Taking Medicine

Ou Peng looked at the Bone-Strengthening Pill on the table and said, "This medicine is only effective for those who cultivate external martial arts. I want to give it to Shi Niu in the gang. What do you all think?"

After Ou Peng finished speaking, his gaze fell upon Liu the Fifth and Xu the Sixth, as only their disciples cultivated external martial arts.

Liu the Fifth said cheerfully, "Alright, I have no objections. That kid Shi Niu's strength is not ordinarily great; he's stronger than me. If he takes it, he will surely become a super general for our Misty Sect."

Xu the Sixth thought for a moment and said, "I also have no objections. My disciples have limited aptitude, so it's better to fulfill Shi Niu's potential. However, Shi Niu's mind is too straightforward; you'll need to control him well."

Ou Peng nodded and said, "I have my own way of handling that."

Hu the Eldest looked at the porcelain bottle containing the Qi Augmenting Pills and said, "Please let Third Junior Disciple Brother handle these Qi Augmenting Pills judiciously. If our disciples have the aptitude and potential to be cultivated, then give it to them; otherwise, don't."

Ou Peng chuckled and said, "Brothers, the medicinal herbs collected from the Secret Realm this time are limited. I will distribute them based on each disciple's situation. A Hai and Qing'er mentioned that there are still many medicinal herbs in the Secret Realm. Moreover, now that we control the Secret Realm, we will have a continuous supply of such medicinal herbs in the future, and there will be plenty of these Qi Augmenting Pills. Please rest assured, all our direct disciples will definitely receive their share."

Hu the Eldest also smiled and said, "That's good. We must not let the distribution of these pills disrupt the harmony of the gang. Also, A Hai and Qing'er, who went to the Secret Realm, must be heavily rewarded."

Ou Peng said, "Yes, I agree with Senior Disciple Brother. Later, we will give each of them one Qi Augmenting Pill."

Hu the Eldest said, "There's no rush for that. We've already obtained the Qi Boosting Pill and the Bone-Strengthening Pill. I'm worried about the medicinal properties being lost. I think we should consume these pills first."

Ou Peng said, "Eldest Brother speaks wisely. The sect's ancient texts record that absorbing this medicine takes one day and one night. I suggest we enter the secret chamber now and begin cultivating to absorb the pills."

Hu the Eldest said, "Good. You handle the gang's affairs and call Shi Niu over. We will go into seclusion together."

Ou Peng did as he was told and summoned his eldest disciple, Zhang Chengyue. He gave him instructions, and Zhang Chengyue accepted the order and left. Before long, a groggy Shi Niu entered the Council Hall, seemingly unaware of the good fortune that had befallen him.

Behind the Council Hall, there was a deeply hidden small door. Beyond the small door was a long tunnel. Countless torches were planted along the walls of the tunnel, giving the impression of an endless passage.

Ou Peng led everyone through the small door and proceeded forward along the tunnel. After walking for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they reached the end. The end was a huge hall, furnished with chairs and tables, and several different small doors led deeper inside. Looking up, the ceiling was also extremely spacious, about four to five zhang high. One could see the texture of the rocks, indicating they were already deep within the mountain.

Ou Peng handed the jade box containing the Bone-Strengthening Pill to Shi Niu and pointed to one of the small doors. "You go in there, find a small room, take the pill inside, and then begin practicing your usual cultivation methods for eighty-one repetitions."

Shi Niu took the jade box and, without a word, turned and left.

The others headed towards different small doors, each finding a small room to enter into secluded cultivation.

Meanwhile, Ou Peng found a secret chamber and sat cross-legged. He first circulated the Misty Divine Art once to adjust his mindset. Then, he took out the jade box from his bosom and removed the Qi Boosting Pill. A fragrant aroma wafted out, and the dark pill felt hard in his hand, unlike the Qi Augmenting Pills refined in the Medicine Hall. Ou Peng calmed his emotions and placed the Qi Boosting Pill into his mouth. He felt the pill dissolve into a liquid on his tongue, flow down his throat, and then transform into a warm current that surged directly to his dantian.

At this moment, Ou Peng dared not think further. He focused his mind and wholeheartedly circulated the Misty Divine Art to refine this warm current. The secret chamber immediately fell into silence.

After an unknown amount of time, Ou Peng finished his cultivation and carefully examined his body. He was filled with surprise and joy. The Qi Boosting Pill truly lived up to its reputation; his cultivation had more than doubled. The true qi flowed through his meridians as smoothly as mercury spilling onto the ground, without any obstacles or lingering hidden dangers. Ou Peng calculated in his mind that he had indeed circulated his cultivation eighty-one times, no more and no less. He secretly thought, "Truly a divine pill."

Ou Peng sat quietly for a moment before getting up, pushing open the door, and coming out into the main hall. Hu the Eldest, Li the Second, Shangguan the Fourth, and others were already waiting there.

Ou Peng stepped forward and asked Hu the Eldest with concern, "Eldest Brother, how was your experience?"

Hu the Eldest said with a smile, "It's truly a legendary divine medicine. It has saved me ten years of effort."

Upon hearing this, Ou Peng quickly offered his congratulations.

Then, Ou Peng asked Li the Second. Li the Second did not reply but casually drew his long sword and swung it with his cultivation. A sword aura about an inch long shot out from the sword. Ou Peng was overjoyed and congratulated him again.

Shangguan the Fourth spoke before Ou Peng could ask, "Third Brother, my cultivation has increased by nearly double this time. It's truly a divine medicine. How about you?"

