C7 Breeze Town
Half a month later...
Outside Lintian City, in the depths of Gloom Forest, a young man wielded a flaming longsword, weaving through the trees.
"Ding!"
"System Prompt: Congratulations, player, on successfully leveling up. Current Martial Level: Spirit Martial First Grade. You've earned an additional reward of +100 Points."
"System Prompt: Congratulations, player, on advancing to the Spirit Martial Stage. Martial Qi Attribute has been unlocked."
"System Prompt: Congratulations, player, on advancing to the Spirit Martial Stage. Point Exchange System is now available."
"System Prompt: Congratulations, player, on advancing to the Spirit Martial Stage. Pharmacy is now accessible."
"System Prompt: Congratulations, player, on advancing to the Spirit Martial Stage. Alchemy has been unlocked."
...
For half a month, he encountered neither Demon Beasts nor foes, relying solely on hunting wild beasts and birds to finally achieve a level up!
Upon reaching the Spirit Martial Stage, Jiang Xiaofan's mind was flooded with continuous system notifications, stirring such excitement in him that he nearly wept with joy!
He had at last become powerful!
With the Martial Qi Attribute now unlocked, Jiang Xiaofan felt an endless surge of wild energy coursing through him!
With a slight tremor of his right fist, a burst of energy erupted forth. He struck at a nearby towering tree, his formidable fist force splitting it cleanly in half!
This was the might of the Spirit Martial Stage! Incredibly empowering!
Beyond Martial Qi, he had unlocked two secondary professions: Pharmacy and Alchemy, both immensely powerful in their own right!
In his recollection, Pharmacists were a rare breed in Lintian City, with high-level Pharmacists even more scarce. Major families and apothecaries clamored to recruit such talent, and now Jiang Xiaofan, armed with the Medicine King Scripture, was poised to become a top-tier Pharmacist with just a bit of time and effort!
As for Weapon Refiners, they were scarcer still, capable of crafting weapons imbued with formidable power. A single mighty weapon could drastically elevate one's combat prowess!
But for now, Jiang Xiaofan's immediate concern was to enhance his own level and stage—after all, raw power was the true measure of strength!
With the level up, the system awarded him 100 points. Coupled with the points from two previous missions, he amassed a total of 130 points. He was curious to see what treasures the Point Exchange System held for him.
Upon activating the Point Exchange System, Jiang Xiaofan was utterly astounded!
Divine Weapons like the Pangu Axe were listed for 10,000 points, the Xuanyuan Sword for 15,000 points, and the Heaven-repairing Stone for a whopping 30,000 points...
And that was just the beginning!
The Dragon Subduing Palms for 10,000 points, the Six Miles Holy Sword for 12,000 points, the Toad Skill for 8,000 points...
These were all formidable forces to be reckoned with. Securing any one of them would enable him to effortlessly overpower Jiang Lun with a mere flick of his finger!
Yet, the cost of these divine techniques and weapons was exorbitant, leaving Jiang Xiaofan to scroll to the bottom of the exchange interface in search of something more affordable.
At last, tucked away in a corner, he discovered the Breaking Wind Sword Technique, a martial skill available for just 100 points.
The sword, revered as the king of all weapons, had always captivated Jiang Xiaofan from a young age. His deep affection for the Blazing Sword made the Breaking Wind Sword Technique an ideal match for his current prowess!
Rated as a Grade C martial skill within the Exchange System, the Breaking Wind Sword Technique was a steal for 100 points, offering exceptional value.
Without hesitation, Jiang Xiaofan redeemed it, and a surge of white light coursed into his mind. In that moment, the intricate details of the Breaking Wind Sword Technique melded into his consciousness, adding a new skill to his repertoire.
The leftover 30 points weren't enough for another exchange, so he decided to save them for future use.
