Chapter 18: Leveling Up

After the dinner ended, Li Fei rode his bike back to the Inspection Academy's staff residential compound along with Lu Zhangwu and the sons of four other squadron leaders.

After saying goodbye to Lu Zhangwu and the others, Li Fei returned home and immediately told Li Lei about what happened today.

"Uncle Li, what is your relationship with that Squadron Leader Lu?"

Li Fei asked.

There were bound to be power struggles within the Inspection Academy; if Li Lei and that Squadron Leader Lu were not on the same side, he would have to be extra careful when dealing with Lu Zhangwu in the future.

"It's rare for you to specifically come and ask me."

A gratified smile appeared on Li Lei's face, as he felt the child had truly grown up.

"That Squadron Leader Lu is almost certain to be promoted to Deputy Inspector General; the other two squadron leaders have no way to compete with him."

Li Fei understood immediately; without a conflict of interest, the relationship between the two sides would at least not be hostile.

In that case, dealing with Lu Zhangwu would not cause trouble for Li Lei.

"What Lu Zhangwu told you today is basically the truth. The Tiger Blade Gang has almost turned the Xingcheng Martial Arts Hall into their own backyard. If you want to obtain a spot for the University's Martial Arts Department, you are bound to clash with the Tiger Blade Gang. So, you can associate with people like Lu Zhangwu, but be careful not to be used as a pawn. Do you understand?"

Li Lei looked at Li Fei.

"I understand, Uncle Li, don't worry."

Li Fei nodded.

"Since you are studying martial arts with Mr. Hao, do you have any need for money?"

Li Lei asked again.

Li Fei did not hesitate and nodded again: "Yes, Teacher taught me a hard-body technique today and gave me a prescription that I need to purchase at the Martial Arts Hall."

"A hard-body technique?"

Li Lei did not expect Hao Yi to teach Li Fei this, but he trusted Hao Yi's judgment and ability, so he took out his wallet without hesitation and handed a stack of banknotes to Li Fei:

"There are two hundred yuan here. Take it and use it first; tell me if it's not enough."

Li Fei took the stack of banknotes with both hands and said earnestly: "Thank you, Uncle Li."

"It's nothing, your Uncle Li still has some savings, don't be polite with me."

Li Lei said very casually.

His official monthly salary was 100 yuan, but in reality, he had various other sources of income, so he did indeed have some savings after all these years.

It was just that these savings might not even be enough to support Li Tianyu through university, let alone having to take out a portion for Li Fei to use.

Looking at the stack of banknotes in his hand, Li Fei had only one thought in his heart:

"A favor of a single drop of water should be repaid with a gushing spring!"

Early the next morning, Li Fei took a look at the Myriad Blood Bead inside his body as usual:

【Level: Level 1, 72%

Blood Soul: 10】

After a night, the level data had risen by 1%; this was the Myriad Blood Bead automatically absorbing energy from his body, and the Blood Souls had also recovered to 10.

Through observation, Li Fei estimated that the recovery speed of the Blood Souls was one every 24 hours, meaning that no matter how severe his injuries were, he could be fully restored in ten days.

After getting dressed and eating breakfast, Li Fei ran to the Martial Arts Hall and went straight to the logistics building to purchase the medicinal herbs.

"Hello, the price for a full set of medicine on the prescription is 35 yuan."

The administrator of the logistics department said to Li Fei after reading the prescription.

"Give me one set first, thank you."

Li Fei handed the other party 35 yuan.

A full set of medicine could be used 10 times; Li Lei had given him 200 yuan, enough for him to practice the 'Heavenly Dipper Tyrant Body' 50 times.

After receiving the medicine, Li Fei headed to the training building with a large bag of herbs.

He first applied to use the medicinal bath room with Sister Zhang, and after getting the key to 304, he went upstairs and entered it.

Skillfully lighting the gas stove, Li Fei began to boil water, then poured the boiled water into the wooden barrel.

After the barrel was more than half full, he poured a packet of medicine into the barrel according to the prescription.

Soon, the room was filled with the scent of herbs.

Seeing that the time was about right, Li Fei took a packet of medicinal powder, stripped off his clothes, and soaked his whole body in the wooden barrel.

This was a necessary step for practicing the 'Heavenly Dipper Tyrant Body': taking medicinal powder internally and soaking in a medicinal bath externally to stimulate his potential, which would make practicing the 'Heavenly Dipper Tyrant Body' twice as effective later.

Li Fei soon felt his body heating up, as if something was burrowing into his body.

Not only that, he also noticed that his Blood Souls were decreasing.

