Qi and Blood Like a Tiger, Heaven-grade Stealth
On the campus of Jinling Martial University.
The afterglow of the setting sun spilled onto the wide, tree-lined avenue, where a group of first- and second-year students excitedly surrounded a tall, Bufan young man.
"Senior Lei Ming! I heard you killed another second-tier Ferocious Beast on your recent mission outside the city? That's amazing!"
"Senior, you are the pride of us common martial artists! Two years ago you were only at the Blood Nourishing Sixth Layer, and now you're almost breaking through to the Blood Transformation Realm, right?"
"Senior Lei, could you give me your autograph?"
Surrounded by the crowd in the center, Lei Ming wore a gentle yet confident smile, responding to the enthusiasm of his younger schoolmates.
"You flatter me, everyone. I was just lucky to have experienced a few more life-or-death battles." He waved his hand, his tone modest, but his eyes revealed an undisguised arrogance.
"As for cultivation level... indeed, if nothing unexpected happens, I should be able to attempt to break through to the Blood Transformation Realm next month."
"Wow--!"
A gasp of amazement immediately rose from the crowd.
Blood Transformation Realm!
That's the pinnacle of the Qi and Blood Realm, the goal most people strive for their entire lives! What's more, Lei Ming is a student council member with a bright future ahead of him.
Looking at the adoring eyes around him, Lei Ming's vanity was greatly satisfied.
[Awesome! This feeling of being high above others, of being looked up to, is so exhilarating!]
He appears calm and collected on the surface, but deep down he harbors a secret known only to himself.
[If it weren't for that chance encounter outside the city two years ago...]
Those resources... they're truly amazing.
[If I could 'coincidentally' encounter that kind of resource again, I could not only break through to the Blood Transformation Realm, but I might even reach the Blood Transformation Middle Stage before graduation!]
Just as Lei Ming was immersed in his beautiful fantasies about the future, a slightly thin figure carrying a long, narrow package hurriedly walked past from the periphery of the crowd.
Dongfang Yueming merely glanced at Lei Ming before turning her gaze away, her steps continuing without pause.
Click.
After locking the dormitory door, Dongfang Yueming placed the newly purchased E-grade Tang sword on the table, then sat cross-legged on the bed.
"Call..."
He took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and placed the two unorthodox Yellow Grade Blood Nourishing Method jade slips on his forehead.
[Ding! You have learned the cultivation technique "Spirit Snake Blood Nourishing Method" (Yellow Grade) (0/1, Not yet Entry)!]
[Ding! Learned the skill "Giant Bear Blood Nourishing Method" (Yellow Grade) (0/1, Not Yet Entry)!]
"System, Point Allocation! All Perfection!"
[Ding! 27 points consumed, "Spirit Snake Blood Nourishing Method" Perfection!]
[Ding! 27 points consumed, "Giant Bear Blood Nourishing Method" Perfection!]
"Merge!"
[Ding! The "Spirit Snake Blood Nourishing Method" and the "Giant Bear Blood Nourishing Method" have been successfully merged! You have obtained the Profound Grade cultivation technique - "Dragon-Elephant Mountain-Uprooting Art" (Perfection)!]
"Continue the fusion!"
Dongfang Yueming did not stop, and once again clashed this newly born Profound Grade cultivation technique with the "Yin-Yang Blood Nourishing True Art" that he had previously fused with!
"Buzz--!"
Within his Sea of Consciousness, the two streams of qi, one yin and one yang, instantly intertwined with the violent power of the dragon and elephant!
[Ding! Fusion successful! Obtained Earth Grade cultivation technique - "Great Wilderness Yin-Yang Dragon-Elephant Scripture" (Perfection)!]
"BOOM--!!!"
With the formation of the Earth Grade cultivation technique, Dongfang Yueming's internal energy and blood underwent a tremendous change!
What was originally just a Qi and Blood Beacon Smoke rising like a plume of fire suddenly began to compress and solidify violently, ultimately...
