Lin Yuan stared at the screen of light before him, his breathing quickening.
This self-created Heaven-Questioning Saber Technique had no such thing as proficiency. Every strike would be in its most perfect state.
With absolute dominance, it would crush every foe!
Although he had only deduced the first move, "Opening Move Shakes Kunlun," this was a genuine Earth Rank martial art.
Its power went without saying.
What surprised Lin Yuan even more was that this saber technique had retained the Life-Severing Saber's life-risking characteristics.
It had even developed them to a higher level.
Besides ordinary attacks, it could sacrifice everything of his own in exchange for a multiplied burst of power.
This was far fiercer than the Life-Severing Saber's method of simply burning blood essence.
Lin Yuan clenched his fists, his heart burning with excitement.
He felt that he was now fully qualified to go up against a First-Grade Qi and Blood martial artist.
As for that sacrificial method, it was more than enough to turn heaven and earth around.
A life-risking trump card like this might go unused, but he absolutely could not afford to be without one.
Lin Yuan suppressed the heat in his heart and looked at the screen of light.
[Martial arts: Five Qi Converging to the Origin Art (perfection 499/500)]
He was just one final proficiency point short.
Lin Yuan exhaled a breath of stale air and crossed his legs again.
He might as well carry the momentum through and step straight into the First-Grade Qi and Blood Realm!
He wanted to see exactly what marvels lay hidden in the internal tempering method the Wu Lineage had passed down for hundreds of years.
Lin Yuan closed his eyes and cultivated, his Qi circulating.
At a certain moment, all five major organs trembled at once.
Hum!
The barrier broke in response.
A strand of pure Qi and blood power appeared out of nowhere within his body, swiftly coursing through him.
[Realm: Early Qi and Blood Realm]
Lin Yuan opened his eyes.
He casually threw a punch, and the air cracked explosively.
His muscles brimmed with explosive strength, several times greater than before and more.
Lin Yuan stood where he was, his brows gradually knitting.
"That's it?"
Weren't these simply the changes that should come with breaking through to the First-Grade Qi and Blood Realm?
Where were the marvels he had anticipated?
The thought had barely arisen when Lin Yuan's expression changed dramatically.
Thump!
Thump, thump, thump!
His chest resounded dully like a pounding drum.
Before he could react, his internal organs spasmed violently, and unbearable agony swept through his entire body!
Lin Yuan let out a muffled grunt, his face turning ashen as he collapsed onto the bed.
He clenched his back teeth tightly, large beads of sweat forming on his forehead. His vision darkened in waves, and he gradually lost consciousness.
An unknown amount of time passed.
A few rays of morning light filtered through the window.
Lin Yuan's fingers stirred, and he slowly opened his eyes.
He braced himself against the bed and sat up, shaking his somewhat groggy head before suddenly coming to his senses.
He hurriedly examined the inside of his body.
The next moment.
Lin Yuan shuddered and leaped straight off the bed, his whole body freezing stiff.
In his perception, five illusory organs had appeared beside his original five major organs!
He now had ten organs!
Lin Yuan swallowed, suppressed his shock, and closed his eyes to examine them carefully.
A moment later, Lin Yuan's eyes snapped open, unrestrained ecstasy spreading across his face.
"Good, good, good! You really didn't disappoint me!"
The five major organs corresponded to the five elements, and each of those five additional illusory organs possessed a heaven-defying effect.
The heart belonged to fire and governed bursts of strength.
The liver belonged to wood and governed vitality and recovery.
The spleen belonged to earth and governed endurance and stamina.
The lungs belonged to metal and governed defense and bodily protection.
The kidneys belonged to water and governed the foundation and origin.
In other words, every one of Lin Yuan's attributes had now doubled across the board!
But that was not even the most outrageous part.
Lin Yuan discovered that even if these five illusory organs were destroyed, he could cultivate them anew with the Five Qi Converging to the Origin Art!
Unlimited regeneration!
Lin Yuan's breathing grew a little rapid.
What did this mean?
Wasn't the Heaven-Questioning Saber precisely about sacrificing oneself in exchange for multiplied bursts of power?
These two arts together were simply a match made in heaven.
When he faced enemies in the future, what others considered a life-risking secret art would be a routine move for him!
[Host: Lin Yuan] [Lifespan: 18/88] [Realm: Early Qi and Blood Realm] [Martial arts: Five Qi Converging to the Origin Art (perfection)] [Martial arts: Heaven-Questioning Saber (Earth Rank) (incomplete)] [Moves: First move (Opening Move Shakes Kunlun)]
Lin Yuan flexed his fists, itching unbearably to find someone to try them on.
He pushed open the door and walked into the courtyard.
In the middle of the courtyard, Master Wu was slowly practicing a set of health-preserving boxing exercises.
At the stone table, Lin Jiu sat alone in a daze.
