Zara Martin wanted to help Fifth Elder out of his current situation, but although willing, she was powerless to render her assistance.
Over the years, she had spent all of her money on purchasing medicinal materials to help her son strengthen his constitution.
Combined with her son's recent expenditures on medicinal materials for the Seven Treasures Body Tempering Liquid, all of her savings only amounted to a bit over one hundred silver.
"What's wrong, Fifth Elder? Don't you dare to bet with Seventh Elder?"
Sixth Elder Peter Martin laughed with a complacent expression.
Just as Liam Martin was about to ask the other elders for a loan.
"Seventh Elder, I'll take you up on that five hundred silver bet!"
A voice sounded from afar.
Following this voice came a young couple walking together hand in hand.
The one who spoke earlier was the youth.
The youth had sword-shaped eyebrows and starry eyes; he was extremely handsome with a graceful bearing.
It was indeed David Bishop!
"Ninth Elder, after spending most of your money on your son in these years, could it be that you still have five hundred silver left?"
Seventh Elder Kun Martin ridiculed while take a deep glance at Zara Martin.
Zara Martin's eyebrows creased slightly and she sighed lightly in her heart.
"Greetings, Patriarch, Grand Elder, and all Elders."
David Bishop walked up the high platform while holding Bella Johnson's hand and lightly bowed to the Martin Family higher-ups.
Patriarch Zayn Martin glanced at David Bishop with an expression of shock. The last time he saw him was a month ago.
At that time, Zara Martin was in a rage and was punishing Seventh Elder's son, Sam Martin.
At that time, David Bishop was just a sickly person.
But David Bishop seemed like a completely different person now!
"Third level of the Body Tempering stage…David Bishop, you actually broke through to the third level of the Body Tempering stage!"
When Zayn Martin instinctively checked up on David Bishop's cultivation, his pupils shrank and his face had an expression of disbelief.
Zayn Martin's shocked exclamation was like a rock falling into a pool and causing a thousand waves.
Instantly, everyone on the platform had their gazes on David Bishop.
After a brief moment, everyone on the platform except for Zara Martin and Liam Martin had expressions of disbelief.
"If memory serves me right, a month ago when he was severely injured by Sam Martin, he wasn't even a martial artist yet!"
"In only one month, this David Bishop went from being from an ordinary person to completing body tempering and subsequently reached the third level of the Body Tempering stage….I'm not seeing things, am I?"
"You're not seeing things; he really is at the third level of the Body Tempering stage. Seems like he must have obtained some fortuitous gain!"
...
Including Seventh Elder, most of the Elders were all struck dumb.
The scene in front of them was something that took them quite a while to react to.
Grand Elder Hank Martin opened his eyes and looked at David Bishop with an intrigued expression.
Kun Martin drew in a breath of cold air.
David Bishop breaking through to the third level of the Body Tempering stage was something that exceeded his expectations.
However, once he thought about the difference between the third level and the fourth level of the Body Tempering stage, he felt at ease once again.
In his opinion, whether David Bishop was at the second level or the third level of the Body Tempering stage made no difference to his son Leo Martin.
"David Bishop, you said earlier that you're willing to bet five hundred silver with me?"
Kun Martin looked at David Bishop as he asked.
"Yes."
David Bishop nodded.
"But to the best of my knowledge, Ninth Elder has spent most of her money on you in the past few years, so I'm afraid her savings are not enough to amount to five hundred silver."
Kun Martin said.
His face had a complacent expression as he waited for David Bishop to yield.
"You're right, my family really can't gather five hundred silver."
David Bishop nodded.
The financial situation of his family was something that even he knew about.
It was also for this reason that he wanted to cheat Kun Martin of his five hundred silver.
"David Bishop, the bet between me, Fifth Elder, and Sixth Elder are done using presently available money. The money must be passed over to the Patriarch so that he may bear witness….If you think you can make a bet without actually having the money to back it up, you are wrong."
Kun Martin smiled mockingly.
"Did I say I was going to place the bet without having the money first? Do you think I am like you?"
Disdainfully glancing at Kun Martin and ignoring his eyes that were seemingly flaming, David Bishop let go of the young girl's hand and lightly said, "Bella Johnson, go to my mother."
The young girl cleverly nodded and went to stand beside Zara Martin.
"Ninth Elder, you have such good fortune!"
Some of the elders glanced at the young girl and congratulated Zara Martin one after the other.
All of them noticed that the young girl would grow up to be a drop dead gorgeous beauty on par with Zara Martin.
Zara Martin smiled in response to the elders' congratulations.
Beside her, the young girl's face had long ago flushed red from embarrassment.
"What is David planning to do?"
Watching her son going against Seventh Elder Kun Martin, Zara Martin's eyes flashed with a sliver of doubt.
It was getting tougher to understand her son.
"Then let me see how you, David Bishop, produce five hundred silver today. If I'm not wrong, even Fifth Elder isn't able to produce another five hundred silver ."
Kun Martin glanced at David Bishop in disdain.
Just when Liam Martin was about to take out his last three hundred silver, David Bishop's reply not only interrupted his actions but also caused him to have an astounded expression on his face.
"Don't worry, Seventh Elder, I'm not planning on borrowing money from Fifth Elder…."
Said David Bishop, under gazes of disbelief from the Martin Family higher ups. He then walked to the front of Grand Elder.
