Cultivating for Immorality: I Evolved Martial Arts into the Immortal Path – Chapter 89

Chapter 89: Wu Neng’s Actions

The outside world was full of discussions.

Inside Chu Liang’s small courtyard, it remained quiet.

He was never affected by the outside rumors from beginning to end, remaining calm and focused, wholeheartedly dedicated to his own breakthrough.

“So this is the power of Four Strands of Qi and Blood.”

Chu Liang’s gaze deepened as he slowly clenched his fist.

This single fist now held an unimaginable amount of power.

A single punch could pierce through metal and shatter stone!

Now, Chu Liang was fully qualified to be a Master-level figure in any of the three major martial arts halls.

As for his understanding of the saber dao, although he had only practiced for a short time, he was in no way inferior to Master Dao, perhaps even stronger.

The Autumn Blade Three Styles he possessed was truly the number one killing technique in the county town!

“Next is the Fifth Strand of Qi and Blood. This strand is the most difficult and takes the longest time. I heard that the three Masters in the martial arts hall have been stuck at this threshold for many years.”

Chu Liang calmed his mind and silently recalled the contents recorded in the 《Dragon Tiger Body Refining Manual.》

According to the description, the Blood Coagulation Realm was about condensing sufficient Qi and Blood.

Qi and Blood were the foundation of everything.

Only by condensing Five Strands of Qi and Blood, using them to stabilize the four limbs and torso, could one attempt to break through to the Skin Tempering Realm.

If the Qi and Blood were insufficient, it would be like a house with an unstable foundation. At best, one would suffer severe injuries and fail; at worst, one’s flesh and blood would collapse, leading to death!

“The first Four Strands of Qi and Blood are used to stabilize the four limbs, while the Fifth Strand of Qi and Blood needs to stabilize the torso. This strand is even stronger than the first four, thus requiring more time to condense.”

When he first saw this description, Chu Liang had doubts.

The four limbs and torso were stabilized with Qi and Blood, but what about the head?

Without stabilizing the head, wouldn’t there be problems when breaking through to the Skin Tempering Realm?

Would it not just explode?

This question was not described in the 《Dragon Tiger Body Refining Manual,》 as if there was no need to worry at all.

Not long ago, he went to Hall Master Li Ren to ask about this, and he got the answer from Li Ren.

Li Ren said that the head did not need Qi and Blood to stabilize it. There was another strange power inside the skull that would stabilize the head when a martial artist broke through to the Skin Tempering Realm.

Simply put, the head was the least of one’s worries.

Martial artists only needed to diligently temper their Qi and Blood, ensuring they had enough.

Even after condensing the Fifth Strand of Qi and Blood, one should not immediately break through to the Skin Tempering Realm.

One must continue to accumulate, find ways to temper more Qi and Blood, make the already condensed Five Strands of Qi and Blood even more refined, and fill the rest of the body with scattered Qi and Blood.

Li Ren himself had condensed Five Strands of Qi and Blood many years ago but had not yet attempted to break through.

The risk was simply too high.

“Over the years, many martial artists in the county town have reached the level of Five Strands of Qi and Blood, but most of them failed when trying to break through to the Skin Tempering Realm, ultimately ending their martial arts path.” These were Li Ren’s exact words, and also the consensus of other martial artists with Five Strands of Qi and Blood in the county town.

“I heard there are some special methods that can increase the chances of success,” Chu Liang had said at the time.

After all, there were many auxiliary methods for tempering Qi and Blood, such as medicinal baths, golden needle stimulation, and so on. One could also take various pills and ointments.

Martial arts had developed over many years, and there were targeted tempering methods for each stage of a martial artist’s journey.

Naturally, there were also methods for the breakthrough from Blood Coagulation to Skin Tempering.

But Li Ren said that the prices of those special methods were simply too expensive, even he could hardly afford them.

“Even the least effective special method costs ten thousand taels of silver.”

Ten thousand taels was a literal figure, truly requiring ten thousand taels of silver, and the effect was minimal.

Slightly better methods would cost tens of thousands of taels of silver.

As the Hall Master of a large martial arts hall and a renowned expert with Five Strands of Qi and Blood for many years, Li Ren could naturally come up with ten thousand taels of silver, but he was still accumulating.

He was tempering his Qi and Blood while accumulating wealth, preparing for the day of his breakthrough.

“I’m not far from Five Strands of Qi and Blood either, I need to prepare early.”

