The Astonishing Effects of the Medicine

As Liu Simin stepped out of the restroom, she was startled to see Shen Qian rushing toward her. Instinctively, she crossed her arms over her chest. "What are you doing?!"

"Come on, Ms. Liu, you're at least a fifth-rank novice martial artist. Do you really think a guy like me, who's not even a martial artist, could do anything to you?" Shen Qian said helplessly.

Realizing her overreaction, Liu Simin awkwardly brushed her hair aside. "What do you want?"

"Ms. Liu, you've always been a dedicated and responsible teacher. After your enlightening guidance earlier, I've had a revelation! I've decided to work hard for the next three months, strive for excellence, and I sincerely hope you will continue to support me!" Shen Qian declared earnestly.

"It's good that you've realized your mistakes." Liu Simin nodded approvingly. "If there's anything I can do as your teacher, just let me—"

"Lend me 500 yuan."

"...What?"

"I said, Ms. Liu, please lend me 500 yuan," Shen Qian repeated sincerely. "This is something you can do for me right now."

"What do you need 500 yuan for?" Liu Simin finally caught up.

"To pay the martial arts entrance exam fee."

Liu Simin blinked and took another look at Shen Qian. "You're serious?"

"Absolutely."

"Hmm..." Liu Simin pondered for a moment, then nodded and patted Shen Qian on the shoulder. "If you're truly determined, then give it your best shot. Though as your teacher, I still think you should focus on academics... but who knows? Maybe miracles do happen."

With that, Liu Simin turned and walked away.

Shen Qian panicked. "Ms. Liu, wait! What about the money?"

"Someone already paid your exam fee." Liu Simin didn't stop, simply waving her hand as she walked off.

---

Standing before the physical assessment center, Shen Qian's thoughts momentarily returned to the present.

Just how much had he improved overnight?

He was about to find out.

He made his way to the familiar office and pushed open the door. As expected, only Grandpa Xu was inside, sipping tea while watching the news.

The old man glanced at Shen Qian rubbing his hands together and, before Shen Qian could even speak, deftly took down the employee access card and tossed it over.

"Grandpa Xu, you wound me! I came all this way just to visit you!" Shen Qian protested.

"Then give me back the card."

"Now, that's just being distant. Look, I even brought you a gift."

"...Who the hell gifts a bottle of Coke?"

"This is sugar-free! Costs two extra yuan!"

"Get lost, get lost… Wait, why is the cap loose?"

"That's just your imagination! You're strong, Grandpa Xu!"

Without waiting for further questioning, Shen Qian bolted from the office.

Watching him disappear, Grandpa Xu shook his head and took a sip of the Coke, feeling puzzled.

Didn't that brat just take the test yesterday?

Did he seriously improve overnight?

---

During the lunch break, the assessment center was packed. Many students had just paid their martial arts exam fees and wanted to gauge their strength.

To avoid drawing attention, Shen Qian waited until the afternoon, when most people had left for class, before stepping up to the simulator.

He swiped his card, put on the helmet, and the world around him turned dark.

"Please select a test scenario."

The familiar soft voice rang out as the screen lit up. If he remembered correctly, the voice belonged to a famous singer, though he couldn't recall her name.

Shen Qian selected "Bronze Puppet Arena" again. The scene shifted, and he found himself on the misty high platform once more.

Across from him, the bronze puppet stood still, awaiting his attack.

With a deep breath, Shen Qian launched himself forward like a spring and threw a punch.

The puppet dodged effortlessly, just like before—but this time, Shen Qian could clearly see its movements. He was still a bit too slow, though, and took a hit to the arm.

He tried a kick but was promptly struck in the face.

"Challenge ended. Data processing in progress. To restart, please exit and select again."

The result was the same as yesterday, but Shen Qian grinned.

Two extra moves.

That was massive progress.

His body had grown stronger overnight, and he wasn't even used to it yet. Otherwise, he could've done even better.

Ding!

A notification sounded, and Shen Qian eagerly checked the results.

Username: Unregistered

Performance Data:

Explosive Strength: 116KG

Sprint Speed: 11.1s/100m

Physical Durability: Below measurable standard

Toughness: Below measurable standard

▼Click for more details

Martial Arts Proficiency: None

Cultivation Level: None

"Martial arts is a difficult path. Keep striving!"

