CHAPTER 93: CHAPTER 91: UNDERVALUED

He held the Heart-Eroding Grass in one hand and pressed the + sign behind the Yellow Extreme Breathing Technique in his heart.

The Heart-Eroding Grass transformed into liquid and merged into his palm.

The status of the Breathing Technique flickered: Yellow Extreme Breathing Technique (Stage 1, Novice 0/60+One Heart-Eroding Grass) → Yellow Extreme Breathing Technique (Stage 1, Skilled 0/80+Three Heart-Eroding Grasses)

Simultaneously, new memories began to form in his mind.

The background was similar to the ancient past of the previous life.

A teenager, bearing a strong resemblance to Lou Yi, was practicing Breathing Techniques in a strange time and space.

He had already achieved the initial fusion of breathing and punching techniques, standing out among peers.

But foreign iron steeds might trample this familiar land at any time, and the teenager felt that his cultivation speed was far from enough.

"I need to become stronger faster!"

So he sought out the Clan Leader and asked if there were any solutions.

The Clan Leader flipped through various ancient texts and finally found a secret remedy.

Apply the secret remedy all over the body and practice under the scorching sun; it might have miraculous effects.

However, this method is extremely dangerous.

Firstly, the secret remedy is made from the toxins of creatures like the Fiery-tailed Scorpion, Golden Ring Snake, and Demon Pattern Spider, applying it feels like torture, akin to being pierced by countless small needles.

Secondly, practicing Breathing Techniques under this ’torture’, a single mistake could lead to muscle spasms or become obsessed.

Yet, the teenager’s gaze was determined, and his resolve was firmer than what three horses could pull back.

The Clan Leader could only follow his wishes, purchasing the secret remedy from an old sorcerer in the deep mountains to assist him in martial training.

When the secret remedy was applied, it felt like a thousand needles piercing his body.

At first, the teenager could hardly stand. His nails dug into his palms, his lips bitten until bloody, and his mind was a bit unclear.

But the teenager did not give up; through continual practice day after day, he steadily progressed.

Internally, his body was being transformed for a long time by the secret remedy, undergoing changes imperceptible to the naked eye.

As he practiced the Breathing Technique, his fists moved, and his innards seemed to rhythmically pulsate.

The generated hot flow covered several times the original area, leading to a rapid increase in his Qi-Blood growth speed...

In the void of reality, a large influx of Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi entered Lou Yi’s body, swiftly transforming his flesh.

Achieving an extent comparable to the teenager using the secret remedy for several years in the Illusion Realm.

Lou Yi operated the Yellow Extreme Breathing Technique.

Firstly, he sensed his breathing becoming more prolonged.

Then he perceived a heat flow, significantly thicker than before, rising rapidly from the sole of his left foot upward.

During the ascent, the large heat flow divided into several smaller streams, strengthening and hammering all the muscles, meridians, and vessels in Lou Yi’s body.

It merged at the chest, then diverged downwards, flowing until it halted at the sole of his right foot.

’Refreshing, so refreshing!’

It felt like thousands of tiny hands massaging him, as Lou Yi comfortably cycled the Breathing Technique.

Until half an hour later, when his meridians felt the sensation of bloated pain, he stopped.

Looking at the Attribute Panel’s Realm section, from Martial Artist-in-Training (64/600) → Martial Artist-in-Training (70/600), gaining six progress points in a day.

In this manner, he could clear the hurdle in about three months.

This speed was comparable to that of the top geniuses.

Considering his body was much stronger than the average person and his old enough bones were set.

If it were when he was fifteen or sixteen, surely it would be faster.

However, to be even quicker is simple. Gather a hundred points of Energy plus three Heart-Eroding Grasses.

Currently, Energy is gathered from the cemetery as well as following Qingfeng Temple’s rituals.

Based on previous experience, it could be gathered in a month or two.

As for the Heart-Eroding Grass, it needs to be prepared in advance.

Returning to the Martial Arts Hall, Lou Yi looked for Zhan Weida to buy Heart-Eroding Grass.

"We’re brothers, what’s this talk of buying or not? Money’s minor, loyalty is major!" Zhan Weida emphatically patted his chest, promising to get it for Lou Yi.

