Supplementary Pills

Zhang Pingping wrote back to Zhang Laochong, informing him that Zhang Fugui and Zhang Fukang had successfully entered the martial arts school to train, and that the situation in Baile Ward was under control.

Wang Fang's matter was left to Chen Sanshi to handle.

The next day.

Zhang Lingfeng came to the martial arts school to continue training.

"Senior Brother Zhang."

"Junior Brother Zhang."

As the situation in Baile Ward stabilized, Warm Breeze Hall successfully took over the Baile Gang's businesses and showed signs of growing ever larger. Neither the outer courtyard apprentices nor the Dark Force disciples in the inner courtyard dared look down on Zhang Lingfeng anymore.

Ye Fan, however, was riding high today, and quite a few people were discussing him.

"Mr. Yan has come to deliver medicine to my master again."

"I really envy Junior Brother Ye. He's the only person in the martial arts school who gets to take Qi and Blood Pills."

"Junior Brother Ye has supreme-grade bone aptitude. If he can cultivate to the peak of Dark Force before next year's martial examination, he'll definitely earn a first-class result."

"If he were given a few more Qi and Blood Pills, he might even be able to attempt a breakthrough into transforming jin next year."

"I'm simply dying of envy."

Wu Yun, Zhao Hu, Ma Fei, and Liu Rushuang discussed this.

Zhang Lingfeng saw that an elderly man in fine robes had arrived at the martial arts school, accompanied by two attendants, one carrying a medicine chest on his back. Wu Yun and the others all addressed the old man as Mr. Yan.

He was said to be a steward of the Grand Pharmacy.

The medicinal ingredients used by the martial arts school to brew its Qi and blood replenishing soup, and even the prescription itself, all came from the Grand Pharmacy.

Usually, the Grand Pharmacy's disciples delivered the medicinal ingredients. Whenever Mr. Yan came in person, it was to deliver Qi and Blood Pills to Guo Wei.

A single Qi and Blood Pill was equivalent to the flesh and blood of an entire demonic beast and cost between three hundred and eight hundred taels. Even Dark Force martial artists like Wu Yun and the others had to save several months' pay to afford the cheapest one.

Normally, Guo Wei took a Qi and Blood Pill every two months to keep his Qi and blood flourishing without decline. But ever since Ye Fan broke through into Ming Jin, Mr. Yan had been coming to the martial arts school more often to deliver Qi and Blood Pills.

Since he had previously failed to join Ma Fei's circle, Zhang Lingfeng knew little about Qi and Blood Pills or the Grand Pharmacy.

"Congratulations in advance on earning a first-class result next year, Junior Brother Ye."

Ma Fei offered his congratulations.

Ye Fan had supreme-grade bone aptitude and Guo Wei's wholehearted support. That his strength would surpass theirs and he would become a transforming jin expert was a nail already driven into the board.

"Congratulations, Junior Brother Ye."

Zhao Hu, Liu Rushuang, and Wu Yun echoed him.

Today, Ye Fan had finally succeeded in breaking through into Dark Force!

Guo Wei's face was also full of smiles.

Could Ye Fan's breakthrough into Dark Force have something to do with taking Qi and Blood Pills? If so, could taking Qi and Blood Pills also improve my cultivation progress?

Zhang Lingfeng looked thoughtful.

When he learned that Ye Fan's failed breakthrough had left no lingering problems, he had known that Ye Fan's second attempt would certainly succeed.

Sure enough, having learned his lesson last time, Ye Fan had wised up and finally broken through into Dark Force.

The time he had taken to advance from Ming Jin to Dark Force was about the same as Zhang Lingfeng's.

"Baiyang County is full of crouching tigers and hidden dragons. Earning a first-class result won't be that easy."

Though Ye Fan said this, his face was full of confidence.

"With the resources the Yan Lineage and Master provide you, Junior Brother Ye, won't a first-class result be yours for the taking?"

Wu Yun spoke enviously.

Like everyone else, the Yan Lineage believed Ye Fan would become a transforming jin expert and even surpass Guo Wei someday. Thus, the treatment and subsidies they gave him far exceeded those given to other Dark Force martial artists.

"If that really is the case, nothing could be better."

Ye Fan waved a hand nonchalantly. Seeing Zhang Lingfeng frowning as though thinking about something, he wore a look of superiority, yet spoke with concern. "Senior Brother Zhang, Warm Breeze Hall already has Baile Ward under control. Master is a regular customer of the Grand Pharmacy. If you want to buy Qi and Blood Pills, you can ask him for help."

