Although there is still some way to go before completely expelling the Acquired Muddy Qi and achieving the Postnatal Great Perfection physique, this is at least a significant step forward.
With this momentum, Zhao Ya continued to practice other martial arts.
Feeling inspired, Zhao Ya leapt onto the roof, left the Capital City directly, and chose a remote location to practice martial arts that require larger movements.
After finishing the final move of the Great Vajra Fist, Zhao Ya slowly exhaled a stream of white breath, which dispersed only after extending over three meters away.
Seeing this unusual phenomenon, Zhao Ya was delighted and quickly opened the attribute panel.
Name: Zhao Ya. Age: 20. Remaining lifespan: 494 (+324 days) years
Skills: Eight Vajra Longevity Skill (Peak Performance 78%)
Five Tiger Fist (Returning to the Essence 33%)
Gale Saber Technique (Returning to the Essence 39%)
Light as a Feather (Returning to the Essence 19%)
Concealing Breath Technique (Peak Performance 99%)
Great Stone-Throwing Hand (Peak Performance 54%)
Great Vajra Fist (Peak Performance 51%)
Golden Body Technique (Peak Performance 87%)
Little Five Paths Chasing Soul Leg (Peak Performance 1%)
[Lung unlock progress: 50%]
After supplementing with that piece of dried meat, advancements in all aspects were remarkable, but the most noticeable was that the lung unlock progress had finally reached fifty percent.
Once the internal organs unlock to fifty percent, their innate talents gradually become apparent.
For example, Zhao Ya now felt his breathing was incomparably smooth, like a fish long dried has finally returned to water, with every cell in his body rejoicing.
Just one piece of dried meat increased lung unlock progress by at least three percent, so with this box of Black Flood Dragon Dried Meat, the lungs could be fully unlocked.
It seems the generous gift sent by Yun Yuan is indeed quite substantial.
For the next few days, Zhao Ya went nowhere and stayed at home all day practicing martial arts.
With the support of crazily chewing on dried meat as if eating meals, Zhao Ya’s strength accelerated into the fast lane, growing at an almost frightening pace.
The Acquired Muddy Qi in the bone marrow was gradually decreasing, which also meant that advancing to the Fifth Realm was no longer an unattainable goal, but a threshold that could be perceived.
Just then, the channel he set up in the Anshan Square Inn received news from Chen Xiao’Er.
A secret hideout for He Town hidden in Yan Capital City was found.
Zhao Ya immediately stopped practicing and met with Chen Xiao’Er at the agreed location.
"As per your instructions, I have been discreetly inquiring about the news, and today I finally got the answer. It turns out He Town indeed has a secret hideout in the city. Let me take you there now!" Chen Xiao’Er said excitedly when they met.
In contrast, Zhao Ya was much calmer.
"How did you get this information?"
Chen Xiao’Er replied, "A friend of mine told me. He said that when He Town was alive, he would often disappear without reason, and by chance, my friend saw him in Cyan Dragon Square, but He Town didn’t notice him. He was too afraid to speak up, so he kept it a secret until He Town died before telling me."
"Once informed, I focused on investigating and indeed found some clues at Cyan Dragon Square."
Undoubtedly, Chen Xiao’Er is a talent.
He could deduce many things from sparse details and conduct investigations based on them.
This alone is better than many people.
After carefully questioning Chen Xiao’Er, ensuring there were no traps or signs of a setup by the Four Seas Gang, Zhao Ya decided to go to Cyan Dragon Square.
This Cyan Dragon Square is located in the southernmost part of Yan Capital City, close to Qixia Gate, and the inhabitants are mostly from the bottom of society.
He Town chose such a place for a secret hideout, which shows a lot of thought.
Upon arrival at Cyan Dragon Square, Chen Xiao’Er quietly pointed.
"See it? It’s that house at the innermost part of the alley."
Zhao Ya nodded, "Find a hidden place to stay, and I’ll go take a look by myself."
"Understood!"
