But reaching the Bone-Tempering Realm-how could that possibly be easy?
Perhaps his only chance to learn the fist techniques for bone tempering was to do as Qin Xuanlong had said: catch the eye of an elder of the Wu Household and become his disciple.
For now, I should just concentrate on cultivating the Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Art! Little Leopard thought to himself after returning to his quarters.
Although the Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Art and the Flameheart Method did not belong to the same lineage of internal cultivation, both were fire-based arts. The spiritual energy they required him to absorb and convert was essentially the same; the Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Art simply demanded purer spiritual energy and a more delicate conversion process.
None of this posed a problem for Little Leopard, especially the fine control and conversion of internal energy. After half a year, he knew the cultivation process like the palm of his hand, even without activating his miraculous eyes. The differences between the Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Art and the Flameheart Method presented no obstacle. In fact, he could even uncover subtle mysteries within those differences that deepened his understanding of internal energy.
Converting his flameheart inner qi into the internal energy of the Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Art was not complicated either. In terms of power, although the Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Art he had learned was only foundational, its internal energy was stronger than that produced by his Flameheart Method. This did not mean the Profound Fire-Worshipping Cult's Flameheart Method was inferior. On the contrary, as a complete internal cultivation system, the Flameheart Art was even stronger than the Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Art. But Little Leopard had obtained only the introductory cultivation notes of an ordinary disciple of the Fire-Worshipping Cult-the most elementary of foundations, extremely shallow. The Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Art he had learned was also foundational, but it was thoroughly complete. Besides, looking ahead, he had a much better chance of learning the entire Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Art than the entire Flameheart Art. Thus, Little Leopard chose the Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Art without hesitation.
He sat quietly in his room, breathing in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth around him. He drew its strands and wisps of fire-aspected spiritual energy into his body, then circulated the Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Art to convert them into his own internal power.
Although the spiritual energy in the room was not particularly abundant, it was more than enough for Little Leopard's current capacity to absorb it.
As Little Leopard's internal energy circulated, a thin red glow began to spread around him, enveloping his entire body. His eyes slowly opened, and he drew a sharp breath. The red glow wrapped around him became two crimson ribbons and streamed into his nostrils. A faint gleam flickered in his eyes, and everything returned to normal.
"This Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Art really is good. If I ever get the chance to learn the whole thing, that would be wonderful!" Feeling the fire-aspected internal power filling his body, Little Leopard gave a satisfied smile.
A First-Rank Martial Artist-he was a First-Rank Martial Artist now. Although the First Rank was merely the lowest level among the three realms and nine ranks, he was already quite content.
In the Skin-Training Realm, the hallmark of a First-Rank Martial Artist was precisely what he could now do: merge the internal energy throughout his body into his skin and flesh and release it outside his body. Wang Tianlei was also a First-Rank Martial Artist. He could channel the internal energy of the Great Vajra Skill into his blade, giving the long saber in his hand additional killing power. These were all characteristics of a First-Rank Martial Artist.
However, although First-Rank Martial Artists could send internal power through their skin and flesh and out of their bodies, they could not control it. Their internal energy dispersed rather than gathered, possessing form alone. It could strengthen their attacks, but only to a limited degree. Only upon becoming a Second-Rank Martial Artist could they release and recall the internal energy passing through their flesh at will, combining it with their physical strength and wielding it as naturally as an arm moved its fingers, unleashing tremendous power. At the Third-Rank Martial Artist stage, the skin and flesh of the entire body had been refined to their limit. With every movement, internal energy flowed naturally, gathered beneath the skin, and circulated freely. At this realm, internal energy no longer served merely to kill enemies and nourish flesh and blood; it also gently nourished the bones. To truly reach the realm of bone tempering, however, one still needed the appropriate fist techniques and baths of medicinal elixirs.
I need not only the complete Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Art, but also the Bone Tempering fist techniques. Otherwise,
even if I get the entire Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Art, I won't be able to master it fully! Little Leopard climbed down from his bed and pushed open the window, gazing at the stars filling the sky and the dark red full moon.
