Experiment

Xiang Geng smiled. "Since you are so devoted to martial arts, Young Master, though I lack the profound mastery of the Family Head, I do possess some modest knowledge. If you have any leisure time, I would be honored to exchange pointers with you."

Between the medicinal barrels and this secluded training spot, it was clear that he intended to focus entirely on his cultivation.

In the past, Feng Xiu had always remained within the manor handling affairs, rarely seen by those of them stationed outside the family.

As the undisputed next Family Head, taking this opportunity to leave a good impression was a wise move.

Feng Xiu heard this and readily agreed.

Xiang Geng nodded and withdrew.

After Xiang Geng bowed and left, Feng Xiu moved the round table in the room to the wall, clearing a patch of open space.

He opened the wooden chest and took out a segment of dark, heavy pillar stone.

The stone pillar was about the thickness of a teacup and six fingers long, typically used by caravan guards to test their grip strength.

Feng Xiu lowered his head, eyes focused, and secretly channeled the Vajra Finger Blade.

A curved, sharp nail slowly extended an inch from his thick right index finger, colored like ink-jade, its edges shimmering with a cold, metallic luster.

Then, a curved, sharp nail slowly extended from his thick right index finger.

He reached out, pressed it lightly against the smooth pillar stone, and slowly drew a line!

"Sshhh~"

An instant resistance came from his index finger, and Feng Xiu applied a bit more force.

"Crack."

Fine stone dust sprayed out as the pillar stone was forcibly carved with a deep groove, then split in two, clattering to the floor.

"The Vajra Finger Blade is truly extraordinary."

Feng Xiu's lips curled into a smile, a bright light flashing in his eyes as he sighed.

In a sense, the sense of accomplishment at this moment far exceeded any previous training session.

Because Feng Xiu had finally realized the shock he felt when he first saw Zhou Gang slice through a stone table, as well as the deep yearning that had taken root in his heart.

"Although it was a bit of a trick, it is still pleasantly surprising."

Feng Xiu picked up the broken stone, held it against the other half in his hand, and compared them carefully.

Even though the cut on the pillar stone was rough, he liked it more the longer he looked, playing with it for quite a while.

"Right, let me try the Nail Bullet."

A moment later, Feng Xiu muttered to himself, a sense of anticipation rising within him.

He placed one of the larger pieces of the pillar stone on the wooden windowsill, stepped back a few paces, and stood at the edge of the bed.

He held his right arm level, palm facing down, and hooked his thumb against the base of his middle finger nail.

He took a slight breath, his internal blood flow stagnated for a moment, and then a fierce power erupted.

Aiming at the windowsill, he flicked his finger!

Bang~

The middle finger Nail Bullet shot out instantly, the sound of it breaking the air sharp and short. With a whoosh, the pillar stone jumped violently.

With a clack, it rolled onto the floor.

Feng Xiu walked over to inspect it and saw the middle finger Nail Bullet embedded deep into the stone, nearly piercing it through entirely.

Moreover, what shocked Feng Xiu even more was that the violent force carried by the Nail Bullet had passed straight through the stone.

It had struck the wooden window frame behind it, leaving a spiderweb of cracks.

"Within ten paces, the finger force remains concentrated, and even after piercing stone, there is still residual power. In terms of lethality alone, it is sufficient."

"It can serve as a trump card when necessary."

"And this is just a standard wrist-flick. If I advance to the Blood Burning level..."

A burning heat surged in Feng Xiu's heart. "Once my blood and qi condense into force, the power will likely increase several times over!"

Blood Burning into force, endless and inexhaustible—martial force is the high-level power resulting from the qualitative change of blood and qi.

Feng Xiu had heard Han Che and the others mention that the Blood Burning stage was a watershed that distinguished true experts of the martial world.

To reach Blood Burning, one's own blood and qi must first pass the threshold, yet the vast majority of martial artists struggle to reach this realm in their entire lives.

If one were to calculate carefully, Feng Xiu had spent over ten thousand taels on his martial foundation alone, conservatively estimated.

Within Cloud Province, the purchasing power of a single tael of silver was already quite high; even a sparring partner like Han Che, who was knowledgeable and unselfish, only received a monthly salary of two taels.

Ten thousand taels was an amount an ordinary person might not save in ten lifetimes.

And that didn't even account for the guidance of famous masters, professional sparring partners, advanced techniques, and the ability to train without distraction.