"Alright, I’ll help you look at your Breathing Technique."

"Just right, I’ve had some insights lately, Uncle Pan isn’t home to consult." Zhan Weida said happily.

...

Tai City, Zhan Family.

The Zhan Mansion spans a thousand acres, beautifully built with exquisite gardens where rockeries, murmuring streams, and thoughtfully placed pavilions abound.

Zhan Weida walked to the front gate.

Now clad in a Cloud Brocade Robe with leopard prints, holding an ivory folding fan, he exuded pride and arrogance.

"Greetings, Second Young Master!"

"Blessings to Second Young Master!"

As he walked, the servants and maids all bowed, not daring to meet his gaze.

"Where’s Steward Xu?" Zhan Weida asked the servants beside him.

Moments later, a middle-aged man in a dark robe hurried over.

"What are your orders, Second Young Master?"

"Is there any Heart-Eroding Grass left? Get me ten more stalks."

"My dear Second Young Master, Heart-Eroding Grass isn’t regular cabbage!" Steward Xu lamented repeatedly, "While it may not be the most precious herb, it’s exceedingly rare.

Last time, that stalk I provided was after searching several stores."

"Don’t play coy with me. Just answer, can you get it or not?" Zhan Weida said coldly. "You managed to get several bottles of Vitality Pill for Zhan Weicong, yet unwilling to get me a medicinal herb?"

"Is he the Young Master, and I’m not?"

"I’ll try, I’ll try!"

"No trying, just ensure you find it!"

Watching Steward Xu’s retreating figure run away, Zhan Weida couldn’t help but spit out a curse: "Damn, I’ll slowly settle previous scores with you all!"

But what he didn’t anticipate.

Half an hour later, instead of Heart-Eroding Grass, his despised elder brother Zhan Weicong arrived.

Wearing a crimson robe with dragon patterns and a golden crown, he was even more arrogant than Zhan Weida.

The most significant point was Zhan Weicong’s handsome features, compared to Zhan Weida’s somewhat unappealing look.

This imbalance always annoyed Zhan Weida upon seeing him.

"Little brother, I heard you asked Steward Xu for Heart-Eroding Grass, for what purpose?" Zhan Weicong stroked his chin, "The grass may not be as precious as aged ginseng or Polygonum multiflorum, but it is rare, a novelty item."

"None of your business." Zhan Weida replied impatiently.

"Whether it’s my business or not is not up to me." Zhan Weicong replied calmly, smiling as he stepped aside, "It’s up to Father."

Behind him, a middle-aged man in a luxurious robe entered the courtyard.

His stance was upright, his face stern, his sharp eyes hard to meet directly.

"Father... why are you here." Seeing this man, Zhan Weida shrunk back like a mouse before a cat.

Simultaneously, his heart was filled with anger, undoubtedly Steward Xu had tattled.

"I ask you, for what purpose do you need the Heart-Eroding Grass, and why ask for ten stalks?" Zhan Family Master questioned sternly.

"For a friend, he... is close to breaking through as a Martial Artist." Zhan Weida didn’t know Lou Yi’s exact need for the grass, and made up a reason.

"Perhaps it’s the country boy I saw last time, nearly twenty?" Zhan Weicong asked loudly on purpose.

His tone provocative, making Zhan Weida want to kick him.

The Zhan Family Master’s face changed, his voice harsh: "No prospects! Spending time with a nobody from the countryside, providing him resources is pointless."

"Nearly twenty years old, this life only a two-blood Martial Warrior, what use is befriending him?"

"Look at your elder brother, daily associating with the Su family’s young masters, Xu family’s sons, or City Lord’s Mansion officials.

And look at you, truly mud that won’t stick to the wall!"

As the Zhan Family Master spoke more, his voice grew louder.

The surrounding servants dodged anxiously, while Zhan Weicong’s grin widened.

As usual during reprimands, Zhan Weida lowered his head, not responding.

"You will not associate with that country boy anymore!"

"No!" But Zhan Weida, contrary to usual, raised his head and shouted back, "I’m good at judging people, he’s different!

I’ll decide my own affairs!"

After speaking, he turned and left, leaving the Zhan Family Master trembling with anger.

"Rebellious, rebellious! Stop his monthly allowance!"

...