Zhou Yan's words had reached this point. Xue Tong wanted to shirk but couldn't say anything, so he had no choice but to hesitate and said: "I want to make a weapon..."
"Also, let's see if there are any elixirs available?" Zhou Yan said directly as if he had read through Xue Tong's thoughts.
Xue Tong's expression changed with shock. He didn't remember that there was such a thing as "mind-reading" in the Xuanmen Introduction. How could he not be surprised that Zhou Yan could read his mind.
Zhou Yan is a man who is as good as a human being and is well-informed. Furthermore, what else can a handyman like Xue Tong do when he comes to the inner city and is not even a martial arts disciple? That's all he wants to do.
"I thought about it, but the elixir is too expensive..."
"How about I lend you two hundred spirit stones and pay them back when you have them in the future?" Zhou Yan asked with a smile.
Zhou Yan's words were shocking, and Xue Tong was even more confused, thinking to himself: "The inner disciple takes the initiative to borrow money?...Who do I think he is the elder in his eyes? Why? I'm so famous...I'm afraid I can't afford it!"
"But it's such a good thing like the spirit stone, why don't you pay it back if someone borrows it? How about..."
"Oh~ it's better to be careful."
He thought of what happened to Jing Lan's branch, and the treachery and cruelty of Yu and Li's fierce battle. He finally suppressed his inner desire and replied: "Zhou...Xue Tong is very grateful for Brother Zhou's kindness, but...there is no need to take any pills right now, or not." It’s better to borrow.”
"Who said it? Pills are powerful tools for cultivation. Just don't take them carelessly. For example, Qi Ning Dan, Yi Jin Pills, and Bone Tempering Pills are excellent things for you."
"You are young, your body is not yet formed, and you have endogenous factors. Using elixirs to promote it a little, the effect will be much better than using it on adults like us."
What Zhou Yan said is consistent with the general description of Xuanmen. The general description says that children as young as ten years old can take elixirs, but the dosage and potency must be strictly controlled. Xue Tong's age is much more relaxed, but it is still not comparable to adults.
Xue Tong's heart couldn't help but ripples, and he became more and more hesitant. The changes in his expression could not escape Zhou Yan's eyes.
Zhou Yan immediately stepped up his persuasion: "Let's do this. Take away the two hundred spirit stones and return them to me when you become an outer disciple. If you can't even enter the outer sect, then I'm wrong and I deserve to lose my capital. How about that?"
"Are there no other conditions?" Xue Tong found it unbelievable. How could there be such a way to lend money?
"Hehe, the conditions are there. You have seen the battle between Yu and Li. In fact, in addition to the internal reasons in the weapon refining field, the disciple alliance where the two of them belong is also an important factor. There are many disciples of Yunxiao Sect, and it is impossible for them all to fight alone. Forming alliances is a common phenomenon, among which the largest alliances are called the Jingwu Group and the Cangliu Society. As far as I know, Yu Jiansheng and Liao Xingye are members of the Jingwu Group, while Li Ruiguang is a newcomer to the Cangliu Society."
"Oh, there are so many more tricks!"
"You have only been here not long, what do you know?"
Zhou Yan continued: "I am the associate director of the Cangliu Association, and one of my responsibilities is to recruit members. I see that you have great potential, and I am determined to put some money into you on behalf of the Cangliu Association. Now you understand."
"Does that mean I have to join the Cangliu Society in the future?" Xue Tong was worried. He really didn't want to get into any gang disputes.
"That's not necessarily the case. If you want to join the association, the debt will be canceled. If you don't want to, you will have to pay back the money five times. But there is one thing. If you abandon the Cangliu Society and switch to the Jingwu Group, you will have to pay back the money ten times."
"We don't force others to make things difficult for them, but leave them with a way out." Zhou Yan explained.
"What will happen if you quit the meeting midway after joining?" Xue Tong asked.
"The ransom fee will be five thousand."
Xue Tong's heart was beating and he was pondering.
"Brother Zhou, let me think about it?" Xue Tong asked.
He couldn't decide the pros and cons, so he decided to take it slow.
A trace of disappointment flashed in Zhou Yan's eyes. His wishful thinking was not just to find new people, but he could only endure it for now.
"My little brother is indeed different. No matter how you think about it, you can come to me at any time when you have made up your mind." Zhou Yan's face didn't look very good. He was an inner disciple, but he was rejected by a handyman.
"Brother Zhou, please rest assured. Xue Tong will definitely make it clear in person and will never promise anyone else before that." Xue Tong was worried that Zhou Yan would be angry. With his status, he could not afford the consequences of offending an inner disciple.
"Yeah" Zhou Yan's face softened slightly, he left the name card and left.
Xue Tong opened the porcelain vase given by Zhu Qingling and poured three drops of gold into it.
A cool, numb and itchy feeling washed away the blood and dirt on the wound on the back of the hand, replaced by a thin layer of condensation covering the wound, and there was no more discomfort.
The elixir chapter of Xuanmen General Introduction introduces seven kinds of elixirs, including Juling Powder, Qingfeng Dew, Jin Huanlu, Xuanhuang Pill, Bone Tempering Pill, Qi Condensing Pill, and Marrow Washing and Bone Removing Pill.
“The Bone-Tempering Pill forces out impurities from the body, thickens and densifies bones, strengthens tendons, unblocks meridians, and strengthens muscles.”
"The Marrow Cleansing Pill is more effective, but the medicine is too strong. Don't waste haste and cause trouble."
Xue Tong made up his mind, carried a hundred spiritual stones, and started looking for the elixir shop.
…
The bright moon is in the sky and the stars are twinkling.
In the stone house of Xiaoyi Mountain, Xue Tong took a bone-tempering pill naked.
