Chapter Thirteen: Mastery of the Blade

Wu Sihai’s death gave Bai Li Feihong an overwhelming sense of crisis.

These past days, he had already forgotten that the world he inhabited was one where demons roamed unchecked. Dongbin City was a major stronghold of the Yuan Dynasty, its defenses formidable, capable of slaying monsters. Yet the Yuan realm was vast, occupying the eastern lands—the most prosperous region between heaven and earth. But at its fringes, nine out of ten homes lay empty. Demons ran rampant, slaughtering all living things, feasting on blood, herding humans as cattle.

“The Blood River Blade Technique is in my hands now. It’s time to begin cultivation.” Even without skill points, Bai Li Feihong had no fear. The Book of Skills offered more than skill points to enhance martial prowess. Diligence was the essential element of any success. With the Book of Skills as his aid, all he needed was to train—the experience gained increased his mastery, and when enough experience was accumulated, he could break through.

Although he had stayed up through the night, Bai Li Feihong felt no fatigue. He took out the jade script containing the Blood River Blade Technique—a legacy gifted by his sixth senior brother, Zhang Qianshan—and began to study it carefully.

The technique was engraved on jade slivers, illustrated and annotated, comprising only four moves. Yet the profound essence of the Blood River Blade Technique, its unique method of channeling blood energy, was explained in the preface: by moving and circulating blood energy, its mysteries were revealed.

“Perhaps this is the crucial key to cultivating nine strands of blood energy with the Blood River Blade Technique,” Bai Li Feihong thought.

Having already trained the Four Seas Fist Technique to its pinnacle, Bai Li Feihong was no longer a novice in martial arts. With the Book of Skills, he had pushed his understanding to the extreme—mastering the movement of blood energy, the flow of internal power, stance training, and the use of fists and feet. He was now a seasoned martial artist, as if he had studied the Four Seas Fist for decades, ingraining it into his bones and soul.

Eighteen jade strips, bound together with golden threads, formed the book. The jade was fine and exquisite—alone, a rare treasure.

Bai Li Feihong spread out the jade script, reading slowly, pausing often to ponder. His mind and spirit were immersed in the martial arts described, catching glimpses of their subtle mysteries.

“Only four moves. If the Blood River Blade Technique were complete, it would surely be a martial Dao-level legacy.”

Martial arts and martial Dao—though separated by a single word—were worlds apart. To distinguish them: martial arts could elevate one to the peak of mortal life, but cultivation of the martial Dao led to extraordinary achievements. No matter how much one trained their blood, it merely strengthened internal power and blood energy, making the body robust. Yet the level of life remained unchanged.

Only by truly cultivating the martial Dao, surpassing nine strands of blood, and undergoing a transformation, could one transcend the mortal body. Ordinary flesh and bone could not withstand the power of the martial Dao; only by forging extraordinary bones and a superhuman body could one bear true strength and stand against demons.

In just a few hundred words and five illustrations, the jade script used the most concise language to describe the marvels of human blood energy, the limits of the body, and the essence of blade technique.

A single sentence of true transmission outweighs a hundred thousand volumes of false teaching.

The ancients did not deceive me.

Bai Li Feihong set the jade script aside, closed his eyes, and imagined himself wielding a great blade, executing each move of the Blood River Blade Technique in his mind.

This was Bai Li Feihong’s habit in learning specialized skills. When he was a programmer, he would mentally simulate code before typing, ensuring confidence in his approach, allowing his fingers to fly across the keys. Again and again, he rehearsed. At the same time, the four strands of blood energy cultivated through the Four Seas Fist began to alter their circulation, guided by the Blood River Blade Technique’s methods.

The four strands of blood energy from the Four Seas Fist were now completely under Bai Li Feihong’s control—a benefit of mastering a martial art to its peak.

Calming his mind, nourishing his spirit, he visualized the blade moves. After countless mental simulations, he consulted the Book of Skills.

Blood River Blade Technique (Incomplete): Initiate (3/200), can assign points, can be deduced and completed.

A simple sentence, yet it captivated Bai Li Feihong.

The technique could be deduced and perfected!

“Unfortunately, I only have one skill point left,” Bai Li Feihong lamented.

