Chapter 0012: Teng Dragon's Step

The Tempering Body Ointment, made from boiling Gold Phosphorus Liquid and Ferocious Beast's blood essence, costs two thousand taels per dose.

The Stone Skin Refining Pill, made from Rock Scale Tiger Scale Pieces and Gold and Silver Vines, costs three thousand and five hundred taels each.

...

Deer Gel Tempering Body Pill, made from Fire Deer Antlers and Iron Rock Flowers, costs eight thousand taels each.

Looking at the potion list on the wooden board, Luo Feng shook his head with a bitter smile.

The proverb saying 'The poor cultivate knowledge and the wealthy cultivate martial arts' is indeed true.

These body tempering pills each cost countless amounts of silver, he used to receive less than two hundred taels a month. Even if he scrimped and saved for a year, he would only be able to buy the cheapest kind.

Thinking of this, Luo Feng felt envious of those children from prestigious families. Constantly drinking endless potions to temper their bodies since childhood, it would be strange if they didn't advance quickly.

The two Wan Luo academy students standing next to Luo Feng looked at him with contempt in their eyes.

"Senior Brother Li, what kind of pill do you want?" asked the slightly chubby Wan Luo academy student to his companion.

"I am working on breaking through to the middle stages of the Rigid-Soft Realm, and I need some pills to aid me, I will take three of these Stone Skin Refining Pills," said the young man referred to as 'Senior Brother Li', pointing at the Stone Skin Refining Pill on the board.

The chubby student clicked his tongue, his eyes full of envy, "Stone Skin Refining Pill, three thousand and five hundred taels each! Three will cost fifteen thousand taels, Senior Brother Li, you are really extravagant! I only have four thousand taels and can only afford two doses of Tempering Body Ointment."

"Well, I was fortunate to kill a Green-eyed Demon Wolf during a training session a few days ago in the Red Chain Mountain Range with Senior Sister Duan and others. I made a small fortune," Li Senior Brother said modestly, but his tone was rather self-satisfied, casting a gloating look at Luo Feng.

Luo Feng ignored the two men's blatant show-off, his eyes focusing on the wooden board as he chose the pills he needed.

The first six levels of the Meridian Wheel Realm, also known as the Refining Body Realm, primarily serve to temper muscles and bones, nourish the Meridian Wheel with Yuan Qi, and enhance Qi and blood. What Luo Feng needed now were body tempering pills.

Luo Feng's gaze moved down the wooden board, finally landing on the Deer Gel Tempering Body Pill at the bottom.

"I'm already far behind others, what I lack the most now is time, I must use every minute and second wisely. I'll just buy this Deer Gel Tempering Body Pill."

At this moment, the shopkeeper had already delivered the pills that the two Wan Luo students ordered. Seeing Luo Feng checking the poisons on the wooden board, he asked, "Young master, do you also want a Body Tempering Pill?"

"Yes," Luo Feng nodded, just about to say he wanted to buy the Deer Gel Tempering Body Pill, he casually asked, "Are these the only Body Tempering Pills available?"

Before the shopkeeper could respond, a scoff sounded abruptly from the side.

The two Wan Luo students looked at Luo Feng and burst into scornful laughter, "Kid, if you're looking for a low-level pill like the Condensation Yuan Pill, you won't find those in the Medicine Ding Store. You better look elsewhere."

The shopkeeper frowned, but politely explained, "These are the only ones we usually carry, but we recently introduced a new type of Body Tempering Pill, which is even more effective than the Deer Gel Tempering Body Pill. It's just that the price…"

"How much does it cost?" Luo Feng impatiently waved his hand.

Seeing Luo Feng's gesture, the experienced shopkeeper squinted his eyes and held up three fingers, "Thirty thousand taels each."

Thirty thousand taels!

The two Wan Luo students gasped simultaneously, clearly shocked by the price.

The shopkeeper explained further, "The price is high, but it's worth it. This pill is called the Tiger Power Tyrant Body Pill. It is made from the essence and bone marrow of a second-tier demon beast, the Tyrant Cloud Tiger. Consumption of it allows martial artists to acquire tiger strength. This is a top-tier pill amongst the Body Tempering Pills."

Luo Feng nodded, "I'll take that one then, give me two."

Two!

The two Wan Luo students' hearts jumped, their eyes wide staring at Luo Feng. "Two Tiger Power Tyrant Body Pills, sixty thousand taels of silver! Is he bluffing?"

