Chapter 137: Chapter 137: Ten Centennial Black Ginsengs! Cultivation Technique Plan?!

Some of the people with plumper builds absorb a bit more, but because they haven’t practiced martial arts, or are unable to, the energy exists in other forms.

To put it in terms from his past life: fat.

Those who pursue martial arts can eat a lot, because they can convert and retain most of the energy from food and medicinal soups, then, in conjunction with cultivation techniques, refine that stored energy in the body into the much more useful Qi and Blood Power.

The essence of cultivation techniques is actually to help martial artists absorb and store energy, and to refine that energy into Qi and Blood Power.

As for the higher realms like Strong Bone and Refining Organ, those are about advanced utilization of Qi and Blood Power.

This was Chu Ming’s summary from inferring Blood Circulation Realm techniques up to his current Refining Organ Realm technique.

He wasn’t too sure whether the Meridian Unlocking and Bone Marrow Cleansing realms after Refining the Internal Organs worked the same way—after all, he hadn’t set foot there yet.

He put away the "Tiger and Python Blood Burning Technique" and walked out of the inner tent.

Little Shan was the same as always, having already gotten up early to prepare breakfast.

"Young Master, you’re up," Little Shan hurried to set the bowls and chopsticks, as if afraid Chu Ming would have to wait, "Young Master, please sit first. The porridge’s ready, the pastries aren’t done yet, so let me get you some porridge to fill your stomach."

"Alright."

Chu Ming sat down, his gaze resting on the busy Little Shan.

Money isn’t an issue now, but this little girl is still so skinny. She can’t bear to eat anything good, always saving it for him.

Housekeeper Fang had tried to teach Little Shan martial arts several times. Chu Ming had even inferred several versions of cultivation technique for her, and taught her to read and write.

The result... this little girl just didn’t have much martial talent, and to this day still couldn’t sense her Qi and Blood Power.

She’d learned to recognize quite a few characters when it came to reading, but after all, she was just an ordinary person—no particular talent there either, same as martial arts.

And since Little Shan only wanted to focus all her efforts on taking care of Chu Ming and Fang Xiao, her mind wasn’t really on martial arts or books, so her progress was all the slower.

Chu Ming, of course, had no intention to force her. Everyone has their own pursuits—as long as this little girl is happy, that’s enough.

When his own realm is high enough, and he’s read enough books and techniques, maybe he’ll be able to infer a cultivation technique suitable for Little Shan.

Soon, Little Shan came over carrying a pot of meat porridge.

"Where’s Housekeeper Fang?" Chu Ming glanced around, but didn’t see Fang Xiao.

"Housekeeper Fang was called away early by Commander Huo, said he was going to fetch medicinal herbs."

Little Shan served Chu Ming a big bowl of meat porridge, then turned away to busy herself with breakfast preparations.

The meat porridge wasn’t just meat and rice—it had specially blended treasure medicines, which were excellent for nourishing the body.

It wasn’t too hot, so Little Shan must’ve cooked it quite early. Chu Ming downed six or seven bowls in a row, and by the time Little Shan’s breakfast snacks were done, he was finishing up the porridge.

He ate quite a bit more; only then did the hunger caused by burning Qi and Blood Power subside.

At this moment, the tent’s curtain was lifted, and Fang Xiao came in lugging bags and bundles, face full of excitement.

Chu Ming went over to help carry some. "Housekeeper Fang..."

"Young Master, medicinal soups! It’s all medicinal soups!" Fang Xiao said excitedly, "Enough for half a year—and in two sets!"

Chu Ming raised his brows, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

No need to think—the source of these herbs was clear—acknowledging his new master last night really paid off.

Two sets of medicinal soup: one for himself, and the other for Fang Xiao.

Fang Xiao put all the herbs down, but still cradled a medicine pouch in his arms, his expression even more excited. "Young Master, Commander Xiang specially set aside ten Centennial Black Ginsengs."

Hm?

Chu Ming’s gaze instantly focused.

Ten Centennial Black Ginseng!

The one Centennial Black Ginseng Liu Sitong had sent him before was enough to let him refine enough Qi and Blood Power to break through the bottleneck of Strong Bone Realm in one go.

So with ten Centennial Black Ginsengs, how much further could his power improve?

He took the medicine pouch and opened it, drew out six ginsengs for himself, and handed the remaining four to Fang Xiao.

