Looking at the small pile of grayish-brown powder in front of him, Zhao Ya didn't rush to eat it but first conducted an experiment on a stray dog. After confirming there were no problems, he tried putting it into his mouth.

The taste was extremely bitter, so much so that even Zhao Ya couldn't help but frown.

But soon, the powder transformed into a wave of heat flowing into his stomach.

The long-starved stomach seemed like parched earth encountering sweet rain, greedily absorbing the heat.

Even under the strong absorption talent of Water and Valley Essence, this heat persisted for a full five minutes before being completely absorbed.

Then Zhao Ya exhaled contentedly, feeling an indescribable comfort throughout his body.

It's worth noting that Zhao Ya had already finished all his jerky a few days ago. After the supply was cut, he had to temporarily supplement with bacon and hunted game meat.

But this meat was of poor quality, full of impurities, so even with the talent of Water and Valley Essence, Zhao Ya had to exert a lot of effort.

Most importantly, it didn't meet Zhao Ya's Qi Blood requirements.

So, for the past few days, Zhao Ya had been in a semi-hungry state.

It wasn't until today, after consuming this Blood Replenishing Powder, that Zhao Ya finally regained the feeling of being full.

Moreover, Zhao Ya felt that the Qi Blood transformed from this Blood Replenishing Powder was even purer and stronger than that of the Qi Blood Pill.

It seems that wild herbs are indeed stronger than those artificially cultivated.

Zhao Ya sighed in his heart.

Based on the amount of the first batch, the remaining herbs could make about forty portions of Blood Replenishing Powder.

Given the current state, one portion of Blood Replenishing Powder is at least enough for three days.

This instantly solved Zhao Ya's Qi Blood problem.

Zhao Ya estimated that after consuming all the Blood Replenishing Powder, his heart would likely be successfully unlocked.

With the support of a strong heart, he might even be able to reach Membrane Forging, becoming a third realm expert before winter arrives.

Contented, Zhao Ya packed up his things, and then he heard a series of barks.

He saw that the stray dog previously fed with Blood Replenishing Powder had swelled in size and was now fiercely glaring at him, barking incessantly.

It seemed that if Zhao Ya hadn't chained it in advance, the stray dog might have dared to attack him.

In response, Zhao Ya just smiled faintly.

"Don't be hasty, the experiment isn't over yet!"

With that, Zhao Ya took out the small bottles containing poison, donned gloves, opened the bottle of Itch Powder, scooped a small amount with a spoon, and threw it onto the stray dog.

The dog was first stunned, then fell to the ground, struggling violently.

In moments, the dog's fur was scraped by the rocks on the ground, leaving bloody marks.

That wasn't enough; the dog, seemingly itching to the extreme, even turned to bite itself.

With blood oozing out, the dog's breathing gradually steadied.

"Is this the power of Itch Powder? It seems effective, but not lethal, potentially useful for escaping or distracting the enemy."

Zhao Ya mumbled, and then lit the Mind Confusing Incense.

The dog's previously bloodshot eyes quickly turned dazed, staggering up and biting at a small tree.

It seemed to mistake the tree for a person.

Zhao Ya nodded silently.

Though dogs and people are different, especially as most he would deal with are Martial Dao experts with likely greater resistance.

But the effect was enough to prove the power of the Mind Confusing Incense.

Zhao Ya proceeded to test various poisons on this stray dog sequentially.

Sometimes, he even mixed two poisons to test the effect.

For a time, the sound of barking was incessant in the small forest outside the city.

After testing all the poison combinations, Zhao Ya finally beheaded the dog, giving it a release.

"The most potent is the Itch Powder, while Mind Confusing Incense combined with Confusion Powder can cloud one's mind. I suspect if used on women, even the most chaste ladies might not withstand it."

Zhao Ya summed up, then chuckled wryly, shaking his head.

This stuff seemed very much like what a lascivious rogue might use.

At the same time, Zhao Ya realized these poisons are mostly non-lethal and only serve auxiliary purposes.

It seems the legendary instantly killing poisons are quite rare.

Even if they exist, they're likely beyond his current reach.

Zhao Ya dug a pit and buried the dog's body deeply, then returned home.

In the days that followed, Zhao Ya would appear at the Escort Agency daily to connect with colleagues, then return home to practice.

This was one of the benefits of becoming an Escort Master; unless something came up, he didn't have to stay at the agency every day.

The agency was currently very quiet, with no business, not even nearby escorts outside the city.

And it wasn't just Changlong Escort Agency; all escort agencies were the same.

Due to the increase in refugees and tough times, many businesses had closed down.

With economic depression, naturally the escort agencies had no business.

Zhao Ya understood this well, but given the situation, there was nothing he could do, so he could only stay at home practicing every day.

With the help of the Blood Replenishing Powder, Zhao Ya's progress accelerated once more.

One day, after practicing, Zhao Ya opened the attribute panel.

Name: Zhao Ya. Age: 17. Remaining life: 47 (+33 days) years

Skills: Eight Vajra Skills (Refined Skill 227/5000) Five Tiger Fist (Refined Skill 325/5000) Gale Saber Technique (Refined Skill 159/5000) Lightweight Grasshopper Skill (Mastery 1544/2000) Swallow's Three Dips (Mastery 1411/2000) Concealing Breath Technique (Minor Achievement 35/1000)

[Heart Unlock Progress: 80%]

All martial arts skills had improved, but the greatest progress was in unlocking the heart.

Zhao Ya felt that after surpassing 80%, his heart seemed to have ascended a level, becoming increasingly powerful.

At this moment, Zhao Ya felt his fascia refined further, reaching the deepest level of his body.

Once the deepest fascia was fully refined, Zhao Ya would truly become a third realm Martial Artist.

However, this was also the most challenging step, with countless people stuck at this stage, never breaking through in their lifetime.

For instance, both Luo Qiang and Lin Sheng at the Escort Agency were such examples.

But Zhao Ya was confident in himself.

After all, he was only seventeen, still very young, with plenty of time to break through.

After practicing, Zhao Ya took off his outer clothes to take a bath.

The water was prepared in advance by Zui'Er, warm and comfortable. Lying in the tub, Zhao Ya felt warm and very cozy.

Just then, Zui'Er entered with a towel.

"Ya, want me to rub your back?"

"Hmm, okay!"

Thus, Zui'Er came in to rub Zhao Ya's back.

Although very familiar with Zhao Ya's body, this was the first time scrubbing him.

Looking at those chiseled muscles, sculpted like artwork with eight distinct abs...

Zui'Er blushed faintly, her eyes a bit dreamy.

Ya's physique... really is something!

Originally meditating with his eyes closed, Zhao Ya then sensed something odd.

Why was Zui'Er only rubbing one spot?

He turned to look and saw Zui'Er's face red, her gaze almost drowning in infatuation.

Zhao Ya was taken aback, then couldn't help but smile.

This little girl was lovestruck.

Can this be tolerated?

Of course not!

So...

A firm encouragement is needed!

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