Secret Art

The greatest characteristic of Embrace Qi into Dan was gathering all one's qi and blood into a single whole, like a great dan, enduring within the body.

This state of having no leaks throughout the body reduced the loss of overflowing qi and blood to the absolute minimum. Naturally, excess qi and blood could be separated out to nourish oneself, allowing one's physique and qi and blood to grow rapidly stronger.

"Martial arts Embrace Dan and the Golden Core of the Innate Qi Nourishing Technique share a certain marvelous similarity. However, martial arts Embrace Dan places greater emphasis on using qi and blood to temper the physique and strengthen oneself, while the Golden Core of the Innate Qi Nourishing Technique focuses on nourishing Life Vitality, returning to the innate state, keeping the body pure, extending one's lifespan, and warding off all illness."

Li Pin reflected inwardly.

The difference between the two...

Was like swimmers amid the waves. One strengthened their physique to contend against the waves, while the other attempted to merge with the water, becoming one with heaven and water.

Next, Li Pin practiced the Mysterious Gate of Profound Yin. As he comprehended the wonders of Embrace Dan, he gradually refined the Embrace Dan portion of the Mysterious Gate of Profound Yin.

Soon, afternoon arrived.

Seeing that it was time to get off work, Xu Huan packed up his things. As he passed by Li Pin, he smiled and greeted him.

"Martial Master Li, still training?"

"I'll head back in a while."

Li Pin replied.

"Martial Master Li, you're so talented and still this hardworking. No wonder you've achieved so much."

Xu Huan sighed with emotion.

His family background was not bad either.

Though they did not have an enormous fortune, they still possessed tens of millions.

More importantly, the elders in his family had taken the political route. His eldest uncle had already risen to the position of Director of the Investigation Department of the Canglong City Procuratorate, a fifth-rank national official.

Compared to third-rank officials such as the mayor of Canglong City, the speaker of the local assembly, and the chief procurator of Canglong City, he was only two ranks lower.

It was precisely because of this that Fang Lingjue had accepted him as a disciple and taught him with such care.

But when facing Li Pin...

This second-generation official simply could not feel proud.

Li Pin was now in a period of ascent like the blazing midday sun, and there was an excellent chance that he would achieve Qi Refining into Gang in the future.

Even if he failed to achieve Qi Refining into Gang, as long as he stood out in the Jiangzhou Martial Arts Tournament and made a name for himself, he could rely on the Five Elements Sect's connections and spend a few years building seniority in Canglong City. There was a strong chance that he would become the vice president of the Martial Arts Association.

He would directly stand on equal footing with Xu Huan's eldest uncle.

The greater possibility was that he would achieve Qi Refining into Gang and compete for the position of president of the Martial Arts Association in the future.

At that point, he would be an influential figure second only to the three great giants, on the same level as a deputy chief procurator.

"I think you're not far from transforming your force from overt to covert. Train hard, and you should break through within the next few months."

Li Pin said.

"Who knows when that'll be."

As Xu Huan spoke, he glanced at Li Pin.

He felt that Martial Master Li had become somewhat different.

Yet he could not say exactly what was different.

He had not cultivated Dan Jin and had never experienced that perfectly rounded, unified quality. Naturally, he could not accurately discern Li Pin's realm.

After saying goodbye, Xu Huan left.

Seeing the cleaning aunt begin her work, Li Pin did not linger either.

He returned to his apartment.

After returning, he did not immediately browse videos and observe Gang Jin grandmasters exerting force. Instead, he took out the herbs he had prepared and swallowed them with water.

These herbs were not the medicinal soups Liu Yingying had sent to nourish vitality. They were Blood Burning Grass.

The Blood Burning Powder refined from Blood Burning Grass could make a martial artist's blood boil and greatly increase combat strength.

The effectiveness of Blood Burning Grass naturally could not compare to refined Blood Burning Powder, but after Li Pin swallowed the herbs, he clearly felt his qi and blood become far more active.

Not only his qi and blood!

Even his Life Vitality was stimulated, becoming more agile.

