CHAPTER 101: CHAPTER 92 INNER QI_3

GULP. He swallowed.

A strong medicinal power dispersed into his blood, accelerating its circulation. Soon, with the transportation of his Qi Sensation, a new strand of Qi Power was regenerated.

It seems that my next step in cultivation is either to spend money on Pills and Treasure Herb, or...

Chen Ku pulled out the Flower Fox Mink from between his brows and said to it, "You’ll need to delve deeper into the Two Realms Mountain area, try your luck, and see if you can find high-quality Treasure Herb, or even... Top-grade Treasure Grass."

Releasing the Flower Fox Mink meant that the first Transformation Diagram couldn’t be easily changed for a long time. Only two diagrams remained. One needed to be used continuously for the Ling Transformation to increase a section of spiritual power, which could make his ’transportation of Blood Qi’ faster and increase his cultivation speed.

The third diagram...

Golden Eye of Hundred Li... Blood Blade... Demon Talisman reinforced Weapons... and the Fengguang Sword Technique...

Chen Ku calculated the Transformation Diagrams in his mind, sighing inwardly. Though they can be switched, there is ultimately a cool-down time. In one day, a Transformation Diagram slot can only be changed up to four times... Having only three slots for Transformation Diagrams is still too few. Unless I can undergo fetus transformation shape shifting another time and fuse once more.

He considered the requirements for the Golden-eyed White Jade Sculpture to fuse with the Flower Fox Mink.

[Deducing the results of this fetus transformation refining shape: The Golden-eyed White Jade Sculpture Transformation is only at the Shape Shifting Level and has very few strange form parts. Therefore, this affects the success rate of fetus transformation refining shape. If forced, the success rate is only one percent. Additionally, it requires an ’Evil Qi of a Peak Demon of the First Realm’ or ’Human Internal Qi Peak Realm Evil Qi’ as fuel for refining shape.]

That is to say, fetus transformation refining shape isn’t just conjured out of nothing. It requires the Transformation Level itself to first reach at least Perfection, and then be supplemented by a high-level Evil Qi.

Even a skillful woman can’t cook without rice. With high-level energy Evil Qi as a base, there is the foundation for a ’high-level new Strange Beast’ to form.

To activate the fourth diagram, I will also need an Evil Qi from a Peak Demon of the First Realm... The best plan would be to stealthily attack a Peace Path Demon Person at the Peak Realm of Inner Qi, but with my current strength...

Suddenly, Chen Ku thought of the four Palm Seals he had obtained from the Xu Family Inheritance. Because they lacked mental methods and Inner Strength, they required at least the Inner Qi Realm to use the first move, "Mountain Roar Tsunami Seal."

Chen Ku felt the first Palm Seal in his memory. Experimentally, he tried to activate that wisp of weak Inner Qi in his body to see if he could execute it.

This Xu Family’s Mountain-Lifting Palm had an even greater origin than the Furious Ape Mighty Staff’s Ultimate Skill. It also primarily used brute force, similar in application to the Furious Ape Mighty Staff.

Chen Ku wondered. If he could activate the Mountain-Lifting Palm’s ’Mountain Roar Tsunami Seal’ while performing the Skyward Strike, could he combine the force of both palm and staff to strike simultaneously? In that case, perhaps he might try a stealth attack...

However, as Chen Ku harbored this thought and tentatively started to activate that strand of Inner Qi to form the ’Mountain Roar Tsunami Seal,’ he found that he could only complete half the Qi Pathway before he felt it was insufficient.

My Qi Power is insufficient. This strand of Inner Qi, following the Qi Pathway of the Mountain Roar Tsunami Seal, hasn’t even reached halfway before it feels like carrying a heavy load, hard to sustain. My volume of Qi is too low... This Palm Seal, only at the Qi Sensation level, is definitely not enough to be executed. I’m afraid I need at least the ’Sufficient Qi’ stage of the Mid Inner Qi phase to have enough Qi Power to perform it.

Chen Ku exhaled and sighed, "I’ll just have to buy my own herbs and practice for now, and see if I can get a chance to obtain the Pill Prescription. Then, I’ll be able to concoct the Pills myself!"

Barely two days into his apprenticeship, he was already eager to ask for the Pill Prescription. His intent was too obvious. Even if his master could accept it, it was risky as it might arouse suspicion among the Shopkeepers. After all, that was Medicine King Hall’s lifeline.

A single Treasure Herb could at most sell for One Hundred Taels of Silver. With Medicine King Hall’s Pill Prescriptions and other Prescriptions, along with some additional auxiliary herbs, ten to dozens of Pills could be produced. But after Pill Formation, each Pill could sell for over One Hundred Taels. In other words, at Medicine King Hall, a Treasure Herb worth One Hundred Taels could be transformed into several thousand Taels worth of product.

Just like some cancer drugs in his past life, the cost of raw materials for a box of medication wasn’t much, and the research process wasn’t too cumbersome. What was expensive? The secret formula and patent!

Chen Ku resolved internally. Although consuming Pills and Treasure Herb daily is luxurious, I still have to do it. If I can’t convert the money I earn into my own real strength, what’s the use of having so much money? It’s like others hoard weapons and I hoard money; I would just be someone else’s treasury.

With such thoughts, he gave himself a reason not to feel the pinch.

Pinching his nose, he went outside and spent Three Thousand Taels to buy thirty ordinary Treasure Grass of various kinds.

The reason he bought Treasure Grass instead of Pills was also with careful thought. Asking for the Pill Prescription on the first two days of apprenticeship was too conspicuous. After some time, it would be okay. By then... He himself wouldn’t be able to use up these thirty or so Treasure Grass; perhaps by refining them himself and succeeding in making Pills, there was even a chance to break even!

He secretly stored the thirty Treasure Grass in the cellar of his private, unknown small courtyard, then returned to Medicine King Hall, ready to share the good news of his breakthrough in Inner Qi with his two masters.

However, an Apprentice in the main hall notified him that two people had been looking for him for half a day.

Soon, Wu Gui came over with a slight smile and said, "Store Manager, I’ve found the residence in the Inner City that you asked me to find, one that can accommodate your family of four. According to your request, the price is between two and three thousand Taels. There’s a double-entry courtyard, originally belonging to a family that ran a rouge shop; they no longer live there and want to sell it. I looked at it, and its furniture and decorations are all in good condition. The asking price is two thousand five hundred Taels, but other household items are included, and this price can surely be negotiated further. Do you have time to see it?"

Chen Ku was about to respond when he heard another familiar voice laughing loudly, "Junior Brother Chen, you probably won’t have time today. I’m throwing a banquet at Fragrance Pavilion today. You must come. It’s the same people as last time. We have fewer people this time, and if you come, you can sit with me."

It was Jiang Shaoyou, his face flush with excitement, arriving at the hall.

Wu Gui tactfully stepped back to let Jiang Shaoyou speak first.

"Oh?" Chen Ku asked curiously, "Senior Brother Jiang, are you hosting a banquet for some joyous occasion?"

Jiang Shaoyou, visibly thrilled and beaming, said, "I’ve broken through to Inner Qi! Just before I turn twenty next summer, isn’t that good news? It means I qualify to participate in next spring’s martial examination, isn’t that good news?"

"Senior Brother also broke through to Inner Qi?" Chen Ku exclaimed in surprise.

Jiang Shaoyou paused, "Also?"