Testing and Improvement

He did not know much about the power of higher martial arts realms, especially the strength beyond the Sixth Blood Transformation and the Marrow Tempering Realm. Still, based on his estimate of the increase in strength from the First to the Fourth Blood Transformation, the burst of qi and blood power at the Sixth Blood Transformation would be at most double that of the Third. As for the Ninth Blood Transformation, it was difficult to gauge, but it was certainly far stronger than Lin Zheyu's current strength. It was said that if a martial artist could cultivate to the Ninth Blood Transformation—the realm of Qi and Blood Like a Dragon—their strength would undergo a tremendous metamorphosis, and their skeletal frame and latent talent would take an enormous leap forward. Lin Zheyu's goal was to cultivate until he reached the realm of Qi and Blood Like a Dragon before breaking through to the Marrow Tempering Realm. *Thump, thump.* *Thump, thump, thump.* A knocking sound echoed outside the courtyard. Lin Zheyu halted his training and opened the main gate. "Uncle, Mother sent me to call you over for dinner," Han Tianshun said with a grin. His face was flushed red, and fine beads of sweat dotted his forehead. He had likely jogged all the way here. "All right. You head back first; I'll be right over." Lin Zheyu patted Han Tianshun's head with a chuckle. "Okay, I'll go back first then. See you, Uncle!" Han Tianshun nodded obediently, waved, and turned to run back toward his family's courtyard. Their courtyard was not far from Lin Zheyu's. As a light breeze drifted past, an enticing aroma tickled his nose. *I wonder how things are back in Songyi City. I hope Senior Brother is safe and sound,* Lin Zheyu murmured to himself as he gazed at the rosy clouds along the horizon. Time slipped quietly by. Having just arrived in Bafang City, the Feihong Gang possessed few businesses and had no need for so many hands. Though the Feihong Gang had enjoyed great prominence in Songyi City, life grew rather difficult once they reached Bafang City, where everything had to begin anew. Not only did they face pressure and suppression from the local factions of Bafang City, but they also had to compete against the numerous other forces that had fled other cities seeking refuge, just like themselves. Establishing a firm foothold here was no easy task. Many members of the Feihong Gang were disbanded upon arriving in Bafang City. Others chose to leave of their own accord to seek a living elsewhere. To survive, the Feihong Gang downsized considerably, retaining only experts at or above the Bone Tempering Realm. Ordinary members could easily be recruited again if lost, but trusted experts at or above the Bone Tempering Realm were not so easily found. Lin Zheyu remained registered under the Feihong Gang's banner, though he spent his days with nothing to do. Every day, he stayed holed up in his courtyard practicing martial arts and studying the Poison Canon, occasionally venturing out for a stroll to take in the local customs and culture of Bafang City. Several days passed, yet he never caught sight of Xu Qinyi, Ren Qingfeng, or the others. They seemed occupied with important matters. *** Inside Hexiang Tower. "As told last time, after Temüjin united the desert, he rewarded his meritorious subjects. With a wave of his hand, he appointed Guo Jing as a commander of a thousand men, betrothed his beloved daughter Huazheng to him, and conferred upon him the title of Golden Blade Consort..." On the stage, the storyteller narrated *The Legend of the Condor Heroes* with stirring passion. The stories Lin Zheyu had penned back then were immensely popular in Bafang City. In every corner of the city, people could be heard discussing the characters from those tales. "Lord Lin, this story of yours is truly wonderful. One never tires of hearing it," Jia Yanyong remarked with feeling. Five days had passed, and they had settled in completely in Bafang City. However, because the Feihong Gang had few industries in Bafang City and had yet to make any headway, Jia Yanyong and the others were just like Lin Zheyu, with nothing much to occupy their time. Whenever they were free, they would come to the teahouse, order a pot of tea and a few plates of snacks, and spend the afternoon listening to pass the hours. As for the pleasure houses, they did not dare visit them often. Having just relocated from Songyi City to Bafang City, their lives were far from stable, and they needed to save silver for unforeseen circumstances. "I heard that many young ladies from wealthy families in Bafang City are quite fond of your *Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio*." "If they found out you were the author, with your handsome looks and formidable strength, Lord Lin, you would surely capture their hearts." Xie Jiang laughed heartily. The stories Lin Zheyu had penned had all spread throughout Bafang City. Among them, *Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio* was especially adored by wealthy young masters, noble ladies, and scholars alike. None of that mattered to Lin Zheyu anymore, however. There was no such thing as copyright in the Great Wei. Once a story was told, it belonged to everyone. "Even if I told them, someone would have to believe it," Lin Zheyu replied with a smile. He had been in Bafang City for several days now. Whenever he had free time, he wandered the teahouses in the city to see