165: Then, it's you.

While Chu Qing was enjoying Zhao Hongxiu's gratitude, Zheng Xilong was miserably recovering from his injuries.

Yes, he was still recovering.

Although he had also completed cultivating all his Golden Tendons.

However, the quality of his Golden Tendons was far inferior to Chu Qing's.

Moreover:

He didn't know how to stitch wounds, only how to bind them with cloth strips.

Although he also swallowed Secret medicine, his recovery speed was far inferior to Chu Qing's.

When Chu Qing began to heal his Flesh, his Golden Tendons hadn't even fully recovered yet.

However, Zheng Xilong wasn't idle.

He seized the time to Cultivate.

Refining bones.

The old man had prepared a Secret Inheritance bone refining method for him.

"This bone refining method, theoretically, can produce all Golden Bones."

"But, how many can actually be refined depends on your own ability."

Zheng Xilong moved his tendons and bones and sneered, "My brother didn't even complete cultivating all his Golden Tendons, yet he refined three hundred Golden Bones."

"I'm no worse than him."

The old man was silent.

A moment later, Zheng Xilong said, "Tell me, next month, will I be able to beat Chu Qing to death?"

The old man chuckled, "Perhaps you won't even need to make a move; he'll already be dead."

Zheng Xilong asked in confusion, "Hm?"

The old man laughed, "He crippled the Prodigy of the Ximen Family's current generation!"

"Do you think the Ximen Family will let him off?"

Zheng Xilong pondered.

He had also dealt with Noble families and knew that these Noble families were all vengeful.

"What a pity... I won't be able to kill him with my own hands."

The old man shook his head, "Chu Qing is just an insignificant stumbling block on your path."

"Later, you'll realize he's nothing at all."

"Now, while you're recovering, hurry up and refine your bones."

"Strive for ten consecutive victories to enter the Fu City Martial Academy or the Zhou City Martial Academy."

Zheng Xilong chuckled, "I'll only go to Zhou City."

"There are more resources there."

"It's a shame Chu Qing wasted fifty portions of my top-grade bone refining Secret medicine."

"Otherwise, by the end of the month, I would definitely be able to refine at least a dozen Golden Bones."

...One day...Two days...Three days...While healing, Chu Qing also began refining his bones.

However, this time, for higher efficiency, he simply went into seclusion in a stone room within the Martial Academy.

Although this stone room had been abandoned for decades.

It was not damaged inside.

It was very quiet to stay inside.

He sealed the mechanisms, allowing no one to disturb him except for a few people like Zhao Hongxiu and Cui Moyang.

In this quiet state, he began his seclusion.

A top-grade Secret medicine consumed, golden incense lit, and a top-grade luminous pearl personally prepared by Madam Shi swallowed, Chu Qing shattered his bones and began refining them.

One hour...Five hours...Ten hours...A Black Gold Bone was born.

Immediately after, he consumed Secret medicine to replenish his foundation, then Cultivated the Toad Skill to restore his essence, Qi, and spirit.

After a dozen minutes:

The Secret medicine took effect, replenishing his foundation.

His essence, Qi, and spirit reached their Peak.

Then, he shattered the second bone and continued refining.

One day...Four days...Ten days...Chu Qing maintained a speed of two Golden Bones per day.

If he weren't reluctant to waste top-grade Secret medicine, he could even refine three Black Gold Bones a day.

However, the efficiency of two Black Gold Bones a day was already quite astonishing.

Currently, Cui Moyang and Nangong only manage one every three days.

As for Wang Yinyang and Ming Yue, they had completely given up on Golden Bones and focused solely on Silver Bones.

And even with massive resource support, they could only refine two Silver Bones a day.

Each additional Golden Bone was equivalent to ten more Golden Tendons and one hundred ten Iron Tendons.

This increase in strength was incredibly fast.

But Chu Qing was still not satisfied.

"I can be even faster."

"If the Black Water Bone Refining Method could advance one more time... I would refine even more Golden Bones using the same resources."

