章節 34: Chapter 34 Mastery of Spear Technique
The weapon was not needed by Xu Bin, of course, it could not be wasted.
Conveniently, the plum blossom spear in Chen Sansi's hand was too common. Although it did not drag down his abilities, it also did not offer any enhancement.
In the arsenal, various types of weapons filled the racks.
Most were standard issue, a small portion was fine weapons made by military officers, among which spears were the scarcest with only two or three varieties available.
Chen Sansi's gaze fell on a long spear in the center of the last row.
This spear was about four meters long, with a slim, reed-leaf-shaped head, a red tassel following the blade, and a shaft slightly thicker than the plum blossom spear's, also made of white wax wood but wrapped in bamboo strips after being oiled, coated in black lacquer, with a conical spear butt at the end.
"This spear is called the reed leaf spear."
The arsenal keeper introduced, "It was left behind by a hundred households from before, and has been gathering dust here ever since. If Chen Qigu fancies it, you're welcome to take it."
"Thank you."
Chen Sansi took the long spear, weighing it in his hands, approximately twenty or thirty pounds, and began to practice with it immediately outside the arsenal.
The spear technique that came with the soldier training was fundamentally a long weapon style.
Wielding the reed leaf spear, his spear technique became even more adept.
After practicing for roughly half an hour, signs of Qi-Blood deficiency emerged.
"Martial Arts really is a bottomless pit!"
Chen Sansi, carrying the spear, left.
Not far from the arsenal was a pharmacy.
From a distance, one could catch the scent of the medicinal herbs.
The pharmacy was quiet, home to only an old man, two errand boys, and several jars simmering with content.
"Elder, I've come to get some blood replenishing soup."
Chen Sansi passed over a slip.
The old man took the slip: "Have you trained out your Qi-Blood? If you haven't trained out your Qi-Blood, you shouldn't drink the blood replenishing soup."
Chen Sansi, who had never encountered supplemental medicine, was clueless: "Is that so?"
"Of course."
The old man stroked his beard and explained, "All medicine carries a certain toxicity; only Martial Artists who have trained out their Qi-Blood can expel the poisons through sweat during training. Otherwise, drinking too much can lead to poisoning, eventually rotting the internal organs and rendering a person useless."
Chen Sansi nodded to indicate he had indeed trained out his Qi-Blood.
"That's good, then."
Only then did the old man accept the slip, rising to select the appropriate herbs to concoct the medicine on the spot.
While waiting, the two introduced themselves to each other.
This old man's surname was Jiang, a hereditary Medical Officer in the garrison without any rank.
After waiting quietly for half an hour, Chen Sansi held a bowl of blackish soup in his hands.
He took a sip and almost retched right then.
The taste was not only bitter and astringent but also carried the faint stench of a sewage ditch, no wonder it was toxic!
After drinking, it wasn't like the bear heart where Qi-Blood would boil instantly; instead, there seemed to be a foreign substance in his abdomen, causing slight discomfort.
This must be the medicinal strength, which needed Training to digest.
Medical Officer Jiang said, "Next time, if you want to have some blood replenishing soup, tell me in advance so you won't have to wait when you come."
"Alright."
Chen Sansi's allowance was a bowl of blood replenishing soup every three days, and he curiously asked, "Medical Officer Jiang, if I run out of my allowance, is there any other way I can get the medicine?"
"Buy it."
Using a fan to control the heat, Medical Officer Jiang explained, "But you wouldn't be buying from me. You'd have to go to the pharmacy opened by the Martial Arts Hall outside. The ingredients for one dose of blood replenishing soup cost ten taels of silver, and you can probably brew two bowls from it."
"How much?!"
Chen Sansi was stunned.
A bear heart was worth about twenty taels of silver.
Ten taels of silver could support an ordinary family for a year during a bumper harvest, and yet it could only be exchanged for two bowls of medicine?
"Anything that can enhance Cultivation isn't made from ordinary herbs. They usually take at least ten to eight years to grow and are very rare. Can they not be expensive? But that's only part of it."
Medical Officer Jiang patiently continued, "The main reason is the monopoly."
"Monopoly?"
Chen Sansi inquired, "Are you referring to the Martial Arts Hall?"
"Correct."
Medical Officer Jiang, exhaling deeply, said leisurely, "Medicinal herbs used specifically for enhancing Cultivation are extremely demanding in terms of growing conditions. There's only so much suitable land for medicine gardens, and most of it has been sold to the Martial Arts Halls. Can they not be expensive?"
