New Prisoner: Mute Martial Monk

Reaching the Houtian Mid Stage, Xu Qian felt his "Path of Lingering" career had ascended to a new level. The confidence brought by increased strength made his actions more composed, though the word "steady" remained his highest principle.

He still worked according to his routine every day, but now cleaning with micro Sword Qi was more skillful and efficient. The success rate of drawing Cleanliness Talismans finally broke free from the pathetic single digits, managing to reach one to two percent. Although he still needed Sword Intent Seed for assistance, the mental drain was no longer terrifying. His "academic exchanges" with Divine Doctor Xue also continued, solidifying his medical theories.

Everything was developing in a good direction.

This day, the Heavenly Prison received new "guests."

Several Guards escorted a peculiar prisoner into Zone D and locked him in cell C6 (a transitional area between Zone D and the true Block C). The reason he was called peculiar was his rather unique appearance.

He was a monk.

Around thirty years old, he wasn't particularly tall, but his frame was broad, with muscles like cast iron, exuding a sense of power. He wore a tattered grey monk's robe, and a large string of prayer beads hung around his neck, each bead glossy from years of wear. Most striking was his head; instead of the stubble of a shaved scalp, it bore six clear, neatly arranged ordination scars.

However, in stark contrast to his robust physique were his expression, as calm as an ancient well, and his tightly closed eyes. From being escorted in to being locked in his cell, he hadn't spoken a word, hadn't looked at anyone, and hadn't shown the slightest change in expression. He was like an old monk in deep meditation or a lifeless clay statue.

The Guards were unfazed; the Heavenly Prison was full of oddballs. After giving a few instructions on watch duties, they locked the door and left.

Xu Qian was cleaning nearby at the time and witnessed the entire process. Outwardly, he kept his gaze straight ahead, but inwardly, he was as curious as a cat being scratched.

A monk? And a formal martial monk with ordination scars? In this day and age, even ascetics are arrested? What did he do? Eat meat? Or... lust, anger, greed, and delusion?

He suppressed the urge to immediately use his Qi Gazing Technique. When no one was paying attention, he pretended to pass by cell C6 and "casually" glanced over.

Qi Gazing Technique, activate!

With that glance, Xu Qian's heart skipped a beat!

Good heavens!

He saw that around the martial monk, instead of the usual restless or steady internal energy flow of most Martial Artists, there was a surging aura of Qi and Blood, like a blazing furnace!

This Qi and Blood was astonishingly vigorous, soaring upwards like smoke signals (in the Qi Gazing Technique's vision), filled with masculine, domineering power! Just looking at it made one feel a wave of heat!

This monk... has such strong physical strength! Such vigorous Qi and Blood! He's definitely a master of Hardening External Arts! Xu Qian instantly judged. With this level of Qi and Blood intensity, he was probably not far from the legendary "Qi and Blood like mercury"! In terms of physical strength alone, this monk could likely crush most Martial Artists of the same stage!

However, beneath this furnace-like, scorching Qi and Blood, Xu Qian saw another scene—

Several dark, twisted grey currents, like venomous shackles, were tightly wrapped around and blocking several of the martial monk's main meridians! The Jueyin Pericardium Meridian of the Hand and the Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian of the Foot were the most severely damaged. When Qi and Blood reached these areas, it became sluggish, even showing signs of surging back and scattering!

Meridian damage? And it looks like old injuries, with a hint of a sinister aura... Xu Qian's medical knowledge began to analyze automatically. "No wonder his aura is restrained like a clay statue. He's probably using some kind of Meditation Secret Method to forcibly suppress his injuries and prevent his Qi and Blood from going berserk!"

A martial monk with an incredibly strong physique and vigorous Qi and Blood like a furnace, but forced to sit in meditation all day to suppress severe old meridian injuries, like a toothless tiger.

This stark contrast made Xu Qian instantly realize—a new "experience pack" had arrived!

And the type of "experience pack" was different from the Mad Old Man (Sword Intent) and Divine Doctor Xue (medical skills) he had encountered before! This was a pure, ultimate path of physical tempering and Qi and Blood utilization!

If he could "borrow" some insights into Hardening External Arts or Blood Energy Circulation (different from the Blood Energy Circulation Method, which involved internal true energy assistance; this was pure physical Qi and Blood) from him, it would greatly benefit his strength!

Especially now that he had broken through to the Houtian Mid Stage, he needed to further solidify his foundation and strengthen his body. The appearance of this martial monk was like a pillow delivered when one was sleepy!

But... this monk doesn't seem easy to approach. Xu Qian looked at the martial monk, who was like a clay statue, unresponsive to the outside world, and felt troubled.

Although the Mad Old Man was mad, he at least reacted and occasionally "updated his textbooks." Divine Doctor Xue, desperate to survive, was even proactive.