Blood Qi Martial Arts (Happy Lantern Festival!!!)

Fang Manor.

"Rejected?"

Fang Xi's face turned somewhat ugly as he glared at A Fu.

A Fu lowered his head, full of trepidation: "Old Slave spent a heavy sum, found a middleman, and even promised to add more money, but alas..."

Fang Xi took a deep breath.

As a cultivator, when had he ever suffered such humiliation? ...Well, at Green Bamboo Mountain Market, he often suffered this kind of humiliation; he was almost used to it by now.

Get used to it, just get used to it.

"Forget it, I suppose my aptitude is mediocre, and others looked down upon me."

He shrugged his shoulders.

As a cultivator, even at the lowest level, he still possessed sharp ears and eyes, and a photographic memory.

When he had entrusted others earlier, he had felt a probing gaze.

But clearly, Blood Qi martial artists had their own way of discerning aptitude, and they hadn't given him a chance to display his extraordinary memory or comprehension.

'In other words, the martial masters of this world might care more about physical aptitude than mental or spiritual aptitude? No wonder they're considered inferior body cultivators...'

Fang Xi engaged in some Ah Q-style mental comfort, and the effect was outstanding.

Then, he let out a laugh: "Fine... Since Yuan He Mountain won't take me, I'll go to a martial arts school instead... A martial arts school takes in disciples; surely they won't judge aptitude."

Hearing this, A Fu also smiled: "Young Master is right. A martial arts school... they claim to teach without discrimination, meaning they'll take anyone with money."

The corner of Fang Xi's mouth curled into a satisfied smile: "Coincidentally, I have plenty of money!"

Afternoon.

The sun was high. In the rear courtyard of Fang Manor, on a temporarily cleared training ground.

Fang Xi lay in an old-fashioned lounge chair, beside him a cup of homemade fruit ice, the principle similar to the air conditioner he had installed himself—both using cultivator methods to make life more comfortable.

In the scorching summer, drinking a cup of fruit ice was truly refreshing to the core.

In the training ground stood several martial masters, mostly middle-aged, with a few elderly ones, all looking at him with slightly fawning expressions.

Fang Xi turned his head, took a bite of the ice served by Yue Gui, and clapped his hands.

A Fu stepped forward and cleared his throat: "My master wishes to learn martial arts. All of you are experts from various schools. If you have any unique techniques, you may demonstrate them. If my master takes a liking to them, there will be a generous reward... Even if none are chosen, a token of thanks will be given afterward."

Since he was wealthy, naturally he wouldn't suffer the indignity of going to a martial arts school to learn alongside the masses; he would hire private tutors!

Hearing this, the muscle-bound martial artists all had their eyes light up.

Since they ran martial arts schools, it was naturally to make money, and they wouldn't turn down a profit.

And this Master Fang was famously... a fat sheep!

The group exchanged glances, and an old man in black clothes couldn't wait to step forward, cupping his fists: "This Humble One is She Lei of the Red Snake Martial Arts School, specializing in the 'Red Snake Leg'!"

He walked up to a wooden post, suddenly lifting his right leg high. The muscles on it bulged and burst, straining the black trousers almost to the point of tearing.

Swish!

The next moment, he kicked out. His originally thick right leg seemed as soft as boneless, shifting unpredictably, the leg whip carrying a fierce gust of wind as it slammed heavily into the wooden post.

Bang!

The thick wooden post shattered into pieces in an instant.

Wood chips flew everywhere as She Lei proudly introduced: "Our school's Red Snake Leg technique mainly trains the legs. After mastering it, not only is the power great, but it also enhances movement speed. With good footwork, in a duel, one can at least remain undefeated..."

"Not bad, not bad." Fang Xi's eyes lit up.

Although the killing power of this Red Snake Leg was inferior to his minor spell like the Geng Metal Grass Sword, he was only at the early Qi Refining stage, with limited spiritual power in his body, unable to sustain many spell casts.

But judging by the other's seemingly endless stamina, he could probably kick another twenty or thirty times, which was of considerable value.

'Indeed, just as I thought. These so-called Blood Qi martial arts can be seen as body-tempering techniques for the Qi Refining stage, and they're quite valuable... Moreover, if studied deeply, there might even be techniques comparable to Foundation Establishment body cultivators!'

Fang Xi's heart burned with excitement.

Foundation Establishment!

This was the shared dream of all low-level cultivators.

Alas... this hurdle was too difficult.

Just the baseline requirement of reaching Qi Refining Great Perfection before the age of sixty was enough to stump most rogue cultivators.

Furthermore, attempting to break through to Foundation Establishment without success meant death, and the Foundation Establishment spirit items that ensured success—especially Foundation Establishment Pills—were tightly controlled by the major powers. Even the Situ Family would have to go through great pain and sacrifice to obtain a single pill.

For ordinary rogue cultivators at the bottom, even catching a whiff of the scent was a luxury.

But now, Fang Xi saw a path to overtake on a curve!

'If I raise my body cultivation to a level comparable to a late Qi Refining cultivator, then gathering pills and techniques to assist in breaking through to mid and late Qi Refining will be much easier.'

