Chu Fan wiped his mouth with his sleeve and turned to walk toward the Martial Arts Arena outside the dining hall.
Dusk was settling in. The howling north wind swirled with dead leaves, beating against his ears like war drums.
The warmth spreading from the medicine soup in his body perfectly counteracted the biting cold wind, creating an indescribable sense of exhilaration that seemed to open every pore.
Instructor Cao Feng had once said that after drinking the medicine soup, one could practice the "Twelve Forms Fist" one more time.
Chu Fan paced around the Martial Arts Arena twice. Once his mind had settled, he cast aside all distracting thoughts, sank into his stance, and began practicing the "Twelve Forms Fist" again.
Not far away, in the last vestiges of daylight, he could see that besides Zhao Tianxing, many other gang members who had drunk the medicine soup were also assuming their stances, practicing their fists with sharp cries.
For a moment, the whistle of fists striking the air intertwined with the sound of the wind.
[Twelve Forms Fist Experience Points +1]
After finishing a set of the fist technique, Chu Fan's forehead was beaded with sweat and he was panting heavily, but the feeling of exhaustion was much lighter than before.
'This Blood-Nourishing Medicine Soup really is miraculous... I need to make a trip back in a couple of days and sell the ancestral home for some silver taels.'
Having deeply experienced the benefits of the medicine soup, Chu Fan secretly made up his mind.
...
The night deepened, and all was silent.
A Blood Moon hung high in the sky, dotted with sparse stars.
After finishing his last practice of the "Twelve Forms Fist," Chu Fan was utterly exhausted, dragging his heavy feet back to his quarters.
The room looked rather crude. The four walls were mottled, and the building materials—bricks, mud, reeds, and the like—were all exposed and plain to see.
Inside, there was only a single large, shared bed, covered with a layer of dry straw. The bedding was tattered beyond belief, so grimy that its original color was indiscernible, clearly unwashed for a long time.
But for disciples from poor backgrounds, such conditions were already a luxury.
On the bed, Zhao Tianxing was sitting cross-legged, a small Engraving Knife in hand, intently working on his arrows.
The blade slid across an arrow shaft, making a faint SHHH sound.
The other six, who were slightly younger, were in high spirits, chattering excitedly about everything they had seen and heard since joining the gang.
Chu Fan grabbed a wooden ladle, scooped up a full measure of cold water from the cistern, and, ignoring the bone-chilling cold, tilted his head back and gulped it down. GULP, GULP.
He walked, panting, to his own spot on the bed, collapsed onto it, and pulled the tattered quilt over himself. He closed his eyes, not wanting to move another inch.
[Cultivation: First Realm of Foundation Establishment, Blood Nourishing 3%]
[Skills: Twelve Forms Fist (Uninitiated) (Trait: None)]
[Progress: (5/10)]
In less than a day, his progress toward the "Blood Nourishing Realm" had already reached 3%. Chu Fan was pleasantly surprised.
This first realm's cultivation was easier said than done...
It consisted of practicing the Twelve Forms Fist daily and strengthening his qi and blood with the Blood-Nourishing Medicine Soup and food.
This process was called "Blood Nourishing."
Daily cultivation and daily "Blood Nourishing" were means of constantly refining and strengthening one's qi and blood, all in preparation to break through to the "Blood Nourishing Realm."
But until he broke through—until the "Blood Nourishing" on his status panel reached 100%—he still wasn't a "Blood Nourishing Realm" Martial Artist.
It was said that the sign of an impending breakthrough was "Blood Nourishing Like Mercury."
And right now, he was still a long way from "Blood Nourishing Like Mercury."
Chu Fan took a breath.
Just as he had expected...
With his current constitution, he could practice the "Twelve Forms Fist" twice each in the morning, afternoon, and evening.
And with the boost from the bowl of Blood-Nourishing Medicine Soup after dinner, he could manage one more practice session.
However, this training method took a huge toll on his body. He wasn't sure if a single night's sleep would be enough to recover completely.
If his recovery was poor, he would probably have to reduce the number of practice sessions tomorrow.
The boys next to him were not as hardworking or self-disciplined as he was. They were still full of energy, chattering away without a stop.
Chu Fan, however, couldn't even be bothered to lift his eyelids. He felt as if his entire skeleton had fallen apart; he didn't even have the strength to move a finger.
