Ling Xiao was not interested in others’ personal affairs, but he couldn’t deny feeling a bit of schadenfreude.
In the past when he had been a beggar, Ling Yu had bullied him for lacking money and power.
After entering the Ling Clan, Ling Yu had abandoned him because he hadn’t had the money to purchase pills to increase his strength.
Today, he had a lot of money in his hands. He could purchase everything he wanted. He wondered how Ling Yu would react if she learned of this?
“Teacher Uncle (Shibo), I must trouble you to give me a heart-protecting, a vein-protecting, and a breakthrough pill. Also, add ten qi-gathering pills!”
The members of the Medicine Hall were mostly old men. In terms of seniority within the clan, the man behind the counter would be Ling Xiao’s Teacher Uncle.
“Ah, if it isn’t Ling Xiao! I’ve already prepared today’s medicine residue for you.”
This old man truly wasn’t mocking Ling Xiao; he was sincerely concerned about him.
In the past, Ling Xiao had visited the Medicine Hall to receive some medicine residue almost every day. Before he had met this Teacher Uncle, he had always been humiliated and troubled at every opportunity.
But after knowing this Teacher Uncle, things had changed. This old man had always prepared the medicine residue in advance and awaited his arrival.
“Teacher Uncle, I don’t need any medicine residue today. I want a breakthrough, a heart-protecting, and a vein-protecting pill as well as some qi gathering pills. These are the things I want.”
Originally, since some disciples had been nearby to purchase some pills or receive medical treatment, the old man had thought that he had misheard Ling Xiao and ignored his initial words.
However, Ling Xiao clearly spoke above the clamor this time.
Everybody heard it clearly.
All looked at him with strange looks.
“Hahaha, Big Brother Feng, this poor wretch actually claimed that he wanted to purchase some pills. It’s enough to make others laugh to death!”
Ling Yu helplessly guffawed. In her opinion, Ling Xiao had gone crazy.
Even she couldn’t afford those pills, let alone Ling Xiao.
“Those things he wanted add up to 8,000 taels of silver. He truly dares to talk big!”
Ling Feng sneered in disdain.
8,000 taels of silver: even he would at most receive that much money in a month. Even this was only because he had a good father.
What about Ling Xiao?
As a trifling external disciple whose only family was an old and ailing beggar, how could he have so much money?
“Little boy, did you get rich?”
The uncle behind the counter asked with a smile.
“Teacher Uncle, I was exploring the Crouching Dragon Mountain Range these past days. I managed to gather some medicinal herbs and kill some demonic beasts, so I have a lot of money now.”
After saying this, Ling Xiao took out the materials for the pills he had requested. He handed them over and said, “Teacher Uncle, I want to exchange them for the three pills I mentioned. As for the qi-gathering pills, I will use money to purchase them.”
Under the crowd’s stunned gaze, Ling Xiao spent 5,300 taels of silver and paid the alchemy materials for the three pills.
Ling Yu’s laughter ceased.
Ling Feng’s disdain changed into surprise.
“With his strength, how could he survive in the Crouching Dragon Mountain Range; moreover, he actually succeeded in hunting demonic beasts?”
Ling Yu and Ling Feng were shocked not only because Ling Xiao had become rich but also because Ling Xiao had actually escaped unscathed from the Crouching Dragon Mountain Range.
Although the clan had mandatory rules regarding it, it was not recommended for those under Rank Four Martial Vein to traverse the Crouching Dragon Mountain Range.
If you had to enter it, most traveled in groups of at least ten people. Furthermore, it was necessary to have a Peak Rank Three Martial Vein martial artist lead the group.
Even more importantly, you should only move along the edge.
To this day, Ling Feng and Ling Yu hadn’t visited the Crouching Dragon Mountain Range.
Because they could ask whatever they wanted from their wealthy families, they had never needed to risk their lives.
At this moment, they felt that Ling Xiao had surpassed them all, and an embarrassed expression suddenly appeared on their faces.
“Good boy, you have truly improved and gotten rich! Okay, this Teacher Uncle will get you your pills!”
