Blood Tempering Minor Accomplishment

"Just a box of lamp oil?"

Chen Sanshi didn't believe it.

He re-examined the Exquisite Jade Box, confirming that besides the self-destruct mechanism, there was nothing else inside, nor any hidden compartments.

The Witch God Cult, Xiang Tingchun, the Martial Arts School.

These were factions fighting tooth and nail over this?

Based on Chen Sanshi's deductions, the Martial Arts School and Xiang Tingchun might not even know what the Immortal Treasure truly was. The only ones who knew the inside story, the Witch God Cult, were all incredibly tight-lipped and refused to reveal anything.

It definitely wasn't that simple.

Chen Sanshi went to the kitchen door, used his finger to scrape off a tiny amount of lamp oil, and lightly smeared it onto a chopping block used for firewood. Then, he found a fire starter and blew a small flame.

"Boom--"

The instant the small flame touched the lamp oil, a crimson inferno erupted, like a fire dragon emerging from thin air, instantly soaring two to three meters high.

In just a few breaths, the chopping block was reduced to ashes.

Keep in mind, this chopping block was half a meter in diameter and thirty centimeters tall. Ordinary flames would struggle to ignite it, and burning it whole to ash without splitting it would likely take a day and a night!

From two steps away, Chen Sanshi felt like he was almost cooked!

What power was this?

What kind of animal's oil produced flames this terrifying?

"It's indeed no ordinary item."

Chen Sanshi felt a slight chill.

The item was powerful, but why were they fighting desperately for it?

To use as a weapon?

He weighed the iron box, which was about half the size of his palm.

This little bit, how many uses would it have?

It couldn't be worth fighting over like this, right?

Chen Sanshi concluded that this fire definitely had another purpose.

He once again examined the Exquisite Jade Box, repeatedly confirming that there was nothing else.

It seemed the method of using this fire was likely in the hands of the Witch God Cult.

This... there was nothing he could do about it for now.

Chen Sanshi felt a small pang of disappointment.

However, the immense power of this fire could be useful in a pinch.

As for its true purpose, he could only take it one step at a time.

"My current goal is to be selected for the Eight Great Camps."

"I still need to improve my strength as quickly as possible!"

Chen Sanshi tidied up his things, preparing to rest well for the night and recharge his energy.

He was only a thin veil away from a breakthrough.

The next day, the military camp.

Chen Sanshi drank a bowl of Nine Revolutions Vitality Soup and, while his blood and qi were at their peak, picked up his long spear to practice the Basic Soldier Spear Technique, which he had already mastered.

It was noon, and the sun was high in the sky.

On the spacious training ground, thunderous sounds of the spear cutting through the air suddenly rang out.

This drew the attention of nearby soldiers, who turned to look.

Under the sunlight, every time the Reed Leaf Spear was swung, its tip reflected dazzling golden light. As the speed of the spear's movement increased, these golden lights gradually merged together.

From a distance, it looked like golden snakes dancing wildly in the air, or like a golden brush painting a magnificent landscape, evoking an urge to get closer and watch. However, the continuous, violent sounds of the air being cut served as a reminder that this was no beautiful sight, but a deadly killing technique!

The spear whistled, and his body moved nimbly.

This scene of flashing light and shadow lasted for the duration of half an incense stick.

Until, at a certain moment, everything suddenly froze.

All the golden light converged into a single point and, at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, landed on a training post in the field.

"Bang--"

A training post, two meters tall and as wide as a man's shoulders, exploded violently from the point of impact, scattering wooden splinters and debris everywhere. These flew far and embedded themselves in the ground like a rain of arrows.

A curious young soldier narrowly avoided being hit by a splinter and collapsed backward onto the ground, thoroughly terrified.

The young man slowly lowered his spear. The smooth, firm muscles on his body were covered in sweat. Under the autumn sunlight, his entire body was enveloped in rising steam, as if he had emerged from a fire.

Minor Accomplishment!

Two streams of qi and blood became four, merging into the limbs!

Cultivation Method: Basic Soldier Spear Technique (Minor Accomplishment)

Progress: (0/2000)

Effects: Spear techniques are swift and fierce, endurance is astonishing, qi and blood are abundant, blood generates unusual phenomena. Chen Sanshi didn't immediately understand the newly added effect.

Blood generates unusual phenomena.