"Two for sixty thousand taels." The shopkeeper also looked surprised, but quickly stated the price.

Luo Feng nodded, then, under the watchful eyes of the others, took out six gold banknotes and handed them to the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper quickly delivered the pills. Luo Feng took the pills and gave a teeth-flashing smile to the stunned Wan Luo students, "You two take your time choosing, I have other things to attend to, I'll leave first."

After saying that, Luo Feng left the Medicine Ding Shop, leaving only a resolute silhouette to the two students.

The faces of the two Wan Luo students turned beet red, lacking the gall to stay any longer, they picked up their own pills and scurried out of the Medicine Ding Shop.

After leaving the Medicine Ding Shop, Luo Feng didn't return to the academy but found a restaurant and indulged in a hearty meal.

He had been cultivating on Purple Spirit Peak all this time, his palate was craving for warm food, he devoured the meals of five to six people in a single breath under surprised gazes.

By the time Luo Feng returned to the academy, it was already the next morning.

Rather than returning to his own courtyard, Luo Feng went to the Martial Arts Hall.

He had already unlocked three Meridian Wheels, making him eligible to select a low-grade yellow level martial art from the Martial Arts Hall.

The fourth level of the Tiger Roar Fist required the practice of a light martial art for its full effectiveness, Luo Feng was prepared to find a light martial art that suited him.

The Martial Arts Hall was the academy's martial arts center, housing all kinds of martial arts manuals, it was divided into three layers.

The first layer contained basic martial arts, which anyone could browse freely.

The second layer contained yellow-grade martial arts, accessible to both internal and external academy students once they had unlocked three Meridian Wheels.

The third layer contained martial arts beyond the yellow-grade, accessible only to true elite students of the inner academy.

Luo Feng had reached the third level of Meridian Wheel, and his strength was in the middle stage of the Cultivation Power Realm, so he could only enter the second floor. Furthermore, he could only borrow one low-grade yellow-level martial art. Only inner court students could freely browse the second floor martial arts.

Standing on the second floor of the martial arts hall, Luo Feng's eyes were dazed by the wide variety of martial arts before him.

Luo Feng took a deep breath, identified the area where Light Martial Arts were located, and began his careful search.

Treading Water Jue: This enhances the speed of the practitioner. When fully mastered, the practitioner may walk on water for up to a hundred meters. Low training difficulty. Grade: Lower-level Yellow.

Vertical Cloud Step: A Light Martial Art. When fully mastered, the practitioner can float up twenty meters in the air, as if ambling among the clouds. High training difficulty that requires significant understanding. Grade: Lower-level Yellow.

Flying Swallow Skill: Allows the practitioner to turn in mid-air, greatly enhancing body flexibility. Average training difficulty, requires a flexible body. Grade: Lower-level Yellow.

Falling Leaves Drifting Step: Close combat footwork. Once mastered, the practitioner can compete with several martial artists of the same class without defeat. Average training difficulty. Grade: Lower-level Yellow.

...

The lower-level yellow Light Martial Arts only numbered less than ten. Luo Feng, after browsing the introductions on the cover of the scrolls, found his brow slowly furrowing.

The fourth level of the Tiger Roar Fist, 'Fierce Tiger Descending into the Valley', requires one to be thirty meters off the ground to unleash its full power. Yet, these Light Martial Arts were not quite suitable.

Only the Vertical Cloud Step, even when fully mastered, could only reach twenty meters.

"Do I have no choice but to choose the Vertical Cloud Step?" Luo Feng sighed as he looked at the secret manual before, feeling a hint of envy for the students of the Gold Sun Class.

If one were a Gold Sun class student, after unlocking the third Meridian Wheel, they could choose a mid-tier Yellow Martial Art, significantly expanding the range of choices.

Gazing aimlessly, Luo Feng suddenly noticed a worn-out martial arts scroll at the very bottom of the bookshelf.

This scroll was covered in dust, suggesting that it had not been touched for a long time.

Luo Feng picked up the scroll, dusted it off, revealing images of an imposing, soaring dragon dance next to it, and three calligraphic characters beside it: Teng Dragon's Step!

