Chapter Seventeen: Level Up Once More!
“Brother Qin, this is a token of my goodwill, and in addition, you may collect a thousand taels in silver notes from the Black Tiger Gang every month.” Yan Chonghu drew out ten silver notes, each worth a thousand taels, from his breast pocket and handed them to Qin Feng.
“Brother Yan, isn’t this a bit much? After all, I’ve just joined the Black Tiger Gang and haven’t made any contributions yet.” Qin Feng pushed the silver notes back, shaking his head in refusal.
He had joined the Black Tiger Gang for its resources, but seeking those resources did not mean demanding them outright. Moreover, Yan Chonghu’s immediate offer of ten thousand taels in silver made Qin Feng suspicious of his intentions.
“Brother Qin, we’re both smart men—no need for pretense between us,” Yan Chonghu said with a frankness that left nothing concealed. “This ten thousand taels is an investment in you. I believe in your future. You’re so young, yet already a refined-force martial artist; in time, you’ll surely reach the grandmaster realm, a rarity among thousands!”
“If you break through to grandmaster, your status will rise as water lifts the boat. The Black Tiger Gang will ascend with you, and perhaps I, too, might gain insight into the mysteries of the grandmaster realm through your guidance.”
Seeing the doubt in Qin Feng’s eyes, Yan Chonghu made his intentions utterly clear.
“Very well, then. I’ll accept these ten thousand taels,” Qin Feng said solemnly as he took the notes. “And if I do become a grandmaster, I’ll do all I can to help you achieve that realm as well.”
His brows radiated confidence. With the golden finger that endlessly augmented his strength, he was certain of his path to grandmaster.
“Good! I’ll wait for the day you reach that height!” Yan Chonghu, swept up by Qin Feng’s assurance, burst out laughing.
“Believe me, that day won’t be far off!” Qin Feng grinned widely.
It had taken him only a day and a night to rise from an ordinary man to a dark-force martial artist, discounting the time spent searching for resources.
“Brother, here are forty thousand taels in silver notes. Please help me purchase a large quantity of century-old medicinal herbs!” Qin Feng drew out thirty thousand taels in addition to the ten thousand, handing all forty thousand taels to Yan Chonghu.
“Brother, you mustn’t rush your cultivation. If you damage your meridians, the loss will outweigh any gain,” Yan Chonghu cautioned urgently.
While consuming elixirs could rapidly increase one’s power, the tremendous medicinal strength could easily harm the meridians. Thus, martial artists would often require long periods of recuperation after such training, to nurture and restore their bodies. If one could endlessly consume herbs for cultivation, wouldn’t everyone become a grandmaster?
“Don’t worry, Brother, I know my limits.”
Only now, hearing Yan Chonghu’s warning, did Qin Feng realize that excessive consumption of herbs could damage the meridians and that a period of nurturing was needed. But this didn’t concern him; his body’s regenerative powers were formidable, and any damage to his meridians was swiftly healed.
“Since you know what you’re doing, I’ll say no more. I’ll use all forty thousand taels to procure century-old herbs.” Yan Chonghu thought that since Qin Feng had reached refined-force at such a young age, he was surely no ordinary man, and would never risk his future lightly.
“Thank you!” Qin Feng responded with sincere gratitude.
...
“To cultivate, I must quickly achieve the strength of a grandmaster! Only with such power can I protect myself in this world,” Qin Feng thought after returning home. He advised Wang Bao and Liu Hu to be cautious when consuming elixirs for training, lest they injure their meridians.
Within a single day, relying on the Thunder Breathing Technique and his terrifying ability to recover, Qin Feng refined all the remaining herbs. When it was done, he felt wholly attuned to his strength, with no hint of pain. However, he had not yet broken through to the refined-force realm. He sensed he was but a step away from generating true internal force.
If he had enough herbs, he could break through today, and his power would soar.
“Add more points!”
“Strengthening the body by constantly pushing its limits is also a form of cultivation!” After some thought, Qin Feng decided to proceed with adding more points. To gain power as swiftly as possible, a little pain was nothing.
+1
+1
+1
+1
...
Qin Feng frantically increased his stats until his body throbbed with pain, at which point he stopped.
“So painful! But no matter, pain is something one can get used to!” As his body shuddered from the sharp agony, a smile crept onto his lips.
The Xuanwu Continent was fraught with danger, and there were always crafty villains plotting against him. He had to use every means to strengthen himself.
“Phew!”
...
“Phew!”
“Phew!”
Qin Feng began exercising in his room, repeatedly tearing his muscles and waiting for them to recover before tearing them again.
Just as he’d said, pain could become routine. At first, the agony was intense, but soon the tingling sensation of recovery became almost pleasurable—addictive, even.
“Young master, Master Yan is here,” Wang Fu hurried in from the front courtyard five days later to announce.
“Brother Yan’s arrival—could it be the herbs are ready?” Qin Feng brightened, changed his clothes, opened the door, and went out.
“Brother, were you able to purchase enough herbs?” he called out as soon as he saw Yan Chonghu.
“Yes, all forty thousand taels have gone towards century-old herbs!” Yan Chonghu gestured to the large trunk nearby, then paused before continuing, “The other day you asked me to keep an eye on Li Tianlong, so I sent two hall masters to shadow him. They’ve just reported that Li Tianlong plans to make a move against you. Would you like me to warn him?”
“No need. Against someone so ruthless, a warning is useless. He must be eliminated to prevent future trouble,” Qin Feng said coldly, surprised that Li Tianlong truly intended to act against him. If Li Tianlong sought to kill him, he would certainly return the favor.
“This...” Yan Chonghu was taken aback, a hint of concern in his voice. The Li family was not weak; they had refined-force experts of their own. Though not as powerful as the Black Tiger Gang, they were not to be underestimated.
“Well, since your mind is made up, we’ll wipe out the Li family. With you, me, and Shi Tie together, their refined-force fighters won’t stand a chance. Besides, since the Shen family was destroyed by outsiders, we can blame it on them once we’re done with the Li family too,” Yan Chonghu said somberly.
He was well aware of the Shen family’s destruction, and had already warned his men not to provoke outside martial artists.
“No, you misunderstand. I don’t intend to act against the Li family as a whole—only to execute Li Tianlong!” Qin Feng quickly clarified, waving his hand. “Tonight, I’ll go to the Li estate and put an end to Li Tianlong. I have no intention of targeting the entire Li family.”