Chapter 25

Could it be that I am really a world-class genius?

Yang Yu was both surprised and delighted, guiding the warm internal energy to sink into his lower abdomen, but then a doubt arose:

"What kind of internal energy have I cultivated? It seems to be..."

As he thought, he closed his eyes again and looked at the Cauldron of Gluttony. At this moment, the two lines of text on the Cauldron of Gluttony were shining brightly:

[One Qi Technique: (0/100)]

[Old Mother's Breath Cultivation Record (1/100)]

"Indeed..."

Opening his eyes, Yang Yu's gaze flickered.

Cultivating 'Mother Qi' was something he had anticipated, but why did the Old Mother's Breath Cultivation Record, which was ten times more complex, enter the initial stage, while the relatively simpler One Qi Technique did not?

Yang Yu was puzzled when Old Wei, holding a pipe in his mouth and hands behind his back, walked over, somewhat approving:

"Meditating for a whole day. You are indeed suited for internal cultivation; I did not misjudge you."

Yang Yu patted the dust off his clothes, about to say something.

Old Wei had already patted his shoulder:

"Although the One Qi Technique is easier to start with, it's not something you can master in a short time. Don't rush, take it slowly."

"Master."

Yang Yu's heart stirred, and he asked: "Of those you have seen, who was the fastest to generate qi?"

"Don't aim too high!"

Wei He glanced at him but still answered: "If we talk about the fastest, it would be a fellow clansman, Wei Zhengxian, who was a captain in the Qingzhou Army when I served in the military."

"This Wei Captain had excellent physical attributes, and what was particularly rare was that the breath cultivation technique he learned, 'Mang Niu Diao Chan Strength,' was very suitable for him. He generated qi in just three days."

"His fame spread throughout the Qingzhou Army. People really do have their differences..."

As he spoke, Wei He sighed. It took him a whole month to cultivate internal energy, a difference of seven times.

"Is that so."

Yang Yu thought for a moment, and the question he originally wanted to ask turned into: "Is there really no one who can generate qi in a single day?"

"One day? Ha ha~"

Wei He sneered, almost ready to leave, but after some thought, he restrained himself and answered:

"That's not something that can be determined by physical attributes or insight. To generate qi in a single day, you would need a great expert to create a specialized breath cultivation technique based on your constitution."

With that, Wei He left, his tone rather displeased:

"Get lost."

"Thank you, Master."

Yang Yu's mind raced, but he was not annoyed. He glanced at the ghost-head broadsword on the desk inside the room and turned to leave.

"Maybe I'm not a genius? The reason I could enter the initial stage so quickly is because the Cauldron of Gluttony's refinement made this breath cultivation technique perfectly suited to my constitution?"

As he walked out, Yang Yu came to a conclusion that made him somewhat uncomfortable.

"But I generated qi in a single day. Whether it's because the technique suits me or because of my talent, I need to try again."

"After all, a single piece of evidence is not enough. Maybe I really am a genius?"

Yang Yu gritted his teeth slightly, preparing to try everything at home.

Who doesn't want to be a genius?

...

On the way back, Yang Yu first went to the pharmacy to buy a batch of herbs, then to the blacksmith's to pick up the 'iron beads' he had ordered, and then returned home.

In the evening, he began to practice the Iron Crotch Technique.

Although the Iron Crotch Technique is an external martial art for strengthening the tendons and bones, it's not what you might imagine—using heavy objects to beat the crotch.

That's not practice; that's self-castration.

The true method of the Iron Crotch Technique is to use 'internal energy' to move blood and nourish the crotch, with the help of herbs to enhance the effect.

Then spread it throughout the body.

First, strengthen the weak points, then the strong points.

This is the correct way to practice the Iron Crotch Technique.

"Whoosh!"

A warm current rose from his lower abdomen, circulating through his body, guiding the blood to flow down to the crotch.

Whoosh!

Yang Yu opened his eyes somewhat awkwardly, looking at the crotch of his pants, which was raised high, with a black line on his forehead.

"Is this the Iron Crotch Technique? Or is it the Child's Technique?"

Yang Yu calmed his mind, trying not to think about things that made his mind wander, and attempted to guide the blood flow again.

The result was the same.

"What's going on?"

Yang Yu was somewhat dumbfounded.

He took out the Iron Crotch Technique manual and read it for a long time, then got out of bed, listening to the steady breathing of the old lady next door.

He opened the door and went to the yard, wearing only a pair of crotch pants, and jumped into the large tub of medicinal bath.

"Hisss, it's really cold."

Yang Yu shivered.

It was late autumn, and it was already very cold at night.

Although he could resist the cold to some extent after the blood change, it was far from being immune to the cold. Jumping into cold water was naturally very cold.

Fortunately, he was used to soaking in medicinal baths, and if it were something he hadn't tried before, he would have jumped up immediately.

"Soaking in cold water really works."

Soaking in the cold water, Yang Yu began to guide his internal energy again.

He endured the tingling in his crotch, repeatedly guiding the blood to gather, and gradually, his mind became clearer.

Half asleep, half awake.

Until a rooster crowed nearby, he slowly opened his eyes.

"Whoosh!"

He took a long breath, jumped out of the tub, and wiped his body.

Yang Yu's face returned to normal.

The Iron Crotch Technique, as expected, did not enter the initial stage, but the progress of the 'Breath Cultivation Record' increased by one percent.

"Could it be that Old Wei was right, and I am more suited to internal cultivation?"

Drying the white frost from his hair, his mind wandered, but Yang Yu did not delay his work.

He quickly made breakfast, told the old lady, and went to the government office.

