That night, Zhou Muyun sorted out the medicines and silver according to the list Xu Rou had given him.
Thirty Blood Qi Pills, two tubes of Blood-Tempering Paste, and a total of fifty taels of silver.
The Blood Qi Pills were an upgraded version of Qi-Blood Powder, with better medicinal effects.
Blood-Tempering Paste was likewise better than Body-Tempering Liquid, though it was still far inferior to the Blood Crystal Stone Leng Tong had given him.
He only needed another hundred taels to pay off the debt on the house.
Zhou Muyun calculated that he should be able to gather it before the Martial Hall Tournament.
With so many more medicines useful for training all at once, he would no longer need to worry about supplies for a while.
Moreover, he had not been injured while exchanging punches with Long Qian during the day, so he planned to continue training now and test these new medicines along the way.
First was the Blood-Tempering Paste.
It was a pale red ointment. Zhou Muyun spread it evenly over his limbs and torso.
Then he immediately began circulating the body-tempering method of the Seven-Colored Glazed Body.
Before long, an even more intense stabbing pain than that caused by Body-Tempering Liquid swept through his entire body.
After training for so long, Zhou Muyun's endurance had grown much stronger.
He let sweat soak his shorts and drip onto the ground, yet did not make a single sound of pain.
Stimulated by the medicinal paste, the cultivation method circulated at tremendous speed.
Zhou Muyun felt the blood throughout his body rushing rapidly as well. Dark impurities slowly seeped from his pores, releasing a fishy, foul stench.
These were impurities within his blood. The second level of the Seven-Colored Glazed Body, the Iron Bone Realm, possessed the effect of cleansing the marrow and tempering the bones.
[Seven-Colored Glazed Body—Iron Bone Stage (2/1200)] [Seven-Colored Glazed Body—Iron Bone Stage (3/1200)] ...
Very soon, half an hour passed, and the medicinal paste was completely absorbed and refined.
Zhou Muyun went to the well, drew a bucket of cool water, and washed the black impurities from his body.
Under the moonlight, even the skin that had been tanned from martial training had lightened by several shades.
He glanced at the increase in proficiency.
[Seven-Colored Glazed Body—Iron Bone Stage (20/1200)]
One tube of Blood-Tempering Paste could only add twenty points, yet it cost four times as much as Body-Tempering Liquid.
Then what if he used Body-Tempering Liquid instead?
With that thought, he took out a bottle of Body-Tempering Liquid and gave it a try.
In less than a quarter of an hour, the effects of the Body-Tempering Liquid had vanished. He looked at his proficiency again.
[Seven-Colored Glazed Body—Iron Bone Stage (22/1200)]
Seeing that one bottle had only increased it by two points, Zhou Muyun had an idea.
As body tempering deepened, the supplementary medicines required would probably have to become better and better.
He decided that tomorrow, he would inform Leng Ni and exchange the Body-Tempering Liquid for Blood-Tempering Paste.
After two rounds of body tempering, he had consumed a great deal of qi and blood. Zhou Muyun took out a Blood Qi Pill and swallowed it.
The pill entered his stomach, and a gentle force of qi and blood instantly flowed through his internal organs before filling his limbs.
His fatigue was swept away, his qi and blood became abundant once more, and Zhou Muyun even felt more energized than before he had started tempering his body.
As expected of an enhanced version of Qi-Blood Powder, he marveled again.
Sure enough, no matter where one went, money was what let one recognize quality goods.
If not for the Leng Household's support, and if he had not possessed a Destiny Pattern, then on this path of martial arts, he likely would not have advanced even half a step.
Just then, midnight arrived, and Zhou Muyun sank his mind into the panel.
[Heaven Rewards Diligence; diligence never goes unrewarded. Diligence Points are settled daily.] [Root Bone: Ding Middle (1/500)] [Comprehension: Ding Upper (1/1000)] [Willow Stake, Major Mastery (45/2400)] [Flurry Fist, Minor Mastery (15/1200)] [Seven-Colored Glazed Body—Iron Bone Stage (22/1200)] [Diligence Points: 28]
Recently, an idea had taken root in his mind.
With the support of all kinds of medicines, his progress in martial arts was no longer slow.