Even if Zhang Lingfeng was the master of Warm Breeze Hall, supported by a band of gang members and followed by several Ming Jin martial artists, the cultivation resources he enjoyed could never compare to Ye Fan's.

Clinging tightly to the two mighty thighs of Guo Wei and the Yan Lineage was far more useful than being some hall master or gang leader.

Once he became a transforming jin expert, or earned a first-class result in the martial examination and had an official scholarly rank to his name, he would be able to order Zhang Lingfeng around as he pleased.

Once he earned the rank of martial licentiate, he could at least become a constable captain.

Huang Jiefu had originally been a third-class licentiate. With a little maneuvering from the Yan Lineage, he had smoothly become the eastern district's constable captain, with over a hundred officially appointed constables under him and jurisdiction over the eastern district's three wards and seven streets.

Warm Breeze Hall was unrivaled in Baile Ward, but among the gangs controlled by the government offices of the four districts, it could only be considered beneath notice.

Ye Fan did not want to offend Zhang Lingfeng.

But as his horizons broadened, he looked down from the bottom of his heart on someone of such humble standing as Zhang Lingfeng.

Of course, if Zhang Lingfeng began following his lead now, he would be willing to give him a helping hand in the future.

"Thank you for the reminder, Junior Brother Ye. If I need them, I'll go see Master."

Zhang Lingfeng spoke without betraying anything.

"It's just a pity that your bone aptitude has closed off, Senior Brother Zhang. Even with Qi and Blood Pills, you might not be able to absorb them. If you want to expand Warm Breeze Hall in the future, it would be best to recruit a Dark Force expert."

Ye Fan spoke meaningfully.

If Zhang Lingfeng was willing to spend money on him and buy him Qi and Blood Pills, he could protect Warm Breeze Hall in the future and ensure it remained standing firm in Baiyang County.

Guo Wei had told him privately that even with supreme-grade bone aptitude, he would need to accumulate a tremendous amount of Qi and blood strength to break through into transforming jin and shatter the third shackle.

Ma Fei had failed to break through into transforming jin partly because his Qi and blood were not strong enough, and partly because the limitations of his bone aptitude prevented him from accumulating more Qi and blood strength.

Ye Fan, however, had supreme-grade bone aptitude and was at the ideal age for martial training. As long as he had ample replenishment for his Qi and blood strength, his chance of success in the initial stage of a future transforming jin breakthrough would be as high as sixty percent.

Thus, Guo Wei had urged him to learn to nourish his essence and gather Qi, keeping his primal yang locked within his body, so that he could succeed in a single attempt when the day of his breakthrough came.

To reach that day as soon as possible.

Ye Fan had set his sights on Zhang Lingfeng.

"You're right, Junior Brother Ye."

Zhang Lingfeng nodded thoughtfully.

Ye Fan was in no hurry. He knew that as long as Zhang Lingfeng was smart, he would certainly seek him out in private. When that happened, with his bone aptitude and future potential,

he would certainly be able to get Zhang Lingfeng to find ways to fund his cultivation, making it easier for him to build up sufficient Qi and blood.

Zhang Lingfeng had indeed taken Ye Fan's words to heart. So, while everyone was out eating, he went to see Guo Wei.

"Master."

By then, Mr. Yan from the Grand Pharmacy had already left.

Guo Wei was practicing breathing exercises in his own courtyard.

"Come in."

Guo Wei hated being disturbed during his quiet cultivation more than anything.

But Zhang Lingfeng often bought gifts to honor him, and perhaps today was no different, so he let Zhang Lingfeng in. Then, seeing him empty-handed, his expression involuntarily cooled.

"What do you want with me?"

Guo Wei asked flatly.

"Your disciple has attained Dark Force."

Zhang Lingfeng said.

"Buzz!"

Guo Wei, who had been looking impatient and utterly uninterested, seemed like a fierce tiger awakening. A sharp gleam flashed in his eyes as he stared fixedly at Zhang Lingfeng. "What did you say?"

"Your disciple has attained Dark Force."

Zhang Lingfeng repeated.

He immediately circulated his Qi and blood. Its strength flowed unhindered through his flesh, as though the shackles upon it had been unlocked. His whole body became vigorous and powerful, his breathing long and sustained, as though he had shed his old body and been reborn. His entire essence, Qi, and spirit changed at that moment.

If he had been shrouded in the gloom of twilight before, he was now like the sun at its zenith.

Guo Wei stared with his tiger-like eyes. In the end, unable to restrain himself, he firmly felt Zhang Lingfeng's bone structure, clicking his tongue in wonder and repeatedly declaring it impossible.

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