"Old servant can’t accept these—these are meant for Young Master from Commander Xiang." Fang Xiao resolutely refused.

"Housekeeper Fang, your strength is too low right now. These Centennial Black Ginsengs should be enough to let you break through to Strong Bone Realm."

"Old servant has Young Master’s cultivation technique; breaking into Strong Bone Realm is only a matter of time!" Fang Xiao still wouldn’t take them.

Chu Ming looked at Fang Xiao’s determined look, then glanced at Little Shan. The girl obediently covered her ears and walked out of the tent.

"Housekeeper Fang, there are Blood Evil Sect followers lurking in the Tiger Armor Army. Their ambitions are big and their strength unknown. Unless you don’t want to help me, you’d better break through to Strong Bone Realm as soon as possible."

"Young Master..." Fang Xiao hesitated.

Seeing this, Chu Ming turned to get the two booklets: one was the "Blood Python Body Refining Technique" prepared for finding Blood Evil Sect followers in the Tiger Armor Army, and the other was the improved "Tiger and Python Blood Burning Technique".

"Take a look at this." He handed over the "Blood Python Body Refining Technique" first.

Fang Xiao flipped through it page by page, face growing ever more puzzled. "Young Master wants to do the same as in Baiyuan County Criminal Defense Bureau, use cultivation techniques to draw out Blood Evil Sect followers inside Tiger Armor Army?"

Chu Ming nodded. "This matter will still need you and Lin Zhenwu to handle. The Tiger Armor Army isn’t like the Criminal Defense Bureau. Housekeeper Fang, you’d best break through to the Strong Bone Realm as soon as possible."

"Old servant..." Fang Xiao looked at the technique, then at the Centennial Black Ginsengs, and solemnly said, "Rest assured, Young Master. This old servant will break through as soon as possible."

"Good," Chu Ming passed the "Tiger and Python Blood Burning Technique" as well, "you should work on cultivating this too."

"Tiger and Python Blood Burning Technique... A body burning method to boost strength..." Fang Xiao only skimmed the first few pages, his heart set off stormy waves again.

"Young Master, you figured this out as well?" he said in astonishment.

"Mm, had some inspiration last night."

Chu Ming returned to the table, drank several more bowls of meat porridge, and then went back to the inner tent to continue inferring cultivation techniques.

...

Tiger Armor Army base, Blazing Fire Tiger Horse Field.

"Jiang Qingshi, should we give it one more try?" Ten Thousand Soldiers Commander Fan Kui stood aside with an armful of fodder.

In front of him, Jiang Zhan was staring with a strange expression at a large and powerful Blazing Fire Tiger Horse not far away.

That warhorse was the very Blazing Fire Tiger Horse alpha, Little Ba, which he had tamed just yesterday.

After taming the alpha, he’d effectively been acknowledged by Little Ba.

Recognition from the alpha meant he and Little Ba would now be comrades-in-arms.

But coming here again this morning, the very same Little Ba who had perfectly accepted him yesterday was, for some unknown reason, refusing to let him ride again...

"Old Fan, has something like this ever happened before?" Jiang Zhan asked, feeling low.

"..." Fan Kui paused, looking as if pondering, then said, "It has."

"Oh?" Jiang Zhan’s eyes lit up. "Tell me—who was it? How did they resolve it in the end?"

"Uh, it was me..." On Fan Kui’s thick-jowled face, a hint of red flashed by. "One time when I tried to ride my own Blazing Fire Tiger Horse, it was just like you—with no way to get on."

"And then?" Jiang Zhan was anxious, paying no attention to the odd look on Fan Kui’s face.

Fan Kui scratched his head and chuckled. "And then I found out I tried to ride the wrong warhorse. I’d had a bit too much to drink that day..."

"..." Jiang Zhan, upon hearing this, nearly wanted to kick him: "So, this kind of thing has never actually happened?"

"Shouldn’t have. I haven’t heard of it."

"Give me all the beast meat fodder—I’ll try again."

The fodder for the alpha wasn’t ordinary dry hay, but a special mixture of beast meat and fresh green grasses.

Jiang Zhan carried the fodder over and tried to feed it.

"It’s eating, it’s eating!" Fan Kui watched at the side, even more excited than Jiang Zhan.

Jiang Zhan glared back, signaling Fan Kui to shut up.

He dared not pause for a moment and continued feeding until all the beast meat fodder had been given out.