With everything in order, Jiang Xiaofan opened his attribute panel:
Jiang Xiaofan
Level: 21
Martial Level: Spirit Martial Level One
Martial Qi: 500/500
Skills: Battle Martial Body - Grade A, Divine Tiger Boxing - Grade B, Breaking Wind Sword Technique - Grade C, Wolf Strike - Grade C, Ten Thousand Water Slash - Grade C, Wolf Totem - Grade D
Special: Medicine King Scripture
Functions: Pharmacy, Alchemy, Point Exchange System
Equipment: Blazing Sword
Points: 30
Luck: 0
Ability: Devour
After reviewing his attributes, Jiang Xiaofan slowly lifted his gaze towards the horizon, fists clenched with resolve, and declared, "It's time to head back!"
After a quick tidy-up, Jiang Xiaofan set out on his journey back to the Jiang family!
He never imagined that in less than twenty days, he would ascend to the Spirit Martial Stage. Next to his rapid advancement, so-called geniuses and young masters paled in comparison!
With over ten days to spare before his return to the Jiang family, Jiang Xiaofan pressed on without delay. Jiang Nianrui had saved his life, and now it was his turn to save hers!
Despite a full day's travel, the power of the Spirit Martial Stage left Jiang Xiaofan feeling surprisingly unfatigued.
In the afternoon, he spotted some buildings in the distance, which brought him a surge of excitement. However, upon closer inspection, he realized it wasn't Lintian City but a small town instead!
A plaque hung above the town's stone gate, proudly bearing the name "Breeze Town." The town bustled with activity, and from the entrance, Jiang Xiaofan could see the busy throngs of people on the streets.
Glancing at his worn-out clothes, Jiang Xiaofan remembered the Copper Coins he'd acquired from defeating Huang Yu, Lin Zhen, and others. It was the perfect opportunity to buy new attire.
Entering Breeze Town, he soon found a clothier's shop. Selecting a fine piece of fabric, he watched as the skilled tailor swiftly crafted a fresh set of robes.
The new clothes cost him just five Copper Coins—a fair price. With over a hundred Copper Coins to his name, Jiang Xiaofan could afford to splurge.
He also had several weapons in his backpack, which he didn't care for. He located a weapon shop and sold them. The steel knife and short dagger fetched little, but the combined sale of Huang Yu and Lin Zhen's weapons netted him several hundred Copper Coins. This windfall brought Jiang Xiaofan's purse to a hefty total of 450 Copper Coins!
"The girl from the Skilled Hand Medical Hall..."
The clamor outside the weapon shop drew Jiang Xiaofan's attention. Stepping out, he saw a young girl, about his age, cornered by three men in an alleyway.
"That old coot, Ann Yunshan, is washed up. The Skilled Hand Medical Hall is on its way to being devoured by Hanging Pot Pharmacy. Why not join us for some fun? We'll have your back from now on. No one in Breeze Town will dare to mess with you," a man sneered, cornering the girl against the wall.
"Don't you dare insult my grandfather!" the girl retorted with fury in her voice.
Clad in a light green chiffon dress and clutching a paper bag, the girl backed into the corner, her beauty undeniable. Her mix of anger and panic stirred a protective instinct in those who saw her.
Jiang Xiaofan had already played the hero once in Gloom Forest, and here was another opportunity, though he felt rather reluctant. But he couldn't just stand by and let a group of brutes harass this lovely girl.
Among the three men, two were at the early Spirit Martial Stage, and one was merely at the late Original Martial Stage. With Jiang Xiaofan's current level, he should be able to rescue her.
As one of the men reached for the girl's belt, Jiang Xiaofan couldn't hold back any longer. "Let go of her!" he roared, stepping in to intervene.
The girl's eyes lit up with hope as she looked at Jiang Xiaofan, as if he were her lifeline.
The men turned to face Jiang Xiaofan. The ringleader sneered, "Little third, show this guy the door."
The man at the Original Martial Stage swaggered over, taunting, "You think you can interfere with Boss Chu Feng's business? You got a death wish, kid?"
Jiang Xiaofan's patience snapped at the man's arrogance. A surge of Martial Qi burst from his arm, and with a resounding slap, he struck the man's face!
