During yesterday's assessment, although Zhao Xuanqi managed only Four Sounds, the stance he demonstrated was a breath of fresh air, leaving a rather deep impression on Weng Xiaolin and Liu Changfeng.
Afterward, Weng Xiaolin didn't grant Zhao Xuanqi the same special treatment as Zhou Ze. However, he did instruct Liu Changfeng to keep an eye on Zhao Xuanqi's performance during the special training.
'This kid's Nine Tiger Forms stance is impeccable. His understanding of the Profound Techniques within the forms is so spot-on that I don't even need to correct him. He doesn't seem like a beginner at all. Is it talent? But his Physical Ability is terrible—that's not something you can fake. His willpower, though, is impressive. He kept up for the entire physical training session without falling behind.'
'He looks frail, but his appetite is surprisingly large. Even with today's harsh drills and massive energy expenditure, he ate twice as much as others his age. A good appetite is a good sign. When practicing martial arts, the last thing you want is a poor appetite. Perhaps he's frail due to a past lack of nutrition?'
'Hm? His stamina recovery seems faster than a normal person's. The other disciples are still a bit listless even after the midday break, yet he's the only one who looks energetic, without the slightest sign of fatigue.'
'His performance in sparring, on the other hand, is a complete mess. He's like a total novice. But someone who can execute a Stance like that shouldn't be this bad. Plus, this kid gives me a strange feeling... Am I overthinking it? Or is he hiding his true abilities?'
'Interesting...'
Throughout the training, Liu Changfeng remained impassive, observing all of Zhao Xuanqi's actions and mentally forming his summary and evaluation.
As the day's training concluded, the sky began to grow dark. The fourteen disciples stood in the field, their faces etched with fatigue. Liu Changfeng had an Outer Disciple on duty bring over a large basket. Inside were square objects, each about half the size of a palm, wrapped in oil paper and emitting a rich, medicinal fragrance.
"This is called Celestial Wind Qi Supplement Powder, one of the Martial Arts Hall's Secret Medicines. It replenishes Qi and Blood, strengthens the body, and increases physical power. Take it home and dissolve it in warm water after your meal. Remember, the Martial Arts Hall's Secret Medicines are for your use only. Anyone caught sharing them with outsiders will be punished according to the Hall's rules!"
Liu Changfeng said flatly.
He then gave a nod to the Outer Disciples on duty, who immediately began distributing the Secret Medicine, one portion for each person.
Taking the Secret Medicine, Zhao Xuanqi's eyes narrowed slightly. The medicinal soup from lunch had been just an ordinary tonic, nothing special. But this Secret Medicine in his hand—this was one of the most valuable assets of the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall.
The three pillars of the Secret Martial Dao.
Train! Fight! Eat!
To "Train" refers to Training Methods, such as Pile Skill, Breathing, and Meditation. These practices stretch the tendons and bones, strengthen the blood and build the body, increase Physical Ability, and allow one to grasp the secrets of Force and master the body's profound workings.
To "Fight" refers to combat application—real-world fighting, techniques, and skills for killing or subduing a foe. Having Training Methods without fighting applications is like a fierce tiger without its claws and fangs, possessing no power to defeat an enemy.
To "Eat" refers to Secret Medicine. As the saying goes, training is thirty percent, while eating is seventy. Secret Medicine provides nutrients that are easier to absorb, helping the body rapidly increase Physical Ability, repair injuries, and even enhance specific physiological functions.
The Secret Medicine of each school differs based on its unique characteristics and is typically designed to be used in conjunction with its Training Methods for synergistic effect. Without the aid of Secret Medicine, many Training Methods simply cannot be cultivated to an advanced realm. The formulas for these medicines are generally held only by the most core members of a School.
'This Celestial Wind Qi Supplement Powder must be the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall's most basic Secret Medicine, prepared specifically for beginners. There have to be higher-grade Secret Medicines above it.'