"Hey..."
Zhao Tianxing turned his head, shot a sideways glance at Chu Fan, and said with a slight curl of his lip, "No need to push yourself that hard, is there? In just half a day, you've run yourself ragged, like some exhausted stray dog."
"Training like this, it's anyone's guess if you'll even be able to get up tomorrow morning."
Chu Fan kept his eyes closed and didn't reply. He really couldn't be bothered to speak.
His mind was completely blank, save for a single thought—even if the sky were falling, he had to get a good night's sleep first!
As for everything else, to hell with it!
Zhao Tianxing rummaged for a while in his bulging coarse-cloth bundle and pulled out an object wrapped tightly in a lotus leaf.
He reached out and gently tapped Chu Fan's arm.
Chu Fan opened his eyes, annoyed. "It's the middle of the night and you're not sleeping. What on earth are you messing around with?" he said with a hint of impatience.
Zhao Tianxing wasn't offended. He simply unwrapped the lotus leaf package by Chu Fan's pillow.
Inside were pieces of dark, dried meat with strange markings. The surface was covered in a cracked layer of grease and salt crystals, looking just like old cowhide baked dry by the scorching sun.
Zhao Tianxing picked out two pieces and handed them to Chu Fan. "Here, for you."
"What kind of meat is this?" Chu Fan asked as he took the two pieces of jerky. They felt heavy in his hand, and he couldn't help but swallow hard. GULP.
Zhao Tianxing rewrapped the lotus leaf, stuffed the bundle back into his bag and tied it shut, then lowered his voice. "This is Vermilion-Scaled Blood Python Flesh..."
"This stuff is no ordinary thing. It's the best for strengthening a person's qi and blood. An ordinary family couldn't find it even if they had gold and silver!"
"In all my years, I've only ever come across one. I was lucky enough to hit its vital spot with a quick arrow, and that's how I got these few pieces!"
"The way I see it, the effects of this meat are even a bit stronger than that Blood-Nourishing Medicine Soup."
"Because the feeling I get after drinking the soup isn't nearly as strong as what I feel after eating a piece of this Vermilion-Scaled Blood Python Flesh!"
"It's really that good?" Hearing this, more than half of Chu Fan's fatigue seemed to vanish, and his eyes instantly lit up.
He picked up a piece with two fingers and put it in his mouth.
The jerky was a bit tough.
It also had a strange, indescribable taste.
At first, it smelled like rotten fruit mixed with the metallic tang of blood.
Sniffing it more closely, he could detect the gamy odor of damp earth, as if humus buried for a century had suddenly been churned up.
A bitter taste, like a mixture of sulfur, asphalt, and expired pills, lingered in Chu Fan's throat, making him want to both vomit and take another bite.
Chu Fan struggled out of bed, gulped down two large mouthfuls of cold water, and finally managed to chew and swallow the piece of meat.
However, the effects of the meat weren't as immediate as the medicine soup's.
After swallowing the meat, Chu Fan closed his eyes and rested for about the time it takes half an incense stick to burn. Only then did he feel a warmth slowly rise from his Dantian, gradually spreading to his limbs and bones before transforming into a warm current.
Zhao Tianxing hadn't been exaggerating.
The effects of this one piece of Vermilion-Scaled Blood Python Flesh were indeed much stronger than the Blood-Nourishing Medicine Soup!
Upon closer inspection, the medicinal effects were also longer-lasting!
Chu Fan opened his eyes and gently patted the shoulder of Zhao Tianxing, who was still fiddling with his arrows. "Thanks!"
Zhao Tianxing didn't reply, just grinned, revealing two rows of pearly white teeth, then lowered his head and went back to working on his arrows.
Just then, the six chattering boys from before gathered around Zhao Tianxing one by one.
One of them, with a fawning smile on his face, asked in a sycophantic tone, "Tianxing, Instructor Cao said your muscles and bones are tough and your qi and blood are vigorous. How did you train to get like that?"
Zhao Tianxing lifted his chin smugly. "I never practiced any proper techniques. I just used stone locks to build up my brute strength and ran around a lot in the mountains."
"Ever since I was a kid, I followed my dad into the mountains to hunt. I could chase a roe deer for dozens of miles on mountain paths, fight wolves with my bare hands, and I've killed highly venomous pit vipers..."
