78: Bro, I'm not threatening you.

Croak!

Croak!

Inside the Stone Tower:

Chu Qing repeatedly Cultivated the Toad Skill.

Several Secret medicines were used up. Although he couldn't feel any progress in the Toad Skill, his own vital energy, spirit, and essence had always remained at their Peak.

Initially, he felt a burning sensation in his heart, and his blood was boiling.

He wished he could use consumption-based Cultivation Techniques to deplete his vital energy, spirit, and essence.

But:

As time passed, he was surprised to find that his vital energy, spirit, and essence were actually nourishing his Flesh, Five Viscera and Six Bowels, and even his Skin and Hair.

This nourishment was very slow.

If he hadn't been so sensitive, he wouldn't have noticed the Anomaly at all.

"What's going on?"

"The Secret Toad Skill is only supposed to train tendons and bones, right? How come my Flesh, tendons and bones, and Five Viscera and Six Bowels all feel nourished?"

"Could it be... the true effect of the Secret Inheritance Cultivation Technique isn't to connect the tendons and bones, but to nourish the Flesh and enhance the foundation?"

"To lay the foundation for future Realms?"

One hour... two hours... Chu Qing continuously perceived the changes.

However, he still couldn't be sure what the true mystery of the Secret Inheritance was.

"I'll go ask Armless Master later."

Nearing noon:

Wang Yinyang returned with He Liu's head.

Chu Qing glanced at it and said, "Throw it away!"

Wang Yinyang nodded and went to dispose of the head—throwing it outside for wild dogs to carry away.

While he was disposing of the head, Sister Lan and other Wubao Disciples happened to see it.

Sister Lan and the others looked at He Liu's head, then at Wang Yinyang, and instantly understood, followed by horror:

"The He Family Stronghold... was destroyed by Wang Yinyang and the others?"

"Nine murderers... they are exactly nine!"

"They are all Noble families Prodigies, any one of them is stronger than the He Family Head!"

"They... are so ruthless!"

Sister Lan and the others' faces turned pale.

Wang Yinyang glanced at them, drew his finger across his throat, made a cutting gesture, and then turned and left.

Sister Lan and the others were terrified.

Many Wubao Disciples said in a panic:

"I... need to take leave and go home for a bit!"

Soon:

Many Wubao Disciples left.

Sister Lan and a few other Wubao Disciples stood rooted to the spot, silent for a long time.

Zhao Hongxiu's eyes darted around, and she suddenly said, "Sister Lan, we actually have no conflict with Chu Qing and the others."

"All the conflicts were caused by He Qi's steward!"

"It was all the He Family's fault!"

"Now that the He Family is gone, the conflict naturally disappears!"

Sister Lan mechanically turned her head, looking at Zhao Hongxiu blankly and saying, "But... they still want the Bright Pearl!"

Zhao Hongxiu sneered inwardly and said indifferently, "If they want it, then give it to them."

"Although the Bright Pearl is precious, it can only train one or two Bronze Tendons at most."

Sister Lan shook her head and said, "You don't understand!"

"There must be other secrets hidden within the Bright Pearl!"

"Otherwise, these Noble families Prodigies wouldn't be so frantically demanding the Bright Pearl!"

"Even if we waste and throw away the Bright Pearl, we cannot give it to them!"

Zhao Hongxiu sneered inwardly:

Fools who won't shed tears until they see the coffin!

Wubao Disciples are nothing more than this... Noon:

Inside the Stone Tower, the sound of frogs disappeared.

【Cultivation Technique: Toad Skill Perfection—One thousand practices daily, one Secret medicine daily, a thousand days to Perfection, (Secret Inheritance)】

【Promotion Conditions: 1: 71.9 Bright Pearls, 2: Tenshare Breakthrough Secret medicines!】

Over four hours of Cultivation yielded results:

The demand for Bright Pearls decreased by 0.1.

If he did nothing else and Cultivated the Toad Skill every day, he could probably reduce the consumption of one Bright Pearl every three to five days.

Theoretically, after a year, he could advance without needing Bright Pearls.

This efficiency was quite terrifying.

But Chu Qing was not satisfied.

"A year is too long, I only seize the day!"

"Bright Pearls, I need more Bright Pearls!"

He thought of Cui Moyang's words.

"One Fortified Manor scavenged more than twenty Bright Pearls."

"What about ten Fortified Manors, or thirty-six Fortified Manors?"

At this moment:

Chu Qing could no longer suppress the killing intent in his heart.

"I must take down another Fortified Manor!"

"Gather some Bright Pearls!"

Gurgle!

Gurgle!

The maids pushed the dining cart over.

The first dish was medicated cuisine.

The second was eel soup.

Other fruits, vegetables, and exquisite foods were all available.

Chu Qing devoured his food.

【Eel Soup + 1】

Good, only 99 days left until the eel soup condition is completed.

As for the dragon tendon... he also needed to speed up its search.

After eating and drinking his fill, the maids brought out the nourishing ointment and said:

"Young Master, it's time to apply the ointment."

Chu Qing moved his limbs, his tendons and bones cracking loudly; he only felt full of energy.

Applying the ointment now would be even more effective.

But... the ointment only lasted for an hour, and applying it once took up a lot of time.

He pondered for a moment and said, "Don't apply the nourishing ointment anymore."

"Save it. When there are ten portions, use them all at once."

"Yes!"

...Boom!

Boom!

His legs flew, and the points kept increasing.

He moved around in the confined space, improving bit by bit.

One minute... ten minutes... one hour... Chu Qing trained until he was exhausted, but he also gained a lot.

