At first light, Wang Yue was already up and heading straight for Hu Jing's quarters. Following Wang Hu's instructions, Hu Jing had specially prepared breakfast for him, along with the daily Blood Nourishing Soup he could collect.
"Young Master Wang Yue, breakfast was just heated up. Sit, quickly." Seeing him arrive, Hu Jing brought out the food. A large plate of sauced meat, two white steamed buns, and a bowl of steaming soup sat on the table. "This is Blood Nourishing Soup freshly brewed by the medicine hall. Drink it while it's hot—the effect of replenishing Blood Qi is best that way."
Wang Yue did not stand on ceremony. Once seated, he wolfed down the food. The large plate of meat was quickly emptied, and he lifted the Blood Nourishing Soup and drained it in one gulp. As the soup entered his stomach, a warm current slid down his throat into his dantian, slowly nourishing his meridians. The hollow feeling left behind by yesterday's cultivation of the Blood Dragon Secret Method eased considerably.
"Thank you, Steward Hu." Wang Yue set down the bowl and cupped his hands in thanks.
"It was all arranged by Brother Hu. Young Master, there's no need to be polite."
Hu Jing smiled and waved a hand. "If there's anything you want to eat tomorrow, tell me in advance. I'll make sure it's ready."
Wang Yue nodded and turned toward the rear courtyard.
Back in the rear courtyard, Wang Yue did not immediately practice his fists. Instead, he found a secluded corner, sat cross-legged, and focused on circulating the Breathing Method of the Harmonious Flow Fist. He wanted to restore his Blood Qi to its peak before attempting to cultivate the Blood Dragon Secret Method again.
When he inhaled, the cold wind and snow grains rushed into his nostrils, only to be transformed by the Breathing Method into a gentle current of air.
When he exhaled, the Blood Qi within him circulated slowly, nourishing his limbs and bones like a flowing stream.
About half an hour later, Wang Yue opened his eyes. Feeling the three full streams of Blood Qi within him, he even sensed that their total amount had increased slightly.
This Blood Nourishing Soup and meat really work! Wang Yue was delighted. Previously, when practicing the Harmonious Flow Fist, it had taken months before he could sense even the slightest growth in Blood Qi. Yet after only a few days, there had already been an obvious change. And that's not even counting the Blood Dragon Secret Method's help. It truly deserves to be called a secret inheritance of a sect!
He silently calculated that his most pressing task now was to eat more and train more, piling up resources to build his Blood Qi foundation and condense the first layer of Dragon Lock as soon as possible.
Over the next few days, Wang Yue followed the same routine every day. At dawn, he drank Blood Nourishing Soup and ate meat. During the day, he circulated the Breathing Method to restore his Blood Qi and pondered the variations in the Blood Dragon Secret Method's moves. At night, he diligently practiced the secret method in the shadows, progressing steadily.
Meanwhile, outside Changyun County, in a desolate forest, a blood-soaked figure slowly rose from the snow. Beneath his tattered robes, his wounds were still seeping blood.
"Cough, cough..." Li Fang clutched his chest and gasped for breath, his eyes filled with unwillingness and fury. "Within the Zhao Kingdom, who did not revere and worship me, Li Fang? Yet I was actually besieged by a pack of trash!"
Thinking back on the earlier battle, he gnashed his teeth. "The Crimson Blood Grandmaster, Ji Yue with his Soul Severing Saber, and several nameless bastards... If I had not fought desperately to break out of the encirclement, I would have died without even a whole corpse left!"
But at the next thought, a cold smile appeared on his face. "Fortunately, I shattered Crimson Blood's Red Cloud Cauldron and obtained a fragment of the Blood Cloud Bead. At least I completed my lord's task."
As he spoke, Li Fang reached into his robes, intending to confirm that the fragment was still there. But the instant he touched inside, his expression changed drastically—his chest was empty. There was not even a trace of the Blood Cloud Bead fragment.
"Where is it...?!!!" Li Fang's voice suddenly became shrill, scarlet light erupting in his eyes. "Where is my Blood Cloud Bead fragment?!"
He frantically searched through his robes, but could not find even a corner of the fragment. His mind roiled, his Blood Qi ran in reverse, and he howled at the empty wilderness, "Crimson Blood! It was you! I'll kill you! Hahaha, kill, kill, kill!!"
His miserable cry echoed through the snowy forest, drawing only denser wind and snow.
At noon that day, goose-feather snow began to fall over Changyun County. The cold wind howled, and a thin layer of snow accumulated on the training ground in the rear courtyard.
Wang Yue was still circulating his Breathing Method in a corner, but Xu Li, not far away, suddenly drew everyone's attention. He stood in the snow with his eyes shut, while the snowflakes around him were pushed aside by an invisible force.
Wang Yue opened his eyes and saw faint patches of red emerge across Xu Li's skin. His brows stirred, and he immediately rose and strode over, standing guard beside Xu Li. He knew this sight all too well—Xu Li was about to achieve Blood Condensation!