Zhao Ya wasn’t worried about Chen Xiao’Er’s safety. Someone like him, who has been living on the streets since childhood, could hide from an average Martial Artist if he wanted.
Although it was morning, Cyan Dragon Square wasn’t bustling; many people had gone out to make a living, so the area appeared deserted.
Zhao Ya used his Body Technique to first move to the side of the house at the alley’s end and listened carefully.
After a moment, Zhao Ya frowned.
Though there were no sounds, Zhao Ya’s Ear Power was keen enough to notice much.
He heard breathing from at least three people inside, two of whom had young breaths, likely kids, and a third, though an adult, had scattered breaths, suggesting no martial arts skills.
What’s going on?
Why would He Town, after putting so much effort into setting up a hideout, have such people guard it?
After ruling out potential dangers, Zhao Ya slipped into the courtyard silently.
The people inside were completely unaware, even when Zhao Ya barged in, only waking up once he entered.
One was a woman in her twenties, and beside her were two children only about four or five years old.
At the sight of Zhao Ya intruding alone, the woman appeared terrified, shielding the two children closely, and stammered.
"Please... sir, we have nothing at home, I beg you to spare us three."
Facing this situation, Zhao Ya understood immediately.
It turned out that He Town did indeed have people delivering things here, but this wasn’t a secret hideout; it was He Town’s mistress.
The two kids, without asking, should be He Town’s offspring.
Zhao Ya silently cursed Chen Xiao’Er for being careless, not doing enough homework beforehand, resulting in this misunderstanding.
But at this point, he had no choice but to put on a stern face and ask, "Don’t talk nonsense. Who is He Town to you?"
"He Town? I don’t know anyone by that name!"
"Then whose kids are these?" Zhao Ya pointed at the two children.
Surprisingly, these two kids weren’t afraid of Zhao Ya but instead gazed at him with their dark eyes.
"Of course, they’re my husband’s, but my husband’s surname is not He; his name is Liu Guan!" the woman replied tremblingly.
"Where is he now?"
"He said he was going out for business, claiming it would take a month or two to return, but now it’s been three months without any word. Please sir, this is all the silver we have; don’t harm us, I beg for our lives!"
The woman pulled out a handful of scattered silver taels, pleading bitterly.
Zhao Ya knew He Town probably hadn’t told this woman the truth, not even revealing his real name.
Yet seeing her utterly devoted appearance, He Town seemed to have treated her well.
"Alright, answer a few of my questions honestly, and I won’t harm you or your kids. Understand?"
"Yes, sir, please ask!"
"Did your husband say anything before he left?"
"He didn’t... He only said he was out for business, telling me to take good care of the kids and go out as little as possible."
Observing the woman’s expression, Zhao Ya was certain she wasn’t lying and felt quite disappointed.
Could it be that he was wrong?
Maybe He Town had no secret hideout; all he had was what he carried?
"Did he leave anything behind?" Zhao Ya asked persistently.
"No... he only left some scattered silver, nothing else."
Zhao Ya sighed inwardly, realizing this trip might yield no results.
He glanced at the woman, noting her plain looks, just a good figure.
He didn’t expect the murderous He Town to be fond of women, going through so much trouble just for an ordinary woman.
The woman seemed to misinterpret Zhao Ya’s gaze, paled, and quickly shielded the kids’ eyes while stammering.
"Sir... as long as you don’t harm my kids, I’ll do anything you want, but can you not do it in front of them?"
Zhao Ya found this both amusing and frustrating but maintained a stern face and said, "Stop with the nonsense. I said I won’t harm you, and I won’t. But I must warn you, your man is in some trouble out there, and soon others might come to cause trouble for you. To stay safe, you should leave here as soon as possible."
Since Zhao Ya could locate this place, others could as well.
If the Four Seas Gang or anyone else with a grudge against He Town came, the fate of the mother and her kids would be grim.
So Zhao Ya gave this advice and turned to leave.
At that moment, seemingly moved by Zhao Ya’s words, the woman suddenly called out to him.
"Wait a moment!"
"Hmm?"
"My husband left something with me before he left."