Chapter 26: It's Great to Be Rich

Chapter 26: It Feels Good to Be Rich

Ling Xiao had no interest in other people's domestic trifles; he was simply feeling a bit happy in his heart.

Back when he was still a beggar, Ling Yu had bullied him simply because he lacked money and influence.

Later, when he entered the Ling family, Ling Yu had abandoned him for the same reason—he had no money and was unable to purchase enough medicinal pills to increase his strength.

But today, he held a massive sum of money in his hands, able to come to the pharmacy to buy whatever he desired. He wondered how Ling Yu would feel if she heard about this.

"Martial Uncle, please give me one Heart-Protecting Pill, one Pulse-Protecting Pill, and one Breakthrough Pill. Additionally, I'll take ten Qi-Gathering Pills!"

Most of the people in the pharmacy were elders. The one standing behind the counter was, in terms of seniority, Ling Xiao's martial uncle.

"Oh, if it isn't Ling Xiao! I've already prepared today's medicinal dregs for you."

The old man was definitely not mocking Ling Xiao; he was genuinely concerned for him.

In the past, Ling Xiao would come to collect medicinal dregs almost every day. Before he knew this martial uncle, he was always subjected to various insults and difficulties.

However, things changed after he met this martial uncle. The old man would always prepare the medicinal dregs in advance, just waiting for him to come and collect them.

"Martial Uncle, I don't want medicinal dregs today. I want a Breakthrough Pill, a Heart-Protecting Pill, a Pulse-Protecting Pill, and Qi-Gathering Pills. These are the things I want."

Some Ling family disciples who were nearby to purchase pills or receive treatment thought they had misheard Ling Xiao and didn't pay much attention.

But this time, Ling Xiao repeated himself.

They heard him clearly.

They all looked at Ling Xiao with strange expressions.

"Hehehe, Brother Feng, that pauper actually said he wants to buy pills! How hilarious!"

Ling Yu couldn't help but burst into laughter. In her eyes, Ling Xiao had truly lost his mind.

Even she couldn't afford those pills, let alone Ling Xiao.

"The things he wants would cost at least eight thousand taels of silver. He really dares to boast!"

Ling Feng also let out a disdainful sneer.

Eight thousand taels of silver—even for him, that was the most he could get in a month, and that was only because he had a good father.

What was Ling Xiao?

A mere outsider disciple with nothing but a dying old beggar for a family member; how could he possibly have that much money?

"Little fellow, did you strike it rich?" the old man behind the counter asked with a smile.

"Martial Uncle, I entered the Fulong Mountains these past few days. I was lucky enough to gather some herbs and kill a few demon beasts, so I have quite a bit of silver on me."

As he spoke, Ling Xiao took out the materials for the Pulse-Protecting Pill, the Heart-Protecting Pill, and the Breakthrough Pill, handing them over. "Martial Uncle, I'll use an exchange for these three pills. As for the Qi-Gathering Pills, I'll pay for them directly."

Under the stunned gazes of the crowd, Ling Xiao spent five thousand three hundred taels of silver and three sets of alchemy materials to obtain what he wanted.

Ling Yu's laughter stopped abruptly.

Ling Feng's disdain turned into shock.

"With his strength, how could he possibly enter the Fulong Mountains and even hunt demon beasts?"

Ling Yu and Ling Feng were profoundly shocked.

It wasn't just because Ling Xiao had become wealthy, but more importantly, because he had actually managed to return from the Fulong Mountains unscathed.

One must know that although the clan had no mandatory rules, it was generally not recommended for martial artists below the fourth stage of the Martial Pulse to enter the Fulong Mountains.

If one insisted on going, they had to go in a group of at least ten people, and there had to be a peak third-stage Martial Pulse expert leading the team.

More importantly, they could only operate on the fringes.

Until today, neither Ling Feng nor Ling Yu had ever been to the Fulong Mountains.

Because they had money to ask from their families, they didn't need to risk their lives.

At this moment, they felt as if they had been instantly surpassed by Ling Xiao, and expressions of extreme embarrassment appeared on their faces.

"Good lad, you really did strike it rich! You've made progress! Alright, your Martial Uncle will get the medicine for you!"

