After seeing everyone off, Yang Sheng had a brief chat with his father.
He lightly edited what had happened today, leaving out the dangerous parts and telling his father only the outcome.
After all, there was no benefit in letting his father know how perilous his recent experiences had been. His father could not help him and would only worry himself sick. He might even do something foolish in his panic.
Like borrowing money and giving it to Li Yan again.
When Yang Sheng said that he had successfully passed the school's test today, Father Yang was overjoyed.
"My son has really made something of himself. So many people came looking for you just now. I could tell they all wanted to... what was it... sign you. Sign a contract with you."
"I don't really understand these things, but I completely respect your choice. You have your own plans, so do whatever you think is right. Your dad supports you."
Yang Sheng picked up the water on the table and took a sip.
"Dad, your son can make money now. You have to believe me. What I told you before is slowly coming true. Just stay home and rest properly these days. This is a critical time. Only when you're safe and sound can I train with peace of mind."
Yang Sheng's reasoning was not without merit. He had just defeated Li Ya, and his personal reputation at Bay City Martial Arts High School had already reached an extremely high level.
His fame had spread through this test.
The more he stood in the spotlight, the more likely he was to attract attention.
The people coming to him now were all offering friendly contracts, but who knew what dangerous things might come looking for him in the future.
It was always wise to prepare for danger in times of peace.
"Alright, Dad will listen to you. You've grown up now. It's time for you to take charge of this family."
Yang Sheng took out ten thousand yuan from his pocket.
This was the reward he had received for advancing his rank in the Stellar Martial Arts Match System. He had withdrawn it while buying Great Medicine that afternoon.
He had originally planned to use the money for household expenses, so he had not spent it when buying the Great Medicine.
"Tomorrow, tidy up the living room a little. Buy a bigger coffee table and some more chairs. There may be many more visitors in the future. It won't look good if everyone has to stand when they come over."
Father Yang held the money in his hand.
"Alright. Your Martial Arts Entrance Exam is coming up soon, so I won't drive passengers around these days. I'll stay home and get things in order."
After settling these trivial matters with his father, Yang Sheng returned to his room.
With a thought, the progress bar appeared.
[Dark Force Initiation (1/500)]
Seeing the number five hundred, Yang Sheng could not help drawing in a sharp breath.
Bright Force Initiation had required only one hundred progress points.
And at that time, he could gain one point of progress with almost every punch.
But now, reaching Dark Force Initiation actually required five hundred progress points.
Moreover, he had gone through a battle today, yet his progress had increased by only one point.
It could be said that advancing in Dark Force was several times, even dozens of times, more difficult than advancing in Bright Force.
"No wonder Li Yan had to supplement his training with Great Medicine every day after reaching Great Completion of Bright Force. Training itself had become secondary."
He laid out the Great Medicine he had bought today one by one on the bed.
Blood Essence Grass was the cheapest, and he had bought the most of it.
It was somewhat like a health potion in a game, capable of quickly replenishing stamina and restoring energy.
Yang Sheng knew that Li Yan and Li Ya often consumed Blood Essence Grass.
One stalk of Blood Essence Grass could keep them full of energy and in top condition for an entire day.
He had also seen Ironthread Vine and Copperbone Flower before, but he had never seen anyone consume Jade Marrow Crystals.
After all, one of these things cost ten thousand yuan. Even an Upper Registry child like Li Yan could not eat them like meals every day.
"After oral consumption, the medicinal power reaches the marrow cavity directly, stimulating hematopoietic stem cells to divide at an accelerated rate. It doubles the energy carriers in the blood, greatly extending a martial artist's combat duration and improving endurance."
Yang Sheng stared at the emerald-green crystal in his hand and muttered its effects aloud.
"Is it really that miraculous? Let's give it a try."
He tossed the Jade Marrow Crystal into his mouth.
The moment the crystal touched his mouth, it rapidly melted.
It tasted slightly sweet, somewhat like rock sugar.
After melting, it swiftly fused into Yang Sheng's internal organs, passed through his muscles, and seeped into his bone marrow.
At once, every muscle in Yang Sheng's body began twitching, and his skin visibly turned blood-red.
His blood was rushing rapidly.
An unprecedented state of clarity swept through Yang Sheng's entire body.
He immediately sat cross-legged and began regulating his breathing.
This was the breathing regulation method of Eight Extremes Fist, which could maximize the harmonization of the violent force produced by a martial artist's training.
Sure enough, after regulating his breathing, the blood surging rapidly through his body gradually calmed down.
But the temperature of his blood remained extremely high.
Yang Sheng felt as though his entire body was burning hot. He decisively rolled off the bed and rushed out the door.
He went to the public restroom across the road, turned on the tap, and let the icy water pour over his head. White steam hissed into the air.
After drenching himself like that for half an hour, Yang Sheng finally felt his body temperature drop slightly.
"The medicinal power in just one crystal is actually this strong!"
Yang Sheng cupped his face in his hands, feeling the temperature continue to fall.
"It actually stirred up this much heat in my body!"
"If there hadn't been water to cool me down, something might have gone wrong."
Yang Sheng let out a long breath.
When he focused inward and checked the progress bar, he was instantly stunned.
[Dark Force Initiation (52/500)]
One Jade Marrow Crystal had directly added fifty progress points!
Yang Sheng's heart burned with excitement, and he wondered whether he should swallow the other two as well.
But on second thought, he felt it was better not to be hasty.
Perhaps this was only the effect of the first crystal. Taking several in succession might not work nearly as well.
With that thought, Yang Sheng gave up on the idea. He returned to his room and began meditating while regulating his breathing, digesting and absorbing the insights he had gained during the daytime battle.
Meanwhile, in the Chen Family's living room.
Guo Rui sat on the sofa with tears covering her face, still sobbing uncontrollably.
Aunt Chen wore a cold expression as she said to Guo Rui, "When will you understand that your own feelings are not important?"
"You need to know that the Chamber of Commerce's business is what matters most."
Guo Rui said, "I have my own thoughts. Why do you have to make decisions for me? I want my own love, not the love you forcibly arranged!"
Aunt Chen sneered. "Love?"
"Do you know how you got your status as a Lower-Registry Wealthy Household? Back then, your mother also came from the same village as Yang Sheng's hometown."
"I had dreams and ambitions back then too. I also hoped to build a life from scratch on my own. But what happened in the end? I still had to marry your father to gain the status of a wealthy household."
"Later, I only received half the property after divorcing your father. Otherwise, where would you have gotten the money to attend Martial Arts High School? Where would you have gotten the money to buy clothes?"
Before you continue