Immortal Martial: Pushing Through Two Realms From Reality - Section 49

With a serious expression and seeing Jiang Shu lost in thought, Qi Yuan didn't say anything further. He picked up his wine gourd, cut off two pounds of meat, and left the main hall for the kitchen.

The small courtyard was his training ground. For peace and quiet, he only had an old servant to manage daily affairs.

Seeing Qi Yuan emerge, the old servant quickly followed, waiting for Qi Yuan to slice the meat into thin pieces before skillfully stepping forward. He placed the meat slices over the large kitchen pot, lowered himself, and stoked the fire.

In the main hall.

Seeing Qi Yuan leave, Jiang Shu did not linger.

He stood in the courtyard, practicing his stances and breathing, steadily improving himself.

A special meaty aroma wafted through the breeze from the kitchen to his nose.

Half an hour passed in a flash.

"Junior Disciple, still practicing your stances? Come over and try some of this Exotic Beast Meat. This piece I have is Fox Bear meat; it's a bit gamey. But for me, it can increase my training progress by about fifty to sixty percent. You can try it and then feel the difference while you practice your stances."

Qi Yuan drank his wine, completely at ease, and sat down on the ground next to Jiang Shu. He had bought a considerable amount today, and it was no trouble to share a little with Jiang Shu.

He wanted Jiang Shu to experience Exotic Beast Meat early and feel the Blood Essence boost it provided.

"Then I'll take advantage of Senior Disciple Qi's generosity today."

He finished his stance and stood up, then sat cross-legged. Jiang Shu grabbed a slice of meat and popped it into his mouth.

Instantly, a strong, fishy taste filled his entire mouth. He swallowed hard and circulated the Hungry Tiger Breathing Method…

"Not very pleasant, is it? Have some wine?"

He offered the wine gourd.

Jiang Shu did not take it, instead asking, "Senior Disciple Qi, I also saw some cured meat and jerky in the black market. Are they much less effective compared to the fresh meat you bought?"

"Naturally. Who knows how long those cured meats and jerkies have been around? The essence in their flesh has long since diminished. That's why Martial Arts cultivation becomes increasingly difficult. It's not just difficult because of Martial Arts itself, but even more so because of resources."

"Ordinary people need meat for their training, and we Martial Practitioners need Exotic Beast Meat to advance. In the early stages of training, a well-off family with a solid foundation is enough to support it. But once one becomes a Martial Practitioner, it's impossible for merchants to sustain it!"

"And to advance from the Skin Grinding Realm to the Bone Forging Realm, it's absolutely impossible without the full support of a wealthy family! If you can't buy Exotic Beast Meat, it means your Martial Arts path has reached its limit."

Qi Yuan sighed. He had been training for so many years, and only then did he realize how difficult Martial Arts truly was. It could be said that in Pingling County, one's birth determined how far they could go in Martial Arts.

He was relatively fortunate. Although he wasn't born into a wealthy family, his parents ran a shop, so they were never lacking in food or clothing. This allowed him to reach the Skin Grinding Realm before the age of twenty.

However, his entire Martial Arts cultivation might only reach this point.

Thinking of this, Qi Yuan couldn't help but take another drink.

"Exotic Beast Meat is hard to come by in the county town, but what about in the prefecture city?" Jiang Shu asked in a low voice. He had been in this world for half a year, but due to the monopoly on certain knowledge, he was completely unaware of the environment around Pingling County.

"You can't get out."

In response to Jiang Shu's question, Qi Yuan shook his head.

"Jiang Shu, our Pingling County is located in Yongning Prefecture. To travel to the prefecture city, you first need to cross countless large mountains."

Qi Yuan stood up and gazed into the distance.

"We Martial Practitioners use Exotic Beast Meat as food to advance our Martial Arts. But in the mountains, we Martial Practitioners in the Skin Grinding Realm are merely food for those exotic fierce beasts."

"Only Martial Practitioners in the Bone Forging Realm have a slim chance of getting out."

"But becoming a Bone Forging Realm Martial Practitioner, how easy is that?"

A vicious cycle.

