"Shameful, shameful..."
Lu Yuan opened his eyes and leaped out of the wooden tub.
One Blood Refinement was far from his endpoint.
Neither was the Second Blood Change!
Three Blood Changes brought Blood Qi Like an Ox.
Six Blood Changes brought Qi and Blood like a Tiger.
Nine Blood Changes brought Blood Qi Like an Elephant.
Twelve Blood Changes brought Blood Qi Like a Dragon.
This was what he had learned from Zhang Zhi.
Those with Blood Qi Like a Dragon could be called Martial Dao Masters.
The Four Gates of Martial Dao—each step ascended to the heavens. Every gate was difficult to pass, and each was separated from the next by a heavenly chasm.
Martial Dao Blood Change was destined to be a grueling and lengthy process. Without sufficient resources, sufficient perseverance, sufficient persistence, and sufficient talent, countless people could only stop at the first or second Blood Change.
The Second Blood Change followed much the same process as the first, except some of the Medicinal Materials had changed—and become more expensive.
From the time he began breaking through until he succeeded, he had soaked in ten Medicinal Baths.
The feeling of being able to clearly sense every tiny bit of his own progress was even more intoxicating than winning a game.
He could somewhat understand why martial arts fanatics existed.
"Second Blood Change!!"
With a thought, Lu Yuan threw a punch. The muscles throughout his body instantly twisted like steel wires, power bursting forth as a muffled boom rang through the air.
"The gap in strength between the Second Blood Change and the first really is quite large. My stamina is as enduring as a galloping horse, my strength rivals a fierce tiger, and with a swing of both arms, I possess a thousand catties of force."
As he flexed his muscles, they swelled with the slightest movement, like blocks of iron—unbelievably hard, able to resist external attacks to the utmost degree.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Brimming with energy, Lu Yuan could not help throwing punches and kicks.
Had anyone been outside, they would have heard the deafening stomps from within the room. The entire room trembled faintly, while explosive cracks filled the air one after another, as though air cannons were firing.
Inside the room, Lu Yuan darted and shifted. His fists were like fierce tigers, his force comparable to an ox demon. Every punch and kick stirred fierce winds, making the windows rattle as though enormous waves were crashing against the sky.
"Now that I have mastered the Ox Demon Fist and Great Gale Saber Technique at the perfected level, defeating an old Second Blood Change Martial Artist like Uncle Zhang would be effortless."
Lu Yuan withdrew his fists and stood still. With a thought:
[Lifespan: 125 (80 years remaining)] [Techniques: Ox Demon Fist (Transcendent 100%), Great Gale Saber Technique (Transcendent 100%), Dragon Elephant Longevity Art (Perfected 20%)]
After half a year of bitter cultivation, without slacking off for a single day, the Dragon Elephant Longevity Art had finally reached the Perfected level.
For ordinary people, reaching this level without ten or twenty years was nothing more than a dream.
"The Dragon Elephant Longevity Art has already added sixty-seven years to my lifespan, bringing my remaining lifespan to eighty years. I should cultivate a little longer, accumulate a few more years, then improve my talent."
The sixty-seven added years should have left him with eighty-one years remaining, but another year had passed. He had grown one year older and was already seventeen.
With only eighty years of lifespan left, Lu Yuan feared that he would raise his talent to genius level with one foot, then drop dead with the next.
"To me, the Dragon Elephant Longevity Art does more than extend my lifespan. No matter how exhausted I am, a single night's sleep sweeps away all my fatigue. And when cultivating the Dragon Elephant Longevity Art, my injuries recover several times faster as well."
Over the past half year, Lu Yuan had not merely buried himself in martial arts training. Sparring with Zhang Zhi had been indispensable.
At first, Lu Cheng had eagerly accompanied him in sparring, but after several rounds, he refused to come again no matter what, saying he did not want to be abused.
Thus, later on, he could only spar with Zhang Zhi. Sometimes, when the fight heated up, they inevitably went all out, and injuries were unavoidable.
