Boiling Blood First Level

Time flew like an arrow, and in the blink of an eye, a month had passed.

Shen Mu traveled back and forth between the inn and the Firewood Gang headquarters every day, never slacking on his Body Tempering Formula progress, regardless of wind or rain.

Whenever he finished digesting the beast meat, Shen Mu would immediately purchase a new portion.

However, to avoid attracting the attention of those with ulterior motives, Shen Mu did not limit his purchases to the shops opened by the Firewood Gang, choosing instead to patronize meat shops run by other factions as well.

"Gurgle, gurgle~"

After completing his daily body tempering, Shen Mu's stomach let out another series of growls.

Over the past month, he had successfully digested a full ten catties of unranked beast meat.

By now, surging blood qi had already accumulated and was coursing through his body, and his lean frame had gradually begun to reveal toned, bronze-colored muscles throughout this month of tempering.

Within his mind, the roots of the Martial Dao Tree had been completely overtaken by scarlet blood qi, transforming from an illusory state into a solid one.

It is time to Break Through to the first level of Boiling Blood.

Shen Mu thought to himself.

"Store the primordial energy, enter the Tiantu point, penetrate the Xuanji point, invert the stars, strengthen the blood qi, open the mysterious gate..."

He followed the Body Tempering Formula to guide the circulation of blood qi within his body, then suddenly unleashed it, allowing it to be carried by his blood vessels to sweep out in all directions, nourishing the flesh and blood throughout his entire body.

Every inch of his muscles seemed to be drinking in the continuously irrigated blood qi like parched earth meeting a long-awaited rain.

Shen Mu could clearly perceive that his flesh and blood were becoming increasingly tough and powerful under the scouring and nourishment of this surging blood qi.

"Break for me!"

"Crack~"

It felt as if a barrier within his body had been completely shattered; his entire body's blood qi was now boiling and surging, and a sense of abundant power flooded his whole being.

Fine, blood-colored vapor steamed off the surface of Shen Mu's bare upper body, making him appear as if he were bathing in a mist of blood.

Shen Mu was intoxicated; he could clearly perceive that an insurmountable chasm now separated him from ordinary people.

It was a sense of power that could take a life with a mere flick of his hand.

"Brother Shen, have you broken through?"

This sudden scene caused Luo Tao to widen his eyes, his voice filled with shock.

Mao Shouzhuo would guide them for half an hour every day, after which they would proceed with their own body tempering in the martial arts arena.

Whenever Mao Shouzhuo finished a long session of body tempering, blood-colored vapor would steam off his body, drawing the envy of the surrounding gang members.

Only by stepping into the first level of Boiling Blood would the body exhibit this phenomenon of steaming blood-sweat.

Now that the same phenomenon had appeared on Shen Mu, did that not mean he had successfully broken through to the first level of Boiling Blood?

Mao Shouzhuo, who was currently practicing the Army-Breaking Saber Technique to temper his body, could not help but look over upon hearing Luo Tao's exclamation.

"How is this possible?!"

Seeing the blood-colored mist steaming off Shen Mu's body, Mao Shouzhuo could not help but widen his eyes, his expression one of shock.

In his view, it would take an ordinary person at least three months to reach the first level of Boiling Blood.

Yet, in just a short month, had Shen Mu actually succeeded in advancing to the first level of Boiling Blood?

Could it be that he had consumed Blood Qi Pills?

This thought immediately crossed Mao Shouzhuo's mind.

Blood Qi Pills, like beast meat, were rich in abundant blood qi.

At the same time, the speed at which Blood Qi Pills nourished blood qi was several times faster than consuming beast meat.

However, Blood Qi Pills were expensive, costing five taels of silver each, yet they provided only as much blood qi as one catty of unranked beast meat.

Therefore, apart from high-ranking officials and nobles, ordinary people generally could not afford such an expensive method of enhancing their blood qi.

But now, Shen Mu had successfully advanced to the first level of Boiling Blood in just one month.

Mao Shouzhuo immediately jumped to the conclusion that the other party must have been secretly consuming Blood Qi Pills to boost his blood qi; otherwise, there was absolutely no way he could have reached the first level of Boiling Blood in a single month.

In the entire martial arts arena, everyone stopped their tempering in unison, their gazes fixed on Shen Mu, their faces filled with a mix of bitterness, envy, and jealousy.

Mao Shouzhuo kicked a stone, sending it whistling through the air as it shot straight toward Shen Mu in the center of the arena.

Shen Mu, having recovered from the joy of his breakthrough, saw the incoming stone and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

He understood that Mao Shouzhuo was using this to test whether he had truly reached the first level of Boiling Blood!

