20demayo Chapter 14 New Panel Features
Chapter 14 New Panel Features
[The meat of an unknown beast is intensely hot and contains unknown energy. After consumption, this energy remains dormant within the body. Once the host's physical body is strengthened to a certain stage, this energy may be activated, causing a mutation.]
Zhou Tong looked at the line of words that suddenly appeared before him, a thoughtful look flashing across his eyes.
The anomaly mentioned on the panel should be the change that occurs when breaking through to the Great Martial Master level after reaching the peak of the Refining stage, aided by the hidden energy.
This beast meat is indeed closely related to breaking through to the Great Martial Master level.
"When I was sorting through the animal meat at the martial arts school before, the panel didn't react. But as soon as I put it in my mouth, the prompt appeared. Does the panel only react when the food is in my mouth?"
But I eat so much every day, and the food panel never changes. Could it be because this thing is closely related to martial arts?
Zhou Tong pondered to himself, 'Furthermore, the panel doesn't specify what kind of meat this beast is. It seems it can detect the effects on my body when I consume things related to martial arts, but it's not omniscient; its perception isn't synchronized with mine.'
Zhou Tong analyzed and confirmed the limits of the panel's capabilities bit by bit.
"Tong'er, why are you spacing out? Eat your food properly."
Yao Wanru's voice interrupted Zhou Tong's thoughts.
"Yes, Mother."
Zhou Tong smiled slightly and began to eat heartily.
……
After dinner, Zhou Tong did not go back to his room to rest as usual, but went straight to the backyard.
As night fell, the lanterns hanging from the eaves were already lit, their dim yellow light casting hazy, damp marks on the bluestone slabs—the remnants of snow that hadn't melted during the day.
A cold wind swept by, causing the iron gate under the eaves to clang a few times, which only accentuated the quietness of the courtyard.
He was completely oblivious to the cold; it was as if a fire was burning within him, and he was eager to try it out.
Finally, I can officially start building muscle!
Zhou Tong took a deep breath of the cool air, stood in an open area of the courtyard, and took out a heavy tin box from his pocket.
Upon opening the box, a peculiar aroma, a blend of the bitterness of herbs and the coolness of certain minerals, wafts out.
The cream is dark gold in color and has a delicate, creamy texture that shimmers with a subtle sheen under the light.
Following the instructions of his senior brother Chen Zong, he used his fingertips to scoop out a small pinch the size of a soybean and gently applied it to more than a dozen key acupoints, including Quchi and Shousanli on both arms, Zusanli and Yanglingquan on both legs, Tanzhong on the chest, and Shenshu on the back.
The Golden Jade Cream felt slightly cool to the touch, and he patiently rubbed it in with his fingertips, turning it into a thin layer that adhered to his skin. It wasn't greasy at all; instead, it had a strange, penetrating feel.
After making these preparations, Zhou Tong slowly lowered his waist and sat on the horse, assuming the starting stance of the Dragon and Tiger Flesh Training Posture.
The perfect version of stance training is already deeply ingrained in his body's memory. With each move he makes, his blood and qi surge.
As soon as it was activated, changes occurred at the acupoints where the ointment had been applied.
At first, it was slightly warm, like having a hand warmer in your hand on a winter's day.
But this warmth spread extremely quickly, instantly transforming into clear streams of warmth that radiated from the acupoints outwards to the surrounding skin, flesh, and tendons.
A mix of sensations—soreness, swelling, numbness, itching—comes over you, as if countless tiny warm needles are moving, probing, and combing under your skin, gradually waking up, stretching, and filling your dormant muscles.
Zhou Tong focused his mind and carefully experienced this unprecedented feeling.
He knew that the medicinal power of the Golden Jade Ointment was penetrating the skin and stimulating and strengthening the muscle fibers under the influence of his blood and qi.
The process wasn't comfortable, and it was even a bit tough, but the real, growing sensation made it all worthwhile.
Just as he was immersed in this painful yet transformative cultivation, his body suddenly paused slightly.
Before my eyes, that familiar transparent frame appeared without warning.