Hu the Eldest and Li the Second also looked at Ou Peng with concern.

Ou Peng also smiled and said, "By chance, my Misty Divine Art has increased by more than double, and I am now approaching the realm of great accomplishment."

Shangguan the Fourth repeatedly expressed his admiration.

After half an hour, Liu the Fifth, Xu the Sixth, and Shi Niu still showed no signs of emerging. Shangguan the Fourth couldn't help but feel a little worried. Ou Peng said, "There's probably no need to worry. External martial arts cultivation is different from internal martial arts. Internal energy circulation is sufficient, but external martial arts must involve changing bones and muscles. Let's wait a little longer."

The group waited in the hall for the duration of two meals. Suddenly, they heard a burst of laughter from a nearby stone room. Liu the Fifth pushed open the door and emerged. His previously stout frame seemed to have become thinner, and the two axes he held now appeared lighter than ever. He walked towards the crowd with a light and quick gait, no longer as clumsy as before. Without needing to ask, it was clear that his martial arts had progressed rapidly.

Immediately after, the door of another stone room opened, and Xu the Sixth also emerged from his seclusion. His physique hadn't changed much, but as he approached, everyone noticed that his temples had slightly bulged, and his large hands had become fair and smooth, possessing a jade-like quality. It seemed his external martial arts cultivation had begun to influence him from the outside in.

The Misty Six Tigers brothers met, their cultivation soaring, and they naturally offered each other congratulations and well wishes.

Only Shi Niu, in the last stone room, had still not emerged.

Everyone couldn't help but feel curious.

Ou Peng walked lightly to the stone room where Shi Niu was in seclusion and listened closely. He could hear gusts of wind within the room, accompanied by Shi Niu's faint breathing. He was still practicing.

Ou Peng turned to look at Liu the Fifth, wondering, "Fifth and Sixth Brothers have emerged, could it be that this Shi Niu's cultivation is even deeper than theirs? Why hasn't he emerged yet?"

After another half hour, Ou Peng listened again. The situation was still the same.

Ou Peng was puzzled. Could it be that our Misty Sect was about to produce an unparalleled master?

After another meal's time, Ou Peng could no longer resist. He gently pushed the door open a crack and peeked inside. He saw a massive figure diligently practicing his Great Strength Vajra Hand. The movements were powerful, and the wind generated by his strikes was sharp. The palm wind, even from a distance, reached Ou Peng, triggering a reaction from his Misty Divine Art. After practicing for a while, Shi Niu shouted, "Seventy-eight." Then, he started again from the first move of the Great Strength Vajra Hand. At this moment, Shi Niu's gaze happened to fall upon Ou Peng, who was peeking in. His fists and feet didn't stop, and he shouted, "Gang Leader, please wait a moment! I've just reached the seventy-eighth repetition, and I'm not far from eighty-one." His words were clear, his breathing steady, and it didn't affect his movements at all. His skill was profound; one wouldn't achieve this without thirty to fifty years of hard training.

Ou Peng was astonished. Could this be the true method of consuming the Bone-Strengthening Pill? He wondered how Fifth and Sixth Brothers had cultivated. He wanted to ask them but decided against it. It was all in the past, and even if the method of consumption was incorrect, it couldn't be changed now, only causing unnecessary worry.

So, Ou Peng returned to the crowd and chatted with them, quietly waiting for Shi Niu to complete his eighty-first repetition.

Everyone stood there, their legs growing a bit sore. Fortunately, having just experienced a miraculous encounter, they didn't mind. Just as they were inwardly grumbling, the stone door finally opened.

Shi Niu emerged from within. His frame had grown by three parts compared to before, and his skin faintly glowed with luminescence. His aura was also soaring. As he walked towards the crowd, he gave the impression of a colossal divine being.

As soon as Shi Niu saw Ou Peng, he exclaimed, "Gang Leader, what did you give me? Why is it so fragrant? It's better than eating ten bowls of rice! Normally, I would be drenched in sweat and panting after practicing the Great Strength Vajra Hand three times. After taking this little pill, I practiced eighty-one times and didn't even feel tired. I still have energy now; I could practice for a while longer."

Everyone chuckled inwardly.

Ou Peng asked, "Shi Niu, how do you feel your cultivation is compared to before?"

Shi Niu scratched his head and said, "I don't know. I just feel stronger than before. I used to be able to kill a cow, but now I can probably kill a bear."

Liu the Fifth stepped forward and said, "Shi Niu, come and hit me with all your might."

Shi Niu heard this and didn't stand on ceremony. He took a deep breath and swung a punch. Liu the Fifth raised his fist to meet it. He had intended to use eighty percent of his strength, but before their fists even met, the wind from Shi Niu's punch was already hitting him, sharp and biting. He was greatly alarmed, feeling compelled to use his full strength.

The two massive fists collided with a "bang." Shi Niu stumbled back a step, his foot leaving a deep imprint on the stone slab. Liu the Fifth, however, retreated five steps, each one leaving an imprint on the stone.

Liu the Fifth cradled his slightly aching fist and walked up to Shi Niu, saying, "You brat, you've improved a lot. I'm probably not your match anymore."

Shi Niu grinned foolishly at his words.

Xu the Sixth said from the side, "Fifth Brother, don't be so modest. Shi Niu's skill is with his hands, while you use a weapon. He's probably no match for your axe."

Liu the Fifth patted Shi Niu's sculpted muscles and said, "I know that naturally. Come on, Stone Ox, let's go for a drink."

Then, he grabbed Shi Niu and they walked toward the corridor.