Xu Li sensed none of it. He simply began performing the Harmonious Flow Fist. His moves, footwork, and Breathing Method merged perfectly, flowing in seamless cycles. Every punch carried a faint pulse of Blood Qi.
The collateral-line disciples practicing nearby gradually gathered around, pointing and whispering. Seeing this, Wang Yue silently retreated a few steps, leaving space for Xu Li.
"Roar!"
Suddenly, Xu Li snapped his eyes open. A long howl rang through the rear courtyard, shaking the snow on the ground until it scattered down in flurries.
"Brother Xu, you... you've reached beginner Blood Condensation?" One collateral-line disciple was the first to react, his tone brimming with shock and envy.
"That's incredible!" another chimed in. "Brother Xu, you should be the first person in our rear courtyard to achieve Blood Condensation, right? You're even stronger than those Wang-family disciples from the main branch!"
Xu Li's expression stiffened, and he instinctively looked toward Wang Yue, his gaze somewhat complicated. He knew that Wang Yue had achieved Blood Condensation long ago; he had simply never announced it.
Wang Yue stepped forward, cupped his hands, and smiled. "Congratulations, Brother Xu, on successfully achieving Blood Condensation."
Xu Li opened his mouth, unsure of what to say. He merely nodded vaguely and dealt with the congratulations of those around him. The collateral-line Wang disciples only watched from afar without coming forward. Only Wang Shun and a few others who lived with him came up smiling to offer their congratulations.
Even after the moon rose, many people remained in the rear courtyard, encouraged by Xu Li's Blood Condensation. Braving the wind and snow, they trained extra, hoping to break through soon themselves.
Once everyone had left and only Wang Yue and Xu Li remained, Wang Yue loosened up his limbs and began performing the Harmonious Flow Fist.
Amid the flying snow, his figure rose and fell like a spiral. His fist wind stirred snowflakes into the air, and his punches were so fast that only blurred shadows could be seen. Every strike carried the sound of tearing wind, kicking up fine clouds of snow whenever it landed.
Xu Li watched silently from the side, growing more alarmed the longer he watched. In the end, he could not help shaking his head. Though he had only just achieved Blood Condensation, he could already feel that the gap between himself and Wang Yue had reached a point beyond his comprehension.
Could my talent for martial arts really be this poor? Xu Li could not help doubting himself.
A moment later, Wang Yue stopped and turned toward Xu Li. Raising a hand with a smile, he said, "Congratulations on your initial Blood Condensation, Brother Xu. The obstacle to entering the Martial Academy has now been swept away. With Uncle-Master Wang there, your entry into the Martial Academy is practically guaranteed."
Xu Li revealed a shy smile and scratched his head. "Compared to Brother Wang, I'm far too lacking."
He paused, a glint of fighting spirit flashing through his eyes. "How about we exchange a few moves? Please don't hold back, Brother Wang. Let me see just how great the gap truly is."
Wang Yue pursed his lips. Over the past few days, he had drunk five bowls of Blood Nourishing Soup. He had already mastered all ten variations of the first move of the Blood Dragon Secret Method, and the three streams of Blood Qi within him had grown to four. His strength had risen again.
"Alright." Wang Yue nodded. "Please."
Xu Li's expression immediately turned serious as he assumed the opening stance of the Harmonious Flow Fist. "Please instruct me!"
"Hah!"
Wang Yue attacked first, his fist shooting straight for Xu Li's chest. It was not especially fast, yet it sealed off Xu Li's paths of evasion.
Xu Li did not dare be careless. He swung a fist to block. Their fists collided with a muffled bang, and pain from flesh striking flesh shot through him. Xu Li's fighting spirit surged as he began to counterattack proactively.
But after only a few exchanges, Wang Yue discovered that even without mobilizing his Blood Qi, relying solely on physical strength and his mastery of the fist art, he could intercept Xu Li's attacks several times and even severely wound him.
It was the same martial art, yet the vast difference in proficiency had created an utterly crushing gap.
After a few more exchanges, Xu Li gradually began panting, and his movements slowed as well.
Seeing this, Wang Yue added a little more strength. One punch landed on Xu Li's fist, breaking his stance and sending him staggering two steps back before he fell into the snow.
"Amazing..." Xu Li sat in the snow, gasping heavily, his voice filled with admiration.
Wang Yue smiled faintly and reached out to pull him up. "Go back and rest. You've only just achieved Blood Condensation—don't exhaust yourself."
The two chatted a few more moments in the snow, mostly about the Martial Academy, before Xu Li finally turned and returned to his room.
Watching Xu Li's retreating back, Wang Yue nodded. He had given Xu Li quite a bit of guidance during this time. Then he turned and entered the shadows of the rear courtyard. He still had to continue cultivating the Blood Dragon Secret Method.
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