Chapter 24

Mental power remained highly focused, carefully observing how that strange energy tempered his organs; Fang Xu clearly felt some fatigue.

Using the Divine Extension Canon to enter the Inner Viewing State required consuming mental power; that is, having lived two lives and possessing twofold mental power allowed him to sustain such consumption.

His five viscera and six bowels were tempered simultaneously, and Fang Xu could clearly feel the changes occurring in his body.

During this period, whenever his Blood Qi Power weakened and the tempering slowed, he would directly swallow the Blood Qi Pill beside him; previously he only consumed three or four such pills a day, yet in just a few short hours they were completely used up.

The sky gradually brightened; feeling the tempering still continuing inside him, Fang Xu no longer paid attention, rose and went to the kitchen, picked up a piece of blood food weighing twenty jin, carried it to the well to wash clean, then placed it in the pot to stew.

He himself began practicing fists in the courtyard.

This time his fist technique was not the kind attached to the Coiling Dragon Strength, but rather a combination of the Long Arm Fist and Eight Extremes Fist he had learned in the military in his previous life.

Both styles are renowned for their hardness, with few flowery moves; they were compiled by several martial masters of his previous life after years of study into a killing fighting art.

With his body strengthened, Fang Xu's punches almost always triggered sonic booms; the energy radiating from each move could even blow away dust within several yards of him.

A martial artist, upon reaching the rank of Martial Master, gains the ability to emit energy outward.

Fang Xu has not yet reached the Martial Apprentice level, so he cannot do that; the energy he generates with his moves is purely from force compressing the air.

After practicing his fists and feet, the sun had already risen.

After finishing his practice, he simply washed up, ate the stewed blood food from the pot, changed into clean clothes, and walked toward the street.

Today the Blood Food Stall opened for business; Lu Zhiyuan had already sent him an invitation, so he naturally could not miss it.

Moreover, he still wanted to ask Lu Zhiyuan about the pill from yesterday.

As the morning sun rose, rays of light drove away the thin mist shrouding Maple Forest Town.

Today Maple Forest Town was even livelier than usual.

As one of the two remaining Martial Masters in Maple Forest Town, Lu Zhiyuan took over the blood food business that the Zhang family had monopolized for a century, announced the news directly, and declared that for the three days before the stall's opening, all blood food inside would be half price.

The Great Yu dynasty established the state through martial prowess, and the common folk all possessed three body‑refining methods passed down from the imperial house.

Many people may not dream of becoming martial artists, yet this does not prevent them from harboring the hope of using blood food to reach the Bone Forging Realm.

After all, even if they cannot become Martial Apprentices, reaching the Bone Forging Realm would make their physical quality far surpass ordinary people's; having a strong body for daily farm labor is also a good thing.

When Fang Xu arrived, the front of the Blood Food Stall was already filled with common folk ready to purchase blood food.

As for the notable people in town holding invitations, they had all been ushered into the inner hall banquet at this time.

"Big Brother Li, Sister‑in‑law."

The ones in charge at the shop front were Li Yunshan and Madam Wang.

Today Madam Wang wore light makeup, dressed in a purple waist‑cinched long gown, giving off a charming and alluring air.

"Little Brother Fang." Madam Wang slightly bowed her head and greeted him with a smiling tone.

Li Yunshan also clasped his hands toward him: "Little Brother Fang, the banquet is ready—please go inside."

Fang Xu nodded, returned the salute with clasped hands to the two, then walked inside.

In the shop's rear hall, everyone had already taken their seats; upon encountering acquaintances they laughed and chatted, forming small groups of three or five to talk, while Fang Xu, unfamiliar with them, could not join in.

"Little Brother Fang." Just as Fang Xu was about to find a corner to wait in, planning to ask Lu Zhiyuan later when he was free, a familiar voice sounded behind him.

Fang Xu turned around, blinked slightly, then clasped his hands and said: "Sir Zheng, Elder Brother Liao."

The arrivals were precisely Zheng Ming of the Qinghe County Jail Clerk Office and Liao Yunfeng, petty officer of the Investigations Office; Fang Xu had not expected these two to come.

Zheng Ming gave a slight clasped‑hand salute, glanced at Fang Xu twice, and said nothing.

