Chapter Fifty-nine: Extraordinary (Fifth Night)

New Year's Day.

After breakfast, Gao Wu brought a prepared box of Purple Blood Spiritual Sea Cucumber tonic to the old man. The case was made of genuine leather, with finely polished matte black metal fittings, and the packaging looked exquisite.

Shang Hongyi was a little surprised when he opened the case, only to find ten bottles of transparent glass, each filled with a purple-red, blood-like solution. As the liquid rippled, faint sparks of spiritual light flickered within.

“Grandpa, I bought this Purple Blood Spiritual Sea Cucumber especially for you,” Gao Wu said proudly. In order to find the right tonic for the old man, he had spent no small effort probing his preferences. Thanks to Song Mingyue’s connections, he managed to purchase the sea cucumber for a million yuan.

This was a rare sea cucumber from the depths of an otherworldly icy sea. Once crushed and its blood extracted, the solution was purified through numerous processes. It could strengthen the body’s core vitality, without burdening the liver or kidneys.

Gao Wu had even tried bestowing the Azure Dragon Vital Spirit Mantra upon the old man, but found that the mantra required a spark of vital energy to activate. For the younger ones like Monkey and Wang Tiesong, the mantra was effective. But the old man, depleted by age, seemed immune to its effects.

Shang Hongyi had never seen Purple Blood Spiritual Sea Cucumber, but he could tell at a glance it was extremely expensive. His long white brows furrowed, and he was about to speak when Shang Qingjun quickly took his arm and said, “Xiao Wu is being filial. Please accept it.”

The old man was upright by nature and couldn’t stand waste, especially since Gao Wu was at a critical stage where every penny had to be used wisely. Seeing his granddaughter’s meaningful glance and remembering the young man’s good intentions, he couldn’t bear to dampen the mood.

“At my age, medicine or not makes little difference,” Shang Hongyi sighed. He closed the case, and after a moment of reflection, said with feeling, “Xiao Wu has grown up.”

Gao Wu grinned foolishly at his side. He knew the old man well; this “grown up” was the highest praise he could ever hope for!

There were other younger members of the Shang Hongyi family who would politely visit on New Year’s Day to pay respects. Gao Wu wasn’t familiar with these relatives, so he and Shang Qingjun dutifully poured tea and listened as the elders reminisced.

What surprised Gao Wu was that Monkey and Wang Tiesong actually came to visit together, carrying a box of apples and a box of oranges. Having spent more than half a month in the hospital, they’d returned home to recover. Though not fully healed, their youth enabled them to resume normal life.

They felt that their medical expenses had been resolved thanks to Gao Wu’s advocacy, so they agreed to come together and offer New Year’s greetings.

The three hadn’t been close; Wang Tiesong was reticent, and Monkey wasn’t sure what to say to Gao Wu. After a few auspicious greetings, Monkey and Wang Tiesong took their leave.

Gao Wu escorted them to the gate, and as they were about to depart, Monkey hesitated, then whispered in Gao Wu’s ear, “Coach Huang isn’t a good person. He’s in league with Jinyuan Corporation, selling fake drugs and running high-interest loans. Be careful…”

“Thank you,” Gao Wu replied, curious about Monkey’s source but unwilling to press further.

He watched them leave, feeling a strong urge to talk to Song Mingyue. Considering the phone’s unreliability, he sent her a flying message, arranging to meet the next day.

Song Mingyue replied promptly: “Alright.”

Back in his room, the old man was still chatting with guests. When Gao Wu returned, the old man beckoned, “Xiao Wu, come here. Your third uncle is a committee member for this year’s Xuetao Cup. Let him tell you about the tournament…”

Third Uncle was in his forties, of medium build, broad-shouldered and thick-backed, with large, rough hands and bright eyes. He wore a traditional sapphire blue cotton robe, sitting upright with an air of old-fashioned dignity.

The rise of Martial Emperor Qin Liuhe had made traditional culture unusually influential. Over the past century, technology had advanced rapidly, merging modernity and tradition seamlessly.

Modern Chinese style had become a symbol of status; those with some standing or age favored such attire. Martial artists and warriors, especially the older generation, preferred this style.

Gao Wu knew this man; his name was Shang Zhenglin, the old man's nephew—quite closely related. Shang Zhenglin visited the old man during holidays, but Gao Wu rarely interacted with him.

“Third Uncle,” Gao Wu greeted warmly, pouring tea and sitting beside him with an attentive posture.

Shang Zhenglin smiled. Recently, Gao Wu’s reputation had soared in Dongjiang. Knowing Gao Wu was adopted by the old man, he’d taken the trouble to learn about him, watched the video of Gao Wu slaying the cultist, and saw him boldly proclaiming himself the world’s greatest, leaving a strong impression.

“The Demon-Slaying Youth—currently riding high; few in Dongjiang haven’t heard of you.”

In front of Shang Hongyi, Shang Zhenglin praised Gao Wu generously, making the old man beam with pride.

He continued, “Though I’m on the committee, I can’t do much. But I can tell you about the competitors.

