Advanced Martial Heart Method.
Elixirs.
Nutritional supplements.
This was the second path Liu Junshan suggested to Chu Ning.
"Bull Demon Strength" doesn't just have six levels, in fact, "Bull Demon Strength" has nine levels, but after becoming a martial master, very few people continue to practice "Bull Demon Strength", because the last three layers of "Bull Demon Strength" are relatively weak in nurturing essence and blood.
"The Great Ancestor Emperor was originally a cowherd boy who had no access to profound Martial Heart Methods. "Bull Demon Strength", this ordinary heart method, was the only one the Great Ancestor Emperor could come across, which he then cultivated to the ninth layer, breaking through directly to the Martial General Realm. Afterward, he learned other Martial Heart Methods."
"Advanced Martial Heart Methods are controlled by the Imperial Family and the Eight Great Families. With your current age and strength, if you join the army and achieve military merit, the court will reward you with Advanced Martial Heart Methods."
"While the parents are alive, one should not travel far. Although I have lost my parents, my old aunt is still alive, and we depend on each other for survival – I do not plan to join the army."
What a joke, joining the army with the lifespan of tens of thousands of years. You'd have to be crazy to do so.
After knowing he had inherited a lifespan of tens of thousands of years, Chu Ning had set a principle for himself.
Not to risk oneself for some chances – although it might mean missing out on great opportunities, it would definitely not result in loss or let oneself fall into danger.
Liu Junshan wasn't surprised; since his disciple liked to conceal his abilities, naturally he wouldn't choose to enlist.
"Apart from that, the only other option is to take refuge in one of the eight great surnames, but this kind of refuge means entrusting one's life entirely into their hands."
"Teacher, that's not suitable for me either."
Chu Ning refused. Working for someone else – that was no different from joining the army.
"Since you're not considering changing your Martial Heart Methods, I will teach you the remaining three layers of 'Bull Demon Strength'. You're a constable, considered a person of the court, so teaching you the last three layers of 'Bull Demon Strength' is not against the rules. The cost of Elixirs is not something common martial masters can afford. The cheapest Invigorating Elixir costs ten taels of silver each and its effect is equivalent to you refining your own essence and blood for three days."
"Ten taels for three days, so one hundred taels would be equivalent to the results of thirty days of martial practice. Right now, my monthly protection fee in Xiazhen Town is just over one hundred taels. After deducting expenses, it's not enough for a month. Besides, what I least lack is time; it's not worth spending this money."
Chu Ning calculated his expenses, and Liu Junshan's next words eliminated any desire he might have had to buy Elixirs.
"Even if you are willing to spend money on Invigorating Elixirs, after taking hundreds of them in succession, their effectiveness will weaken until they have no effect at all."
Isn't that just drug resistance?
Meaning if one were to take Elixirs, they could only take the expensive and effective ones; the cheap ones weren't very meaningful.
"The final option is nutritional supplements – eating those ingredients that are beneficial to essence and blood. I have a dietary recipe here, take a look first."
Liu Junshan handed Chu Ning a recipe book. Chu Ning looked through it for a while. Each recipe in there, aside from the food ingredients, also had medicinal ingredients, and it was detailed which recipe should be used in combination with different meridians.
This was not just a recipe book, but also a comprehensive guide to the effects of medicinal ingredients.
"Teacher, do you also know medical techniques?"
"A martial master is half a doctor; with time, you will come to understand some medical techniques as well," Liu Junshan said with a smile.
After reading the recipe book, Chu Ning had an idea. The medical ingredients and food materials listed in the recipe book given by his teacher were all affordable for him. He also noticed the smell of fresh ink and realized his teacher must have written it for him the previous day, which touched him.
Moved by his teacher's meticulous care, Chu Ning also pondered whether there might be another reason for his teacher writing a new recipe book just for him. Perhaps the original recipe book also contained some of his teacher's casual writings like "I see all of you as mere mark holders and bounty hunters" which would be embarrassing for him, a disciple, to see, hence a new book was written.
...
Chu Ning asked his teacher about some of the effects and properties of the medicinal ingredients in the recipe book. Once he had a fairly good understanding, Liu Junshan started teaching Chu Ning the remaining three layers of the "Bull Demon Strength" as well as the control techniques for Dark Energy.
At noon, someone from the kitchen brought lunch. Chu Ning had a quick bite, and then the master and disciple practiced teaching and learning, respectively, until dusk, when Chu Ning left the school and headed to a medical hall.
Chu Ning realized an interesting point about the medicinal ingredients in the recipe book: this world was very similar to his previous life in Huaxia – everything is edible.
The non-toxic items are eaten directly, those with some toxicity are cooked before eating, and those with strong toxicity are soaked in alcohol before eating.
Non-toxic items are called food materials, toxic ones are called medicinal materials.
Several toxic medicinal materials were listed in this recipe book.
He gave the list of medicinal ingredients to the physician, who glanced at it and asked, "Sir, would you like these medicinal materials prepared? If so, it will take a bit of time."
Listening to the doctor's words, Chu Ning said, "Have them prepared, please. How long will it take?"
The medicinal diet required precise amounts of medicinal materials. Having the medical hall prepare it would save him the trouble.
"It might take half an hour."
"Okay, I'll come to pick them up in half an hour."
Chu Ning paid upfront and, considering the wait would be half an hour, he knew the opera house wasn't far and Old Liao would definitely be there listening to the opera this time of day. He decided to invite Old Liao for dinner.
Upon entering the opera house, Chu Ning's brows furrowed; something was amiss.
His hand slipped into his sleeve, clutching the silk thread sewn with chili powder, as he swept the surroundings with vigilant eyes.
The off feeling was because the usually attentive waiter who tended to him whenever he visited the opera house was not only avoiding eye contact but also didn't come over to greet him.