Ian exited the Scripture Pavilion; it was already past seven in the evening.
Andrew Zhao personally escorted Ian Song back to his room and told him that a servant would bring him dinner.
With a thought, Ian summoned the system interface, but before he could check anything, a string of system prompts rang out:
"System scan detected the martial art 'Ninefold Dragon Step.' Spend 400,000 Fame Points to learn?"
"System scan detected the martial art 'Whirlwind Thirty-Nine Kicks.' Spend 450,000 Fame Points to learn?"
"System scan detected the martial art 'Thousand-Hands Strike.' Spend 480,000 Fame Points to learn?"
"System scan detected the medical skill 'Golden Needle Method.' Spend 100,000 Fame Points to learn?"
Hearing all these prompts, Ian quickly checked his Fame Points. Just today, he'd earned several hundred thousand more, bringing his total to 1,699,833.
The three martial arts and one medical skill required a total of 1,430,000 Fame Points, but he still had plenty left over.
So, Ian decided to learn them all at once.
"Learn everything!"
In an instant, 1,430,000 Fame Points were deducted, and with a buzzing sound, Ian felt a flood of information cram into his mind, making him extremely uncomfortable.
The sensation lasted a full ten minutes before fading. When his mind cleared, Ian realized all three martial arts and the medical skill had completely merged with his soul, as if he'd practiced them for years and could now use them with total proficiency.
Thud, thud, thud!
Someone was knocking at the door—it was the servant bringing his dinner.
"Good evening, young master," the auntie said respectfully as she brought in the food.
"Come in, please," Ian replied.
She set the dishes on the table, politely told him to enjoy his meal, and then left.
After dinner, Ian walked out of his room and took a stroll in the courtyard before returning.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Ian took out the jade bottle of Vital Essence Pills, opened the stopper, and poured out a fragrant pill into his mouth.
The pill melted instantly in his mouth, transforming into a warm current that fused into his body...
Running the Origin-Nurturing Scripture to refine the pill’s power, Ian absorbed all the medicinal energy in less than twenty minutes. He could feel he was just a hair’s breadth away from breaking through to Innate Second Layer.
As the saying goes, strike while the iron is hot—so he poured out another Vital Essence Pill and tossed it into his mouth.
This time, before he’d even fully absorbed the pill’s power, he sensed the breakthrough coming.
The true-yuan in his dantian started circulating through his meridians all on its own, opening up a new pathway and forming a fresh internal circuit.
After one grand cycle, the true-yuan returned to his dantian, which exploded with a booming sensation. His mind roared as well.
After a moment, the phenomenon faded. His dantian had expanded to more than double its previous size, and his true-yuan had increased by about twofold, becoming even more refined.
"Ding! Host's mental power has broken through to 200 points. System upgraded to Level 3. One lottery draw awarded!"
The system voice was as cold as ever, but this time, Ian found it strangely delightful.
With a thought, he pulled up the system interface and saw that his level had already changed to Level 3. His stamina had risen from 1800 to 1900, and his mental power had gone from 181 to 203.
"Meow-Meow, come out! Time for a lottery spin!" Ian called out.
The prize wheel expanded. Ian jabbed his finger hard onto the 'Prize' character, and the pointer began to spin...
Last time he leveled up to 2, the lottery only gave him 'Super Chef.' Hopefully this spin wouldn't be so lame.
Finally, the pointer stopped on a red segment.
"Damn it! I knew it! Freebie rewards are never that great!" Ian cursed, seeing the words 'Super Driver' appear on the red segment.
The words melted into golden light and sank into Ian’s mind.
A few minutes later, the fusion finished, and he realized he could now drive cars, fly planes, pilot yachts, and even operate tanks.
The next morning.
After eating the breakfast brought by the servant auntie, Charles Zhao came knocking at his door.
"Ian, hurry up and come with me! Your fourth uncle is taking you somewhere fun and exciting!"
