As for that broadsword, it shattered inch by inch!
In Jiang Yi's hand, it turned into a heap of powder.
[Killed one Bone-Tempering Realm martial artist, plundered 20 years of lifespan.] [Life Master: Jiang Yi] [Cultivation: Tendon-refining realm] [Physique: None] [Cultivation Scripture: Nameless Scripture (Incomplete), Rock Steadiness Fist (Mastery) Eagle Claw Technique (Mastery), Cauldron Origin Art (Mastery), Mountain Splitting Palm (Mastery), Tiger Roar Fist (Mastery), Soaring Cloud Leap (Mastery), Wrathful Blade Art (Mastery)] [Lifespan: 148]
"More than a hundred and forty years?"
In other words, if he did not use it to deduce martial arts, he could live for another hundred and forty-odd years.
Of course, that was assuming he did not meet some tragic and fierce disaster!
But born into this martial world where the strong reigned supreme, how could things ever be so easy!
In the eyes of the strong, there was no place for the weak.
They were like ants!
It was not that you could do whatever you wanted. You had to watch those stronger than you!
They could do whatever they wanted to you!
"What a fascinating yet deeply contemptible world..."
Jiang Yi grumbled.
He stepped forward and pulled an ancient booklet glowing faintly with golden light from the sleeve of the shattered corpse.
It was far too conspicuous!
It was impossible not to notice it!
[Detected Mysterious-rank, lower grade martial art Tiger Demon Body Tempering Art. Would you like to record it?]
[Required lifespan: 5 years.]
"Mysterious-rank, lower grade?!!"
Jiang Yi was somewhat astonished!
According to the classification of martial arts!
Mysterious-rank martial arts could allow a martial artist to break through to the second Great Realm of the martial path.
Above the Body Tempering Realm!
That Realm was known as the Blood Qi Realm!
It was said that martial artists at this Realm possessed the strength of dragons and elephants, with inexhaustible power and surging blood qi.
They could release it outward to kill enemies or transform it into protective astral force.
In other words!
This was a martial art that could reach the Blood Qi Realm!
He had not expected such an unexpected delight—and it was quite a huge delight at that!
"Hundred Beasts Sect?"
Jiang Yi recalled the conversation from before. Could this martial art belong to that sect?
Had it leaked out due to some reason?
Even without considering its contents, those twenty-odd pages of golden leaves alone were already quite valuable.
Jiang Yi had been born in a small village and had never even heard of this sect.
Still, he could roughly guess!
A sect capable of possessing such a martial art could not possibly be ordinary. It was likely powerful and influential.
For no reason at all!
He felt as though he were holding a scalding hot yam.
When a man died, his bird pointed to the sky; if he lived, he would live ten thousand years!
He blew on it and ate it while it was hot!
Scalding or not, it smelled delicious!
He would deal with it when they came looking for him!
By then, he would likely have reached an entirely different level.
"Record it!"
Jiang Yi silently commanded in his heart.
The complete contents of this martial art, including the breakdown of its moves and the circulation of its mental method, flooded into his mind all at once.
Allowing him to swiftly grasp this martial art!
As for what came next, it was time to begin simulated cultivation.
Jiang Yi searched through the stronghold!
After killing people and slaughtering the stronghold, after going to all that trouble, he could not return empty-handed, could he?
Very soon!
Inside several "luxurious" rooms near the center of the stronghold, he found two Yellow-rank, lower grade martial arts—
Black Snake Step, Earth Coiling Art.
As well as seventy or eighty taels of scattered silver!
Jiang Yi found a bundle and packed the martial arts and silver together.
This bandit den!
Seemed rather poor!
Or perhaps the Great Stronghold Master had nearly exhausted the stronghold's wealth in his pursuit of a breakthrough.
Jiang Yi fetched a torch and casually tossed it into a wooden house.
Boom!!!
Kill and burn, and a golden belt around the waist!
It was time to complete the final step!
Watching the fire gradually spread and the scorching flames begin to devour everything...
Jiang Yi turned around and strode away!
Crimson firelight surged into the sky, staining a vast stretch of heaven and earth red.
It swallowed the entire Black Wind Stronghold below.
The sounds of collapse, the sounds of explosions...
Just like that incomparably tragic and fierce scene in his memories!
However!
At this moment, he no longer felt grief and indignation or hatred, only silence and calm!
"Your vengeance, I..."
"Have avenged it!"
A pent-up breath slowly escaped his mouth!
He felt strangely hollow inside!
After remaining silent for a moment!
Jiang Yi raised his head toward the heavens. The drizzling rain had completely stopped, and faint glimmers of light appeared in the hazy sky...
A mass of white fog rose from the mountains and forests, spreading in every direction!
"Is dawn coming?"
His expression turned resolute, and his gaze became steady.
Afterward!
He went to that small mine once more!
With one Eagle Claw strike, he crushed the throat bones of the five bandits guarding the place.
He plundered a total of ten years of lifespan.
Amid the confused, terrified gazes of the mine slaves, Jiang Yi calmly said,
"You... are free!"
After saying that, he did not look back again and walked down the mountain!
His figure!
Gradually merged into the boundless white fog, vanishing into thin air!
[Life Master: Jiang Yi] [Cultivation: Tendon-refining realm] [Physique: None] [Cultivation Scripture: Nameless Scripture (Incomplete), Rock Steadiness Fist (Mastery)... Tiger Demon Body Tempering Art, Black Snake Step, Earth Coiling Art] [Lifespan: 152]
Jiang Yi also spent one year of lifespan to record those other two martial arts.
No matter how small, mosquito flesh was still flesh!
"Consume ten years of lifespan to simulate martial art—Black Snake Step."
[Year 1: You begin cultivating Black Snake Step.] [Year 2: Black Snake Step reaches minor mastery.] [Year 5: Your footwork reaches major mastery, attaining a level of flawless perfection.] [Year 6: You comprehend the intent of snake movement.] [Year 7: Black Snake Step reaches complete mastery. Your strength increases by another five hundred jin.] [Year 8: Inspiration strikes, and you attempt to integrate Black Snake Step into Soaring Cloud Leap.] [Year 10: You succeed.] [That same year, you rename this martial art born from the fusion of the two as Cloud Snake Step.]
The moment the simulation ended!
The fused movement martial art, Cloud Snake Step, flooded into Jiang Yi's mind!
At the same time!
The strength within his body began to increase slowly!
From seven thousand five hundred jin, it rose all the way to eight thousand jin before finally stopping.
Jiang Yi had originally been using the footwork of Soaring Cloud Leap to hurry back.
As he continuously absorbed and assimilated this fused martial art!
His footwork began to gain an eerie quality.
Now left, now right!
Now forward, now back!
Its aura carried both the lightness of a soaring swan and the hidden intent of a snake lying in wait for an opportunity to strike.
Making it difficult for others to discern the path of his next step.
Although this fused martial art had not broken through to Yellow-rank, middle grade!
Among lower-grade martial arts, it could still be considered above average.
If he could cultivate it to major mastery and break into the Muscle-refining realm!
That would undoubtedly be a certainty set in stone!
Once he stepped into that Realm, his strength would absolutely exceed one thousand jin.
He would be stronger than ordinary Muscle-refining realm martial artists!
Before you continue