Defeat

The next day.

Guo Wei watched Ye Fan practice his fist forms in the inner courtyard.

His brows furrowed slightly.

Ye Fan had just consumed a Qi and Blood Pill that morning, yet as he executed his fist forms, the power circulating through his flesh and blood seemed to show little change.

Thinking that absorbing the medicinal efficacy of a Qi and Blood Pill also required time, however,

he figured he might be acting too hastily, so he instructed Ye Fan to cultivate diligently and told him he must inform him immediately if anything felt wrong.

He would see what changes Ye Fan had after a few days.

Zhang Lingfeng sought out Guo Wei in the afternoon.

"You want to buy a Qi and Blood Pill?"

Guo Wei was somewhat surprised.

"Yes, the Qi and Blood Pill is a great help to disciples. If I can successfully force the pass to Transforming Jin in the future, I will also be able to share Master's worries and resolve difficulties."

Zhang Lingfeng said.

"The Qi and Blood Pills at the large apothecary are very expensive."

Guo Wei reminded him.

Even for him, giving Ye Fan a Qi and Blood Pill every two months caused his heart to ache terribly. Had he not felt that Ye Fan possessed top-tier innate bones, capable of inheriting his mantle in the future, allowing him to enjoy his twilight years in peace and ensuring someone could deal with enemies should they come to his door, Guo Wei would never have been willing to endure such consumption.

When his disciples went out to take up assigned posts, they gave him twenty percent of their earnings each month, but even a Dark Force martial artist like Wu Yun only received a monthly stipend of one hundred taels from the Yan Lineage, leaving him with a mere twenty taels in hand.

As for the income of the other apprentices, those able to come practice martial arts were still in the minority.

Most importantly, he himself needed to rely on Qi and Blood Pills to maintain his cultivation without collapsing and to ensure his Qi and blood remained in a robust state year-round.

As he grew older, the expenditures on Qi and Blood Pills would only increase in the future, which was why Guo Wei could not provide Zhang Lingfeng with a Qi and Blood Pill at the same time.

"The disciple understands. The Qi and Blood Pill Master previously rewarded me with was of superior grade, worth no less than seven or eight hundred taels of silver a piece. The disciple has prepared it."

Zhang Lingfeng took out eight hundred taels of silver notes and placed them before Guo Wei.

The Warm Breeze Hall already controlled the Baile Ward, profiting from gambling dens, moneylending, and other areas. After deducting the fifty percent of profits turned over to the officials, as well as the expenses for the brothers and the need to keep a sum of money on the books,

these eight hundred taels of silver were also meticulously calculated and squeezed out by Zhang Pingping to give to Zhang Lingfeng.

"The Qi and Blood Pill I bestow upon you is eleven hundred taels each. This is still the price I obtained solely on account of my face."

Guo Wei laughed.

"Ah?"

Zhang Lingfeng had not expected this.

"Qi and Blood Pills vary in grade. Those that can be taken continuously not only possess a mellow medicinal efficacy, but also have virtually no side effects. Those three- or four-hundred-tael Qi and Blood Pills on the market have a short duration and weak medicinal efficacy, and simply cannot be compared to the one I gave you."

Guo Wei explained.

"This... Master, then I will bring the remaining silver over to you tomorrow."

Zhang Lingfeng had not expected a superior-grade Qi and Blood Pill to be far more expensive than rumors outside claimed.

He certainly did not think Guo Wei wanted to swindle him out of three hundred taels of silver. If Guo Wei coveted this bit of money, he would not have given him a Qi and Blood Pill earlier, nor would he continue to subsidize Ye Fan.

"No need. As for that little bit of remaining silver, Master will make up the difference for you. You only need to cultivate diligently, force the pass to Transforming Jin sooner, and avoid disappointing your Master."

Thinking of Zhang Lingfeng's potential and Ye Fan's recent performance, Guo Wei felt somewhat that he had neglected Zhang Lingfeng. Helping him make up these three hundred taels of silver did not pose much of a problem for him at all.

"Thank you, Master."

Zhang Lingfeng's expression lit up with great joy.

"Master originally planned to take this Qi and Blood Pill after some time. I will hand it over to you now!"

Guo Wei retrieved a medicine box.

"Yes, thank you, Master."

With an excited expression, Zhang Lingfeng opened the medicine box and found that the Qi and Blood Pill was identical to the one Ye Fan and he had been given previously-its color was round and smooth, and its medicinal fragrance was pungent.

Right in front of Guo Wei, he placed it into his mouth and began to chew.

