Blood Qi Realm Fifth Layer, Wealthy Li Family Member

Simulation ended!

The Blood Essence within Jiang Yi began to surge rapidly, pushing his cultivation level to the peak of the Blood Qi Realm First Layer.

One step away from the Blood Qi Realm Second Layer!

It was merely a matter of the final push!

With this, the fifth layer of the Tiger Demon Body Tempering Art was now fully perfected.

Unless he were to push further and deduce it, increasing the martial art's upper limit!

Otherwise, it could not be cultivated again.

Jiang Yi had no intention of doing so. With his current meager knowledge of martial arts.

It was unknown when he would be able to deduce it further.

It was almost as difficult as ascending to heaven!

In comparison!

The Nine Cauldrons Returning Origin Art was undoubtedly more promising.

If he were to deduce anything, it should be this one!

"Consume 100 years of Lifespan, simulate martial art -- Nine Cauldrons Returning Origin Art."

[Year 1, you begin to attempt a breakthrough.]

[Year 7, you break through to the Blood Qi Realm Second Layer, and your martial art is cultivated to the second layer accordingly.]

[Year 30, you break through to the Blood Qi Realm Third Layer, your Blood Essence is vast, and your Qi and blood surge like rain, permeating your body and transforming into protective energy.]

[Year 90, you break through to the Blood Qi Realm Fourth Layer.]

[Year 100, you have stabilized your current realm, and your Blood Essence has improved.]

"Continue, consume 100 years of Lifespan, simulate martial art -- Nine Cauldrons Returning Origin Art."

[Year 120, mid Blood Qi Realm Fourth Layer.]

[Year 150, late Blood Qi Realm Fourth Layer.]

[Year 190, peak Blood Qi Realm Fourth Layer.]

[Year 198, you break through to the early Blood Qi Realm Fifth Layer, and your martial art reaches the fifth layer.]

[Year 200, you stabilize your current cultivation.]

As the simulation ended!

A "whoosh" sound echoed from within Jiang Yi's body.

His Blood Essence was like mercury, surging like a flood!

Following that!

More muffled sounds rang out, as if breaking through layer after layer of invisible barriers!

The floodgates opened, and the torrent was released!

Pushing his cultivation level to climb steadily, peak First Layer, early Second Layer, mid Third Layer...

It only stopped completely at the early Blood Qi Realm Fifth Layer!

Above his head!

Waves of Blood Essence smoke rolled down!

Enveloping his entire body, for a moment, it shone with a brilliant blue light, Blood Essence swirling around him like mist and gauze!

Revealing a profound and magnificent aura.

At the fifth layer, his Blood Essence had already transformed into protective energy, capable of safeguarding his body internally and unleashing attacks externally!

In terms of strength, he was comparable to the sixth or seventh layer of ordinary Blood Qi Realm martial artists!

Even the eighth layer might not be impossible!

Nine Cauldrons Returning Origin!

He had now become the Five Cauldrons, with the power of five cauldrons, capable of exerting eighty thousand jin of force.

He was like a humanoid ferocious beast!

Soon!!!

His aura subsided, his surging Blood Essence lay dormant, and his current cultivation stabilized.

[Life Master: Jiang Yi]
[Cultivation: Blood Qi Realm Fifth Layer]
[Physique: None]
[Cultivation Arts: Nameless Scripture (Incomplete), Eagle Claw Technique (Perfected), Cauldron Origin Mountain Splitting Art (Perfected), Tiger Roar Fist (Perfected), Cloud Snake Step (Perfected), Wrathful Blade Art (Perfected), Tiger Demon Body Tempering Art (Perfected), Nine Cauldrons Returning Origin Art (Fifth Layer - Perfected)]

[Lifespan: 50]

It was obvious that as cultivation level progressed to the later stages, it became increasingly difficult to improve!

It took decades, or even centuries, at a time!

From the Fourth Layer to the Fifth Layer!

