Blood Ignites, True Essence Gathers

When Cui Lang saw Zhao Changshan lying on the bed, he was snoring like thunder in the blink of an eye. Cui Lang went to the woodshed, sat cross-legged atop the firewood, closed his eyes, and circulated the Blazing Sun Technique according to its formula.

The Essence Refinement Realm cultivated the essence of one's vital blood.

The Blazing Sun Technique was clearly far stronger than the Fierce Bull Stance Cui Lang had once cultivated. His vital blood circulated faster, and it involved far more meridians.

He had just familiarized himself with the route of his vital blood when the little flask in his mind suddenly moved, pouring out a dense stream of essence blood from its spout once more.

Under Cui Lang's control, the tiger demon's essence blood rapidly circulated through his body along the Blazing Sun Technique's route. It quickly strengthened his own vital blood as well, nourishing his limbs and every bone in his body.

But the little flask poured out too much essence blood. Cui Lang felt that he could not control it at all, and his entire body was swelling with pain.

If this continued, he would be burst apart by all this essence blood.

"Enough, enough! Stop pouring already! Let me refine this first!"

But the little flask ignored him completely and continued pouring out the tiger demon's essence blood.

A moment later, he made his decision. He would gamble on it.

Once vital blood was full, one could try condensing True Essence and breaking through to the True Essence Gathering Realm.

Was his vital blood merely full now?

He immediately calmed his mind and focused his spirit, attempting the Blazing Sun Technique's method of condensing True Essence.

His body trembled slightly, but he clenched his teeth and persevered.

All at once, Cui Lang felt as if the vital blood within him had caught fire. His entire body became unbearably hot, his skin instantly flushed crimson, and white mist rose from his hair.

Within Cui Lang's vital blood, a drop of incomparably scorching True Essence was born. The rest of his vital blood seemed to undergo a chain reaction, all beginning to transform toward True Essence.

Cui Lang felt every sound around him disappear, leaving only the thump-thump-thump of his own heart.

His body stopped trembling, and the redness on his skin gradually faded. A searing force rose from his dantian, as if it could burn everything to ash.

"This is Blazing Sun True Essence. I've broken through to the True Essence Gathering Realm!"

As he mobilized the Blazing Sun True Essence, Cui Lang felt the strength throughout his body surge by more than double. As the True Essence flowed through him, his whole body felt pleasantly warm.

"I thought that even with the tiger demon's essence blood, I'd have to properly familiarize myself with the Blazing Sun Technique and spend more than a month attempting to break through to the True Essence Gathering Realm. I actually succeeded directly."

Cui Lang casually drew the saber at his waist and slashed viciously ahead. Feeling the power behind the stroke, he found that its speed had increased by at least threefold.

After thinking for a moment, he grabbed a piece of firewood and concentrated Blazing Sun True Essence in both hands. The wood instantly burst into flames.

He hurriedly threw it to the ground and stamped out the fire.

This was the characteristic of Blazing Sun True Essence: incomparably scorching. If he encountered the tiger demon again, he felt he could chop off its head in a single slash!

"I'm only at the initial stage of the True Essence Gathering Realm. Next, I need to do everything I can to keep strengthening my True Essence until I can wield it as easily as my own arm. Once I break through to the middle stage of the True Essence Gathering Realm, I'll be able to attach True Essence to my saber, multiplying its killing power."

Feeling his strength soar, Cui Lang was thrilled. He immediately ran back to Zhao Changshan's bedroom and shook him awake.

"Who?!" Zhao Changshan opened his eyes and reached for the saber beside his pillow. "Cui Lang, aren't you practicing? I'll move over and make some room for you."

He wriggled to the side, preparing to turn over and continue sleeping.

"Brother Zhao, how can we martial artists be so greedy for sleep? Get up and teach me the Eight Desolations Slash."

Having just broken through, he could not sleep at all. Zhao Changshan had ridden a cart both ways when leaving the city today and had already slept for two hours—was that still not enough?

