"So, to advance further on the Martial Arts Path, you need to break through the seven physical limits?"
Qin Shi pondered over the implications.
The reason those Martial God legacies had such harsh conditions and high thresholds.
Was because the original holders were extraordinarily powerful, each breaking free from the shackles of the mortal body and achieving a metamorphosis of life.
The territory of Dongxia was vast and unprecedented, almost spanning half of the River System, with a massive population base akin to the Ganges sand grains, out of which they stood out.
Every Martial God could be called a legend!
Their experiences and achievements were hard for later generations to emulate.
Their knowledge and insights were also not wholly adaptable by successors.
Thus, Ning Yuanhai, who shone brilliantly just before and after Yan Haishan, illuminating the entire era.
His True Scripture of All Times and Eras could only lie in the Imperial Capital's National Museum, as an exhibit rather than a textbook for training Martial God seeds.
Especially with the growing influence of the New Martial Sect, the old martial legacies had become even more cumbersome, with limited applicability and promotion value.
"That's right. Leaving aside those other shortcuts and dangerous unconventional practices.
The seven physical limits are the only proper path to significantly increase Life Force, and even the New Martial Sect has to acknowledge this.
In the past ten years, the most popular topics among Martial Artists have been about using life sciences to break human limits, always the hottest projects for swindling funding."
Old Liang, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, led Qin Shi through several twists and turns to Shenyang Street on the south side of Old Factory Street.
Both sides were lined with car repair shops displaying signs for car washes and tire repairs, workers in work uniforms were busy dismantling tires and cleaning and maintaining cars.
"Master Liang, without any Divine Skills to teach, can we at least get some elixir secret treasures? Otherwise, just relying on training methods and techniques to break the physical limits is too slow.
I'm not young anymore, after my birthday I'll be eighteen, almost with one foot in the grave."
Looking at Old Liang walking ahead, Qin Shi couldn't help but remark.
At least the ancestors of the Old Martial Sect were rich once, since they have confirmed the master-apprentice relationship, they should at least splash out some gold coins!
"The seven physical limits have no specific order.
Your main advantage lies in your sturdy tendons and well-grown, evenly proportioned bones.
So we'll follow the order of tendons first and bones second, aiming to break through two limits."
Old Liang didn't pay attention to his overly ambitious apprentice, who was always concerned about his own little resources.
If eighteen years old is almost in the grave, then wouldn't he be buried up to the neck in yellow dirt?
"Today, I'm taking you here to help you take another step forward, to see if we can knock open the Tendon Limit."
Old Liang entered a dark, dim alley with red brick walls plastered with various small advertisements.
Mostly about urological issues and men's hidden pains, with occasional fake messages about rich women seeking sons with a high price.
Another step forward?
Breaking through the ten-point Life Force barrier?
Qin Shi followed excitedly, step by step, stopping with Old Liang at the entrance of a pharmacy.
He looked up, and the big red characters "Divine Oil of Tianzhu" came into view.
The two aluminum sliding doors, the left one said "Honest Direct Sales," and the right one "Men's Gospel."
Next door was the "Love Hotel," offering foot massages, oil massages, and back rubs with room services, which looked anything but proper.
"Master Liang, is the Old Martial Sect particularly fond of this kind of thing? Can't we follow the New Martial Sect and go to more high-end, classy places?"
Qin Shi almost couldn't hold back, what kind of legitimate master and apprentice run to foot bath shops and Divine Oil shops every day?
"Great masters are hidden in the city! Think about it, when Old Factory Street was at its peak, how many people did it support? Everyone flocked to Dangyang East District, crowding to do business and make a living.
Heng Province has the best medical environment, the top hypnotists, which may be in the Tai'an Metropolitan Area or Central City.
But the most cost-effective clinics, the most comfortable hand technicians, are definitely here."
Old Liang showed a scornful expression, "You really have no experience as an apprentice," he said as he pushed open the door and walked in first.
Life isn't easy, Qin Shi sighed.
Who made him indeed lack financial resources and come from a poor family.
The Elite Class students of the Urban Circle came in and out of Cultivation Halls every day, enjoying professional therapists and nutritionists.
For himself, it was downgraded to foot bath shop technicians and Divine Oil dealers.
What a stark contrast in life!
"Old Liang! Why are you here? Finally decided to find a companion?!"
A rough voice, full of vigor like a broken gong humming, even louder than the store's indecent moaning sounds.
Qin Shi's gaze passed over that old-fashioned television, playing a restricted film inappropriate for children.
"Watching adult films with the door closed in broad daylight, the boss is also a man of character."
He thought so.
His eyes moved again, scanning the cluttered and somewhat cramped shop.
A pile of old paper novels with yellowing covers on the counter, a few posters of women in cheongsams on the wall, and behind a big-butt square computer sat a man in a robe with a gaunt face and little color on his cheeks.
Surprisingly, he spoke with such full breath despite looking so weak from kidney deficiency?