Meanwhile, Bai Yu's outstanding Root Bone talent made his martial training even faster than Zhou Muyun's, and he received more attention as a result.
Comprehension was vague and intangible, but Root Bone was something solid and real.
Once they entered a sect, people would likely be divided into ranks and classes based on that as well.
Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding—Zhou Muyun intended to raise his Root Bone to Bing at the very least.
As for Comprehension, he would consider that after improving his Root Bone.
Withdrawing his gaze from the panel, Zhou Muyun took out the remaining Blood-Tempering Paste and tempered his body once more.
His training rhythm was now fixed. During the day, he practiced Willow Stake and Flurry Fist; at night, he cultivated the Seven-Colored Glazed Body.
Gritting his teeth, he let sweat and impurities emerge as his body tempering progressed steadily.
The autumn wind was bleak, stirring the golden willow branches in the courtyard. They rolled like waves, brimming with autumn's richness.
Half a month had passed since his exchange of punches with Long Qian.
Zhou Muyun stood in the training ground, his feet planted firmly in the earth as though they had taken root. His upper body swayed like willow branches drifting in the wind.
He had completely grasped the essence of Willow Stake. All that remained was patient refinement, and he would advance steadily.
[Willow Stake, Major Mastery (270/2400)]
Beside him, Zhang Yu watched Zhou Muyun's movements with a face full of admiration and began imitating him.
Not only Zhang Yu—even many of the new disciples in the courtyard were the same.
Born into poverty, possessing outstanding strength, and treating others kindly.
Zhou Muyun now enjoyed great prestige among the new disciples of Greenwood Martial Hall. He had become a role model to many.
After one round of stance training, Zhou Muyun withdrew his movements and prepared to rest for a while.
"Senior Brother Zhou, here's your towel. You're everyone's role model now!"
As always, Zhang Yu handed Zhou Muyun a towel to wipe away his sweat. His admiration, coupled with Zhou Muyun's genuine and earnest guidance, had made him Zhou Muyun's number one fan.
"Junior Brother Zhang, how is your Willow Stake practice?"
Zhang Yu's talent truly was ordinary. To help him break through into the Tempered Bone Realm sooner, Zhou Muyun had advised him to focus solely on Willow Stake and set Flurry Fist aside for now.
He was also aware of this matter of being a role model, and tacitly accepted the thoughts and actions of these disciples.
Having also been born into poverty, he knew that everyone needed someone like him to look up to.
Or perhaps they needed a beam of light to illuminate their lives, letting them see hope.
Study diligently and train bitterly, and in the end, one would achieve something.
Though he himself had only come this far because he had a Destiny Pattern.
"Not bad. I should be able to make a push for the Tempered Bone Realm by the end of the month!"
At the mention of the Tempered Bone Realm, Zhang Yu's face brimmed with excitement.
Seeing that expression, Zhou Muyun caught a glimpse of his former self.
His thirst for strength, his longing for the future.
"Very good. Junior Brother, let me tell you—when you attempt to break through into the Tempered Bone Realm, you must make sure to adjust yourself to your very best condition..."
Zhou Muyun patiently shared all of his own experience with Zhang Yu, pointing out the crucial details.
"Thank you, Senior Brother."
After listening, Zhang Yu hurriedly gave him a deep bow in thanks.
Experience was incomparably important, especially when Zhou Muyun had explained it in such detail.
"You're welcome. We're fellow disciples. We should help one another."
Just then, Leng Ni walked over. She wore a light-colored training outfit today, and there was a trace of irritation on her face.
"Junior Brother Zhou, I have something to discuss with you. Is this convenient?"
"Of course," Zhou Muyun replied.
Zhang Yu was tactful as well. Seeing Leng Ni approach, he stepped aside and continued training.
The two came to the resting area, and Zhou Muyun spoke first.
"What is it, Senior Sister Leng? You seem somewhat irritated."
Leng Ni had not expected Zhou Muyun's observations to be so meticulous. She froze briefly, then revealed a faint bitter smile.
"Junior Brother Zhou, to be honest, I have an important favor to ask."
"What is it?"
"I would like to ask Junior Brother to oversee our medicinal herb shop in West Market. Would you be willing?"
In a rare gesture, Leng Ni bowed slightly, her face filled with entreaty.
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