Teng Dragon's Step: A Light Martial Art, divided into five levels, each level can summon a Qi Dragon, up to five Qi Dragons. Each Qi Dragon can elevate the practitioner by ten meters and double the speed. Incorporating Yuan Qi, the Qi Dragon can also be used to harm the enemy, with even more terrifying power! It has an extremely high training difficulty, requiring a strong understanding and soul power! Grade: None.

A flash of brilliance crossed Luo Feng's eyes.

This Teng Dragon's Step was utterly domineering!

Each Qi Dragon could float up ten meters and double the speed. If one could train the Teng Dragon's Step to the fifth level, the speed could be increased five times, floating up to fifty meters! That's almost three times the Vertical Cloud Step!

What's more terrifying is that the Teng Dragon's Step could even perform the Void Step. It was clear that this was a Light Martial Art, yet it could utilize Qi to harm others!

As far as Luo Feng knew, even Upper-level Yellow Light Martial Arts were seldom able to perform the Void Step, let alone utilize Qi to harm others.

"No grade? What does that mean, can anyone cultivate it?" Luo Feng couldn't help but wonder at the words 'No grade' on the cover.

Such a powerful martial arts technique was left on the bottom shelf, neglected!

"Could it be that the requirements are too high and nobody can cultivate it?"

Luo Feng's gaze fell on the training requirements of Teng Dragon's Step. After pondering for a moment, he finally decided to cultivate the Teng Dragon's Step.

Luo Feng had integrated the soul of two individuals and had eighteen Meridian Wheels in his body. His soul power was extraordinary. Besides, his understanding was not common. From all angles, the Teng Dragon's Step was very suitable for his cultivation.

Having made the decision, Luo Feng took the secret manual and went to the registration area of the martial arts hall to register.

"Oh, you want to cultivate the Teng Dragon's Step!"

The person in charge of registration was a middle-aged instructor who was surprised when he saw Luo Feng take out the secret manual of Teng Dragon's Step.

"Can't I cultivate it?" Luo Feng frowned.

It took so much effort to find a Light Martial Art suitable for him. If he couldn't cultivate it, it would be a disaster.

"No, that's not it."

The middle-aged instructor shook his head, frowning, "This Teng Dragon's Step has no grade, and any student can borrow it. But I don't recommend you choose this martial art. This Teng Dragon's Step was obtained by the principal from the depths of Red Dragon Mountain Range a decade ago. In more than a decade, only one person has cultivated into a single realm. Its cultivating difficulty is extremely high! That's why it's ranked as 'No grade'. I suggest you choose another martial art to avoid wasting a lot of time."

There were quite a few people in the martial arts hall at this time. Seeing the secret manual of Teng Dragon's Step in Luo Feng's hands, many people showed sarcastic smiles on their faces.

"This guy is thinking about cultivating the Teng Dragon's Step! It's like a snake swallowing an elephant due to its greed. Doesn't he know that nobody has successfully mastered this martial art yet?"

"He probably thinks he's a genius."

"A genius? What kind of genius is a mere Silver Moon class student? A while ago, Duanmu Yu, who was notorious for being the youngest genius to enter the inner court, had also challenged the Teng Dragon Step and ended up returning the secret manual, totally dispirited. Over the past decade, how many stunning geniuses have challenged the Teng Dragon Step, and none of them has succeeded. With him, a mere Silver Moon class student, he also wants to succeed in cultivation? Simply laughable!"

"That's it; this guy is too delusional."

Amid the disdainful voices, Luo Feng chuckled to himself. His facial expression did not change, and he said to the instructor in charge of registration, "Thank you for your good intentions, Instructor. I know that the Teng Dragon Step is hard to cultivate, but I am very confident!"

The middle-aged instructor shook his head. He had been in the academy for more than a decade and had seen too many geniuses challenge the Teng Dragon Step. They were all full of confidence at the start, but in the end, none escaped without a bruised ego.

Well, this could also be a lesson to let him learn what retreating in the face of real difficulty is.

Thinking of this, the middle-aged instructor sighed and reminded, "You should know the rules of the academy, martial arts cannot be taught privately without permission, otherwise it is severely punished! In addition, the secret manual must be returned within a month."

Luo Feng nodded his head.

Only then did the middle-aged instructor tear off the seal on the secret manual, allowing Luo Feng to register his name, class, and cultivation level.

Luo Feng took the Teng Dragon's Step secret manual and left the martial arts hall under a chorus of sarcastic laughter.