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Chapter 184 Power
As soon as the Marrow-Strengthening Pill entered his mouth, Su Daoshan could almost feel it slide down his throat, and the pill transformed into a blazing stream of fire that spread throughout his body's meridians.

It didn't feel uncomfortable at all; on the contrary, it gave me a feeling of warmth like a fireplace in winter.

The next second, traces resembling earthworms appeared on Su Daoshan's skin, first black, then blue, and then red.

That was the effect of the powerful medicinal force forcing out the coldness in the body.

If at this point, the medicinal effects and the expelled coldness are in a delicate balance, then as the dampness and coldness in the body are swept away, an indescribable pain will sweep over the entire body.

Su Daoshan felt the medicinal power surge through his body like raging flames. Despite no apparent change in his physical form, he felt as if he were about to explode. Yet, it was as if all the orifices in his body were sealed shut. Not only could his skin's pores not breathe, but he couldn't even catch his breath.

Su Daoshan suppressed his distracting thoughts, sat upright on the bed, and began practicing the "Sleeping Snow and Blazing Sun Technique".

As the effects of the medicine took hold, it was as if countless beads were rolling beneath his skin, bulging up here and there. Arms, chest, shoulders, abdomen, back, even cheeks... In an instant, his entire body was transformed into a monstrous, unrecognizable figure.

However, under the protection of the Snow-Sleeping Blazing Sun Technique, the meridians and acupoints through which the internal energy passed remained exceptionally stable, much like the inner city of a city. Even if the outer city was breached, even if the streets outside were filled with carnage and rivers of blood, it remained unmoved.

Time passed second by second. After an unknown amount of time, just when Su Daoshan felt that his whole body was about to burst from the intense medicinal power, suddenly, after reaching its limit, the medicinal power, like a star collapsing, abruptly turned its muzzle and began to contract inward.

In an instant, the previously rampaging medicinal power, like a herd of horses returning to their pens, completely penetrated into the bones and marrow, without leaking out at all.

"It's done!" Su Daoshan's spirits lifted.

clack clack...

Su Daoshan could clearly hear the sounds emanating from his bones. Immediately afterward, he noticed that his internal energy circulation had changed.

It is important to understand that a martial artist's power comes from the fusion of internal energy and blood. When internal energy enters the corresponding acupoints, it stimulates the blood and qi within those acupoints, thereby activating the energy of nearby muscles, fascia, bones, and even every cell, thus further enhancing the characteristics of the acupoints or transforming them into internal energy.

For example, the intermediate acupoint is located in the lower abdomen and corresponds to the seminal vesicle. When internal energy flows into the intermediate acupoint, it stimulates blood and qi. Martial artists can not only activate the power in their lower abdomen and possess strong core strength in combat, enabling them to perform various movements, but they can also refine essence into qi, forcibly replenishing their strength when internal energy is insufficient.

For example, the left and right Yunmen points are located on the left and right shoulders. They are the connection points between the torso and arms, and are also key areas for a martial artist to generate power. When internal energy stimulates the blood and qi at the Yunmen points, the arms can unleash tremendous power, while simultaneously gathering the strength from other parts of the body and striking out through the arms.

This is the function of different acupoints.

The internal energy cultivation techniques of martial artists connect these acupoints and body parts with different functions, enabling martial artists to unleash powerful combat capabilities.

Naturally, when internal energy is activated, the amount of qi and blood stored in the acupoints becomes particularly crucial. It can be said that internal energy and qi and blood are like fire and oil. Internal energy ignites the fire, and qi and blood explode. The two complement each other and are indispensable.

At this moment, Su Daoshan's internal energy itself did not increase, nor did its circulation change. However, when the internal energy passed through the corresponding acupoints, he discovered that the blood and qi in his acupoints experienced an explosive increase. It even felt like a continuous, bottomless flow.

The strength of one's Qi and blood leads to an increase in power. At this moment, Su Daoshan could feel the explosive power within his body simply by clenching his fist. If this inn building weren't made of wood and couldn't withstand the rough treatment of a martial artist, he would have loved to unleash a set of Mad Demon Eighteen Hammers on the spot to test its power.

However, Su Daoshan knew that he had more pressing matters to attend to.

"The medicinal power is now concentrated in the bone marrow, but that doesn't mean I've fully digested it. I must repeatedly consume my internal energy and stimulate my blood and qi in order to stabilize the increased blood and qi during the continuous process of breaking down and rebuilding. Strengthening the marrow is essential, as blood is generated from the marrow. Only when the medicinal power is completely integrated can it be considered a success."

As for how to consume internal energy and blood, Su Daoshan was very familiar with it.

Light the dragon lantern!
At that moment, Su Daoshan stood up, walked to the open space in the room, crossed his arms, slightly bent his knees, and assumed a standing meditation posture. At the same time, he held his breath, closed his orifices, circulated his internal energy, and began to stimulate the Qi and blood in four acupoints: Zhongji, Changqiang, Qugu, and Yaoshu.

As the internal energy surged in, the four acupoints located in front and behind the lower abdomen instantly became hot, forming a four-dragon-locked-pillar structure. Su Daoshan felt the surging blood and energy rushing up his spine like a fiery torrent.

Through internal observation, Su Daoshan discovered that his entire spine was like an iron dragon forged in a raging fire, instantly turning bright red under the dense flow of qi and blood. In particular, the second to last vertebra at the bottom of his coccyx showed signs of qi and blood seeping inward.

This is the part that Su Daoshan has been tempering in his training for the past few days after illuminating the fixed star.