Only after his first injury did he discover that cultivating the Dragon Elephant Longevity Art in his sleep provided a bonus to injury recovery.
"Let me try my saber technique again!"
After getting dressed, he carried Po Jun into the courtyard.
Before long, saber light whistled through the courtyard, cold gleams flickering as they swept up fallen leaves into a frenzied dance, creating a tremendous spectacle.
Lu Yuan's entire body was nearly concealed by the saber light. Ordinary people could not possibly catch his movements. Not a single fallen leaf could approach him; any that entered within several meters were shredded to powder.
Hoo—
The saber light withdrew, and the storm-like barrage of blades vanished. Lu Yuan stood with his saber planted before him and let out a long breath toward the sky.
The great sun rose for the first time.
"Second Young Master, breakfast is ready." As usual, a servant came to call Lu Yuan.
The three father and sons were eating breakfast when a servant hurriedly rushed in.
"Master! The Third Boss of Iron Dragon Stockade is outside!"
"Li Jing!"
Lu Longjing's expression darkened as he abruptly rose to his feet. "Lu Cheng, go notify Uncle Zhang. Call everyone and bring weapons!"
Other than paying toll fees, the Lu Family and Iron Dragon Stockade had little interaction.
The two sides had cooperated for several years, yet this was the first time Li Jing had personally brought men to the Lu Family.
Though they did not fear those bandits making a move within the county town, caution was still necessary.
Lu Yuan found it strange. Over the past year, Iron Dragon Stockade had grown ever more powerful, its fierce reputation resounding throughout the surrounding hundred miles. The Lu Family had paid every last coin of toll fees they owed, so why had they come to the Lu Family in person?
Following his father to the entrance, he saw more than twenty burly men standing outside. At their head was Li Jing, broad and powerfully built, radiating a sharp, capable air.
After glancing over them, Lu Longjing helplessly clasped his hands. "Third Boss, what brings you here?"
Li Jing laughed heartily. "Boss Lu, what is this? I came all this way, and you will not even offer me a cup of hot tea?"
Lu Longjing played along with him and smiled. "There is hot tea and hot food. Third Boss, please wait a moment. I will have the servants bring them over at once."
No matter what, he would certainly not let Li Jing and his men enter.
Li Jing smiled without smiling, clearly understanding Lu Longjing's thoughts. He said bluntly, "Forget it. I have already eaten. Boss Lu, my eldest brother's birthday is approaching. Do you not have something to show for it?"
Lu Longjing nodded. "How could I forget the tribute for the First Boss? Third Boss, please wait a moment."
As he spoke, he gave Lu Yuan a look. Understanding, Lu Yuan immediately went to count out one thousand taels of silver.
Naturally, Lu Longjing's claim that he had not forgotten was all nonsense. But after last year's lesson, Iron Dragon Stockade's strength was not something the Lu Family could compare with. Even knowing that Li Jing was using the birthday as a pretext for extortion, he could only submit.
Less than ten minutes later, a chest of silver was placed before Li Jing. After counting it, his smile brightened. "Boss Lu, you are very sensible. I hope our cooperation lasts a long time!"
"Brothers, we are leaving!"
Li Jing shouted, then led his men away in grand fashion.
The smile on Lu Longjing's face gradually vanished as he said worriedly, "Iron Dragon Stockade is becoming more and more arrogant and overbearing. Li Jing now even dares to bring men openly into the county town. Great chaos is imminent."
In the past, the bosses of Iron Dragon Stockade had absolutely not dared enter the county town. Even if they did, they would disguise themselves and conceal their identities. When had they ever dared act so openly?
He knew that although Li Jing had worn a smile from beginning to end, if he had dared refuse the tribute, Li Jing would have turned hostile without the slightest hesitation.
Watching all this unfold, Lu Yuan once again strengthened his conviction:
"In this world, without strength, no matter how rich you are, you are still fish on the chopping block, at the mercy of others. I must, absolutely must, possess great strength!!"
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