Nourishing Qi

As Li Pin successfully arrived home, the location where he and the Cat Demon had fought was approached by a speeding sedan.

Several cars were already parked there.

There were both Garrison vehicles and vehicles from the Martial Arts Association.

As soon as a car stopped, a man wearing a Garrison badge hurried over.

"Director..."

"The Guardian learned that the Cat Demon had been dealt with and turned back halfway."

Stepping out of the car was Zhang Youping, the Deputy Director of the Liuchuan County Garrison.

Knowing what the captain wanted to ask, he explained, then immediately asked, "Captain Liu, what's the situation?"

"Six dead and three injured in Zhou Family Village, four dead in Wang Family Village as well, and two injured were just sent to the hospital. We don't know if they can be saved."

Captain Liu said.

"Ten."

Zhang Youping's heart sank.

Ordinary ferocious beasts like Cat Demons, Dog Demons, and Rat Demons were almost impossible to guard against.

One day, they might suddenly sense the Star Gods, bathe in starlight, and evolve into ferocious beasts in a very short period.

Moreover, even if they were inherently weak and couldn't compare to ferocious beasts evolved from wolves, bears, tigers, or leopards, they were still extremely threatening to ordinary people after their transformation.

Now...

"I heard you saying on the way that the Cat Demon was killed? Compared to Dog Demons and Rat Demons, Cat Demons have a greater advantage in agility. Even a Dan Jin Martial Artist might not be able to kill one in a life-or-death struggle. Are there such experts in Sanshun Town!?"

Zhang Youping asked.

"A captain is finding the driver to ask. We'll know the result soon."

Captain Liu replied.

Zhang Youping nodded and soon arrived beside the Cat Demon's corpse.

The Garrison Execution Team members had already set up a cordon and were guarding the area.

Outside, dozens of villagers from the surrounding areas were discussing the incident with lingering fear.

At this moment, a middle-aged man was crouching beside the Cat Demon's corpse, examining something.

"President Meng."

Zhang Youping greeted him.

"Director Zhang."

The middle-aged man called President Meng nodded, stood up, and said with some emotion, "Such fierce Dan Jin, no wonder it could be killed by this Cat Demon."

"Did a Dan Jin Martial Artist really make a move? I heard a report on the way that the attacker was a local? Besides President Meng and a few dojo masters, are there any other Dan Jin experts in Liuchuan County?"

Zhang Youping asked.

At this moment, a team member quickly approached Captain Liu and whispered something. Captain Liu hurried forward and said, "We've confirmed it. The attacker is from Sanshun Town, named Li Pin. We checked his information... it's a bit strange, he's only a Level 2 Martial Artist."

"Level 2 Martial Artist?"

President Meng said without hesitation, "Impossible! Judging by the Cat Demon's injuries, it was definitely attacked with a Dan Jin burst!"

"That Li Pin... is only twenty-two years old..."

Captain Liu added.

"Twenty-two years old?"

President Meng was slightly stunned, then said, "I'll make a phone call."

"A twenty-two-year-old Level 2 Martial Artist is certainly promising."

Zhang Youping said.

Because the martial arts world's rating system was similar to academia, people often liked to compare the two.

However, since the martial arts world carried more weight than academia, a Level 2 Martial Artist was comparable to a lecturer at a key university.

In a township, he would definitely be considered a significant figure.

"Level 2 Martial Artist... how could he kill a Cat Demon?"

Captain Liu asked in confusion, "Even according to the driver and passengers, he attacked the Cat Demon halfway before it could charge in, but the difference... is too great."

"You're underestimating Li Pin, this Level 2 Martial Artist."

At this moment, President Meng returned after making the phone call, sounding somewhat excited, "I found out he didn't take the Level 1 Martial Artist assessment, but went straight for the Level 2 Martial Artist assessment, and he's also participating in the 16th Jiangzhou Martial Arts Tournament next year!"

Zhang Youping was taken aback. Recalling how dark horses always emerged in every Martial Arts Tournament, he quickly understood President Meng's meaning, "You mean..."

"Exactly. I estimate he's been diligently training in private, keeping to himself. Now, with the Jiangzhou Martial Arts Tournament approaching, he plans to make a name for himself."

President Meng said, "He's a Level 2 Martial Artist because the first assessment for Martial Artists can only be for up to Level 2. His true strength has reached Hua Jin, and with secret techniques, he can even unleash Dan Jin... With this kind of strength, if he were from a prominent family, the provincial Martial Arts Association might give him face, and passing the Associate Senior Title assessment wouldn't be difficult."

"Associate Senior Title!?"

Zhang Youping and Captain Liu immediately gasped.

A Level 2 Martial Artist was already comparable to a lecturer at a key university.

A Martial Artist with an Associate Senior Title...

Was close to a full professor.

If he were willing to join the Liuchuan County Martial Arts Association, he could be appointed vice president in at most one or two years.

And the Martial Arts Association was only half a rank below the local government. That person was already enough to be on equal footing with Zhang Youping, the deputy head of the Garrison.

The key was...

"That Li Pin is only twenty-two years old?"

Zhang Youping said.

President Meng smiled and nodded.

"Congratulations, President Meng. Having such a promising talent appear in your jurisdiction, once he truly obtains an Associate Senior Title, this will definitely be a brilliant stroke on your resume."

Zhang Youping immediately said with a smile.

"We'll see about the specifics once we meet him in person."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go together. Such a hidden dragon in Sanshun Town, I can't wait to see him."

"He's very depleted right now and probably resting. We'll visit him tomorrow afternoon."

President Meng said.

Zhang Youping's heart stirred upon hearing this.

A twenty-two-year-old Hua Jin...

He would most likely Embrace Qi into Dan in the future, and might even have a chance to achieve Gang Jin.

With such strength, his future was limitless.

He was currently severely depleted and naturally needed nourishment.

He thought of the hundred-year-old ginseng his nephew had recently sent him...

Meanwhile.

Li Pin greeted his mother, changed his clothes, and went to rest.

It was already the next morning by the time he had somewhat recovered his energy.

He didn't get up immediately but focused his attention on his right hand.

As he sensed it subtly, he clearly felt the damage to the bones, muscles, and nerves in his arm.

With this kind of injury, even with a Martial Artist's physique and specialized healing medicine, it would probably take over a month to recover.

The pain was like small knives cutting, stimulating his mind.

Fortunately, he was somewhat accustomed to this kind of injury from his previous life, so he didn't act like an ordinary person who wouldn't dare move their hand.

How could one practice martial arts without getting injured?

He tried to mobilize the life force nurtured by his Innate Qi Nourishing Technique to gather towards his arm, nourishing the damaged areas.

The result...

Was minimal.

After pondering for a moment, Li Pin circulated the Innate Qi Nourishing Technique, slightly altering the rhythm of his breathing and circulation.

At the same time, he focused his mind to the extreme, paying attention to every trace of vital energy flow.

Whenever the vital energy was about to pass through his arm, he would slow down, allowing the vital energy circulating through the cycle to linger longer.

Although this interrupted the circulation and prevented the vital energy from growing stronger, it indirectly produced a "qi guiding" healing effect.

"It really works."

Li Pin smiled slightly.

Choosing the Innate Qi Nourishing Technique as his secondary cultivation was indeed the right choice.

And this Qi Nourishing Technique, which involved vital energy...

There should still be a lot of potential to be tapped.