Already required the consumption of a hundred years of lifespan!

If he wanted to reach the next layer, the Sixth Layer, it would probably take at least two hundred years!

After all, this was simulated cultivation, and it didn't provide any natural treasures, spiritual medicines, or profound elixirs.

If there were!

Why would so much time be needed!

To put it bluntly!

His cultivation level was all achieved through his own hard work, bit by bit, without any shortcuts.

With only fifty years of lifespan remaining, it was clearly not enough!

Jiang Yi didn't plan to continue simulating further cultivation.

He would save it up and wait until he had enough!

The next day, the group set off again!

They traveled on the main road, but the area they were in was relatively remote, mostly desolate and uninhabited.

Therefore, there were many forests on both sides, with hidden jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards!

In some mountains!

There were also bandits gathered, occupying the mountains and acting as outlaws!

However, there was no one foolish enough to dare to cause trouble.

The Huang Family's banner flew high in front!

It was enough to deter petty criminals!

A few more days passed!

On the fourth day, they didn't find a village!

But having traveled extensively and being accustomed to roughing it, they didn't demand anything more.

They simply set up a simple camp beside the main road.

They gathered some dry firewood and lit several bonfires!

Some of the escorts, armed with spears and bows, entered the forest to search for wild game.

If they were lucky, they could have a good meal.

At night!

Everyone gathered around the bonfire!

Jiang Yi surveyed the group. Most of the more than ten escorts were at the Martial Artist realm.

The weakest had already touched the threshold of the Skin Refining Realm!

The strongest, naturally, was the head escort, Huang Qi, who had a cultivation level of the Blood Qi Realm Second Layer.

"Tonight, we'll have to make do!

We'll rest for one night and then continue our journey!

If all goes well tomorrow, we should reach Rock Mountain City before dark!"

Huang Qi pulled a deer leg from the fire rack and handed it to Jiang Yi!

"Thank you, Uncle Qi!"

Jiang Yi didn't stand on ceremony and took a bite.

For the past few days, they had been eating dry rations and jerky, which had become somewhat tiresome.

To have a bite of cooked food was something he wouldn't pass up!

What did it matter if they were Martial Artists?

They weren't cultivators who could abstain from eating!

Martial artists, in essence, were still human and still needed to eat, drink, and excrete.

The night passed without incident!

Apart from the occasional roars and cries of fierce beasts and birds from deep within the forest, it was quite peaceful.

On the morning of the fifth day, just as dawn was breaking!

A series of dense hoofbeats echoed, the rumbling sound shaking the earth and startling the resting members of the caravan.

Instinctively!

Everyone quickly got up, gripped the sabers and swords in their hands, their bodies tensed, and their faces solemn!

Staring intently in the direction of the sound!

The neighing grew louder and closer!

Jiang Yi also woke up, standing side-by-side with Huang Qi, at the forefront.

"Hoofbeats?"

"I wonder which faction they belong to?"

"Or perhaps... are they bandits coming down from that mountain, preparing to rob us?"

The caravan braced themselves.

Not long after!

Smoke and dust billowed, kicking up dirt and stones!

Sweeping in rapidly from afar, figures could be vaguely seen within.

Gradually appearing within everyone's sight!

"It's the Li Family!"

Huang Qi's eyes narrowed, and he said in a deep voice!

The Li Family?

One of the four most powerful factions in Rock Mountain City?

Jiang Yi looked up!

He saw that the rapidly approaching figures numbered seven in total, all mounted on tall horses.

And!

They weren't ordinary horses!

They were all Horned Horses!

On the horses' foreheads, a single horn grew, about three inches long, with faint patterns.

The figures on the horses!

Were almost all dressed in fine silks and satins, with swords hanging from their waists.

Their attire was clearly expensive.

At a glance, they were clearly the children of wealthy families!

From which powerful faction did they come!

As for why "almost"?

There was naturally an exception!