Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Black Sand Palm, Gone

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[Black Sand Palm (Ultimate): Awaiting Fusion]
Fixing his gaze on the uniquely marked line on the panel, Qi Xiu tapped his finger on the table, producing a steady, rhythmic sound. He had originally believed that once the Black Sand Palm advanced to the third realm, pushing it to the fourth would finally complete it as a true martial art. Yet, unexpectedly, the third realm was its limit. No matter how hard he tried, its proficiency would not rise further. Instead, a new label appeared: Awaiting Fusion. Judging by the wording, it likely meant the technique could be merged with another.
“Black Sand Palm shows no reaction to Swallow Flight or Striking Acupoints from Afar. So, the fusion must target techniques of the same type.”
The emergence of the Demon Altar confirmed that monsters outside the city were growing restless, and combined with what Jin Tai had said—
Even experts at the True Intent realm could not resist a single demon.
This sense of urgency drove Qi Xiu to resort to threats and bribes, obtaining the Scarlet Heart Palm manual from a street vendor.
“Let’s hope this works.”
He adjusted the wick of the oil lamp on his desk, took a deep breath, and opened the Scarlet Heart Palm manual, beginning his all-night study by lamplight.
…
He did not sleep at all that night.
At dawn, as the first rooster crowed, he turned the last page, closed the Scarlet Heart Palm, rested his hands on his knees, and let his eyes half close.
For a long moment, he sat in silence.
Then Qi Xiu opened his eyes. In the air before him, inky lines swirled, and a row of small characters slowly surfaced.
[Scarlet Heart Palm: 0%]
Relying on the foundation of the third realm Black Sand Palm, he had managed to barely achieve entry level after reading the Scarlet Heart Palm in its entirety.
Seeing the Scarlet Heart Palm appear on his panel, a rare hint of tension flickered in Qi Xiu’s eyes.
Now came the moment to witness a miracle.
He fixed his gaze on Black Sand Palm and willed his focus onto the Awaiting Fusion tag.
Boom—
A sudden ringing exploded in his mind.
Qi Xiu’s body stiffened as if struck by lightning, his eyes instantly blank.
On the proficiency panel, the entry for Black Sand Palm began to vanish, bit by bit, from the top down, as if words on a blackboard were being gradually erased.
Conversely, the percentage beside Scarlet Heart Palm began to surge at a visible, breakneck speed.
1%…
3%…
5%…
10%…
…
The skin of his upper body instantly flushed a fiery red.
A mysterious power surged within him, wielding immense force to temper his physique.
Layer upon layer of dull, dead skin peeled away, while resilient, steel-like muscles were destroyed and reborn anew.
In just a few breaths,
He had already mastered the Scarlet Heart Palm to the Power Tempering Realm.