"That's enough for today, I'll Cultivate again tomorrow!"

The maids chuckled lightly and said, "Alright, Young Master!"

Chu Qing suddenly noticed that the maids' eyes were curved with laughter, and they were very... cute!

Afternoon:

He continued to Cultivate the Toad Skill to restore his vital energy, spirit, and essence.

This time, he discovered that under the Secret Inheritance, most of the excess vital energy, spirit, and essence flowed into his kidneys.

"The Secret Inheritance is repairing my losses."

Only a few Secret medicines could repair losses and replenish the foundation.

This Secret Inheritance Cultivation Technique, possessing the same effects as Secret medicines, was truly extraordinary.

"It seems the true benefit of the Secret Inheritance is to repair losses and enhance the foundation."

Cultivate.

Continue to Cultivate.

Chu Qing made a plan:

Cultivating the Secret Inheritance for fifteen hours a day would save one Bright Pearl every three days.

During this time, he would also intersperse the improvement of Subduing Dragon Post.

The remaining time would be spent Cultivating Iron Cloth and completing the advancement of Double-Handed Mantis Sword.

Actually, after getting the Dragon Snake Twin-Headed Chain Spear, he originally didn't want to waste time on the Mantis Sword.

After all, the Mantis Sword was not as good as the Chain Spear.

But:

Considering how difficult it was to obtain the dragon tendon for the Chain Spear, he could only continue to improve the Mantis Sword.

"The Mantis Sword requires a certain number of sword strikes and also sword nurturing."

"I don't know how to nurture a sword, so I'll go to the Library. I should be able to find a sword-nurturing method, and while I'm there, I'll ask about the true effects of the Secret Inheritance Cultivation Technique."

At dusk:

The Bright Pearl demand for the Toad Skill had decreased by another 0.1.

He decided to relax and take the opportunity to go to the Library.

However, as soon as he stepped out, he saw a maid approaching with a letter:

"Young Master, you have a letter!"

A few minutes later:

Chu Qing carefully read the letter.

The letter was written by Tang Wuming.

【I went to a place called Eight Hundred Li Shui Po.】

【The folk customs here are simple and honest, with men fishing and women mending nets, embodying a pastoral Concept.】

Chu Qing... The letter was very long, seemingly describing ordinary things.

However, Chu Qing discovered that Tang Wuming seemed to have gone down a crooked path—he had joined the rebel army.

【Fishermen's lives are hard, so I became a Big Boss of a fish stall... I live a carefree life in this Eight Hundred Li Shui Po.】

【With the help of friends, I now have over three thousand fishermen under me, and I want to go see the county town.】

【Do you want to come?】

"Recruiting, and he recruited me?"

"You, a Young Master from a prominent family, how could you betray your class and join the rebel army?"

Chu Qing smiled.

"Grind the ink!"

The maid ground the ink.

He pondered, repeatedly looking at the words 'water po' and 'fishermen'; he also considered Tang Wuming's current identity, and finally took up his brush to reply:

【Although the county town is good, it is not as good as the countryside.】

【When you control all the Fortified Manors and villages, the county town will be an isolated city.】

【It's better to mingle in the water po and the countryside than to go to the county town to play.】

【By the way, I like to eat dragon tendon, so have someone check the tendons of every fish. If you find any unusual fish tendons, be sure to save them for me.】

【I'll trade you Marching Pills and Hemostatic Powder for them!】

After learning about Tang Wuming's situation, Chu Qing's first thought was to have Tang Wuming help him find dragon tendon.

Eight Hundred Li Shui Po, three thousand fishermen.

How many fish would be caught every day?

How many fish tendons would be produced every day?

In his previous life: there was a saying about fish dragons.

Perhaps, in this world, the chances of dragon tendon appearing in fish would be higher.

In short... it was worth a try, and there wasn't much to lose.

He lacked everything now except Marching Pills and Hemostatic Powder.

Since Tang Wuming had become a rebel, he would definitely need these two resources.

If he could exchange these two resources for a dragon tendon... he would be extremely happy.

If Madam Shi knew about this, given her emphasis on dragon tendon, she would probably even trade a county town for it.

At the end of the letter:

Chu Qing briefly mentioned that he had led people to destroy the He Family Fortified Manor for the Bright Pearls.

【Brother, I am not threatening you.】

【I just want to say: for Bright Pearls, I dare to destroy all thirty-five remaining Fortified Manors in Shiji County.】

【And the unusual great tendon I want is even more precious than Bright Pearls.】

【So... brother, please be sure to help me find the unusual great tendon.】

Seal!

Apply sealing wax!

Stamp!

Then, he wrote another letter to Apothecary Li, asking him to give Marching Pills and Hemostatic Powder to the letter carrier.

Finally, he had the maid give the two letters and fifty taels of silver to Tang Wuming's messenger.

The messenger was still the big man.

This big man had already accepted his fate.

He took the letter, went to find Apothecary Li, and then... his head buzzed when he saw boxes of Hemostatic Powder and Marching Pills.

After reading the letter, Apothecary Li waved his hand and said, "Carry as much as you want!"

"Carry as much as you can!"

The big man said in disbelief, "Really?"

Apothecary Li pointed to the seal on the letter and said, "What a Big Shot says is worth a thousand pieces of gold!"

"Carry as much as you want!"

Half an hour later:

The big man tied seven or eight large boxes to his back with ropes, then, grinning foolishly all the way, headed straight for the Eight Hundred Li Shui Po, thousands of miles away.

"With these supplies, Young Master's situation will be much better."