Chapter 24: Taking a Disciple?

Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Taking a Disciple?

Fang Xu clearly felt a bit fatigued after keeping his Spiritual Power highly concentrated to carefully observe those bizarre energies tempering his internal organs.

Entering the Realm of Inner Observation using the *Divination God Treasure* required a continuous consumption of Spiritual Power. It was only because he had lived two lives and possessed double the Spiritual Power that he could sustain such a drain.

With his internal organs being tempered simultaneously, Fang Xu could distinctly feel the changes occurring in his body. During this period, whenever his Qi Blood Power weakened and the tempering speed slowed, he would directly swallow a Qi Blood Pill from beside him. In the past, he could only consume three or four Qi Blood Pills a day, but his entire supply had been depleted in just a few short hours.

The sky gradually brightened.

Sensing that the tempering within his body was still ongoing, Fang Xu stopped paying attention to it. He got up and went to the kitchen, selected a piece of Blood Food weighing twenty pounds, carried it to the well to wash it clean, and then set it in a pot to stew. Meanwhile, he began practicing his fist techniques in the courtyard.

The Fist Technique he practiced this time was not the one attached to the *Coiling Dragon Force*, but rather a combination of the Long Arm Fist and Baji Fist he had learned in the military during his previous life. Both Fist Techniques were renowned for their fierce power and lacked flashy moves. They formed a Slaughter Fist Art that Martial Dao masters from his past life had blended together after years of intensive study.

With his enhanced physical strength, almost every punch Fang Xu threw triggered sonic booms. The Vital Energy radiating from his every stance and movement was even enough to kick up the dust within a ten-foot radius around him!

For a Martial Artist, when their cultivation reached the level of a Martial Master, they would possess the ability to project their Qi Force outward. Fang Xu had not yet reached the realm of a Martial Disciple, so he naturally could not achieve this. The Qi Force generated by his moves was formed purely by raw physical strength compressing the air.

The sun had already risen by the time he finished his practice.

After retracting his stance, Fang Xu quickly washed up and ate the stewed Blood Food from the pot. He then changed into clean clothes and headed out to the streets.

Today was the opening day of the Blood Food Shop. Lu Zhiyuan had already sent him an invitation, so naturally, he could not miss it. Furthermore, he still wanted to ask Lu Zhiyuan about the matter regarding yesterday’s Elixir.

The morning sun had just risen, its rays dispersing the thin mist that blanketed Fenglin Town.

Today, Fenglin Town was bustling with significantly more activity than usual. As one of the only two remaining Martial Masters in Fenglin Town, Lu Zhiyuan had taken over the Blood Food business that had been monopolized by the Zhang family for a century. He had directly released news that for the first three days of the Blood Food Shop’s opening, all Blood Food in the store would be half price.

Great Yu was founded on martial prowess, and the common people in the streets all possessed the three Body Refining Techniques passed down by the imperial family. Many people might not dream of becoming a Martial Artist, but that did not stop them from harboring the desire to enter the Bone Refining Realm with the help of Blood Food. After all, even if they could not become Martial Disciples, reaching the Bone Refining Realm would boost their physical fitness far beyond that of ordinary people. Having a robust body for their daily labor in the fields was also a good thing.

By the time Fang Xu arrived, the front of the Blood Food Shop was already packed with the common people lining up to purchase Blood Food. As for the prominent figures in town holding invitations, they had already been ushered into the inner hall for the banquet.

"Li, Mrs. Li."

In charge at the front of the shop were Li Yunshan and the Wang Family’s lady. Today, the Wang Family’s lady wore light makeup and a purple, waist-cinching long dress, giving off an enchanting and delicate vibe.

"Fang," the Wang Family’s lady bowed slightly, greeting him with a smile.

Li Yunshan also cupped his hands at him. "Fang, the banquet is already prepared. Hurry and go inside."

Fang Xu nodded and returned the salute to the two of them before walking inside.

In the back hall of the shop, everyone had already taken their seats. Whenever they bumped into acquaintances, they would laugh and exchange greetings. They gathered in groups of three or five to chat, but since Fang Xu was not familiar with them, he couldn’t quite join the conversations.

"Fang." Just as Fang Xu was about to find a quiet corner to wait until Lu Zhiyuan wasn’t busy so he could ask his questions, a familiar voice rang out behind him.

Fang Xu turned around and paused slightly before cupping his hands. "Lord Zheng, Liao."

