Chapter 28: Blood Refined Like Mercury

A single glance, a single smile—yet Bai Li Feihong felt a chill crawl down his spine. The Demon Suppression Bureau was not entirely safe. The transfer of power, old and new, had finally erupted once Gongyang Yan seized control of the situation.

“The Blood Origin Technique must not be delayed any longer,” Bai Li Feihong muttered through gritted teeth. He wanted to solve his lack of martial prowess in one go.

Slay the demon beasts.
Increase his cultivation.
Exchange for new techniques.
Achieve mastery in martial arts.

Four steps, yet all in one stride. Slaying demon beasts to protect the people.

Blood River Blade Technique (Incomplete—four forms), Mastery (Experience: 25,198/32,000)

He focused intently on practicing the Blood River Blade Technique. With his skills at mastery, each repetition brought him fifty experience points.

25,248!

Too slow.

He took out a Blood Essence Pill and swallowed one. He practiced the blade technique ten more times. Feeling the surging blood energy within him like a mighty river, all fatigue melted away from Bai Li Feihong’s body.

Experience: 35,198/32,000

“Upgrade.”

In an instant, the insights from tens of thousands of practice sessions flooded his mind. The eighth channel of blood energy within him grew rapidly.

“The Blood River Blade Technique has finally reached its pinnacle.”

“However, this peak is only the pinnacle of each of the four forms of the Blood River Blade Technique.”

Blood River Blade Technique (Incomplete—four forms), Pinnacle (Experience: 3,198/64,000)

Without hesitation, Bai Li Feihong continued consuming Blood Essence Pills. At the pinnacle level, practicing the technique five times was enough to refine the pill into experience points. Meanwhile, his blood energy surged within.

The eighth blood channel became exceptionally powerful, stronger than any before. After taking six more Blood Essence Pills, Bai Li Feihong practiced the blade technique thirty times.

The entire courtyard seemed enveloped in a sea of blood energy. The blood energy burned like the blazing sun, the courtyard a furnace.

At this moment, Bai Li Feihong felt stronger than ever before. Every inch of muscle was under his control. His strength had reached its peak, allowing him to unleash the power of every force perfectly.

Riding the wave of exhilaration, Bai Li Feihong practiced his blade technique with abandon. Blade energy erupted, sending fallen leaves swirling into the air, cut to pieces by the force.

+280!
+300!
+500!

Experience continued to grow. At this point, the four forms of the blade technique flowed from Bai Li Feihong’s hands, responding to every impulse.

Experience: 64,000/64,000

“Upgrade!”

He called out again.

Boom—

Blood energy throughout his body ignited, surging like nine dragons within him. His body was strengthened to the utmost limit.

Nine-Blood Martial Master, Pinnacle!

“I’ve finally reached the true Nine-Blood Pinnacle.”

“It’s time to begin training the Blood Origin Technique.”

Skill 4: Blood Origin Technique, Beginner (Experience: 530/800)

Bai Li Feihong’s gaze fell upon the Blood Origin Technique. This was the method of refining blood, the first refinement of the Six Martial Refines—step one of true martial transmission.

“Skill Book, upgrade the Blood Origin Technique to the pinnacle level.”

Bai Li Feihong no longer wished to be entangled in the choice between experience and skill points. He wanted strength.

“Deduct 2 skill points, Blood Origin Technique upgraded to Proficient.”
“Deduct 3 skill points, Blood Origin Technique upgraded to Expert.”
“Deduct 4 skill points, Blood Origin Technique upgraded to Master.”
“Deduct 5 skill points, Blood Origin Technique upgraded to Pinnacle.”

In an instant, the Blood Origin Technique flowed within him—smooth as silk, responsive to every thought, intoxicating. Tens of thousands of training insights surged into his mind, overwhelming him with vast information.

When he opened his eyes again, the scripture of the Blood Origin Technique was etched upon his soul. The price: fourteen skill points. Bai Li Feihong had only three skill points remaining.

He sat cross-legged and took another Blood Essence Pill, filling his body with its potent energy. At the same time, he activated the Blood Origin Technique.

At the pinnacle level, the technique rapidly transformed blood energy, converting all nine channels into blood origin, which fused with his physique. Through his blood, it surged through every inch of skin, muscle, bone, meridian, organ, acupoint, and even his brain.

Bai Li Feihong’s body grew feverish, like steel being forged in a furnace—burning red-hot. Steam billowed from his skin, and black impurities were refined out, burned to smoke by his high temperature.

He swallowed the remaining two Blood Essence Pills in one gulp. With the Skill Book’s help, he swiftly pushed the Blood Origin Technique to its pinnacle.

The trajectory of the technique in his body accelerated, devouring the nine blood dragons and converting their energy into blood origin. Blood origin was a form of blood energy, but one that fused better with the body and blood.

“Blood medicine!”

A strange idea flashed through Bai Li Feihong’s mind.

That’s right, blood medicine. Human blood medicine! The refined blood origin was the best supplement for tempering the body—nurturing and refining the flesh, the true path of body refinement.

At this moment, the nine channels of blood energy within Bai Li Feihong had dissipated, transformed into blood origin and merged with his body. He felt no weakness; instead, his control over his body was heightened.

He could sense that the blood origin could be cultivated further, with no limit reached yet. Unlike the martial description of the Nine-Blood Martial Master, where nine channels marked the end of the road and breaking through to bone refinement was nearly impossible.

One is the method of training, the other is the method of refining—two entirely different martial philosophies.

Absorbing the essence of heaven and earth to strengthen oneself: this is martial arts.

Bai Li Feihong stood up; his body was even more slender, but his physique approached perfection—skin like jade, exuding a subtle fragrance.

Now, he could feel the blood origin flowing through every corner of his body.

Skill Book:
Owner: Bai Li Feihong
Martial Realm: Blood Refinement (First Glimpse—Blood refined like mercury)
Skill Points: 3 (Skills can be upgraded, synthesized, or evolved)
Skill 1: Culinary Arts, Proficient (Experience: 128/400)
Skill 2: Four Seas Fist Technique, Pinnacle (Consume five skill points to upgrade.)
Skill 3: Blood River Blade Technique (Incomplete—four forms), Pinnacle (Consume skill points to complete, evolve, or synthesize)
Skill 4: Blood Origin Technique, Pinnacle (Consume skill points to upgrade, evolve, or synthesize)

“The martial realm is revealed? First glimpse? Next comes the choice of the path?”

Tempering the physique is simply six realms and six refinements. No unnecessary layers of realms. Yet it’s difficult for one to continually refine within a single realm. Once reaching an extreme, every further step breaks the current limit—a difficult road indeed.

Thus, the division of martial realms is about expanding the path. When one road ends, open a new path and keep moving forward—not simply follow one road to the end.

This is the contest between depth and height. No one can have both.

“The Blood Origin Technique can still be cultivated.”

What others cannot accomplish, Bai Li Feihong can. With enough skill points, the Skill Book makes anything possible.