if he might run into Master Liang Song. Back in Songyi City, Liang Song had spent most of his time in teahouses, listening to stories and sipping tea to pass the hours. With any luck, Lin Zheyu might find him in one of them. Unfortunately, Old Master Chen did not know much about Liang Song either, only that he had enemies in Bafang City and was likely hiding in the city biding his time for revenge. Lin Zheyu could only search like one looking for a needle in the sea, relying purely on luck. If he could find him, that would be ideal. Lin Zheyu could subtly pry out the identity of Master Liang's enemies and help him take his revenge to repay his debt of gratitude for teaching him martial arts. If he could not find him, there was nothing he could do. He would do all that was humanly possible and leave the rest to fate. *** Night fell. The inner city of Bafang City was divided into eight main districts. Each district had its own character. Among them, Xingluan District was a renowned pleasure hub known as the city that never sleeps, standing as one of the most bustling districts in all of Bafang City. As dusk deepened into night, lanterns were lit across the entire Xingluan District, illuminating every street and corner. Even after dark, people still bustled shoulder to shoulder. Traffic flowed ceaselessly along the thoroughfares, not quieting down in the slightest with night's arrival; if anything, the district grew even livelier. On either side of the streets, establishments gleamed with dazzling lights. Gambling dens, taverns, dance pavilions, treasure houses, and brothels could be seen everywhere. Dressed in grey martial attire, Lin Zheyu altered his physique with bulging muscles and transformed his facial features into the slightly square-jawed, imposing middle-aged man he had assumed before. Passing through Xingluan District, he arrived at a gambling den on its outer edge. Donning a mask, Lin Zheyu stepped into the den, exchanged secret signals with a servant inside, and was led through a series of corridors, twisting left and turning right, until they emerged into another marketplace. This market was brightly illuminated and bustling with foot traffic. Paying three taels of silver, Lin Zheyu entered the market and began to wander around. This was one of the black markets he had inquired about. The black markets of Bafang City lay hidden in the most prosperous districts of the inner city. They had everything one could imagine, with a dizzying array of goods on display. There were even slaves and concubines for sale. Lin Zheyu strolled through the stalls, searching primarily for cultivation manuals, illicit medicinal herbs for crafting poisons, and recipes for nourishing decoctions. Over the past few days, he had visited more than a dozen martial arts schools. The tuition fees for learning martial arts there were extraordinarily high, far greater than buying a manual outright. Furthermore, the schools did not sell their manuals separately. Studying inside also required mastering one layer before being taught the next; none would teach an entire manual at once. Lin Zheyu had therefore given up on that path and come to the black market to see if he could unearth a manual to his liking. "Honored customer, what kind of manual are you looking to purchase?" The stallholder selling manuals asked with a welcoming smile. The stallholder was very strong, having reached the Second Blood Transformation. His aura was thoroughly veiled, faintly emanating ripples of qi and blood, yet masking his true strength from ordinary eyes. Although the man possessed a method to conceal his aura, Lin Zheyu's perceptual abilities had heightened considerably after advancing his Turtle Breathing Art to third-layer perfection. His understanding and control over his own body had also sharpened. By observing the man's essence, qi, spirit, and breath, Lin Zheyu easily determined his strength: the Second Blood Transformation. A manual sold by a martial artist of the Second Blood Transformation would surely be extraordinary. "Do you only have third-rate manuals? Do you have any second-rate manuals that cultivate into the Qi and Blood Realm?" Lin Zheyu asked. He had flipped through the manual descriptions on display, all of which were third-rate manuals that capped out at the Viscera Tempering Peak. Given the seller's strength, he obviously could not be selling only these. An expert of the Second Blood Transformation would look down on the meager earnings from third-rate arts. The stallholder glanced around and lowered his voice. "Second-rate arts cannot be sold openly. If you want one, I can sell it to you privately, but the price will be a bit steeper." Just like in Songyi City, the black markets of Bafang City forbade the open sale of second-rate manuals capable of cultivating into the Qi and Blood Realm. Evidently, however, this Second Blood Transformation stallholder did not care much about the rule. He could sense the First Blood Transformation aura that Lin Zheyu was intentionally releasing. "What manuals do you have?" Lin Zheyu asked. The stallholder retrieved a slip of paper from his robe and handed it over. Six cultivation manuals were recorded on it, each accompanied by a brief summary. *Azure Cloud Art*, *Tianzhao Fist*, *Tyrant Whale Secret Method*... Their names sounded grand, and their summaries were written extravagantly, but upon closer examination, the best among them could only cultivate to