I wonder what planet I've ended up on. Is Earth among those stars in the sky? After a moment's thought, he shook his head mockingly. Seeing Earth is impossible. I'd be lucky just to see the sun!
Gazing at the stars and thinking of Earth, he gradually conjured images of his previous life there. For a time, he became utterly lost in thoughts tinged with sorrow.
"Little Leopard, what are you thinking about?"
As he stared, absorbed in his thoughts, a voice suddenly came from behind him and gave him a fright.
"Master Qin, what brings you here?" Little Leopard was somewhat surprised to see Qin Xuanlong enter. What's this fellow doing in my room so late at night? He didn't even knock. Isn't that awfully rude?
"I knocked for quite a while just now. When you didn't answer, I thought something might have happened to you!"
"Oh, I was thinking about something and got a little distracted!" Little Leopard hastily replied, inwardly embarrassed. It was not the other man who had been rude; he himself had simply been too absorbed in his thoughts.
"Thinking about martial arts?" Qin Xuanlong asked with a smile as he sat down.
Naturally, Little Leopard would not tell him what he had actually been thinking about. He merely chuckled, tacitly agreeing.
"I know you work hard, especially at martial arts. You're not only extraordinarily gifted, but also very diligent. There's no limit to what you might achieve!"
"You flatter me, Master Qin!" Little Leopard answered cautiously.
"Don't be nervous. I came today to tell you not to go out for the next few days. Stay in your room and focus on your cultivation!"
"Why?" Little Leopard asked, puzzled. "Has something happened?"
"It doesn't really concern us. I'm just afraid a fire at the city gate might bring disaster to the fish in the moat!" Qin Xuanlong smiled wryly. "I just received word that Blood Wuy a, the Demon Sect's Seventh Demon General, has entered Cloud Province after being pursued for ten thousand miles by Lu Shaoyou, the White-Robed Sword Saint. Judging by his route, Blood Wuy a intends to seek refuge in the Vast Cang Mountains. Green Ram Market is very close to those mountains. If he passes through here, we'll be in serious trouble!"
"The Demon Sect's Seventh Demon General, Blood Wuy a?" Little Leopard was startled. That name rang in his ears like thunder.
After stepping through the doors of the Wu Ironworks, Little Leopard could just barely count himself as a member of the martial world, albeit one at its very bottom.
People at the bottom of the martial world like them rarely had any chance to meet true experts, but they knew every scrap of information, every legend and anecdote about those experts. It was much like ordinary people and celebrities in Little Leopard's previous life. They might never have met them even once, yet knew their backgrounds better than the celebrities themselves. The principle was the same. Although not everything they knew was necessarily true, that did not diminish their familiarity with these legendary martial experts.
Blood Wuy a was the foremost expert serving under the sect master of the Blood River Sect, one of the Demon Sect's sects, and its Seventh Demon General. Forty-eight years old and an Eighth-Rank expert, he possessed a host of secret demonic arts and had already cultivated the Blood River Sect's bloodflame divine force. With his secret techniques and unusual arts, he ranked among the strongest even within the Eighth Rank. He was merciless in battle; a single disagreement could prompt him to slaughter an entire household. His savage reputation was so fearsome that his name could silence children crying at night in Green Province.
Lu Shaoyou, the White-Robed Sword Saint, was the foremost expert of Mingyi Academy's younger generation and one of the world's leading Eighth-Rank experts. He was also the most celebrated martial genius of the past fifty years. Only thirty-two, he possessed miraculous swordsmanship that had already reached the realm of perfection. He was widely regarded as the man most likely to reach the Ninth Rank before turning fifty. Reportedly, his strength had already reached the pinnacle of the Eighth Rank. When Blood Wuy a met Lu Shaoyou, two experts standing at that pinnacle, a clash of dragon and tiger was inevitable. After hearing Qin Xuanlong's detailed account, Little Leopard understood the whole affair. This time, Blood Wuy a had simply been unlucky. While passing through the western commandery of Yang Province, he had gone mad for some unknown reason and slaughtered an entire household. Just as he was savoring the massacre, of all people, he ran into Lu Shaoyou, who had come to visit a friend there. Such brutality naturally enraged Lu Shaoyou. His sword left its sheath, and after a fierce battle, Blood Wuy a was defeated and fled. Lu Shaoyou pursued him relentlessly for ten thousand miles, all the way from Yang Province in the heart of Great Jin to remote Cloud Province, hounding Blood Wuy a until he had no fight left in him.