This indicated that his body was suffering damage.

Hao Yi had made it clear to him beforehand that although the medicine used for practicing the 'Heavenly Dipper Tyrant Body' could allow him to practice quickly, it would also cause certain damage to his body, so it could not be overused.

However, this was nothing to Li Fei; he had the Myriad Blood Bead to share the damage, so the damage caused by the medicine to his body would be minimized, and even if there was damage, it could be fully recovered within ten days without worrying about leaving any sequelae.

After soaking in the wooden barrel for about an hour, Li Fei came out and put his clothes back on.

He 'looked' at the Myriad Blood Bead:

【Level: Level 1, 91%

Blood Soul: 9 + 82%】

The medicine caused him damage, but it also allowed the Myriad Blood Bead to absorb energy; now the Myriad Blood Bead was only 9% away from leveling up!

A moment later, Hao Yi walked in.

"Teacher."

"Hmm, stand in the Heavenly Dipper One-Qi Stance."

Hao Yi glanced at Li Fei, confirmed that he had already used the medicine, and said quite straightforwardly.

"Yes."

Li Fei began to stand in the stance. Perhaps because of the medicinal bath and the medicinal powder, he felt that his breathing was scorching, and his body slowly began to heat up.

Hao Yi, standing to the side, took off the black leather gloves he was wearing, revealing his blood-red hands, and then slapped Li Fei all over his body, one palm after another.

Slap!

Slap!

Slap!

Dull slapping sounds rang out in the room.

Every time Hao Yi slapped Li Fei, Li Fei felt a wave of heat penetrate into his body, and the places being slapped quickly turned red and swollen, producing a sensation of pain.

Because he knew that Hao Yi was helping him practice, Li Fei took the initiative to cut off the connection between himself and the Myriad Blood Bead, letting his body bear all the damage.

Not all damage is harmful to the body; for example, muscle tissue needs to be constantly torn and rebuilt to become stronger.

Various hard-body techniques work on a similar principle. Li Fei could actively control the connection between himself and the Myriad Blood Bead, which made it convenient for him to practice these techniques.

Perhaps because of the effect of the medicine, Li Fei felt his body was like an inflated ox-hide drum, absorbing the impact force again and again and then rebounding it.

"Control your breathing rhythm, keep up with my slapping, and imagine a flow of Qi moving within your body."

Hao Yi instructed Li Fei while striking with his palms.

He required that when his palms struck, Li Fei's breathing rhythm and body movements would match perfectly, with the Qi in his body appearing at the location being struck.

This process was quite difficult; if Li Fei had not mastered the Primordial One-Qi Stance beforehand, he would certainly not have been able to keep up with Hao Yi's rhythm now.

Hao Yi would stop from time to time to let Li Fei take a breather, and the two continued like this for over an hour.

After finishing this session of practice, visible white steam rose from Hao Yi's blood-red palms, and a clear look of fatigue appeared on his face.

It was evident that maintaining such training was quite taxing for him.

As for Li Fei, after finishing the practice, he felt refreshed throughout his body, a comfort that could not be described.

He looked at Hao Yi, who was showing clear signs of fatigue, and cupped his hands to him:

"Thank you, Teacher, you have worked hard."

Hao Yi waved his hand, his stern expression softening slightly:

"This step is called 'Moving Qi,' allowing your body to become active and your Qi to fill your entire body. Next is anti-strike training. The process is similar to just now; you must strive to keep your Qi in sync with my strikes."

After speaking, he picked up an iron rod resting to the side with one hand and struck Li Fei's body with it.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

The sound of the iron rod striking was very dull, and Li Fei, just like before, used the Heavenly Dipper One-Qi Stance to resist the strikes.

During this process, he would occasionally re-establish the connection with the Myriad Blood Bead to let it bear the damage.

He did this not to be lazy or because he was afraid of pain, but because he wanted the Myriad Blood Bead to absorb more energy and level up faster.

Hao Yi used the iron rod to strike, using a clever force with every blow, which could vibrate Li Fei's skin and muscles to the greatest extent while trying as much as possible not to injure him.

Even so, every blow he struck was full of force, and the Myriad Blood Bead was able to absorb quite a bit of energy.

After continuing like this for more than half an hour, Li Fei suddenly felt the Myriad Blood Bead inside his body tremble, and a warm current surged out, making him feel as if he were soaking in a hot spring, and all the pain and fatigue in his body disappeared.

He hurriedly checked the Myriad Blood Bead inside his body:

【Level: Level 2, 1%

Blood Soul: 12】

The Myriad Blood Bead had finally leveled up!

(End of chapter)