"Why sell it?"
Chen Sansi was somewhat puzzled. This was, after all, an absolute strategic resource.
Doctor Jiang chuckled as he spoke, "What else could it be for—they, the officials, are short on money."
"I heard from my father that when he was younger, our garrison's medicine garden had more than two hundred plots scattered around. Then came a change in the County Magistrate, who sold off a part of the land. After several decades, isn't it all gone?"
"Kid, you are new and wouldn't know. Back in the day, not only salaries were owed but also medicine. Many people left, preferring to hide their identities as house slaves for major sects in the prefectures and states rather than stay in the garrison."
"If it weren't for Elder Yan's reforms, reclaiming some of the land, you wouldn't have had any medicine to drink."
"But most of it is still firmly in the hands of the Martial Arts Halls. Not even the Hundred Households officers can get as much as they want whenever they want."
"Exaggerated."
Chen Sansi summarized with two words.
The corruption had reached such a degree that he doubted the court would last much longer.
No wonder Xiang Tingchun wanted to do something but had to resort to extortion; still, it wasn't guaranteed to work.
He took his leave and returned to the Martial Arts Arena.
The reed leaf gun swirled in motion.
Pile Work, spear technique, Breathing Skill, combined with Qi-Blood circulation, his body began to operate under high stress.
It was at these times that the medicinal effects were most apparent.
Whenever the Qi-Blood was trained to near depletion, the medicine would start to transform, stimulating every organ in the body, accelerating the refinement of Qi-Blood in a continual cycle until a second thread of Qi-Blood was born. That was the entry into Blood Refining Mastery.
After performing several sets of spear techniques, Chen Sansi was covered with foul sweat, but his proficiency made great strides. At this rate, it wouldn't be long before he mastered the spear technique.
Moreover, the power of that bowl of medicine was still present, not yet fully utilized—it would be enough for at least two more days of practice.
"My cultivation level is still low; one bowl of medicine every three days is just enough for now. There's also no need for me to spend money to buy more."
"And if I buy some Beast Meat in between, I can push my training to the limit!"
"Time to eat!"
It was getting dark, and Chen Sansi packed up his things and went home.
The meal was prepared early at home; as soon as he entered, Sister Lan helped him remove his armor, fetch water, and after eating, boiled water for washing his feet—a comfortable and smooth routine.
"Right."
Gu Xinlan held the wooden basin, "Someone came to see you today, hoping to invite you to be a guest tomorrow."
Chen Sansi asked, "Who?"
"Tianyuan Martial Arts Academy."
After pouring out the water for washing his feet, Gu Xinlan began to massage Chen Sansi, "It sounds like a luxurious place, like the Spring Pavilion, if I remember correctly. Qin Xiong's younger brother seems to be training at Tianyuan Martial Arts Academy, right?"
Chen Sansi lay on the bed, pondering the reason Tianyuan Martial Arts Academy was looking for him.
Qin Feng? It was possible, but not very likely.
Now that he was a Xuanfeng Flag Officer, his identity would be directly recorded at the Governor Mansion. Unless it was...
It might also be because of the Immortal Treasure.
The incident with the Immortal Treasure was entirely coincidental.
He never expected to run into the barbarian before going out to kill Qin Feng.
The Liang Family's young master might suspect he had obtained the Immortal Treasure,
Fortunately, the other party was also speculating, without any substantive evidence. Moreover, since the Martial Arts Hall and the military were not getting along well, they wouldn't dare do anything to him at this juncture.
However,
He did need to speed up enhancing his power.
"In the future, if they come again, just directly reject them."
...
In the following days, aside from patrolling the city, Chen Sansi invested all his remaining energy into Martial Arts training.
Blood Replenishing Soup, Beast Meat, along with Xu Bin's sparring far exceeded his expectations. Six days later, he successfully made a breakthrough.
"Huh--"
An exhausted Chen Sansi planted the gun butt into the ground, feeling a second surge of hot blood flowing within him.
No, it was different from others.
The Qi-Blood in his body wasn't "threads" but "streams."
[Cultivation Technique: Basic Soldier's Spear Technique (Expert)]
[Progress: (0/1000)]
[Utility: Gun Movement Swift, amazing endurance, robust Qi-Blood]
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