Qi and Blood Breakthrough

Evil, sinister energy has entered your body. Do you wish to smelt it?

A string of inexplicable information flooded into Lin Nan's mind.

Ignoring the confusion in his heart, he responded immediately.

[Yes!]

Hiss!

The furnace in his mind hummed, its mouth suddenly widening as if countless furnace fires were erupting from within.

[Obtained Yin Energy Point +1]

In an instant, Lin Nan felt the bone-chilling coldness inside his body rapidly receding, and his previously stiff, numb limbs slowly regained their mobility.

He did not hesitate, quickly standing up to bolt the wooden door before reaching out to touch the cracked jade talisman.

As the talisman emitted a soft glow, he finally let out a sigh of relief; the nights in Black Dragon Outer City were home to far more than just Corpse Ghosts.

Without the protection of the jade talisman, it would be disastrous if he attracted other evil spirits.

Once Lin Nan caught his breath, he shifted his focus, and lines of information appeared before his eyes from the Creation Furnace:

[Furnace Master: Lin Nan]
[Age: Twenty]
[Technique: White Snake Stance (Entry 55/100)]
[Available Yin Energy Points: 1]
[Convert to proficiency?]

It really works?!

Lin Nan felt a surge of joy and continued to focus his attention on the information before him.

"Yes!"

Hum!

In an instant, the Yin Energy point was completely smelted, transforming into proficiency that poured into the progress bar of the White Snake Stance, causing it to climb rapidly.

1 point... 10 points... 50 points... 100 points!

The information on the furnace blurred for a moment, and a massive wave of memories—as if he had been practicing the White Snake Stance day and night—flowed into his mind like a river.

Familiar, seasoned.

The difficult points that had previously left him stumped were suddenly clear, and Lin Nan felt as though an inexhaustible supply of strength was surging through his entire body.

A force seemed to be constantly breaking through the previously blocked areas within him, leaving his whole body tingling.

It was his qi and blood!

About a minute later, Lin Nan snapped his eyes open.

He looked at the Creation Furnace information panel once more.

[Furnace Master: Lin Nan]
[Age: Twenty]
[Technique: White Snake Stance (First Layer 55/200)]
[Available Yin Energy Points: None]

First layer of the White Snake Stance?!

He had broken through just like that?

Lin Nan moved his intent, and a surge of qi and blood rose from his feet, circulating rapidly through his meridians in a complete cycle.

Not only were the blockages and soreness in his limbs gone, but his strength was at least twice what it had been moments ago.

Beyond that, Lin Nan felt his mind was sharp and his power flowed without obstruction, a refreshing sensation akin to sleeping for half a day after a long night of staying up.

This was the realm of the first stage of qi and blood!

If he were to pair this with martial arts techniques...

Lin Nan sighed with emotion.

He calmed his mind to review the scene that had just transpired.

"It's fortunate I prepared the Blood Talisman in advance, otherwise the grass on my grave would already be growing."

Lin Nan summarized his recent actions and was generally satisfied, though he soon identified a point of confusion.

What exactly was that coldness that had appeared in his body after hunting the Corpse Ghost?

For the rest of the night, no more Corpse Ghosts came knocking, and Lin Nan slept exceptionally soundly.

He slowly adapted to the changes in his body, and the qi and blood he had depleted at the Drunken Spring Pavilion gradually recovered along with his breakthrough in realm.

"It is time to go and register."

The next day, early morning.

Lin Nan set out early, carrying his steel saber. Martial artists who reached the Blood-Qi Realm could officially change their status within the martial school, graduating from a menial apprentice to an inner-sect disciple.

The perks of being an inner-sect disciple were substantial; not only was he exempt from the rotating chores of fetching water and cleaning, but his monthly stipend would also visibly rise to two taels of silver.

Two thousand copper coins was equivalent to more than half a year's income for an ordinary family in the outer city.

Furthermore, his name would be officially registered by the White Snake Martial School, making him a candidate for recruitment by the inner-city yamen.

This time, Lin Nan deliberately chose a narrow, winding path to bypass the alleyway controlled by the Blood Blade Sect, walking a long distance to reach the White Snake Martial School.

Rows of sabers, spears, swords, and halberds were neatly displayed on both sides of the school courtyard. Many young outer-sect apprentices were standing in horse stances on the training ground, practicing their punches to polish their foundations.

"Martial arts, what are martial arts?"

"Martial arts are the unity of waist and horse!"

A middle-aged man with a thick beard, dressed in a white training jacket, stood in the center of the field, offering earnest instruction.

