Lu Yuan had taken roughly eight months to go from Blood Refinement to the Second Blood Change. Though that was already far faster than Zhang Zhi himself, it was still barely understandable for a genius.
But reaching the completion of the Second Blood Change in less than a month had completely exceeded Zhang Zhi's imagination. It was almost impossible to comprehend.
The super geniuses he had heard of were probably only this impressive.
How could such a monster emerge from the family of a medicinal merchant in an ordinary county town?
It was no different from a huge lump of gold springing out of a pile of stones.
After being shocked for a long time, Zhang Zhi accepted the truth. "I have the prescription for the Three Blood Changes. I'll copy it out for you later... Shut up, I know what you want to say. I want nothing from you. Just cultivate properly..."
Spittle flew from his mouth, and his spirits were high.
"Though I am not your master, I have taught you something, at least. To teach a disciple like you is the glory of my life. If you can become a Martial Dao Master, I would be willing even if I died on the spot."
Lu Yuan nodded heavily. "I will!"
Martial Dao Master will not be my endpoint either!
After draining a huge bowl of wine, Zhang Zhi changed the subject.
"How much do you know about Blood Qi Like an Ox?"
"Please enlighten me, Uncle Zhang."
"Though I have only reached the Second Blood Change, my grandfather was once a Martial Artist with Blood Qi Like an Ox. I have always remembered his teachings."
"He said that every three Blood Changes form a threshold. Three Blood Changes make Blood Qi Like an Ox. This does not mean cultivating an ox inside one's body, but integrating one's Blood Qi, bringing all the Blood Qi in the body together. Then, one can unleash power through one's fists and feet, concentrating the strength of the entire body into a single burst."
"Of course, though it is said that three Blood Changes make Blood Qi Like an Ox, most Martial Artists still find it difficult to integrate all the Blood Qi in their bodies even after completing three Blood Changes. They may need to achieve Four Blood Changes before they can completely unite their Blood Qi. But you definitely will not be among them..."
Very soon, Zhang Zhi sent over the prescription for the Three Blood Changes. Lu Yuan gathered the ingredients according to the formula and began simmering a Medicinal Bath.
After stripping naked and entering the wooden tub, Lu Yuan stilled his mind and breathed long and deep.
Hoo—
Hoo—
Amid those long breaths, his breath sank downward, and the Blood Qi that had originally flowed slowly through his body suddenly accelerated.
Like going from a leisurely walk to a hundred-meter sprint, Lu Yuan's entire body rapidly turned red at a rate visible to the naked eye. He looked like a giant cooked shrimp, while his whole body seemed to become a furnace radiating scorching heat.
The temperature in the room rose swiftly, and even the medicinal liquid began to boil.
At that moment, it was as though a craftsman inside Lu Yuan's body was hammering a divine weapon in blazing flames with a massive sledgehammer.
His internal organs, limbs, bones, tendons, skin, and flesh all grew stronger at a rapid pace.
Gradually, there was a half-minute interval between each of Lu Yuan's breaths. The blood surging through him also became thick like magma, rolling and scalding hot.
Who knew how much time passed before Lu Yuan's breathing began returning to normal. The temperature inside his body dropped, and the boiling medicinal liquid in the wooden tub gradually calmed.
Splash!
Lu Yuan suddenly opened his eyes and sprang out of the tub. Looking down at his body, he said, "I succeeded in the Blood Change after just one attempt. I really am a genius!!"
His body had become even more lean and powerful. His muscles bulged, their lines seeming like steel tempered through a thousand hammerings.
A light, agile sensation drifted through his heart. Every inch of skin, flesh, tendons, and bones brimmed with power, while potential flowed within them, waiting for him to unleash it.
His entire body had undergone Shedding Mortal Body and Exchanging Skeletons.
More importantly, Lu Yuan could clearly feel that the Blood Qi throughout his body had been integrated into one whole. With a single thought, he could release it from any part of his body—his fists, palms, fingers, feet, elbows...
Lu Yuan clenched his fist and threw a punch. The air seemed to be pierced through by a sharp arrow.
