Bone-Attached Gangrene

This speed was far too slow. After all, Chen Fei was already quite old, and the older one grew, the harder it became to increase one's cultivation. More importantly, after Chen Fei killed Qi Chun, the Black Line at his wrist had grown increasingly thick.

Status: Bone-Attached Gangrene

The Panel had displayed this new change a day ago. The most immediate effect it brought Chen Fei was that he could feel his stamina beginning to deplete at an accelerated rate.

After breaking through to the Skin Refining Realm, Chen Fei had improved greatly in both stamina and perception. But after gaining this Bone-Attached Gangrene, he discovered that his stamina was actually nearly no better than that of an ordinary person before, and might even be somewhat worse.

How could Chen Fei dare take this lightly? He immediately made some oblique inquiries with several physicians at the Medical Hall, and ultimately obtained an answer.

This was a mark left by a Weird. Either he eliminated that Weird, in which case the mark would naturally dissipate, or his own cultivation had to become sufficiently powerful to erase it directly.

If all else failed, he could also take pills that strengthened his vital energy and blood to resist this sinister force.

As for that Weird, Chen Fei naturally did not dare seek it out now. He could not afford the pills either, leaving him with only the path of increasing his cultivation. Moreover, Chen Fei did not dare let the Medical Hall know that he had been marked. Who knew whether the Medical Hall would find him troublesome and abandon him outright?

"It's about time I looked for Pu Liao."

That evening, Chen Fei arrived at Pu Liao's door and gently knocked.

"Who is it?" Pu Liao's hoarse voice came from inside.

"Captain Pu, it's me," Chen Fei said in a low voice.

"What is it!"

The door opened. Pu Liao looked down at Chen Fei from his superior position, making no move to let him in.

"Captain Pu, would you have time to teach me the cultivation method of our Qingzheng Medical Center?"

"Oh, so it's about this."

Seeing that Chen Fei had come empty-handed, Pu Liao's eyes showed some displeasure, and his voice grew louder. "Didn't I tell you a few days ago that I've been busy lately, and that I'd teach you when I had time? Why can't you understand?"

"When will you have time, Captain Pu?"

"There are so many things to do. How would I know? When I have time, I'll call for you."

Pu Liao looked somewhat impatient. He waved his hand and said, "All right, if there's nothing else, go back for now. I still have things to do, so I won't be receiving you!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Pu Liao turned and went inside, shutting the door. But before it could close completely, a hand blocked it.

"Are you looking to die?" Pu Liao's eyes widened as he glared viciously at Chen Fei.

"Captain Pu, I thought about it. Since you've been busy lately, I shouldn't trouble you either. Do you happen to have a Secret Manual? I can practice it on my own."

Chen Fei acted as if he had not seen Pu Liao's expression and spoke calmly.

Today, Chen Fei had finally seen through it: Pu Liao simply wanted money. But Chen Fei had only been transferred to the Guards three days ago—where would he get any money? Besides, even the Guards' wages amounted to no more than five taels of silver a month.

How could Pu Liao possibly care about those five taels? Since that was the case, Chen Fei might as well make things clear.

"You want to practice on your own? Hahahaha!"

Pu Liao burst into loud laughter, his eyes filled with mockery. Breaking through to the Skin Refining Realm in a little over four months—such talent was practically at the bottom among martial artists.

And he actually dreamed of relying on his own talent to practice a higher-level martial art and cultivation method? It was simply a fool's dream, utterly ignorant of the vastness of heaven and earth.

"All right, I have some cultivation methods here. Return them to me before noon tomorrow. If you can't learn them on your own, don't say I, Pu Liao, bullied you!"

Pu Liao returned inside, brought out two Secret Manuals, and tossed them into Chen Fei's hands. He let out a snort, then slammed the door shut.

Some people watching from a distance could not help shaking their heads as they looked at Chen Fei's back. A newly arrived member of the Guards actually dared to clash with an old Guard like Pu Liao.

And now he wanted to practice martial arts on his own?

If martial arts and cultivation methods were so easy to practice, what would masters be needed for? Without someone to lead the way, the twists and turns within a cultivation method could easily send someone down the wrong path. In the end, they would discover that they had wasted their time and accomplished nothing.

More frightening were those who went astray during cultivation. They might be unable to advance even an inch for the rest of their lives, and could even suffer hidden injuries. In their eyes, Chen Fei was simply a clueless blockhead.

Chen Fei paid no attention to the gazes around him and returned to his room with the Secret Manuals.

An hour later, Chen Fei set down the Secret Manuals in his hands and began practicing the two cultivation methods. After another half an hour, Chen Fei looked toward the Panel.

Cultivation Methods: Clear Wind Sword (Entry 1/100), Wind Suspension Force (Entry 1/100), Extreme Mountain Fist (Great Perfection), Extreme Mountain Breathing Technique (Great Perfection)

Relying on the foundation of his Great Perfection Extreme Mountain Fist and Breathing Technique, Chen Fei found it quite easy to practice the two cultivation methods to the Entry level.

The Clear Wind Sword was a combat technique, while the Wind Suspension Force increased cultivation. The Panel could still simplify both cultivation methods. The only issue was that the cost of simplification was rather high: each required ten taels of silver.

Chen Fei did not have ten taels. He had only a little over two taels now, which was far from enough for simplification.

Chen Fei looked at the Great Perfection Breathing Technique, then at the Wind Suspension Force. He blinked, subconsciously wanting to fuse the Breathing Technique into the Wind Suspension Force. The next moment, both cultivation methods vanished, replaced by a brand-new one.

Wind Suspension Breathing Technique (Proficient 107/1000)

"It really works!"

A hint of delight appeared in Chen Fei's eyes. Just now, he had merely followed a feeling. He had not expected that cultivation methods after reaching Great Perfection could truly fuse with other cultivation methods.

But thinking about it, it made sense. After all, Great Perfection meant that one had thoroughly mastered every aspect of the cultivation method, knowing it inside and out. Naturally, it could be incorporated into other cultivation methods.

This meant that even after Chen Fei's cultivation increased in the future, cultivation methods that could no longer keep up would not go to waste. They could be combined with new techniques and transformed into even more powerful cultivation methods.

The Extreme Mountain Fist also fused with the Clear Wind Sword. This time, Chen Fei deliberately preserved more of the Clear Wind Sword's essence, incorporating only some of the Extreme Mountain Fist's methods of exerting force.

Green Mountain Sword (Proficient 13/1000)

The originally graceful and unrestrained Clear Wind Sword had become a broad, powerful Sword Technique. Yet its might was not weakened in the slightest and had even increased somewhat.

After half an hour, having tried out both new cultivation methods in their entirety, Chen Fei's face held delight, but he still felt somewhat unsatisfied.

The delight came from the fact that both new cultivation methods were somewhat more powerful than the originals. Once cultivated to the Great Perfection level, they would definitely far surpass the previous versions. After all, they were only Proficient now.

His dissatisfaction, however, came from discovering after trying them several times that the Proficiency of both cultivation methods had not increased at all. If Chen Fei practiced like this without using simplification, he estimated that he could increase them by only one or two points a day. And that was still thanks to the fusion with the original cultivation methods.

This was probably the talent limit of Chen Fei's current body. To break through this layer of limits, even the usual gradual approach would be somewhat too difficult for him.

"Money, money, money!"

Chen Fei's brows knitted tightly as all sorts of ways to earn money drifted through his mind, leaving him somewhat unable to decide.