[Golden Jade Ointment: A secret medicine for strengthening muscles. Its efficacy can be enhanced by adapting it to the host's constitution.]
Zhou Tong was taken aback at first, then his heart skipped a beat and a surge of intense joy rushed up.
Golden Jade Ointment is an essential item for everyone in the foundational stage of martial arts. The formula has been passed down for many years and has been refined several times. The formula used by various martial arts schools and pharmacies is basically the same.
The effectiveness depends on two factors: one's individual constitution and how well the Golden Jade Cream suits one's own body.
Each of these is mysterious and profound, entirely dependent on individual destiny.
The system was able to tailor-make this time-tested formula to his unique physique.
What does this mean?
This means that in the same amount of time, his efficiency may far exceed that of others!
Without the slightest hesitation, Zhou Tong silently recited in his mind, "Improve the prescription!"
However, the text on the panel did not change immediately; instead, a new message appeared:
[Insufficient data. Please collect samples of various medicinal herbs that can invigorate qi and blood, and strengthen muscles, and place them under the tongue so that the system can analyze their suitability for the host's constitution, and then deduce the direction of improvement and dosage ratio.]
"We need a sample of the medicinal material...to be placed under the tongue for analysis?"
Zhou Tong suddenly realized, his excitement subsided slightly, and reason regained its advantage.
The capabilities of a system are not created out of thin air; they also require a process of "learning" and "analysis".
That makes sense.
"Renjitang, the largest pharmacy in Cangzhou... has the most complete selection of medicinal herbs. I'll go there tomorrow!"
Zhou Tong's eyes lit up, and he made a decision in an instant.
He took a deep breath, put the matter aside for the time being, calmed his mind, and continued practicing his stance training, guiding the streams of heat to circulate throughout his body.
The soreness and swelling became more and more pronounced, mixed with an increasingly clear itching sensation. This was a signal that the muscle fibers were growing and strengthening under the combined effects of the medicine and the flow of qi and blood.
Time passed slowly, and about half an hour later, Zhou Tong felt the needle-like stinging pain begin to emanate from his limbs and bones, and it gradually intensified.
He immediately stopped his stance, straightened his body, and exhaled a long breath, which condensed into a clear white line in the cold night.
My senior brother once warned me: "Training meat is like cooking a small fish; if the heat is too low, it will be raw; if too high, it will be burnt. If you feel a pricking sensation in your body, it means that the absorption has reached saturation and you need to wait for it to be digested and integrated. Forcing it will not help and will only damage your foundation. For ordinary people, practicing for half an hour each in the morning, noon and evening is already the limit."
Zhou Tong knew that a solid foundation was crucial and dared not make any rash moves.
Once he had calmed down, he made another thought, and the panel quietly appeared.
【Dragon and Tiger Meat Training Pole (Perfect Version)】
[Current Realm: Wood Skin (Beginner)]
[Estimated time to break through to "Stone Skin": 177 days]
"177 days...almost six months."
Zhou Tong looked at the data, raised his hand to touch his chin, and his eyes were calm.
This speed, among the formal disciples of the Dragon Tiger Martial Arts School, would probably be considered above average.
It seems he has a decent natural talent; though not exceptionally gifted, he is certainly not mediocre.
But compared to Liu Qing and Zheng Hao, they are far inferior.
Those two mastered the stance training in one month, entered the Stone Muscle stage in two months, reached the Iron Muscle stage in three months, and reached the peak of the Iron Muscle stage in another four months.
Although he was stuck at the bone-forging stage for about two months, overall he was still unstoppable, which is why he became a recognized genius in the martial arts school who was qualified to compete for the position of personal disciple.
"I wonder how much the improved Golden Jade Cream will shorten these 177 days?"
Zhou Tong muttered to himself, a hint of ambition flashing in his eyes.
With his father's connections, as long as he has enough ability, he has a better chance of being accepted as a personal disciple by Ni Dongting than others.
With this hidden advantage, he naturally didn't want to let this opportunity slip by.
The world is becoming increasingly chaotic, and having a great martial arts master as a backer brings immense benefits.