Zhao Xuanqi surmised that the formulas for the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall's core Secret Medicines were likely known only by Hall Master Weng Xiaolin; even an instructor like Liu Changfeng would be kept in the dark.
Control over such advanced Secret Medicine was a tool masters used to keep their disciples in line.
'I wonder how effective the Secret Medicine for this school of Tiger Form Fist is.'
"Alright, that's it for today's training. Dismissed. Be here on time tomorrow. If you're late... you know the consequences."
With that, Liu Changfeng turned and left.
After the long day of training, everyone was exhausted and in no mood to talk. They quickly left the Martial Arts Hall and headed home.
After returning home, Zhao Xuanqi quickly washed his sweat-drenched body, then proceeded to wolf down the meal Zhao Qin had prepared.
For now, he wasn't worried about running out of silver coins. The money from the Hengsheng Warehouse was a huge sum for an ordinary family, enough for him to live on for quite some time. He had recently been considering using the money to rent a better house and improve their living conditions.
He waited about an hour after dinner for his food to digest, then fetched the warm water he had prepared in advance, ready to take the Secret Medicine.
He unwrapped the oil paper, revealing a dark Medicine Brick. A rich medicinal fragrance, mixed with a peculiar, coppery scent reminiscent of blood, filled the room.
Zhao Qin, who was washing dishes in the kitchen, smelled the aroma and poked her head out to take a curious peek.
Ignoring his curious sister, Zhao Xuanqi placed the Medicine Brick in a bowl, poured in the warm water, and slowly stirred with chopsticks until it dissolved. When the brick had completely melted into a slightly viscous, black broth, he lifted the bowl and downed it in one go.
Spicy, bitter, and rankly metallic flavors instantly exploded, assaulting his palate and making him want to gag.
The concoction left a trail of fire down his esophagus. Once it hit his stomach, it felt as if a flame had been ignited in his viscera, the scorching heat spreading through every fiber of his being.
His blood began to race and his pores opened, releasing fine beads of sweat. It felt as if his body's functions had been awakened; his metabolism kicked into a higher gear, and his mental fatigue melted away. It wasn't a jolt of hyperactivity, but a deep comfort, like the feeling of sinking into a hot bath.
On top of that, Zhao Xuanqi's digestive system kicked into high gear, working quickly and efficiently to absorb every last bit of nutrient and energy from the Secret Medicine.
'This is...'
Zhao Xuanqi's pupils contracted slightly.
In both his past life and his present one, he had always possessed a powerful gift for digestion. Because of this, he had an intuitive sense of the nutritional potency within various foods and Medicinal Materials.
To his utter disbelief, this basic Secret Medicine from the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall was nearly identical in nutritional content to the Secret Medicine from his own Hundred Beasts Fist!
This should have been impossible. The Hundred Beasts Sect was one of the most elite Fist Technique lineages on Blue Star, and its Secret Medicine was considered top-tier among all the Schools. It contained a vast number of precious Medicinal Materials; for a Cultivator of the Hundred Beasts Fist, the cost of the Secret Medicine alone was astronomical.
The poor pursue literature; the rich pursue the martial arts.
'But the Zhou's Tiger Form Fist taught by the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall shouldn't be a top-tier Martial Dao in this world. The potency of its Secret Medicine shouldn't be comparable to that of the Hundred Beasts Sect. And even if it were, a Secret Medicine of this value would never be handed out so casually to Outer Disciples.'
'This makes no sense.'
He suddenly realized that the reason the Martial Dao was so widespread in this world probably wasn't just because of the chaotic times. There had to be deeper secrets he wasn't yet aware of.
He stood up abruptly, walked out of the house, and came to a stop in the small courtyard.
'After taking a Secret Medicine of this caliber, it would be an incredible waste to just let the medicinal power and nutrients dissipate on their own.'
'I'll use a Pile Skill to guide the flow of nutrients in my body and make use of them more efficiently.'