This Martial Saint is Too Cautious

Lin Yan froze. ’The Medicinal Power of a Bodhi Pill can last for three days?’

’Did I take a fake Bodhi Pill? Why did its Medicinal Power only last for two days?’

Wait!

’After I took the Bodhi Pill, my Qi Blood Refinement speed was five times my normal rate. If Brother Hai wasn’t lying, the average person only gets a twofold increase in Refinement speed. Even if it lasts for three days, that’s still a weaker effect than mine.’

"Brother Hai, after taking a Bodhi Pill, does your Cultivation speed double?" Lin Yan asked, deciding to get a clear answer.

"That’s right. Why? After you took the Bodhi Pill, your Cultivation speed didn’t double?"

Lin Minghai frowned briefly, then said reassuringly, "It varies from person to person. Your Qi Blood should be over eighty percent full. The more Qi Blood you have, the slower your Cultivation speed will increase. This has nothing to do with the Bodhi Pill’s Medicinal Power, but with the Refinement of the Blood Exchange Realm’s Fourth Transformation itself. Each transformation is a process of compressing and purifying the Qi Blood in your body. The more abundant your Qi Blood, the longer it will take to complete even one Circulation compared to others."

"I understand."

Although Brother Hai had misunderstood, Lin Yan thought for a moment and decided not to explain.

’I can be sure now. It must be because of my Stone Waist Thunder Ridge. Or perhaps... it’s also related to that mysterious Swallowing Technique?’

"The Third Branch will give you an additional three Bodhi Pills per month. Don’t think we’re being stingy. Within the family, Bodhi Pills can’t be bought with silver taels; you can only trade Contribution Points for them. That’s because the family’s annual supply of Bodhi Pills is limited, and we must guarantee that all our clansmen in the Blood Exchange Realm receive an allotment."

"Now that you’ve broken through to the Blood Exchange Realm, you can accept a long-term assignment. This will let you cultivate in peace and strive to reach the Blood Exchange Second Transformation as soon as possible. Next year is a family competition year. Each competition is divided into the Blood Exchange Realm Grand Competition and the Newcomer Grand Competition. The latter is for those like you who have reached the Blood Exchange Realm within the last three years, and the rewards are very generous."

"Remember this: you don’t get the family’s resources just because you’re talented. You have to fight for them yourself by winning one competition after another."

Lin Minghai’s expression was serious. Talent... if it isn’t converted into strength, is ultimately just potential.

If the family were to distribute resources based on potential alone, it wouldn’t be enough to win over its members.

The path of Martial Arts is full of too many uncertainties. Some exceptionally talented clansmen have ended up stuck at a certain Realm, never breaking through. Such things aren’t unheard of; in fact, they’re quite common.

"Thank you for the advice, Brother Hai. I’ll continue to focus on my Cultivation."

"Knowing your temperament, I trust you. Go to the Martial Arts Vault and pick out a Spiritual Weapon that suits you. As for the Thunder Armor, I’ll have someone deliver it to you later. It’s a fantastic item, worth ten thousand Contribution Points. It was the prize Lin Mingchuan won in the last competition. Even a Martial Artist at the Blood Exchange Second Transformation can’t damage this Treasure Armor without a special Cultivation Technique. It can even block most of the Blood Gang from a Third Transformation expert, giving you a chance to escape with your life."

At the mention of the Treasure Armor, Lin Yan smiled. It was indeed a pleasant surprise.

After bidding farewell to Brother Hai, Lin Yan headed for the Martial Arts Vault. This time, when he presented his Identity Token, the guards at the vault looked at him differently.

There was more curiosity in their eyes and less scrutiny.

Clearly, word of what had happened at the branch competition had already spread throughout the entire Lin Family.

"The Spiritual Weapon Vault is on the far left. Once you’re inside, take a left down the first corridor."

This was the first time a guard had ever offered him directions. After nodding his thanks, Lin Yan stepped into the corridor.

"Mingyang, trying to get on his good side?"

After Lin Yan was gone, another guard looked with a grin at his colleague who had just given the directions.

"He reached the Blood Exchange Realm at twenty, mastered a Great Success Level Sword Intent, and even cultivated Sword Gang. Are you telling me you *don’t* want to be on good terms with him?"

At this, none of the other guards argued.

As members of the "Ming" generation, they were all Martial Artists in the Blood Exchange Realm, but they knew in their hearts that they would likely remain at this level for the rest of their lives. Someone like Lin Yan, however, had a chance to break through to the True Gang Realm. The importance placed on him within his branch would be far greater than it was for them.

At this point, anyone who still saw Lin Yan as just another branch clansman could only be described as hopelessly foolish.

Inside the Martial Arts Vault, Lin Yan followed the corridor on the left and soon arrived at the Spiritual Weapon Vault. To his surprise, however, he saw Lin Mingxi of the Fifth Branch there.

"Don’t be surprised. I was waiting here for you."

Lin Mingxi spoke first, a faint smile on her delicate face.