On the contrary, Liao Yunfeng approached Fang Xu familiarly, lightly put his arm around his shoulder, and whispered in a low voice: "You little rascal, you've made an excellent move."

Fang Xu was puzzled, glanced at Liao Yunfeng, and asked: "Elder Brother Liao, what do you mean by that?"

Liao Yunfeng looked around, lowered his voice again, and said: "Don't you notice that an important guest is missing from this courtyard?"

Hearing this, Fang Xu looked around the courtyard, shook his head slightly, and asked: "Who is missing?"

Seeing his reaction, Liao Yunfeng also sounded surprised and said: "Is this really not something you schemed, you little rascal?"

Fang Xu gave a wry smile and said: "Elder Brother Liao, I, the junior, sold this blood food shop to Master Lu; I truly had no other thought, I simply felt that Master Lu was a bit more reliable."

Liao Yunfeng glanced at him with some suspicion, then also gave a wry smile and said: "You..."

"The blood food business is highly profitable; after the Zhang family was exterminated, there are not a few people eyeing this business."

Upon mentioning this, Fang Xu suddenly understood who the important client Liang Yunfeng had spoken of was.

The Wu family's ancestor!

Logically speaking, opening a blood food shop on a plot of land in Maple Forest Town is such a big matter; Lu Zhiyuan would definitely have sent the Wu family an invitation.

But now, not to mention the Wu family's ancestor didn't come; not a single other member of the Wu family showed up.

This clearly shows the Wu family disagrees with handing over the blood food business in Maple Forest Town to Lu Zhiyuan and is unwilling to support this.

In that case, the Wu family will inevitably reach out to take a share of the blood food business.

Thinking of this, Fang Xu secretly gave a wry smile.

This is an undeserved disaster; how did I inexplicably get dragged into taking sides?

"Fang Xu." While he was worrying, two figures suddenly appeared before Fang Xu.

"Senior Lu." Seeing the person before him, Liao Yunfeng hastily clasped his hands in salute.

Fang Xu also hastily suppressed his doubts, preparing to salute Lu Zhiyuan.

However, Lu Qingluo at his side was the first to grab his arm, and immediately a rather twisted energy swiftly surged into Fang Xu's body.

Fang Xu's brows slightly furrowed; he immediately circulated his Blood Qi Power within his body, forcefully blasting apart the energy that Lu Qingluo had invaded his body with.

"Qingluo, do not be rude." Lu Zhiyuan grabbed his daughter, glanced at Fang Xu's eyes flickering a few times, then a hint of imperceptible joy appeared on his face as he said: "Fang Xu, follow me."

Lu Qingluo, held by Lu Zhiyuan, turned her head unwillingly to look at Fang Xu and said: "You ate?"

Fang Xu did not answer; Lu Qingluo, somewhat anxiously, said: "Did you eat or not?"

"Qingluo!" Lu Zhiyuan's voice turned somewhat stern, cutting off her questioning; then he gave Fang Xu an apologetic smile and said: "This matter, I will explain it to you in detail later."

"Come with me."

He glanced at Lu Qingluo, then at Lu Zhiyuan; Fang Xu said nothing, gave a slight bow to Liao Yunfeng and Zheng Ming beside him, then followed Lu Zhiyuan inside.

Along the way, the prominent landowners and tyrants of Maple Forest Town all looked at Fang Xu with puzzlement; they seemed unable to understand why, given Lu Zhiyuan's status, he would be so courteous toward an ordinary person like Fang Xu who had no standing, no background, and had not even reached the Martial Apprentice Realm.

Following Lu Zhiyuan's steps into the hall, the few people seated around the table all curiously sized up Fang Xu.

"Brother Lu, isn't this the son of Old Man Fang the carpenter from town?" someone who knew Fang Xu asked doubtfully.

The others, hearing this, some furrowed their brows and said: "This brat isn't even a Martial Apprentice; what right does he have to sit and eat with us?"

Fang Xu looked at the speaker, then at Lu Zhiyuan, and said nothing.

Lu Zhiyuan gave a light smile and directly introduced himself to everyone: "You all know that I have been in Maple Forest Town for five years, and I once set a rule not to take disciples, but today…"

"Fang Xu, I, Lu, wish to take you as my disciple; are you willing?"

Staring at Fang Xu, Lu Zhiyuan spoke solemnly.

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(End of chapter)