Skin Polishing Great Accomplishment

The mind is a space no larger than a square inch.

The Red Seal's entire body shimmered with flowing light.

Its luster, like blood jade, made it appear as a single drop of crimson blood suspended within the mind.

At the same time, a piece of information quietly surfaced from the depths of his heart.

"Ungraven talents—I can choose to keep them?"

Qin Jiu was stunned at first.

Then overjoyed.

This was a new change in the Red Seal after knocking on the Blood Pass a second time. He could now permanently retain up to three ungraven talents, without worrying that a newly emerging talent would overwrite one that hadn't yet been engraved.

"Besides that, the number of talents I can bear has also become clear."

After sensing the information that had appeared in his heart, he couldn't help but feel a little surprised.

The increase in talent slots was actually tied to his martial realm advancement.

"My current limit is to engrave three talents, and the next expansion of talent slots will require breaking through to the Second Refining..."

Qin Jiu showed a look of regret.

At first, he could only vaguely sense that the Red Seal's talent engraving was linked to the strength of his physique and spirit.

He had originally thought about buying some pills to strengthen his body and spirit.

Now he had to abandon that idea.

"Young master, are you alright?"

Wang Yue's voice rang out, tinged with concern.

Qin Jiu snapped back to reality and said, "I feel better than ever right now."

As he spoke, he bent his knees and lowered into a stance, spreading his frame. Then he clenched his fists and swung his arms, slowly pushing through the Dragon-Tiger Great Stake.

His form sometimes resembled a fierce tiger pouncing on prey, and at other times moved with agile, vigorous shifts.

As his long fists swept through the air, gusts of wind howled around him. Qin Jiu felt his body and mind completely open and unobstructed; no matter how the stance changed, he felt not the slightest trace of fatigue.

"This is the Health Preservation Stake reaching its threshold."

He understood in his heart that his current state was not due to the second knocking on the Blood Pass.

It was because his stance training had just achieved its first success.

On the other side, Huang Jing and Qin Xudong watched this scene without noticing anything unusual.

Only Wang Yue saw the trick.

"I see."

"So this second knocking on the Blood Pass is related to the stance training reaching its threshold."

He nodded to himself.

When Qin Jiu finished his stance and straightened up, Wang Yue spoke up: "Young master, there's no limit on how much of this medicinal ointment you can use, but if your body can no longer absorb the medicine, this old servant suggests you wait a day before using it again."

"I understand."

Qin Jiu nodded slightly.

For others, this kind of problem was indeed the case.

But if he wanted to, he could digest all this ointment and the remaining five Tendon-Changing Pills in a single day.

The self-healing ability brought by Withered Wood Meets Spring

was in no way inferior to that of the Green Pupil Demon.

But these abilities were not suitable for showing to others.

Afterward, he had Huang Jing and the others apply the ointment to him twice more, then sent the three of them away. Taking advantage of the night, he swallowed the remaining five Green Blood Tendon-Changing Pills and stood in his stance until late at night.

"Boom"

The night was as dark as ink.

Inside the small courtyard, a dull roar of surging blood and qi exploded once more.

Qin Jiu stood with his eyes lowered, a shocking streak of crimson seeping from the corner of his mouth. Yet his eyes blazed with a terrifying brightness.

"Three knocks at the gate, Skin Polishing perfected!"

He grinned silently.

The medicinal power of five Green Blood Tendon-Changing Pills would be enough to kill a First Refining martial artist on the spot.

Yet, under the blessing of the Withered Wood Meets Spring talent.

Inside Qin Jiu's body, the injuries caused by the violent medicinal power were healing at an almost inconceivable speed. Wounds that would be fatal to an ordinary martial artist had no effect on him at all.

"I should cultivate some martial arts like the Tyrant Blade Technique."

"This talent far exceeds my expectations."

"Ordinary martial artists fear cultivating harsh, violent techniques, afraid of leaving hidden injuries or even suffering backlash, but now I..."

Qin Jiu's eyes grew brighter and brighter.

This was the first time he truly felt the power of Withered Wood Meets Spring.

A power so strong it didn't seem human.

Over the next three days.

Qin Jiu didn't have Huang Jing and the others come to the East Wing. His three knocks at the gate had been too fast—shocking the world and astounding the common folk was no exaggeration. He didn't want anyone to know about it yet, so the matter of feeding fists had to be set aside for now.

"Today is the agreed-upon time."

"That vice hall master..."

"He should be on his way to Drunken Immortal Residence by now, right?"

Inside the East Wing courtyard.

Qin Jiu put away his stance training, went back to change his clothes, and then arrived at the gate of the Qin Mansion.

A carriage was parked outside the outer gate.

The driver was none other than Wang Yue.

"Have the things I instructed been taken care of?" Qin Jiu boarded the carriage and spoke to Wang Yue. "These big shots from the inner city care most about face. Today, Drunken Immortal Residence is open only for that vice hall master. Don't let anything go wrong."

"I've already made the arrangements."

Wang Yue cracked the whip, adding with a hint of helplessness, "Young master, don't blame this old servant for speaking out of turn. It's just a piece of Cold Jade Marrow—why give him so much face? It's not like you're groveling to curry favor."

"Besides, this might not be a good thing."

"It's too easy to spoil his appetite."

"At most, it's just a matter of a few words. If it helps me buy the Cold Jade Marrow smoothly, I think it's worth it."

Qin Jiu smiled faintly.

Drunken Immortal Residence was a property of the Qin Family.

If it was within his ability to give the other party a leg up, things might become simpler.

Even if it didn't work.

It wouldn't cost him anything.

The carriage swayed along.

After about half an hour, it stopped in front of a restaurant.

Qin Jiu got out.

He led Wang Yue straight to the top-floor Celestial Suite.

Inside the elegantly decorated room sat a middle-aged man in a brocade robe, exuding an extraordinary presence. He held a cup of hot tea, blowing on it unhurriedly. Hearing footsteps outside the door, his hand paused.

Then he looked up toward the entrance.

His gaze swept across the room before settling on Wang Yue.

"Are you Vice Hall Master Li Yuan of the Four Seasons Pharmacy?"

Qin Jiu entered, cupped his hands in greeting, and got straight to the point. "I am the current head of the Qin Family, Qin Jiu. Since the vice hall master has come to my Drunken Immortal Residence today, you must know my purpose."

"I wonder if Vice Hall Master Li would be willing to part with that Cold Jade Marrow and sell it to me?"

"Don't worry about the price..."

But at this point in his speech.

The man still showed no intention of speaking.

"Li Yuan, you are terribly rude."

Seeing this, Wang Yue's face instantly turned cold.

At that moment.

The man set down his teacup, looked at Wang Yue, and shook his head with a light laugh. "You Sick Tiger, you're getting more and more impatient."

"Although the Qin Family does have business dealings with the Four Seasons Pharmacy."

"But that's the medicine hall."

"Today, I'm here purely as a private individual, by invitation. As for your Qin Family's new master, he's not yet qualified to speak with me. You, however, barely pass. If your temper's too hot, then I'm afraid there's no business to discuss."

He spoke without even glancing at Qin Jiu.

Raising his hand, he pushed the teacup forward slightly.

"Of course, a mere entry-level material isn't the business I came to discuss with you today."

"I have two pills here."

"One can mend the injuries within your body; the other can push your martial path one step further. These pills—I'll trade them for the Qin Family's secret formula for nurturing spirit beasts. This deal—are you willing to make it?"