"By the way, Martial Uncle, please also give me one hundred patches of Golden Wound Medicine and ten bottles of Healing Pills..."

Ling Xiao suddenly realized that since he frequently visited the Fulong Mountains, he was bound to get injured. Golden Wound Medicine was for external injuries, and Healing Pills were for internal injuries, and these items were not very expensive.

Of course, that was only true for martial artists.

To ordinary people, these items were still exorbitantly priced.

A single patch of Golden Wound Medicine cost one tael of silver, so one hundred patches would be one hundred taels. A bottle of Healing Pills contained about a hundred pills and was worth one hundred taels, so ten bottles would be one thousand taels.

In the past, Ling Xiao wouldn't have even dared to dream of such things, but now he could buy them with ease.

This was the gap.

"Alright, no problem!"

After the transaction was completed, Ling Xiao nodded slightly toward Ling Feng and Ling Yu as he walked out, then smiled.

Seeing those two faces turn the color of pig liver, he felt very happy in his heart.

However, he did not mock them on the spot.

The most critical thing right now was to increase his strength.

Because he knew that his current strength was not yet a match for people like Ling Feng or Li Xingyun.

Strength was everything!

With strength, one had dignity, and one would also have more money!

Ling Feng ignored Ling Xiao.

Ling Yu, however, looked at Ling Xiao awkwardly. Something seemed to change in her eyes, as a hint of regret actually appeared.

"Fine, it's better if your strength increases, it'll be more fun. When the annual competition arrives, I will make you lose with total conviction!"

It wasn't until Ling Xiao was almost at the exit of the pharmacy that Ling Feng turned his head and forced a smile to say a single sentence.

However, that smile was truly more unsightly than crying.

Ling Xiao smiled but said nothing. In any case, the annual competition was about to begin; saying anything now would be redundant.

After leaving the pharmacy, he went straight back home.

His grandfather's health seemed to have improved significantly.

"You child, you went out without even saying a word."

Grandfather seemed a bit angry.

"Grandpa, please don't be angry. Here is one hundred taels of silver. You can buy whatever you want to eat from now on. We have money now; we don't have to live like beggars anymore. Also, I plan to renovate this house; otherwise, it's really uninhabitable on rainy days."

"Where did you get so much money?"

"Grandpa, it wasn't stolen or robbed, so please rest assured. Your grandson's strength is progressing very quickly. I estimate that by the annual competition, breaking through to the third stage of the Martial Pulse won't be a problem."

Ling Xiao did not offer much explanation. He tossed the bundle of one hundred taels onto the table and then returned to his room to prepare for his breakthrough.

During these past few days in the Fulong Mountains, he had been constantly tempering himself and fighting; in truth, his strength could have broken through long ago.

The reason he hadn't broken through wasn't that he couldn't, but that he had deliberately suppressed it.

Without the Heart-Protecting Pill and the Pulse-Protecting Pill, breaking through was extremely dangerous, and he did not want any accidents to occur.

A poor person only has one life.

Unlike those wealthy people, even if they were left with only half a life, their families would find a way to save them.

But he couldn't. Once he was seriously injured, he would be very close to death.

After taking the Breakthrough Pill, the Heart-Protecting Pill, and the Pulse-Protecting Pill respectively, Ling Xiao sat cross-legged and began circulating the "Crimson Sun Technique," preparing to break through to the third Martial Pulse.

It must be said that the power of the Breakthrough Pill was truly fierce. As soon as it was consumed, a terrifying force immediately dissolved within his dantian, then carried his true qi, rushing violently toward the third Martial Pulse.

"No wonder the Heart-Protecting and Pulse-Protecting pills are needed. Without them, this terrifying force might have shattered my heart vessels!"

The potency of the Breakthrough Pill surprised Ling Xiao, and the effect of the Heart-Protecting and Pulse-Protecting pills was even greater than he had imagined.

As the true qi increased, the meridians would inevitably be stretched. Without these two types of pills, the meridians might have ruptured.

But now, there was no need to worry. Instead of destroying him, the violent force actually expanded his meridians, making his body better able to adapt to even stronger astral qi, preparing him for his future advancement to the fourth stage of the Martial Pulse.

(End of Chapter)