Does it mean the blood is undergoing changes?

He tried to mobilize his qi and blood, finding that his blood was exceptionally hot. Compared to before, the explosive power of each stream of qi and blood was stronger.

Could it be related to the Bone Tempering realm after Blood Tempering?

"Congratulations, Officer Chen!"

Many people came to offer their congratulations.

General Flag Fang sighed with emotion, "Such talent truly makes us envious!"

"It's just a matter of spending a lot of silver."

Chen Sanshi said humbly, "If I hadn't earned money hunting to buy medicine, I wouldn't have broken through so quickly."

"The way you put it, isn't hunting also a skill?"

General Flag Fang became even more envious.

As martial arts masters who had achieved Great Accomplishment in Blood Tempering, they could naturally draw a Heavy Bow with ease.

But being able to draw it didn't necessarily mean being able to shoot accurately.

Even if they spent a lot of time training, they couldn't reach a very high level, let alone hit a target invisible to the naked eye from a hundred paces.

Some things are truly determined by talent's ceiling.

Chen Sanshi privately found Wang Zhi to ask for advice on future cultivation.

"You broke through again?"

Wang Zhi almost spat out the wine in his mouth.

At this moment, his heart was no longer filled with pure joy; the weight of shock had greatly increased.

Having cultivated for just over a month, he had walked a path that most people took years, or even a lifetime, to complete. The heavens were truly unfair.

"Commander Wang."

Chen Sanshi asked, "What should I pay attention to for Great Accomplishment in Blood Tempering, and is there a connection to the Bone Tempering realm?"

"Your comprehension is good."

Wang Zhi held his wine bowl and explained, "Blood Tempering, as the name suggests, is about tempering the blood.

"After Great Accomplishment, when qi and blood permeate the entire body, you can begin Bone Tempering.

"Only if the quality of the tempered qi and blood is high enough will the bones and body tempered by blood in the future be better.

"This is also why I gave you the Vast Exhalation Breathing Technique back then.

"Blood Tempering is the foundation. If the foundation isn't solid, it's like losing from the start.

"You should be able to feel that among those at the same level as you, few can match you for three encounters. The gap will only widen later on."

'Tempering bones with blood...'

The blood truly was related to the subsequent realms.

Chen Sanshi wasn't sure if "blood generates unusual phenomena" was unique to the proficiency panel, so he decided not to mention it for now and see how it played out.

"You kid, you're really something."

Wang Zhi counted on his fingers, "Your cultivation speed is fast enough. Our garrison will soon receive a large batch of medicinal ingredients, and you have a chance to reach Bone Tempering before spring next year!"

Chen Sanshi picked up on the key point: "The garrison is about to receive medicinal ingredients?"

"Heh, don't even mention it."

Wang Zhi found it quite amusing. He took a sip of wine and said, "Yesterday at the Eight Treasures Tower, those old bastards from the Martial Arts School were still acting all arrogant, saying the garrison had them under house arrest and that they were going to find someone to complain to higher-ups.

"But this morning, they were like different people.

"They claimed they would fully support our Thousand Household Office's expedition against the barbarians next year.

"Once the four major martial arts schools agreed, the county's gentry and wealthy merchants would also have to chip in.

"We're going to strike it rich this time."

Chen Sanshi was suspicious.

Judging by his words, Xiang Tingchun had successfully brought the martial arts schools under control?

But if the goods were in his hands, why would the martial arts schools obey him so readily?

Unless...

Xiang Tingchun was playing a trick, getting something for nothing!

"Good heavens, they aren't afraid of revealing their true colors."

That same afternoon, as dusk approached, Wang Zhi's words came true.

Disciples from various martial arts schools arrived in groups, pulling carts laden with countless supplies.

"The medicinal herb warehouse is on the left!"

"Grain is on the right!"

"Your count is off! You're short two hundred piculs of grain. It must be delivered before dark tomorrow!"

"..."

The head of the main warehouse, along with several clerks, meticulously counted the supplies as they were unloaded.

The warehouses, unused for many years, were put to use again. The granaries were packed to the brim, with sacks nearly overflowing.

Years of poor harvests?

The wealthy families had plenty of grain.

"Buzzzzz--"

The assembly horn blew, and a herald summoned everyone to the training grounds, announcing that the Lord Thousand Households had an important matter to declare.