Upgraded

"Wild mountain ginseng over three hundred years old." Qiao An's eye was sharp; with a single glance, he had already made his judgment. "The eldest girl has put her heart into this. This is indeed good stuff."

With this, he would not need to worry about the cold poison in his body for a long time to come.

"There's another piece of good news!" Qiao Yaoyao spoke again.

"Oh?" Qiao An perked up slightly. "For the eldest girl to offer congratulations, it shouldn't be anything small."

"Tie Shan!" Qiao Yaoyao signaled to Tie Shan.

Tie Shan walked up to Qiao An, extended one palm, and pressed two fingers together. The sound of blood and qi surging through his body rang out, and then a streak of pure crimson blood qi actually emerged above those two fingers.

Qiao An could not help sitting upright. With a grasp in the air, he gathered that wisp of blood-colored qi into his palm. After carefully sensing it for a moment, he looked at Qiao Yaoyao. "This strand of Tie Shan's blood qi does not seem to have been tempered by our Qiao Household's Furnace and Cauldron Tempering Method. Where did it come from?"

"Grandfather, didn't I come tell you some days ago that our Qiao Household had recruited two new Attendants?"

"Shen Qian?" Qiao An blurted out, then shook his head. "No. I've seen the Shen Lineage's Body Tempering Art; it doesn't have such capability. Could it be that lad who came out of that little pond?"

"That's right. His name is Yang Yi. This is the blood qi tempered by his Body Tempering Art. Tie Shan said this Body Tempering Technique is even more formidable than our Qiao Household's, and that the blood qi it tempers is purer and more condensed."

"How long have you been cultivating it?" Qiao An looked at Tie Shan.

Tie Shan answered respectfully, "I only circulated it once with Attendant Yang just now." He had deliberately not integrated the tempered blood qi into himself, instead preserving it to bring for the old man's inspection. By now, it had dispersed as well.

"The result of just one circulation..." Even with Qiao An's vast experience, he could not help being shocked. "This Body Tempering Art is not merely stronger than our Qiao Household's Furnace and Cauldron Tempering Method. There is simply none more powerful in this world."

"So we've stumbled upon a treasure?" Qiao Yaoyao's eyes shone. With the old man personally confirming it, there could be no mistake.

"How could it merely be called a treasure? If this old man had obtained this art in his youth, I might have been able to shatter that Heavenly-Human Boundary!" Qiao An sighed endlessly. But now it was no longer possible. At his age, what hope was left?

"Did he offer this art to the Qiao Household?" Qiao An asked.

"Exactly!"

"His master's lineage..."

"I asked him. He said his master left behind this Body Tempering Art back then and vanished without a trace, so he could make the decision himself!"

"Mm." Qiao An nodded.

With such a divine art, even if today's matter caused future complications, the Qiao Household could never possibly let it go. With this art, after one generation, the Qiao Household's strength would surely multiply.

"What did he ask for?"

"The right to enter and leave the Martial Hall freely, and also entry into the Yin-Yang Pool."

"He is not greedy... In this, our Qiao Household has taken advantage of him."

Qiao Yaoyao smiled. "Then I'll compensate him later."

"Handle it as you see fit." Qiao An had always been utterly at ease with Qiao Yaoyao. Otherwise, he would not have handed this vast family enterprise to her to manage five years ago. "Right, what is this Body Tempering Art called?"

"I forgot to ask..." Qiao Yaoyao playfully stuck out her tongue. She had been so happy earlier that the matter had never occurred to her.

"Body Tempering Technique!"

The following afternoon, in Bamboo Garden, Yang Yi looked at Qiao Wuwang, whom he had not seen for half a month, and spoke slowly.

"I know it's a Body Tempering Technique, but what is it called?"

"It's called the Body Tempering Technique!"

Qiao Wuwang opened his mouth, then gave a short laugh. "Your master truly was free and unrestrained! Such a divine art, yet it does not even have a resounding name that shakes the eight directions. How careless?"

"The Body Tempering Technique you gave our Qiao Household is far stronger than our inherited one, so from today onward, I'll cultivate this art instead. If there is anything I don't understand in the future, I'll need to trouble you for much guidance, brother." He spoke with a grin.

Having obtained such a good thing, the first person in the Qiao Household able to enjoy it was naturally Qiao Wuwang. It happened that he had not yet reached Lan Blood, so changing his cultivation would surely benefit him greatly.

"Gladly." Yang Yi nodded. Of course he was willing to help with such a small matter.

"There's something else for you." Qiao Wuwang took out a badge.

Yang Yi was puzzled. The badge looked like his Attendant badge, but its color was somewhat different.

"You gave our Qiao Household such a divine art. How could our Qiao Household not show some appreciation? This is a Grade-A Attendant badge. From today onward, you are a Grade-A Attendant of the Qiao Household."

There were only a few Grade-A Attendants in the entire Qiao Household. All possessed True Blood Realm strength and had rendered many services to the Qiao Household.

Yang Yi had not expected such good fortune. He had only been a Grade-B Attendant for half a month, yet he had already been upgraded.

"Right, Elder Sister said you should make preparations. In three days, someone will come to lead you into the Yin-Yang Pool!" His main reason for coming today was to notify Yang Yi of this matter.

"Three days... Understood."

Qiao Wuwang stayed a little longer before taking his leave.

Yang Yi called out, "Go invite Uncle's family over!"

A maid outside immediately acknowledged the order.

A short while later, Uncle's entire family arrived together.

Yang Yi had everyone sit before speaking. "How did your search go?"

Uncle Yang puffed on his pipe, looking uneasy. "Xiao Yi, are we really going to take one of their shops? Isn't that a bit improper?"

After returning yesterday, Yang Yi had told Uncle's family that they could look for a shop in the Outer Fort. Whichever one they took a fancy to would belong to the Yang Household.

This unexpected delight had overjoyed Uncle's family.

Although after entering Qiao Family Fort they no longer had to worry about food or shelter, being idle all day had truly stifled them. This Inner Fort was an important place, and they did not dare wander around recklessly. They could only remain within the few mu of land around Bamboo Garden.

Their lives had become prosperous, yet empty, nowhere near as fulfilling as before.

The family had immediately left the Inner Fort and gone strolling through the Outer Fort.

But after yesterday's excitement, they had suddenly grown timid again today.

"That's right, Xiao Yi. We're already eating and living at their expense, and now we're taking one of their shops for free. Won't that be bad for you?" Auntie spoke as well.

Farm households did not understand many grand principles, but they did know that one should not accept rewards without merit.

The Outer Fort was bustling and prosperous. Any random shop could earn a great deal of money. They would naturally be happy to take a shop, but they did not know what Yang Yi would have to bear for it.

"Don't worry. I traded something with the Qiao Household for it. Just choose the shop you like. Don't think too much about it; this is what we should take." Yang Yi explained.

Uncle and Auntie looked at each other, neither saying a word.

Yang Yi looked at Yang Ya. "Little Sister, did you find one you liked?"

Yang Ya grinned without saying anything. Among Uncle's family, Yang Ya had always been closest to Yang Yi, closer even than her elder brother Yang Yong. Whenever she had free time in the past, Yang Ya would come talk to Yang Yi. Every piece of clothing Yang Yi wore had been mended and patched by the little girl. So even though Yang Yi had now leapt from fish to dragon, in Yang Ya's eyes, he was still her Second Brother.

"Then there is one!" Yang Yi understood. "We'll take the shop Little Sister likes. As for what you want to operate in it later, that's up to you. Take the capital from the family; there's no need for any concerns."