Five Animals Blood Essence Reaches Perfection, Dao Fruit Naturally Matures into Innate Swordsman

An Le arrived at the Training Hall. Lin Qingyin and Lin Zhuifeng had been waiting for a while, but without any sign of impatience. The maid Liuxiang must have told them that An Le had been invited by Madam Hua.

"Teacher."

Upon seeing An Le, Lin Qingyin and Lin Zhuifeng bowed together.

An Le was currently teaching them sketching. Lin Qingyin naturally treated him with the respect due to a disciple, and Lin Zhuifeng, following Lin Qingyin's lead, had also adopted a proper demeanor.

An Le greeted them with a smile, then began preparing his tools to start today's drawing session.

Lin Zhuifeng and Lin Qingyin followed along to learn painting. After a short while, Lin Zhuifeng lost interest. She pulled out a fire poker and dragged Young Master Lin Ye to practice martial arts.

Lin Qingyin, however, was learning quickly. As a woman with a delicate and refined mind, she had already gained some insight into capturing lines and the interplay of light and shadow. The only thing she lacked was composition.

While drawing, An Le took the opportunity to draw Blood Essence from Lin Zhuifeng, Lin Qingyin, and two randomly selected lucky young masters.

Including Fairy Yun Rou, the daily limit for drawing Blood Essence remained at five people. However, due to the improvement in his Spirit Refinement cultivation, the amount drawn at once had increased, totaling fifteen strands of Time Qi.

The only regret was that none of them were Flowing Gold Time Qi.

An Le remained unfazed, not showing any annoyance at not drawing Flowing Gold Time Qi.

Red clouds scattered beyond the sky, veiling the setting sun.

As evening approached, An Le, bathed in the sunset and evening glow, left the Lin Manor. He was leisurely and content as he went to a restaurant on Imperial Street's Yan Chun Alley to buy some old yellow wine.

He didn't know if the old man from the Imperial Ancestral Temple would come tonight, but it was always wise to have yellow wine on hand just in case.

After buying the wine and half a pound of pig's head meat, he headed towards Qingbo Street, only to run into an acquaintance.

It was none other than the Black Yamen captain, Huang Xian.

An Le smiled, his mind racing. If the old senior from the Imperial Ancestral Temple didn't show up, the yellow wine in his hand could be enjoyed heartily with Captain Huang.

However, Huang Xian had his saber at his waist and a hint of worry between his brows. Upon seeing An Le, he managed a strained smile, "Young Master An, finished work at the Lin Manor?"

An Le nodded, "Captain Huang looks troubled. Could it be that my painting didn't have the intended effect?"

Captain Huang quickly waved his hands, "Young Master An, you misunderstand. Your painting is excellent, and we did track Hu Jingang's whereabouts. Unfortunately, Hu Jingang is too cunning, and he slipped away. We are in pursuit and will surely capture him soon."

An Le felt a sense of relief upon hearing this.

It was good that his painting was useful. As for the bandit escaping, that was an unavoidable matter. He could only say that the Black Yamen constables needed to put in more effort in their work.

"Actually, Hu Jingang's location was already sealed off by us, and he should have had nowhere to escape. But then he suddenly disappeared, which is truly strange. I need to report back to the Black Yamen. I'll come to drink with Young Master An another day."

Captain Huang sighed and clasped his fist.

He had thought they would easily apprehend the notorious bandit Hu Jingang, but an unexpected incident had occurred, naturally leaving him with regret.

An Le returned the gesture.

The two parted ways, one heading to the Black Yamen, the other back to Imperial Ancestral Temple Lane.

An Le returned to his small courtyard. In the twilight, he watered the potted plants. Since he had promised the woman, An Le would naturally fulfill it. Moreover, cultivating flowers and plants was also a way to cultivate one's character.

He set up a small table and chairs in the courtyard, laid out the old yellow wine and the sliced pig's head meat, and waited. He did not end up waiting for the old man from the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

An Le was not in a hurry. He closed his eyes, and a light screen appeared.

[Name: An Le]
[Time Qi: 29 strands]
[Dao Fruits: Talent of the Ages (Flowing Gold Time Qi 0/2 strands, 0/100 strands), Sword Dancer (0/10), Fearless Heart, Quenched Demon Jade]
[Mastered Cultivation Techniques: "Sword Waterfall Diagram" (0 strands), "Qi Induction Breathing Technique" (1 strand)]
[Mastered Skills: "Five Animals Body Tempering Technique" (3 strands), "Zhao Ancestor Long Fist (Fragmentary)" (1 strand)]
...

The accumulation of Time Qi had reached twenty-nine strands, which was quite substantial. An Le began to ponder how to organize and allocate it.

Firstly, the "Qi Induction Breathing Technique" and the common "Zhao Ancestor Long Fist" were naturally not worth adding more Time Qi to. An Le turned his attention to the "Sword Waterfall Diagram" and the "Five Animals Body Tempering Technique."

"The 'Sword Waterfall Diagram' is a top-tier Spirit Refinement technique passed down by Madam Hua, and it is complemented by the Sword Dancer Dao Fruit, allowing for rapid improvement. Although the 'Five Animals Body Tempering Technique' is not top-tier in grade, it contains killing intent alongside body tempering, making it my only means of combat."

"Therefore, I will first add Time Qi to the 'Five Animals Body Tempering Technique' and the [Sword Dancer] Dao Fruit."

