"How did it look?"
Just as he was savoring the marvels of the "Golden Ape Earth-Splitting Art" mental method.
Xie Guang urged him from the side.
That brat had actually dared to let his mind wander just now, wasting the good opportunity he had specially given him.
Su Xinghe came back to his senses.
He had already memorized the new chant and the circulation method for the power of qi and blood. As for combat and killing techniques, those would have to wait until he had the chance later.
"I think I've learned it..."
"You think?"
Xie Guang was a little unconvinced.
"Why don't you try it!"
Su Xinghe accepted the order.
Under the scrutiny of the two men, he began practicing in the warehouse. The two techniques came from the same lineage, and after only three repetitions, a change appeared in his mind.
"Diligence Makes Up for Dullness, one hundred practices a day."
"'Golden Ape Earth-Splitting Art,' experience +1."
Just as he was about to check the panel to confirm it, a burst of hearty laughter pulled him back from his thoughts.
"Good, good, good!"
"Little Su, you truly are a genius!"
Only then did Xie Guang finally put his mind at ease.
He had feared that this new disciple would become arrogant after achieving a little success. That would not only betray the martial arts school's cultivation, but also waste his own talent.
Now, it seemed he would have to increase his "investment"!
Su Xinghe withdrew his stance and cupped his fists toward the two of them with a bow.
"It is because Instructor Wu taught me well. This disciple dare not accept the title of genius."
That was the truth.
After all, most of his achievements came from his cheat and his martial talent. Only a small part came from hard work and sweat.
Wu Yingcai had originally not thought much of this lucky fellow from the Great River Gang. He felt that Su Xinghe was already too old, and Elder Xie's "investment" might go down the drain.
Even if he had some talent in fist arts, compared with disciples like them who had received training from the Brokerage Guild since childhood, he had started a whole level lower.
One step behind, every step behind.
It might not show now, but in a few years, when their direct-line disciples could all challenge for Grade-Eight Martial Artist, Su Xinghe would probably still be worrying over breaking through to become a martial artist.
But now...
He actually felt his face growing a little hot.
Goods had to be thrown away when compared with better goods.
People compared with people...
"Cough, cough!"
"Su... Xinghe, there is no need to be modest. You truly do have talent in martial arts. When my 'Golden Ape Fist' advanced back then, it took me a full ten days."
He suddenly did not know how to address Su Xinghe.
By the martial arts school's hierarchy, he was an instructor, a 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 thought seriously for a second.
It seemed his fist strength was now a thousand jin as well...
But he was a humble man. If others were polite to him, he would be polite in return.
"Instructor Wu flatters me. In martial arts, this disciple is still a newcomer who has not even entered the gate. I must seek much guidance from seniors such as yourself..."
"Enough. If you want to chat, go outside!"
Xie Guang cut off their idle talk, preparing to drive them out.
Su Xinghe was about to take his leave and study the little figure in his mind when he suddenly remembered something.
He hurriedly seized the chance to ask Xie Guang:
"Elder Xie, can we buy the ingredients for our 'Bone-Strengthening Soup' and brew it at home ourselves?"
Xie Guang froze.
"What would you bring it home for..."
But he was an old fox, and immediately understood what Su Xinghe was thinking.
"You plan to use it for training at night, right? Then you might as well buy Qi-Replenishing Pills. They're more convenient."
"With your current fist art, you can more or less start using Qi-Replenishing Pills already."
He did not think anyone was coveting the Bone-Strengthening Soup recipe. Such medicinal soups were nothing more than a pile of highly nourishing ingredients. There was no real technical difficulty; 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 felt it worked quite well."
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've never taken Qi-Replenishing Pills."
"Bone-Strengthening Soup is a benefit the martial arts school provides to disciples. One hundred copper coins is merely the cost price. Besides, it is troublesome to brew and inconvenient to carry."
"Qi-Replenishing Pills may be a little more expensive, but if you calculate carefully, their costs are not actually that far apart."
"One bowl of medicinal soup can only maintain its potency for one shichen. A Qi-Replenishing Pill condenses the essence of its medicinal power, and one pill can last for two shichen."
After thinking about it, he added one more sentence.
"Though it has a bit more impurity..."
Su Xinghe's heart stirred.
"May I ask how many Qi-Replenishing Pellets are in one bottle?"
Xie Guang stroked his beard.
"Twenty pellets per bottle!"
Su Xinghe took out the multiplication table in his head and calculated.
Not worth it. The cost-effectiveness was only forty percent.
But what Xie Guang said next made everything suddenly clear.
"Don't 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, there was an unmistakable meaning in his eyes.
"I can give you Inner Disciple treatment in advance!"
Su Xinghe nearly bowed his head to the ground and called him Master.
He wanted to cling to this thick thigh.
Opportunity could not be lost. He fumbled around in his robes.
He took out the sixty-eight taels of silver he carried with him and, without hesitation, handed over sixty taels.
"This disciple will buy ten bottles!"
Xie Guang nearly tore off his own beard by accident.
"What do you need so many for? I only have five bottles in total!"
Times were no longer what they used to be.
Back then, the Brokerage Guild had been a second-rate force in the city, with several Grade-Eight Martial Artists holding the fort. Naturally, they could supply these low-level resources freely.
But the current martial arts school was merely 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 still unfamiliar with the practical side of operations.
The other two Ninth-Rank instructors needed no mention. They had previously been guards for the young master and had never set foot in the martial world or seen blood.
Together with certain reasons on the Martial Dao Bureau's side, everyone was desperately short on Qi-Replenishing Pills.
Xie Guang patiently explained in an earnest tone:
"With your current realm, you can only take half to one Qi-Replenishing Pill a day. Any more, and your body will not be able to keep up with the recovery. It will damage your martial foundation."
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 cultivate diligently and strive to break through to Inner Tempering soon!"
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 promised.
After leaving the warehouse, he arrived at the outer courtyard's training grounds.
Only then did he have time to look at the Fate Panel.
"Su Xinghe: White Ape Martial Academy (Outer Disciple)" "Martial Dao: Apprentice Grade (Inner Tempering 50%)" "Fate: Diligence Makes Up for Dullness" "Trait 1: Water-Tight, Unyielding" "Trait 2: Many Grains Make a Tower, Success Follows Naturally" "Listening to Tides Art (Perfect Mastery) 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" at Transcendent Mastery had just become the "Golden Ape Earth-Splitting Art" at Hall-Entering level.
Its realm had dropped by one level.
Fortunately, the two came from the same lineage, and most of its proficiency had been inherited. As long as he practiced it a few more times, he would immediately recover his former level.
Before you continue