He stared at his right hand, clenched it, then let it fall open feebly, his face filled with dejection he could not conceal.
Lin Yuan's steps paused slightly as he took in Lin Jiu's reaction.
He greeted the two of them, then left the residence.
He had only just reached the main street when he noticed something was wrong.
The pedestrians looked hurried, all rushing like mad in the same direction.
Lin Yuan took out five copper coins and reached out to stop a strapping young man hurrying past.
"Brother, what happened up ahead?"
The man glanced down at the copper coins and slapped Lin Yuan's hand away.
"Get lost! Don't block the way!"
The man continued charging ahead in a frantic rush.
Lin Yuan withdrew his hand and raised his brows.
He turned to look around, then stopped a kindly-looking little old man.
The old man did not lose his temper. He held his lower back and panted twice.
"Young man, what are you still doing here?"
"The roving bandits are at the city gates now. Grain has already risen to a hundred copper coins a dou. If you don't go now, there won't be any left!"
Without waiting for Lin Yuan to reply, the old man scurried away.
Lin Yuan stood where he was, his expression darkening.
The roving bandits had reached the city gates this quickly?
This was only the first day of the siege. The city would inevitably grow even more chaotic in the days ahead.
As for those still outside the city, their fate went without saying.
Lin Yuan wasted no more time and quickened his steps toward the eastern part of the city.
Wang's Tea House was packed, filled with a noisy clamor as everyone discussed the bandits' siege.
"Alas, the roving bandits have surrounded all of Ping'an County so tightly that not even water could get through. We couldn't escape even with wings."
"It's all my fault. I couldn't bear to leave this little bit of property behind."
"What are you afraid of? The county office has already posted a notice. Reinforcements from Qingshan Commandery will be here any day."
"You believe that nonsense?"
"It really isn't nonsense. What he said is true."
In a corner, a middle-aged patron wearing a silk robe suddenly set down his teacup.
Hearing this, the people at the surrounding tables all crowded over at once.
"Brother, from the sound of it, do you have some inside information?"
The middle-aged man leisurely blew at the foam floating on his tea and took a sip.
"To tell you the truth, friends of mine in the commandery city sent word that General Who Awes the Distant Reaches had already set out with thirty thousand troops two days ago."
As his words fell, the tea house went quiet for an instant before erupting in cheers.
"They set out two days ago? Going by the distance, doesn't that mean they'll arrive tomorrow or the day after?"
The patrons' taut nerves relaxed, and the atmosphere gradually grew lively as they began chatting and laughing again.
Standing at the entrance, Lin Yuan also breathed a sigh of relief.
Since the commandery city had sent reinforcements, the residence he had just bought would not go down the drain.
Lin Yuan crossed the noisy main hall and walked to the counter.
A stooped old man stood behind it.
Lin Yuan turned his wrist, revealing the token engraved with the character "Imperial" in his palm, and lowered his voice.
"I'm looking for her."
The old man glanced at the token, his expression shifting slightly, and immediately led Lin Yuan into the back hall.
Inside the room.
The old man spoke urgently.
"Young master, when did you last see our commandant?"
Lin Yuan raised his brows, hearing that something was wrong.
"What do you mean by that, shopkeeper? Commandant Shen isn't in the city?"
The old man sighed heavily, stamping his feet in agitation.
"To tell you the truth, young master, our commandant has been missing for two whole days!"
Lin Yuan's heart lurched.
Calculating the timing.
Wouldn't that have been the night before last, after Shen Qing parted ways with him?
Seeing his unusual expression, the old man hurried half a step closer.
"Young master, do you know where our commandant went?"
Lin Yuan recalled their conversation that night.
After pondering for a moment, he spoke uncertainly.
"She might have gone to Black Wind Mountain."
"Black Wind Mountain?"
The old man's expression changed, and he hurriedly cupped his fists to Lin Yuan.
"Thank you for telling me, young master!"
Before his words had finished, he rushed out in a blazing hurry.
Lin Yuan's brows drew tighter and tighter.
With Shen Qing absent, he could only pin his hopes for Qi and Blood Pills on the Treasure Pavilion auction in two days.
But just what was going on with Shen Qing?
He was now in the First-Grade Qi and Blood Realm, and he recalled the oppressive presence Shen Qing had exuded that night.
He was certain that Shen Qing's strength far exceeded First Rank!
Logically, a mere Black Wind Mountain should not have been able to hold her.
Could something have delayed her?
Lin Yuan shook his head and simply stopped dwelling on it, striding out of the rear courtyard.
As soon as he returned to the front hall, he heard the patrons' discussion.
"Brother, you mentioned that General Who Awes the Distant Reaches earlier. What's his name, and what military achievements does he have?"
"How would I know? But I do have some impression of his name. What was it again..."
He slapped his forehead and spoke in sudden realization.
"Right, Zhao Wuya!"
Lin Yuan's steps abruptly froze.