Feeling the explosive power within him, Lu Yuan was exhilarated as he swung his fists and kicked his legs.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Every punch and kick carried surging force. Each step he took made the room shake violently, as if an elephant were charging forward.
Without seeing it with one's own eyes, it would be hard to imagine that a human could create such a commotion.
Looking back on his first encounter with Li Jing, Lu Yuan now felt that he could easily accomplish the same things. That heartfelt sense of shock had vanished without a trace.
"Li Jing is nothing much now..."
Lu Yuan grinned.
"Did I forget something? Damn it! The Brilliant Merchant Guild's annual grand auction is about to begin! Fuck, I nearly missed it!"
Over the past month, Lu Yuan had been constantly collecting cultivation techniques.
However, in Lingbao County, an ordinary county town, even low-grade cultivation techniques were scarcer and more valuable than he had imagined. Those who possessed low-grade cultivation techniques simply would not sell them to an outsider like Lu Yuan.
Of course.
If Lu Yuan offered ten thousand taels, no one could resist the temptation.
But ten thousand taels was a huge sum even for the Lu Family. Taking it out rashly would leave them badly weakened.
No one would sell at a reasonable price, while Lu Yuan was unwilling to pay such an enormous cost far beyond a reasonable price. Thus, over the past month, he had bought only three unranked cultivation techniques.
Unranked meant that they were far inferior even to low-grade cultivation techniques.
Lu Yuan could not even be bothered to cultivate them, but he carefully read through them all and turned them into nourishment for his own martial arts.
No matter how small a mosquito was, it was still meat.
Lu Yuan immediately put on his clothes and rushed out the door. Rather than riding a horse, he ran all the way on foot.
Blood Qi Like an Ox was the first major watershed in martial arts. One's breathing became continuous and profound, one's internal organs powerful, one's stamina enduring, and one's endurance exceptional. Such a person was comparable to a Supreme Grade warhorse in human form, able to travel as fast as a galloping horse and leap with the nimbleness of a flying bird.
Their senses were even more exquisitely attuned, their form and spirit perfectly rounded. In the movement of catching an eagle or seizing a rabbit, they could fight a hundred men.
Lu Yuan wanted to test just how enduring his stamina truly was.
This year, the Brilliant Merchant Guild's grand auction was being held in Long'an County. It was farther away than Zhenping County, roughly two hundred and fifty li away.
Lu Yuan ran the entire distance at thirty meters per second, a speed too fast for ordinary people to follow with their eyes. For the first ten minutes, his breathing remained normal, without the slightest discomfort.
At twenty minutes, his breathing became faintly hurried.
By thirty minutes, he was already panting like an ox.
By then, he had run roughly one hundred li.
"Master, the Second Young Master hurriedly left today. He said he was going to Long'an County and told you not to worry."
While eating dinner, a servant came forward to report.
"I understand. Go see whether the Eldest Young Master has returned. If he has, tell him to come eat immediately. The food is getting cold."
As long as the family was home, they had to sit at the same table and eat together. This was a rule Lu Longjing had set. Under normal circumstances, the three father and sons would not violate it.
Unless there was something especially urgent.
Not long after, the servant returned to report, "Master, the Eldest Young Master has not returned yet."
"Go check the shop and urge him..."
As time passed, the food had gone completely cold. Lu Longjing's brows drew tightly together as he sensed that something was wrong.
Lu Cheng had a steady temperament and knew the household rules. If he was not returning, he would certainly have sent someone to inform Lu Longjing.
"Master!!"
A panicked voice rang out.
"Why are you shouting so loudly?"
Lu Longjing rebuked him.
A burst of chaotic footsteps sounded. Then five or six people carried two corpses before him.
"Lu Renjia, Lu Renyi!"
Lu Longjing abruptly rose to his feet. He instantly recognized the two men who had died with their eyes open. They were the orphans he had adopted and raised since childhood. Both had trained in martial arts from a young age and possessed the strength of Blood Refinement. From dawn to dusk, they had stayed by Lu Cheng's side to protect him.
Zhang Zhi's expression was ugly. "Master, these corpses were just thrown at the entrance. And also... Little Cheng's jade pendant..."
Before you continue