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Clink! Clink! The side of the divine dice that landed face up showed the god of fortune! A feeling of enhanced luck washed over Wei Yuan. Without a second thought, he chose to activate the Gluttonous Mouth, a surge of intense hunger immediately following.
"Counting the beast meat provided by Old Li, I now have seven types of beast meat," Wei Yuan mused, his stomach rumbling in anticipation.
That evening, under the cloak of dusk, Wei Yuan quietly left Cai Xu Town and made his way to the dilapidated temple that served as his secluded spot. After starting a small fire, he carefully prepared each of the seven types of beast meat, frying them separately to analyze their effects. He took a small bite of the meat from Old Li first.
Transformation Absorption +15
"Hmm, Old Li's beast meat provides a solid 15 points of transformation absorption per liang," Wei Yuan noted, establishing a benchmark.
Next, he cautiously tasted the turtle-tiger meat.
"Damn, this tastes utterly foul!" Wei Yuan grimaced, fighting back a gag reflex. The meat was a revolting combination of sour and bitter, a texture that felt almost gritty. "Zhang Wu actually downplayed this as 'kinda nasty'?" He felt a surge of annoyance.
Transformation Absorption +8
"Only 8 points of transformation absorption for two liang. No wonder it was cheaper," Wei Yuan calculated. While Zhang Wu offered more volume for the price, the absorption efficiency was significantly lower, and the taste was unbearable for his discerning palate.
He proceeded to sample the red-scaled meat, sister horn meat, tiger-faced fish meat… Each tasting brought its own distinct flavor and a varying degree of transformation absorption.
In the end, none of the other beast meats surpassed the absorption rate of Old Li's offering per unit weight. "So that's why it's priced higher," he conceded, acknowledging the master's discerning eye for quality.
However, the tiger-faced fish meat offered a pleasant surprise.
Transformation Absorption +12.5
"Twelve and a half points of transformation absorption," Wei Yuan noted with satisfaction. "And the taste is actually quite good." Priced at one tael of silver for one and a half liang, it presented a different kind of value. While the absorption per liang (approximately 8.33 points) was lower than Old Li's, the lower cost per unit of meat meant he could acquire more for the same amount of silver, potentially beneficial when the Gluttonous Mouth was active. "For maximizing volume during those periods, this could be a good secondary option."
The next day, the divine dice tumbled and revealed the Giant Spirit God, triggering the descent of Divine Might. A surge of raw power coursed through Wei Yuan, a feeling of enhanced physical capability. He recalled reading in the temple's ancient texts that Divine Might could also aid in the initial stages of martial arts learning, enhancing the body's ability to grasp new movements. "Too bad I've already grasped the basics of three moves. This power's immediate benefit is limited for now, but perhaps it will aid in more advanced techniques later."
So, Wei Yuan dedicated his focus to learning the art of drawing, practicing diligently with charcoal on spare pieces of wood.
Days bled into weeks…
Half a month later, his silver pouch was feeling noticeably lighter. Wei Yuan decided it was time to sell the ginseng and lingzhi he had gathered previously. Remembering Old Li's shrewd but fair dealings, he decided to approach him first for a quote, having discreetly inquired about market prices beforehand.
Li Degui, though certainly profit-minded, offered a price that aligned with Wei Yuan's research, without trying to overtly lowball him. Satisfied with the offer, Wei Yuan completed the transaction.
With the replenished funds, Wei Yuan settled into a more sustainable routine: one wax pill and one liang of Old Li's high-quality beast meat each day.
Occasionally, when the divine dice landed on the Food God or the God of Fortune, the activation of Gluttonous Mouth became a welcome event, occurring roughly twice a week. During these times of heightened digestive power, he could comfortably consume five or six liang of beast meat, a significant boost to his transformation absorption, crucial for his rapid development.
Time flowed without conscious tracking.
Before he realized it, three months had passed since he first ingested the secret medicine, and the chill of approaching winter was in the air.
Wei Yuan had experienced a noticeable growth spurt, now standing just over 1.6 meters tall. Judging by the growth of other children in town, he estimated his age to be around twelve. His height already set him apart from his peers.
More importantly, his body was growing stronger at an astonishing rate. His muscles were becoming defined, hints of abdominal lines were visible, and he could now confidently handle a 50-kilogram stone lock during his training. The potent nourishment of the beast meat was undeniably accelerating his physical development beyond that of an average child.
Wei Yuan mentally calculated that it had been approximately one hundred days since his first dose of the secret medicine. Throughout this period, he had diligently observed the subtle changes in his body.
Beyond the obvious increase in strength and size, his vision had sharpened considerably, allowing him to perceive details at a greater distance. Similarly, his senses of smell and hearing had become remarkably acute, enabling him to detect faint odors and distant sounds with surprising clarity.
"Could this mean my blood mutation is complete?" Wei Yuan pondered, recalling Old Li's words about the varying timelines, with the fastest cases reaching completion around the hundred-day mark.
That afternoon, a light, chilly autumn rain began to fall, scattering the fallen leaves and quickly washing the dust from the streets.
People hurried to find shelter.
The courtyard of Li's residence emptied as the apprentices either donned umbrellas or braved the drizzle.
Wei Yuan, lacking an umbrella, sought refuge under the wide eaves of the main building with a few other apprentices. He maintained his usual quiet demeanor, rarely engaging in their conversations. His days were structured around training at Li's, sleeping at the Qin residence, and his solitary temple visits.
The other apprentices, more familiar with each other, clustered together, their laughter and chatter creating a stark contrast to Wei Yuan's quiet solitude. A pang of loneliness briefly touched him.
He overheard their animated discussion, the topic being the various large gangs in Cai Xu Town: the Wolf Bone Gang, the Cold Eagle Gang, the Broken Bone Gang, and the Taro Gang. They debated which was the most powerful, who their top fighters were, and which gang they aspired to join once their martial arts skills were honed.
"Is this their ambition? To master martial arts only to become part of a gang?" Wei Yuan mused, a flicker of unease in his heart.
Inside the main hall, Li Degui was engaged in a private meeting with a guest.
The visitor, a middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed long mustache, wore a fine green robe embroidered with a fierce tiger on the chest. His eyes held a sharp, calculating glint.
"Leave the grain transport matter entirely to me," the green-robed guest said with a confident smile as he emerged from the main hall.
"Rest assured. Please inform the Lord of Shangyang City that the full shipment will be delivered without fail before the end of the month," Li Degui replied, holding an umbrella over his guest as he escorted him towards the entrance.
"Farewell then," the guest said, stepping into his waiting carriage. The wheels turned, and the carriage rolled away, disappearing into the rain-swept streets.
"....."