Blood Crystal?
Qin An thought of the blood-red Flesh Orb.
His home had nothing but bare walls. Apart from the Flesh Orb he had taken from the Sow Demon, he could think of nothing else.
Chen Chun stroked the mustache on the right side of his lip with his index finger. "For cultivators in the Qi Concealment Realm, Blood Crystals are a powerful tonic."
Qin An pondered for a moment, turning the Sharp Knife in his hand. "What's the Qi Concealment Realm?"
Though he had entered this world, he was like a blind man feeling an elephant, unable to grasp the whole of it.
Now that he was in danger, he wanted to take the chance to ask Chen Chun, who knew how things worked.
Only then did Chen Chun remember that Qin An had just entered this world. He slapped his forehead. "Nearly forgot. How far have you gotten with the Wind-Splitting Blade Technique?"
The thought left Chen Chun a little envious.
It had taken Qin An so little time to grasp the basics of the Wind-Splitting Blade Technique.
After all these years, Chen Chun had only just reached minor mastery in the technique passed down by the Evil Extermination Division.
Comparing himself to Qin An could drive a man to an early grave.
"I've only just grasped the basics," Qin An said calmly.
From Chen Chun's expression, he could tell he seemed to be progressing rather quickly.
Chen Chun nodded. "Just as I thought. You've only just begun, so you probably haven't sensed Qi yet. Perhaps the Sow Demon let her guard down. That's how she fell into your hands."
"Exactly," Qin An said, going along with it. "She thought I was an ordinary civilian."
He did not know what Qi was, but there was indeed a warm current flowing inside him.
This was not the time to mention it, though.
Chen Chun gathered his thoughts. "Qi Concealment is the threshold that separates cultivators from ordinary people. One draws Qi from the blood and stores it within the body. That is Qi Concealment."
"When qi fills the brain, torso, and limbs, until it suffuses the entire body, one has reached the peak of the Qi Concealment Realm."
"Unfortunately, cultivating qi through a technique is slow."
"What do you mean by cultivating qi through a technique?" Qin An asked.
From Chen Chun's explanation, Qin An could tell that the warm current was Qi.
But he did not understand what Chen Chun meant by cultivating qi through a technique.
If he did not understand, he would ask.
"Cultivators have two kinds of disciplines: methods and Arts," Chen Chun said. "A method is the foundation and can raise your realm. Arts are techniques used in combat. They can also raise your realm, but very slowly. Without a method at your core, you'll spend your entire life in Qi Concealment at best."
Qin An listened closely, turning the words over in his mind, and soon understood.
Put simply, methods built inner strength, while Arts were combat moves.
Combat moves could generate Qi, but they could only take him as far as the Qi Concealment Realm.
"Do you have a Mind Method?" Qin An asked.
Chen Chun froze, then his mouth twitched. "Cultivation methods are treasures. The Evil Extermination Division and the sects all guard theirs like their lives. I've already given you the Wind-Splitting Blade Technique. Where would I get a Mind Method for you?"
"Oh," Qin An said. "Then what's a Blood Crystal?"
He understood cultivation now, but he still knew little about the Flesh Orb called a Blood Crystal.
Judging by Chen Chun's reaction, it was valuable.
Chen Chun glanced toward the kitchen. "Demons cultivate too. Those with abundant blood vitality can develop Blood Crystals. A cultivator can use Qi to absorb one. For someone in the Qi Concealment Realm, it's a powerful tonic that can save a great deal of time."
Qin An understood. It was a tonic.
Chen Chun licked his lips. "You don't have a cultivation method. If you use it without one to guide the process, you'll burst apart and die. Why not give it to me? If I grow stronger, that benefits you too."
Qin An thought for a moment, then shook his head. "At any other time, I'd give it to you. But not now. I've been dragged into this whirlpool too."
He had no Mind Method and could not absorb the Blood Crystal through one, but he was caught up in this conflict now. He needed to keep it.
Great Qian was in turmoil. He had not been in this world long, and he had already nearly lost his life.
Now that his Golden Finger had awakened a talent, Qin An felt he had to make the most of it.
He was young, but he knew how to keep his grip on what mattered.
If he kept the Blood Crystal, he would have it ready when the need arose.
Regret flickered in Chen Chun's eyes, but he said no more and changed the subject.
"You drew the Pig Demons' attention through your slaughtering. Now that the Pig Demon is dead, you may be safe, but stay careful. Hide the Blood Crystal well. Don't let anyone find it."
Qin An nodded to show he understood.
Chen Chun rose and headed for the door. "I'm leaving. Don't go around telling people I'm an Undercover Agent. I won't trouble you over it, but I can't promise the Evil Extermination Division won't."
There was no threat in his words, only a warning.
Qin An watched Chen Chun leave. After closing the door, he tied the Bell back in place where it had fallen, then sat beside the bed and set the Sharp Knife within easy reach.
The world is in turmoil, and Demons are multiplying. My Golden Finger is the only thing I can rely on.
The Scholar Profession is new, and it doesn't need much proficiency. Tomorrow I'll go to the bookstore and read to raise it.
Qin An made up his mind.
All he could rely on now were himself and the Golden Finger he had brought with him to this world.
The Scholar Profession was the second profession he had acquired. Reaching level three would awaken a new talent.
He did not know what that talent would be, but if the Butcher Profession's talent was this strong, the Scholar Talent surely would not be weak.
Besides, advancing the Butcher Profession further required 400 proficiency points, and Ding County was hardly peaceful right now.
The Yamen was colluding with Demons. Even if he had only stumbled into the affair by accident, there was no guarantee it would not happen again.
He would work on the quicker one first and leave the slower one for later.
As for unlocking a new profession, Qin An had no time for that now.
Outside the window, darkness had swallowed everything, as though ink had been spilled across the world.
Qin An slept in his clothes, the Sharp Knife gripped in his hand.
The next day.
A shaft of sunlight came through the window, carrying a soothing warmth.
Qin An rose early, tidied up, and went out.
On his way to the bookstore, he ate two steamed buns from a roadside stall.
Qingfeng Bookstore was the largest bookstore in Great Qian, with many branches.
The one in Ding County was just a small, unremarkable branch.
Great Qian valued martial prowess while also promoting letters. Every prefecture and county had bookstores where scholars could read.
They charged a fee, but scholars hoping to earn official rank still flocked to them.
Qin An was no scholar, but Qingfeng Bookstore was open to everyone. He would not be turned away.
Before he even reached the bookstore, Qin An heard a commotion.
Looking closer, he saw scholars in Confucian robes packed three layers deep around the entrance, as though there were a monkey show inside.
When Qin An drew nearer, he saw what was happening.
A young man in an ocher-colored short tunic, a long blade hanging at his waist, was beating a frail scholar.
The scholar's face was black and blue, and several of his teeth had been knocked out.
The other scholars watched, but at the sight of the blade-wearing man's ferocity, not one dared step forward to stop him.
The blade-wearing man planted a foot on the scholar's back and spat. "Worthless trash. You wrote poems insulting the River Blade Sect. If I don't smash every tooth in your mouth, my name isn't Zhao."
Before you continue