“You’ve got a decent foundation, Chu Qiguang,” Lin Yao appraised. “You’ve already mastered the Heavenly Spirit Body Refinement Fist Techniques, and there’s not much more I can teach you, so you can cultivate on your own. As for you, Wang Cailiang, your foundation is a little lacking. I’ll teach you our academy’s Iron Mountain Fist Techniques. Make sure to cultivate diligently, and you should be able to reach the second state within two years.”

With that, Lin Yao sent Chu Qiguang off to cultivate on his own so he could focus on instructing Wang Cailiang.

This suited Chu Qiguang just fine. He had only come to Wise Hero Academy to secure a spot in the upcoming martial examination, as well as to build connections and earn more money.

With an instructor like Qiao Zhi by his side, he had no need for the instructions of a second-state martial artist.

However, aside from cultivation, he also needed to focus on making money.

Given his daily expenses for Hundred Refinement Ointment, along with what he had to spend on Chen Gang and Qiao Zhi, his current funds would likely last no more than half a month.

Looks like I'll have to find some people to fund me.

After a day of cultivation, Chu Qiguang left the academy with Wang Cailiang. As they walked out together, he requested, “Brother Wang, I noticed that you were quite familiar with a few of the other students this morning. Could you invite them to dinner tonight so I can get to know them as well? It’ll be my treat.”

“Not a problem!” Wang Cailiang happily agreed. “I have a lot of connections in the county town, not just students of Wise Hero Academy, but even the officials of the county office and the rich businessmen on the western main street! Should I invite all of them as well?”

“Do you know anyone from the Wu Clan?” Chu Qiguang asked.

“The Wu Clan?”

Wang Cailiang hesitated. For a moment, he couldn’t help but wonder if Chu Qiguang was trying to make him look bad.

Given his boastful nature, he would’ve bragged to Chu Qiguang about having connections with the Wu Clan if he knew even one of their dogs, but alas, he didn’t.

“It would be far too expensive to invite my friends from the Wu Clan out for a meal,” Wang Cailiang deflected. “How about I invite some other important figures in the county town instead? I’m sure they’ll be able to help you out as well.”

“It’s fine,” Chu Qiguang replied. “Let’s just keep it to a gathering between students of Wise Hero Academy.”

The two of them returned home to drop off their uniforms, books, and other items that they had been given at the academy, then headed out again with their servants.

Wang Cailiang went to invite his friends, while Chu Qiguang headed to a restaurant Wang Cailiang had recommended. The place was bustling and already packed with customers, and Chu Qiguang reserved a booth on the second floor.

He ordered several meat dishes, including sweet and sour fish, pot-braised lamb, and crispy fried chicken, as well as a few vegetable dishes and half a liter of baijiu. The total cost came to only half a tael of silver.

About an hour later, Wang Cailiang entered the restaurant with three other young men, and Chu Qiguang immediately stood up to greet them.

“Everyone, this is my cousin, Chu Qiguang,” Wang Cailiang introduced.

The three other young men were all sons of landowners in nearby villages, and they often drank, gambled, and visited brothels together. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

The wealthiest one among them was a tall and thin young man with small, beady eyes called Jin Fugui. His clan owned even more land than the Wang Clan, and although one of the clan’s ancestors had been an official, the clan had since declined.

Chu Qiguang was brimming with anticipation at the sight of their naïve smiles.

In order to fit in with the group, Chu Qiguang made a few dirty jokes, then chatted with them about fine wine and beautiful women. After a few drinks, everyone had become very close, like a group of old friends that had known each other for years.

Once the three young men were lightly drunk, Chu Qiguang decided that it was about time to make a move. He dragged Wang Cailiang to the side, then said, “Brother Wang, I want to sell a batch of brain platinum to each of your friends as well.”

Wang Cailiang instantly sobered up, and a hesitant look appeared on his face.

“If you can help me sell brain platinum to them, I’ll charge you only two hundred taels of silver for brain platinum from now on,” Chu Qiguang offered.

“Wouldn’t that be a huge loss for you?” Wang Cailiang asked in surprise.

“Yes, which is why I have to make money from them,” Chu Qiguang replied, glancing at the three young men at the table.

Wang Cailiang thought about it for a moment, then negotiated, “Alright, but for each batch that I help you sell, you have to give me thirty taels of silver. No, twenty is enough.”

His voice trailed off as he nervously glanced at Chu Qiguang, worried that he might be asking for too much.

A reluctant look appeared on Chu Qiguang’s face as he said, “You’ve used brain platinum, so you know how amazing it is, and I’m sure you can tell that it’s not cheap. Even Hundred Refinement Ointment costs over thirty taels of silver per batch, let alone something of this quality. I’ll come clean with you. Right now, each batch costs me 380 taels of silver. At most, I can only give you ten taels of silver per batch.”

“Deal!” Wang Cailiang agreed immediately.

I’m already getting a discount of two hundred taels of silver for myself, and I’m also receiving ten taels of silver per batch sold! This is the best deal ever!

The two of them returned to the table, and Wang Cailiang began advertising Chu Qiguang’s brain platinum.

The three young men were skeptical, so Chu Qiguang told them that he was willing to give each of them one free treatment.

After dinner, the three young men were taken back to the courtyard where Chu Qiguang and Wang Cailiang were staying.

Jin Fugui was the first to be treated. He was invited into Chu Qiguang’s room before being instructed to lay down on the bed and close his eyes.

“Just relax. You may fall asleep during the treatment, but don’t be alarmed. It's a normal effect of the medicine...”

Qiao Zhi snuck over to Jin Fugui’s side before knocking him unconscious, then extracted some blood from him to see which type of blood best suited him.

“He’s a chicken blood guy. I’ll go find a chicken.”

Qiao Zhi leapt out of the window, then returned around fifteen minutes later before starting the treatment.

Just like with Wang Cailiang, the foundation establishment process was divided into ten treatments. Before long, Jin Fugui woke up.

The two young men waiting outside the room had begun to grow impatient when Jin Fugui stepped out, looking as though he were practically glowing.

Jin Fugui performed a few of his fist techniques, and he was ecstatic as he exclaimed, “It really works! I can feel a physical change!”

The other two young men were administered the same treatment.

In Chu Qiguang’s eyes, the Heavenly Fiend Foundation Establishment Technique had nothing to do with martial arts cultivation. Instead, it was more like a form of genetic mutation or the awakening of some kind of supernatural ability, and the immediate enhancement effects were unrivaled.

For students of Wise Hero Academy, any medicines that could enhance their bodies and aid them in their martial arts cultivation were viewed as extremely invaluable. After experiencing the initial treatment, the three young men’s opinion of Chu Qiguang rose to a whole new level.

Meanwhile, Chen Gang watched the three suckers sympathetically, knowing that they were about to be scammed.

“What medicine did you use on us?” Jin Fugui asked, barely able to contain his excitement. “It’s even more effective than the Heavenly Master Religion’s Hundred Refinement Ointment!”

“Brain platinum!” Wang Cailiang declared proudly.