Third Blood Martial Artist!

For the rest of the night, Chen Jing stayed in his room, devoting himself entirely to cultivating the Bone-Humming Swift-Travel Technique.

Now that Chen Jing was truly a Second Blood Martial Artist, he had abundant qi and blood to support him. His progress in the Bone-Humming Swift-Travel Technique far exceeded expectations.

In just a few short hours, he had gathered nearly a third of the qi and blood the technique required.

At this rate, in a few more days, Chen Jing would be able to cultivate this sinister movement technique to First Blood.

The next morning, Chen Jing arrived at the River-Breaking Fist Academy on time. As usual, he headed straight for the Central Courtyard and focused his mind as he practiced the River-Breaking Fist.

His fists cut through the air with a whoosh, his inner force grew steady and concentrated, and his moves became ever more refined.

Over the past few days, however, Fei Feng's attention to Chen Jing had noticeably waned.

At first, Fei Feng had often stopped to watch Chen Jing practice, trying to figure out why his progress had slowed after breaking through to Second Blood.

But after observing him for several days and seeing that his cultivation remained mediocre, with none of its former brilliance, Fei Feng could only sigh helplessly and gradually turn his attention elsewhere.

Now, Fei Feng rarely instructed Chen Jing, devoting most of his attention to Xiang Lingfei instead.

After all, Xiang Lingfei had been progressing at a startling pace lately. His qi and blood were growing ever more robust, and he was just one step away from breaking through to Second Blood. Clearly, he was more worth cultivating.

Chen Jing didn't mind Fei Feng's change in attitude.

After all, his own progress had slowed, while Xiang Lingfei was advancing rapidly. It was only natural for Fei Feng to favor him, and there was no need to take it to heart.

Just as Chen Jing's qi and blood surged through him, a panicked figure suddenly rushed into the academy, shattering the Central Courtyard's calm.

A senior brother came running over, his face deathly pale and drenched in sweat, his steps stumbling as he repeatedly shouted, "Something terrible's happened!"

"Why are you rushing around in such a panic? Have you no sense of decorum?"

Fei Feng had been instructing Xiang Lingfei in his forms. At the sight of this, his brow immediately furrowed, and he rebuked the man sternly.

The senior brother ran up to Fei Feng, braced his hands on his knees, and gasped several times before managing to cry out, "M-Master! Something terrible's happened! That Yan Peng from the Black Crow Sect... h-he broke through to Third Blood!"

"What?!"

Fei Feng's body went rigid. The sternness on his face gave way to disbelief. "Say that again. Yan Peng broke through to Third Blood?"

Nearby, Chen Jing stopped in the middle of a move. His brows drew tight, and a storm surged through his heart.

Chen Jing had planned to wait until he had fully mastered the Essence Blood Body-Covering Technique and the Bone-Humming Swift-Travel Technique, then seize an opportunity to ambush Yan Peng and avenge his own death.

But he had never imagined that Yan Peng would break through to Third Blood before he had mastered either technique!

The gulf between a Third Blood Martial Artist and a Second Blood Martial Artist was like heaven and earth. It was an absolute gap in realm, one that mere combat experience and skill could never bridge.

Yan Peng's strength had changed beyond recognition. Taking revenge would be several times harder now.

"It's true! It really is!"

The senior brother nodded emphatically, then added urgently, "The Black Crow Sect is already beating drums and making a grand celebration of it. The news has spread all across East City. There's no mistake!"

Fei Feng's expression turned grave. After a moment's silence, he drew a deep breath and addressed the disciples in the Central Courtyard in a low voice. "Continue your training. Don't slack off!"

With that, he turned and strode into a room deeper inside the academy. The door slammed shut behind him; clearly, he was inside pondering Yan Peng's breakthrough.

As soon as Fei Feng left, the disciples in the Martial Arts Arena could no longer contain themselves. They gathered in groups and began whispering, their expressions all different.

"My heavens! Yan Peng actually broke through to Third Blood? That's enough to qualify him to open a martial arts school!"

"Outside the Inner City, there are only thirteen Third Blood Martial Artists across the whole county, not counting people from the great lineages. Now the Black Crow Sect has another one. The gap in strength just widened overnight!"

"I'm so jealous... A Third Blood Martial Artist stands at the very peak of martial arts in all of Red Rock County!"

Just then, someone lowered his voice and asked cautiously, "Did any of you think Master's expression looked off just now?"

"You don't know?"

A senior disciple nearby curled his lip and lowered his voice as well. "Master once had a disciple he valued immensely. Somehow, that disciple offended Yan Peng."

"Yan Peng was already vicious and tyrannical by nature. He crippled our senior brother's meridians himself!"

"Master was furious and went straight to Yan Peng's door to cripple him in revenge, but the Black Crow Sect's leader stopped him. The two nearly came to blows."

"Ever since then, the River-Breaking Fist Academy and the Black Crow Sect have been at odds!"

"So that's what happened? But we're in West City, while the Black Crow Sect is in East City. We don't usually have any conflicts."

"That's because both sides only had one Third Blood Martial Artist before. Their strength was evenly matched, so neither dared make a move."

The older disciple sighed and continued, "Now the Black Crow Sect has two Third Blood Martial Artists. That balance is broken. Who knows if they'll take the chance to expand and suppress martial arts schools like ours?"

As Chen Jing listened to the discussion, the pieces gradually fell into place.