"When I was thirsty, I drank from mountain springs. When I was hungry, I roasted beast meat. I've lost count of how many medicinal herbs I've chewed on, like wild ginseng and crimson blood vines."
"So it's only normal that my qi and blood are a bit stronger than yours."
A short-haired boy asked, "If we break through the 'Blood Nourishing' stage, do we really become disciples of the Seven Stars Gang?"
"Mhm," Zhao Tianxing said with a slight nod. "You either break through 'Blood Nourishing,' or you practice one of the 'Twelve Forms' from the 'Twelve Forms Fist' to the state of Great Success. Either way, you'll be considered an official member of the Seven Stars Gang."
"At that time, you'll receive better nurturing from the gang, and your benefits will improve as well."
He narrowed his eyes, his voice filled with a hint of longing as he continued, "Just by being a Seven Stars Gang disciple, you can get at least three silver taels a month. An ordinary person might not even make that much in a whole year!"
The group of boys listened with shining eyes, as if they could already see silver swaying before them.
Zhao Tianxing added, "Besides, after 'Blood Nourishing,' our strength and speed will far surpass that of ordinary people. We'll be able to take on missions to earn money."
"For example, escorting Medicinal Gatherers into the mountains to find herbs, or delivering goods for an Escort Agency. Both pay pretty well."
The boys grew even more excited, flattering him one after another until Zhao Tianxing was beaming with delight and feeling pleased from head to toe.
Suddenly, one of them asked, "So... what Realm comes after Blood Nourishing?"
"..." Zhao Tianxing was suddenly at a loss for words.
He opened his mouth, then his face hardened as he scolded them, "You're so young, yet you have no sense of proportion! You're a hundred thousand li from 'Blood Nourishing,' and you're already thinking about the realms that come after?"
"Do you really think 'Blood Nourishing' is some roadside weed you can just pluck whenever you want?"
"Plenty of people struggle for eight or ten years and can't even touch the edge of 'Blood Nourishing'!"
"It's the middle of the night and you're not sleeping. If you have the energy to talk about this nonsense, why don't you go outside and practice the 'Twelve Forms Fist' a few more times?"
"All of you, get back to bed!"
The six boys shrank back from his scolding and didn't dare say another word, obediently lying back down in their spots.
Zhao Tianxing turned around, lowered his head, and quietly asked Chu Fan, "Chu Fan, do you know what Realm comes after Blood Nourishing?"
Chu Fan: "..."
[Spiritual Essence: 2.8]
A single small piece of Vermilion-Scaled Blood Python Flesh had actually increased his Spiritual Essence by 1.5.
The bowl of Blood-Nourishing Medicine Soup from before had only increased it by 0.5.
Chu Fan's heart stirred. He was tempted to get up and practice his fists again, but on second thought, he restrained himself...
'Only by getting enough rest can my future cultivation be twice as effective with half the effort.'
'If I damage my foundation by rushing for quick results, I'll regret it forever.'
...
That night, Chu Fan slept especially soundly.
Even in his dreams, he was practicing the "Twelve Forms Fist," move by move.
When the first light of dawn broke through, he scrambled out of bed.
The sore back and aching muscles he had expected never came.
Last night's fatigue had been swept completely away.
The medicinal power of that bowl of soup and the Vermilion-Scaled Blood Python Flesh seemed to have made his recovery several times faster than usual!
Chu Fan pushed the door open and walked outside, stretching his muscles and bones. He felt light all over. Not only was there no trace of sluggishness, but it felt as if an inexhaustible strength was surging through his meridians.
Yesterday, he had only practiced the "Twelve Forms Fist" five times, drunk a bowl of medicine soup, and eaten a piece of python meat. Yet after just one night, his body had already undergone such a noticeable change!
By now, many people were already training in the Martial Arts Arena, their shouts rising and falling in succession.
Chu Fan jogged around the arena for a moment to loosen up his muscles, then focused his mind, gathered his energy, and began to practice his fists in earnest.
Every complete run-through of the Fist Technique would increase his experience by one point.
Five more practice sessions, and his "Twelve Forms Fist" would reach the Entry-Level.
His goal was within reach, filling him with motivation...