“This year’s strongest contender is Xu Sanhu, a lieutenant in the Aurora Legion, twenty-seven years old, with solid foundations and rich combat experience. His fighting style is fierce and uncompromising.

“The local favorite is Tie Biao, a Jinyuan Corporation expert, thirty-seven, once a professional hunter specializing in exotic beasts. He’s undergone bio-engineering surgery and is exceptionally formidable.”

Shang Zhenglin glanced at Gao Wu, knowing such brief descriptions hardly conveyed their true strength.

He thought for a moment and said, “Xu Sanhu and Tie Biao can easily defeat two Mad Dogs each.”

Gao Wu nodded; using Mad Dog as a benchmark, he immediately understood the terrifying prowess of these competitors—true top-tier martial artists, likely at the limit in every aspect.

“The committee also issued several wildcard invitations. Most noteworthy are Wan Cangshan from Yunling City and Bai Yushuang from Anjing. Bai Yushuang is only eighteen, exceptionally gifted, and participating in the Xuetao Cup in pursuit of a breakthrough…”

“Thank you, Third Uncle,” Gao Wu said sincerely.

Knowing this beforehand gave him a sense of preparedness, so he could be cautious when facing these opponents.

The Xuetao Cup would start on the thirteenth, with finals on the fifteenth.

Calculating the time, it would be enough for him to finish the Vajra Tonic. By then, his strength should exceed ten points, and his physical robustness would be significantly enhanced, maximizing his innate advantage.

Combined with the restorative effects of the Azure Dragon Vital Spirit Mantra, he should have a shot at the championship.

Shang Zhenglin wasn't optimistic about Gao Wu; in his view, Gao Wu was on the same level as Mad Dog. Against top-tier martial artists like Xu Sanhu, Gao Wu was far outmatched.

It was New Year’s, and he wouldn’t dampen spirits in front of the old man, so he offered further praise and promised to help if Gao Wu reached the semifinals.

The old man warmly invited Shang Zhenglin and his group to stay for lunch, but they politely declined.

Shang Qingjun and Gao Wu escorted them to the gate, watching as they drove away before returning inside.

Seated at the head, the old man smiled, “Zhenglin is shrewd, but he’s a good man. If you really make it to the semifinals, don’t trouble him. With strength, you can win the championship; without it, tricks are meaningless.”

“Yes, Grandpa, I understand,” Gao Wu replied cheerfully. “Third Uncle was just being polite—I wouldn’t take it seriously.”

“Don’t blame Zhenglin; he’s talking about top martial artists, each with unique skills.” Shang Hongyi originally wanted to tell Gao Wu not to push himself, but felt the words might be discouraging.

He could see that Gao Wu had been using tonics again, his body clearly stronger. Though he disapproved, he hesitated to speak further.

The child had grown and had his own ideas. What he deemed right might not truly be so…

After lunch, Shang Qingjun ran to Gao Wu’s room to chat, asking directly, “You’re using tonics again?”

In just a few months, Gao Wu had grown much stronger. She knew he must be using some kind of medicine. Seeing that he was in fine condition, she hadn’t pressed him before.

Grandpa had just told her to advise Xiao Wu, so she hurried over.

As a student of biological sciences, Shang Qingjun specialized in biopharmaceuticals and was well aware of the dangers of various gene tonics on the market.

“Yes,” Gao Wu replied, knowing he couldn't fool her. “Jun-jie, you know my body is unusual. I survived that serious injury for this reason. After several tests, I discovered I have exceptional drug resistance. You don’t need to worry.”

Shang Qingjun’s bright eyes were full of worry. She trusted Xiao Wu but felt he was too optimistic. Gene tonics penetrated to the genetic level, causing damage that could be very subtle, detectable only with professional instruments.

“This is the Vajra Tonic. Let me demonstrate and you’ll understand.”

Knowing Shang Qingjun didn’t believe him, Gao Wu took a tonic from the bedside cabinet and injected two milliliters.

Shang Qingjun was startled—no one used tonics like that! She didn’t have time to stop him and could only grab his hand, trying to take him to the bathroom to cool him down.

But she was no match for Gao Wu’s strength. He actively resisted, and Shang Qingjun couldn’t move him at all.

She grew anxious, “Vajra Tonic generates high temperatures that can fry your brain—don’t do this!”

“No worries,” Gao Wu’s skin was already flushed red, his face deeper than a monkey’s. Shang Qingjun’s grip felt scorching, and she grew even more agitated, “Xiao Wu, stop!”

“Jun-jie, I’m really fine.” Gao Wu’s eyes burned crimson, giving him a frightening look, but his breathing was steady, his demeanor relaxed, and his speech logical—showing he was perfectly rational.

Gao Wu calmly chatted with Shang Qingjun, and after less than two minutes, the heat dissipated and he returned to normal.

From the outside, there was no sign of anything amiss.

Having witnessed the entire process, Shang Qingjun was stunned. Xiao Wu’s reaction was uncanny, completely contrary to everything she understood about the Vajra Tonic!