Chapter 15

The two left the city, urging their horses to a swift pace, traveling at a rapid speed.

After a half day of continuous travel, they arrived at a forest by noon to rest.

Chu Li appeared calm and composed. Although he seemed to lack internal strength, the essence of the plants and trees continuously nourished his body, alleviating his fatigue. Coupled with his powerful mental strength, he felt no weariness at all.

Zhao Ying, protected by her internal strength, also did not feel tired. The key was to rest the horses, which had been running for half a day and were drenched in sweat.

Such intense sunlight was unsuitable for travel.

The two sat in a small pavilion in the forest. This pavilion, weathered and aged, had endured many storms and was built by the government for travelers to rest.

"Senior Brother Chu, I will practice the Swallow Sword Technique!" As soon as Zhao Ying entered the pavilion, she eagerly drew her sword. "Please, Senior Brother Chu, give me your guidance!"

Chu Li sat down casually and nodded. "Then let me see."

Zhao Ying gave him a sidelong glance, moved to the center of the pavilion, and her sword movements were swift, quickly filling the pavilion.

Chu Li nodded thoughtfully.

Zhao Ying sheathed her sword and looked at him with bright eyes. "Senior Brother Chu?"

Chu Li seemed lost in thought, but in reality, he was replaying her movements in his mind, breaking them down one by one. After this, he had completely memorized them and could perform them skillfully.

"Senior Brother Chu?!" Zhao Ying called out loudly.

Seeing Chu Li in a daze, she couldn't help but get angry. Was her sword technique so poor that it didn't deserve his attention, causing him to be lost in thought about something else?

Chu Li snapped back to reality and smiled.

"Senior Brother Chu, where did I go wrong in my practice?" Zhao Ying huffed.

Chu Li stood up and extended his hand.

Zhao Ying handed him the sword, and Chu Li felt its warmth and a faint, delicate fragrance.

He made a sword flourish. "Junior Sister Zhao, I think you haven't grasped the essence of the Swallow Sword Technique; you're still outside the door."

"Then please, Senior Brother Chu, give me your guidance!" Zhao Ying huffed, giving him a sidelong glance. What a big talker, she had practiced the Swallow Sword Technique for a year and knew it inside and out.

Chu Li lightly swung the sword, moving swiftly and then slowing down, alternating between fast and slow, naturally and gracefully, like a light swallow skimming over a lake, sometimes gliding over the surface, sometimes flying high, elegant and free, with perfect control of speed.

Zhao Ying's bright eyes were fixed on the sword, not blinking. She was very familiar with the Swallow Sword Technique, and when she saw Chu Li's sword movements, her eyes suddenly brightened as if she had suddenly understood.

Chu Li sheathed the sword and smiled. "Do you understand now?"

"Rhythm!" Zhao Ying murmured to herself.

Chu Li smiled. "Good insight. Rhythm is the essence of the Swallow Sword Technique. It's not just about being fast. Swallows do fly fast, but being fast all the time won't work. You need to slow down to be faster."

Zhao Ying frowned at him. "Senior Brother Chu, have you practiced the Swallow Sword Technique?"

Chu Li shook his head. "I practice the Illusion-Breaking Sword Technique."

"The one Senior Brother Zhuo practices?"

Chu Li smiled. "Yes, I heard he practices it, so I did too. It breaks through illusions and points directly to the heart, reaching a very high realm."

"Senior Brother Chu, you're really something!" Zhao Ying huffed.

Chu Li chuckled and handed her the sword.

Zhao Ying took it and practiced the technique twice, her face glowing with excitement. She never thought that Chu Li's light guidance would elevate her sword technique to a new level.

He was right; she hadn't grasped the essence of the Swallow Sword Technique before. This was the true Swallow Sword Technique!

It was a pity that she had sparred with Senior Brother Zhuo for so long, and neither of them had realized this. Otherwise, she might have had a chance to reach the Eighth Rank. Practicing the Swallow Sword Technique to this level would give her hope of breaking through to the Eighth Rank!

Chu Li looked around, checking for any medicinal herbs. The essence of every tree blended with him, and he didn't miss a single one within a hundred meters. Suddenly, his eyebrows raised, and he stood up, leaving the pavilion to approach a small grass plant.

The grass was nestled among a cluster of weeds, looking no different from ordinary weeds, and was hardly noticeable. However, if you looked closely, you would see it was a bit greener and more symmetrical, with a unique beauty. Chu Li sighed, feeling his luck was turning!

"What is this?" A faint fragrance wafted over, and Zhao Ying curiously leaned in to look.

"Sinew-Connecting Grass," Chu Li said, extending his hand. "May I borrow your sword?"

Zhao Ying handed him the sword.

The sword flashed, and the small grass, along with its long roots, was lifted and landed in Chu Li's hand.

He examined it carefully, smiled, and returned the sword.

Zhao Ying wiped the sword with a white silk handkerchief. "What is it for?"

"It can strengthen the meridians!" Chu Li shook his head and sighed. "It's a rare and valuable herb. With this, the time needed for foundation building can be greatly reduced!"

"Really?" Zhao Ying paused in her wiping, surprised. "It can really assist in foundation building?"

If so, the value of this Sinew-Connecting Grass would be very high.

Chu Li said, "It needs to be paired with another herb."

"Then if you eat this, Senior Brother Chu, can you build your foundation?"

Chu Li smiled but didn't answer.

"I didn't expect this little thing to be so amazing..." Zhao Ying curiously examined the small grass, which was slender with thick and long roots.

Chu Li smiled. "Let's split it. When it's made into a medicine, I'll give you one."

"I don't want it." Zhao Ying quickly waved her hand.