The man in a robe picked up a remote control and paused the black tape playing at a critical moment:
"Why did you bring a newbie? Hey, Old Liang, my shop is compliant with laws and doesn't sell any adult products to minors."
"I'm not here for idle talk with you. Old Gu, I need a bottle of the best authentic Tianzhu product, don't try to fool me."
Old Liang went straight to the point, taking out a handful of hundred-yuan bills and slamming them on the counter.
"Whoa, so generous! Old Liang, did you find a suitable good seedling?"
The man in a robe, disregarding his image, scratched his crotch, then licked his fingers before starting to count the money.
"I don't have much stock left, only three bottles. The Tianzhu region is a special autonomous region, though under Dongxia's administration, every purchase must be careful of customs… One bottle for four thousand, not expensive at all, but it's eight hundred short, what do you think?"
Old Liang's tiger eyes widened:
"Wasn't it three thousand two before?"
The man in a robe sighed:
"Heng Province has only one interstellar flight a month, and you need a verified ID to buy a ticket and board. Since the big explosion at the old town military factory, those bureaucrats have been implementing traffic lockdown for decades.
These bottles have been here for a long time, four thousand per bottle is already at cost. With our deep friendship, if it were someone else, seven thousand would not be too much."
Old Liang glanced back at Qin Shi:
"How much do you have on you?"
Qin Shi replied honestly:
"Three thousand five hundred and thirteen."
The ten thousand given by his elder sister could not be carried all, only a portion was kept for emergencies and daily expenses.
Old Liang turned back to the man in a robe and firmly bargained:
"Seven thousand, two bottles."
The man in a robe was about to refuse but was interrupted by Old Liang:
"Old Gu, you can't sell these things while keeping them in stock. The New Martial Sect people use injections, supplements, and energy liquids; who would still use Tianzhu's 'Golden Ambrosia'?
It doesn't even have a pharmaceutical inspection certificate. If it's in the Urban Circle, selling this would get you reported by peers, and you'd instantly be busted!"
The man in a robe's face changed slightly, and after a moment of silence, he reluctantly agreed:
"Alright, seven thousand for two bottles, consider it as you owing me a favor. Once I save enough money, I'll definitely buy a ticket to leave this hellhole Heng Province!"
He lifted the curtain, went into the back room, and only came out after a long time.
He looked like he was rummaging through the cabinets, and his pajamas were covered with dust.
"Two bottles of Golden Ambrosia, genuine Tianzhu product, the cost price is more than seven thousand. During the Old Martial Era, one bottle could sell for twenty thousand!"
The man in a robe was heartbroken as if he was cutting his flesh.
Old Liang didn't say much, gathered the seven thousand with Qin Shi, and put the silk-wrapped glass bottles into his pocket.
"Thanks, Old Gu."
The man in a robe retorted:
"Get lost, don't disturb my handiwork."
When Old Liang and Qin Shi turned around, he couldn't help but add:
"The best way to use Golden Ambrosia is not external application, but to boil it into hot thick juice, and while it's not cool, apply it on the back and chest, then sit in a tub, heat it up to promote absorption.
This step is called 'tendon burning.' An old monk who sold me this told me so.
If your apprentice can endure hardship, try it and see if he can burn up some 'Dragon Tendons'."
Old Liang nodded and closed the door.
As they left the quiet, not-too-busy alley, he finally spoke:
"That man's name is Gu Nanting, very elegant, originally from Hai Province, his family was wealthy. His mother was ousted by an outside mistress taking over, and his dad was also ruthless, cutting off his livelihood together.
Luckily, Old Gu went to a good school and has a talent for languages; he dropped out halfway to join a ship and didn't starve.
Unfortunately, his luck didn't hold; he exhausted his fortune from Tianzhu in stocking up on medicine, hoping to capitalize on the New Star development boom, only for the military factory explosion to happen, causing Heng Province to block external routes, with only one national flight taking off each month."
The military factory explosion?
Qin Shi frowned, recalling it from his memory.
It was a long time ago, rumored to be a fire at the 420 military factory producing Divine Machine parts.
"In recent years, the Tai'an Metropolitan Area has eased some restrictions and started free trade. Many say it was that explosion that relegated Heng Province to the bottom of the administrative ranks."
Old Liang explained, taking Qin Shi to Jinsè Impression, where Red Sister, the wavy-haired manager, prepared a private room.
He opened the silk-wrapped glass bottle, filled with a golden, greasy, fat-like substance.
"This is 'Golden Ambrosia' from Tianzhu, extracted from the belly of the 'Three-eyed Crocodile.'
In the Old Martial Era, the grand sects favored it for tendon nourishment.
Our Hong Sheng's most outstanding Limit-Breaking Physique is the 'Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone Kirin Strength' and the 'Wasp Waist Ape Arms Mantis Legs.'
One is internal, the other external.
The latter is not far off for you, just improve your Training Method.
The former, however, requires some suffering."
Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone?
It sounds so fierce!
Qin Shi couldn't wait; being the Legendary Endurance King, what hardship couldn't he endure?
"Come on, Master Liang! Don't hold back because of my age! Go all out!"