Ian remembered Charles Zhao joking yesterday about introducing him to some female celebrities on the way from the airport, so he quickly shook his head. "Fourth Uncle, I just learned a few martial arts. I want to get used to them first, so I'm not going!"
"You can practice martial arts anytime. A little delay won't hurt!" Charles Zhao didn’t care whether Ian agreed or not—he just dragged him out the door.
With no choice, Ian said, "Fine, Fourth Uncle, let go of me. I'll go with you."
"Now that's more like it!" Charles Zhao laughed smugly.
In the car.
Ian asked nervously, "Fourth Uncle, where are you taking me?"
"Relax, it's definitely exciting!" Charles Zhao replied.
"Fourth Uncle, I'm still a student. Should I really be going to a place like that?"
Charles Zhao was stunned for a moment, then realized what Ian was thinking and teased him. "Kid, what are you imagining? I’m taking you to a jade-gambling house. I heard a new batch of old-pit rough stones from Blackfield just arrived. What, are you getting lovesick? Want me to find you a girl to help you vent? Celebrities, college students, nurses, stewardesses, policewomen—I can arrange them all for you."
Ian’s face flushed red at Charles’s teasing. He waved his hands frantically, "No, no, that's not necessary!"
"Don’t tell me you’re still a virgin?" Charles Zhao said in surprise, seeing Ian’s embarrassment.
"Fourth Uncle, if you keep teasing me, I’ll get mad!" Ian said, half angry and half embarrassed.
"Haha! Looks like I guessed right. Don’t worry, before you head back to Riverstone City, I’ll definitely arrange a beauty to break your innocence!"
Ian just rolled his eyes and shut his mouth.
Compared to the two stone-betting shops in Riverstone City, the jade-gambling district Charles brought Ian to was a cluster of dozens of venues.
Finally, with Charles leading the way, they arrived at a shop called Jade Beauty Hall.
The shop covered a huge area and was lavishly decorated.
"Fourth Master Zhao, I’ve been waiting for you! Please come in!"
A young married woman in a tight cheongsam, her long hair and ample chest drawing attention, greeted them with a bright smile.
This chapter isn’t over yet~.~ Click next page to continue reading the exciting story!
"Boss Yan, your business is getting bigger and bigger!" Charles Zhao said, his eyes sweeping over her chest with a grin.
"Fourth Master, you flatter me. It’s just a small operation, nothing worthy of your attention!" Boss Yan replied.
"Boss Yan, your mouth is getting sweeter by the day. By the way, I heard you got a batch of old-pit rough stones in. Hurry and show me!"
"Of course, Fourth Master. This way, sir." Boss Yan gestured for them to enter.
Suddenly, a mocking voice rang out: "Well, if it isn't Fourth Master Zhao. Here to gamble on stones again? Aren’t you afraid of losing everything?" A middle-aged man in his forties strode over, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Charles Zhao shot back without missing a beat, "Oh, it’s you, Old Seven Li. Whether I win or lose is none of your damn business!"
The man’s expression shifted, but he quickly retorted, "Just trying to be helpful. Don’t lose too badly."
Charles Zhao sneered, "Even if I lose, I won’t be borrowing money from you. Quit your whining and scram—talking to you too much will ruin my luck!"
Li was provoked and snapped, "Zhao Changming, do you dare bet against me?"
"There’s nothing I don’t dare! I’ll take you on!" Charles Zhao declared without hesitation.
Old Seven Li, worried Charles Zhao might back out, quickly said, "Fine! We’ll each pick a rough stone and see whose jade is worth more. Winner takes all. Let’s keep it simple—one hundred million. I’m afraid you don’t have enough for a bigger bet!"
"A hundred million is nothing! Let’s make it three hundred million!" Charles Zhao roared.
A flash of triumph flickered in Old Seven Li’s eyes. He clapped his hands, "Good! Fourth Master Zhao, you’re bold! Boss Yan, bring out two betting contracts!"