Don't Make Me Laugh

The dark-faced Daoist priest was uneasy, and hesitated as he took a step, when suddenly he felt the ground tremble slightly.

"My life is over!"

He froze, then realized he was still alive.

Instead, a series of synchronized sounds of people falling to the ground came from behind them.

It turned out that the hundred or so guards who had gathered earlier had all been knocked unconscious by Chu Tianshu's force from underground.

Like wheat fields swaying in the wind, they all collapsed in a flash, from front to back.

The Zhao family's wealth was not a matter of just two or three years; their guards included some skilled fighters recruited from the martial arts world.

There were also talented individuals selected from among Zhao's relatives and generations of servants, provided with renowned teachers and medicinal herbs, who specialized in powerful and domineering internal cultivation techniques, cultivating unwavering loyalty.

The purpose was to ensure that, when necessary, these guards protecting the Zhao family father and son were quick enough and physically strong enough to be relied upon.

The force Chu Tianshu emitted from the ground was clearly powerful and vigorous.

Using force against force, even if it results in a complete victory, can easily trigger an explosive reaction.

It's like striking porcelain with immense force. Although the force far surpasses the porcelain, the porcelain will inevitably shatter with a loud crack.

But the hundred or so guards collapsed without even being able to utter a cry.

As the saying goes, an expert sees the details.

Having witnessed this move, Yang Chengwu completely abandoned any thought of escaping.

"So be it. It seems I'm finally getting my just desserts for betraying the leader back then!"

Chu Tianshu had no idea how many thoughts were running through the dark-faced Daoist's mind. Seeing that he had actually come to his side, he reached out and grabbed the pulse point on the Daoist's left wrist.

Just as I expected!

Both of these people have different constitutions than ordinary people; their very bones and blood naturally possess an affinity for the vital energy of the outside world.

For someone who practices internal energy cultivation normally, there are two core elements involved in circulating internal energy.

First, the brain; by focusing the mind and guiding the breath, internal energy can circulate.

Secondly, the dantian is where internal energy converges. It is a place where energy is released according to its own capacity, and the energy interacts with itself, gradually nourishing, consolidating, and expanding.

Therefore, if a master of internal energy falls into a coma, as long as the dantian is still circulating, the internal energy can continue to circulate on its own. However, if the master is both unconscious and the dantian is sealed, the internal energy will no longer be generated.

Chu Tianshu had already sealed the connection points between these two core meridians and the rest of their meridians.

Within their meridians, internal energy is slowly generated through the circulation of marrow and blood.

"Yu Danxia mentioned before that many famous masters in the world seem to have had extraordinary encounters that improved their physique and internal strength, allowing them to progress by leaps and bounds."

Chu Tianshu pondered to himself, "The so-called extraordinary encounters, aside from some rare species of Ganoderma lucidum, Polygonum multiflorum, and ginseng that have grown for thousands of years without becoming woody..."

"The most common one is something called Marrow Jade..."

Since ancient times, in traditional medicine, the fossilized remains of many ancient creatures have been called dragon bones or dragon teeth, and are considered to be highly nourishing medicines.

In recent centuries, however, some people have obtained Marrow Jade from fossilized remains. Its color is not fixed, but it is often crystal clear and warm, like warm jade.

Those who cultivate internal energy have a certain chance of obtaining the bloodline of these ancient beasts if they ingest and refine the marrow and blood.

It is also because of the existence of these martial arts masters who have obtained the bloodline of ancient beasts.

Only then did the world realize that the original owners of those fossilized remains were not the legendary "dragons," but various ancient mythical beasts.

Long ago, obtaining Marrow Jade was purely a matter of luck.

At that time, such precious stones not only looked no different from ordinary jade, but were also stubborn and difficult to digest; even if someone swallowed them, it would be very difficult to use them for their own purposes.

As people's understanding of such treasures deepens, they accumulate a wealth of experience and knowledge.

During the Song, Liao, Jin, and Mongol Yuan dynasties, the imperial courts all established special offices to search for and study such treasures.

Often, once ancient animal fossils are discovered in a particular area, they can follow the clues, dig extensively, survey the land and sky, and search for Marrow Jade.

After this "bone-finding" technique was passed down, more or less people in the martial arts world mastered this skill, and the number of masters in the world increased.

However, Marrow Jade is, after all, an ancient beast essence that has survived the changes of mountains and rivers and been buried under the earth for thousands of years, and its quantity is very limited.

The easy-to-dig sites have all been found, and newly unearthed sites are becoming increasingly rare.

The Qingcheng Sect is one of those unlucky ones; in the last two or three hundred years, only one disciple has obtained the Marrow Jade.

Although this person, relying on the bloodline of an ancient beast, can unleash the full power of the Qingcheng Sect's secret manuals, he lacks sufficient knowledge and expertise to compile his own experiences into a book and help the sect innovate its techniques.

