Strip Bloodline Talent?
The new information that appeared before his eyes left Qin Meng stunned for a moment. Then delight flooded him. His consciousness sank into the panel, and sure enough, a new section had appeared beneath Martial Skills:
[Talent: Environmental Integration—Low Tier (Compatibility: 92%, Can Fuse)]
Information about the talent surged into his mind.
Talents were divided into categories such as combat, defense, support, perception, and special. The higher one's compatibility with a talent, the more smoothly it could be fused, and the greater its power.
At the center of the panel floated a dark red bead of blood, no bigger than a soybean, slowly revolving and radiating an ancient, primordial aura.
"With the system as a safeguard, there won't be any danger..." Qin Meng forced down his urge to fuse with it at once.
In this forest, any mishap during his first fusion would mean certain death. He quickly searched the surrounding area, but found no precious medicinal herbs.
Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed from deep in the ravine upstream. The sound shook leaves from the trees, and a heart-pounding pressure swept faintly over him.
Qin Meng's expression changed. Without hesitation, he quickly bled the Rock Viper Python, filled his waterskin, hauled up the python's corpse, and raced toward the mountains' edge.
Only when he reached the safe outer reaches of Luming Mountain did the heart-pounding feeling gradually fade.
He found a sheltered hollow in the rocks and set down the python's corpse.
Qin Meng sat cross-legged. Once his breathing had steadied, he let his thoughts sink into the panel.
"Fuse!"
The dark red bead of blood at the panel's center shimmered, then turned into a hazy mist of blood that flowed into his body.
The warm current of his Life Source entwined with it, washing through him and reshaping his body from the smallest details. Profound symbols flickered across his skin and vanished, while his hair grew glossier.
A profound method for concealing his presence, adjusting his body temperature, and blending into his surroundings through basic mimicry imprinted itself deep in his consciousness, as if it were instinct.
[Name: Qin Meng]
[Realm: Mortal Body]
[Talent: Environmental Integration—Low Tier (1%)]
[Core Technique: None]
[Martial Skills: Eight Blade Breaking Techniques—Proficient (45/500), Chain Arrow—Proficient (39/500)]
Environmental Integration—Low Tier: A basic grasp of concealing one's presence, regulating body temperature, and mimicking the surrounding environment.
Qin Meng opened his eyes and focused his thoughts.
His breathing immediately grew long and slow, and his heartbeat became steady and powerful. His skin darkened slightly, taking on the gray-brown hue of the rock wall behind him. Even the heat and scent radiating from his body seemed to be blocked by an invisible veil.
When he sat perfectly still, he almost blended into the ocher-colored rocks.
"What a talent." Qin Meng's eyes gleamed.
This life-or-death battle, in which he'd come within a hair's breadth of dying, had shown him just how arduous the Martial Path of this world was: before reaching the Boiling Blood Realm, ordinary people could barely hurt Exotic Beasts.
Though Environmental Integration wasn't a combat technique, it was a lifesaving advantage hunters dreamed of having.
"With this as my backing, I might be able to explore Eagle Beak Peak."
A smile spread across Qin Meng's face. He didn't waste another moment. He stuffed the Rock Viper Python's body into his basket, covered it with his other prey, and headed for the town.
He sold the pheasant, hare, turtledove, and badger together, earning more than ten taels in silver. While he was at it, he also bought rice, cloth, and other supplies.
But Qin Meng had no idea that just after he left the back alley behind Kexianju Restaurant, a tall, thin figure emerged from a nearby brothel and happened to see him.
The man was Song Zhong of Luming Fort, nicknamed Skinny Monkey. He was one of Qin Meng's old drinking buddies—and Qin Lai's trusted lackey.
Seeing Qin Meng emerge from the restaurant's back door with a bow and arrows on his back, Song Zhong's eyes shifted. He sauntered over to Shopkeeper Hu, who was directing his workers as they carried in game.
"Shopkeeper Hu, busy as ever?" Song Zhong put on a smile. "My brother Mengzi... looks like he had a good haul today?"
Shopkeeper Hu had no idea what sort of trouble lay between them. Recognizing Song Zhong, he grinned. "You bet! Mengzi's had good luck these past two days. Everything he's brought in has been choice game. Tsk, tsk. Maybe he's turned over a new leaf and decided to focus on supporting his family?"
Song Zhong's heart lurched, but his expression didn't change. He pressed on, "Oh? He came by yesterday, too?"
"He did..." Shopkeeper Hu replied casually, then turned back to his work.
The smile on Song Zhong's face slowly stiffened.
More than ten taels just from selling game in two days?
Suspicion and unease churned in his heart, tangled with envy. He turned and headed straight for the gambling house in town to tell Qin Lai what he'd learned.
In the afternoon, Qin Meng returned to the little courtyard in Luming Fort with his haul.
He shut the courtyard gate and tipped his sack upside down. The Rock Viper Python, nearly two zhang long, slid to the ground.
"Ah! What's that?" Shen Qiuyue, who was hanging clothes out to dry, jumped in fright. Once she realized it was a giant snake, surprise and delight filled her face. "What a huge snake!"
"This snake is no ordinary one. Every part of it is a treasure."