The new arrivals were Zheng Ming of the Qinghe County Prison Department and Inspector of the Small Flag, Liao Yunfeng. Fang Xu had not expected these two to show up.

Zheng Ming slightly cupped his hands and looked Fang Xu up and down without speaking. Liao Yunfeng, on the other hand, approached Fang Xu with great familiarity. Gently wrapping an arm around his shoulders, he whispered, "You kid, you played a great move."

Puzzled, Fang Xu glanced at Liao Yunfeng and asked, "What do you mean by that, Liao?"

Liao Yunfeng checked their surroundings and lowered his voice again. "Haven’t you noticed that there’s an important guest missing from this courtyard?"

Hearing this, Fang Xu scanned the courtyard and shook his head slightly. "Who is missing?"

Seeing his reaction, Liao Yunfeng was a bit surprised. "Did you really not plan this out, kid?"

Fang Xu smiled bitterly. "Liao, I truly didn’t have any ulterior motives when I sold this Blood Food Shop to Land Master. I merely felt that Land Master was more reliable."

Liao Yunfeng looked at him with some suspicion, then mirrored his bitter smile. "You, oh you...

"The Blood Food business is highly profitable. Following the annihilation of the Zhang family, the people eyeing this business are not in the minority."

Mentioning this matter, Fang Xu suddenly realized who the important guest Liang Yunfeng spoke of was.

The Wu Family Ancestor!

Logically speaking, in a small place like Fenglin Town, for something as significant as opening a Blood Food Shop, Lu Zhiyuan would definitely have sent an invitation to the Wu family. But today, not only was the Wu Family Ancestor absent, but not a single other person from the Wu family had shown up either.

It was obvious that the Wu family disapproved of yielding Fenglin Town’s Blood Food business to Lu Zhiyuan and was unwilling to show their support. From the looks of it, the Wu family was bound to reach for a slice of the Blood Food business pie next.

Thinking of this, Fang Xu smiled bitterly to himself. He thought, "This is an unprovoked disaster. How did I end up inexplicably picking a side?"

"Fang Xu." Just as he was worrying, two figures suddenly appeared in front of him.

"Elder Lu." Seeing the person before him, Liao Yunfeng hastily cupped his hands in greeting.

Fang Xu also hurried to suppress the doubts in his heart, preparing to bow to Lu Zhiyuan. However, Lu Qingluo, who was standing to the side, stepped forward to grab his arm first. Immediately after, an extremely tricky energy surged rapidly into Fang Xu’s body.

Fang Xu furrowed his brow and instantly mobilized the Qi Blood Power within his body, forcefully shattering the energy Lu Qingluo had pushed into him.

"Qingluo, do not be rude." Lu Zhiyuan pulled his daughter back. After his gaze flickered over Fang Xu a few times, a trace of imperceptible joy appeared on his face as he said, "Fang Xu, come with me."

Held back by Lu Zhiyuan, Lu Qingluo turned her head unwillingly to look at Fang Xu. "Did you eat it?"

Fang Xu did not answer, prompting Lu Qingluo to press urgently, "Did you eat it or not?"

"Qingluo!" Lu Zhiyuan interrupted her questioning with a rather stern voice. He then shot Fang Xu an apologetic smile. "I will explain this matter to you in detail later.

"Come with me."

Looking at Lu Qingluo and then at Lu Zhiyuan, Fang Xu remained silent. After giving a slight bow to Liao Yunfeng and Zheng Ming beside him, he followed Lu Zhiyuan deeper inside.

Along the way, the prominent Landlord Strongmen of Fenglin Town cast confused glances at Fang Xu. They seemed unable to understand why someone of Lu Zhiyuan’s status would be so polite to Fang Xu—an ordinary person with no status, no background, and who hadn’t even reached the Martial Disciple realm.

Following Lu Zhiyuan’s footsteps into the hall, the few people gathered around the table examined Fang Xu with curiosity.

"Lu, isn’t this the boy from the town carpenter Old Fang’s family?" someone who recognized Fang Xu asked in confusion.

Hearing this, some of the others frowned and said, "This little guy isn’t even a Martial Disciple. What qualifications does he have to eat at the same table as us?"

Fang Xu looked at the person who spoke, then at Lu Zhiyuan, and said nothing.

Lu Zhiyuan smiled faintly and addressed the crowd directly. "As you all know, I have been in Fenglin Town for five years and had established a rule of never taking disciples. But today..."

He turned to stare at Fang Xu, speaking with a solemn expression. "Fang Xu, I wish to take you in as my disciple. Are you willing?"