33: Chapter 33 While I was busy refining medicine, you secretly launched a deadly attack.

The underground herbal black market in Tianhai City was dimly lit.

Lin Qi slapped the tens of thousands in cash he had just obtained onto the counter; his movement was light, but the sound was loud.

"Three stalks of ten-year-old Tiger Bone Grass, two Blood Essence Stones, and a barrel of high-purity alcohol."

The boss behind the counter was a One-Eyed Dragon; he swept a glance at the money on the table, then looked at Lin Qi.

In the past, when students wearing school uniforms like this came to buy medicine without bodyguards, they were usually swindled out of everything they had.

But today, One-Eyed Dragon didn't dare to harbor any crooked thoughts.

He saw the back of Lin Qi's hand exposed at his cuff; it had a faint metallic luster, as if coated with a layer of copper powder.

That was a characteristic of having trained external martial arts to a certain Realm.

"The goods are in the back. Wait."

One-Eyed Dragon took the money and turned to enter the storeroom.

Zhang Wei followed behind Lin Qi, watching that pile of money turn into a small bag of herbs, his heart dripping with blood.

"Brother Qi, that's it? That's over thirty thousand! It's enough for me to top up several 648s."

Lin Qi took the herb bag and stuffed it into his bosom.

"This is called investment."

After Skin Refining comes Flesh Refining.

To train the muscles all over one's body to be as tough as steel wire, relying solely on eating meat and taking beatings was no longer enough.

Medicine must be used.

And it had to be potent medicine.

The two walked out of the black market, and no one dared to come up and cause trouble.

The fierce aura emanating from their very bones made the thugs nearby who wanted to make a quick buck consciously clear a path.

By the time they returned to school, it was already getting dark.

Just as they entered the school gate, Instructor Su Qing blocked Lin Qi's path.

She had changed into casual clothes and was holding a document.

"Something up?"

Lin Qi asked.

Instructor Su Qing handed the document to him.

"The Citywide High School Awakened League starts next week. I've filled out the registration form for you; just sign it."

Lin Qi didn't even look at it and pushed the document straight back.

"No time."

His mind was currently filled with thoughts of how to perform Flesh Refining; how could he have time to play house with a bunch of brats?

That kind of competition was nothing more than two people standing on a stage throwing Spells at each other to see whose special effects were flashier.

Boring and a waste of time.

Instructor Su Qing seemed to have expected his refusal; she didn't take the document back, just said calmly.

"In the prize pool for the top three, there is a stalk of dragon blood grass."

The foot Lin Qi had stepped out with was abruptly pulled back.

He turned around and looked at Instructor Su Qing.

"How many years old?"

"Over fifty years."

Instructor Su Qing added, "That is a resource specially supplied by the military; you can't buy it on the market. For strengthening the Physical Body, the effect is ten times stronger than Tiger Bone Grass."

dragon blood grass.

That was the holy medicine for someone at the Major Achievement stage of Flesh Refining to break through to the Tendon Refining Realm.

With it, he could save at least half a year of bitter training.

Lin Qi snatched the pen from Instructor Su Qing's hand.

Scribble, scribble, scribble.

He signed his name on the registration form with such force it went through the paper.

"Should've said there was such a good thing earlier."

Lin Qi slapped the form into Instructor Su Qing's arms, "I'll take this competition."

Instructor Su Qing looked at the flamboyant signature and smiled.

"Don't be careless; there are quite a few monsters from other schools in this competition too. I heard that the Lightning-type mage from No. 1 High School can already cast Level 3 Spells instantly."

"As long as he isn't made of iron, I can smash him."

Lin Qi waved his hand and turned to walk toward the dormitory, "Remember to save the dragon blood grass for me; it's mine."

Instructor Su Qing watched his back, her gaze somewhat playful.

This kid really is someone who doesn't release the hawk until he sees the hare.

...

East City, the Li Family mansion.

The air pressure in the study was so low it made people unable to breathe.

Li Shaobai knelt on the carpet, his head hanging very low.

