I Can Strengthen Infinitely-Chapter 174 - 144: The Strength of Nine and a Half Horses

After leaving the yamen, Qin Yuesheng first went to Xu Chang's place.

This time, he was busy running around for the sealing matter and collected a lot of materials from the Ghost Race. If he exchanged all of them for hostility contributions, he believed he could exchange them for many things.

As he entered the pawnshop, Qin Yuesheng went straight to the back hall. Upon seeing Xu Chang, he tossed over a dozen pieces of the blue scales from the faceless ones.

"Exchange them all." Qin Yuesheng sat on a chair, "Get me a book of External Forging Skill, a book on Black Dog Boxing Skill, and some pills for tempering the physique."

"I'll go prepare right away, Lord Qin."

"Hey, wait a minute." Qin Yuesheng stopped Xu Chang, "Do you have any pills that are effective for the eyes?"

"Is the lord referring to pills that relieve eye fatigue after consumption when the eyes are tired?"

"Sort of, but it has to be pills that help the eyes." Qin Yuesheng thought for a moment, "I once heard that there is a sharpshooters' army in Chang'an. Though comprising only over three thousand men, each is a master archer, hitting targets with unmatched precision. To see farther, they often consume pills that enhance vision. Do you have such pills?"

"Oh, yes, we do. This kind of pill is called 'Eagle Eye Pill'. After taking it, one gradually gains eyes as sharp as a hawk, able to see others' features from hundreds of feet away."

Qin Yuesheng nodded, "Get me all you have in that aspect."

The faceless ones are far more powerful than typical Ghost Race members, and their scale armor is invaluable. Qin Yuesheng brought over a hundred pieces this time to exchange for enough items.

While Xu Chang was searching in the warehouse, Qin Yuesheng dumped all the scales from his Celestial Demon waist pouch onto the table, waiting for his counterpart to come and count them later.

Besides exchanging for eye-enhancing pills this time, Qin Yuesheng also wanted External Forging Skill and some physique-tempering pills.

These are naturally not for his own use. The External Forging Skill is for Cao Zhengchun, who has been loyal and diligent for him for some time. Letting him become an External Martial Artist is a reward for his loyalty.

And the physique-tempering pills are for Huo Bang and Cao Zhengchun.

Huo Bang is currently an official of the Wood Toad. Since Zuo Zonghao won't take him to Chang'an for duties, he naturally has to stay in Cyan Yang City to solve various strange events for the people here, dealing with ghosts and monsters.

With Qin Yuesheng's current official rank, Huo Bang is his subordinate. In the future, he will inevitably share some duties with Huo Bang, asking him to help complete some tasks. But if his strength is too weak, it won't be helpful, so as long as it's within his abilities, Qin Yuesheng plans to help him.

Soon, Xu Chang came out of the warehouse with a large basket, "Lord Qin, I've brought all the items you requested. We are old acquaintances, if your contribution is insufficient, I can let you owe it first."

At this moment, he saw the pile of scales that Qin Yuesheng had already dumped on the table and was immediately stunned.

Where did so many come from?

"These are for exchange; that should be sufficient, right?" Qin Yuesheng said.

"Enough, enough."

Receiving the basket from Xu Chang, Qin Yuesheng lifted the lid and looked inside. In addition to a book titled "Iron Body of Hundred Refinings" External Forging Skill and "Black Dog Boxing Skill", the box contained a total of 125 porcelain bottles, with seventy bottles separated from the other fifty-five.

"Which side is for tempering and which side is for the eyes?" Qin Yuesheng asked.

"The fewer ones are for the eyes, and the more are for tempering."

Qin Yuesheng picked up the basket and headed towards the door leading to the backyard.

Currently, his strength has increased more than double compared to the last test, yet he needs to test again to clearly understand his current power level.

This is also one of the purposes of Qin Yuesheng's visit to the pawnshop this time.

Knowing that not much time has passed since the last strength test, if his progress is too significant, it might astonish others. Thus, Qin Yuesheng forbade Xu Chang from following and went alone to the Ten Horse Copper Platform.

With experience from last time, Qin Yuesheng naturally had an easy and familiar approach this time. He didn't bother with the step-by-step method. He immediately grabbed four chains with one hand, which, if anyone were watching, would likely shock them. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!

As Qin Yuesheng exerted force, four copper horses raised their front hooves to the maximum limit, unable to go any further.

The power of four horses was easily achieved, and Qin Yuesheng still felt utterly at ease, without any pressure.

Thus, he grabbed four more chains with one hand while clutching another four with his other hand in one go.

"Lift!!"

Under exertion, the new set of four copper horses slowly rose, reaching the top in less than a breath or two.

At this moment, Qin Yuesheng finally felt a slight burning and weakness in his arms as he began to lose some strength.

However, he still gritted his teeth and reached for the ninth chain, gripping it tightly in his hand.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The ninth bronze horse slowly rose bit by bit. From the initial speed, it was clear that Qin Yuesheng had almost reached the limit of his strength.