Had he known Ji Xiaoqian was incompetent, he would never have used his skill points. Though he had grown stronger, he had not squandered his precious skill points.

He left his room and ate a hearty meal. Sated, he closed his eyes to rest, waiting for nightfall.

When Bai Li Feihong opened his eyes, he cooked rice, packed it, and went to see his sixth senior brother, Zhang Qianshan.

Zhang Qianshan had set up a mourning hall, keeping vigil, waiting for the other senior brothers to return.

At this time, the Four Seas Martial Hall was bustling. The main gate was guarded by burly men.

“Who goes there?”

“A martial hall apprentice, delivering dinner to Sixth Senior Brother,” Bai Li Feihong said quietly.

He had already made up his mind. If these strangers were disciples from another martial hall, he would act immediately. Exposure meant nothing.

The burly man checked him over, then smiled kindly and let him pass.

Bai Li Feihong headed to the backyard, hearing Zhang Qianshan arguing with someone.

“Ungrateful child! Your father isn’t dead yet, and you’re already wearing mourning clothes and keeping vigil in the hall?”

In the mourning hall, a roaring voice resounded.

“Master’s kindness to me is as heavy as a mountain. Now, in Dongbin City, I am his only direct disciple. His affairs should be handled by me,” Zhang Qianshan knelt on the ground, expressionless.

“Hmph! Do you realize you’ve disgraced the Zhang family? I understand your feelings, but sometimes your actions represent the family. Come, return home with me. Even if you want to fulfill your duty as a disciple, you could have servants take your place,” Zhang’s father, struggling to restrain his anger, finally calmed, his tone gentler.

“My fellow disciples have not yet returned. I must stay here,” Zhang Qianshan replied, unmoved by his father’s softness.

At this moment, his resolve was set to guard the mourning hall.

Suddenly, Zhang’s father’s fury erupted—a slap landed on Zhang Qianshan’s face.

“Ungrateful child, I’ll see you die here!” Zhang’s father, full of rage, stormed out, taking all the Zhang family’s servants with him.

With one side of his face swollen, Zhang Qianshan slowly closed his eyes, his expression devoid of emotion.

Bai Li Feihong’s heart sank.

With the Zhang family acting this way, Sixth Senior Brother had no backing. Other martial halls coveting the Blood River Blade Technique would see the rift and surely act, forcing him to surrender the legacy.

Bai Li Feihong could not help feeling cold. Such was reality.

Borrowed authority always brings backlash.

“Sixth Senior Brother.”

“You’re here, Feihong.”

Zhang Qianshan opened his eyes, forcing a bitter smile.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. My father is just obsessed with appearances.”

It wasn’t just appearances—his devotion to his master had provoked his father’s jealousy.

“Sixth Senior Brother, I brought you dinner. Rest for a while. Let me keep watch over the mourning hall. You haven’t rested for a day and night—your health is important.”

“...Alright.”

Zhang Qianshan took the meal and left the hall.

Bai Li Feihong’s expression grew colder.

“Book of Skills, assign point.”

A single skill point was enough to bring his Blood River Blade Technique to proficiency.

From novice to adept took just one skill point. It was as if he’d gained the experience of practicing the technique two hundred times, memories swirling in his mind.

At the same time, the Four Seas blood energy within him merged into a river, infusing his entire blood energy with a keen edge.

He was already a martial artist at the peak of four blood strands. This faint infusion birthed a new strand of blood energy within him. Though it was weak, it caused his blood energy to surge—like rivers, like the sea.

Feeling the tumult of five strands of blood energy within, flashes of the Blood River Blade Technique’s moves danced in his mind.

He had now grasped a fragment of its essence.

Blood River Blade Technique (Incomplete): Proficient (3/2000), can assign points, can be deduced and perfected.

Now, the experience required to upgrade the skill had increased tenfold; two thousand points were needed for the next level.

Yet Bai Li Feihong felt only excitement.

He knew that being able to upgrade the Blood River Blade Technique with a single skill point was because the Four Seas Fist and the Blood River Blade Technique shared the same lineage—the blood energy within could quickly be transformed into the blade’s force.