Blood Refining Realm

In this chaotic age, only by wielding strength could one control one's own fate.

Gu Jingang was clearly no ordinary martial artist.

Though they lived in the same village, Gu Sheng had never dealt with Gu Jingang. At most, he had glimpsed him from afar during village celebrations on holidays.

It was said that Gu Jingang had once come from an ordinary tenant-farming family. But he had been born with immense strength, seized the chance to learn martial arts, and soared to success. In the end, he had become an instructor in Gu Family Village and married the legitimate daughter of the main family. His status was extremely high, making him the dream that many tenant farmers aspired to.

Before awakening the memories of his past life, Gu Sheng had been the same. He had hoped to possess the powerful talent of inborn divine strength, but unfortunately, he could only dream about it in the dead of night.

Perhaps seeing the longing in Gu Sheng's eyes, Li Lian spoke up.

"Ah Sheng, you're only fourteen, yet you could kill a vicious wolf all by yourself. If you have the chance to learn martial arts, you definitely won't be inferior to Instructor Gu."

Those were her true feelings.

Having just witnessed Gu Sheng's bravery and decisiveness in killing the wolf, she felt that his potential far exceeded what she had imagined. If he truly possessed talent for martial arts, he would surely achieve something in the future.

Gu Sheng merely smiled. Then his expression shifted as he asked,

"I remember Brother Erniu practiced martial arts before. Is he close with Instructor Gu?"

"I heard him mention Instructor Gu before. He's a very strict man. Unfortunately, your Brother Erniu wasn't cut out for it. He trained for a while but saw no hope of getting started, so he gave up. In the future, I must let Wan'er learn martial arts!"

Li Lian's words were resolute. What had happened today only strengthened her determination.

In the past, Gu Erniu often said he needed to venture deeper into the mountains and save money so Gu Wan could learn martial arts one day. She had thought there was no need to rush. But after tonight's wolf attack, she truly understood just how important strength was!

"I vaguely heard your Brother Erniu muttering that Instructor Gu's martial cultivation is extraordinary. He seems to have reached some Blood Refining Realm or something. Tearing tigers and leopards apart with his bare hands is nothing to him!"

"If Wan'er can reach such a realm in the future, then that would truly be..."

The speaker had meant nothing by it, but the listener took it to heart.

Ripples stirred in Gu Sheng's heart.

"Blood Refining Realm... Martial arts have always been rarely discussed in the village. I once heard Father say that the first step for martial artists was tempering the skin and flesh. I wonder what kind of realm the Blood Refining Realm is."

The two spoke softly when Gu Sheng's eyes suddenly narrowed. He saw the bald, muscular man walking toward this small courtyard.

After killing the wolf pack, Gu Jingang had originally intended to leave.

But as his gaze swept around, he spotted the wolf corpse Gu Sheng had thrown outside the fence, and a flicker of surprise appeared in his eyes.

Wolves had entered the village, and many households had been attacked. Yet very few had managed to kill their attackers.

Far more had died in the wolves' jaws.

The reason was simple.

Courage!

Most villagers spent their entire lives within this small stretch of land. Let alone fighting savage beasts, many had probably never even fought anyone before.

At the sight of a vicious wolf, their legs went weak and they could not even use their strength. Naturally, they were no match for wild wolves.

And even among those who survived, most had only managed it by several family members joining forces to beat the invading wolves to death.

But a wolf corpse like the one before him, split cleanly in two with a single strike, was unheard of.

He was rather surprised.

"There doesn't seem to be a Skin Refining stage martial artist in the outer village?"

Martial artists were the village's elite strength, so their status was naturally extraordinary. Anyone who achieved success in martial arts would be courted by the main family in every possible way.

Gu Jingang glanced over the furnishings in the courtyard and sensed several pairs of eyes watching him.

"The wild wolves have been dealt with. You needn't worry anymore."

Then—

He heard the sound of heavy objects being moved inside the house.

Before long, a somewhat frail-looking youth slowly emerged, followed by a woman holding the hand of a young boy.

The youth and woman respectfully thanked him.

"Thank you, Instructor Gu, for killing the wolves!"

This combination made Gu Jingang pause in surprise, and he could not help frowning.

"Where are the men of your household?"

Li Lian gave a graceful bow and said slowly,

"There are only three of us at home. My husband followed the village's martial artists into the mountains and has not returned yet."

