Killing Technique

"Blood-heat is the embryonic form of force.

"Force takes shape externally, while power is concealed within. Young Master, remember this well.

"As for the mobilization and strengthening of this heat... that determines whether one can reach the Seventh Rank.

"Mastery depends on comprehension;

"Execution depends on one's constitution;

"As for strengthening it... besides the daily tempering, one must also seek rare treasures and fortuitous opportunities. Only then can this process be accelerated. Otherwise, relying solely on one's own bitter cultivation, who knows how long it will take...

"However, even if you succeed by then, it will already be too late.

"A person's energy is limited. If one cannot step into the Seventh Rank early, while still in the prime of strength and vigor, then... even if one reaches it later through bitter cultivation, that will be the end of the road."

Song Xue stood beneath the moonlight with her hands clasped behind her back.

The moonlight was soft and hazy. The beauty stood proudly on her long legs, her starry eyes rippling like spring water, as though she had stepped out of a painting.

Suddenly, a rustling came from outside the courtyard, accompanied by lowered voices saying things like, "Don't shove me," and "I'm about to fall out."

The young woman abruptly fell silent, then gave a heavy cough.

The area beyond the full-moon gate instantly went quiet.

A moment later, several Martial Hall men sheepishly ambled out.

The burliest one at the front scratched his hair and said with a grin, "Senior Sister, good evening. We... we... just happened to be patrolling the grounds at night."

Another round-faced man laughed. "Senior Sister, Young Master Qi, we're just taking a stroll, haha, just taking a stroll."

Behind them, a tall, thin man's gaze furtively sized up Qi Yu and Song Xue before withdrawing, a subtle glint flickering in his eyes.

Watching this scene, Qi Yu could not help smiling. At the same time, he realized that Song Xue teaching him a killing technique in private was actually a rather intimate act.

Come to think of it, what young woman would drag a man out to teach him martial arts beneath the gentle moonlight in the middle of the night?

These men had come here for the gossip.

The unexpected incident was merely a small interlude.

After being discovered, the men stopped peeking, and Song Xue continued her instruction.

"The killing techniques of my Spirit Serpent Martial Hall focus on the hands and arms.

"The mobilization of heat is likewise concentrated in these two places."

As she spoke, Song Xue swept her gaze across the courtyard and picked up a dark, heavy iron rod from beside the wall. She rolled up her sleeve, revealing a section of gleaming white forearm, and held the iron rod level with her brows. "Watch closely."

The moment she finished speaking, she let go.

The iron rod dropped.

Yet at the instant it fell, a sharp gleam flashed through her eyes. Blood-heat surged over her right arm, spilling out more than an inch. It expanded in the chill of the spring night, like a white, cyberpunk-style metal power arm covering it.

That hand rose from below to meet the iron rod. Its five fingers lifted like a serpent raising its head and coiled upward around the rod...

Crack.

Crack crack crack!!

Amid the teeth-grating sounds, Qi Yu clearly saw the muscles on her arm twist taut like steel cables, tightening layer by layer. The iron rod warped in response.

The surging blood-heat did not stop. It continued converging toward her palm, condensing into a phantom white claw that swelled to two inches larger, then clenched violently!

Screeech!

The tip of the iron rod was actually torn away like a lump of dough.

Afterward, Song Xue released her stance and lowered her sleeve. "This is Azure Serpent Entwining Kill and White Serpent Throat Seal.

"If used with a graded spear, the force can be transmitted through the shaft and released. Turn the wrist, and the spear moves like a spirit; hook the fingers, and the force gathers at a single point."

Qi Yu knew a little about graded weapons.

Ordinary ironware could not withstand a martial artist's power. Only weapons smelted with special materials could be considered graded.

This point... was even more intuitive when explained using the terminology of the [Abandoned World]—want to forge an Eighth-Rank weapon? Fine, bring over the bones or chitin of a corresponding Eighth-Rank demon beast. Want to forge a Sixth-Rank weapon? Then... bring over the materials of a Sixth-Rank beast.

Of course, that was merely the simplest and most straightforward explanation.

In truth, the way of forging weapons was extremely complicated. It was not something that could be done casually...

Afterward, Song Xue began teaching Qi Yu how to circulate the heat in the Spirit Serpent Killing Technique. Only after more than half an hour had passed did the two finally part.

Early the next morning, before dawn had broken, voices were already stirring throughout the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall.

