Chapter Thirty-One: Is This Still the Black Sand Palm?
"Make it a bit cheaper, won't you? Nine hundred taels for a single jar of medicinal wine—isn't that a bit too much?"
"Are you buying or not? If not, move along. I told you—nine hundred taels, not a coin less."
Facing the stubborn vendor, Qi Xiu gritted his teeth so hard they almost cracked. Was I this annoying when I was the one selling things?
"Don't hesitate. This medicinal wine of mine is certified at the Ghost Market. Not a word of false advertising. If it doesn't work, don't come looking for me—the Ghost Market itself will nail me to the wall."
Seeing Qi Xiu still wavering, the vendor pressed his advantage.
"Fine! It's just nine hundred taels, isn't it? I'll pay!"
Thinking of how his hard-earned nine hundred taels would be gone before he could even warm them in his hands, Qi Xiu took a deep breath. Looks like those hundred or so bottles of Golden Lock Invigorating Tonic at home would have to be sold off soon.
…
The moon hung high amid sparse stars.
Returning home with the jar of medicinal wine still dusted with earth and grass, Qi Xiu sat down heavily, studying the vessel before him from top to bottom.
He could only hope it would work as well as that stingy old hawk claimed.
He broke the seal, and instantly a pungent, rich aroma, thick with medicinal herbs, flooded his senses.
So many ingredients?
One hundred and twenty-five—no, one hundred and twenty-six types of medicine.
And there were four main ingredients he couldn't even identify, as well as thirty-seven mysterious auxiliary herbs with unknown properties.
A sharp gleam flashed in Qi Xiu's eyes. Judging by the sheer variety and the presence of ingredients beyond his recognition, this thing might just be the real deal.
Well, only one way to find out.
He fetched a brass basin and poured in the blood-red liquid, just enough to immerse both hands.
Setting aside the ceramic jar, Qi Xiu rolled up his sleeves and pressed his hands into the wine, submerging them in the crimson pool.
Hiss!
The moment his palms touched the wine, a searing pain, as if stabbed by red-hot needles, made Qi Xiu's expression tighten.
He quickly regulated his breathing, circulating his Black Sand Palm energy, drawing the medicinal power into his hands.
Gritting his teeth against the pain, Qi Xiu brought up his proficiency panel, fixing his gaze on the Black Sand Palm.
[Black Sand Palm (First Stage): 67.2%]
[Black Sand Palm (First Stage): 67.4%]
[Black Sand Palm (First Stage): 67.6%]
[Black Sand Palm (First Stage): 67.8%]
…
It really works!
His eyes suddenly shone with excitement—who would have thought a casual gamble would turn up such a treasure?
This medicinal wine was called Scarlet Blood.
According to the vendor, this Scarlet Blood was originally paired with the top-tier martial art, Scarlet Heart Palm.
Though it was made for the Scarlet Heart Palm, its remarkable properties made it an excellent aid for refining and improving other external palm techniques as well.
But the wine's power was fierce. Without enough inner strength, it wasn't wine at all—it was green vitriol, concentrated sulfuric acid.
Watching the Black Sand Palm proficiency rise before his eyes, Qi Xiu couldn't help but smile.
Next time he went to the Ghost Market, he’d buy out every last drop of this wine, even if it cost him everything he owned.
—
That vendor has Scarlet Blood—perhaps he also possesses the Scarlet Heart Palm technique.
But such a top-tier technique is exceedingly rare. Even if I want to buy it, he may not want to sell.
The thought of Scarlet Heart Palm made Qi Xiu's heart race. Martial arts manuals flooded the Ghost Market, but finding a genuine one was like panning for gold—counterfeits abounded, and he’d never seen a first-rate technique.
But then again, even true techniques have their price. As for the rest, if you have the money, there’s nothing you can’t buy.
—
For three days straight, Qi Xiu did not set foot outside his house.
With the aid of the Scarlet Blood wine, his Black Sand Palm proficiency soared daily to new heights.
