71: Chapter 71 Unblocking Meridians

"There's one more thing I want to ask you!"

Lu Qingfeng thought for a moment; he was currently stuck in a situation where he had no Energy Bars left, so it was time to make a request.

"What is it?"

"Do you know about Energy Bars?"

"I do... everyone else is using them too."

It was true that their appetites had increased significantly; they couldn't just eat regular meals all the time, could they?

They were all gnawing on Energy Bars as well.

Perhaps once they reached the Huajin stage, they wouldn't need them anymore.

Of course, if their physical fitness remained the same as before, their progress wouldn't be this rapid.

Instead, it would improve slowly, or they might even fail to make any progress for the rest of their lives.

Huajin was a major hurdle.

"Are there any Energy Bars with higher energy content? I'll pay for them myself."

Xiao Jingdao pondered for a moment.

"There are, but they are indeed very expensive—ridiculously so. Do you have the money?"

"What's the price?"

Xiao Jingdao held up five fingers.

"Fifty thousand?"

"In your dreams... it's five hundred thousand per bar.

One bar can last for two years; it contains diluted Star Beast meat.

Moreover, they aren't easy to buy because they are prepared for Mecha warriors on deep-space expeditions."

"Uh... can you help me get some?"

"That requires finding the right channels. I don't have a way..."

"Hmm... then I'll use my request for contributing the Cultivation Technique to get unlimited access to these Energy Bars. Do you see any problem with that?"

"That... if you ask the Principal, it shouldn't be a problem. By the way, can you even digest them?"

"I should be able to..."

"Alright, then wait for news!"

"Also, take this back. It's very useful, much stronger than that mind-cultivation method of yours."

Lu Qingfeng pulled out the Mind Calming Formula and tossed it to him.

"It's really useful?"

"Yeah... try reciting it silently while doing the Horse Stance."

"Remember to rein in your pressure," Xiao Jingdao added.

"Got it!"

With that, he walked out.

A peach for a plum, a gem for a jade—one good turn deserves another.

Lu Qingfeng was never a stingy person.

After leaving the room,

He tried to make his blood flow even slower; his heartbeat became almost imperceptible.

"Yeah, this should do it."

Thinking he had nothing to do and couldn't practice martial arts, he decided to go fishing.

He'd catch the early bite and go find Shen Qianxun and the others later.

He sat by the lake. Perhaps because the weather was too cold,

There was no movement even after the sun came up.

Lu Qingfeng was focusing intently on the float when a sudden fragrance wafted over.

He turned his head to see Huangfu Xinyu squatting beside him, looking at him with a smile.

Facing the rising winter sun, she looked very warm.

"Little Master Qingfeng, have you caught any fish?"

"Ahem... Xinyu, could you please stop calling me 'Little Master'? I feel like I'm about to become a monk!"

Pfft..." Huangfu Xinyu burst out laughing.

"Alright, Qingfeng. I seem to have hit a Bottleneck. Logically, I should have entered the Anjin stage, but it always feels like I'm just a tiny bit short."

Lu Qingfeng put down his fishing rod. Since he had nothing else to do, it wasn't a problem to give her some guidance.

Besides, it was a good chance to experiment with something new: injecting Internal Energy into a body.

Before reaching the Baodan stage, he didn't have this ability. Without the spirit being fused into the blood, sending Internal Energy into someone else's body would cause a disaster.

"Give me your hand..."

Huangfu Xinyu was stunned for a moment, then snapped out of it with a smile and reached out her hand.

Lu Qingfeng took it, and his Internal Energy transformed into a gentle thread, surging into her Meridians.

Huangfu Xinyu felt a scorching hot current flow from her hand, dispelling the winter chill.

It was warmer than sunlight.

As the Internal Energy flowed through, Lu Qingfeng frowned.

He sighed inwardly; it was an issue of age.

Her Meridians were blocked.

With her Physique, it should have actually been very easy for her to enter the Anjin stage.

"I'll help you clear your Meridians, but you can't tell anyone!"

Huangfu Xinyu nodded, her face turning slightly red.

Lu Qingfeng ignored everything else as his Internal Energy circulated, rapidly charging through her Meridians.

Huangfu Xinyu was suddenly drenched in sweat.

"Bear with it... it will hurt a bit at first, but it'll be fine once they're cleared!"

It took a full hour. When the Internal Energy returned, her Meridians were almost entirely cleared.

The blockages were most severe in certain areas of the head.

