stjorthotic Chapter 51 Father and Son United, Terrifying Drug Effects!
Chapter 51 Father and Son United, Terrifying Drug Effects!
Zhou Chengzong's eyes were sharp as he analyzed:
"Tong'er, although you have made rapid progress, in terms of pure strength, you are still lacking in the Iron Skin Realm."
The shopkeepers and owners who came to congratulate you today value your reputation as a "martial arts prodigy" at the Dragon Tiger Martial Arts School, your future potential, and your gradually established foothold in the police force.
And all of this will gradually materialize after you've forged your bones.
He took a sip of tea and continued, "Once you break through to the Bone Forging Realm, it's a whole new world!"
Bone Forging Martial Artists are considered the backbone of any force, whether in martial arts schools, police stations, or any other faction in Cangzhou City, wielding considerable influence and weight.
Especially now that you're appreciated by the martial arts school and have an official position, our family will truly have a foundation that no one will dare to underestimate.
Zhou Tong nodded; his father understood perfectly.
So...
Zhou Chengzong's face radiated a long-lost glow:
"By then, Father will be able to truly put his skills to use. Although Father has withdrawn from the Zhou Family Chamber of Commerce, the connections and reputation he accumulated in his early years will still remain."
My father has connections with some truly powerful and law-abiding business alliances, but in the past, our family's resources were meager and our potential limited, so they didn't take us seriously.
But after you've forged your bones, things will be different.
He leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice:
"Father plans to use his connections to carefully select a well-established and reliable business alliance to join."
With his father's business acumen, it wouldn't be difficult for him to gain a foothold in the business alliance and earn rewards.
Those large merchant alliances also control medicinal herbs. Then, Father can find a way to exchange them for what you need for your cultivation!
The love of the parents is far-reaching.
Seeing his son's talent emerging, Zhou Chengzong was overjoyed and immediately set his sights on a broader future, beginning to pave a wider path for his son.
Looking into the bright light in his father's eyes, Zhou Tong felt a surge of warmth in his heart.
He quickly straightened his posture, cupped his hands, and said, "Thank you, Father, for your planning!"
Zhou Chengzong waved his hand, a complex expression flashing across his face, a mixture of relief and a faint sigh of "Lian Po is getting old":
"Alas, without your talent and potential, even if I had the ability to do business, those big business alliances with their eyes on the top would not only consider business skills when choosing partners, but also carefully evaluate the other party's background, potential and backing."
Even if your father wanted to curry favor, he might not be able to catch their eye. In the end, it's because you, my son, are capable.
Zhou Tong keenly sensed the melancholy in his father's tone and immediately smiled:
"Father, you can't say that. We are father and son working together, and our strength can break metal."
You have business acumen and connections, while I have martial arts talent and an official position; we complement each other.
Without your business acumen and early reputation, even if I broke through the Bone Forging stage, I wouldn't have been able to get on the good side of those major business alliances.
"We have one skilled in literature and the other in martial arts; we complement each other perfectly."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Chengzong paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, the trace of emotion in his eyes vanishing completely. He patted Zhou Tong's shoulder forcefully.
"Excellent! One scholar, one warrior, complement each other perfectly! I was being too attached to appearances! Come, have some tea!"
The father and son then chatted for a long time about the merchant alliance, medicinal herbs, and the situation in Cangzhou.
Zhou Tong then went to the backyard to complete his evening routine of stance training, washed up briefly, and went to bed.
Lying in bed, the moonlight outside the window was hazy.
He thought of the controlled medicinal materials that Liu Qing and Zheng Hao had promised to give him tomorrow, and a sense of anticipation rose in his heart.
I drifted off to sleep, feeling a slight weariness and looking forward to tomorrow.
……
The next day, the sky was clear and bright.
When Zhou Tong arrived at the Dragon Tiger Martial Arts School, the courtyard was already filled with shouts and cheers.
He walked to his usual corner as usual, nodding to his familiar fellow disciples along the way. He could feel the gazes falling on him were more fervent than ever before.
He had just warmed up and hadn't even started his formal cultivation when he saw Liu Qing and Zheng Hao step into the courtyard side by side.
The two entered the courtyard, their gazes sweeping across the room before landing precisely on Zhou Tong. Immediately, impeccable, gentle smiles appeared on their faces as they walked straight toward him.
"Junior Brother Zhou, you're here early."
Zheng Hao spoke first, his voice clear and bright.
