40: exchange

Over the next few days, the System seemed to enter a "dormancy period." The intelligence refreshed every night was all trivial neighborhood gossip, such as "the ten-year-old Nu'er Hong wine cherished by the East Street tavern owner was knocked over by his own greedy cat," or "two monkeys in the West Market fought from one end of the street to the other over a fruit, overturning three fruit stalls." Qin Feng didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Occasionally, a yellow Opportunity would appear, but he could only sigh in frustration because the location was too far away or the timing wasn't right.

However, Qin Feng was not distracted by this. All his current passion was poured into that small Pill Furnace. Failing, cleaning the Pill Furnace, reflecting, and then putting in Materials again... Like the most devout apprentice, he repeatedly performed these dull yet challenging exercises. His success rate in refining blood qi pills slowly improved from one success in ten attempts to two or three. Although the success rate was still pitifully low and the quality of the refined Medicinal Pills was uneven, this progress was real.

Doctor Chu would occasionally "happen" to pass by the study, glancing at the medicinal dregs remaining in the Pill Furnace or sniffing the medicinal fragrance lingering in the air. On that face as calm as an ancient well, a fleeting and hard-to-detect trace of astonishment would occasionally flash.

"The timing for condensing the blood qi pill is grasped more accurately than last time, and the heat is much more stable..."

"The purification of these Materials seems to have even fewer Impurities..."

"This boy... could he really have a talent for Alchemy?" Chu Yunhe thought to himself. He knew well how difficult the Dao of Alchemy was, especially getting started. Many people spend years and waste countless Materials without even being able to touch the threshold. And how many days has it been for Qin Feng? He has already managed to raise the success rate to over twenty percent? This Comprehension Ability and tenacity far exceeded most of the Medicine King Valley Outer Sect Disciples he had seen back then.

Doctor Chu looked at Qin Feng's focused and calm profile, a complex flash of relief in his eyes. Perhaps this Legacy of his, which had long since lost hope, could truly be continued in his hands?

However, not everyone was happy about Qin Feng's progress.

Senior Brother Liu Da's face had become increasingly gloomy these past few days. Ever since Qin Feng gave that expensive gold hairpin for Xiao Chun's birthday last time, he felt his status in his Junior Sister's heart had plummeted. Now, Master had even passed on the treasured art of Alchemy to this Junior Brother who had been a Disciple for less than half a year! Jealousy was like a poisonous snake gnawing at his heart. He felt that as the Senior Brother of over ten years, his weight in Master's heart was not even equal to that of a young kid!

Especially when he saw the admiration and joy that almost overflowed when Xiao Chun looked at Qin Feng, Liu Da felt a piercing pain in his heart. He had to do something to prove he was stronger than Qin Feng! At least in the martial Dao, he had immersed himself in the Withered Wood Kung Fu for over ten years and was already a Martial Artist Middle Stage; could he not suppress a "Martial Artist Early Stage" who had just started?

The next morning, during practice in the backyard.

Liu Da took a deep breath and walked up to Qin Feng, who was practicing the Poison Jade Sword Art. A smile that looked honest but was actually stiff was forced onto his face: "Junior Brother Qin, although you joined late, your progress has been rapid. As your brother, I am happy for you. Since we are free today, why don't we fellow disciples spar a bit to validate what we've learned together?"

He specifically emphasized "fellow disciples" and "validate together," packaging the challenge as a friendly exchange, but the flash of provocation in his eyes could not be hidden from Qin Feng.

Qin Feng stopped his sword and stood still, understanding the situation. He had long noticed Liu Da's recent abnormality but simply didn't bother with it. Now that the other party had come to his door, if he backed down, it would make him look guilty and lead to more trouble in the future.

"Since Senior Brother Liu has such an interest, I shall naturally accompany you." Qin Feng's tone was flat as he replaced his wooden sword with an unsharpened iron sword used for practice.

The commotion between the two immediately attracted Xiao Chun, who was drying Materials nearby. She put down her work and looked over nervously, her small hands unconsciously clutching the corner of her clothes. Although she admired Qin Feng, she also knew that Senior Brother Liu Da was not weak and was afraid Qin Feng would suffer.