"Roar--!"
A faint yet soul-stirring roar of a tiger emanated from his body!
He suddenly opened his eyes, and a crimson Body Penetration emanated from his body, faintly coalescing into the phantom of a ferocious, blood-red tiger descending the mountain behind him!
[Upper-Tier Perfection: Qi and Blood Like a Tiger!]
Dongfang Yueming clenched his fists, feeling the terrifying power within his body that seemed about to burst him apart.
"Right now, with just my physical body and vital energy, I could kill that Xiahou Zhang with a single punch!"
He suppressed the urge to roar to the sky and slowly calmed his surging blood and qi.
"Next comes the main event."
He took out the six Yellow Grade blood technique jade slips that concealed vital energy.
"All Point Allocation Perfection!"
[Ding! 114 points consumed, all six Yellow Grade Blood Skills Perfection!]
"Merge!"
The six Yellow Grade gates transformed into three Profound Grade gates.
Adding to the Profound Grade "Anying Stealth Record" that he had already fused with, that makes a total of four!
"Remelt!"
The four Profound Grade gates transformed into two Earth Grade.
"One last time... melt it for me!!!"
With a low shout, Dongfang Yueming forcibly combined his insights from the two Earth Grade Blood Techniques!
"Buzz--!"
The lights in the entire dormitory seemed to dim for a moment.
[Ding! Fusion successful! Obtained Heaven Grade Blood Skill - "Xukong Formless Concealment" (Perfection)!]
[Ding! You have comprehended the Heaven Grade Mystery – [The Great Sound Is Inaudible, the Great Form Is Shapeless]!]
[Ultimate Skill Effect (Passive/Active): As long as the host does not actively release killing intent, even standing in front of the Qi Gathering Realm expert, the opponent will not be able to sense the host's presence, as if the host were air. When actively activated, the host can completely blend into the surrounding environment and is immune to non-targeted mental probing!]
"Call..."
Dongfang Yueming exhaled a long breath.
As the Heaven Grade profound technique took effect, the ferocious blood-red tiger phantom behind him instantly vanished. He sat on the bed like a lifeless stone, without breath, without heartbeat, and even the infrared thermal imager could not detect his body temperature.
Perfect stealth!
Everything is ready.
Dongfang Yueming opened his eyes, his gaze falling on the dark Tang sword on the table.
He reached out and grasped the hilt of the knife, feeling its cold, hard texture, a confident smile curving his lips.
"A trillion points as a base, Earth Grade martial arts for self-defense, Heaven Grade profound techniques for stealth..."
"Tomorrow's outdoor training camp..."
"I'd like to see what kind of 'surprise' he can bring me."
Thirty kilometers outside of Jinling City.
This is an abandoned industrial area on the edge of the "wilderness circle". The towering chimneys are covered with rust, the dilapidated factory buildings are tightly Entanglement wildly growing mutant vines, and a faint smell of decay permeates the air.
A tall figure was moving quickly through the ruins.
Xiahou Zhang.
His expression was solemn, and he frequently glanced around warily. After confirming that there were no mutated Ferocious Beast or pursuers, he arrived at the entrance of a half-collapsed underground air-raid shelter.
"Call..."
He exhaled a long breath and carefully took out a metal box wrapped tightly in a waterproof cloth from his inner pocket.
Without using any tools, he used his hands, which were infused with vital energy, to dig a deep pit in the hard concrete ground, buried the iron box in it, and then carefully covered it with soil and disguised it.
After doing all this, he leaned against the moss-covered wall, gazing in the direction of Jinling City, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
There was resolve, there was pain, and there was also a hint of... relief.
[Inside the tin box are some of my savings...]
[And there's also a Profound Grade Blood Refining Method that I secretly copied...]
[Sakura, this is all I can do for you.]
He recalled the horrifying scene he had witnessed two weeks earlier, a scene that could drive anyone mad.
[Take these things and let's go...]
