"In the Great Liang's blood qi martial path, before the three transformations of blood qi, it is all about thickening one's own blood qi, known as a martial apprentice..."
"Upon reaching the peak of the three transformations of blood qi, one can comprehend the divine intent, integrate true power, and step into the realm of true power martial artists!"
"This is also the limit for the majority of martial hall masters!"
In the backyard of the Fang Residence.
Fang Xi seized upon a rare breakthrough inspiration, the pinnacle of blood qi power within his body circulated through his limbs and bones, faintly forming a completely new force.
With a calm mind, he contemplated two divine intent diagrams, his spiritual consciousness merging with all creation, searching for a certain opportunity.
"Cultivators possess spiritual consciousness, which seems to give them an advantage in comprehending divine intent compared to ordinary martial artists..."
A thought inexplicably arose in Fang Xi's mind.
In the next instant, twisted snake shadows suddenly appeared in his mind.
The Divine Intent of the Red Snake Leg!
"I didn't expect... the Red Snake Leg to be the first to break through?"
"It seems that comprehending divine intent is a matter of opportunity, ever-changing..."
The mountains, waters, and the snake shadows in the original diagram, in Fang Xi's eyes at this moment, represented the laws of blood qi power circulation...
Even unconsciously, the violent blood qi within his body began to circulate along a mysterious route.
Countless strands of blood qi twisted and tangled, converging like steel cables.
Crack!
As if some kind of restraint had been broken!
Fang Xi inwardly observed himself and discovered a new kind of power!
True Power!
This power, unlike the 'internal energy' spoken of in the world of cultivation, relied on the limbs, bones, muscles, and strengthened the internal organs.
Because it was true, it was named 'true power'!
Once the true power was established, the surging blood qi within Fang Xi's body rapidly transformed into true power.
Subsequently, he let out a hearty roar, feeling the hardness of his skin, hands, and torso rapidly increasing! Especially the strength in his legs far exceeded that of other parts.
After all, he had broken through with the Red Snake Leg!
This was also a drawback of third-rate martial arts schools; focusing on one area, although other areas were also strengthened, they were weaker compared to those with secret true techniques.
Crack!
Fang Xi subconsciously stomped his foot.
Bang!
Under his foot, the bluestone slab was dented as if struck by a heavy hammer, countless deep cracks spreading out like a spider web in all directions.
Previously, Fang Xi would never have been able to achieve such destructive power with such ease!
"It seems... there is a huge gap between true power and ordinary blood qi martial apprentices."
"No wonder Mu Canglong defeated She Lei so effortlessly, I would have done the same."
Fang Xi estimated that his martial arts strength had increased by at least two to three times, he could easily defeat several versions of his previous self.
As for She Lei, it would only take a single kick.
Pausing for a moment, as if remembering something, a thin sword suddenly appeared in his hand!
—Qinghe Sword!
Fang Xi held the hilt of the sword, the blade pointing towards his finger.
After some thought, he rolled up his trouser leg and pressed the tip of the sword against his skin.
A faint resistance was felt.
He exerted more force, the flying sword was blocked for a moment, then smoothly pierced his skin, drawing a trace of blood...
"This defense is indeed comparable to a first-level body refiner..."
Fang Xi nodded.
A first-level body refiner was equivalent to an early-stage Qi Refinement cultivator!
But this did not mean that the body could be as hard as a low-grade magic weapon!
Comparing flesh and blood to metal was inherently foolish.
"To truly be immune to low-grade magic weapons, or to have a body as strong as a magic weapon, one probably needs to be at least above the fourth level of body refining, equivalent to a Foundation Building level body refiner, to withstand blows from low-grade to mid-grade magic weapons without losing a single hair..."
"A first-level body refiner, when facing blows from low-grade magic weapons, can offer a momentary resistance... and with stronger muscles and bones, they may block the magic weapon, have greater survivability, and greater strength... that's about it."
Having these advantages, in close combat, a body refiner would have a significant advantage over ordinary cultivators.
"Therefore, my flying sword poses a considerable threat to martial hall masters, even that overseer, Linghu."
"And, this is akin to getting dozens of spirit stones for free, achieving the first level of body refining, what a joy, what a joy..."
Fang Xi flicked the Qinghe Sword, causing the blade to hum like a dragon's roar.
"Today's breakthrough is a great joy, I should kill a few people to relax..."
He looked towards the direction of the Red Snake Martial Hall.
Lushan and She Lei had always been noted in his little book, but he had refrained from acting before.
After all, She Lei was manageable, but Lushan posed a bit of a threat.
Now, after the breakthrough, they were no match for him.
"And... killing Lushan and the others can also make the mastermind behind Yuanhe Mountain think that I only found what they wanted me to find. Hehe... they wanted to trap me, right? I will show them that the same trap is completely different for different people."
...
Night fell.
Red Snake Martial Hall!
"The hall master has been meeting with several elders late at night quite often recently."
A disciple responsible for late-night patrols yawned, looking at the still-lit buildings, muttering to himself.
If even the superiors were so busy, he couldn't even think of slacking off to sleep.