After these thoughts passed, Feng Xiu picked up the pillar stone again, tapped it against the table, removed the Nail Bullet, and examined it in his palm for a while.

After leaving his body, the Nail Bullet looked much duller in color, but it still felt hard and cold to the touch.

Following this, he shifted his focus and intent, attempting to sense the connection through his blood and qi once more, but he no longer felt that original sense of being flesh and blood connected.

"It seems I was overthinking it. If I could actually control my fingernails, wouldn't that be too overbearing?"

Feng Xiu paused, then shook his head.

Even so, this meant that in future close-quarters combat, he possessed an additional, hidden short-range killing method.

In terms of melee, he could also build a personal offensive and defensive system based on his hardened palms.

"Hmm, as for the regeneration speed..."

Feng Xiu pondered, then extended his right hand again.

As his blood and qi circulated, he deliberately forced out another middle fingernail and observed it carefully.

After about half a cup of tea's time, a new fingernail slowly grew from the nail bed, soft and transparent at first.

But as blood and qi were infused into it, it gradually hardened and deepened in color until it was restored to its original state.

"Regeneration isn't slow, but the consumption is high," Feng Xiu noted while sensing the blood and qi within his body.

Restoring a single fingernail consumed nearly five percent of his blood and qi.

"If I were to use all ten fingers at once, I'd likely be drained after a single fight. I'll have to use Blood Burning after all."

As Feng Xiu's mind gradually calmed, he suppressed the urge to consume a Blood Returning Pill right then and there.

The sky began to darken.

Xiang Geng had someone deliver a medicinal barrel and hot water. Feng Xiu took the prepared herbs from a chest, tossed them into the barrel, stripped off his clothes, and submerged himself.

Feng Xiu leaned against the side of the barrel, eyes closed, letting the scalding medicinal power seep through his pores, accelerating the absorption as his blood and qi circulated like rhythmic breathing.

With a thought, he pulled up the light screen panel.

[Life: 17]

[Spirit: 7]

[Strength: 12]

[Agility: 7]

[Technique Record: None]

[Synthesis: Not yet at the Realm of Perfection (Unavailable)]

[Ultimate: Vajra Finger Blade]

The original lines of small explanatory text had vanished. With no techniques left, Feng Xiu smacked his lips, feeling a sense of emptiness in his heart.

Immediately, his gaze shifted to the Life column.

"Life intensity includes blood and qi, but it isn't everything; it also encompasses defense and regeneration speed."

He had already realized this while testing the Vajra Finger Blade just moments ago.

"To increase my life and blood-qi, I can only rely on other health-cultivation methods and qi-refining arts."

Feng Xiu muttered to himself.

"I'll start by using martial arts to make up for my overall physical stats and balance out my attributes."

Ever since Feng Xiu had raised his three techniques to the Realm of Perfection, he had spoken to Uncle Zheng about finding martial arts manuals.

But there was still no news, and given Uncle Zheng's seasoned and capable nature, Feng Xiu suspected he had misunderstood his intentions.

He probably thought that common, run-of-the-mill goods wouldn't suffice, and was trying to handle the matter in a grand, impressive fashion.

"Uncle Zheng, what I need is the common stuff! Anything like the Golden Bell Shield or Iron Cloth Shirt will do."

The Feng Clan was not a martial arts family, so naturally, there was no library or armory in the manor.

As long as it wasn't the Evil-Warding Sword Technique, he wasn't picky; he would accept anything.

The next day, just as dawn broke.

Feng Xiu sat up from his bed, not having the slightest desire to linger.

After a month of training, his body had long since grown accustomed to waking up early; if he were to sleep in, he would actually feel uncomfortable all over.

Pushing open the door, the cold morning breeze rushed toward him, carrying the scent of grass and trees unique to the countryside. Feng Xiu took a deep breath, feeling as if his lungs had been thoroughly cleansed.

The courtyard was silent, save for the occasional crowing of roosters in the distance.

As the sky brightened, a fish-belly white appeared in the east, and a few rays of dawn light pierced through the gaps in the clouds, spilling onto the simple adobe house.

He walked to the open space in the courtyard, stretched his limbs, and then assumed the starting stance of the Eight Sections Vajra Skill.

Once the set was complete, he slowly withdrew his stance.

