"Alright!"
The shop assistant’s tone couldn’t hide his surprise, while Li Lu leaned in with astonishment and whispered, "You, you can eat that much?"
Shortly after, in the midst of the crowd in the main hall and under their astonished gaze, Su Mu was devouring meat and slurping noodles with big mouthfuls. In just three chopsticks worth, he finished a bowl of plain noodles, and one bowl after another piled up in front of him, reaching a height as high as a head.
The portion of plain noodles in the inn was not small, and Li Lu only managed to eat half a bowl, the rest went into Su Mu’s stomach.
"About six to seven tenths full, after Blood Exchange, Qi Blood becomes vigorous, but the appetite grows even larger."
Su Mu felt the flow of Qi Blood inside his body, knowing that a Martial Artist in Blood Exchange needs to consume enough flesh and blood daily. Otherwise, not to mention the growth of Qi Blood, the vigorous metabolism would cause his Qi Blood to gradually decline.
Once Qi Blood declines, subsequent Blood Exchange and Breaking Realm will become difficult.
Five Extremes Realm and Blood Exchange require a decisive push; this process is like rowing upstream, not advancing means regressing. Therefore, Su Mu needs to consume a large amount of flesh and blood each day for adequate growth of Qi Blood.
"This is just as well, for the past few years I’ve been wandering in the Land of Cyan Clouds without seeing the world beyond it. The Drunken Moon Gathering is next year, so there’s no rush in this journey...
I’ll take my time, stopping along the way to treat patients and prescribe medication, honing my Medical Skill and pharmacology, studying Alchemy Skill, while traveling through magnificent landscapes and searching for ’Profound Pattern Pill’ materials."
"Finding an entry level Qi and Blood Pill Formula would be best."
Su Mu made up his mind, as for the entry level Qi Blood Pill Formula to assist Blood Exchange, Su Mu also didn’t insist.
"Let’s go."
"Why are you walking so fast, wait for me."
Li Lu’s voice echoed in the misty rain; she glanced back at the Land of Cyan Clouds where she’d lived for over a decade, tightened her small hand around her close-wrapped bundle, and quickly caught up with Su Mu’s pace.
Li Lu stuck closely to Su Mu’s side, knowing that by being next to Su Mu, she wouldn’t be affected by wind and rain.
The distance between the Land of Cyan Clouds and Donglai County is over a thousand miles, crossing the surging Canglan River, and traversing the territory of the Four Counties including the Three Canglan Counties.
It’s a journey of high mountains and treacherous waters, difficult terrain, even for ordinary merchants, even if not encountering bandits or thieves, it would take several months of travel by day and night.
If met with rainy season mountain floods, or deep winter snow blocking the mountains, it’s common to be delayed for half a year.
Ten days later, at dusk.
On a desolate hill, the blood-red sunset illuminated several sprawled corpses. Their clothes were varied in age but shared one thing in common, their faces were not of fear, and they died in peace.
Among the pile of corpses, a young girl with bright eyes crouched, her fingers nimble though slightly rough, moving through collars and sleeve pockets, skillfully extracting valuable items like silver coins and Jade Pendants.
Behind her, an old man in a simple white robe stood against the wind, his hair meticulously groomed, his face aged yet his eyes were deep and clear, holding a plain medical flag that fluttered noisily, the four characters "Curing the World with a Pot" impeccably clean.
"I already said... I know a bit of martial arts too."
Upon hearing the old man’s sigh, the corner of the girl’s mouth twitched, but her hands kept working, her brows and eyes curving like crescent moons as she smiled mischievously and contently.
"Five in total, amounting to three hundred and fifty-five taels." She finished counting, clicking her tongue in surprise, "Two less than last time, but there’s thirty-five more silver coins, and some small items as well, it’s profitable!"
The girl with a look of greed paced over with quick steps, reluctantly handing over the silver to the old man, who raised his eyes towards the distant small town where smoke curled up.
"Let’s go, rest at that small town ahead."