Lin Nan walked straight up to the bearded man, cupped his hands, and said respectfully, "Apprentice Lin Nan, greetings, Instructor Wang."

"Hm? Something the matter?" Instructor Wang, interrupted mid-lesson, looked slightly displeased.

Especially since Lin Nan was an outer-hall apprentice whose reputation was particularly unappealing.

"Isn't that Brother Lin? Why is he here instead of chopping wood and sweeping at the duty hall?"

"I haven't seen him in ages; I thought he'd been kicked out of the school."

"I heard my parents say never to get too close to Brother Lin. My father even said he saw him at the Drunken Spring Pavilion with his own eyes..."

"What?! The Drunken Spring Pavilion? Actually, I've been wanting to go there myself..."

The young apprentices on the field began to chatter among themselves the moment they saw Lin Nan.

"Silence!" Instructor Wang let out a cold snort, and the noisy youths instantly shut their mouths, falling into a deathly hush.

The original owner of this body really was a disaster...

Lin Nan sighed inwardly. He didn't waste words, instead bowing and saluting.

"Reporting to Instructor Wang, this disciple has completed the Blood-Qi breakthrough and has come to update my status registration."

Blood-Qi breakthrough?!

A flicker of surprise flashed through Instructor Wang's eyes.

The best time for a martial artist to undergo a Blood-Qi breakthrough was before the age of fifteen. Lin Nan was already twenty; he had long missed the prime window for it. Moreover, this man was known for his fondness for wine and women—how could he have possibly succeeded?

"Continue your training. You, come with me."

After instructing the apprentices, Instructor Wang led Lin Nan out of the training ground.

Once they left, the previously silent apprentices exchanged glances, their eyes filled with a complex mix of envy, doubt, and shock.

"Blood-Qi breakthrough? Lin Nan? That's not what my parents told me..."

"Could it be that his previous behavior was all just a facade?"

Instructor Wang brought Lin Nan to a secluded courtyard deep within the school, where an old man with white hair and beard was lying on a rocking chair, leisurely sipping freshly squeezed fruit juice.

In front of him, a cyan stone stood under a tree, inscribed with the three characters: "Strength-Testing Stone."

"What is it?" The old man didn't even lift his eyelids.

"Elder Yu, it's the child Lin Yuanguang adopted, the one named Lin Nan. He..."

Before Instructor Wang could finish, Elder Yu suddenly raised his hand and slammed it onto the armrest of his rocking chair.

"You mean that good-for-nothing Lin Yuanguang adopted?!"

Elder Yu roared, his temper flaring up instantly.

"Where is he! Is he rotting away at the Drunken Spring Pavilion again? Drag him here! I'm going to discipline this useless brat in Lin Yuanguang's stead!"

"Elder Yu."

Lin Nan's mouth twitched. He knew this man was one of the few close friends Lin Yuanguang had in his lifetime. Unfortunately, after Lin Yuanguang passed away years ago, and given the original owner's lack of ambition, they had gradually grown estranged.

"This disciple has already achieved the Blood-Qi breakthrough and has come to apply for inner-sect registration."

"Blood-Qi breakthrough? You?"

Elder Yu opened his eyes slightly, only then noticing the fair-skinned young man standing before him—the very same adopted son of Lin Yuanguang.

He looked at him with deep suspicion.

"Show me."

"Yes!"

Lin Nan took a deep breath, cast aside all distracting thoughts, and walked to the Strength-Testing Stone.

The Strength-Testing Stone allowed one to strike it with force, testing the flow of Blood-Qi to determine a disciple's cultivation level.

Hoo!

Suddenly, wisps of white vapor surged out from every pore on his body.

A surge of warm energy rose from his dantian, racing upward along his meridians and pouring entirely into his right arm, where it instantly condensed upon his fist.

Bang!

Lin Nan lashed out with a sudden punch, striking the center of the Strength-Testing Stone with precision. The patterns on the stone's surface lit up instantly, climbing steadily until they finally settled at the first-stage blood-energy mark.

It really was the first stage of blood energy?!

Elder Yu felt a jolt of surprise. He remained silent for a moment, but eventually shook his head to himself, feeling only a sense of regret.

This kid actually had some talent, but it was a pity he was a bit too old.

Age was critical for advancing as a martial artist; for most people, blood energy began to decline after the age of thirty. If one advanced too late, they would likely remain stuck at the blood-energy realm forever.

"Take your token."

Elder Yu raised his hand to produce a brand-new iron plaque, tossing it over casually.

Lin Nan took it as it came. The iron felt cold to the touch, engraved with a white snake pattern and the four characters for "Inner Disciple."