Elderly Martial Saint: Sixty Times the Cultivation Speed ​​at the Start

For three days after returning from Qingmu Mountain, Yiyang was busy.

He feigned illness during the day and practiced his martial arts at night. Jiang Yuexin cooked porridge for him every day, and Yang Hui would also bring him food from time to time.

To outsiders, it seemed like Old Man Yi's life was snatched back from the jaws of death; the fact that he could even sit up and breathe was a blessing from his ancestors.

But only Yi Yang himself knew the truth.

The wound had already scabbed over; his body, at the second level of Qi and Blood Refining Realm, was more resilient than he had imagined.

The problem is that the progress is too slow.

At night, after Yi Yang finished standing on the Yi Mu Chang Sheng Zhuang (a type of acupuncture point), small characters appeared before his eyes.

【Yi Wood Health Preservation Exercise Level 3: (1080/6000)】

Three days.

I only got here by relying on medicinal baths and standing meditation.

If an ordinary martial artist saw this, they would probably grind their teeth to dust.

Three days is considered slow progress? Is this even humanly possible?

It takes ordinary martial artists two or three years of hard work to break through a realm, and those with insufficient innate talent may even be stuck in their realm for many years without making any progress.

But Yi Yang wasn't smug at all; his current situation was far from safe.

Yang Da was still serving as a constable in the county town, and his strength was probably at the third level of Qi and Blood. Yi Yang was no match for him.

Wang Yue is dead, Yang Er is dead, it's hard to say how long the blame for the Nine Evils can last.

Yi Yang sat under the eaves, quietly pondering, "I still need to buy medicine."

The Blood and Qi Powder would be too insufficient for him in his current state.

I really want to quickly advance to the third stage of Qi and Blood, the Yi Jin stage, and obtain better things.

For example, Qi and Blood Pills, and other precious medicines that can strengthen muscles and bones.

But this kind of thing is not available in Sanmu Village, nor in ordinary pharmacies in Yunwen Town.

Perhaps it can be found on the black market.

As night deepened, Yi Yang changed into an old gray coat, smeared soot on his face, and wrapped his hair in a cloth, becoming that poor old man again.

The lights were off in Jiang Yuexin's room. The little girl was sleeping restlessly, occasionally turning over, causing the wooden bed to creak softly. Yi Yang stood outside the door listening for a while before leaving from the backyard.

The black market outside Yunwen Town still exists in that abandoned village.

The broken lamp was shrouded in darkness, its beam so narrow that it cast shadows on people's faces.

The man guarding the market entrance had changed, but he still collected half a coin as usual.

The gatekeeper looked him up and down but didn't ask any further questions.

"Go in. You know the rules."

The black market was even more bustling than last time. Some people were selling mountain products, some were selling old weapons, and some were displaying packets of blood-activating powder, shouting and spitting everywhere.

"Blood-infused powder from a legitimate martial arts school, three ounces a serving, no deception!"

A short man next to him interrupted, "You carved those red seals yourself out of a radish, and you call that honesty and integrity? Go try fooling your ancestors first."

The stall owner glared at him and yelled, "If you can't afford it, get lost! Don't interfere with my business!"

As Yi Yang looked around, his heart grew colder and colder; there weren't many good things in this black market.

Blood and Qi Powder, inferior tiger bone powder, and snake wine.

There are very few things that can truly make a martial artist at the second level of Qi and Blood significantly improve.

It's not that there aren't any, it's just that no one has put them out there.

Good things are always in the hands of those with connections.

Aristocratic families, gangs, martial arts schools, and government offices.

Do people from the lower classes want to learn martial arts?

can.

First, you hand over your life and money. Having your martial arts training resources controlled by others is no different than having your throat squeezed.

Yi Yang stood in front of a medicinal herb stall.

The stall owner was the short, plump woman who sold the Blood Qi Powder last time. She was busy calculating with her abacus. When she looked up and saw him, her eyebrows twitched.

"Old man, are you buying Blood Qi Powder again?"

"I won't buy it."

"Help me get some medicinal herbs." Yi Yang recited the names of the herbs in the "Blood Strengthening Soup," but also mixed in some herbs that were not in the prescription to prevent others from recognizing the formula.

The woman was quick and efficient. She packed the black vine, red ginseng rootlets, and tiger bone powder into separate packets and tied them tightly with rope.

Yi Yang put away the medicine bag and paid 8 taels of silver.

He then drove around halfway through the city, asking at three different stalls.

Qi and Blood Pills?

No.

Bone-strengthening pills?

Upon hearing this, the stall owner assumed Yi Yang was there to cause trouble and said rudely, "Old man, you've got quite the nerve. Even martial arts schools in the county are fighting over those bone-strengthening pills. If I put them up in this shabby place, I'll be hanging them on a tree by tomorrow morning."

After listening, Yi Yang turned and left; there was no need to ask any more questions. Most of the items displayed here were for those at the first level of Qi and Blood.