So the River-Breaking Fist Academy and the Black Crow Sect had old scores to settle. They had only remained at peace because their strength had been evenly matched.

Now that Yan Peng had broken through, the balance was gone. The River-Breaking Fist Academy was likely to face considerable pressure.

A sense of urgency welled up in Chen Jing. He couldn't help but quicken his punches, each strike growing sharper and fiercer.

Chen Jing thought to himself that he had to get to that little house in the Ghost Market as soon as possible and find a more powerful sinister technique!

At his current pace, he might not even be able to keep himself safe in the coming conflicts between martial arts schools, let alone take revenge.

And revenge against Yan Peng seemed farther off than ever!

Just then, a familiar voice called from behind him.

"Junior Brother Chen!"

Chen Jing lowered his fists and turned. Senior Brother Zhuang was striding toward him.

Zhuang Tao looked composed, a warm smile on his face. His tone was casual yet friendly. "Junior Brother Chen, are you free lately?"

"I don't have anything planned for now."

Chen Jing wiped the sweat from his brow and replied, "Senior Brother Zhuang, did you have something in mind?"

At this, Zhuang Tao's smile grew warmer. He didn't beat around the bush, going straight to the point. "Junior Brother Chen, now that you're a Second Blood Martial Artist, ordinary Green-skinned Horned Pig meat probably can't nourish your qi and blood as well as it used to, right?"

Chen Jing's expression shifted slightly, but he didn't deny it.

Now that Chen Jing had tasted Red-Tail Spirit Fish and Spotted Flower Fox meat, the difference was clear. He could tell that Green-skinned Horned Pig meat no longer strengthened him as quickly as before.

Zhuang Tao nodded, his tone turning serious. "For a Second Blood Martial Artist to make steady progress, he has to absorb purer qi and blood."

"The qi and blood contained in high-grade exotic beast meat are far beyond what ordinary exotic beasts can offer. It's an invaluable supplement for cultivation."

After a pause, Zhuang Tao added, "So I've been thinking: now that you're a Second Blood Martial Artist, we can bring you together with me and Uncle Huan. With three Second Blood Martial Artists holding the line..."

"And with the hunters we worked with before, we'll have enough people to venture deep into Cold Mountain's hinterlands and search for truly high-grade exotic beasts!"

At this point, Zhuang Tao made no attempt to hide his intentions and laid out the division of spoils plainly. "I've already worked out how we'll split what we get."

"You, me, and Uncle Huan will divide the high-grade exotic beasts equally."

Zhuang Tao smiled. His tone was frank, without the slightest hint of selfishness. "The hunters won't get a share of the high-grade exotic beasts. We'll just pay them with some Green-skinned Horned Pig meat. For them, that's already a rare reward."

"Junior Brother Chen, what do you think?"

Chen Jing didn't hesitate. He immediately nodded in agreement.

High-grade exotic beast meat was just as important to him. It could help the Exemption Bead accumulate energy faster and speed up the gathering of qi and blood for his future breakthroughs.

Zhuang Tao had invited him of his own accord, practically placing an opportunity right in front of him. Naturally, Chen Jing had no reason to refuse.

When Chen Jing agreed, Zhuang Tao's smile widened. He raised a hand and gave Chen Jing's shoulder a hearty slap. "Good! Then it's settled."

"Come to my house the day after tomorrow, first thing in the morning. We'll leave the city together."

With that, Zhuang Tao said no more. He returned to his training area and settled his mind once again, polishing his fist techniques one move at a time.

As his qi and blood rose and fell, he carried himself with steady composure.

Chen Jing watched Zhuang Tao's retreating figure, his gaze growing intent. Soon, he put the thoughts aside, took a deep breath, and threw another punch.

This time, he practiced with noticeably greater zeal.

After all, they were about to hunt high-grade exotic beasts in the heart of Cold Mountain, where any mishap could prove fatal.

Over the next two days, Chen Jing had to hone the Bone-Humming Swift-Travel Technique as much as possible. That way, if danger came, he'd have a better chance of escaping.

Time slipped quietly by amid repeated breaths and bursts of exertion.

In the blink of an eye, the day of the hunt arrived.

The sky had only just begun to brighten, and the city had yet to fully awaken when Chen Jing arrived at Zhuang Tao's house on time, as agreed.

As soon as he reached the door, Chen Jing could tell that their preparations were far more thorough than they had been for the last hunt, when they went after Green-skinned Horned Pigs.

Zhuang Tao and Uncle Huan had been waiting for some time. Both wore heavy hide armor, with sharp long sabers at their waists, bows and arrows on their backs, and specially made hunting nets. They were fully equipped and solemn.

The dozen or so hunters beside them were equally well armed. They gripped hunting spears and cleavers, all of them alert and clearly ready to venture into dangerous territory.

"Junior Brother Chen, you're here!"

Zhuang Tao spotted Chen Jing at once and hurried over with a smile. In his hand, he carried a suit of armor that gleamed with a dark blue-green sheen. "Come on, put this on!"

As he spoke, Zhuang Tao stepped forward and personally helped Chen Jing put on the armor. As he adjusted the straps, he explained, "This armor is no ordinary piece. It's made from the hide of a Three-Eyed White Snake. The material is incredibly tough; ordinary blades and swords can't cut through it. It makes excellent protective armor."

There was a note of pride in Zhuang Tao's voice. Then he lowered it and added, "A single Three-Eyed White Snake hide like this would fetch at least a hundred taels of silver on the market!"