Therefore, once this person died from qi deviation, the Qingcheng Sect quickly declined again.

"I previously thought that obtaining the bloodline of an ancient beast and becoming exceptionally powerful meant that one's physical body was modified, making it extremely formidable."

"Or perhaps, like the spirits and monsters of my hometown, they possess some kind of innate talent or supernatural ability that they themselves cannot understand."

But now it seems...

Chu Tianshu's eyes darted around as he glanced at the two prisoners in front of him.

The bloodlines within the two of them clearly have different attribute tendencies, suggesting they originated from different ancient beasts.

But what it demonstrates is an increase in the degree of vitality and affinity.

Considering the anecdotes about the Yu Danxia mentioned, almost all the masters in the world were skilled in cultivating internal energy.

Presumably, the others who obtained the bloodline of ancient beasts also went further and further down the path of getting closer to primordial energy.

This is actually a good thing, as innate supernatural abilities are too difficult to study.

This deepens the connection with the primordial energy of heaven and earth, making it easier to verify any insights or inspirations gained during internal energy cultivation.

"However, since it's bloodline, it should be hereditary, right?"

Chu Tianshu looked into the distance, towards Zhao Yuma had already fainted from the pain.

This young master Zhao's internal energy is mixed and no different from that of an ordinary person. Even if he has inherited some of the bloodline, he most likely has not yet awakened it.

Oh!

Chu Tianshu understood.

It is said that once someone has refined a piece of Marrow Jade, it is very difficult for them to refine other Marrow Jade; forcing them to be used would only be a waste.

However, if one is born with the bloodline of a certain ancient beast, and then refines the Marrow Jade, it is possible to devour it with one's own bloodline, thus gaining the strengths of both.

Qin An had clearly made all the arrangements for his son.

First, he used ninety percent of his own power to infuse Zhao Yuma with his inherited bloodline, and then he went to refine the Marrow Jade of the Ningdu Sect.

Such a talent, capable of combining the strengths of both, is not unique in the world, but it would most likely place one among the top.

The Meteor Gods and Devils and Demon might very well choose him.

Even if Zhao Yuma wasn't chosen this time, he could still quickly grow up thanks to his father's nine-tenths power and his two talents.

"That took a lot of effort."

Chu Tianshu clicked his tongue twice, raised his left hand a few inches, and slapped it down.

Qin An's head slammed shut, his eyes snapped open, and dark blood gushed from his mouth and nose; he died instantly.

"Miss Yu, drag this man out. And deal with Zhao Yuma as well."

Chu Tianshu laughed, "The bond between father and son is deep. Remember, when you're disposing of the bodies, throw the Zhao father and son together, and throw Qin An somewhere else."

Yu Danxia quickly responded.

Yang Chengwu couldn't bear it and said, "Qin An has been mean and ungrateful all his life, but it's rare that he's been so devoted to his son; that's a rare act of kindness in the world..."

"Hahaha!"

Chu Tianshu released his pulse point and clapped his hands, laughing out loud.

"Good, what a beautiful act of kindness! It is precisely because of this kindness that I acted this way!!"

If Chu Tianshu were a ruthless person, he would have easily killed these people without uttering a single word.

He felt compassion, and seeing these wicked and hypocritical people, he felt compelled to exact double the punishment in order to find peace of mind.

The black-faced Daoist priest, a cowardly prisoner and a scoundrel of the Zhao family, actually tried to persuade them of the truth.

That really made Chu Tianshu laugh.

Having just witnessed Chu Tianshu's arrangement, Yang Chengwu had discerned some of his true nature. Knowing he was doomed, he instead became concerned about saving face, his face alternating between pale and flushed as he protested in a low voice.

"Senior, you possess formidable strength, and naturally you roam Zongheng. But do you know that there are many people in this world who are humble and fragile? Although they commit evil deeds, it is only because they are forced by the world, not because of their own hearts. How can you deny their true feelings?"

Yu Danxia had already walked into the courtyard when she heard this, and she couldn't help but turn her head, her thin cheeks flushed and her almond eyes filled with anger.

"You call yourselves humble and fragile? Then what am I? What about my relatives who lost everything just because they opened a small tavern?!"

Yang Chengwu was speechless.

He felt so weak and miserable in front of Chu Tianshu that he momentarily forgot there was such a woman present.

"Ha! Am I that strong? Does being in a weak position mean I have no choice but to submit to evil?"

Chu Tianshu stood up, too lazy to say more, and said, "There are many people in the world who deserve sympathy. If I were to give them to you, it would be a disgrace to my compassion."

"Let's go, go and fetch the Marrow Jade from the Ningdu Sect so I can take a look."

(End of this chapter)