Today was the day he promised Wang Fobao to start working at the government office. Since he had already taken the benefits, he naturally had to do the work.

However, before going to the government office, Yang Yu bought some things and visited Wang Fobao.

"Cough, cough~"

In the room filled with the smell of medicine, Wang Fobao sat cross-legged, looking at Yang Yu, slightly surprised:

"Could it be that you don't know all the characters?"

Wang Fobao thought he had written the instructions in great detail, so there was no reason for him to come and ask after just one day.

"I came to see the head of the constables on my way to the government office."

Yang Yu coughed twice. Seeing that Wang Fobao was not moved, he took out the Iron Crotch Technique manual and pointed to a blurry ink mark:

"Perhaps it's too humid in the room, and some parts are no longer clear..."

The One Qi Technique did not enter the initial stage, but the Old Mother's Breath Cultivation Record, which was more than ten times more complex, entered the initial stage in a single day.

Yang Yu guessed that this must be related to the 'refinement' of the Cauldron of Gluttony.

This visit was to see if Wang Fobao had the 'original' manual.

"You read for a year and can't even take care of a book?"

Wang Fobao's face darkened, greatly displeased.

According to his usual temperament, he would have kicked this boy out, but thinking of the unknown fate of Old Yang, his tone softened.

He casually took out a yellowed ancient book and threw it over:

"Compare it. If you lose it again, forget about martial arts and go home to farm!"

With that, he ignored Yang Yu.

"Thank you, Head Constable!"

Yang Yu's eyes lit up as he caught the ancient book, bowed in thanks, and left the room.

Closing his eyes slightly, he saw in the corner of the Cauldron of Gluttony, next to the human skin scroll and the broken sword, a new ancient book.

[Ingredient: Yellowed Ancient Book]

[Level: Good (Upper)]

[Quality: Good (Upper)]

[Rating: A powerful external technique created by a veteran thief in his later years. If mastered, it could bring surprises]

[Refinement can yield: External Hard Technique 'Iron Crotch Technique']

[Energy storage complete, can be refined]

"The Cauldron of Gluttony judges ingredients based on their nature, not their material. The manual written by Wang Fobao is not recognized as an ingredient, could it be because he himself did not practice this external technique?"

"Or did he not put his heart into it?"

Yang Yu felt relieved.

Closing the yard gate, he pondered as he walked, and soon arrived at the government office.

Long neglected and in disrepair.

Even though it was not the first time he saw the government office, Yang Yu still couldn't help but frown.

The central hub of the county and the face of the city, in such a state, the Ming Dynasty might not last much longer...

After a short wait, a middle-aged man in prison guard uniform came out of the county office.

This man was sturdy, with a simple and honest face, holding a set of constable uniform and a waist sword. He scanned the area and saw Yang Yu, then walked over.

"Brother Li."

Yang Yu greeted him.

This constable was named Li Chuyi, who had been a constable for many years, and Yang Yu knew him.

"Put on this uniform."

Li Chuyi was somewhat cold, throwing the uniform and waist sword to Yang Yu, telling him to change.

Yang Yu frowned slightly but said nothing, changing his clothes and putting on the waist sword on the street.

After several months of training, his tendons and bones had not yet transformed, but his physique had become more balanced. The prison guard uniform, though not particularly attractive, still made him stand out.

"Since you have a new sword, you can throw away the broken one."

Li Chuyi said indifferently, not caring if Yang Yu heard, and turned to walk towards the eastern part of the city.

The inner city was divided into four districts. The southern district, where the government office was located, was the most prosperous, followed by the northern district, then the western district, and the most desolate was the eastern district.

Because the Black Mountain City prison was located in the eastern district.

The two of them walked quickly, and soon they could see the prison, which stood alone, surrounded by no other buildings.

The prison was gray and looked sinister.

Unlike the government office, which was long neglected, the Black Mountain City prison was repaired every year and was closely guarded by soldiers and prison guards.

Yang Yu had heard from Zhu Shisan that the prison had many mechanisms and even powerful crossbows.

Anyone trying to break into the prison would be shot before they even got inside.

Walking into the prison, it felt like entering a different world.

Once inside, the dampness, decay, stench, blood, and urine overwhelmed Yang Yu, making his eyelids twitch.

Fortunately, he had been in this world for over a year, and his mild cleanliness obsession had been beaten out of him by life.

Apart from frowning, he had no other reaction.

Li Chuyi pointed to the desks and chairs in front of the two rows of cells: "There's not much to explain in the prison. Just guard here."

With that, he turned and left.

"He seems to have a grudge against me..."

Yang Yu noticed something was off.

He had seen Li Chuyi before, and because of his grandfather, their relationship, though not good, was not bad, and they would smile and greet each other when they met.

Today...

"Are you Old Yang's son?"

Yang Yu looked at the dark cell, and an old prison guard walked over.

This guard was probably older than Old Yang, wearing tattered clothes, smoking a pipe, with wrinkles covering his face, making his eyes hard to see.

"Who are you?"

Yang Yu pulled out a stool and let the old guard sit down.

"No wonder Li is in such a bad mood."

The old guard took a puff of his pipe, revealing yellow teeth:

"Both of you lost your fathers. You have a pension, but he doesn't. Seeing you, he must feel uncomfortable."

"Because of the pension for my grandfather?"

Yang Yu was taken aback.

He hadn't expected it to be because of this.

But if so, the blame should be on Liu Sanchi, not him.

"Poor boy, he doesn't understand. How could anyone get money from our Lord Liu?"

The old guard knocked his pipe and sneered:

"Perhaps the money was advanced by Head Constable Wang?"