Li Pin focused his mind and observed the changes in his vitality. With a thought, he quickly began circulating the Innate Qi Nourishing Technique.

Once it began circulating, he keenly noticed that directing his Life Vitality had become somewhat easier.

Some areas that Life Vitality had originally been unable to nourish could now be penetrated as well.

For example, the bone marrow and internal organs.

In other words, from now on, it was not merely muscle strains or cracked bones. Even more minute areas could still be nourished by guiding Life Vitality into them.

This change...

"Couldn't have come at a better time."

Li Pin smiled faintly.

After several months of Embrace Dan, his qi and blood and physique would reach their peak. Next, he would need to internally train his lungs and viscera to further accelerate the growth of his qi and blood.

By using Blood Burning Grass to stimulate Life Vitality, his original plan of using the Three Flavors Heart Refining Method, this rapid internal-organ refinement secret art, could undoubtedly be put on the agenda.

I thought I would have to wait until the Foundation Establishment Chapter, after excavating my body's potential, before I could withstand the tyranny of the Three Flavors Heart Refining Method. The assistance external objects provide to cultivators truly cannot be underestimated.

Li Pin thought.

But this was only natural.

The essence of plants could be refined into dan.

The human body was likewise a great dan.

Plant essence was refined in a dan furnace.

The great dan of the human body was refined by heaven and earth.

And if one raised one's perspective and looked from the standpoint of the stars, plants, humans, birds, and beasts were all one whole, with no distinction between them.

Just as people only classified celestial bodies as meteors, satellites, planets, and stars, perhaps further dividing them into heavenly bodies such as White Dwarf Stars and neutron stars, they would never care what species existed upon those planets and list them one by one.

Under such circumstances, it was only reasonable for the human body and plant essence to aid and complement one another.

"The effects of Blood Burning Grass seem to go beyond this."

Li Pin quietly sensed the changes in his qi and blood.

The Blood Burning Powder refined from Blood Burning Grass could make qi and blood active and boiling.

This effect...

In scientific terms, it made one's body enter a state of "superconductivity."

Not only did qi and blood circulate faster, but the internal depletion during its flow was also greatly reduced. Naturally, one could unleash greater combat strength.

Through his precise grasp and control of his own body, Li Pin memorized this state.

Without realizing it, more than two hours passed, and the medicinal effect of the Blood Burning Grass was exhausted.

A wave of weakness surged into his heart.

However, because he had not taken Blood Burning Powder, the weakening effect was not obvious.

Moreover, with a circulation of the Innate Qi Nourishing Technique, the weakened state quickly vanished.

He savored in his mind that wondrous state of active, boiling qi and blood after taking Blood Burning Grass...

Then, he began consciously driving his own qi and blood, imitating that state.

Very soon, there was a slight effect.

But the effect was almost nonexistent.

"If the boiling, active effect on qi and blood from Blood Burning Powder is measured at 30%, then Blood Burning Grass is only 5.14%, while my imitation just now... was only 0.32%, basically equivalent to no effect. But..."

Li Pin understood that this was a process where practice made perfect.

He took another portion of Blood Burning Grass and nearly committed to memory the efficiency of his active, boiling qi and blood...

The efficiency was 5.33%.

Once the medicinal effect passed, he imitated it on his own.

This time, the efficiency increased to 0.39%.

The increase was tiny, only 0.07%.

But...

"An effect is enough."

Li Pin smiled faintly.

With a few more rounds of practice, he could completely transform this state into an explosive secret art, allowing himself one day to enter a state of active, boiling qi and blood without relying on Blood Burning Grass.

"Also, I already sensed just now that the reason there are side effects is because the qi and blood within my body are unaccustomed to this active state. It's like an ordinary person who never exercises—have him run three thousand meters, and naturally he'll be gasping for breath afterward. I only need to practice more, and the side effects will be greatly reduced as well."

Li Pin's train of thought for this secret art had already become clear.

"Since this secret art was created by imitating the medicinal effect of Blood Burning Grass, I'll call it the Blood Burning Secret Art."