A full-force blow from someone at the Spirit Martial Stage was not something an Original Martial Stage lackey could withstand. He cried out, slamming into the wall and spitting out blood.
Realizing Jiang Xiaofan was no pushover, the other two men released the girl and faced him with cold smiles. "You've got guts, kid. But you clearly haven't asked around about who's got the clout to challenge me, Chu Feng, in Breeze Town."
The man standing next to Chu Feng let out a deep shout, his Martial Qi bursting forth and enveloping his arms, before he swiftly hurled it towards Jiang Xiaofan!
Unfazed, Jiang Xiaofan's Battle Martial Body sprang into action, his aura intensifying rapidly. With a powerful punch, he struck the man's face, sending him flying and crashing into the wall, knocked out cold.
"Kid, you're asking for it!" Chu Feng snarled, pulling a long-blade sword from his storage ring and aiming a vicious blow at Jiang Xiaofan's forehead!
At that moment, the Original Martial servant seated by the wall rose to his feet, grabbed a brick from the ground, and hurled it at Jiang Xiaofan's head!
"Clang!"
A burst of flames lit up as the Blazing Sword materialized in Jiang Xiaofan's hand. With a flick of his wrist, the long-blade sword snapped in two. Jiang Xiaofan's left arm continued its motion, unleashing the Divine Tiger Boxing!
"Thud! Thud! Thud!"
Three consecutive punches later, Chu Feng coughed up blood and collapsed to the ground. Meanwhile, Jiang Xiaofan tilted his head slightly, releasing the full force of his aura, overwhelming the Original Martial servant behind him.
The brick halted mere centimeters from Jiang Xiaofan's head, and the servant's legs gave out, dropping him to his knees with a thud.
In the face of the Spirit Martial Stage's Martial Qi, especially from someone in the Battle Martial Body state, the Original Martial Stage was no match—merely a jester before Jiang Xiaofan.
A young girl rushed to Jiang Xiaofan's side and bowed in gratitude, "Thank you, noble hero, for your brave rescue."
Clutching his chest, Chu Feng staggered to his feet, his voice seething with rage, "You cur! Hanging Pot Pharmacy won't let this slide! And you, Ann Xiaobai! Every last one at the Martial Artsed Hand Medical Hall is going down! You'll all be ruined after this Pharmacy Conference!"
"Ding!"
"System Prompt: Congratulations, you have triggered the mission to win the Pharmacy Conference (Difficulty: S). Will you accept?"
...
Damn it!
Jiang Xiaofan was taken aback! He was supposed to be heading back to Lintian City, but now he had stumbled upon a mission, and not just any mission, but one with an S-level difficulty. The rewards were bound to be substantial!
"Miss Ann, may I inquire about the Pharmacy Conference?" Jiang Xiaofan asked, tilting his head curiously.
Ann Xiaobai paused, her gaze on Jiang Xiaofan filled with incredulity. "You've never heard of the Pharmacy Conference? It's an annual event where all the medical halls and pharmacies in Breeze Town compete in pill refining. The victor earns the right to go to the Royal Capital and serve as an imperial pharmacist."
"Absolutely! I must take part!" Jiang Xiaofan exclaimed, clapping his hands decisively as he embraced the challenge.
Chu Feng sneered, "You? Take a good look at yourself before dreaming of joining the Pharmacy Conference."
Jiang Xiaofan's anger flared at the insult. He was ready to silence Chu Feng's taunts with his Blazing Sword, but after just two steps, he felt a tug on his sleeve.
Turning, he saw Ann Xiaobai holding onto him, her clear, beautiful eyes meeting his. Her lips parted gently, and in a soft voice, she implored, "You must not take a life."
Jiang Xiaofan took in the three figures beside him—one at the Original Martial Stage and two at the Spirit Martial Stage. Such valuable experience!
Yet, he had other plans and reluctantly let go of his impulse. The mission was far more precious than mere experience points. "Miss Ann, would you be willing to teach me the art of pill refining?"
