A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch-Chapter 50: Breaking Through Training, Demon Fish Flees Far Away

Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Breaking Through Training, Demon Fish Flees Far Away

Five days passed in a flash, and Bai Qi climbed out of the bath barrel, feeling weak in his limbs, carefully drying himself off.

He glanced at the bathing water whose verdant hue was gradually fading; every time he thought about the eighty taels of silver it cost, he couldn’t help but want to bury his head in and take a few gulps to avoid wasting it.

It hasn’t been long, yet the six hundred taels of tuition Old Liang helped advance was almost depleted.

Truly, spending money like water!

It’s like the shiny silver slips through the fingers, unable to be held onto!

A fisherman making a living on the Black Water River would consider it affluent if he could save ten taels a year.

How could one afford such extravagance!

"Mind your status! You’re now the respectable Boss Bai, running a large fish stall; how can you be so stingy!

It’s just a mere medicinal bath, surely not enough to drain your family’s resources!

Alas, still too poor. Must earn money ferociously; otherwise, the time would come when I could only drink the northwestern wind and take high-interest loans to continue training!"

Bai Qi steadied his mindset, convincing himself that the potency of the large barrel of hot water had been absorbed mostly, and even drinking it all would serve little purpose.

He nimbly dressed, turned around and headed back to the large room, thinking that his days at Tongwen Hall felt like a money pit.

Apart from normal breathing, eating, and sleeping which were free, the daily essential nutritious soup and sandbags for practicing moves all required expenses.

Even the charcoal burning in the copper basin was no exception.

Because the one used at Tongwen Hall is "silver bone charcoal."

It burns smokelessly, is not easily extinguished, can last day and night, keeping the interior as warm as spring, a necessity for upper-class homes.

The wooden charcoal Bai Qi bought previously for winter was the lowest grade "stove coal."

It’s very damp, burns with thick smoke, mostly used for starting fires to cook.

When tallying all these living expenses together.

The seemingly large sum of six hundred taels of silver was barely enough to cover ten days.

"Now I really am a poor ghost..."

Bai Qi thought bitterly, pushing open the door as a chill wind rushed in, creeping into his collar.

As the saying goes, an autumn rain brings a chill.

Not long from now is the first frost and the onset of winter, and the fishermen won’t be able to go to the river to fish.

"The protective effect of coarse cloth hemp robes is next to none; trying to ice-fish in this for even half a stick of incense would leave one rigid."

Bai Qi shook his head, taking a deep breath, slightly relieving his internal urgency.

At present, he had to make a few big transactions before winter set in.

Otherwise, it would be hard to step back into the gates of Tongwen Hall next spring.

"Could it be that Steward Lei at the Fishery is all pretentious? Still haven’t dealt with that Demon Fish, leaving Bai’s Fish Stall still unopened."

Bai Qi murmured to himself. Though he complained verbally, he did not see any issue with how Tongwen Hall charged for everything.

With entry-level medicinal skill blessings, he could recognize those bathing materials and tonic soup ingredients as top-notch.

Charging several dozen taels of silver could be considered a bare-bones cost price.

Even if viewed with utmost generosity, if Ninghai Zen wanted to open a school to take in disciples and make big money, most martial arts schools in Black River County would need to shut down.

Not to mention, many disciples and apprentices of even the Broken Blade Sect, Divine Hand Sect, and Celestial Eagle Martial Arts Hall would need to leave.

Who wouldn’t want to apprentice under the most formidable master to learn the most powerful martial arts?

"It is true that disciples honor their masters, and there indeed has never been a saying of masters subsidizing disciples.

As the instructor said, if you can’t make money but want to train, might as well wash up and sleep early."

Bai Qi, just finishing a medicinal bath, was in high spirits, and began to stretch his muscles following the eighteen postures of Arhat Hand.

All over the body, large chunks of tendon muscles were active, as if they formed a whole, each punch channeling energy through the chest, abdomen, waist, and back, emitting crackling sounds.

"If I were to strike the punching target of the Broken Blade Sect now, I should be able to penetrate fifteen layers... this intertwining of muscles into a single rope, tightly winding and suddenly bursting forth is truly comfortable!"