Doctor Chu also appeared under the veranda at some point, standing with his hands behind his back, silently watching the field without speaking to stop them.

"Junior Brother Qin, watch out!" Liu Da shouted low. The Withered Wood Kung Fu circulated within him, and his aura became steady and heavy. His palms took on a gray luster, like old tree bark, carrying a tough force as he aimed straight for Qin Feng's center! It was the "Withered Wood Palm" he had cultivated for many years!

He was determined to use absolute strength to knock down this eyesore of a Junior Brother within ten moves. It would be best if he could cause some minor injuries to keep him in bed for a few days and dampen his spirits!

Facing this powerful palm, Qin Feng's eyes were calm. He perfectly suppressed his cultivation to the "Martial Artist Early Stage" level. With a movement of the Flying Leaf Art, his figure was like a willow catkin in the wind, lightly stepping aside to avoid it. The iron sword in his hand followed the momentum, using the "Lead" technique from the Basic Sword Art, the blade grazing the outside of Liu Da's arm without making hard contact.

Liu Da's palm missed, and he was slightly startled, but his offensive did not stop. His palms whistled through the air in a continuous stream. Qin Feng always responded with the Basic Sword Art and the Flying Leaf Art. His sword moves were simple, and his footwork was nimble. Amidst Liu Da's stormy attacks, he was like a rock in a swift current—seemingly in danger, but actually as steady as Mount Tai.

In the blink of an eye, over a dozen moves had passed, and Liu Da became more and more alarmed as he fought! He found that he was completely unable to suppress this "Martial Artist Early Stage" Junior Brother! The opponent's swordsmanship seemed basic, yet he could always neutralize his attacks from the most clever angles and in the most efficient ways. His movement was even more slippery, giving Liu Da the powerless feeling of punching cotton.

Under the veranda, Xiao Chun's beautiful eyes sparkled. She hadn't expected Qin Feng's actual combat ability to be so excellent. Astonishment flashed in Doctor Chu's eyes again. He could see clearly that Qin Feng's control of power and grasp of timing far exceeded ordinary Martial Artist Early Stage. This combat talent was truly that of a Prodigy!

Unable to win after a long time, Liu Da felt he was losing face, and hostility surged in his heart. He spotted an Opportunity and deliberately left a flaw. When Qin Feng stabbed with his sword, he suddenly channeled ten percent of his power and slapped toward Qin Feng's wrist holding the sword, intending to shatter it!

However, just as his palm wind was about to touch Qin Feng's wrist, a cold light flashed in Qin Feng's eyes! He always hid his strength, but a trace of it instantly erupted! The speed of the iron sword in his hand suddenly increased, like a poisonous snake emerging from its hole, striking first by arriving later. The tip of the sword accurately struck the Laogong Point in the center of Liu Da's palm!

"Ssh!"

A sharp, piercing pain came through. Liu Da felt his entire arm go numb instantly, and his gathered Internal Energy suddenly dissipated! He groaned and stumbled back several steps. A red dot in the center of his palm slowly oozed a bead of blood. His face was full of disbelief and horror!

Qin Feng stood still with his sword sheathed, his breath steady as if that earth-shattering strike had nothing to do with him. He cupped his hands toward the pale-faced Liu Da, his tone still flat: "I win, Senior Brother Liu."

Liu Da opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but his throat felt dry, and he couldn't utter a single word. He stared fixedly at Qin Feng, his eyes filled with shock, shame, and a trace of fear that he hadn't even noticed himself.

Under the veranda, Doctor Chu looked at the young man in the field who was as calm as a light breeze, his heart already churning with waves.

"This boy... is his martial talent actually this terrifying? Seventeen years old... and as a Martial Artist Early Stage, he could so easily defeat a Martial Artist Middle Stage who has been immersed in the martial Dao for over ten years?"

He suddenly felt that taking this apprentice in the first place might have been one of the most correct decisions of his life.

He had truly picked up a treasure.