I began to understand the myriad things by chopping wood

Chapter 95 Great improvement in strength
The third stage of external training is to train the tendons, also known as stretching the tendons.

The stretching in martial arts is naturally different from the body exercises of ordinary people.

For this stage, one must stretch the muscles and tendons throughout the body, train them to be flexible and free, and also use blood, energy, and precious medicines to strengthen them, making them strong and tough.

When a warrior reaches the highest level of success, his flexibility is greatly improved, and he can exert force faster and with greater strength, thus completing his transformation.

The only difference from the previous two levels is that the tendons and bones are all inside the body, covered by thick muscles. Ordinary medicinal baths are no longer effective, and special medicines are required to play an auxiliary role.

This kind of precious external medicine that goes directly into the body is much more expensive; and internal supplements, when it comes to the level of strengthening the tendons, are naturally not cheap either.

Xie Yuan was in the exclusive pharmacy of the escort agency. He looked at the list given by the pharmacist and sighed slightly:
"Expensive! The price inside is so high, and the price outside is probably even more outrageous. Without a solid foundation, you can only rely on your talent to practice martial arts.

"Fortunately, I have talent..."

In fact, even if Xie Yuan didn't need these external aids, with his talent, he could still make a name for himself through hard work.

But martial arts training is exhausting, so with food and medicine, it is naturally twice as effective with half the effort. With these good treasures, he can practice much faster.

Xie Yuan compared them carefully, then consulted the pharmacist about the price for a while, and finally ordered a few herbs.

One of the herbs is called Dragon Tendon Grass, which is a miraculous medicine that grows on cliffs. It may look like an ordinary little grass, but it can hang rocks weighing hundreds of pounds on the cliff without breaking.

After the dragon tendon grass is ground and boiled, the resulting liquid can be taken to help warriors strengthen their muscles and tendons, which is very effective.

However, the cliff is difficult to reach and there is not much dragon tendon grass, so a small bundle of grass stems is worth half a second-class merit.

The other medicine Xie Yuan wanted was a plaster called Soft Gold Plaster. When applied to the body, the medicinal properties would slowly penetrate into the body and reach the tendons and bones.

This can be applied for a long time. Xie Yuan directly asked for enough to cover his chest and back, which was another half-second-class achievement.

By taking it internally and applying it externally in this way, he lost a second-class merit, but Xie Yuan felt that it was making the best use of it and should be able to help him train his tendons more easily.

Xie Yuan had one second-class merit left, so he exchanged it for a ten-day supply of blood-replenishing pills. These were specially made by Longteng Escort Agency to increase blood energy.

And a bottle of deer antler red paste - also specially made by the escort agency, it can generate blood and replenish qi, strengthen the body, and has many benefits for spiritual practice.

At this point, the two rare second-class merits were directly used up, which made Xie Yuan sigh that money is never forbidden.

In fact, if he had a choice, Xie Yuan would like to exchange for some medicinal herbs that can enhance his internal strength, but Longteng Escort Agency naturally does not have such an option, and he himself does not know which things can assist his internal strength, which must be very valuable.

Anyway, replenishing blood and increasing energy is good for the body, and internal energy also adds some speed... Maybe I can ask Situ Qin later?

Xie Yuan suddenly thought that this must not be a secret for Situ Qin, who had a mysterious identity and a prominent background. The only one who knew that he practiced internal skills was this young lady, so he could ask her.

Maybe one day when I have time, I can go to Yunzhou Prefecture to have a look...

She also said she would take me to eat delicious food.

Xie Yuan thought for a while, turned around, looked at the pile of medicinal herbs in front of him, and asked the pharmacist:

"Doctor, these medicines don't have any side effects, right? Like, making the blood and qi impure?"

The old pharmacist stroked his beard and laughed:
"Young man, you are so knowledgeable. Many other escorts want as many precious medicines as possible. They are so rare. But don't worry, these are just auxiliary medicines. They will gradually be absorbed into the blood as you practice martial arts, and the medicinal power will dissipate and be purified by the blood. Those rare treasures of heaven and earth, tiger and wolf medicines, which can increase your strength instantly, are dangerous.