"Grand Elder, I know that because you usually have to cultivate and refine medicine, your body probably has many hidden injuries….How bout I help give you a massage and then you give me five hundred silver as payment. What say you?"
David Bishop looked at Hank Martin and faintly smiled.
"David, don't cause trouble!"
Zara Martin's face distorted.
In the Martin Family, Grand Elder's status was even above the Patriarch. Seeing her son being conceited in front of the Grand Elder, she felt angry and worried.
Hidden injuries?
Grand Elder was a Grade Nine Alchemist; if he really had any hidden injuries, he would have treated himself already.
Just when the Patriarch and all the higher ups were expecting Grand Elder to be furious.
"You want five hundred silver only for giving me a massage? Kid, you really know how to demand an exorbitant price."
Hank Martin glanced at David Bishop with an intrigued expression, lightly smiling.
"Grand Elder, how about I give you the massage first….After it's done, you judge the effect yourself and pay me according to how much you think it's worth."
David Bishop made nothing of what Hank Martin had said.
Hearing what David Bishop said aroused Hank Martin's interest.
"OK, I'm curious about what you're capable of, kid."
The only reason he agreed was because David Bishop had changed so much in the past month.
In one month's time, breaking through to the third level of the Body Tempering stage from an ordinary person was something truly unbelievable.
As a Grade Nine Alchemist, he was well aware.
A normal person would be unable to completely transform into a third level Body Tempering martial artist in a mere month's time even if that person had an unending supply of body tempering medicinal pills.
The present David Bishop was covered in mystery.
Moreover, his body really did have hidden injuries which had worried him for all these years, so he wanted to give David Bishop's massage a try.
Seeing David Bishop standing behind Hank Martin and placing his hand on his shoulders, most of the Martin Family elders had odd expressions on their faces.
They thought that Ninth Elder's son was dreaming. If a casual massage could really earn five hundred silver, they would resign from being elders to go be masseuses.
Seeing this scene, the corner of Kun Martin's mouth curled into a cold smile.
Not respecting hierarchy and playing tricks on the Grand Elder!
Not only would Grand Elder be furious, it would also be a crime against the Martin Family!
In his opinion, David Bishop was out of luck.
Leo Martin and the surrounding Martin Family disciples in the Martial Arts Practice Hall were unable to hear what was said on the high platform, so they did not know what was happening.
Seeing David Bishop standing behind Grand Elder and giving him a massage, their eyes nearly dimmed and they almost blacked out!
What was David Bishop doing? Did he think that giving a massage to the Grand Elder would make the Grand Elder bestow him with the strength to defeat Leo Martin?
"F**K! What is this David Bishop doing?!"
"Instead of getting into the arena as soon as he arrived, he's busy flattering the elders. Is he trying to win favor from the Grand Elder because he's worried that Leo Martin will beat him up too badly?"
"I think you're right. Seems like the only possible explanation."
...
David Bishop's action caused anger in the masses.
"Grand Elder, while I'm massaging, please don't circulate your Origin Energy."
Said David Bishop to Hank Martin. Using force in his hands, he started kneading Hank Martin's shoulders….
At this moment, a segment of memories flashed by in his mind.
This segment of memories belonged to Rebirth Martial Emperor; it was a very ingenious massaging technique. This technique was made to treat the side effects present on the bodies of low-grade alchemists.
Just now when he saw Grand Elder for the first time, David Bishop noticed from the light black spot between his eyebrows that he was suffering from side effects.
This kind of side effect usually presented itself on low-grade alchemist who had to research the methods of refining medicine by themselves.
Usually these side effects would not cause any discomfort, but when the alchemist circulates Origin Energy, there will be some pain in the body. On rare occasions, this pain would hurt so badly that it would feel like a knife was being twisted inside one's heart and living would be no better than dying.
David Bishop learned all of this from Rebirth Martial Emperor's memories.
Rebirth Martial Emperor, being a formidable alchemist himself, had researched the art of refining medicine to mastery, so there was nothing he wasn't capable of.
Abruptly, the movement of David Bishop's hands that were kneading Hank Martin's shoulders increased in speed!
Hank Martin's expression changed from being tranquil and he started to tremble.
Soon after, he clenched his teeth with a ferocious expression on his face as if he was dealing with extremely intense pain.
The Martin Family higher-ups on the platform all felt chills go down their spines….
How painful could it be to cause the formidable Grand Elder to have such an expression?
Fifteen minutes later, David Bishop stopped while sweating heavily.
"Hu!"
At this moment, Hank Martin spat out a mouthful of foul air. After slowly opening his eyes, they shone like there was an array of stars inside. He seemed as if he had grown ten years younger.
Origin Energy was circulating smoothly throughout his body, causing him to feel a pleasant feeling like never before!
In the past, circulating his Origin Energy would reopen his hidden injuries, but at this moment it seemed as if those hidden injuries had disappeared.
"Grand Elder, you still need to receive two more massages after this to fully treat the hidden injuries on your body. Now, how do you feel, Grand Elder? How much do you think you should give me as payment?"
David Bishop smiled faintly.
Hank Martin laughed loudly, readily taking out a bunch of silver bills.
"Take one thousand silver for now. Later on, each time you give me a massage, I'll give you a thousand more like this time….What say you?"