The brown elixir was fishy and bitter. When swallowed, it was a hot mass that spread outward in all directions. It was numb at first, but soon became tingling.
The stinging pain rushed through his body, passing through his muscles and sticking to the surface of his bones. His skin turned red and frighteningly hot.
The muscles gradually twisted and knotted, and dozens of small bags bulged all over the body, rolling around, accompanied by severe pain from the muscles tearing apart wherever they passed.
The bones and joints seemed to be scraped with a knife, and they were cut a few times from time to time. Xue Tong only screamed a few times before his throat stiffened and he could no longer make any sound.
But he had not lost his consciousness yet, and he felt the lasting pain more and more clearly, and gradually fell into coma.
Black blood flowed from the seven orifices, and the skin was covered with a thick layer of dirt oozing out.
Xue Tong couldn't bear it anymore and passed out completely.
When he woke up, it was dusk on the second day.
Xue Tong moved his head and stood up with difficulty.
There was a sticky pool of black dirt and blood on the ground, and the entire stone room was filled with a disgusting smell.
Xue Tong felt a sudden abdominal pain and hurriedly ran to the toilet behind the house.
Then he washed himself in a mountain stream and drank a whole bucket of clean water.
After a while I was sweating profusely again and my abdominal distension was unbearable.
After struggling like this for three hours, he finally stopped. At this time, his front and back belly were almost touching each other. Xue Tong frantically swallowed twice as much meat as usual, and had a good sleep again.
After waking up, the temperature and color of his skin were normal. Xue Tong moved his muscles and bones, and his movements seemed more agile and powerful than before.
"Don't be preconceived!" Xue Tong picked up the hemp iron rod in the corner of the room.
The hemp iron rod weighs two hundred and ten kilograms and was purchased from the inner city's weapon-making shop with ten spiritual stones.
He couldn't make up his mind when choosing. Yunxiao Sect didn't issue any sword skills. Xue Tong thought it would be better to simply buy an iron rod, which could be used as a crowbar and for self-defense.
After trying it out, a 130-pound iron bar proved to be the most suitable, but Xue Tong deliberately chose a much heavier one, leaving quite a bit of margin.
"Well, it's much easier to dance with the hemp iron rod. It's definitely not an illusion."
…
The days returned to normal, quarrying and practicing, and in the blink of an eye it was another ten days.
Guan Hongfei's fourth spiritual art was refined, and his magic power was released according to his heart, and Xue Tong was only one step away from this realm.
In the afternoon, Hong Tianyou's private courtyard in Xiaoyishan.
A few green cypresses block the sun, the walls are high with gray stone, and the green-lacquered door has a shiny copper ring. The yard is small but exquisite.
The clicking hooves of fire dragons and horses could be heard on the mountain road, and a rare visitor came to the stone field.
Hong Tianyou had received the message from Que Falcon and came out to greet him.
"Deacon Huang, you are a rare visitor. Please, please."
Deacon Hall Huang Qing, dressed in a green robe, has a thin face, a sparse goatee under his chin, and a few fine lines on his forehead.
Huang Qing exchanged a few pleasantries and asked: "A handyman named Xue Tong came to Linqiu three months ago. How is he doing recently?"
Hong Tianyou, like Huang Qing, was a late-stage martial artist, but Huang Qing held a higher position of power. He was not sure about Huang Qing's intentions. People from the Deacon Hall made a special trip to visit him, and it was extremely rare for him to ask about the servants. Hong Tianyou blinked and said vaguely: "Xue Tong works every day, there is nothing special about it."
"Manager Hong should pay more attention to his subordinates. I heard that Xue Tong is lazy and just works every day to cope with the problem."
"Oh, really, I may have overlooked something." Hong Tianyou heard the implication and followed Huang Qing's meaning.
"This boy is naughty. He must be strictly disciplined in flood management matters and given many tasks."
After Huang Qing finished speaking, he added meaningfully: "The elders and inner disciples of Zangjing Pavilion have spread the news that Xue Tong's origin is suspicious and it is not appropriate to stay in the sect for a long time. If he is handed over to Peng Tai, maybe he can get some information."
"Yeah, Hong understands."
…
"Xue Tong!"
Xue Tong and Guan Hongfei were resting under the awning. Xiong Jing walked across several bluestones and shouted: "Manager Hong has an order. After you finish today, tomorrow we will go to Pengtai's group."
Xue Tong was stuffing meat into his mouth. When he heard this, half of the meat fell to the ground, and his face turned pale with shock.
"Why?"
"Not sure."
"Have there been team changes in the past?" Xue Tong asked.
"No, what's the point of switching after you're done?" Xiong Jing scratched his head and said in confusion.
Guan Hongfei looked at him again, he was also confused and his eyes were wide open.
Xue Tong was distraught, remembering the day Shen Chuanpeng took him to register.
"Peng Tai is cruel and ruthless. He doesn't work himself and exploits his subordinates. How could he let you go there?" Guan Hongfei said.
Xue Tong looked at Xiong Jing and said, "Brother Xiong, does he know? What else did Manager Hong say?"
"The steward only said that their group is short of people."
"Okay, Senior Brother Guan, we don't have much time left today. Let's finish our work and go back early." Xue Tong was in a bad mood and whispered.
"Well, Junior Brother Xue has made great progress in the past few months. I am very satisfied. I wanted to form a group with everyone and do something big together in the future. I didn't want something like this to happen."
"If Peng Tai goes too far, Xiong can come forward and say a few words to junior brother."
"Well, Brother Xiong is really a good person. I will try my best not to trouble Brother Xiong and figure out my own solution."
Xue informed Xiong Jing that he was very powerful, but what he learned was that Peng Tai was the real strong man in Linqiu. Xiong Jing could not get rid of Peng Tai's clutches by saying hello, so he had to find another way.