Zhao Changshan glanced at the night sky outside the window. "Didn't I just teach you the Blazing Sun Technique? Go practice it. I'll teach you the Eight Desolations Slash at dawn."

It was only a saber technique, not a trip to Red Sleeve Pavilion. Could he not wait a few hours?

Cui Lang stood at Zhao Changshan's bedside. "The Blazing Sun Technique is too difficult. I'd better practice the Eight Desolations Slash first."

"Didn't you say that if anyone asked, we'd say I stole it? What if the neighbors see us in broad daylight? Should we say you taught me because I gave you five taels of silver?"

Seeing that Cui Lang would not rest until he learned the Eight Desolations Slash, Zhao Changshan helplessly climbed out of bed. "Keep your voice down. Wasn't I worried that you'd spread yourself too thin?"

"If you put more of your mind into practicing the saber, when will you ever condense True Essence?"

"If you insist on learning, then I'll teach you. Just don't regret it."

Teaching Cui Lang now was perfect. Tomorrow, he could sleep until noon, then go enjoy himself at Red Sleeve Pavilion as soon as he woke up.

Carrying his saber, Zhao Changshan walked into the courtyard. "Watch closely. The Eight Desolations Slash has eight forms. Each form has eight variations, making eight times eight—sixty-four moves in all..."

As he demonstrated the saber technique, Zhao Changshan recited the formula. Silver saber light flowed around his body.

The saber technique was accompanied by certain footwork as well, and Cui Lang watched with utmost care.

After demonstrating all sixty-four moves, Zhao Changshan slung his saber across his back. "This saber technique was created by Chief Constable Murong. It even incorporates some sword techniques. Plenty of people can practice their whole lives without ever reaching mastery."

"Brother Zhao, your saber technique is so beautiful. I was too busy admiring it and didn't remember a single move. How about you teach it once more?" Cui Lang blinked, wearing the look of someone with dull talent.

If he said he had remembered most of it, Zhao Changshan would surely tell him to practice however much he had memorized first and teach him the rest later.

Zhao Changshan fell silent.

He had seen slow learners before, but this was the first time he had seen someone fail to remember even one of sixty-four moves.

But Cui Lang had said his saber technique looked good.

"Then I'll teach you once more. Pay closer attention this time."

Zhao Changshan slowed his movements and demonstrated it again. Then he immediately sheathed his saber. "All right, practice on your own slowly. First get familiar with what you remembered. I'll teach you the rest later."

"I'm still injured, so I need to rest properly and recover."

If he did not get enough sleep, how would he have the energy to go to Red Sleeve Pavilion tomorrow?

After Zhao Changshan closed the door, Cui Lang stood in the courtyard and began slowly practicing the saber technique.

After practicing several times, he felt somewhat tired. He circulated his True Essence through his body once, and seven-tenths of his fatigue immediately vanished. Then he continued practicing the saber.

Only when dawn broke did he sheath his saber and enter Zhao Changshan's bedroom again.

"Brother Zhao, it's already light out. I need to hurry home, so my younger sister won't worry."

Zhao Changshan stared at Cui Lang in shock. "You've been practicing the saber this whole time? You didn't rest?"

"Do you not want your hands anymore? Hurry home and soak your arms in cold water. If that doesn't work, go to the clinic and get some medicinal decoction. Don't be stingy with your money."

After practicing saber techniques for several hours, even someone at the peak of the Essence Refinement Realm could not endure it. Why had Cui Lang not asked him?

Cui Lang immediately said, "Brother Zhao, you think too highly of me. How could I practice the saber the entire time? I only practiced for a while. I spent the rest of the time cultivating the Blazing Sun Technique."

It seemed that when practicing the saber in front of others in the future, he could practice for no more than a quarter of an hour. He also needed to conceal the news that he had broken through to the True Essence Gathering Realm.

After all, there was a famous saying: when a cliff rises a thousand feet, the waves are bound to batter it.

"Brother Zhao, there's one more thing I'd like to ask. My father died by the Cloudwater River. Which two brothers went to the scene?"