The mountains served as a barrier, preventing Martial Practitioners in the Skin Grinding Realm from leaving.

Exotic Beast Meat was also monopolized by the county government and wealthy families, with only a small amount released in the black market.

Even if a Martial Practitioner in the Skin Grinding Realm managed to break through to the Bone Forging Realm.

Then what?

On one hand, they would be courted by wealthy families and enjoy a lifetime of leisure in Pingling County.

On the other hand, they would have to leave Pingling County, face life-or-death struggles, and only then might they have a slim chance of reaching the prefecture city.

When comparing the two, how could one choose?

Jiang Shu remained silent. He had initially thought that after reaching the Skin Grinding Realm, he wouldn't encounter significant difficulties in Pingling County.

Now it seemed he was still too young.

Being in Pingling County was like being trapped in a giant cage!

In the courtyard, the wind blew.

Qi Yuan was already a little drunk. The meat slices on the plate were long gone. He shook his now empty wine gourd, suddenly stood up, and faced Jiang Shu, shouting, "Let's spar!"

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

His body spun rapidly, the sound of his fists fierce.

Two quarters of an hour later.

Jiang Shu's body was in severe pain, with bruises on his arms and legs.

Under the influence of alcohol, Qi Yuan tried to hold back his strength several times, but it was too late. His fists struck heavily, pounding his limbs and bones repeatedly. Of course, Qi Yuan, who wasn't channeling his internal energy, didn't have it easy either. Jiang Shu's Tiger Form Three Styles were nearing perfection.

The power in his fists was becoming more and more concentrated to a single point.

Real combat is the fastest way to improve!

If only the Hungry Tiger Sitting Cave Stance and the Hungry Tiger Breathing Method could be used in real combat like the Tiger Form Three Styles!

A thought flashed through Jiang Shu's mind as he threw a punch.

"Bang!"

He was sent flying back, his fist already red and swollen.

"Still fighting!"

Qi Yuan stood his ground, his body swaying but not falling.

"Fighting!"

Jiang Shu responded with a long shout. The Fox Bear meat had already taken effect within him. His body felt warm all over, as if a surge of energy was gathering in his limbs and bones.

Tiger Form Three Styles.

Pounce!

Lift!

Gouge!

A gentle breeze blew.

The moon was bright and the stars were sparse.

Jiang Shu and Qi Yuan were drenched in sweat, their short training outfits soaked through.

"That was exhilarating!"

After drinking another pot of wine, Qi Yuan looked at Jiang Shu and said, "Junior Disciple, you're good at everything except drinking! You must change this. Here, drink!"

"Senior Disciple Qi, wine is poison that burns through the intestines, and lust is a steel knife that scrapes bones. We are in the prime of our Martial Arts progress, how can we let wine and lust hinder us."

Even standing was difficult for Jiang Shu now.

His legs trembled, but his body remained straight. He clenched his fists and shouted.

He had always acted by repaying kindness with kindness and resentment with resentment.

Qi Yuan was willing to share the Fox Bear meat, willing to hold back his strength and only use brute force to spar with him, to guide him.

Such friendship was not insignificant!

What was there to fear about resource monopolization?

Once he entered the Academy, he would have plenty of exotic meats!

The Skin Grinding Realm! It would be within reach!

The Bone Forging Realm! It was just a matter of time!

The day he broke free from this cage.

Why couldn't he bring Qi Yuan out with him!

"Damn it, I think you're the one who's drunk, Jiang Shu! Wine is poison that burns through the intestines, that's something for a Viscera Refining Realm expert to worry about. Why should I, a Skin Grinding Realm practitioner, care?"

"It's good enough if I can manage to pay attention to lust, that steel knife that scrapes bones! Even if I reach the Bone Forging Realm in my lifetime, that's the end of it. Jiang Shu, you abstain from wine and lust, are you perhaps aiming to become a Viscera Refining Realm expert?"

Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes, finding Jiang Shu's words so amusing that he couldn't help but retort.

He thought Jiang Shu would respond with a modest "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare."

After all, he had shown Jiang Shu so much today.