Although Lu Shaoyou was an Eighth-Rank expert, he was not invincible. Blood Wuy a was highly skilled at moving unseen and concealing his tracks, and he seethed with resentment. Who knew how many people he had killed along the way? Countless unlucky souls who encountered the fleeing Blood Wuy a were torn to pieces as he vented his pent-up fury. Had Lu Shaoyou not been pursuing him so closely, the entire road from Yang Province to Cloud Province might already have run with rivers of blood.
The news had now reached Green Ram Market, and Blood Wuy a's escape route seemed to lead toward the Vast Cang Mountains in its direction. That was why Qin Xuanlong had come to tell Little Leopard to behave himself and stay inside the Wu Ironworks, lest some mishap befall him.
In fact, it was not only the Wu Ironworks. After receiving the news, Green Ram Market's Prefectural Yamen and the Black Dragon Society had also erupted into a flurry of squawking chickens and leaping dogs, terrified of encountering that god of slaughter, Blood Wuy a.
After hearing Qin Xuanlong's words, Little Leopard inwardly cursed Lu Shaoyou. Of all the people you could provoke, why did you have to go and stir up that god of slaughter?
Yes, that was right. He was cursing Lu Shaoyou.
Had Lu Shaoyou not meddled, Blood Wuy a would never have fled toward Cloud Province, nor left so many bloody massacres along the way.
Sure, meddle if you want, but if you're so capable, kill Blood Wuy a on the spot! Fine, you couldn't kill him-but then don't chase him! And you actually went and chased him!
You can't accomplish anything, but you're more than capable of ruining things!
With someone like Blood Wuy a, either leave him alone or cut out the roots when you cut down the weeds. What the hell do you call this?
Little Leopard grumbled inwardly. Drawing one's blade to help when confronted with injustice was righteous courage. Taking a shit and failing to wipe one's own ass clean was being a fucking idiot.
"All right, get some rest. Remember what I said: don't leave our Wu Ironworks for the next few days. Blood Wuy a may be arrogant and bloodthirsty, but he won't come looking for trouble with the Wu Household without cause. As long as you stay inside the compound, you'll be fine!"
"But my family lives right beside the Vast Cang Mountains. Will they be all right?" Little Leopard asked anxiously.
"They should be fine. Lu Shaoyou is pressing Blood Wuy a hard, and all he wants is to hide in the Wilds. Your village is right at the edge of the Vast Cang Mountains. He certainly won't stop there!" Qin Xuanlong said with conviction.
"That's good, that's good!" Little Leopard patted his chest. "I wonder whether Lu Shaoyou can catch Blood Wuy a!"
"Lu Shaoyou may be formidable, but he's no immortal. The Vast Cang Mountains stretch for tens of thousands of miles, with deep forests and remote peaks. If Blood Wuy a finds an opportunity to slip into the old-growth forest, even if Lu Shaoyou has powers that reach the heavens, he won't be able to do anything to him!"
In other words, all those poor bastards Blood Wuy a killed along the way died for nothing! Little Leopard thought. He dared not let any of that slip from his lips, however, and merely wore a worried expression.
"Don't worry. Worrying won't help!" Seeing that Little Leopard still looked troubled, Qin Xuanlong comforted him.
"I understand. Thank you, Master Qin!"
Qin Xuanlong nodded, gave a soft sigh, then rose and left.
Before you continue