Qin Meng smiled at her, fetched his sharp knife, and set to work with practiced ease.
He peeled off the skin in one piece, then scraped off the tough scales one by one.
The gallbladder was the size of a chicken egg, glossy and dark green;
he carefully removed the venom glands and even extracted the snake's spine.
Materials from Exotic Beasts could fetch a good price.
The most valuable part was the dozens of pounds of pale pink snake meat, its fibers clearly defined and a pure vitality faintly emanating from it.
By dinnertime, the little courtyard was filled with a mouthwatering aroma.
Alongside stewed chicken and roasted rabbit, Shen Qiuyue had prepared a large basin of creamy white snake soup, simmered with wild mushrooms.
The soup was fresh and savory, the meat tender and delicious. Qin Meng managed only two bowls before he couldn't eat another bite. Warm currents rose from his belly and spread through his limbs, filling him with energy and making his blood surge more vigorously.
"Good meat!"
He set down his bowl, grabbed his saber, and strode into the courtyard.
He launched into the Eight Blade Breaking Techniques, his saber flashing and its whistle through the air sharper than ever.
With his blood surging, his saber movements flowed smoothly and seamlessly. The blade mastery he had honed over many years in his previous life was gradually syncing with this body.
Sweat flew as the warm current within him followed the saber's movements, continually nourishing his muscles and bones.
Only when night fell and hunger stirred in his belly again did Qin Meng sheath his saber and head to the kitchen. There was still some warm chicken and snake soup in the pot.
After eating his fill, he poured the Rock Viper Python's blood, carefully collected earlier, into a clay pot. He warmed it gently over the dying embers and added a little honey to mask the fishy smell.
He had already drunk quite a bit of the python's blood and confirmed that it wasn't poisonous.
Qin Meng ladled out a bowl of thick, dark red blood soup and brought it to Shen Qiuyue.
"Sister Qiuyue, drink this. It'll be good for you."
Shen Qiuyue stared at the bowl of viscous, crimson liquid and caught the strong smell of blood. Her delicate brows knitted together, and she instinctively shrank back.
"This is blood from that Exotic Beast. It's an incredibly nourishing tonic, the sort ordinary people can only dream of drinking." Qin Meng put on a stern face and held the bowl out toward her again. "You're frail and so thin. You need to build up your blood and vitality and get rid of those hidden ailments."
Shen Qiuyue looked up at him and saw how serious and resolute he was, the concern plain in his eyes.
She bit her lower lip, then finally took the bowl. Closing her eyes and pinching her nose, she gulped it all down in one go.
As the warm blood soup entered her stomach, a distinct wave of heat rose within her. A rosy flush soon spread across her somewhat pale cheeks.
Only then did Qin Meng nod. He picked up the chicken-egg-sized, dark green gallbladder and swallowed it with the remaining half-pot of snake blood.
The bitter gallbladder and sweet, coppery blood slid down his throat together.
A moment later, a scorching current, several times stronger than before, exploded in his belly.
He grunted. It felt as though his blood was about to boil, and a faint tingling spread through his bones, skin, and flesh. A cool sensation washed over his eyes.
He forced down the surging medicinal power, took his saber, and strode back into the courtyard.
This time, his saber flashed faster and fiercer!
Under the moonlight, his figure blurred into afterimages, and the saber's piercing whistle rang without pause.
The scorching flood inside him was driven by his ferocious saber movements, surging through him and seeping into every inch of his body.
He didn't know how many times he had practiced before the heat gradually subsided, transforming into a warm, substantial strength that settled inside him. Only then did Qin Meng abruptly sheath his saber.
"Whew—"
A long breath of white mist shot three feet from his mouth like an arrow, then slowly dissipated.
He checked the panel, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.
[Eight Blade Breaking Techniques—Proficient (223/500)]
[Chain Arrow—Proficient (85/500)]
In just half a day, his saber skill had improved by leaps and bounds.
Most miraculous of all, his eyes were brighter and his eyesight had sharpened. He could see in the dark within twenty paces.
The benefits of the Exotic Beast's nourishment had far exceeded his expectations.
Qin Meng rinsed away the sweat and grime with well water. He felt refreshed, all his fatigue gone, his blood and vitality replenished—and even his strength had increased a little.
When he returned to his room, Shen Qiuyue had already prepared hot soup for him. Her cheeks still carried a rosy flush, and her eyes were glistening. By the lamplight, she looked especially gentle.
Warmth filled Qin Meng's heart. He had to make another big score within three days. Tomorrow, he might try venturing deeper into Luming Mountain in search of a greater opportunity.
Outside the window, the moon shone clear and bright.
Qin Meng lay down fully clothed, thinking through his plans for the next day, when he suddenly heard the faintest footsteps outside the door.
"Squeak—"
The door opened a crack. Shen Qiuyue slipped inside sideways, then shut it behind her and leaned back against the door, her chest rising and falling slightly.
Her long black hair spilled over her snow-white shoulders, with a few strands clinging to the damp skin at her neck.
She wore only a rose-red silk bodice. In the hazy moonlight, the thin fabric gave off a soft sheen, hugging her graceful curves.
At that moment, time seemed to stand still.
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