the Fourth Blood Transformation. Among them was also an ultimate technique similar to the Mountain-Shattering Palm, capable of unleashing roughly three times one's strength. Since it was on par with the Mountain-Shattering Palm, there was no need to purchase it. Lin Zheyu knitted his brows, feeling somewhat disappointed. "Is this all? Are there any arts that cultivate to the Sixth Blood Transformation, or even Qi and Blood Like a Dragon?" The stallholder froze, looking at Lin Zheyu with an odd expression. This man had an astonishingly huge appetite, actually intending to cultivate to the Sixth Blood Transformation—or even Qi and Blood Like a Dragon—before breaking through to the Marrow Tempering Realm. Only by breaking through to the Marrow Tempering Realm before the age of forty could a martial artist hope to continue advancing their strength. Past forty, even if one broke through using potent medicines, any further progress became impossible; it would only extend one's lifespan. To break through to the Marrow Tempering Realm, one needed to reach the Fourth Blood Transformation, and advancing from the Fourth Blood Transformation to the Marrow Tempering Realm took at least six or seven years. In other words, one had to break through to the Fourth Blood Transformation before turning thirty-three to have any hope of reaching the Marrow Tempering Realm before forty. The difficulty was monstrous, which was precisely why Marrow Tempering Realm martial artists were so few and far between. Cultivating to the Sixth Blood Transformation, let alone the realm of Qi and Blood Like a Dragon, was on an entirely different level of absurdity. Every layer of advancement in the Qi and Blood Realm was grueling, and each subsequent transformation grew exponentially harder. Transforming nine times to achieve Qi and Blood Like a Dragon was as difficult as ascending the heavens, not to mention doing so before thirty-three and then breaking through to the Marrow Tempering Realm. Only prodigies from major factions endowed with extraordinary innate talent could ever pull that off. "None," the stallholder said, shaking his head. "Arts that can cultivate to the Sixth Blood Transformation are the finest of second-rate manuals. They are never leaked outside. "If you wish to learn one, customer, your only choice is to join a major faction. "Besides, without the backing of a great power and an abundance of great medicines and pills to aid your training, reaching the Sixth Blood Transformation on your own is exceedingly difficult. "The Fifth Blood Transformation is already the absolute limit for most ordinary, independent martial artists." "Never mind, then." Lin Zheyu handed the slip of paper back and turned to leave. Watching his departing figure, the stallholder gave an easy chuckle, settled back into his seat, and waited for the next customer. Lin Zheyu continued to roam the black market. There were quite a few Qi and Blood Realm martial artists selling manuals, many of whom had likely fled from other cities. Lin Zheyu inquired at every stall, but failed to find a single manual that satisfied him. *Must I really travel to the Central Plains or join a major faction?* Lin Zheyu thought, feeling somewhat helpless. Even if he joined a major faction, acquiring high-grade manuals would be no simple matter. High-level arts all required substantial contribution points to purchase. Lin Zheyu wandered the black market until the early hours of the morning before leaving. Although he had not found an ideal manual, he had still bought a good number of valuable items. He had acquired all the ingredients needed for the lethal poisons and knockout drugs recorded in the Poison Canon that could threaten a Marrow Tempering Realm martial artist. The medicinal ingredients needed to refine these powders and drugs were exceedingly costly, so Lin Zheyu could not bring himself to buy much. He purchased enough for a single batch of each to concoct and keep on hand as a precaution, spending a total of 380 silver taels. In addition to the ingredients, he had also picked up a medicinal formula. The formula was called Dustless Blood-Coagulating Powder. It was an ancient recipe that had once enjoyed widespread popularity, but over time, it had fallen out of favor due to its severe side effects. According to the seller, the medicinal potency of this powder was even fiercer than Scarlet Fire Blood-Nourishing Powder, but its side effects were terrifying—so harsh that even Marrow Tempering Realm martial artists dared not take it lightly. Most buyers only purchased it to raise ferocious beasts, not for human consumption. *The potency of this formula should be far stronger than Scarlet Fire Blood-Nourishing Powder. I just don't know how much silver it will cost to brew, or whether it's cost-effective,* Lin Zheyu mused, studying the recipe for the Dustless Blood-Coagulating Powder. Because its side effects were too extreme and its practical uses were limited to rearing ferocious beasts, its price was not high. He had bought the recipe for a mere sixty silver taels. *I don't have much silver left. I need to find a way to earn money,* Lin Zheyu thought to himself. After his expenditures over the past few days, only 1,700 taels of silver remained, alongside four portions of ingredients for the Scarlet Fire Blood-Nourishing Powder. It seemed like a substantial amount, but if he wanted to purchase high-grade manuals, it was nowhere near enough.