From the Martial Arts School.
Jiang Ning headed straight to Wanhua Tower. His purpose for visiting was simple: he had run out of wild ginseng. As his strength had grown, so had his consumption of wild ginseng. Over the past ten days, he had exhausted his previous supply.
Now, he needed to find a suitable supplement, and Wanhua Tower was the obvious choice. After all, he held a VIP token given to him by Shen Congyun, which allowed him to request an audience with Lin Qingyi, the tower's owner. Additionally, the token granted him discounts on purchases, making Wanhua Tower the ideal place for his needs.
Although Zhou Xing's wild ginseng was cost-effective, Jiang Ning understood that there was no such thing as a free lunch. Accepting Zhou Xing's favors meant owing him a debt, which would eventually need to be repaid. Moreover, this time, Jiang Ning wasn't looking to buy just ten or eight pieces of ginseng. Purchasing in bulk at the previous discounted price would be unreasonable, even if Zhou Xing were willing to accommodate him. After all, Zhou's family pharmacy also needed to make a profit.
Wanhua Tower.
As soon as Jiang Ning stepped through the doors of Wanhua Tower, a maid dressed in a green gown approached him.
"Greetings, Young Master Jiang!" The maid, named Xiao Lü, curtsied gracefully. "May I ask if you are here to see Lady Lin today?"
Jiang Ning shook his head. "I'm here to buy some supplements, some medicinal herbs."
Xiao Lü nodded understandingly. "Understood. Please follow me, Young Master."
Under Xiao Lü's guidance, Jiang Ning was led to a corner of the first floor.
"Young Master, this is the section for medicinal supplements. Would you like to browse on your own, or shall I introduce some options to you?" Xiao Lü asked softly.
Jiang Ning replied, "Please recommend a few cost-effective supplements for me. The efficacy should be comparable to ten-year-old wild ginseng. The most important thing is that they offer good value for money."
Xiao Lü listened attentively and nodded obediently after Jiang Ning finished. "Understood. Please follow me."
After a few steps, Xiao Lü stopped in front of a counter. She pointed to a small, thumb-sized jade bottle. "Young Master, this is the Essence of Plants, refined by the Medicine King Valley. Its efficacy is similar to ten-year-old wild ginseng but is significantly stronger. One bottle of this essence is roughly equivalent to twenty-year-old wild ginseng. Compared to wild ginseng, its effects are more balanced and easier to absorb. The price is also reasonable, at only thirty taels of silver per bottle."
Hearing this, Jiang Ning felt a stir of interest. Balanced and easy to absorb this was exactly what he needed. As his physique had improved, he had noticed that wild ginseng's effects on his body were diminishing. His body's capacity to absorb the herb had reached a limit, whether he consumed half a root or a whole one.
The growth of his physique was like increasing the capacity of a container. The same amount of medicinal effect that once had a strong and immediate impact on his weaker body now had a slower and weaker effect on his current, more robust physique. It was like pouring water into a wooden bucket versus a large water vat the former would fill up quickly, while the latter would take hours.
After being introduced to a few other medicinal options, Jiang Ning ultimately decided on the Essence of Plants.
Once Jiang Ning made his choice, Xiao Lü curtsied slightly. "Young Master Jiang, how many bottles would you like to purchase? I will prepare them for you."
Jiang Ning replied, "No rush. I'd like to test its effects first."
"Of course," Xiao Lü nodded. She then knelt, her long skirt spreading out like a lotus leaf facing the sun. She opened a wooden cabinet below and retrieved a bottle of the Essence of Plants.
Standing up, she handed the bottle to Jiang Ning. "Young Master, please try it. It's said to have a pleasant taste as well."
Jiang Ning took the small jade bottle, removed the cap, and tilted his head back slightly, pouring the contents into his mouth.
Instantly, a small amount of emerald-green liquid flowed into his mouth. As it did, a refreshing coolness surged through his body, clearing his mind and sharpening his thoughts, much like drinking a mouthful of mint water.
The liquid then slid down his throat and into his stomach. Jiang Ning felt a penetrating coolness spread through his body, dispelling all the heat and leaving him feeling several degrees cooler.
He closed his eyes, focusing on the changes within his body. He needed to assess the effects to decide whether the Essence of Plants would become his primary supplement.
Meanwhile, in the Tower's Pavilion.
As a maid in a pink dress reported Jiang Ning's arrival to Lin Qingyi, the tower's owner sat up from her couch.
"So, the little guy has come to Wanhua Tower today. Perfect timing for me to see how far he's progressed in refining his skin," she murmured to herself, a hint of curiosity in her voice.
Then she added, "Last time, he went out of the city alone and managed to kill Hong Chengtao, a formidable ninth-grade martial artist. Did Shen Congyun leave him some kind of protective treasure before he left?"
A moment later, Lin Qingyi arrived at the corner of the room and saw Jiang Ning with his eyes closed. Observing him, her eyes narrowed slightly in surprise.
This kid seems different again. His qi and blood are noticeably stronger than the last time I saw him. I can feel the vigorous energy radiating from him. Ah, youth such abundant vitality! His stamina must be excellent!
At that moment, even with his eyes closed, Jiang Ning sensed a gaze that carried a certain pressure. His heightened senses alerted him to the presence of someone powerful.
He opened his eyes and saw Lin Qingyi, dressed in a flowing green gown, standing about ten feet away.
"Sister Lin!" Jiang Ning greeted her.
Lin Qingyi smiled. "Little brother, what brings you to my tower today?"
Jiang Ning held up the empty bottle of Essence of Plants. "Sister Lin, I came to buy some supplements to aid my martial training."
"I see," Lin Qingyi nodded with a smile, walking closer to Jiang Ning.
Meanwhile, the maid who had been attending to Jiang Ning felt a newfound respect for him.
He's managed to win Lady Lin's favor. What skill! His body must be incredible!
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