The constant sense of growing power nearly swept him into a state of ecstatic obsession.
Other than eating, sleeping, and relieving himself, he ceased practicing every other technique.
He threw everything into mastering the Black Sand Palm.
He was determined to use the Scarlet Blood to break through to the second stage of the Black Sand Palm in one go—to fully enter the Qi Condensation realm.
…
Evening.
The sunset bled across the sky.
Bare to the waist, Qi Xiu sat with eyes closed, both hands soaking in the crimson wine. Faintly glowing cracks appeared and disappeared on the skin of his palms.
Suddenly, Qi Xiu opened his eyes; the cracks on his hands had stabilized.
A scorching, gritty energy, like iron sand, circled his body before returning to his hands.
Exhaling a faint reddish breath, Qi Xiu allowed a subtle smile.
Second stage Black Sand Palm—he had finally succeeded.
Feeling the terrifying power lurking in his hands, the usually cautious Qi Xiu was seized by an uncharacteristic urge to test himself in battle.
“Train in martial arts, and first cultivate a touch of fierce spirit”—the old saying rang true.
Steadying his surging emotions, Qi Xiu picked up his clothes and headed for the door.
Boom!
A thunderous crash shook the ground beneath his feet.
Startled, Qi Xiu turned toward the noise.
What's happening?
After a brief hesitation, his eyes sharp, Qi Xiu grabbed his hundred-faced mask, transformed into a burly man in black, and leapt toward the source of the disturbance.
—
Qian Family Estate.
The courtyard wall had collapsed, trees shattered.
The ornamental cobblestone ground was plowed into two deep furrows.
Disciples of the Taibao Sect and Daoists from Rainflower Monastery clashed, the battle raging in chaos.
—
Wu Changqing, blood streaming from his mouth, shook a bronze bell in his hand.
Three tall, emotionless corpse children stomped the earth to pieces as they lunged at Jin Tai, whose face was grim.
“Master Jin, you’ve come at a most unfortunate time. My ritual implements have just been restored, and they've gorged on fresh blood. Since you’re here, you’ll all stay,” Wu Daoist said with a confident smile.
After nearly a month, he had finally broken the suppressive spell on the Jade Bodhisattva using the myriad insects returning to the source.
Jin Tai’s face was grave as he watched Wu Changqing gloat.
This sorcerer had luck on his side. If that talisman had arrived a day earlier, this fiend would be dead!
Relying on the [Suppress] talisman, he had broken through Wu Changqing’s protective evil arts and struck him hard.
But the sorcerer’s vitality was perversely tenacious—even Jin Tai’s full-force palm hadn’t finished him.
Before he could strike again, the fiend had already brandished the bronze bell, summoning three monstrous, tireless corpse children who now clung to him relentlessly.
Was this where it would all end?
As frustration and self-reproach gnawed at Jin Tai, a black-clad giant suddenly burst onto the scene.
He stomped the earth, cracking it, and struck out with a sweeping palm.
His blow landed squarely on one of the corpse children.
Slap!
The corpse child’s body swelled grotesquely; flesh and bone dissolved in a surge of toxic energy, leaving only an empty skin that flopped to the ground.
Good heavens!
Both Wu Changqing and Jin Tai gaped in shock at the sight.
Was that… Black Sand Palm?!
Could such a third-rate technique really generate Qi Condensation?
No! It had only been a few days—he’d already achieved Qi Condensation?!
Staring in disbelief at the man in black, Jin Tai’s worldview was shaken to its core.
“Ye Wen?”
Wu Changqing’s expression darkened as he spoke in a low voice:
“We have no grievances, sir. Why must you meddle in this affair?”
Glancing at the ruined corpse child, Qi Xiu raised his head ever so slightly.
The thing he had once dreaded, had lost sleep over for so long—
Was this all it was?
A long-suppressed frustration in his chest finally released.
The cracks on his hands grew brighter as his gaze settled lightly on Wu Changqing.
Today, it seemed, Qi Xiu would kill again.
…