"The [Talent of the Ages] Dao Fruit requires one hundred strands of Time Qi and the assistance of two strands of Flowing Gold Time Qi that can be converted into Dao Fruits, so I can temporarily slow down the priority of adding Time Qi."

"Thus, I will first elevate the [Sword Dancer] Dao Fruit to the next stage, which can assist in comprehending the 'Sword Waterfall Diagram' without delaying the improvement of Five Animals Body Tempering." An Le had sorted out the allocation of Time Qi.

He decided to act immediately and did not hesitate further. With a thought.

Strand after strand of Time Qi was added to the [Sword Dancer] Dao Fruit.

Before his eyes, gray Time Qi burned like incense sticks, gradually revealing images. There were scenes of Fairy Yun Rou breaking through her sword techniques, and Lin Zhuifeng's Blood Essence surging as she beat all the young masters of the Lin Manor with a fire poker, and so on.

When ten strands of Time Qi had been fully added.

An Le only felt the small sword of consciousness condensed in his Niwan Palace tremble slightly, emitting a joyful aura.

Suddenly, as if sword light flashed before his eyes!

It condensed into words!

The Dao gave birth to One, One gave birth to Two. Time flows without pause, seasons pass like a stream, the Dao Fruit naturally sheds its shell.

The river's roar boils, sword qi still arises, the Sword Dancer sheds its form, becoming an Innate Swordsman.

The Dao Fruit has transformed, the Sword Dancer has become an Innate Swordsman!

[Note: Innate Swordsman (Dao Fruit): All swords under heaven can be wielded; when holding a sword, one can resonate with sword qi, increasing the sword's sharpness.]

Innate Swordsman, what is a swordsman?

A debt of gratitude must be repaid, how can one lightly give up their life? The divine sword soars to the heavens, who can quell the unquelled!

To wield the sword to elevate the heart, clarify the intent, and strengthen ambition – this is a swordsman!

An Le took a deep breath, observing his transformed Dao Fruit.

[Time Dao Fruit: Innate Swordsman (Flowing Gold Time Qi 0/2 strands, 0/100 strands)]

As expected, after the transformation, the conditions for the Dao Fruit to transform again were very similar to those for the [Talent of the Ages].

It seemed that further transformation would not be so easy.

However, An Le did feel something different. His understanding of the "Sword Waterfall Diagram" seemed to have deepened, with countless sword qi subtly showering down from the nine heavens. Within his Niwan Palace, the sword qi was as brilliant as the Taurus constellation!

An Le felt an unparalleled sense of familiarity with the sword.

The only pity was that, to this day... he did not possess a sword of his own.

The evening glow spread across the courtyard, stretching the shadow of the old locust tree long and thin.

An Le, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them, exhaling a sharp breath that seemed to slice through the air for several meters.

Feeling refreshed, An Le poured himself a cup of old yellow wine and drank it personally.

He then stood up, his mind moved, and he added a strand of Time Qi to the "Five Animals Body Tempering Technique." He began practicing the Five Animals, specifically the Tiger Style, in the courtyard beneath the old locust tree.

With each repetition, adding a strand of Time Qi brought a different realization!

His Five Animals Body Tempering became more profound, with his control over every detail becoming increasingly precise.

As deep as colors dividing a pavilion, as scattered as flower light covering clothes!

In the small courtyard, under the locust tree, the young man was bathed in the sunset glow, a jade pendant at his waist. The gray patterns on the white jade surged, and demonic qi flowed through him, tempering his body!

The "Five Animals Body Tempering Technique" had been augmented with a total of fifteen strands of Time Qi, and it could still be augmented further, like a bottomless pit with no upper limit.

His Blood Essence surged, and the young man practiced the Five Animals. Strength was born within his meridians, continuously pushing the Blood Essence throughout his entire body!

Vaguely, his Blood Essence had already reached the late stage, rapidly sprinting towards completion.

As the sun set and the sky turned completely dark.

The Five Animals practiced by the young man, after being augmented with fifteen strands of Time Qi, had completely stepped into the perfect completion of the first realm of Body Forging!

The commotion in the courtyard gradually ceased, and starlight poured down upon the human world from behind the dispersed twilight clouds.

The moon sets, crows cry, frost fills the sky.

Qingbo Street, before Tai Miao Alley.

A luxurious carriage slowly rolled over the bluestone. The burly coachman sat on the carriage shaft, and to his side, a thin man in a black robe and a bamboo hat was gently wiping a heavy-backed saber.

"Did the noble person keep their word? If I kill the young man in this alley courtyard, will you help me escape Lin'an Prefecture safely?"

A voice slowly came from the face swallowed by darkness beneath the thin man's bamboo hat.

"What the noble person said will naturally be honored. Even if you carry many sins, if the noble person allows you to live, you will live."

The coachman sat on the carriage shaft, pulling the reins, and replied expressionlessly.

"Heh, interesting... In the eyes of the noble person, human lives are truly unequal. A young man's life is worth the countless lives on my hands. That painter's work almost got me captured by the Black Yamen. If not for your help, I might have already been apprehended."

The man in the bamboo hat leaped off the carriage, hoisting his heavy-backed saber.

"So, you are here to exact revenge and kill this young man."

The coachman said indifferently.

The man in the bamboo hat looked towards the depths of the alley.

Where the starlight could not reach, darkness was like an abyss.

The man grinned, shouldered his saber, and slowly stepped forward. His surging Blood Essence intertwined, like heatwaves from a blast furnace churning and flowing ceaselessly.

"I also detest that painter immensely."

"Killing him brings me great satisfaction!"

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