For resources at a higher level, someone needs to act as a go-between.

Just as Yi Yang was about to leave the black market, he only had a few packets of blood-strengthening herbs in his arms.

The night wind blew across the abandoned fields, causing the grass to sway.

After walking for a while, Yi Yang's steps remained unchanged, but his ears caught the rhythm behind him.

Someone was following them.

His steps were very steady.

Not like the scarred guy from last time, Yi Yang walked along the path towards the edge of town and turned into a narrow alley.

The alley was lined with abandoned earthen walls, overgrown with weeds, and the moonlight was fragmented by the eaves.

The person behind him followed him in.

Yi Yang walked to the end of the alley and suddenly stopped.

The trackers also stopped.

There were about ten steps between them.

Yi Yang had his back to the person, with the medicine packet hanging at his side.

"Aren't you tired after following me for so long?"

A low chuckle came from behind.

"The old man has good hearing."

Yi Yang turned around.

Under the moonlight, the man had broad shoulders and a thick back, wore a straw hat, half of his face was hidden, and his palms were covered in thick calluses.

It was Ren Hao, the burly man who had bought the purple wood earlier.

Yi Yang looked at him with an unfriendly expression and said, "The deal is done, you want after-sales service?"

Ren Hao paused for a moment, then spread his hands to indicate that he was not carrying any weapons and said:

"Don't get me wrong. My eldest son wants to invite you for a drink."

Seeing this, Yi Yang straightened his sleeves and said calmly, "The old man is too old to drink."

"My eldest son said that if my father-in-law doesn't want to go, he won't force him."

Ren Hao paused for a moment, then relayed his boss's instructions: "However, he said that what you're looking for isn't on the black market. He might have it."

Yi Yang lowered his eyelids; he understood the meaning behind the other person's words.

Resources.

Once those two words are uttered, many things can no longer be ignored.

He looked at Ren Hao for a moment before agreeing:

"lead the way."

Ren Hao stepped aside and said, "Please, sir."

Yi Yang didn't completely turn her back to him; the two stood one in front of the other, separated by half an alley.

After walking for half an hour, we entered a restaurant on the west street of Yunwen Town.

This restaurant welcomes customers during the day, but closes its doors at night.

Ren Hao knocked three times, paused for two breaths, and then knocked once more.

The door opened.

The waiter inside saw Ren Hao, but without asking any questions, he led the two of them directly to a private room on the second floor.

The private room was brightly lit.

The table was set with food and wine, still steaming.

A burly man sat in the main seat.

He was in his thirties, with a square face, short beard, and a chest so broad it could support a door. He wore a black, fitted outfit with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, and had an old scar on his wrist.

This person sat there without putting on airs, yet he exuded an aura of authority.

It's not the kind of bloated, ruthless bully you see in a village; it's the kind of江湖气 (jianghu qi, a kind of chivalrous spirit) that comes from having seen blood and suppressed trouble.

Ren Hao cupped his hands and said respectfully, "Boss, the person has been brought."

The burly man stood up, picked up his wine bowl, and said, "Old man, my name is Zhao Gang."

"In the black market of Yunwen Town, the brothers give me face and call me Brother Gang."

Upon hearing the other party's name, Yi Yang did not sit down, but simply waited quietly to see what the other party wanted to ask him.

Zhao Gang smiled, pulled out a chair, and said, "Sir, there's no need to be so polite. We can only talk business if we sit down."

Only after hearing what the other party said did Yi Yang sit down, after all, it concerned cultivation resources.

Zhao Gang didn't mind and personally poured himself a bowl of wine. "Don't be nervous, old man. I invited you here today not as a trap. If I really wanted to resort to violence, I wouldn't have let Ren Hao go alone to invite you."

Yi Yang glanced at the wine bowl but didn't pick it up. "At my age, drinking will only lead to trouble."

"Then let's have tea."

Zhao Gang pushed the wine bowl aside and replaced it with tea.

The movements are swift and decisive, without any unnecessary hesitation.

"Old man Yi is from Sanmu Village. He makes a living by chopping firewood. He has a little girl at home. A few days ago, there was a snake problem on Qingmu Mountain, and you went up the mountain too."

"It seems a constable also died on the mountain."

Yi Yang paused for half an inch while holding the teacup.

Zhao Gang saw this and lowered his voice.

"Don't get me wrong. There are two types of people you're most afraid of when doing business on the black market."

"A brainless one."

"Something that's been hidden too deeply."

"A constable died on Qingmu Mountain. I don't care if you're involved."

Zhao Gang picked up his glass and took a sip. "I only have one question: Old Mr. Yi, are you interested in working together?"

After Zhao Gang finished speaking, the private room fell silent.

Ren Hao stood by the door, his eyes fixed on Yi Yang, his arms hanging down, but his shoulders and back were already tense.