This was why it was easier for younger people or those with simple minds to practice martial arts.

If she didn't have this physical foundation, she might never have reached the Anjin stage in her life unless someone helped her.

Now that her Meridians were cleared,

She would likely advance rapidly to the Anjin stage, or even the Huajin stage.

Thinking of this, he wondered if he could clear Old Lu's Meridians. However, Old Lu's Aptitude seemed too poor, and his Cancerous Mutation wasn't high either.

That's tough...

"They're cleared. You'll likely enter the Anjin stage very soon, and maybe even Huajin."

"Thank you... Qingfeng."

Huangfu Xinyu said this very sincerely.

"Don't mention it... you taught me for three years, after all. By the way... did Old Xiao teach you the Mind Calming Formula this morning?"

"He did!"

"How was the effect?"

"Quite good... I feel like my mind is becoming clearer and clearer!"

"That's good... alright, let's head back!"

"Mhm!"

And so, the two of them returned to the courtyard side by side and went into the kitchen for a meal.

Afterward, Lu Qingfeng went directly to the Battleship Command Academy.

Every time he came here, he felt a sense of awe.

The ten-thousand-meter giant ships were truly soul-shaking.

He walked straight in, deciding not to call Shen Qianxun for now.

Just then, two girls walked toward him, and he went up to ask:

"Excuse me, do you know Shen Qianxun?"

They looked at Lu Qingfeng curiously, and a short-haired girl spoke up:

"We do... which academy are you from? Are you here to pursue our academy's goddess? Where are the flowers? You didn't even bring a bouquet?"

"Uh... I'm here to see her for something!"

"Classmate... you're so hypocritical. Everyone who comes to the Battleship Command Academy looking for Shen Qianxun is here to pursue her."

Lu Qingfeng felt a bit awkward.

"I'm her high school classmate..."

"Tsk... that excuse is worn out!"

Lu Qingfeng: ...

Holy crap, people actually use that?

"Are there a lot of people pursuing her?"

"Of course. Look!" The short-haired girl said, pointing to several flashily dressed students behind him.

"Look at them, so professional."

Lu Qingfeng didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Those guys were walking over, each holding a bouquet of flowers.

They asked:

"Excuse me... do you know where Shen Qianxun from your academy is?"

"What are you looking for her for?"

"I'm her high school classmate..."

"I'm her elementary school classmate."

"I'm her childhood friend."

Pfft..."

Lu Qingfeng burst out laughing.

Are you guys trying to kill me with laughter with this routine?

The two girls were also speechless; were these guys here to do stand-up comedy?

The guys also felt a bit embarrassed.

"Alright, I won't tease you. Shen Qianxun should be in the cafeteria right now. Good luck to you all."

With that, they left.

Lu Qingfeng didn't know where the cafeteria was, so he just followed these jokers.

"I say, brother... you didn't even bring a bouquet. That's way too perfunctory!"

One of the guys looked at Lu Qingfeng's empty hands and complained.

"Cough... I really am Shen Qianxun's classmate."

The group all looked at him with disdainful eyes.

"Brother, still pretending?"

"Uh... is Shen Qianxun very famous?"

"Did you just get internet at home?"

Lu Qingfeng was choked up by the remark.

The group ignored him.

Holding their bouquets and bathed in the warm winter sun,

They marched toward the cafeteria with excited, gentlemanly strides.

Before long, they arrived at the Battleship Command Academy's cafeteria.

"Qianxun... more people are here."

A girl shouted toward the cafeteria, and then a crowd rushed out, surrounding them like they were watching monkeys at a zoo.

"These guys are pretty handsome; looks like they're from the Mecha Academy next door!"

"Then where's that one in the back from? He didn't even bring flowers."

"Just a bystander, probably!"

"She's coming, she's coming! Shen Qianxun is coming out after finishing her meal."

"Sunflower seeds, beer, soda, mineral water..."

"Do you think anyone will succeed?"

"No way. How many people has it been already?"

At that moment, the crowd parted, and Shen Qianxun walked out.

"Shen Qianxun, I like you!"

One guy stepped forward immediately, handed over his flowers, and said affectionately:

"From the first time I saw you..."

Before he could finish, Shen Qianxun's eyes lit up.

She pushed him aside and walked quickly forward.

With tears glistening in her eyes, she stood before Lu Qingfeng.

Then she grabbed him and ran.

Everyone was dumbstruck.

Lu Qingfeng was also dazed. What on earth was going on?