Elder Xie's Investment, Qi-Replenishing Pills

"How did it look?"

Just as he was experiencing the marvels of the Golden Ape Earth-Splitting Art's mental formula.

Xie Guang urged him from the side.

The brat had actually dared to let his mind wander just now, wasting the excellent opportunity he had specially given him.

Su Xinghe came back to his senses.

He had already memorized the new chant and the method for circulating the power of qi and blood. As for techniques of combat and slaughter, those would have to wait until he had the chance later.

"I think I've got it..."

"You think?"

Xie Guang was a little doubtful.

"Then give it a try!"

Su Xinghe accepted the order.

Under the scrutinizing gazes of the two men, he began practicing in the warehouse. The two techniques came from the same source; after only three repetitions, something changed in his mind.

"Diligence Makes Up for Dullness; practice a hundred times a day."

"Golden Ape Earth-Splitting Art, proficiency +1."

Just as he was about to inspect the panel to confirm it, a burst of hearty laughter pulled him back.

"Good, good, good!"

"Little Su, you really are a genius!"

Only then did Xie Guang set his mind at ease.

He had feared that this new disciple would grow arrogant after achieving a little success. That would not only betray the Martial Arts School's efforts in nurturing him, but also waste his own talent.

Now, it seemed he would have to increase his "investment"!

Su Xinghe withdrew his stance and clasped his fists, bowing to the two men.

"It is because Martial Instructor Wu taught me well. This disciple would not dare accept the title of genius."

That was the truth.

After all, most of his achievements came from the cheat and his talent for martial arts. Only a small part came from effort and sweat.

Wu Yingcai had originally not thought much of this lucky fellow from the Great River Gang. He felt that the other man was already too old, and Elder Xie's "investment" might well go down the drain.

Even if he had some talent for fist techniques, compared to disciples like them who had received training from the Brokerage Guild since childhood, he had started a whole level behind.

One step behind, every step behind.

It was not obvious yet, but in a few years, when they direct-line disciples could all attempt to become Grade-Eight Martial Artists, Su Xinghe would probably still be worrying over breaking through to Martial Warrior.

But now...

He actually felt his face growing a little hot.

Goods had to be compared before the inferior could be discarded.

People had to be compared with people...

"Cough, cough!"

"Su... Xinghe, there is no need to be modest. You truly have talent in martial arts. When my Golden Ape Fist advanced, it took me a full ten days."

He suddenly did not know how to address Su Xinghe.

By Martial Arts School standing, he was the instructor and the master, yet this disciple was a year older than him.

If an ordinary person had said that, Su Xinghe would have accepted it.

But this man was a Ninth-Rank Martial Warrior.

If he got serious, beating Su Xinghe would be like beating...

At that thought, Su Xinghe seriously considered it for a second.

It seemed his punching force was now a thousand jin as well...

But he was a humble man. If others were polite, he would be polite too.

"Martial Instructor Wu flatters me. In martial arts, this disciple is still a newcomer who has not even entered the hall. I still need to seek much guidance from seniors such as yourself..."

"Enough. If you want to chat, go outside!"

Xie Guang cut off their idle conversation, preparing to send them away.

Su Xinghe was just about to take his leave and study the little figure in his mind when he suddenly remembered something.

He hurriedly seized the moment to ask Xie Guang:

"Elder Xie, can we buy the ingredients for Bone-Strengthening Soup and brew it ourselves at home?"

Xie Guang froze.

"What would you take it home for..."

But he was old and shrewd. He immediately understood Su Xinghe's intentions.

"You plan to train at night, right? Then buying Qi-Replenishing Pills would be more convenient."

"With your current fist technique, you can more or less start using Qi-Replenishing Pills already."

He did not think someone was coveting the Bone-Strengthening Soup formula. Such medicinal soups were nothing more than a pile of nourishing herbs; there was no technical skill involved. It only depended on whether one was willing to spend the money.

Su Xinghe hurriedly explained:

"Qi-Replenishing Pills are too expensive. This disciple drank Bone-Strengthening Soup yesterday and found it quite effective."

He could still tell the difference between ten taels of silver and one hundred copper coins.

Xie Guang laughed when he heard that.