After fifteen days of seclusion:

Chu Qing decided to emerge.

He wanted to get Black Gold.

Now, with the Black Gold supported by Madam Shi, he was only less than three thousand taels of Black Gold away from meeting one of the advancement conditions.

Moreover, his Flesh wounds had completely healed and no longer affected his fighting ability.

So, he was a bit impatient.

During these fifteen days of seclusion, he had refined twenty Golden Bones.

"In my current state, if I were to encounter Zheng Xilong again, I could definitely kill him easily."

Feeling the joy of a significant surge in strength, he actually didn't want to emerge from seclusion.

He just wanted to continue Cultivating and use up all the top-grade bone refining Secret medicine in one go.

And at this moment, Zhao Hongxiu, who was delivering food, brought a message:

"Madam Shi gave you a letter!"

Why did she suddenly write a letter?

Chu Qing checked the seal and found it intact.

Then, he read the letter.

After a long while, he rubbed his hands together, crumpling the letter into a pile of powder.

"Tell the messenger that I know."

Zhao Hongxiu nodded.

After she left, Chu Qing ate his meal.

Then, he left the stone room where he had been in seclusion for fifteen days.

As soon as he emerged, those with keen eyes noticed.

Soon:

Throughout the entire Martial Academy, everyone knew that Chu Qing had emerged from seclusion.

Some Wu Fort disciples wanted to pay their respects to him.

However, they found his dormitory empty.

The maids said with a bewildered expression, "Our Young Master hasn't returned."

Chu Qing emerged from seclusion but didn't return?

Where did he go?

At this moment, another message arrived:

"Master Qing has left the Martial Academy, and the direction suggests he went to Shi Manor."

The Crowd smiled knowingly.

Many people knew about Chu Qing's ambiguous relationship with Madam Shi.

It was quite normal for him to go to Shi Manor to relax after more than ten days of seclusion.

Therefore:

Everyone stopped caring.

However:

Chu Qing didn't go to Shi Manor at all.

He found a place, changed out of his brocade clothes into simple cloth clothes and shoes, and then headed straight for Zhou City.

On the way, he wore a mask, traversed mountains and ridges, and tried his best to hide his tracks.

When he encountered villages and towns that he absolutely couldn't bypass, he sped up.

Many people didn't even get a clear look before he whizzed past.

The reason he suddenly rushed to Zhou City was because of Madam Shi's letter.

She mentioned in the letter:

An Inner Courtyard student from Zhou City took leave to return to his hometown.

Inner Courtyard students have Black Gold.

Chu Qing's first thought was to talk to the other party and get some Black Gold.

As for what to do if they couldn't agree?

Hmm...he didn't consider the consequences.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Chu Qing traversed mountains and ridges, running until dawn before arriving outside Zhou City again.

According to Madam Shi's information:

That student would leave the city early this morning to visit relatives.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Chu Qing took deep breaths, activated the Toad Skill, and adjusted his state.

"This time I'm facing a Zhou City student."

"I must adjust my state to its Peak."

One minute...Ten minutes...Half an hour...The city gate was bustling with people:

A group of young men and women gathered around a young woman in brocade clothes as she emerged.

This young woman, riding a tall horse, looked heroic and spirited.

"You all can go back now. I'm going home for a visit and will be back by evening."

"No need to see me off anymore."

Many young men and women clasped their fists in salute, wishing the young woman a smooth journey.

The young woman's lips curved slightly upwards, her face full of arrogance.

Because:

The people seeing her off, in any Prefecture City, or even in Zhou City, were all young Geniuses.

But, at this moment, they were still respectful towards her.

Because:

She was a Genius among Geniuses.

Moreover, after the Martial Academy's reforms, she became an Inner Courtyard Genius based on her ability and family background.

Not far away:

Chu Qing's eyes lit up when he saw this young woman:

A woman!

Brocade clothes!

Young!

Every gesture carried traces of the Martial Academy.

This was the target person Madam Shi had mentioned.

"Then...it's her!"