The surging blood qi within his body gave Shen Mu an urge to vent.

"Hah!"

As his blood qi gathered in his right arm, Shen Mu threw a heavy punch the moment the stone drew near.

"Bang!"

Accompanied by a dull thud, the stone shattered instantly under Shen Mu's punch, turning into fragments that scattered in all directions.

Seeing this, no one present doubted any longer that Shen Mu had truly entered the first level of Boiling Blood.

"I truly never expected that you would step into the first level of the Boiling Blood Stage in a mere month. Congratulations, congratulations."

Mao Shouzhuo walked forward, his face no longer bearing its usual cold expression as he spoke with a beaming smile.

Now that Shen Mu had advanced to the first level of the Boiling Blood Stage, he stood on the same starting line as him; once he completed the registration, he would become a true member of the Firewood Gang, so naturally, he could no longer treat him with his previous condescending attitude.

"Shen Mu's success today is entirely due to Instructor Mao's meticulous guidance!"

Shen Mu cupped his fists in a salute and said with a smile.

"Heh heh, I only did what I was supposed to do. Your success in stepping into the first level of the Boiling Blood Stage is inseparable from your own diligent practice."

Mao Shouzhuo shook his head, then shifted the topic: "Now that you have advanced to the first level of the Boiling Blood Stage, you can drop the 'outer' label from your status and become a true member of the Firewood Gang. You can receive a monthly salary of one tael, along with two catties of unranked beast meat. If you advance to the second level of the Boiling Blood Stage later, your salary will change accordingly!"

"However, the sun is about to set today. Come back tomorrow morning, and I will take you to register and receive your member identity token."

Shen Mu nodded and smiled: "Then I will have to trouble you, Instructor Mao."

"It is but a small matter."

Mao Shouzhuo waved his hand, his tone exceptionally courteous.

Since advancing to the first level of the Boiling Blood Stage meant gaining the recognition of the Firewood Gang, and Mao Shouzhuo himself was only at the first level of the Boiling Blood Stage, he naturally hoped to cultivate more connections within the gang.

Especially since the other party had advanced to the first level of the Boiling Blood Stage in just one month; at this rate of cultivation, it was uncertain how long it would be before he surpassed him.

Adding flowers to a brocade is never as important as providing charcoal in the snow.

There is still a difference between gaining someone's friendship when they are weak versus harvesting it when they are powerful.

"Today's body tempering ends here. Everyone, go back, consolidate today's training well, and nourish the blood energy within your bodies."

Mao Shouzhuo looked around the circle and said in a loud voice.

"Yes!"

The crowd responded one after another, their expressions complex as they dispersed.

"Brother Shen, I really didn't expect you to advance to the first level of the Boiling Blood Stage so quickly."

Luo Tao walked out of the Firewood Gang with Shen Mu, his expression appearing somewhat complicated.

He was not one to overthink things, but seeing Shen Mu advance to the first level of the Boiling Blood Stage still left his heart feeling incredibly conflicted.

Clearly, both of them had started body tempering on the same day, but after only a month, the distance between them had widened completely.

"I just had good luck, that's all."

Shen Mu laughed: "Taozi, you will have a day like this too."

Hearing Shen Mu's encouragement, Luo Tao felt much more invigorated.

That's right, he would have a day like this sooner or later.

Now that Shen Mu had stepped into the first level of the Boiling Blood Stage, he had to practice even more diligently to strive to catch up to his footsteps as soon as possible.

"By the way."

Luo Tao seemed to remember something and couldn't help but ask: "Tomorrow is the day to collect the firewood money. Brother Shen, what do you think?"

Now that Shen Mu had advanced to the first level of the Boiling Blood Stage, his status had quietly changed.

If Shen Mu did not participate in the collection of the firewood money this time, he would be left all by himself.

This made Luo Tao feel a bit apprehensive; those woodcutters were not easy people to deal with. Could he collect the firewood money all on his own?

Shen Mu pondered for a moment and smiled: "I just advanced to the first level of the Boiling Blood Stage, so I was planning to rest for a day, but let's go collect the firewood money together tomorrow."

Wang Jin had taken good care of him before, and although he had now advanced to the first level of the Boiling Blood Stage, Shen Mu still planned to go see him; at the very least, he had to treat him to a meal to thank him for his previous care.

"Thank you, Brother Shen."

Luo Tao's eyes lit up, and then he tentatively asked: "Brother Shen, how about you draw a skull on my chest this time?"

Shen Mu: "..."

Before I advanced to the Boiling Blood Stage, using a few tricks was fine.

Now that I have reached the Boiling Blood Stage, would those woodcutters still dare to act out?

Wouldn't I have advanced for nothing?!