Gu Jingang was taken aback. Pointing at the wolf corpse outside the wall, he asked,

"Then who killed this wild wolf?"

Gu Sheng answered neither humbly nor arrogantly,

"I did."

A sharp glint flashed through Gu Jingang's eyes. He carefully examined Gu Sheng from head to toe. When he saw the youth's disheveled state and the bloodstains on his woodcutter's knife, his surprise deepened.

A frail youth had actually killed a vicious wolf alone?

And so cleanly, at that?

Judging from the fatal wound on the wolf, it had taken at most one strike. Though he had used a clever angle and cut through its waist and abdomen, the strength required was still not to be underestimated.

"You've never practiced martial arts, have you?"

Gu Jingang stared at Gu Sheng, making Li Lian's heart tighten.

Gu Sheng replied,

"I haven't. I merely chopped firewood for several days and built up a bit of strength. Once I turn fifteen, I'll definitely come learn martial arts from Instructor Gu. In the future, I'll become as strong as Instructor Gu and protect the villagers."

Gu Jingang was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"You're an interesting kid. What's your name?"

"Gu Sheng. Sheng as in prosperity."

"Gu Sheng... Good lad, I'll remember you. Work hard, then. Try to let me see you at the training grounds next year."

Gu Jingang left with a hearty laugh.

Yet he thought to himself that if this boy truly managed to save enough tuition in the future, he would not mind giving him a little help.

Gu Sheng watched Gu Jingang's retreating figure, but he was not especially disappointed.

The sort of story where some master took a liking to him and, in a burst of delight, accepted him as a disciple was something he could only fantasize about.

In this chaotic age, taking in a disciple was a matter that demanded extreme caution. Master and disciple were like father and son. If one carelessly took in an ungrateful wolf, it could bring utter ruin!

Wasting one's efforts would be bad enough. If the disciple was black-hearted, even the family fortune might be stripped clean!

No matter how much potential Gu Sheng displayed, what did it have to do with Gu Jingang?

"All villagers, the wolf pack has been completely dealt with. Rest easy now."

Gu Jingang's loud call rang out and echoed through the surroundings. Gu Sheng seemed to hear sighs of relief all around him.

Then—

Faint sobbing began to rise.

At least a dozen lives had been lost in tonight's wolf attack.

Gu Sheng and Li Lian exchanged a glance and both sighed. In chaotic times, human lives were as cheap as grass. Everyone was used to it, and life still had to go on.

The crisis had passed.

But Li Lian and Gu Wan were still frightened, and Gu Sheng also felt it would be best if they could look out for one another. So he simply laid down some bedding at Gu Erniu's house and made do for the night. Once daylight came, things would be fine.

The wolf pack had only just been wiped out, and Gu Sheng's emotions could not settle so quickly. All sorts of chaotic thoughts kept surfacing in his mind.

Before dawn the next day, Gu Sheng informed Li Lian, then carried the wolf corpse that had been chopped into two and returned home.

The wooden door of his house was nearly shattered, making his mouth twitch. Fortunately, the two wolf corpses gave Gu Sheng great comfort. They were all his spoils of war.

"How should I handle these?"

Gu Sheng stared at the two wolf corpses. Their blood had already dried, but the wolf hides, meat, and bones were all valuable.

"The meat can be made into jerky and eaten slowly. The wolf bones can be boiled into soup. I can find a chance to trade the wolf hides for some money and grain at the village market. We're out of rice at home anyway."

Joy appeared in Gu Sheng's eyes.

Last night had been dangerous, but the rewards were substantial.

The two slaughtered wild wolves could greatly increase Gu Sheng's wealth.

Wolf meat did not taste good, but it was far better than wild vegetables. Gu Sheng desperately needed meat to replenish his nutrition, or he would never grow stronger.

Since he still had time now—

Gu Sheng began processing the wolf corpses.

After a round of work, he finally finished separating both wild wolves. Looking at the several large basins piled high with wolf meat, Gu Sheng's heart brimmed with joy. Even the wound on his back felt worthwhile.

Right now, he was simply too poor!

He stewed the wolf bones and ate bran cakes. After happily drinking a bowl of wolf bone soup, Gu Sheng could not help squinting in comfort. His stomach felt pleasantly warm, and he ignored the slight gaminess entirely.

The exhaustion from last night completely faded away.

Only then did he have time to check his Proficiency Panel.