Yi Yang touched the rim of the teacup and said calmly, "What are you doing?"

"The black market lacks someone capable of maintaining order."

Zhao Gang stated bluntly, "I have money, connections, medicine, and information. You have the ability and the stability. Let's join forces, make money together, and protect each other from harm."

Yi Yang coughed twice, his old face looking exhausted.

"Master Zhao flatters me. I'm almost sixty, half my body is buried in the ground, what am I supposed to do to 'guard the place'? I'd be more like a grave guardian."

Zhao Gang stared at him, his eyes clearly showing disbelief: "Old man, what you say might fool the villagers, but it's not enough to fool me."

Yi Yang put down his teacup and refused again, saying, "I'm too old for this kind of thing."

Zhao Gang wasn't annoyed; he simply said seriously:

"Have you thought it through?"

"At my age, anything I can't figure out is long gone."

Zhao Gang suddenly burst into laughter and slapped the table. "Interesting. Fine, I won't force you."

Ren Hao frowned, about to speak, but Zhao Gang raised his hand to stop him.

Zhao Gang took a small porcelain bottle from his pocket and placed it on the table.

"Qi and Blood Pills, five taels of silver each."

Upon seeing the porcelain vase, Yi Yang's eyelids twitched.

Zhao Gang said, "Don't think it's expensive. Sometimes it sells for six taels in the county town, and even then, it depends on how much you owe them. I'm giving you this price as a way of making friends."

Yi Yang picked up the porcelain bottle, pulled out the stopper, and found six pieces inside.

The medicinal aroma is rich and strong, far superior to the Blood and Qi Powder.

"I'll take them all."

Yi Yang took out the silver from his pocket; thirty taels, not a single coin missing.

Zhao Gang didn't waste any words; he took the money and dispensed the medicine.

"If you need anything in the future, you can ask Ren Hao to pass on the message. You can do business even if you don't join the group."

Yi Yang put away the porcelain bottle and finally said politely, "Manager Zhao is straightforward."

Zhao Gang picked up his wine glass, tilted his head back, and downed it in one gulp, saying, "The door will always be open. Whenever Old Man Yi comes to his senses, he can come and have a drink with me."

Yi Yang stood up, gave a proper bow, and said, "No need for wine. The tea is fine."

Zhao Gang laughed heartily, his chest heaving, and said with great pride, "Alright, I'll prepare some tea for you."

Ren Hao escorted Yi Yang downstairs, stopping only at the town entrance.

Yi Yang didn't look back and left along the night road.

After everyone had gone, Ren Hao returned to the private room and couldn't help but say, "Boss, are we just going to let him go like that? There's definitely something going on with that old man. Purple wood, a giant snake, a constable—it's all such a coincidence!"

Zhao Gang put down his wine bowl, and the boldness on his face faded considerably.

"You want to hurt him?"

Ren Hao said in a low voice, "There are more of us."

Zhao Gang looked up at him, his expression inscrutable, and said, "Did you figure out what level he's at?"

Ren Hao paused.

"Is it a matter of Qi and Blood?"

"Two levels."

Zhao Gang tapped the table. "The Flesh Refining Realm. Not even the initial one."

Ren Hao felt a tightness in his back.

Zhao Gang cursed, "You take two men to ambush him, believe me, there will be three more corpses in the ditch outside the town tomorrow morning? You say we have more people, but what good are more people? A flock of sheep surrounding a tiger will only result in them being left as a meal."

Ren Hao lowered his head after being scolded.

Zhao Gang continued, "This old guy, who can live to sixty and still dares to go into the black market alone to sell purple wood and buy medicine, has a murderous aura that's deeper than well water. If you really push him too far, it's hard to say who will die first."

"Pass it on."

"From now on, people in the black market should be polite to Yi Yang. Don't test him, don't follow him, and don't try to harm his family."

Ren Hao nodded.

"Should we still keep an eye on them?"

Zhao Gang finished the wine in his bowl.

"Keep an eye on him, but don't get too close. Observe what he buys and sells, and who he interacts with. Just watch, don't touch."

Ren Hao agreed.

On the other side, Yi Yang was already walking on the ridge back to Sanmu Village.

The porcelain bottle was pressed against his chest; it contained six Qi and Blood Pills and thirty taels of silver, almost exhausting all the silver he had on him.

It hurts, but it's worth it.

Zhao Gang discovered his identity and also pointed out the matter of going up the mountain to get rid of the snake.

This is both a warning and a test; being targeted by this kind of person is not a good thing.

The other party controls the black market, and there's probably something even deeper going on behind the scenes.

But the most important thing right now is not Zhao Gang.

It's about becoming stronger.

Yi Yang looked up at the dark Greenwood Mountain in the distance, pressed the porcelain bottle firmly, and steadied his steps.

"Qi and Blood Pills in hand."

"It's time to practice Yi Jin Jing (a traditional Chinese medicine technique)."