Blood Locking Art

Third Floor of the tavern.

"You broke through to the Bone Forging Realm?"

"Not bad aptitude."

Nangong Wan'er sat cross-legged by the window, her beautiful eyes revealing a hint of surprise as she watched Qin Shuang practicing boxing in the tavern's backyard.

She had thought that after taking the Tiger Blood Pill, Qin Shuang's chance of advancing to the Bone Forging Realm was only half, and even if he succeeded, it would take at least ten days of tempering. She hadn't expected it to be this fast.

"Bone Forging Realm now, qi and blood overflowing outward—needs to be concealed."

Thinking this, Nangong Wan'er flickered and appeared in the backyard. Looking at Qin Shuang, she said, "Qin Shuang, congratulations on your breakthrough."

"All thanks to Miss Nangong's Tiger Blood Pill. Otherwise, I wouldn't have broken through so quickly. I'll remember your kindness and repay it someday!"

Qin Shuang clasped his fists at Nangong Wan'er.

"No need for thanks. You let me stay in your house and helped me evade the search—that's repayment enough."

Nangong Wan'er said calmly. "You've entered the Bone Forging Realm, your qi and blood have surged, and you now possess a Qi and Blood Gauze Robe. It's easy for those with higher cultivation to spot you. I'll teach you a chant; once you practice it, you can lock your qi and blood inside your body without any leakage. As long as you don't make a move, even a Marrow Jade Realm expert won't be able to tell!"

"A chant to lock qi and blood? Good!"

Qin Shuang's eyes lit up at the words.

"I'll say it, you remember."

Nangong Wan'er immediately recited the chant to Qin Shuang. It was only five or six hundred characters, and before long, Qin Shuang had it memorized.

"Practice it well. Oh, and don't cook for the next few days. Buy ready-made meals instead, but not too much at once—buy in batches. And be careful not to be followed."

After seeing that Qin Shuang had remembered the chant, Nangong Wan'er thought for a moment and gave him these instructions.

There were many gangs and Jianghu Experts searching outside now. Hiding on the third floor, she had seen three Marrow Jade Realm experts pass over the rooftop, so she had to be cautious.

Still.

Her cultivation had recovered somewhat. By using her concealment technique, as long as no Divine Saber Sect expert came by, she wouldn't be discovered.

The only ones she feared were the people from the Divine Saber Sect.

Qin Shuang returned to the kitchen, while Nangong Wan'er went back to the third floor.

[Blood Locking Art (Blood Refining Scroll): (Not yet started, fifty practices daily, can start in one day)]

[Simplified advancement condition: Conceal blood ten times]

"Conceal blood? Does that mean I have to hide blood somewhere?"

Qin Shuang looked at the panel in his mind, then at the basin of solidified pig blood placed behind the stove. He reached out and grabbed a lump—it was quite springy.

This was pure pig blood.

Not like the bricks made from starch and chemical additives in his past life.

Qin Shuang tried covering the pig blood with a pot lid and checked the panel—no change. He then stuffed the blood into his chest and into his pocket, but the panel still showed nothing.

"Huh? Is pig blood no good? Does it need fresh blood from something else? Or am I doing it wrong?"

Qin Shuang frowned at the unresponsive panel, a thoughtful look in his eyes. He picked up the kitchen knife and lightly sliced his left index finger.

Immediately, a small cut appeared on his fingertip, and a drop of crimson blood oozed out. Qin Shuang grabbed the pot lid and covered the bleeding finger.

[Conceal blood +1 time!]

[Conceal blood +1 time!]

[...]

"Concealing blood... it has to be human blood..."

Qin Shuang muttered to himself as he watched the prompts on the panel.

[Ding! Your Blood Locking Art (Blood Refining Scroll) has successfully started!]

When Qin Shuang had concealed blood ten times, a system notification rang in his mind.

A stream of information flooded into his head—it was the cultivation method for the Blood Refining Scroll.

Qin Shuang focused his mind and checked the panel.

[Blood Locking Art (Blood Refining Scroll): (Started, fifty practices daily, half a year to become proficient)]

[Simplified advancement condition: Conceal blood one hundred times, play hide-and-seek for half an hour.]