Liu Qing's eyes sparkled, and a gentle smile graced her beautiful face as she softly said:
"My junior brother made a great breakthrough yesterday, and we, as his senior brothers and sisters, should also do something to celebrate."
Zhou Tong quickly cupped his hands in greeting: "Senior Brother Zheng, Senior Sister Liu is too kind. I was already deeply grateful for your encouragement yesterday, and I am truly unworthy of such praise."
"Oh, junior brother, you're being too polite."
Zheng Hao smiled and waved his hand, then took out a palm-sized, flat, square brocade box from his pocket. The box was made of dark red brocade with simple cloud patterns. It looked plain, but the materials and workmanship were exquisite.
In front of everyone, he handed the brocade box to Zhou Tong, raising his voice slightly to ensure that everyone around could hear him:
"I've remembered the gift I promised my junior brother yesterday. It's just a small token to help him improve his martial arts; it's a token of our camaraderie as fellow disciples."
At the same time, Liu Qing smiled and took out a similarly sized, lake-blue brocade box, and handed it over as well.
"This is also a token of my appreciation. I hope my junior brother will soon reach even greater heights and bring further glory to our Dragon Tiger Martial Arts School."
Two brocade boxes were presented to Zhou Tong at the same time. Zhou Tong's face showed a look of flattery and surprise. He quickly accepted them with both hands and bowed, saying:
"This...this is far too precious! Thank you so much, senior brothers and sisters, for such a generous gift!"
"Open it and take a look," Zheng Hao said with a smile.
Zhou Tong did as instructed and first opened the dark red brocade box that Zheng Hao had given him.
The box was lined with dark blue velvet, on which lay five pale yellow, slightly translucent ginseng slices, cut extremely thin, with the dense annual ring-like patterns clearly visible. A unique, mellow yet slightly bitter medicinal aroma immediately filled the air.
Next, he opened Liu Qing's lake-blue brocade box, inside which were six slender, dark yellow ginseng roots with intact whiskers and tails, emitting the same fragrant medicinal aroma.
"This is... a wild ginseng from Changbai Mountain that's over fifty years old?"
It was the first time Zhou Tong had ever seen such a controlled medicinal herb. He couldn't help but take a second look, and then he "couldn't help" exclaim in surprise.
His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake.
"Whoosh—!"
Among the disciples watching were some members of prominent families, who had naturally heard of the reputation of the fifty-year-old wild ginseng from Changbai Mountain.
They all looked surprised and stepped forward to explain the preciousness of the item to the unsuspecting disciples.
Immediately, an uncontrollable gasp rang out in the arena, and the disciples swarmed over, peering inside with eager eyes.
All eyes instantly focused on the two opened brocade boxes, filled with shock and envy.
"A fifty-year-old wild ginseng! Senior Sister Liu and Senior Brother Zheng actually gave it away...!"
"My goodness, Junior Brother Zhou has such a huge influence!"
"..."
A low murmur arose, and everyone was stunned by the generosity of Liu Qing and Zheng Hao's congratulatory gift.
These controlled drugs are legendary items for the vast majority of martial arts school students!
Just then, the door to the main hall creaked open.
Senior Brother Chen Zong walked out slowly, seemingly disturbed by the commotion in the courtyard.
He stood under the corridor, his gaze calmly sweeping across the crowd, finally landing on Zhou Tong, who was holding a brocade box and talking with Liu Qing and Zheng Hao. His brows twitched almost imperceptibly, and a faint hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
Liu Qing and Zheng Hao stood in the crowd, actually keeping an eye on the main hall. At this moment, they caught a glimpse of Chen Zong under the corridor out of the corner of their eyes and noticed the surprise in their senior brother's eyes.
Both of them felt a sense of relief.
Their attitude of "generously supporting juniors and maintaining harmony among fellow disciples" has already caught the eye of the eldest disciple.
The sheer generosity of his spending seemed to surprise even the eldest disciple.
If there was any inappropriate reaction yesterday that displeased the senior brother, this should be a good opportunity to salvage some of his image today.
Little did they know that Chen Zong's surprise was not at their "generosity and magnanimity," but rather at Zhou Tong's methods.
"This kid not only easily resolved the jealousy and targeting caused by his rapid breakthrough, but he also managed to get Liu and Zheng to invest such precious resources in him?"
This ability to resolve conflicts and guide the situation is more remarkable than mere martial arts talent.
Chen Zong's gaze lingered for a moment on Zhou Tong's young face, which was filled with "gratitude" and "sincerity," and the corners of his mouth curved slightly.
He quickly regained his composure, turned around and went back to the main hall, as if he had only come out to take a quick look unintentionally.
