Chapter 409 - 183: Grotto Heaven

’Innate Iron Lung?’

Li Li’s eyes widened even more. In her astonishment, her lips moved unconsciously as she murmured to herself:

’Fast... and with such endurance... He’s truly one of a kind...’

Chen Cheng saw her lips moving. Worried she might start pestering him again, he took the initiative and suggested they head back.

「Some time later.」

The group returned to Qingxi Island.

The way Chai Liang looked at Chen Cheng had completely changed.

"Junior Brother Chen, I was blind before. I truly underestimated you..."

"I originally thought you were just an ordinary newcomer who needed my protection. Only now do I realize you’re a true genius, the real deal!"

"Say no more. In the future, if you ever need anything from me, Chai Liang, just say the word!"

Chai Liang paused, his eyes filled with anticipation.

"When you become a core member of the Dragon Pavilion, or even a true successor, even the scraps that fall from between your fingers will be more than enough for me!"

"...Senior Brother Chai, you exaggerate."

Chen Cheng said humbly:

"The path of Martial Arts is long and arduous, like walking on thin ice. I would never dare say I can definitely reach the other side... I hope we can encourage each other and improve together, Senior Brother Chai."

"Well said!"

Lü Qinyi and Li Li came out into the courtyard after changing their clothes in the inner room.

Lü Qinyi made no effort to hide her approval and admiration for what Chen Cheng had just said.

Li Li’s gaze toward Chen Cheng held a new kind of warmth.

She walked up quickly and handed Chen Cheng a small, gilt-bronze medicine vial.

"Junior Brother Chen, inside is a Cloud Thunder Blood Coagulation Pill. It can significantly speed up the process of Blood Coagulation and Qi Generation."

"It’s for you. I hope you can break through to the Divine Storage Realm soon and then join the Dragon Pavilion..."

"We’ve only just met. I can’t possibly accept this."

Chen Cheng’s heart warmed. His biggest problem right now was his inability to break through to the Divine Storage Realm before the Sea Courtyard’s grand competition.

And this pill from Li Li could directly accelerate his breakthrough.

This was exactly what Chen Cheng desperately needed right now.

However, they barely knew each other. For such a valuable gift, Chen Cheng had to at least make a show of refusing.

He knew from the Mountain and Sea Sect’s resource catalog that a Mountain and Sea Blood Coagulation Pill was a Tier Two supplementary resource. Its production was extremely low, and each one cost three thousand taels of silver.

And this Cloud Thunder Blood Coagulation Pill from Li Li, likely produced by the Yunlei Commerce Association, was probably even more effective and valuable.

Chen Cheng really couldn’t just casually accept it.

"...It’s just a small gift, Junior Brother. No need to be so polite."

Li Li directly stuffed the small bronze vial into Chen Cheng’s hand and said:

"This kind of pill is only effective for Martial Artists who are below the Divine Storage Realm and haven’t yet undergone Blood Coagulation and Qi Generation..."

Li Li paused and admitted frankly:

"This one is actually a leftover from when I was using them. I have no use for it now... I hope you won’t mind that it’s a leftover, Junior Brother."

"How could I?"

Chen Cheng tightened his grip on the small bronze vial, cupped his fist, and said:

"Since Senior Sister is being so frank, I won’t bother with empty pleasantries. I’ll accept this pill, and I will surely repay you in the future."

"Repay me?"

Li Li said with a serious expression:

"I just want you to teach me the method for cultivating the Dragon Bone Form. I don’t want any other form of repayment."

She paused, feeling that she had sounded a bit harsh, and quickly added:

"Of course, even if you’re unwilling to teach me, I’d still be happy to be friends. So, don’t feel any pressure."

Chen Cheng nodded and didn’t say anything more.

This scene made Chai Liang, who was standing nearby, tremble with envy, his breathing becoming ragged.

He had also only just met Li Li today, but from start to finish, she had barely spoken to him, let alone mentioned the word "befriend." As for a gift, that was completely out of the question.

Originally, he had felt honored to meet Li Li and was in a great mood.

If he hadn’t compared himself to Chen Cheng, his good mood would have lasted.

But once there was a comparison, there was pain.

And at this moment, Chai Liang felt as though his heart was taking a critical hit with every beat.

’They were both ordinary disciples of the Fishing Pavilion, so why was the difference in their treatment so vast?’

Of course, despite his envy and disappointment, Chai Liang was clear-headed enough to understand the situation in the end.

He knew perfectly well why Chen Cheng deserved special treatment.

Not to mention distant prospects, just based on Chen Cheng’s performance today, he, Chai Liang, was utterly and completely convinced.

...

「Back at Guan Lan Pavilion.」

The first thing Chen Cheng did was take the Cloud Thunder Blood Coagulation Pill from Li Li. Then, in the quiet room on the third floor, he practiced a full cycle of the Nourishing Life, Foundation Establishment, and Inner Strength Three Tai Chi.

He could clearly feel that his cultivation efficiency had increased dramatically.

He made a quick calculation.

If he could get twenty more of these Pills, he would be sure of breaking through to the Divine Storage Realm before the Sea Courtyard’s grand competition.

Moreover, as he continued to practice the Three Tai Chi and his Root Bone constantly improved, the time it would take to break through to the Divine Storage Realm could likely be shortened even further.

The problem was, the production of this type of Pill was very low.

Even for the slightly less effective Mountain and Sea Blood Coagulation Pill, the General Affairs Hall had a limit of three pills per person per month.

As for the more effective Cloud Thunder Blood Coagulation Pill, it was likely difficult to buy even if one had the money.

「Noon.」

Chen Cheng had just finished a large pot of Treasure Fish Soup and was lamenting how his appetite seemed to have grown again when there was an urgent knock on his courtyard gate.

He put down his bowl and chopsticks and went to open the gate.

"Senior Brother Zhou, and these gentlemen are?"

He glanced at Zhou Wansen, who had knocked, then shifted his gaze to the unfamiliar young men behind him.

"Allow me to introduce you."

Zhou Wansen raised a hand, first gesturing toward the leader, a young man over three meters tall with an exceptionally powerful build, and said:

"This is an Elite Disciple from the Fist Pavilion, Dong Zhou. He came here today specifically to ask you something about Dong Chuo."