Compared to yesterday...

His strength had jumped from 98KG to 116KG!

His speed improved from 11.4s to 11.1s!

Even though he had expected growth, the extent of it still thrilled him.

Last year's minimum requirement for the martial arts entrance exam was 118KG and 11s.

He was almost there!

Hope.

For the first time in his life, Shen Qian truly understood that word.

---

After school, Shen Qian walked side by side with Wang Yangming out of the gates.

As they passed through the bustling crowd, Shen Qian's steps suddenly halted.

"What's up?" Wang Yangming asked curiously.

"Wait here."

Shen Qian quickly navigated through the people and called out to a girl in a blue school uniform with a high ponytail, just as she was about to get into a car.

"Ding Yi!"

"Hmm?" Holding her books, Ding Yi turned around, confused. "Shen Qian? What's up?"

"Thank you." Shen Qian stopped and spoke sincerely.

Ding Yi blinked in surprise. "Thank me? For what?"

"See you around!"

Shen Qian smiled, waved, and walked away.

Ding Yi watched him go, then got into the back seat of the car.

Inside, a middle-aged man with gold-rimmed glasses was reading a holographic report from his wristband. He glanced at his daughter's blank expression and suddenly asked, "So, this is why you paid a thousand yuan for someone's martial arts exam fee?"

"Dad, what are you talking about? He just forgot his money and borrowed it temporarily," Ding Yi replied calmly.

"Funny, I recall you asking your mother for a thousand yuan this morning before leaving." The man chuckled. "So, our little Yi can predict the future now?"

"Dad!" Ding Yi's face flushed.

"Alright, alright, I won't say anything more." The man adjusted his glasses, then said offhandedly, "That boy's eyes have a certain fire in them. Shame, though..."

He didn't finish, and Ding Yi didn't ask.

After a brief silence, he continued reading his report and spoke to the suited man in the front passenger seat. "Ah Wei, after dropping Yi off, take me to the southern district. I want to have a word with those sales managers about why our 'Body-Strengthening Elixir' sales have dropped by four percent this month."

Ding Yi, seeing her father engrossed in work, pulled out a small notebook and neatly wrote:

"March 9, 2297 – During Ms. Liu's basic martial arts class, which was occupied for another subject, I helped Shen Qian pay 500 yuan for his martial arts exam..."

She hesitated, then scratched out the last part and rewrote it as:

"Shen Qian borrowed 500 yuan from me for his martial arts exam."

Satisfied, she closed the notebook.

---

"How much did you borrow this time?" Wang Yangming asked as Shen Qian returned.

"Be serious. Do you really think I only go to Ding Yi for money?"

"...Don't you?"

"...Do I?"

"...Don't you?"

"...Do I?"

Seeing Wang Yangming's serious confusion, Shen Qian suddenly wavered.

"Shut up and go home."

They soon parted ways, and Shen Qian slowed his pace.

Today had proved this wasn't a dream.

Now, he had to figure out everything about his system.

Most importantly—his pharmaceutical knowledge.

With a plan forming in his mind, Shen Qian walked toward the nearest pharmacy.

---

Tianren Hall was even larger than the Huaxia Pharmacy Shen Qian had visited yesterday, situated right in the heart of the southern district.

Even though it wasn't the weekend, the place was still bustling with customers.

Birth, aging, sickness, and death—no one could escape the need for medicine.

The hall was divided into two distinct sections. One catered to ordinary people, packed with a steady stream of shoppers, while the other was reserved for martial artists, displaying various specialized potions but seeing far fewer visitors.

Since the resurgence of spiritual energy, many plants had mutated as well, and some of them had shown remarkable effects in enhancing the human body.

With human ingenuity, consuming these herbs or spirit treasures raw was deemed wasteful. Thus, a new branch of pharmacology dedicated to martial cultivation emerged, built upon the foundations of traditional medicine.

After centuries of research, the market now offered an overwhelming variety of potions, though only a handful were truly mainstream.

Especially for those below the rank of an Initiate Martial Artist, Shen Qian figured the options were rather limited.

He walked straight to the martial artist section, where a salesgirl with a professional smile approached him.

"Hello, sir! Which potion are you looking for today?"

"Which one offers the best body-strengthening effects for those below the Initiate Martial Artist level?" Shen Qian asked directly.