“Oh, that right! Teacher Uncle, also arrange for me 100 pieces of golden wound medicine, ten bottles of healing pills…”
Ling Xiao realized that if he regularly explored the Crouching Dragon Mountain Range, he would definitely get injured. This golden wound medicine would cure his wounds while healing pills would heal any internal injuries. Moreover, these things weren’t actually expensive compared to their life-saving effects.
Naturally, they were only cheap to martial artists.
These things were extremely expensive for ordinary people.
A piece of golden wound medicine cost a tael of silver each. As for a bottle of healing pills, which contained roughly a hundred pills, it would cost 100 taels of silver, so ten bottles cost 1000 taels.
In the past, Ling Xiao wouldn’t have dared to even think about them, but now he could buy as many as he pleased.
This was the difference.
“Okay, no problem!”
After completing this trade, Ling Xiao nodded toward Ling Feng and Ling Yu before flashing them a smile in passing.
Seeing their purplish-red faces, his heart brimmed with joy.
However, he didn’t waste any time here ridiculing the other party.
At this moment, the most important thing was improving his strength.
He was still not the opponent of people like Ling Feng and Li Xingyun at his current strength.
Strength was everything!
With strength, honor would follow, and he would have even more money!
Ling Feng studiously ignored Ling Xiao.
Ling Yu, however, eyed Ling Xiao in embarrassment. Something had changed in her gaze. Unexpectedly, a hint of regret appeared in her eyes.
“Well, it’s more interesting if you are more powerful. In the annual competition, I will make you wholeheartedly accept defeat!”
As Ling Xiao was about to step through the Medicine Hall’s door, Ling Feng turned around and spat these words with a forced smile.
Merely, his smile was ugly as if he were about to cry.
Ling Xiao returned a wide smile without saying anything. In any case, the annual competition was right around the corner. Saying anything now was useless.
After leaving the Medicine Hall, he directly returned home.
His grandfather’s condition had greatly improved.
“You child, why did you go out without saying anything?” The grandfather scolded him.
“Grandpa, don’t be angry! Here, take these 100 taels of silver. Hereafter, eat whatever you want, and buy whatever you want. We have money now. We don’t have to live like beggars. Moreover, I plan to renovate this house; otherwise, it’ll be uncomfortable on rainy days.”
“Where did you get so much money?”
“Grandpa, I didn’t steal or rob anyone. You can rest assured. Now, your grandson’s strength is rapidly improving, I predict that I will breakthrough to Rank Three Martial Vein without any problems before the annual competition.”
Ling Xiao didn’t explain much. He tossed a pouch containing 100 taels of silvers on the table before retreating to his room to prepare for his breakthrough.
In the Crouching Dragon Mountain Range, he had continuously tempered himself through battle. In fact, he could have already made a breakthrough.
The reason why he hadn’t was rather that he had intentionally suppressed it.
Without a heart-protecting and a vein-protecting pill, making a breakthrough was risky. He didn’t want to risk any accident.
The poor only had one life, unlike those rich people, who even with only half a life, would have their families resuscitate them.
If he were seriously injured, it would be no different from dying. After all, he would be bullied and unable to receive healing.
After taking the breakthrough, heart-protecting, and vein-protecting pills, Ling Xiao sat cross-legged and circulated his <Pure Yang Formula>, preparing to breakthrough to Rank Three Martial Vein.
The power of a breakthrough pill was truly fierce. After taking it, a terrifying strength immediately spread from his dantian. Along with the true qi within his body, this energy charged towards his third martial vein.
“No wonder the heart-protecting and vein-protecting pills were needed. Without them, this terrifying strength might have broken my heart and veins!”
The power of this breakthrough pill surprised him, truly making the functions of the heart protecting and vein-protecting pills greater than he had thought.
After his true qi increased, his meridians would inevitably enlarge. Without these two pills, his meridians might shatter.
But now, he didn’t need to worry. That violent power would not only not destroy him, but it would also expand his meridians, making his body even more suitable for gang qi and prepare the foundations for his future promotion to Rank Four Martial Vein.