His expression turned sour and distorted as he forcibly swallowed the Qi and Blood Pill down.

Guo Wei opened his mouth to speak but stopped, wanting to advise Zhang Lingfeng not to rush, but seeing that Zhang Lingfeng ate it so quickly, he had no choice but to say: "Since you've eaten the Qi and Blood Pill now, you might not be able to sleep tonight. Hurry up and practice your fist forms a few times."

"Yes."

Zhang Lingfeng quickly ran out.

Twelve-Routine Iron Mountain Fist, Lower Part: (134/600)

He watched as the cultivation progress of the Twelve-Routine Iron Mountain Fist was fast-forwarded by another two months.

"Boom!"

Simultaneously, the Qi and blood within his body also grew even more abundant.

As he executed his fist forms, Dark Force flowed through his flesh and blood and all over his body. Every single punch and movement possessed destructive, overwhelming power, not looking at all like someone whose Dark Force had just entered the initial threshold of cultivation.

It was entirely the picture of solid Dark Force power and fist techniques cultivated to an outstanding degree.

It immediately made all five of them-Wu Yun, Yang Tao, Liu Rushuang, Ma Fei, and even Ye Fan-sense that something was amiss.

They discovered that Zhang Lingfeng's mastery of fist forms, his grasp of Dark Force, and the profound depth of his Dark Force far exceeded what they were before.

"Junior Brother is..."

Ma Fei widened his eyes.

Zhang Lingfeng's cultivation progress exceeded his expectations.

"Good lad."

Guo Wei heard the commotion.

Unable to resist coming out to inspect, his eyes also widened into perfect circles at this look.

Just yesterday, before Zhang Lingfeng swallowed that Qi and Blood Pill belonging to Ye Fan, his Dark Force had only been at the entry-level standard. Although his power was not weak, it was far from as solid as it was now.

Following the absorption of the two Qi and Blood Pills,

the progress bar had been fast-forwarded by four months, and Zhang Lingfeng's mastery over the Twelve-Routine Iron Mountain Fist, as well as his own Dark Force, Qi and blood, essence, Qi, and spirit, all underwent obvious changes.

This kind of change was most obvious in the eyes of Guo Wei, a Transforming Jin Great Perfection powerhouse.

He could not help crying out in alarm.

"This..."

Ye Fan was dumbfounded as well.

Upon obtaining the Qi and Blood Pill yesterday, he had handed it over to Wei He according to their agreement.

With Zhang Lingfeng changing so much today, could it be that Zhang Lingfeng ate that Qi and Blood Pill?

"Master, the Qi and Blood Pill you gave your disciple just now has such strong medicinal efficacy. I feel as though I have an inexhaustible amount of strength."

Right as Ye Fan was harboring doubts, Zhang Lingfeng, having finished practicing a set of fist forms, spoke up in front of everyone.

Ye Fan froze, and the others also came to a sudden realization. It turned out Guo Wei had given Zhang Lingfeng yet another Qi and Blood Pill. It seemed Zhang Lingfeng's status in Guo Wei's heart was already on par with Ye Fan's, or perhaps even higher.

"Your physique is extraordinary. I never imagined the Qi and Blood Pill would help you this much."

With a look of shock on his face, Guo Wei could not help pinching Zhang Lingfeng's shoulder, feeling that Zhang Lingfeng's flesh and blood were radiating heat.

"Master, I'd like to find someone to spar with."

Zhang Lingfeng said.

"Good. Ye Fan, spar properly with your Senior Brother Zhang."

Guo Wei called out.

"Ah... Yes!"

Ye Fan was somewhat absent-minded. He had also consumed a Qi and Blood Pill, yet the effect had not been as obvious as Zhang Lingfeng's.

Faced with Guo Wei's request, however, he did not dare to hesitate, and immediately exchanged blows with Zhang Lingfeng inside the courtyard.

At this moment, Zhang Lingfeng's strength and foundational realm already surpassed Ye Fan's.

Coupled with Qi and blood far more vigorous than Ye Fan's-who had lost his primordial yang-as well as Ye Fan's distracted state of mind and having his weakness held in Zhang Lingfeng's grip, he acted timidly and indecisively during their exchange, falling far short of Zhang Lingfeng's dominance and daring.

At first, he was still able to fight him to a standstill.

As Zhang Lingfeng's fist force erupted and his fist speed grew faster and faster, he finally broke through Ye Fan's defense with a single punch. A Descending Mountain Form struck Ye Fan's abdomen, and another Ascending Mountain Form hit Ye Fan's chest, sending Ye Fan flying backward directly.

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