"Hahaha, you only think that because you have never taken a Qi-Replenishing Pill."

"Bone-Strengthening Soup is a benefit the Martial Arts School provides to its disciples. One hundred coins is merely its cost. Besides, brewing it is troublesome, and it is inconvenient to carry."

"Qi-Replenishing Pills may be a little more expensive, but if you calculate carefully, their costs are not that far apart."

"A bowl of medicinal soup can only maintain its effects for one shichen. A Qi-Replenishing Pill condenses the essence of its medicinal power; one pill can last two shichen."

After thinking for a moment, he added one more sentence.

"Though it has a bit more impurities..."

Su Xinghe's heart stirred.

"May I ask how many Qi-Replenishing Pellets there are in one bottle?"

Xie Guang stroked his beard.

"Twenty pellets per bottle!"

Su Xinghe pulled out his multiplication table and calculated.

Not worth it. The value for money was only forty percent.

But what Xie Guang said next made everything suddenly clear to him.

"Do not forget: Inner Disciples get forty percent off, Outer Disciples get twenty percent off, and Registered Disciples get no discount!"

"This is encouragement for ordinary disciples, and even more so a benefit for talented disciples!"

As he spoke, his eyes carried an implication that was not hard to guess.

"I can give you Inner Disciple treatment in advance!"

Su Xinghe nearly prostrated himself and addressed him as Master.

He wanted to cling to this thigh.

Opportunity must not be lost. He rummaged around in his robes.

He took out the sixty-eight taels of silver he carried with him and unhesitatingly handed over sixty taels.

"This disciple will buy ten bottles!"

Xie Guang nearly yanked off his own beard by accident.

"What do you need so many for? I only have five bottles in total!"

Things were different now.

Back then, the Brokerage Guild had been a second-rate force in the city, with several Grade-Eight Martial Artists stationed there. Naturally, low-grade resources like these could be supplied freely.

But the Martial Arts School now was only a third-rate force.

Among the Ninth-Rank Martial Warriors, aside from Headmaster Zhou Yingjun, who could stand on his own, Lu Sandao and Xu Qingsong had both come from the Great River Gang. They only knew how to fight and kill, and were not yet familiar with specific business matters.

The other two Ninth Rank instructors needed no mention. They had once been guards for the young master and had never set foot in the martial world or seen blood.

Added to that were certain reasons on the Martial Dao Bureau's side, so everyone was extremely short on Qi-Replenishing Pills.

Xie Guang patiently explained in an earnest tone:

"With your current realm, you can only take half a Qi-Replenishing Pill to one Qi-Replenishing Pill per day. Any more and your body will not recover quickly enough, damaging the foundation of your martial path."

Su Xinghe could only smile awkwardly.

"Then give this disciple five bottles."

Xie Guang flicked his sleeve. "At most, I'll give you two bottles!"

"Remember to train hard and strive to break through to Inner Tempering as soon as possible!"

He did not forget to spur him on.

"This disciple will certainly work hard. Please rest assured, Elder Xie!"

After receiving the Qi-Replenishing Pills, Su Xinghe patted his chest and made his promise.

After leaving the warehouse, he arrived at the outer courtyard's training ground.

Only then did he have time to look at the Fate Panel.

``` "Su Xinghe: White Ape Martial Academy (Outer Disciple)"

"Martial arts: Apprentice Grade (Inner Tempering 50%)"

"Fate: Diligence Makes Up for Dullness"

"Trait 1: Not a Drop Leaks Through, Unyielding"

"Trait 2: Grains of Sand Form a Pagoda, When Water Flows, a Channel Forms"

"Listening to Tides Art (Perfected) 2299/10000"

"Golden Ape Earth-Splitting Art (Hall-Entering) 991/1000"

"Ascending Dragon Stance (Hall-Entering) 566/1000"

"Incomplete Red Lotus Treasure Vase Qi 0/10000"

The Golden Ape Fist, which had been at the Transcendent Mastery level, had just become the Hall-Entering Golden Ape Earth-Splitting Art.

Its realm had dropped by one level.

Fortunately, the two came from the same source, so most of its proficiency had been inherited. After practicing it a few more times, he would immediately recover his original level.