[Go as far away as possible! Never return to the Xiahou Family!]
[Even being an ordinary civilian martial artist is better than... becoming that kind of thing.]
Xiahou Zhang took a deep breath and stood up straight.
There was no way out for me.
"Bring it on."
His gaze was icy as he turned and strode towards Jinling City.
"Let me see... exactly what you want to turn me into!"
Late at night, at the Xiahou Family manor.
An underground chamber.
Xiahou Zhang stood in the center of the secret room, suppressing the churning in his stomach, and looked at his father, Xiahou Chen, sitting on the bone chair.
"Father, I'm back." He lowered his head, his voice hoarse.
"Um."
Xiahou Chen slowly opened his narrow eyes. In the dim light, something seemed to be wriggling in his pupils.
"It seems you're ready to 'awaken'."
"Yes." Xiahou Zhang took a deep breath and said calmly, "I have adjusted myself to my best condition and am ready to accept the family's 'baptism' and break through to the Blood Refining Realm at any time."
"Very good, my good son."
Xiahou Chen smiled with satisfaction.
That smile sent chills down Xiahou Zhang's spine!
Because Xiahou Chen's lips were stretched into an exaggerated arc that no human could possibly achieve!
Immediately afterwards.
"Vomit--!"
Accompanied by a chilling sound of gagging, Xiahou Chen suddenly opened his mouth wide!
A fist-sized, scarlet ball of flesh, covered in blood vessels and mucus, was forcefully vomited out from deep within his throat!
"What... what is this?!"
Xiahou Zhang's eyes were filled with undisguised terror!
The ball of flesh seemed to have a life of its own, emitting strange "chirping" sounds, and countless thin, yet incredibly tough, blood-red tentacles instantly split off from its surface!
It pounced directly on Xiahou Zhang's face!
"Ah--!!!"
A piercing scream instantly echoed throughout the secret chamber!
Those blood-red tentacles, like nimble drills, frantically burrowed into the depths of Xiahou Zhang's mind, following his eyes, nose, mouth, and even ears!
"No... get away! Get away!"
Xiahou Zhang scratched his face desperately, but the lump of flesh had completely melted, turning into a pool of scarlet viscous fluid that slid into his skull through his seven orifices!
Hehehehe...
Xiahou Chen sat on the bone chair, watching his son writhing in pain on the ground, and let out a chilling laugh.
"Stop struggling, Zhang'er. This is a gift from the ' Holy Seed '."
"Accept it, integrate it..."
The screams gradually subsided.
A moment later.
Xiahou Zhang, who was lying on the ground, stopped convulsing.
He slowly stood up.
That once resolute face now bore a sinister and rampant smile.
He twisted his neck, making a cracking sound, as if he were getting used to a new body.
"Power... it's such an intoxicating feeling."
He stuck out his scarlet tongue, licked his lips, and turned to look at Xiahou Chen.
"Father, I'm going into seclusion."
"Once I emerge from seclusion and advance to the Blood Refining Realm..."
Its voice turned sharp and hoarse, "Prepare... the freshest blood for me."
"As you wish." Xiahou Chen nodded in satisfaction.
Leaving the secret room, walk along the corridor leading to the secluded retreat.
The Xiahou Family members they encountered along the way, upon seeing Xiahou Zhang, not only showed no fear, but instead revealed knowing yet eerie smiles, and even bowed slightly in greeting.
Xiahou Zhang returned the smile.
As it walked, it suddenly stopped, a hint of doubt flashing in its scarlet eyes.
"Um?"
"What... did the previous owner of this body... hide outside the city?"
It tried to rummage through the remaining memories in Xiahou Zhang's mind.
But that memory was shrouded in an extremely strong obsession, making it blurry and indistinct; I could only vaguely sense an iron box and a ruin.
"Is it a hidden cultivation technique? Or resources?"
It tilted its head, then let out a disdainful sneer.
"Forget it, it's just a laughable struggle from inferior beings."
Everything in this world belongs to us.