Once, I wanted to be a good person

However, "high-interest loan" is a direct operation of the World's Laws, so it should be fine, right?

Thinking of this, Fang Ze couldn't help asking again, "By the way, mentor, you've prepared four metals. Does that mean we need to temper with each metal separately?"

Hearing Fang Ze's words, Qing Ya nodded.

She said, "Yes. The Bone Tempering stage is actually divided into four levels: Iron Bone, Bronze Bone, Silver Bone, and Gold Bone."

"Only after absorbing all these elements layer by layer into the body does the Bone Tempering stage reach Perfection."

"Only such a martial artist can have bones as strong as iron and gold, powerful penetrating power, and an even tougher body."

"Only then can they support the next stage: Organ Tempering studies."

After listening to Qing Ya's explanation, Fang Ze pondered and nodded, then asked again, "But... why use these four metals?"

"Wouldn't other metals work?"

Qing Ya smiled gently and answered, "The Xida Body Refining Method is the official body refining technique of Xida State, focusing on the conditions of most martial artists, so obviously, it chooses the more common and easily accessible precious metals."
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"Other body refining methods do use some unique metals. But comparatively, they are more difficult, cost more, and the enhancement is limited."

"Actually, I think the Xida Body Refining Method is quite good."

"It's fundamentally solid, majestic, and doesn't stray into odd techniques."

"And..."

At this point, she paused, then brought the conversation back to their topic before the tempering session, "At the Spirit Ascension stage, the body is meant to be consumed anyway. Even using very good metals won't have much effect."

Hearing Qing Ya's words, Fang Ze silently nodded.

And so, the night's lesson ended.

This time helping out was clearly a significant burden for Qing Ya.

Thus, for the first time, she took the initiative to suggest returning early to rest.

Fang Ze nodded and agreed.

After getting dressed and opening the iron gate, Qing Ya didn't even change her clothes as usual in the office but got into the car with Fang Ze and left the training center.

He dropped Qing Ya off at the base of her apartment building.

As they were about to part, Qing Ya gave Fang Ze's handsome face a careful look, then smiled gently and asked, "Did anyone else tell you today that you seem a lot handsomer?"

Since Qing Ya had never talked about such topics with him before, Fang Ze was momentarily stunned to hear her suddenly say so.

Then he belatedly remembered that he had borrowed Wang Hao's "Social Expert" ability today and was currently in a "Charm++" state.

Therefore, he also smiled and replied, "It's okay. Some people complimented me, but I didn't pay much mind."

"After all, I get a little handsomer every day."

Hearing Fang Ze's shameless remark, Qing Ya covered her mouth and chuckled, then softly said, "Goodnight."

After that, she turned and went back upstairs.

Fang Ze watched the gentle and graceful back of the female mentor disappear into the hallway before turning to walk back.

Compared to Qing Ya, who seemed a bit tired today, he was doing much better.

After all, the main effort was from Qing Ya; he was lying down most of the time.

Moreover, when he got back, he planned to try using "high-interest loan" to improve his abilities, so to settle his mood, he didn't continue taking a cab but walked home instead.

Both Qing Ya and Fang Ze lived not far from each other, near the Security Bureau.

It was just a few streets away.

However, as he reached the second street, suddenly, around a corner, Fang Ze saw a familiar figure.

It was a girl with a slender waist and legs, a frail body, but carrying the charm of Miao Land.

Her face was almost expressionless, as if out of sync with the rest of the world. Standing on a bustling street, she was holding flowers, with a wooden barrel also full of flowers at her feet, selling them.

Every time a passerby went by, she meticulously assessed them.

Then, on spotting a suitable target, she would quickly approach and force a cute smile, initiating the sale.

And indeed, the success rate was quite high.

But perhaps because it was almost midnight, there were few passersby.

So, despite the high success rate, for her barrel of flowers, it was but a drop in the bucket.

'Zhixi?'

Seeing the girl who looked exactly like Nan Yi but with an entirely different aura, Fang Ze silently muttered her name in his heart.

This twin sister of Nan Yi had a unique talent but lacked an Awakening Ability.

This fact made the lives of two people who looked exactly alike exceedingly different.

One was the hope of the family, cherished and nurtured from a young age, and sent early to the Security Bureau after reaching adulthood.

She now shared Fang Ze's car and was likely to become one of the highest-ranked Reserve Commissioners at Emerald City's Security Bureau in recent years.

While the other…

Fang Ze glanced at the time. It was already 10 PM.

Still toiling at selling flowers late into the night.

Fang Ze couldn't help but feel the fickleness of life.

As he was thinking this, suddenly, an old lady tremblingly approached from not far away.

She came next to Zhixi, then, stooping, wiped her tears, and softly said, "Miss Second, I'm sorry I'm useless, couldn't sell the flowers, couldn't complete the task, and you had to come in person to help me."