Chu Liang knew that it wouldn’t take him too long to condense Five Strands of Qi and Blood.

The 《Dragon Tiger Body Refining Manual》 he found in the ape’s stomach was almost tailor-made for him, its effects far exceeding the techniques of the major martial arts halls in the county town. Moreover, he was not short of money and could take any pills he wanted.

Even the core disciples of those large families in the prefectural city might not have his resources.

Beside him, on the stone table, the chubby Rat One jumped twice, stood up on its hind legs, clasped its small paws together, and said happily, “Congratulations, Master! Master has become stronger again and can hang that Qi Hai up and beat him!”

“He and I both have Four Strands of Qi and Blood, why are you so confident in me?” Chu Liang asked with a smile.

◈◈◈

“Master, you are much more powerful than Qi Hai. I’ve seen Qi Hai practice martial arts. His moves are not as pure as yours, his Qi and Blood are not as condensed as yours, and even his basic speed is no match for yours, Master.”

Rat One indicated that Qi Hai’s moves, compared to Chu Liang’s, were like slow motion!

One had to know that the 《Sinking Water Sword》 technique, as the number one defensive technique in the county town, also emphasized speed.

To defend flawlessly, one had to surpass the enemy in speed.

“The 《Sinking Water Sword》 is, after all, just an Unranked martial skill, while my 《Autumn Blade Three Styles》 is a Third-Rate martial skill. There’s no comparison,” Chu Liang said with a smile.

“Master, Qi Hai accepted that cloth shop’s Young Master Xu Hua as his disciple, obviously provoking you. Aren’t you going to fight back?” Rat One asked.

“Rat One, how many times have I told you? You need to be calm and not meddle in other people’s business.”

“Oh… alright.”

Rat One hugged its belly, imitating Chu Liang’s deep breathing, calming its mind and focusing its spirit, looking quite comical.

At this time, Rat Two was still tracking Wu Neng and the others and had not returned.

During this period, Wu Neng and his group were operating separately.

“Master, due to the unusual activities of the demon beasts, Wu Neng has not been able to leave the county town and spends most of his time in the Martial Alliance. The same goes for Song Zhong and other experts with Three Strands of Qi and Blood and above,” Rat One said.

Even the Hall Masters of the major martial arts halls like Black Sword Martial Arts Hall and Autumn Blade Martial Arts Hall were frequently called to the Martial Alliance.

Wu Neng had no choice but to have his demon hunting team members operate separately.

He wanted to know whether his brother Wu Qian was alive or dead.

So he sent some members to visit Wu Qian’s friends, and some to the gambling dens and brothels Wu Qian frequented to keep watch and gather information.

He also dispatched a few members to Qing Shi Village.

They searched everywhere, going back and forth between Qing Shi Village and the place where they had rested many times, searching the forests around that road thoroughly.

But after all this time, they hadn’t found a single clue.

Master Hu of Qing Shi Village had been interrogated by them many times.

Even Second Uncle and the others had been approached by them.

“Master, those three stupid dogs are guarding Second Uncle’s family. The three of them all have the strength of Three Strands of Qi and Blood now. Even if Wu Neng went there personally, he wouldn’t be able to gain any advantage.”

Rat One reported the situation in Qing Shi Village to Chu Liang.

Second Uncle’s family was very safe.

Wu Neng’s teammates had only questioned them a few times and did not harm them.

If they really dared to make a move, those three little dog demons would let them experience the coldness of death.

“As long as they are safe.”

In Qing Shi Village, only Second Uncle’s family was worth Chu Liang’s concern, not the others.

Second Uncle was very busy lately.

He was busy supervising the construction of the Chu family’s grand courtyard.

After all, Chu Liang was now a Martial Artist Master, so the courtyard in his hometown naturally had to be grand.

Other relatives of the Chu family also helped, trying to curry favor with Chu Liang through Second Uncle.

After reporting, Rat One went out for a while.

Time passed, and night quietly arrived.

Rat One didn’t return until late at night, bringing back a very special piece of news: “Master, I just went to exchange information with Rat Two. Rat Two said that your Third Aunt is acting a bit strange.”

“Oh? What’s wrong with her?”

“She secretly contacted Wu Neng’s teammates yesterday and told them about your Third Uncle’s disappearance,” Rat One reported dutifully.

Third Uncle’s disappearance had already been concluded in the village.

Everyone believed that he was dragged away by a bear in the mountains.

But Third Aunt never believed it because she knew very well that Third Uncle went out that night to kill Chu Liang.