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Yet even after attaining the Power Tempering Realm, the proficiency of Scarlet Heart Palm continued to rise.
Simultaneously, a tempest raged in Qi Xiu's mind.
Scarlet Heart Palm and Black Sand Palm—their insights, essences, and cores seemed hurled into a blender, relentlessly intertwining.
Like two mismatched puzzle pieces, they were being forced together under the grinding of that mysterious power, slowly forming a perfect fit.
Black and crimson auras seeped from his skin. Glowing fissures appeared along half his body, and the intense heat instantly reduced his clothes to ashes, scorching the air around him.
“Pft…”
With a sudden gasp, Qi Xiu’s eyes snapped open, and he spat out a mouthful of congealed blood, thick with several wriggling parasites.
After expelling the blood and the worms, a cool, refreshing sensation spread through his body.
The strange phenomena around him gradually faded, and his dazed eyes regained their clarity.
On the proficiency panel,
The Black Sand Palm entry had vanished completely.
The Scarlet Heart Palm, which had surged forward and broken through two realms to reach the second, now shimmered and blurred—
A new name emerged.
Crimson Sand Palm!
Wiping the blood from his lips, Qi Xiu gazed at the Crimson Sand Palm, which had absorbed the essence of Black Sand Palm and ascended to the second realm. Rather than feeling aggrieved, he laughed heartily.
Though the Crimson Sand Palm was now a realm lower than the third-realm Black Sand Palm,
In the long run, he had profited immensely.
After all, Black Sand Palm was merely a third-rate technique.
Even if, by virtue of the proficiency system’s mysterious power, it had been forcibly pushed to True Intent,
Compared to other martial arts of the same level, it was still underdeveloped.
The strength of the foundation determines the height of the tower.
A third-rate art could not provide enough.
Now, however, he had merged Black Sand Palm into Scarlet Heart Palm.
The two techniques had become the new Crimson Sand Palm.
Its realm had dropped by one,
But its foundation was now incomparably solid.
Scarlet Heart Palm was already a first-rate martial art.
With the forcibly advanced Black Sand Palm added in,
Its quality now exceeded even other first-rate arts, rising to the level of a top-tier technique.
“All that’s left is to push the fallen Crimson Sand Palm back up to the third realm.
I feel like I could take on ten of my former self!”
Clenching his fist and feeling the surging vitality within, Qi Xiu couldn’t suppress the smile at his lips.
Today was truly an auspicious day.
Perhaps he should pay a visit to the Pleasure Pavilion?
…
“The Demon Altar? What is that supposed to be?”
Seated comfortably in a grand armchair in the rear hall, just about to sip his fragrant tea, Guo Youfang frowned as his subordinate reported in.
“I’m not sure, sir. But this morning someone anonymously sent this letter,
reporting that a cult has gathered in the city, erected a Demon Altar, worshiped monsters, and killed innocents.
They hope the authorities will investigate thoroughly.”

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Head lowered, the constable stepped forward and handed the report to Guo Youfang.
Frowning, Guo Youfang gave it a cursory glance, then said irritably,
“We’ve only had a few days of peace, and now another cult appears.
Very well, I’m aware. You may go.”
“Yes, sir,” the constable replied, turning away.
Watching the constable leave the rear hall, Guo Youfang’s eyes darkened. He folded the letter and tucked it into his robe, then strode quickly to the study in the back courtyard.
After making sure no one was around, he closed and bolted the door behind him.
He fumbled about the curio shelf for a while.
With a click, a hidden mechanism triggered.
A concealed door behind the bookshelf slowly swung open.
The secret chamber, less than ten square meters, glowed with red lantern light and exuded a strange, sweet scent. At its center stood an eerie, sinister altar.
And atop that altar
was none other than the fox spirit statue that Qi Xiu and his companions had previously destroyed.
Who would have thought—the county magistrate himself
was a worshipper of monsters!
“Great Fox Spirit, these past few days my body has grown feeble once more.
Could you let me regain my youth for a few more days?
My mistress is at the most voracious age, and with my current health, I simply can’t keep up.”
Kneeling devoutly before the fox statue, Guo Youfang prayed with utmost sincerity.
As if sensing his plea,
the fox statue’s eyes suddenly gleamed with a crimson light, and a bright red slip of paper floated gently down before him.
He picked up the slip.
A single character appeared in his sight:
Three!
“You want more blood offerings? But didn’t I deliver two just three days ago?” Guo Youfang’s expression darkened.
Though he was the county magistrate,
and could use his power to offer condemned prisoners as sacrifices to the fox spirit,
there was a limit to the supply.
By now, most of the prisoners had already been used,
and if things went on, he would have to start using those guilty of lesser crimes.
While Guo Youfang hesitated, the fox statue abruptly spat out a cloud of rosy mist, which entered his body through his seven orifices.
All at once, his body grew hot, the previous weakness and chill vanished, and he felt as strong as he had in his twenties.
Flushed with excitement, all hesitation forgotten,
Guo Youfang exclaimed, “Yes, yes, Great Fox Spirit, don’t worry, I’ll find you more, I’ll find you more right away.”
Enthralled by the heat in his body, he walked out in a daze, muttering under his breath,
“Let’s see if I don’t wear you out tonight…”
Boom—
The door to the secret chamber closed again.
In the dim, crimson-lit room, the fox statue’s eyes blazed even brighter.
A series of silvery, chilling giggles
echoed throughout the chamber.
…