In the courtyard, besides their regular training, those martial artists who had yet to enter a rank also had to handle all kinds of chores—buying supplies and preparing meals, carrying water and chopping firewood, sweeping and washing, even emptying chamber pots and cleaning latrines. All of it fell within their duties.

Qi Yu had risen early as well, savoring the Spirit Serpent Killing Technique that Miss Song had taught him the night before.

The killing technique consisted of only two forms, but it contained a great deal. At its core was the "method of transporting heat," which aimed to gather the scattered heat throughout the body into the arms and palms.

After practicing a full set, Qi Yu reflected for a while and felt that solitary enlightenment behind closed doors was somewhat limiting. Thus, he went to the inner-courtyard Training Grounds and began practicing alongside several Eighth-Rank martial artists.

The Martial Hall had a good atmosphere. After exchanging greetings, Qi Yu felt that he had blended into it as well.

Around noon, Qi Yu sat on the stone steps beneath the eaves to rest. A man with ancient-bronze skin came over and sat beside him. He looked thin, but his skin and muscles were dense, and his gaze was sharp. With a smile, he saluted and said, "Young Master Qi."

Qi Yu looked at him.

He had noticed this man long ago.

The combat power data above Song Xue's head was "29~57," while this man's was "29~58." Calling him the second strongest in the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall was entirely justified.

Like Song Xue, this man had taken the Provincial Examination three years ago and passed successfully, becoming a Martial Scholar. In the hall, people called him "Ghost Hand Seven," "Brother Seven," or "A-Qi."

Qi Yu returned the greeting with a smile. "Brother Seven."

Ghost Hand Seven waved repeatedly. "Young Master Qi, you're too polite."

Seeing his easygoing attitude, Ghost Hand Seven's expression grew even friendlier.

Qi Yu took the opportunity to ask about difficulties in cultivation. Ghost Hand Seven did not hold anything back, explaining while illustrating with his hands and pointing out the answers to Qi Yu's questions.

Just then, a commotion suddenly arose from the disciples around the Training Grounds who were still toughening their skin, as well as those who had yet to enter a rank and were still tempering their blood and qi.

"Thank you, Senior Sister Song."

"Good morning, Senior Sister Song..."

"Senior Sister Song, sorry for the trouble."

Qi Yu turned his head.

He saw Miss Song dressed in a simple, plain-white outfit suited for practice, her ponytail swaying with every step. Behind her followed a burly man carrying a ceramic jar bearing the Spirit Serpent pattern, applying medicine to the hands of the disciples toughening their skin.

Miss Song herself merely asked each disciple about the problems they had encountered in cultivation, then explained the answers to them.

Even so, quite a few of the disciples speaking with her still had flushed faces. Even their voices had become considerably more "gentlemanly," unlike their usual joking, cursing, and boisterous manner.

Ghost Hand Seven let out a long sigh.

Qi Yu asked, "Brother Seven, why the long face?"

Ghost Hand Seven said, "There should have been several dozen more disciples here today..."

As he spoke, he slapped his thigh. "I only hope Junior Brother Chu can live up to expectations in this Provincial Examination and beat that dog surnamed Han into the ground."

Qi Yu understood.

That day, the Chu-Han Battle had truly damaged the reputation of the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall, causing many people who had originally planned to become disciples there to go elsewhere instead.

The Spirit Serpent Martial Hall still looked lively now, but in truth... it already carried a sense of desolation.

A Martial Hall depended on its reputation.

And how was reputation earned?

Through nothing more than "victory and defeat."

Reality was simply this cruel. A martial artist's strength was not proven with words, but with fists.

Soon, Song Xue reached the inner courtyard.

Ghost Hand Seven shot to his feet. Seeing that Qi Yu was about to stand as well, he raised a hand and pressed down on the youth's shoulder. "Rest a little longer."

With that, a smile tugged at his lips, and he ran off.

Song Xue stopped in front of Qi Yu, took a booklet from her robes, and held it out.

Qi Yu opened it and saw that it recorded the essentials of the killing technique in meticulous detail, along with every problem he might encounter.

The handwriting was graceful, and the ink was still fresh...

"I still need to cultivate most days, so I may not be able to look after you that much. I hope this booklet can help you.

"I've also heard a little about what happened to your Qi Family, so... you can only succeed in this Provincial Examination.

"The Provincial Examination is divided into A, B, and C, as well as upper, middle, and lower grades. As long as you place Second Class, Middle Grade, you'll count as having passed...

"I believe in you. You'll definitely obtain Second Class, Middle Grade, and you'll definitely pass."