On the field, Zhou Tong carefully closed the brocade box, thanked Liu Qing and Zheng Hao again, and then asked:
"Senior brothers and sisters, this is the first time I've ever seen such a rare medicinal herb. I wonder how to take it?"
"Junior brother, you don't need to be so polite."
Zheng Hao smiled slightly, appearing as if he were a brother, and carefully explained, "Before you start practicing your stance training, you can simply chew and swallow this raw."
Wild ginseng that is over fifty years old undergoes a qualitative change in its medicinal properties, becoming powerful and pure. Ordinary medicines simply cannot be combined with it; on the contrary, they will interfere with each other, wasting the medicinal power. Therefore, it has always been taken alone.
Liu Qing added with a touch of emotion:
"Speaking of which, even when I was in the Body Refinement Realm, I never had the opportunity to use such medicine."
Let me tell my junior brother that auxiliary medicines like Jin Yu Gao (Golden Jade Ointment) and Duan Gu Wan (Bone-Forging Pills) require a gradual approach. Each time you use Jin Yu Gao to stimulate the skin and flesh, you will experience stinging pain in your body after about half an hour, and you should stop.
This substance is not only potent but also extremely mild, making it a treasure that can be obtained quickly.
Don't assume that the word "quick success" means an unstable foundation; that's not true at all.
If you take all of these medicines you've given me at once and practice continuously for about an hour, you should be able to use up all of their effects without experiencing any discomfort.
As for its specific effects, you'll know after you take it, junior brother; I'm sure... it won't disappoint you.
"Thank you for your guidance, senior brothers and sisters!" Zhou Tong carefully put away the two brocade boxes with a respectful attitude.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, and seeing that their purpose had been achieved, Liu Qing and Zheng Hao left with smiles, heading towards their usual training area.
The commotion in the courtyard gradually subsided, but the gazes directed at Zhou Tong were now completely different.
Besides envy, there was even more surprise in his voice.
They had no idea what methods Zhou Tong had used to not only avoid being feared by Liu and Zheng, but also to gain their approval and investment.
He's really something!
Zhou Tong did not stay at the martial arts school for long. After finishing his morning training, he left with the two brocade boxes.
……
Sitting in the bumpy rickshaw, Zhou Tong casually glanced across the street, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.
During his morning routine cultivation, he didn't use the wild ginseng given to him by Liu and Zheng. The reason...
"Is its medicinal property so potent and pure that it cannot be combined with other drugs?"
He raised an eyebrow, gently opened the brocade box, picked up the shortest and thinnest ginseng root with his fingers, pinched off a small amount, and quickly put it under his tongue.
A rich ginseng flavor instantly melted in my mouth, slightly bitter, before transforming into a warm, soothing sensation that slowly seeped into my throat.
Almost simultaneously, a pale gold panel quietly appeared in their field of vision:
[Detected 52-year-old wild ginseng from Changbai Mountain. Its medicinal properties are rich and pure, containing abundant herbal essence, which can significantly promote the generation and circulation of qi and blood, and noticeably accelerate the cultivation of muscles, bones, and internal organs. Compatibility: Extremely high.]
[Note: This substance can have a synergistic effect with the following medicinal materials, enhancing their efficacy: Blood-striped Sea Snake Vertebrae Powder, Huoshan Lingzhi, and Bear Bile Powder.]
[Deriving the specific compatibility scheme and dosage will take approximately 1 hour. Would you like to proceed with the derivation?]
A flicker of joy crossed Zhou Tong's eyes as he silently chanted, "Deduction!"
He still had some blood-striped sea snake vertebrae powder left over. Although Huoshan Ganoderma and bear bile powder were precious medicinal materials, they were all available in pharmacies.
During this time, he had already tried almost all the common medicinal herbs available in Cangzhou City, and the medicinal herb database on his panel was already quite large.
Therefore, once the medicinal effects of wild ginseng were detected, the database was immediately accessed, and suitable complementary medicinal materials were provided.
Zhou Tong clenched his fist, his heart surging with emotion.
The panel's deductive abilities are simply divine.
Those large families all believed that fifty-year-old wild ginseng could not be used in combination with other herbs and could only be taken alone.
However, he has the over-the-top "drug property analyzer" and "compatibility deduction device" on the panel, which can turn the impossible into the possible.
"I just don't know exactly how much it will enhance the drug's effectiveness?"
Zhou Tong's eyes were fixed on him, full of anticipation.
……
The North City Police Station was peaceful and quiet today.
