per bottle. He had truly struck it rich this time.

"I have seen your diligence and hard work in ordinary days. I hope you will continue to maintain it and never become arrogant."

Li Qingliang changed the subject, offering the advice with earnest gravity.

"This disciple understands and will heed Master's teachings.

"By the way, this disciple purchased a medicine today called Bloodforging Powder. It costs half as much as Qi-Blood Powder.

"Others say its effects are the same, but this disciple is uncertain whether the medicine is safe.

"I respectfully ask Master to help this disciple examine it."

"Certainly. Let me have a look."

Zhou Muyun took out the Bloodforging Powder, placed it upon both palms, and respectfully presented it to Li Qingliang.

Li Qingliang accepted the Bloodforging Powder from Zhou Muyun, opened it, dipped out a little, and put it into his mouth.

After savoring it carefully, a strange glint flashed through his eyes. He said in a grave voice, "Where did you buy this medicine?"