Boom!

Finally, under Qin Yuesheng's persistence, the ninth iron horse reached the top.

Nine-horse strength!

If Xu Chang were present at this moment, he would probably have been so shocked he'd fall to the ground.

Anyone with nine-horse strength is a siege weapon in themselves. On the battlefield, if Qin Yuesheng were to wield a battering ram charging alone at the city gates, breaking through wouldn't take more than the burning of an incense stick's time.

Glancing at the last tenth chain, then at his own arms bulging with veins, Qin Yuesheng couldn't resist his inner desire to break through his limits. Once more, he reached out to grab it.

At this moment, burdened by the terrifying weight of nine bronze horses, Qin Yuesheng's every move turned exceedingly difficult. As he grasped the tenth chain, he suddenly channeled the Inner Strength from his Dantian, and with one burst of effort, he pulled it up.

The tenth bronze horse quickly lifted, but halfway up, Qin Yuesheng could no longer hold onto the ten chains.

All ten bronze horses immediately fell back onto the bronze platform, resounding with a tremendous crash.

Qin Yuesheng's arms trembled as he looked at the platform, his palms starting to feel numb.

All efforts were in vain; the final test concluded at nine and a half-horse strength, falling short of a complete ten-horse power by a certain distance.

Sitting cross-legged to regulate his breath with the Nourishing Essence Skill, Qin Yuesheng steadied the chaotic energy within him caused by overexertion before standing up, picking up a basket, and leaving the backyard.

Xu Chang came over at once: "Lord Qin, have you made any progress?"

"Just a bit of progress," Qin Yuesheng replied with a mysterious smile.

...

Huo Bang was indeed a devoted son. When Qin Yuesheng arrived at his house, Huo Bang was outside, brewing medicine for his parents as he did last time.

Although Qin Yuesheng had eradicated the plague, preventing mosquitoes from secretly spreading the cold, those already afflicted were not recovering quickly. They still needed to take their medicine.

A little girl, no older than eleven or twelve, stood beside Huo Bang, holding a palm-leaf fan.

As Huo Bang fanned the furnace fire, she fanned Huo Bang. Quite a gentle and considerate sister.

"Huo Bang," Qin Yuesheng called out as he approached.

"Oh, Brother Qin, what brings you here?" Huo Bang passed the fan to his sister, gesturing for her to keep the fire going, and then rose to greet Qin Yuesheng.

Through several previous chats, Huo Bang already learned that Qin Yuesheng was actually the young master of the Qin family. His family was prominent and wealthy, and his official rank surpassed Huo Bang's. If considering official etiquette, he should respectfully address him as Lord.

But Huo Bang's nature was extremely straightforward. Once he knew how to address you, whether you rise to wealth and fame or fall into poverty, he'd treat you the same.

This made Qin Yuesheng quite comfortable; otherwise, constant addressing with 'lord' and excessive flattery and sycophancy would make him lose interest in conversing.

"I brought you something," Qin Yuesheng said, placing the Black Dog Boxing Skill and thirty porcelain bottles on the table next to the furnace.

Huo Bang was puzzled, "What are these?"

"Body Tempering Pills, beneficial for external forging cultivation," Qin Yuesheng patted his shoulder, "In the future, Cyan Yang City will rely on you and me, but for now, your strength is insufficient. Try to advance as much as you can."

"Brother Qin, how much silver do these cost?" Huo Bang was momentarily flustered, looking at the thirty bottles neatly arranged.

"They're free, take them and train well, don't disappoint my expectations," Qin Yuesheng smiled and pulled a dossier from his pouch, handing it to Huo Bang, "This is a new task for you. If you need help, come to the Qin Mansion."

The two dossiers Xun Sheng gave to Qin Yuesheng described two mysterious incidents occurring in vastly different locations—one several miles south of Cyan Yang City, and the other over ten miles northwest. After assessing their danger levels, Qin Yuesheng decided to assign the less dangerous task to Huo Bang. After all, joining the Seven-Star Wardens as a Wood Toad official, one needs to handle supernatural anomalies alone.

This was a test for Huo Bang, not out of laziness or the desire to avoid doing both tasks alone.

"Alright, I understand, Brother Qin. I will complete this task," Huo Bang pounded his chest in response.

"Make sure to train diligently with the Black Dog Boxing Skill; you'll be dealing with ghosts, not humans. This skill will help you significantly. Also, don't share the Body Tempering Pills with your family; they haven't routinely trained, and their bodies are too weak. Consuming them will do more harm than good," Qin Yuesheng advised.

The potency of Body Tempering Pills was too fierce. Non-external forging Martial Artists couldn't withstand it. Qin Yuesheng feared that if he didn't warn Huo Bang, he might share them out of good intentions and cause harm.

Huo Bang nodded repeatedly, "Okay, I understand."