[Fierce Tiger Fist: (Perfected) Can break limits]

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[Simplified limit-breaking condition: 1. Observe the Tiger Roar Painting for three hours. 2. Kill one Hanging-Eyed White-Forehead Tiger]

"Simplified to hide-and-seek?"

Qin Shuang looked at the prompt on the panel, his eyes brightening. This was truly simplified.

"Fierce Tiger Fist limit-breaking requires killing a tiger and observing the Tiger Roar Painting for three hours?"

Qin Shuang looked at the Fierce Tiger Fist on the panel, his heart stirring. He remembered that in the Great Hall of the Golden Tiger Martial Arts School, a Tiger Roar Painting hung, and there was also one on the screen in the training grounds.

It seemed he would have to find time to make two trips to the Golden Tiger Martial Arts School.

"First, get the Blood Locking Art down pat, then sleep a bit. I'll make my move tonight!"

Qin Shuang calculated silently in his heart.

Boss Qi would die tonight, no doubt. There was still some time before nightfall, but he had stayed up all night stripping the tiger hide and his spirit couldn't hold out. He needed an hour of sleep to recharge.

[Blood Locking Art (Blood Refining Scroll): (Proficient, a hundred practices daily, three years to mastery)]

[Simplified promotion conditions: 1. Conceal blood a thousand times, 2. Evade the prying of a Bone Forging Realm 'Qi and Blood Wolf Smoke' expert.]

Half an hour later, two notification sounds rang out in Qin Shuang's mind.

A stream of information surged into his thoughts—it was the proficient-level training techniques and insights for the Blood Locking Art (Blood Refining Scroll).

Qin Shuang activated the proficient-level Blood Locking Art. The next moment, the Qi and Blood Gauze Robe around his body vanished completely, retracting and sinking into his being.

"Not bad!"

Qin Shuang looked at his own hands, a satisfied gleam in his eyes.

Night.

Nine o'clock, second floor of Fusheng Restaurant.

Qin Shuang wore a black night-robe, his face covered, and was about to leave when a voice like an oriole's song rang out. "Take this with you. It'll be safer."

With the words, Nangong Wan'er, clad in black, appeared before Qin Shuang and handed him a dark object.

"What is this?"

Qin Shuang took the thing from Nangong Wan'er and found it to be a foot-long, arm-thick, pitch-black item, heavy in his hand, with a dozen rice-grain-sized holes at one end.

"This is the Ice Soul Cold Star Needle! I took it from an enemy myself. Anyone below the Marrow Jade Realm will die without a doubt!"

Nangong Wan'er said, then explained how to use it.

"Thank you, Miss Nangong. You've helped me greatly."

Qin Shuang looked at Nangong Wan'er, speaking with gratitude.

"I borrowed your place to heal my wounds. Consider this your payment. At my cultivation level, I have no use for it anymore. Go on!" Nangong Wan'er waved her hand at Qin Shuang, then vanished in a flicker, ascending to the third floor.

Five li behind East Gate Street, beside the Clear Water River, lay a wharf called East Gate Wharf. It had originally belonged to the Clear River Chamber of Commerce, but now it was the property of the Flying Eagle Gang.

Moored at the wharf were large and small black-canopied boats, rowboats, and skiffs.

"Big! Big! Big!"

"Small! Small! Small!"

On the east side of the wharf stood a row of great halls. In one of them, light spilled out along with the clamor of voices.

"Lost again! Damn rotten luck—I haven't won a single round since I came back from hunting that fugitive!"

The burly, bearded Green-Clad Ruffian, Qi Yunfeng, stared at the dice on the table, his heart full of frustration.

"Boss Qi, how about this little brother treats you to a trip to 'Gentle Haven' to turn your luck around? Come back tomorrow?"

"Yeah, Sect Leader, it's too late today. Try again tomorrow—your hand's bound to be hot!"

"..."

Around the gambling table, six men with embroidered eagles on their chests all chimed in to persuade him.

Sect Leader Qi was their superior after all, and his luck was worse than dog shit—he'd already lost nearly a hundred taels. They didn't want him to lose too badly, but he insisted on dragging them into rolling the dice.

"No way. I'm going to take a leak first, then I'll be back for another round!" Qi Yunfeng's one eye was red from losing. A sect leader losing to his own men—that was a blow to his pride.

He had to win it back!

Maybe after a piss, his luck would turn!