Chapter 283: First-Grade Gang Force... I Might Have It Too

Lu Danxi accepted the silver notes, a hint of a smile on her face.

“You’re far more polite than that Shi Buyi fellow. When he gets Medicine Pills from me, he doesn’t even say a word of thanks and just puts on a sour face.”

At the mention of Shi Buyi, Lu Danxi snorted softly, clearly displeased with him.

“Shi Buyi… he’s also trying to become a Direct Disciple?”

Zhang Su asked.

“That’s right.”

Lu Danxi nodded.

“That fellow is as cold as ice, but his talent is truly exceptional. It’s just that he’s already cultivated his Inner Strength and advanced to the Postnatal Realm, so he can’t improve the quality of his Gang Force like you can. It’ll be very difficult for him to become a Direct Disciple…”

Zhang Su understood.

Shi Buyi was already in the Postnatal Realm, so he could only try various methods to increase his strength. But this path was hardly any easier than Zhang Su’s own of improving his Gang Force quality.

“I’ll be heading back now. I’ll visit again next time, Senior Sister.”

Zhang Su stood up and stuffed the various bottles and jars from the table into his robes one by one until they were bulging.

“By the way, if you run into any trouble, Senior Sister, you can come find me on Mixed Element Peak.”

Even though he was only a Gang Force Martial Artist, Zhang Su would definitely help Lu Danxi if she truly needed it and it was within his power.

“Alright, then I’ll be waiting for the day Junior Brother Zhang becomes a Direct Disciple.”

Lu Danxi said with a smile.

Zhang Su then departed from Danwu Peak.

He made his way back to Mixed Element Peak. It was still early when he returned to Courtyard Eight, and the yard was empty. No one else was back yet.

Zhang Su went into his room, closed the door, and laid out all the bottles and jars from his robes on the table.

More than a dozen porcelain vials stood in a row, their various colors making for a beautiful sight.

He picked up a porcelain vial, uncapped it, and tipped out a Metal Element Pill.

The Medicine Pill was small, only about the size of a pinky fingernail. It was golden all over, with a faint sheen on its surface.

A light medicinal fragrance wafted out, its invigorating scent refreshing the mind.

Zhang Su placed the Metal Element Pill in his mouth. It dissolved instantly, and a warm current of energy rose from his abdomen, spreading throughout his limbs and body.

He immediately closed his eyes and began to circulate the Metal Element Divine Technique portion of his Great Five Elements Divine Technique.

The Metal Element Internal Force within him was initially very weak, no thicker than a single silken thread.

The warm current from the pill surged into the Metal Element Internal Force. Like a parched seedling receiving a timely rain, the Internal Force greedily absorbed the warmth and grew stronger, little by little.

An hour later, Zhang Su opened his eyes.

He sensed the Metal Element Internal Force within his body. It was significantly stronger than before he had taken the pill.

“The effect is quite good.”

Zhang Su muttered to himself.

He then picked up another vial, tipped out a Wood Element Pill, and consumed it, circulating the Wood Element Divine Technique.

Then came the Water Element Pill, the Fire Element Pill, and the Earth Element Pill. He consumed the five types of pills in rotation, one after another, circulating the corresponding five types of Internal Force.

Zhang Su cultivated for several hours, only stopping when the sky had grown completely dark.

He opened his eyes and let out a long sigh, a look of astonishment on his face.

‘The pills were just too effective.’

At this rate, it would probably only take him a year to cultivate his Great Five Elements Divine Technique to the Perfection stage.

Cutting the time down from three years to one was already incredibly fast.

Of course, this was also related to his 100% Compatibility with the Great Five Elements Divine Technique.

With high Compatibility, his efficiency at refining the Medicine Pills far surpassed that of other Martial Artists.

With the same pill, others might only absorb fifty percent of its medicinal properties, while he could absorb eighty or even ninety percent.

Such was the advantage of high Compatibility.

Still, Zhang Su felt it was too slow.

He wanted to be even faster.

‘One year really isn’t that long, but I also need to cultivate other Martial Arts.’

‘If I spend an entire year just on the Five Elements Divine Technique, how long will it take to become a Direct Disciple?’

‘Will the Guiyuan Sect even be able to hold on that long?’

‘Will the Jingyuan Sect give the Three Sects Alliance a few years to catch its breath?’

He didn’t know.

All he could do was hurry. The faster, the better.

‘But besides relying on pills, are there other ways to speed up my cultivation of the Great Five Elements Divine Technique?’

One person came to Zhang Su’s mind: Shi Buyi.

Shi Buyi had been a disciple of the Five Elements Sect, and he cultivated the Five Elements Unite technique.

‘When it comes to understanding the Great Five Elements Divine Technique, few people could possibly surpass him.’

‘If I could get some of his cultivation insights, I might be able to speed up my training even more.’

‘Shi Buyi… I think he’s an Official Disciple on Wanxiang Peak?’

Zhang Su recalled that Shi Buyi had participated in the Upper Sect’s selection and been chosen by Wanxiang Peak.

Wanxiang Peak, like Mixed Element Peak, was one of the Nine Peaks of the Haojin Upper Sect. The two peaks weren’t far from each other.

‘I can go to Wanxiang Peak and look for Shi Buyi tomorrow.’

Early the next morning, Zhang Su pushed open his door and set out for Wanxiang Peak.

Before he knew it, he found himself passing by the Martial Arts Arena on Mixed Element Peak.

There were quite a few people at the arena. Most were Official Disciples practicing their Martial Arts, with some Named Disciples gathered at the side, waiting on them.

“Luo Feng, can you still take it?”

“Yeah, you can’t even take three punches from Senior Brother Zhao. How are you supposed to run errands for him in the future?”

“With your pathetic level of strength, you’re too weak to even run errands for Senior Brother Zhao…”

A burst of laughter reached Zhang Su’s ears.

“Hm?”

Zhang Su looked in the direction of the voices.

In a corner of the Martial Arts Arena, several people were gathered in a circle.

A familiar figure was sprawled on the ground in the center of the circle, his gray robe covered in dust and dirt.

The person was gasping for breath, his body trembling slightly as he tried to stand up.

But as soon as he put weight on his arms, they gave out, and he collapsed back to the ground.

His knees were pressed against the cold bluestone slabs, his palms scraped raw and trickling blood.