"It can strengthen your meridians and speed up your cultivation."

"Is it really that amazing?"

"If your meridians are strengthened, won't your cultivation be faster?"

"Of course." Zhao Ying nodded. Internal strength was powerful and domineering, and the meridians had a limit to what they could endure. After a certain number of times, they had to stop to rest, or they would collapse and be injured.

If the meridians were stronger, the cultivation time could be extended, and progress would be faster.

Chu Li smiled. "So you still don't want it?"

Zhao Ying hesitated, gave him a sidelong glance, and huffed. "No!"

Chu Li chuckled, didn't say more, and wrapped it up, putting it in his chest and using his essence to nourish it, so its vitality wouldn't be lost, and its medicinal effects would be stronger.

"Let's go into the next city and look for Earth Dragon Grass."

"Okay."

The two soon got up again. By evening, they entered a small city—Baiyun City.

They first found a "Youlai Inn" and rented a small courtyard. Then Chu Li let Zhao Ying rest while he went to the city's herbal shops to look for Earth Dragon Grass. Zhao Ying, curious, insisted on going with him.

So the two changed into fresh clothes and strolled out of the Youlai Inn.

The sun was setting, and the small city was bathed in a rosy glow.

Walking through the bustling crowd, the two felt relaxed and at ease.

Zhao Ying curiously looked around. This was the most relaxed and pleasant mission she had ever been on, occasionally stopping to look at the items on the stalls.

Seeing her interest, Chu Li bought them directly. In no time, he had bought two large bags of things.

"Senior Brother Chu, don't buy anymore. Your salary..."

"You don't know what rank I am, do you?"

"Isn't it Ninth Rank?" Zhao Ying asked curiously.

Chu Li made a "six" gesture with his fingers and smiled.

"Really?" Zhao Ying's bright eyes widened.

Chu Li smiled. "You'll know when we get back to the mansion."

"How can that be...?" Zhao Ying found it hard to believe, her eyes darting over his face.

"It's just a promotion based on merit. It's not that strange, right?" Chu Li smiled. "Watch your step!"

He suddenly pulled her left arm, dodging two children who were running and laughing, completely oblivious to the possibility of colliding with others.

Zhao Ying's body stiffened, quickly pulling her arm away from his large hand, her face red as she glared at him.

Chu Li withdrew his hand. "Let's go, first to the herbal shop."

"Okay." Zhao Ying nodded lightly.

The two went straight to a large herbal shop, and Chu Li asked for Earth Dragon Grass.

This shop indeed had Earth Dragon Grass, and although it was expensive, Chu Li bought one without hesitation. They then returned to the courtyard at the inn.

Zhao Ying stayed in the west wing, while Chu Li stayed in the main room.

Zhao Ying played with the small items she had bought, often smiling.

Chu Li, in the main hall, mixed the two herbs together, added a spiritual herb, and boiled them into a juice, mixed with honey, and made four honey pills.

The next morning, Zhao Ying was practicing the Swallow Sword Technique, which was light and graceful, with the sword light shimmering. Chu Li came out, stretched, and breathed in the fresh air, expanding his lungs.

Zhao Ying, in a lake-green outfit, highlighted her graceful figure, looking heroic and spirited.

Chu Li sat at the stone table.

After a quarter of an hour, Zhao Ying sheathed her sword, her cheeks flushed and her beauty radiant.

"Senior Brother Chu, did you sleep well?" She sheathed her sword.

"Pretty well." Chu Li took out a porcelain bottle from his chest and threw it to Zhao Ying.

Zhao Ying caught it quickly, surprised. "You made it?"

Chu Li nodded. "There are four pills in total. You take half, I take half. Take them as soon as possible to avoid the loss of medicinal effects!"

"I don't want it!" Zhao Ying shook her head and handed the bottle back.

Chu Li didn't reach out. "Hold onto it!"

"I don't want it!" Zhao Ying firmly said. "You need it the most."

Being unable to practice internal strength was a source of pain for him. How could she be greedy and take the medicine that could help him?

Chu Li sighed helplessly, took the bottle, opened the stopper, and poured out two dark green pills, about the size of a thumbnail. He then reached out, and Zhao Ying instantly stiffened as her acupoints were sealed, her bright eyes wide with surprise and her small mouth open.

Chu Li put the two pills in her mouth, patted her back of the neck, and then stepped back.

Zhao Ying regained her movement, tried to cough the pills out, but it was in vain. The pills dissolved in her mouth, turning into two streams of fragrance that flowed through her body, circling once and turning into medicinal power in an instant.

"Senior Brother Chu—!" Zhao Ying glared at him angrily.

Chu Li clapped his hands and smiled. "All done!"

Zhao Ying glared at him unhappily.

Chu Li said, "Keep glaring, and your eyes will fall out!"

"You're really over the top!" Zhao Ying said angrily.

Chu Li smiled. "Alright, hurry up and practice, don't waste the medicinal power."

Zhao Ying glared at him angrily, turned, and went into the room. Chu Li smiled and also went back to his room to practice and absorb the medicinal power.

This was an ancient formula—Body-Refining Powder. It later became lost because the Sinew-Connecting Grass was hard to find.

The Sinew-Connecting Grass was a mutated wild grass, a genetic mutation, and could not be cultivated. It looked no different from ordinary wild grass, and almost no one could recognize it.

Chu Li found this Sinew-Connecting Grass because of the Withering and Flourishing Scripture, which allowed him to sense the essence. He believed there were many Sinew-Connecting Grasses in the world that just hadn't been found yet.

After taking the two pills, he immediately felt a strange sensation. His meridians became more stable, and his internal strength flowed faster. It was indeed a miraculous formula.

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