After yesterday's incident, the atmosphere in the Second Squad and even the entire Second Company was different. The team members were full of energy, and the police station staff were noticeably more polite and even respectful when they saw him.
After finishing his daily official duties, Zhou Tong stayed in his office, reviewing case files and waiting patiently.
At one moment, he heard a "ding" sound that only he could hear.
The panel appeared, and new handwriting flowed like water:
[Deduction complete.]
[Optimal formulation: 50-year-old wild ginseng, blood-striped sea snake vertebrae powder, Huoshan Ganoderma lucidum, and bear bile powder, in a ratio of 1:5:4:3.]
[Usage: Before cultivation, chew and swallow the ginseng, grind and mix the remaining medicinal materials, and drink with warm yellow rice wine. Begin cultivation immediately afterward for best results.]
[Estimated synergistic effect: Increases the efficacy of wild ginseng by approximately 19%.]
"It's done!" Zhou Tong's eyes suddenly lit up.
Although the increase was not as dramatic as when it was combined with Jin Yu Gao, as Zheng Hao said, the medicinal power of fifty-year-old wild ginseng is completely different. It is extremely rare to achieve an increase of nearly 20% in efficacy with conventional medicinal materials!
The day slowly slipped by in anticipation.
After finishing his shift in the afternoon, Zhou Tong didn't waste any time. He first went to the pharmacy and bought enough bear bile powder and Huoshan Ganoderma according to the prescription. Then he went to the tavern and bought half a pot of fine, mellow yellow wine before hurrying home.
After the meal, he couldn't wait to go to the backyard.
As dusk deepened, he stuffed all the ginseng slices and ginseng rootlets into his mouth at once—well, there was only a little bit in total—and chewed it carefully.
The ginseng initially tasted bitter, but it quickly transformed into a rich, mellow sweetness. As he swallowed it, a distinct warm current rose from his stomach and rapidly spread throughout his body, making him feel slightly warm all over.
Not daring to delay, he immediately poured the blood-striped sea snake vertebrae powder, bear bile powder, and Ganoderma powder, which had already been ground and mixed in proportion, into a bowl, poured in warm yellow wine, stirred it well, and drank it all in one gulp.
The two heat flows converged in the body, seemingly creating some kind of wonderful resonance. The already surging blood and qi seemed to be injected with even stronger power, and the speed of circulation suddenly accelerated. The skin all over the body turned slightly red, and heat rose.
Zhou Tong dared not waste any time and immediately assumed the stance of the Dragon-Tiger Flesh Training Pole, immersing himself in cultivation.
This cultivation experience was completely different from the past!
Qi and blood surge and roar through the meridians like the Yangtze River, washing over the muscle fibers.
Each contraction and relaxation brings a clearer and more powerful sense of reinforcement.
The heat generated by the medicine is continuously absorbed and transformed, integrated into the blood and qi, and nourishes the muscles and bones.
After an unknown amount of time, the surging heat around him gradually subsided, and his turbulent blood and qi slowly settled into a calm state.
Zhou Tong stood up, feeling refreshed and full of energy.
He stared intently at the panel:
【Dragon and Tiger Meat Training Pole (Perfect Version)】
[Current Level: Iron Skin]
[Estimated time to reach "Peak of Body Building": 87 days.]
Just by cultivating for a short while, I've shortened my training time by a full ten days!
The ginseng slices and rootlets that Liu Qing and Zheng Hao gave me, when added together, amounted to about one-tenth of a whole old ginseng root.
Based on this ratio, if there were a whole, complete fifty-year-old wild ginseng…
A fleeting thought crossed Zhou Tong's mind: Wouldn't that save him months of hard work? He could directly reach the peak of Body Refinement!
But he quickly shook his head, suppressing the tempting but unrealistic idea.
These controlled medicinal materials are extremely difficult to obtain.
Even among the disciples of large families who have reached the Bone Forging Realm, only a small fraction of those with the most outstanding talent can receive a small quota each month.
It was just a small amount. When the two of them gave it to him, they appeared very generous, but he noticed the hint of heartache that flashed across their faces.
Zhou Tong took a deep breath.
However, after this experience, he undoubtedly gained a clearer understanding of the potent effects of controlled drugs.
Next, he needs to solidify and improve his position in the police station, find a way to make contributions, and break through to the Bone Forging stage as soon as possible, so that his father will have another channel.
It's not that easy, but that's just how the world is. There is no peace in the three realms; it's like a burning house. The only way is to struggle and struggle to cross over!