26: Eagle Claw Upgrade
Afternoon:
Madam Jin woke up, stretched languidly, and yawned.
She saw Chu Qing rotating two bowl-sized white jade stone balls in each hand.
The stone balls were as white as snow and as smooth as jade; an ordinary person wouldn't be able to grip them at all.
But this young man, with his fingers curved and flicking, slowly rotated the white jade stone balls.
At first, the speed was very slow.
But it kept accelerating.
One minute… ten minutes… half an hour… Madam Jin watched, mesmerized: “These hands are truly nimble.”
“Such large stone balls are being spun around by him.”
“If he were to spin…”
Her chest felt constricted; she really wanted a hand to flick it.
“Pah… what am I thinking?”
Madam Jin secretly stretched, hoping to ease her tight clothing.
Unfortunately… it didn't work; her chest still felt constricted.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
His ten fingers flew, flicking; the bowl-sized stone balls spun faster and faster.
[You have completed a partial condition for Eagle Claw Skill]
[You have completed a partial condition for Eagle Claw Skill]
...The profession bar kept flickering.
The progress of the first condition rapidly increased from slow to fast.
“In at most two hours, I’ll be able to fulfill the first condition for Eagle Claw Skill.”
Following the precedent of other Cultivation Techniques, as long as Eagle Claw Skill reaches Major Achievement, with enough Secret medicine, he can quickly Breakthrough to Perfection.
“As long as Eagle Claw Skill reaches Perfection, I can Cultivate all the Iron Tendons of this Cultivation Technique in one go.”
“Even if there are duplicates, it will add at least more than ten new ones.”
“My strength will skyrocket.”
Only about twenty days remained until the Martial Academy's preliminary examination; his Iron Tendons had not yet broken a hundred.
The pressure was a bit high.
Fortunately, several hall masters had given him Secret Manuals.
In the short term, he didn't lack methods to increase Iron Tendons; what he lacked was time and Secret medicine.
An hour later:
Madam Jin leaned over and said:
“Qing’er, you’ve been Cultivating for too long; it’s time to rest.”
With his proficient Eagle Claw Skill, his ten fingers were tough and flexible, supported by the Iron Tendons in his arms, so he wasn't tired at all.
But… when Madam Jin spoke, he put down the stone balls and said:
“Alright!”
“I’ll go copy calligraphy practice sheets.”
Madam Jin stared at his hands and said, “Those stone balls are very heavy, aren't they?”
“Won't your fingers get very tired from flicking them?”
“I’ll call someone to apply medicine for you, to activate your tendons and bones and prevent pain.”
Chu Qing smiled.
He held out his hands, his ten fingers flying, flicking, and jumping; faster than the ‘shaking flower hands’ of his previous life.
“See, there’s nothing wrong at all.”
Madam Jin’s chest felt constricted, and she said flusteredly, “Alright.”
“Stop showing off your fingers.”
“Go copy quickly!”
“Alright!”
Afternoon:
Chu Qing sometimes rotated the stone balls, and sometimes copied calligraphy practice sheets, living a fulfilling day.
Until dusk:
[You have completed the first condition for Eagle Claw Skill!]
Thud!
The two stone balls were thrown into the soil of the flowerbed by Chu Qing, half-buried in the mud and half-exposed, like steamed buns.
These half-buried white jade stone balls, set against the freshly bloomed red roses, created a unique and beautiful scene.
“Godmother, I’m leaving.”
With the first condition completed, Chu Qing was happy and bid farewell to Madam Jin.
“Mmm!”
After Chu Qing left, Madam Jin squatted by the flowerbed.
She looked at the red roses, then at the stone balls, gently sliding her fingers over them:
“These stone balls weigh at least seven or eight catties.”
“Yet he can flick them with such ease?”
“Qing’er… has Cultivated Iron Tendons, and at least two of them.”
Although she hadn't learned Cultivation Techniques, she was well-read and knew many things.
“He Cultivated Iron Tendons, yet he doesn’t publicize or show off; instead, he’s very low-key.”
“No wonder he wanted to try entering the Martial Academy by himself.”
“It’s just… with the Martial Academy’s reforms, trying to get in by his own ability is as hard as ascending to the heavens.”
“First, let him enter as Madam Shi’s servant; then, when I return to Prefecture City at the end of the year, I’ll ask my father to use his connections to transfer his household registration to Prefecture City, allowing him to soar to great heights.”
...Chu Qing was in a joyful mood.
