Chapter 143: The God of War (Fifth Update)

"Saint-grade? That's a priceless treasure!" Fatty Gu lamented, full of regret. "If I had known, I would have eaten it slowly to savor the taste. At least then I would have something to brag about!"

"Heh!" Xin Lang chuckled. "It was just a third-grade Saint-tier pill. I have hundreds more here! By the way, take one for your old man."

After giving one to Fatty Gu, Xin Lang remained impartial and gave one each to Qian Baidu and Hong Jinfeng. As for the one meant for Qian Baidu, he would naturally save it for Qian Qianqian, and as for what Hong Jinfeng would do with his, Xin Lang did not care.

"Third-grade Saint-tier!"

The three of them stared at the Marrow Cleansing Pills in their hands, too stunned to speak.

A ninth-grade Alchemist Grandmaster was already shocking enough, but now that Xin Lang had refined a third-grade Saint-tier pill, he was essentially a third-tier Saint Alchemist! What kind of existence was this? The three of them couldn't even begin to fathom it. Even though Fatty Gu and Qian Baidu had mentally prepared themselves, they were still completely floored by Xin Lang.

Xin Lang had been busy for a day and a night and was feeling hungry. He said to the trio, "Let's go, time to eat!"

The four arrived at Taste Supreme. Xin Lang ordered a table full of food and said to them, "Your task is to finish every dish on this table. If you can't, don't bother following me anymore!"

Upon hearing this, the three of them rolled up their sleeves and began to feast.

Although Xin Lang had been hungry for a day, he couldn't compete with the three of them and ended up only half-full.

After they had their fill, Xin Lang brought them back to the men's dormitory, room 2012.

Xin Lang asked them solemnly, "What level have your internal energies reached?"

"Uh... Boss, I've been working hard, but I've only reached the seventh level of internal energy. Even if I push myself to the limit, it will take at least two months to reach the peak of the Martial Artist stage! As for how long it will take to advance to the Grandmaster stage, I can't guarantee that!" Fatty Gu answered first.

After Fatty Gu finished, Qian Baidu immediately stated, "Boss, although I can't guarantee I'll be faster than the fatty, I promise I won't be left behind by him!"

Hong Jinfeng, who had always been bold and unrestrained, fell silent. When he first arrived at the Martial Arts Academy, his cultivation was a level higher than Xin Lang's. Now, not only had Xin Lang reached the Grandmaster stage, but even Fatty Gu and Qian Baidu had surpassed him.

Xin Lang said, "If your strength were in Nine Sun City, you would definitely be considered geniuses. But here in the Summer Capital, the Martial Arts Academy is teeming with talent; if you don't reach the Grandmaster stage, you can't even be called a genius. Besides, if you follow me, it would be embarrassing for you not to possess the strength of a Grandmaster. Therefore, I want to enhance your strength. However, this process carries great danger. If anyone is afraid, I will respect their choice."

Fatty Gu was the first to declare, "Boss, no need to say more. I'm following you for the rest of my life!"

Qian Baidu added, "Boss, I believe that with you around, no danger is too great!"

Xin Lang looked at Hong Jinfeng. With Fatty Gu and Qian Baidu having expressed their loyalty, only Hong Jinfeng hesitated.

Hong Jinfeng was not like the other two; his trust in Xin Lang had not reached that level of blind faith. He knew Xin Lang was formidable, but the idea of elevating an internal energy-stage martial artist to the Grandmaster level was something he simply couldn't believe.

After holding back for a long time, Hong Jinfeng said, "Boss, I think cultivation should be a steady, step-by-step process..."

"Enough! You coward!" Before Hong Jinfeng could finish, Fatty Gu interrupted him.

"Exactly! What a waste of the Boss's third-grade Saint-tier Marrow Cleansing Pill!" Qian Baidu sided with Fatty Gu once again.

Xin Lang shook his head and said, "Since you wish to cultivate on your own, I respect your choice."

Xin Lang took ten Qi Transformation Pills and a low-tier Heaven-grade technique, the "Qi Transformation Art," from his robe. He handed them to Hong Jinfeng and said, "Although you haven't reached the peak of the Martial Artist stage, you can try cultivating this Heaven-grade technique. Take one Qi Transformation Pill each time you practice; these are first-grade Saint-tier pills. Perhaps a miracle will happen."

"Boss, I..." Seeing Xin Lang treat him with such sincerity, Hong Jinfeng already regretted his decision, but it was too late. Years later, when Hong Jinfeng recalled today's decision, he would be filled with agonizing regret.

In his previous life, Xin Lang was a citizen of the Great Xia Dynasty and had long heard of the legendary Vajra War God, whom he deeply admired. That was why he had gifted Hong Jinfeng the pills and the technique; his future achievements would depend on his own destiny.

However, Xin Lang already knew in his heart that Hong Jinfeng's greatest achievement in this life would be the Martial Saint stage.

Xin Lang said calmly to Hong Jinfeng, "I still need to help the other two improve their strength. You should head back and cultivate."

Clutching the ten Qi Transformation Pills and the Heaven-grade technique, Hong Jinfeng felt a complex mix of emotions. He bowed deeply to Xin Lang and said, "Boss... I... I'm leaving!"

"Hmm..." Xin Lang let out a long sigh. "Go. Once you achieve greatness, protect the people of the Great Xia nation well."

Hong Jinfeng understood that from this moment on, he could no longer follow Xin Lang. Furthermore, he no longer had the face to do so.

Watching Hong Jinfeng's departing figure, Xin Lang murmured, "People of the Great Xia nation, I have returned your Vajra War God to you."

Having said this, Xin Lang felt a sense of clarity and no longer held any grudge against Hong Jinfeng's choice.

"Boss, are we really just letting him go like that?" Fatty Gu asked indignantly.

"Yeah!" Qian Baidu added, "You gave him so much, and he didn't even say thank you!"

Xin Lang, having reached a resolution, no longer felt sorrowful. He chuckled, "In the future, if you two ever choose to leave me, I will give you a grand gift as well!"

"Pfft! Don't want it!"

"Not interested!"

The responses from Fatty Gu and Qian Baidu warmed Xin Lang's heart. He composed himself and said, "Since you two have chosen to stay, who wants to take the risk first and let me use them for my experiment?"

Qian Baidu said, "This fat guy has too much blubber, and all his vital signs are different from a normal person's. Even if the experiment succeeds for the Boss, the method used on him wouldn't work for me, so I should go first!"

"Heh, I'm the second brother. According to the order, it should be me first. Go queue up behind me!" Fatty Gu retorted.

"Damn fatty, who acknowledged you as the second brother? I said I'm going first, so I'm going first! If you're not happy, let's settle it with a fight!" Qian Baidu rolled up his sleeves, refusing to back down.

"Hmph, you stinking brat, I'm not afraid of you! Come on, whoever loses is the little third!" Fatty Gu took off his shirt and threw it on the ground.

At this, Xin Lang said, "Alright, stop arguing. Both of you come together!"