Bai Qi grew more and more vigorous in his practice, closing his eyes as he seemed capable of perceiving the flow of qi blood within.

What was initially a trickle like a stream nourishing the land, turned turbulent and surging through intense execution of the skill, crashing fiercely into the contracted and swelling muscles.

"Hiss!"

A slight pain from tearing surged through his body, Bai Qi frowned, focusing on the Nameless Ink Talisman in the depths of his mind.

The progress of the nurturing practice of Arhat Hand shot up confirmed no wrong maneuvers, he continued.

Sections and blocks of large tendons and muscles seemed to be continually pulled, gradually becoming tougher and stronger.

The robe and pants legs were vibrating, sounding like firecrackers going off successively.

"The saying within the martial arts community, ’an inch added to the tendons, tenfold growth in strength’ holds true.

The more the muscles are forged, the stronger becomes the qi blood, my whole body’s strength seemingly inexhaustible.

No wonder each martial arts hall regards the method of stretching the tendons and lengthening the bones with such importance, withholding it unless direct transmission."

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Bai Qi’s chest heaved, emitting breath sounds reminiscent of bellows drawing air.

The muscles surrounding legs, arms, chest, and waist were tightly constricted, as tides of qi blood swept over, as though enveloped by boiling water.

Initially, it felt hot, then itchy, finally turning numb!

Over several days, punctually soaking in medicinal baths gradually showed its effects on the body.

Continuously consuming the nutritious soup nurtured increasingly robust qi blood, akin to a well-filled water tank, finally reaching a critical point, nearly bursting forth.

Having to endure such uncomfortable sensations was too familiar to Bai Qi, given that he experienced it with every bath.

"It’s about to happen!"

Crash!

Bai Qi once again "heard" the subtle rhythm of blood flow and qi surging, circulating through his body following the breathing rhythm.

Crash! Crash!

Approximately half a stick of incense later, as if boiling water seething, the heated qi blood covered the muscles inch by inch, like fierce fire refining, channeling that intangible power through his body.

"I’ve grown stronger... my body more robust... also more powerful!"

The breathing sound became calm, like the tide receding.

A moment later, Bai Qi closed his stance, the expanded muscles slowly returning to normal, closely fitting the body’s framework, imparting an incredibly balanced and comfortable feeling.

"The Golden Core Great Strength Skill mentioned internally that qi commands blood, and blood is the mother of qi; combining the two forms the life essence!

The Four Great Martial Arts Practices essentially are effective methods to fortify oneself, nurturing life essence!"

A slight insight arose in his heart. Bai Qi briefly digested it, then turned to examine the significant changes in himself.

Exhausted qi blood now full, seemingly taking shape, intricately interwoven in a plush form, spread through robust muscles.

At any time, driven by the limbs can unleash extraordinary strength and power.

Bai Qi walked to the practice ground, finding a sturdy chestnut wooden board, following Old Liang’s method.

With a surge of qi and movement of strength, the power rushed forth, his hand fiercely pressing down.

Clack! Crack!

The thick hardwood board was forcibly stamped with a clear handprint.

About three or four inches deep, almost piercing through!

This strength grabbing bones from an arm or leg could crush them with a squeeze!

"The Refinement of Power accomplished, and I have entered the threshold of Muscle Training!" 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Bai Qi nodded, satisfied, lifting a hand to pinch the iron-hard arm, then looking down at the muscle-clad chest and abdomen.

The intense pleasure from the obvious improvement in physique truly made one addicted.

"Correctly it has taken a month to break through, entering the threshold of Muscle Training. Young Master Qi’s talent is indeed outstanding, living up to the young lord’s expectations.

This evening, I will personally cook a Four Treasures Beef that nourishes qi blood and strengthens muscles as a celebration."

Lao Dao, keeping his hands within his sleeves, silently stood on one side of the courtyard until Bai Qi concluded his practice before speaking up:

"Rest assured, no charge."

"Thank you, Uncle Dao."

Bai Qi nodded obediently.

The Lao Dao responsible for managing Tongwen Hall seemed to have no real name; everyone referred to him as such.

"By the way, there’s good news. The man-eating Demon Fish has been handled by Steward Lei of the fishery, and the fishermen of the Black Water River can set out their boats again."