"Besides, the dosage you have is not enough to affect your foundation."

Xie Yuan looked at the medicinal herbs that he could take away with just a handful of hands, and couldn't help but remain silent. The two second-class merits were only worth this much, unless more money was paid.

Let’s try the effect first, take a few days off and concentrate on practicing martial arts.

Xie Yuan asked the pharmacist to boil the dragon tendon grass into a medicine. After taking it away, he took it in the morning and evening, and then applied soft gold ointment. Sure enough, he felt that the fascia in his body had been noticeably strengthened.

He then took the blood-replenishing pills and deer antler red paste as needed, and Xie Yuan practiced diligently day and night to maximize the effectiveness of the medicine.

Ten days later.

[Chopping wood: (6357/10000)]

[Golden Bell Cover·First Level: (319/500)]

[Health-preserving Skills·Third Level: (1206/3000)] [Eight Trigrams Mountain-shaking Fist·Beginner's Skill: (288/500)]

[Moon Slashing Axe: Basic Skill: (179/500)]

【Running Wolf Sword Technique·Great Mastery: (869/2000)】

[Black Book: (???/???)]

Xie Yuan was in the room, scanning his own martial arts.

Chopping wood is like health-preserving exercises. Although the progress is not fast, it is rising slowly and steadily, and the next breakthrough is getting closer and closer.

The first level of the Golden Bell Cover is already halfway completed, and the defensive power has been greatly increased; correspondingly, the blood in his chest has become much stronger, his whole body is full of energy and blood, and with recent hard work, his tendons have made great progress, his flexibility has increased, and his explosive power and strength have increased simultaneously, which are all improvements in his overall strength.

As for the fighting method, although the Bagua Shaking Mountain Fist is very powerful, you should practice it twice a day at first, and your progress will steadily increase; as for the Benlang Sword Technique, just let it go naturally and don't force it too much.

The focus is on axe techniques. I have already started using the Moon-Cut Axe, and quickly became familiar with it. It can now be used to great effect in actual combat!
With the Moon-Slashing Axe and his enhanced blood energy level, Xie Yuan's combat power is now much greater than when he went to Yulin.

“It’s been very effective.”

Heaving a sigh of relief, Xie Yuan was very satisfied with his recent progress.

Especially the growth of blood and energy, the tendon training is already halfway done, such progress is all thanks to the precious medicine exchanged for the two B-level merits.

"If you want to make progress quickly, you have to earn more merits. If the escorts are active, the escort agency will have good business. Then the escort agency can provide more treasures, the escorts will be more motivated and become stronger, and the escort agency will prosper."

Xie Yuan felt this positive cycle, and in order to improve his martial arts skills, he was willing to fire a few more darts.

However, after practicing hard for so long, you can relax for a while and combine work and rest.

Today is the day we have agreed to celebrate at Jude Tower with Kong Chun and the other four. As the escort leader, I will naturally keep my word.

The minimum monthly salary for a senior escort is twenty taels, not to mention the commission from the missions. With Xie Yuan winning every time, he now has no pressure to treat guests.

"Thank you, Escort. Follow me. Your colleagues are waiting upstairs."

The waiter respectfully led Xie Yuan to the private room on the second floor, pushed the door open, and found that Kong Chun and others were already seated.

"Brother Yuan, here I come!"

"Thank you, Brother Yuan, for saving my life last time. I won't go home until I'm drunk today!"

……

"The Escort Agency will have a big escort mission soon, going east."

In an elegant quiet room, a serious-looking man spoke softly.

"Oh? Who's going to take the charge?"

The slightly plump, fair-faced man in fancy clothes opposite him gently held the tea bowl and took a sip.

"Zhao Xingyang."

The man paused for a moment and said slowly:
"Zhao Xingyang's escort team is escorting the big convoy... so Xie Yuan will be there too, right?"

"Mostly."

"very good……"

Yu Chunsheng looked at the man opposite him and said with a smile:

"You are so reliable. Don't worry, I will definitely give you what I promised you."

Hearing these mocking words, the man opposite remained expressionless, staring at the tea foam floating in his tea bowl without saying a word.

(End of this chapter)