Eagle Claw Skill was only one Secret medicine away from being promoted to Major Achievement.
“Starting Cultivation in the morning, Major Achievement by evening.”
“This efficiency is truly fast.”
“With this kind of efficiency, I will definitely become stronger and stronger.”
He walked through streets and alleys, heading straight for the yamen.
This time, no one summoned him, and even though he had been there several times before, they wouldn't let him in.
Chu Qing didn't mind, he took out one qian of silver and handed it to the doorman, saying:
“I want to see Chief Constable Shi.”
The doorman glanced at him and disdainfully said, “No entry without Chief Constable Shi’s order.”
Chu Qing frowned.
At this moment, Officer Li happened to come out.
“Oh… Chu Qing, why are you here?”
Chu Qing cupped his fists and said, “Officer Li, I wish to request an audience with Chief Constable Shi to purchase several portions of Eagle Claw Skill Secret medicine.”
He still had over two thousand taels of silver earned from the fake medicine vendor, enough to buy Secret medicine.
Officer Li asked curiously, “You just started learning Eagle Claw Skill, and you're already using Secret medicine? Aren't you afraid of wasting it?”
Chu Qing's heart stirred, and he took out a few taels ofSmall change (broken silver) and handed them over, saying:
“I borrowed a high-interest loan from the gang and want to quickly Cultivate Iron Tendons through Secret medicine so I can pass the Martial Academy exam.”
Officer Li was disappointed; he had thought Chu Qing was secretly hoarding a lot of money.
He didn't expect it to be a high-interest loan.
“Alright, wait a moment, I'll go ask Chief Constable Shi.”
About ten minutes later:
Officer Li came out, shaking his head and saying:
“Chief Constable Shi said there’s no Secret medicine.”
“You'll have to figure it out yourself.”
Chu Qing… didn't believe it.
Officer Li lowered his voice and said:
“Chief Constable Shi… has already forgotten about you; if you need anything in the future, just come directly to me.”
Chu Qing was speechless.
Well, a Big Shot is a Big Shot.
“One day, I’ll make you remember me.”
Bidding farewell to Officer Li, Chu Qing decided to go to the black market tonight to get Secret medicine.
“Although killing the fake medicine vendor carried risks; no one would ever imagine that the killer would dare to go again; I just need to change clothes and wear a mask, and no one will recognize me.”
After Chu Qing left, a yamen runner at the gate informed Hall Master Liu.
Soon, everyone in the Head Chopping Hall knew that Chief Constable Shi had refused to see Chu Qing.
“Master Qing has fallen out of favor?”
“Don’t call him Master Qing anymore, at most call him Qing Ge.”
The small leader who had tipped them off last night was restless: “I need to find an opportunity to distance myself from Chu Qing.”
“Lest Hall Master Liu misunderstand.”
After Hall Master Liu heard the news, a sinister smile appeared on his face.
“Heh heh… without Chief Constable Shi’s protection, let’s see how you can still be so arrogant.”
“When you participate in the Martial Academy’s preliminary examination, that will be the day I demand three thousand taels of silver.”
“At that time, I will arrest you in front of everyone, crushing your hope of entering the Martial Academy.”
“Then… I’ll torment you severely.”
He resented Chu Qing… As night fell and the streetlights came on:
Chu Qing changed into newly bought common clothes and shoes, masked his face, left the city, and headed straight for the black market.
He executed Grass Tread Flight, his legs moving, the grass bending, but before his feet touched the ground, Chu Qing had already taken the next step.
This speed was much faster than last time.
The first time he went to Qinghe Black Market, he ran for four hours.
This time:
In just over an hour, he saw the black market.
It’s just that:
The black market only had sporadic lights now.
Clearly, most people hadn't arrived yet.
Chu Qing didn't rush in but stopped at a considerable distance, observing and waiting.
Frogs croaked noisily around him.
Bored, he began to Cultivate Toad Skill.
Croak!
Croak!
As Secret Toad Skill circulated, his depleted physical strength quickly recovered.
His entire essence, Qi, and spirit were also slowly improving.
At the same time, he felt a warm current flowing through his body.
Most of this warm current flowed into the ten fingers of his hands, as if repairing something.
Chu Qing realized with understanding:
“Secret Toad Skill not only increases my foundation, but it also seems to be able to repair hidden injuries and losses?”
“Are all Secret Inheritance Cultivation Techniques so miraculous?”
“Tomorrow… the Toad Secret medicine will be refined.”
“I wonder if there will be new characteristics after the promotion.”