In front of him sat a middle-aged man wearing a Tang suit, rotating two iron balls in his hand.

The head of the Li Family, Li Tianxing.

"You're telling me that you brought a full set of enchanted equipment, plus a Level 20 instructor to hold the line, and yet the spotlight was stolen by some wild brat from the slums?"

Li Tianxing's voice was very soft, but it carried a chill.

Li Shaobai gritted his teeth, not daring to look up.

"Dad, that guy is a bit weird. He doesn't use Spells or equipment, he just relies on his Physical Body to take the hits..."

"Shut up."

Li Tianxing interrupted him, "Losing is losing; making excuses is the behavior of the weak."

He placed the iron balls in his hand onto the table, making a "clack" sound.

"I've already had people look into that student named Lin Qi. His background is very clean; his parents are both dead, and he has no backing."

Li Tianxing pulled open a drawer, took out a black glass bottle with no labels, and placed it on the edge of the table.

The liquid inside the bottle presented a strange dark red color, as if it were burning.

"This is the [Berserk Potion - Modified]."

Li Shaobai looked up abruptly, his face turning pale.

"Dad, this is a banned substance..."

"This is merely a nutritional supplement."

Li Tianxing stared into his son's eyes, "Drink it, and all your attributes will increase by 50% in a short time, and your pain nerves will be blocked. As long as you cripple that kid in the league, the Family will help you resolve the side effects of this medicine."

Li Shaobai looked at the bottle, his Adam's apple bobbing.

To win back his dignity, to trample that country bumpkin under his feet.

He reached out his hand, trembling as he grasped the bottle.

"I understand."

Li Tianxing nodded with satisfaction and added another sentence.

"Additionally, to be safe, I have contacted the 'Shadow Blade Alliance'."

Li Shaobai's hand shook, "You hired assassins?"

"Just an observer."

Li Tianxing leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, "That person named Ying Wan will watch Lin Qi. If that kid has any accidents before the competition, like breaking a leg or losing an arm, then he can only blame his bad luck."

"Remember, the Li Family does not need trash. For this league, I want to see you take first place."

"Yes."

Li Shaobai grabbed the potion bottle and backed out.

...

Third High School dormitory, Room 404.

Lin Qi was throwing the Tiger Bone Grass and Blood Essence Stones he had bought into a large wooden barrel.

The barrel was filled with boiling hot water, and with the high-purity alcohol added, it emitted a pungent odor.

"Achoo!"

Lin Qi rubbed his nose.

Someone was talking about him.

And the malice was very heavy.

That feeling was like being targeted in the back by a venomous snake, chilly.

"Want to mess with me?"

Lin Qi crushed the last Blood Essence Stone and sprinkled it into the barrel.

The water turned bright red, like a barrel of boiling blood.

He took off his clothes, revealing his lean yet explosive upper body, and jumped straight in.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle.

White smoke rose from where his skin touched the medicinal liquid.

Pain.

Agonizing pain.

It was as if countless small knives were scraping his bones and slicing his flesh, or as if someone was injecting mercury into his muscles.

Lin Qi gritted his teeth, not making a sound.

He closed his eyes, adjusted his breathing rhythm, and guided that domineering medicinal power to seep into his skin membranes and burrow into his muscle fibers.

With every breath, that stinging pain intensified by a fraction.

But he was smiling.

Because he could feel that his Physical Body was becoming stronger amidst this destruction and reconstruction.

This is the feeling of being alive.

It's much more thrilling than looking at those cold, hard data points in a game.

Half an hour later, the water in the barrel turned clear.

The medicinal power had been fully absorbed.

Lin Qi stood up from the barrel, his whole body bright red, like a boiled shrimp.

He clenched his fist.

The air exploded in his palm.

His strength had increased by another notch.

"dragon blood grass..."

Lin Qi dried his body and put on a T-shirt.

With that thing, the Major Achievement of Flesh Refining is just around the corner.

Just then, the phone on the table vibrated.

The screen lit up.

It was a text message from an unknown number.

It contained only four simple characters:

[Beware of the shadow.]