Blood Condensation Skill

The "Iron Mountain Skill" could only be cultivated to the Seventh-Rank Bone Forging Realm. To advance into the Middle Three Ranks, one had to cultivate martial arts that condensed Qi and Blood. Yet all Blood Condensation Skills were monopolized by noble families and great clans; there was simply no way to encounter them outside.

After Zhong Lin advanced to the Seventh-Rank Bone Forging Realm, the effects of cultivating the "Iron Mountain Skill" had become negligible. Because of this, he had specifically sought out Old Zhou to ask about it.

In Old Zhou's words, the Martial Path cultivated the tendons, bones, and skin externally, and nurtured a breath of qi internally.

Now that the tendons, bones, and skin had been tempered, the next step was to move from the outside inward and temper the Five Viscera and Six Bowels.

But the Five Viscera and Six Bowels could not be tempered directly like the tendons, bones, and skin. After all, the internal organs were fragile, and the slightest carelessness could leave hidden injuries. Thus, a special power was needed to help strengthen the five viscera.

Therefore, the sixth rank of the Martial Path was to condense Qi and Blood and cultivate Qi and Blood Power, hence the name Qi and Blood Realm.

The next step was to use Qi and Blood to stimulate the five viscera, achieving the effect of tempering the organs. When the five viscera grew strong, the body became strong within, which was why the fifth-rank realm was called the Inner Strengthening Realm.

Unfortunately, methods for condensing Qi and Blood were all monopolized by noble families and great clans. Even the yamen possessed no such martial arts manuals.

Or perhaps it did, but something so precious would never be given to Zhong Lin. After all, Zhong Lin was merely a painter with a nominal post at the yamen.

The Chief Constable had been able to condense Qi and Blood because he served the County Magistrate, and the County Magistrate was from the Mei Family of Heavenly Sun County.

Xu Lewu let out a heavy sigh. He had also learned from Zhong Lin about the Martial Path Ninth Rank, and he naturally knew the true face of noble families and great clans all too well. To obtain a method of condensing Qi and Blood from their mouths, one would have to become their dog. Otherwise, one could forget about it forever.

"Zhong Lin, what about the martial halls? There are experts in martial halls too. Do they have methods for condensing Qi and Blood?" Old Man Xu asked anxiously.

The might of noble families and great clans had sunk deep into people's hearts. If there was even the slightest possibility, he did not want Zhong Lin to take risks.

Zhong Lin shook his head. "I asked around. The vast majority of martial halls in all of Black Mountain County can only cultivate to the Seventh-Rank Bone Forging Realm. The masters of the major martial halls are basically at this realm as well. Only the masters of Divine Fist Gate and Heavenly Eagle Martial Hall possess cultivation at the Qi and Blood Realm Rank 6."

"Then find them..."

Old Man Xu stopped halfway through, having realized that this was simply impossible.

Even his own clinic required apprentices to spend three years doing menial chores and another three years serving tea and water before they were qualified to slowly begin handling medicinal herbs. As for taking them as disciples and personally passing down his medical arts, that required even longer.

"In a martial hall, only personal disciples are qualified to receive deeper martial arts teachings. I don't need to explain what a personal disciple is, do I? It wouldn't be easy for an outsider like me."

Zhong Lin had indeed made a special effort to learn about these two martial halls that possessed Qi and Blood cultivation methods. But the more he learned, the more bitter it became.

Normally, a martial hall could not cultivate many personal disciples, since doing so required vast resources to purchase medicinal herbs, pills, and the like.

These two martial halls each basically had only three true disciples.

The first was the "eldest disciple," who inherited the mantle and would carry the banner in the future.

This depended on whether the master's own son had promise and lived up to expectations. If not, an outsider would be chosen.

Take Old Man Xu's Xu's Clinic, for instance. Unless Xiu Ge'er truly proved disappointing in the future, he would still be the clinic's heir.

The second was the "second disciple," who offered money and cultivated connections.

The third was the "third disciple," who upheld appearances and was the best fighter.

The three great personal disciples each had their own duties:

The eldest disciple ran the hall and managed the household, regarding the master as his father. The second disciple provided financial support and polished the signboard. The third disciple mainly dealt with martial artists from every quarter who came bearing challenge cards.

To borrow a line from the film The Master from his previous life, they were the substance, the face, and the inheritance.

Simply put, the eldest disciple was chosen mostly for character, since he had to see his master through his final days and support his descendants and nephews.

The second disciple was chosen for family background; he had to come from a wealthy household.

The third disciple was chosen for martial talent.

If one counted it this way, if Zhong Lin could enter a martial hall, being the third disciple would have been best. Unfortunately, both martial halls already had third disciples. Zhong Lin had come too late.

In all of Black Mountain County, the paths to advancement were no more than three: "willingly becoming a thug," "selling oneself into servitude," and "becoming a personal disciple." Unfortunately, not one of them suited Zhong Lin.

Old Man Xu's face darkened. He let out a heavy sigh, and the thousand words in his heart ultimately became silence.

"Enough, Old Man Xu. Don't worry about me. You know my strength. I won't force myself into danger," Zhong Lin said with a smile.

"Ah! As long as you know your limits."

"Haha, of course I know my limits. I treasure this little life of mine dearly. Go back and pack up now. Move over tonight. I don't want to be buying you a coffin tomorrow morning."

Zhong Lin laughed loudly and teased him.

Old Man Xu was so angered that his beard bristled and his eyes widened. He cursed before turning and leaving Zhong Lin's courtyard.

That very night, Old Man Xu and his two grandchildren moved in. All the household supplies and medicinal herbs were bundled up and brought over by Zhong Lin under cover of night.

The cellar had already been dug several days ago. Lime and insect-repelling medicine had been scattered inside, and all their daily necessities had been hidden there as well.

At the first sign of trouble, the few of them could hide inside directly. With the supplies within, living there for a month or two would not be a problem.

Zhong Lin had even somehow found a massive slab of granite, the kind that weighed a thousand jin. When the time came, they could cover the entrance with it. Unless one possessed inborn divine strength or was a martial artist of the seventh rank or above who had completed Bone Forging, no one could open it. Of course, neither type of person would come to this utterly ordinary little courtyard.

Perfect.

The flames flickered, their dim yellow warmth spreading like the glow of sunset.

Tonight's dinner was oyster mushrooms stir-fried with eggs, lotus root and pork rib soup, stir-fried green beans, and stir-fried bean sprouts.

When Old Madam Xu brought out the final dish, Zhong Lin called out to Little Shi and Xiu Ge'er, who were practicing calligraphy at a table nearby.

"Stop studying. Come eat!"

The two shot out with a whoosh. Ever since the first dish had been served, neither of them had had any heart left for practicing calligraphy. They only wanted to eat as soon as possible.

"Go wash your hands."

Old Madam Xu smacked the backs of their hands and scolded them.

As she spoke, Old Madam Xu took out a pot of yellow wine. She first poured Zhong Lin a cup, then poured one for Old Man Xu.

"Da Linzi, thank you. In a while, let this old man keep you company for a few more cups," Old Madam Xu said gently.

"You're too polite, Old Madam. Eat, eat."

He picked up two pieces of egg with his chopsticks and placed them in Little Shi's and Xiu Ge'er's bowls.

Ever since the former owner's mother had passed away, the house had rarely held such a warm, lived-in atmosphere.

Zhong Lin did not particularly mind either way, but Little Shi thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere of this meal. With his little companion beside him, even his appetite had improved.