Hidden Gazes, Martial Art Essence Refining

Outside the All-Under-Heaven Escort Agency, a mysterious figure clad in gray robes appeared, a faint, blood-red light flickering in his eyes.

"The aura of the cult, yet it feels slightly off. Strange."

The mysterious man in gray had a sallow complexion, his eyes glinting with that touch of blood-red light, and his entire being was permeated by an illusory aura.

He remained hidden within the shadows of a small alley across from the main gate. After a long while, he turned and left, his presence cold and detached.

In the blink of an eye, it was afternoon.

Li Qing sat in his small courtyard, chanting under his breath, reciting the Earth Blood Curse.

Under the power of the incantation, the vital energy within his body flowed silently through his meridians. He could clearly sense wisps of faint essence diffusing from his body, merging into his bloodstream.

Everything he had eaten that morning and at noon had already been converted into essence.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door.

"Mr. Qin, are you in?"

Li Qing's eyes brightened, and he called out in a clear voice, "Head Escort, please come in!"

Wang Kuohai walked in with a smile on his face. "Mr. Qin, I have fulfilled my mission; I've obtained the items you requested."

He approached, holding a cloth bundle in his hands, his face beaming.

Wang Kuohai placed the bundle on the table and opened it to reveal five secret manuals.

"There are five in total. I've already found an acquaintance to sell that Night-Bright Pearl."

"Of the five head escorts in my agency, four were willing to sell their techniques. I gave each of them 750 taels."

These head escorts usually earned about five taels of silver a month, totaling 60 taels a year. Even if they spent their prime years working as escorts for a decade, they would only earn 600 taels.

With this sum of money, coupled with their own savings, they could return to their hometowns to buy land and become wealthy rural squires once they grew old and frail, completely changing their lives.

That was why they were willing to part with their family-inherited martial arts.

Wang Kuohai continued, "There are five techniques in total: my family's Gate-Breaking Saber, and the others' Iron Wire Fist, Eyebrow-Level Staff, Air-Splitting Palm, and Life-Taking Spear. Are you satisfied, Mr. Qin?"

"Extremely satisfied. Many thanks for your hard work, Head Escort."

Wang Kuohai nodded slightly. "It is a mere trifle, not worth mentioning."

"Mr. Qin, don't forget about the Phoenix Pavilion tonight."

"We won't stop until we're drunk!"

"Certainly, certainly. Hahaha."

After Wang Kuohai left, Li Qing looked at the five books before him, his expression somewhat strange.

He closed his eyes slightly, focusing his mind on the Jade Tablet, where changes had already taken place.

Old Version:

Iron Wire Fist Strikes in straight lines, invincible in heavy blows (Unranked).

Life-Taking Spear Spear strikes like a dragon, fighting for life (Unranked).

Air-Splitting Palm A palm that splits the air, breaking tendons and shattering bones (Unranked).

Eyebrow-Level Staff Staff strikes like the wind, powerful and rotating (Unranked).

Gate-Breaking Saber Great saber blocks the gate, growing stronger against the strong (Unranked).

Seven Star Blade Blade like the seven stars, each strike pursues the soul (Unranked).

New Version:

Martial Art (Art: Essence Refining)

Cultivation Method: Circulate force throughout the entire body, refining energy into blood and essence.

Innate Minor Arts:

1. Clear Six Senses

2. Weapon Spirit Connection

Cost: None

"It actually fused all the martial arts into one, and even granted two innate minor arts."

"Essence Refining? Could it be the refinement of the body's vital essence?"

"The Essence Blood Art seems to be cultivatable up to Foundation Establishment; Essence Refining must be the stage preceding it."

"Is Essence Refining the absolute peak of mortal martial arts?"

"Regardless, the two innate minor arts are an unexpected harvest."

The contents of the Martial Art flowed through Li Qing's mind.

It recorded a peculiar technique for exerting force, covering every corner of the entire body.

Whether empty-handed or wielding a weapon, one could unleash the corresponding effect.

Li Qing slowly stood up and began to practice in the small courtyard.

There were 108 techniques for exerting force in total, and he began to cycle through them one by one, circulating his vital energy.

Each technique involved different movements, and through these motions, it seemed he could better mobilize the muscles, bones, and internal organs of his body.

Form after form, he quickly mastered all 108 techniques.

The circulation of his vital energy seemed to have a synergistic effect on these techniques; his entire body was now radiating a scorching heat.

It was as if he had undergone some intense exercise, with every muscle, membrane, and bone in his body twitching slightly.

He could clearly feel that his body was undergoing an astonishing transformation.

Surging waves of vital energy poured out from every part of his body, merging into his blood vessels before being swallowed by his essence.

A strange sensation vaguely emerged within him, and Li Qing raised his hand to grasp the Hundred-Satin Steel Blade on the table.

As his vital energy flowed through his fingers into the blade, he was surprised to find that the weapon felt like an extension of his own fingers.

Every pattern on the blade was clearly perceptible, reflected directly into his mind.

Swish, swish, swish.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

Blade light bloomed in his hands; the blade, suffused with blood-colored vital energy, moved like a swimming dragon, whipping up a crimson breeze throughout the courtyard.

His swordsmanship was sharper than ever before, yet it possessed a sense of seamless perfection, as if he had been practicing for decades or even a century.

The blade technique seemed to have gained a spirit of its own.

Wherever his intent reached, he could always strike his target in the fastest, steadiest, and most effortless manner.

At the same time, his sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste, and a mysterious, ethereal sense—akin to the legendary spiritual perception—became incredibly acute.

He felt as though he could hear sounds within a radius of ten yards, and even the smallest ant in the courtyard fell clearly into his sight.

His nose caught more subtle scents, and his skin became hypersensitive to the slightest changes in the air currents around him.

He could even taste the flavor of every secretion in his mouth.

As for the mysterious spiritual perception, Li Qing felt its presence, though he did not yet know what its specific effects might be.

Throughout the afternoon, Li Qing practiced the Martial Art incessantly. From the violent reactions his body had initially experienced, he had reached a state of calm, as if the effects of this technique had reached their limit.

It seems that once the Essence Blood Art is mastered, one transcends the limits of mortal martial arts.

That must be why practicing the Martial Art in reverse allowed me to reach the limit so quickly.

Li Qing stood in the courtyard, lost in thought.

He looked up at the sky, where the hazy, multicolored mist still drifted, appearing as eternal and unchanging as ever.

What on earth is that thing?

A flicker of deep apprehension crossed Li Qing's eyes; he always felt that it contained something unknown.

At night, Phoenix Pavilion.

The most high-end restaurant in Jade City.

In a private room, several dancing girls were singing and dancing gracefully.

Wang Kuohai raised his glass to Li Qing and said, "Mr. Qin, this toast is to thank you for saving my life."

"If you ever have any need of me, Wang Kuohai, just say the word."

Li Qing raised his glass in return, "Hahaha, Brother Wang, you are too kind."