'And if I can first become a Foundation Establishment body cultivator, then search for a Foundation Establishment Pill, my chances will be much greater, and it will be much safer.'

"The Path Has Hope, the Path Has Hope!"

Although he had access to the resources of two worlds, Fang Xi had not forgotten his position at the bottom of the food chain in the Southern Barrens Cultivation World. For now, he still dared not bring the special resources of Daliang to sell there.

Unless... he grasped even greater power.

Now, he saw that hope.

"Master She, fine craftsmanship! A reward!"

In a good mood, Fang Xi spoke up.

Originally, She Lei had been somewhat displeased—after all, though he really was out here selling his skills, he still had more dignity than a street performer.

But when he saw A Fu smilingly carrying out a tray of silver, all his dissatisfaction vanished. The wrinkles on his old face bloomed like a flower.

This fat sheep was truly worth it!

Seeing this scene, the representatives from the various martial arts schools grew red-eyed with envy. A tall, slender woman stepped forward: "This Humble One is Mu Piaomiao of White Cloud Martial Arts School. Our school specializes in the 'White Cloud Palm,' which can overcome strength with weakness and is extremely easy to learn..."

Clearly, this female Martial Master had carefully inquired about the customer's needs. She knew Fang Xi's martial arts aptitude was not outstanding—otherwise, he wouldn't have been rejected by Yuan He Mountain—and hit the nail on the head.

Moreover, as she demonstrated the palm technique, she revealed her graceful figure without restraint, her chest high and proud, carrying a hint of seduction.

The other Martial Masters watching silently cursed her as a vixen, yet couldn't bear to look away.

After Mu Piaomiao finished, another Martial Master stepped forward.

"This Humble One is Yuan Tiangang, skilled in the 'Wuji Staff'..."

"This Humble One is Yi Qiujue, proficient in 'Iron Wire Fist'..."

"My school's 'Green Robe Sword'..."

After the last Martial Master finished his demonstration, Fang Xi thought for a moment and asked, "All of your martial arts are quite impressive. I wonder if I could learn them all?"

He had plenty of money anyway; learning them all wouldn't hurt.

"This..."

The several Martial Masters exchanged glances. Finally, Mu Piaomiao stepped forward on her long legs and explained, "Young Master Fang, Blood Qi Martial Arts consumes a great deal. A single martial art can already drain the body, requiring heavy tonic decoctions to replenish. As the saying goes, 'biting off more than one can chew leads to indigestion.' Moreover, the blood qi circulation of several techniques conflicts with each other..."

"Oh."

Hearing Mu Piaomiao's explanation, Fang Xi was Lost in Thought.

So Blood Qi Martial Arts had its taboos.

And from her tone, there seemed to be more unsaid—knowledge that could only be obtained after truly entering the practice.

He thought for a moment, then finally said, "In that case, I'll start with one leg technique and one palm technique... Master She and Master Mu, please stay."

The other Martial Masters felt indignant at these words.

She Lei was one thing—he had dared to step forward first, so he was naturally among the strongest, with plenty of confidence.

But Mu Piaomiao? Wasn't she just blessed with long legs and a generous bosom?

Was this really the taste of the rich—so simple and unadorned?

After the Martial Masters left with their grievances, Fang Xi carefully examined She Lei and Mu Piaomiao. "Master She, Master Mu... tuition starts from today. You'll come to teach once every three days. How about that?"

At This Moment, he took a good look at the two.

When She Lei wasn't channeling his techniques, he looked like an unremarkable little old man.

Mu Piaomiao, on the other hand, had a full figure, a spirited and vigorous beauty, with fairly good features—though her skin was a bit rough.

"That's acceptable..."

Mu Piaomiao thought for a moment. "The Red Snake Leg's blood qi circulation is mainly in the legs, which doesn't conflict with our school's White Cloud Palm. But you must be careful not to learn too much more; otherwise, your blood qi will become mixed and impure later, hindering your breakthrough..."

Hearing this, Fang Xi felt a bit frustrated. "Blood qi mainly trains the legs and palms... Isn't there a martial art that can truly train the entire body's blood qi?"

This body-tempering method had too many flaws, and the key issue was that it offered poor protection against spells!

Mu Piaomiao and She Lei exchanged a glance. The little old man coughed and said, "Ahem... in truth, any Blood Qi Martial Art, while training the main body part, always has a side effect of tempering the whole body's blood qi. But to truly temper the entire body as one, that's not something a third-rate martial art from our schools can achieve. That would require a first-rate secret transmission... Perhaps Yuan He Mountain's hidden martial arts could reach that level."

"Alright..."

Fang Xi sighed, making a decision in his heart.

Wasn't it just a true secret transmission?

In the future, he might not be able to obtain one.

After all... the methods of a cultivator might not be something this world's Martial Artists could withstand.

Of course, this would still need slow experimentation. There was no rush.

He was still young—this body was only seventeen—and cultivators had long Lifespans. Even a Qi Refining Stage cultivator could live to eighty or ninety without much trouble.