Feng Xiu exhaled a long, turbid breath; the air, like an arrow, condensed into a fleeting white streak in the cold morning.

The breathing and intent that moved through his entire body felt like a cool, clear spring wandering through his meridians.

Immediately after, Feng Xiu pulled up the panel.

Feng Xiu pulled up his interface; unsurprisingly, the Technique Record showed no reaction.

He sighed inwardly. Now that the three techniques had merged, he could no longer rely on this to farm stats.

If the progress bar were still moving, he would have the confidence to go to the Tang Reservoir and slay a dragon right now.

At this moment, the sounds of footsteps and chatter began to rise within the Grain Courtyard.

The guards rose one after another, hoisting buckets to draw water from the courtyard well, while some hitched up their trousers and headed toward the latrines.

Smoke began to curl from the chimney of the kitchen on the west side, carrying the scent of rice porridge on the morning breeze.

Before long, Xiang Geng walked over carrying a wooden tray, upon which sat a bowl of rice porridge, two coarse-flour buns, and a small dish of pickled vegetables.

"Eldest Young Master, please have some breakfast. It's a rural area, so the fare is quite crude; I hope you can make do."

Xiang Geng placed the tray on the stone table in the courtyard.

Feng Xiu waved a hand, saying nothing.

He picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of the pickled vegetables, and frowned slightly, but swallowed it anyway before finishing the bowl of thin porridge.

Downing the porridge in a few gulps, Feng Xiu stood up, took a piece of dark-colored Polygonatum from his waist pouch, and tossed it into his mouth to chew.

He casually handed another piece to Xiang Geng.

"Let's go. Take me to see the Dark Canal."

Xiang Geng was startled, but he took the piece and gave a slight nod.

Immediately, he began to assemble his men. Once the team of twenty-odd people had lined up, they set off toward the Dark Canal before the sun became too scorching.

Leaving the Grain Courtyard, Xiang Geng led Feng Xiu not along the main village road, but veered toward the northwest.

They traveled along an earthen ridge half-hidden by weeds, with fields of young green wheat stretching out on either side.

After walking for about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the fields thinned out, replaced by a stretch of rocky beach.

Pebbles smoothed by water were scattered across the ground, and a wide, long-dried riverbed lay before them.

On the opposite bank, the terrain rose sharply; the grayish-brown rock face was covered in deep green vines, and beside it stood a dense bamboo forest.

The bamboo grew tall and thick, casting the forest in dim light, with only a few rays of sunlight leaking through the gaps in the leaves.

"This bamboo forest has been here for ages," Xiang Geng said, gesturing to the surroundings. "The village elders say it was already here back in their grandfathers' time."

Feng Xiu looked around, noting several clearings of varying sizes where villagers had clearly felled bamboo.

It certainly looked like a good place for martial practice.

After memorizing the location, Feng Xiu and the others passed through the bamboo forest, and the view suddenly opened up.

A steep cliff face stood before them, covered in vines and moss, with a pitch-black cave entrance faintly visible.

"Eldest Young Master, watch your step."

Xiang Geng pushed aside the vines at the entrance and ducked inside, signaling for Feng Xiu to lower his head.

Once Feng Xiu had entered, the others followed in single file.

The cave was much cooler than the outside; it was surrounded by stone, with jagged rock overhead, and the deeper they went, the darker it became.

Xiang Geng lit a fire-starter, and several men lit torches to illuminate the path ahead.

Half a cup of tea later, a massive iron gate appeared in front of them.

The gate was enormous, blocking almost the entire passage. It was covered in rust, with flakes of iron peeling away to reveal the dark red oxidation beneath.

Dozens of sacks, stuffed full, were piled at the base of the gate.

They were stacked into a makeshift barrier as tall as a man, plugging the narrow gap beneath the iron gate.

Below the sacks, water had pooled in the path once carved by an underground stream, gathering in a depression to the front left to form a pond about five square zhang in size.

Seeing Feng Xiu's gaze shift, Xiang Geng had someone go to the side of the pond and shine a torch downward.

"Eldest Young Master, look."

The water was a deep, emerald green, its depth impossible to discern, and the stone walls around the pond were covered in dark green moss.

Feng Xiu stepped forward, crouched down, and reached out to test the water temperature; it was very cold.

Before the chill could penetrate him, it was dispersed by the surging energy of his own blood and qi.