Just as he was rubbing his sleepy eyes, something seemed to flash past.
"What was that?"
He quickly picked up his lantern, rubbed his eyes again, only to find a peaceful surroundings, with occasional sounds of insects chirping.
"Could it be a bat?"
The disciple mumbled to himself and continued his patrol.
In the study.
Lushan looked at a map, his expression very grim: "This time, the demon hunting mission... at first, everything seemed to be going smoothly, but suddenly, Lao Feng and a few others fell, reportedly missing without a trace, troublesome..."
In front of Lushan were several senior instructors from the Red Snake Martial Hall, all of whom had reached the stage of the three transformations of blood qi, including She Lei.
"Hall Master... could it be that Yuanhe Mountain hasn't noticed anything?" She Lei asked.
"Hmph, Yuanhe Mountain's Linghu Yang is just a fool!" Lushan cursed in anger.
But after cursing, he fell into contemplation.
Although the overseer of Yuanhe Mountain in Heishi City was not one to show mercy, he was not stupid.
His behavior at that time was indeed somewhat strange.
Could it be... he had discovered something?
"If it is really that... then this Heishi City may not be a place to stay."
Lushan picked up the candlestick with a candle, pacing back and forth while looking at the map, lost in thought.
Puff puff!
Just then, there were a few light sounds in the void.
"Enemy..."
Before a senior instructor of the Red Snake Martial Hall could finish his sentence, an invisible sword qi cut his throat, leaving him clutching his neck, falling into a pool of blood, unable to make a sound.
"What kind of martial art is this?"
Lushan was both shocked and angry!
This kind of invisible sword qi technique was almost like a myth.
Perhaps only a first-class master could achieve it.
But if it was really a master, why bother with a sneak attack?
With a casual order, the entire Red Snake Martial Hall would be razed to the ground.
Bang!
Just as he was shocked and angry, a figure rushed into the room, legs flying.
"Ah!"
Amidst a few muffled groans, the few remaining senior instructors were sent flying, as if their bones had turned to mush.
Especially She Lei, his chest cavity caved in, clearly already dead.
"What is this..."
"The Red Snake Leg!"
Lushan's eyes widened, recognizing the leg technique of the attacker.
The leg technique that was as flexible as a snake in mid-air, constantly changing, he couldn't be mistaken!
"True power martial artist, who are you?"
Lushan shouted.
"Noisy!"
Fang Xi, dressed in black and masked, moved his right leg at this moment, infusing true power into his thigh, causing the muscles to bulge like iron, sweeping through the enemy.
Bang!
Lushan, also a martial hall master, stood firm like a golden rooster, kicking out.
Two leg shadows entwined like pythons, then quickly separated.
In the void, only muffled sounds could be heard.
"What a pity..."
Fang Xi stood with his hands behind his back, suddenly sighed with a touch of regret.
"Why a pity?" Lushan's gaze subtly glanced at his lower leg, a numbness already spreading from the point of contact between the two.
Reluctantly, he had to admit that a fist fears the young!
Moreover, the opponent's violent blood qi completely exceeded his expectations, putting this martial hall master at a disadvantage.
"It's a pity that the Red Snake Leg has no way forward after all."
Fang Xi replied truthfully.
This Red Snake Hall master had only this much strength, without even a secret technique, he was weak to the extreme.
From this, it was clear that after becoming a martial hall master, there was indeed no other way to cultivate.
Fang Xi felt quite helpless about this.
He wanted to improve his martial arts realm even faster!
After all, the realm of a martial hall master was equivalent to body refining once, so if he broke through to a higher realm, would it be equivalent to body refining twice?
It should be noted that in the Qingzhu Mountain market, the cost of body refining once was probably dozens of spirit stones, while the cost of body refining twice would be at least over a hundred!
Once successful, he would definitely be able to match a mid-stage Qi Refinement cultivator!
If he reached that realm, Fang Xi would dare to be a bit more unrestrained in the world of cultivation.
"Have you come here as a former apprentice of this hall, to continue the legacy of the Red Snake Leg?" Lushan's pupils shrank to pinpoints, then he shouted loudly, "Unfortunately... the Red Snake Leg has reached its limit in attaining true power, unable to train the whole body, nor transform true power into true strength, stepping into a higher realm of martial artists!"
"Oh? After becoming a martial hall master, is it about training the whole body and transforming true power?" Fang Xi's eyes lit up.
"Hehe... you have extraordinary talent, but unfortunately, you have already gone astray. The Red Snake Leg has reached its peak, and the blood qi is bound to conflict with other martial arts, unable to practice true techniques, limiting future achievements, haha!" Lushan laughed heartily.
But after laughing, he felt something was off.
His laughter gradually subsided, his expression becoming increasingly puzzled.
"Are you wondering why you shouted loudly, but no one outside came to save you as if you were dead?" Fang Xi's eyes gleamed mischievously, "Too bad... I won't tell you!"
Outside the door, a talisman was quietly pasted in the corner.
No matter how thunderous it was inside, the outside world was silent...
(End of this chapter)