"I don't know? Then let me explain. Warriors were created by the ancient people through observing fierce beasts and heaven and earth. They originated from shamans. By observing the intent of fierce beasts and heaven and earth, they condensed their own qi and blood—this was the martial path."
"Only by stepping into the Blood Refining Realm could one be considered a warrior. The Skin Refining Realm could only be considered an apprenticeship. Its purpose was to increase the firmness of the skin and muscles, so as to lock in one's qi and blood!"
"To enter the Blood Refining Realm, one had to possess a True Meaning Diagram. One observed the True Meaning Diagram, then cultivated the false into the true within the body and gathered qi and blood, thereby reaching the Blood Refining Realm. The Blood Refining Realm was generally divided into three stages: First Blood Refining, Second Blood Refining, and Third Blood Refining. With First Blood Refining, one could at most enter the Bone Refining Realm. Only those at Second Blood Refining or above had a chance to enter the Viscera Refining Realm. When qi and blood entered the bones, it became the Bone Refining Realm; when qi and blood entered the viscera, it became the Viscera Refining Realm. The True Meaning Diagram of our Overlord Blade Martial Hall was inherited from the Cangyuan Sect Overlord Blade Hall. It was the Fierce Tiger Intent. The qi and blood it condensed carried dense Killing Intent and possessed the power to ward off evil demons. Its strength was also among the finest within the same realm."
Inside the room, Xie Qingshan spoke slowly.
Chen Xuan listened attentively as well, not daring to neglect a single word.
This was his first true contact with the martial path, and also the first time he understood this world's extraordinary system.
Even he had not expected that the Skin Refining Realm was not actually the beginning of martial cultivation.
At this moment, he finally understood why it had been so difficult for him to obtain a Blood Refining Realm cultivation method through the system.
That was because reaching the Blood Refining Realm was not something one could accomplish merely through movements or swallowing some medicine. One had to possess a True Meaning Diagram.
Only after comprehending true meaning could one possibly gather qi and blood.
Under such circumstances, no matter how he tried, it would be difficult for him to obtain a way to reach the Blood Refining Realm without a True Meaning Diagram.
As Chen Xuan pondered this,
Xie Yunhua entered from outside, carrying a wooden box.
Xie Qingshan accepted it, opened the box, and took out the scroll within.
Chen Xuan's contemplative gaze could not help following Xie Qingshan's movements.
Xie Qingshan then unfurled the scroll and hung it upon a screen that had already been prepared.
On the scroll was a massive Striped-Eyed White Tiger, lifelike and vivid, as though it would leap straight out of the painting the next instant.
Merely focusing his gaze upon it made Chen Xuan's scalp tingle.
His heart trembled as well.
"Our Overlord Blade Martial Hall's True Meaning Diagram is the Fierce Tiger Intent. Unfortunately, turmoil broke out back then, and the original Fierce Tiger True Intent Diagram was lost. This is a copy I made afterward. Though it cannot compare to the original True Meaning Diagram, it is still enough to let someone complete Second Blood Refining. For the next ten days, you may come here every day and observe it for half an hour."
Xie Qingshan spoke slowly as he watched Chen Xuan's gaze settle upon the painting.
"Yes!"
"Thank you, Master!"
Chen Xuan nodded and answered respectfully.
At this moment, the way he addressed Xie Qingshan had changed as well.
"It is too early to call me Master. Just call me Hall Master. You can call me that after you successfully refine your blood!"
Xie Qingshan waved a hand, his tone calm.
"Yes, Hall Master!"
Chen Xuan did not pay much attention to Xie Qingshan's indifferent expression.
"Alright, I will not disturb you any longer. After half an hour, leave on your own!"
Xie Qingshan waved a hand in dismissal. Xie Yunhua then pushed Xie Qingshan out of the room.
Before long, Chen Xuan was the only one left in the room.
"True Meaning Diagram, Blood Refining Realm!"
"So that was how it was!"
After Xie Qingshan and his daughter left, Chen Xuan could not help muttering to himself.
His heart was still shaken.
To be honest, he had initially thought he had failed to produce a Blood Refining Manual because the prerequisite conditions had been insufficient. He had not expected this to be the reason.
The martial path of this world was far more complicated than he had imagined.
The very first step of martial cultivation already involved something as mysterious and profound as true meaning.
With a thought,
Objective: Rapidly complete the Blood Refining Realm (pending confirmation) Conditions set "Loading!" "Loading successful!" "Path One: Observe the True Meaning Diagram for half an hour every day. After ten days, head deep into the mountains and observe fierce tigers hunting. In ten days, you can gather true meaning. Return to the martial hall and obtain the secret medicine to reach the Blood Refining Realm." "Path Two: After noon tomorrow, a Blood Refining Manual will be for sale at the Green Mountain City Black Market. Take one hundred taels of silver to the Black Market and purchase it. Hunt one tiger and one leopard every three days. Boil tiger gallbladder, leopard heart, Thirty-Year Ginseng, and Thirty-Year Lingzhi in three buckets of water until only one bucket remains. Soak in it once every three days and cultivate using the Blood Refining Manual. You can complete the Blood Refining Realm in three years!" "Path Three: Three hundred li outside Green Mountain City lies a Blood Demon Sect stronghold. Reach the Blood Demon Sect, pass its trial, and successfully join it. Use blood refinement to temper the body. If you survive after six months, you will successfully enter the warrior's Blood Refining Realm."
The words flickered. This time, the paths available to him had clearly changed again.
"The Black Market? Is it refusing to leave me alone?"
Chen Xuan's expression turned somewhat strange as he instinctively glanced at the second line.
He had not expected that, after so much time had passed, this Black Market option would still be there.
But surprise was surprise. Chen Xuan only lingered on the Black Market for a moment before turning his attention back to the first line.
Compared to the second and third lines,
the first line was undoubtedly the most feasible for him.
There was no need to say anything about the second path. Hunting a tiger and a leopard every three days, and for three whole years at that—the time was far too long, and the cost was too great. As for the third path, there was no need to even consider it. The Blood Demon Sect—after all his previous attempts, Chen Xuan knew exactly what kind of place it was. He had no desire to seek death.
In comparison, the first path was dangerous as well.
In particular, he would have to spend ten days in the back mountains. For an ordinary Skin Refining Realm martial apprentice, that was no different from an idiot's dream.
But for Chen Xuan, it was not much of a problem.
Back in Small River Village, he had spent far more than ten days in the mountains.
The only issue was that he needed to remain in the mountains for ten days this time.
However, with his Conceptual Ability, ensuring his own safety would not be too difficult.
His eyes flickered as thoughts churned through his mind.
But Chen Xuan quickly suppressed them.
No matter how he arranged things afterward, or whether there might be other methods, he should first observe the True Meaning Diagram.
He sat down cross-legged, his gaze falling upon the True Meaning Diagram.
For some reason, once Chen Xuan focused his mind on it, his expression gradually became dazed.
Vaguely, it seemed as though he had entered a place shrouded in mist.
Roar!
It seemed as though a fierce tiger was roaring beside his ear.
It was right at hand, yet also seemed to be at the ends of the earth.
The evening glow gradually spread across the sky, and another day slowly drew to its end.
Half an hour passed quickly. In his daze, Chen Xuan only felt something tap him.
"What was that?"
He instinctively looked around, his expression somewhat muddled.
"You should go back now!"
Only then, when the cool voice rang out, did Chen Xuan see Xie Yunhua standing beside him.
"Yes!"
Chen Xuan answered and rose to his feet.
Alright, the power system was finally beginning to unfold. One hundred thousand characters in.
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