Originally, he expected it would take at least two or three more days to successfully temper the bone marrow. However, to his surprise, under the influence of the marrow-strengthening pill, his blood and qi were so vigorous that in just one moment, the area was pushed to the edge of being lit up.

Five minutes later, just as a bead of sweat appeared on Su Daoshan's forehead, boundless blood and energy suddenly surged into his second vertebra, then surged back out, flowing through his entire body like waves. Thousands of pores on his body suddenly burst open, and his spine undulated like a great dragon, crackling and popping.

The second dragon lantern is lit!

Su Daoshan was overjoyed, but he did not stop. Instead, he took a deep breath and immediately entered the standing meditation state again.

The human spine has a total of thirty-three vertebrae, and I've only just begun. I must take advantage of the Marrow Strengthening Pill's effects to light up as many dragon lanterns as possible.

And they stood at this station until the first watch of the night.

Standing meditation is inherently painful, and when combined with using qi and blood to temper the spine, the consumption of internal qi and physical strength is like a flood that has been released. Basically, it can be completely depleted in just fifteen minutes.

But Su Daoshan persisted for a full hour and a half. Each time he exhausted his inner energy and physical strength, he replenished it with spiritual energy. He repeated this process over and over. Before he knew it, a large puddle of sweat had soaked the ground beneath him.

However, the results are also remarkable.

After lighting the second dragon lantern, Su Daoshan, with the help of the Marrow Strengthening Pill, made rapid progress and completed the tempering of the third vertebra. By the time the Marrow Strengthening Pill's power was exhausted, even the fourth lantern was only halfway through tempering.

"Phew." Su Daoshan lay on the ground, drenched in sweat, and it took him a while to regain his strength and stand up.

After continuous exertion, the fatigue accumulated in his body could no longer be restored by spiritual energy. However, having regained a little strength, Su Daoshan excitedly opened the door and left the room. He reached out and braced himself against the corridor railing, then flipped and leaped over it.

While in mid-air, Su Daoshan used the Mudfish Movement technique, quickly pushing off the roof rafters with his right foot.

With his Qi and blood flowing smoothly and two more dragon lanterns lit, Su Daoshan's first test was his leaping distance.

It's important to understand that in martial arts combat, distance traveled is a crucial factor in determining victory or defeat. Especially when weapons are not used, the battle zone is often only two or three meters in diameter when both sides are exchanging blows.

In this situation, if one side can use its speed to create distance and break away from the battle at any time, it can also close in and bombard the other side with attacks. The other side, on the other hand, can neither catch up nor escape. The outcome is predictable. Sometimes, even a difference of just one meter in distance, let alone several meters, is enough to drive someone to despair.

Last night, Su Daoshan watched the battle between Pan Gang and the demonic night watchman Feng Chao, and he gained a deeper understanding of this principle. No matter how Pan Gang ran, Feng Chao could chase after him and slash at him, so Pan Gang could only keep changing direction in the courtyard and barely defend himself with the help of his companions, such as Wen Yilan.

Otherwise, if he had run straight out of the yard, he would have died even faster.

Before this, Su Daoshan's leap distance was about fifteen meters. This achievement was not only enough to easily defeat ordinary seventh-rank martial artists, but also to hold his own against ordinary sixth-rank martial artists like Feng Ting. Coupled with his copy of the [Mist Dispersion] technique, he once felt that he had enough power to protect himself.

But after seeing Feng Chao, Su Daoshan felt that this level was far from enough.

At that moment, with a stomp of his foot and supported by his surging blood and qi, a loud crack was heard as his energy exploded, and his figure shot out like an arrow.

This leap covered a full eighteen meters. When he landed, he turned around in surprise and found himself outside the wall of the inn's backyard.

Su Daoshan steadied himself, his heart pounding.

He hadn't expected that after boosting his Qi and blood, his dash distance would suddenly increase by three meters. And as the three dragon lamps on his spine lit up, the feeling of having a tail, able to change posture and direction at any time by whipping the tail and twisting his bones, was even stronger than when he first lit the fixed star.

In that instant, he felt as if he had transformed into some kind of bird, his body seemingly defying gravity, experiencing a sensation of soaring through the clouds.

Now that he was out, Su Daoshan simply spread his body and flew towards a more distant place. Beizi Town had been abandoned for many years, and the transit station had only repaired some of the houses along the street in the town center; the rest were temporary structures.

Behind the post station lay a vast expanse of ruins. Many houses had collapsed, leaving only half of their earthen walls, hidden among waist-high weeds.

Su Daoshan unleashed his full potential, speeding along at breakneck speed. In an instant, all that could be seen was him bouncing and ricocheting like a bullet through the grass and ruins, each step covering more than ten meters, precisely landing on the earthen walls and stepping on tree branches, so fast that he was just a blur in his wake.

brush!
Su Daoshan swept past a large tree that had lost most of its leaves in winter, his body moving like an eel in mid-air, suddenly changing direction with a zigzag motion. As soon as he landed, he unleashed his Illusory Cloud Palm, his hands moving like lightning, striking the tree trunk, which was at least forty centimeters in diameter, with seven consecutive palm strikes.

With a series of loud thuds, the tree shook violently, its branches and leaves falling off one after another, and large chunks of rough, dry bark peeling off. On the hard trunk, there were even handprints half an inch deep.

The edges of the palm print are clear, as if it were engraved.

Su Daoshan felt the surging blood and energy within his body, as if he had transformed into a demonic bear. Caught up in the fight, he changed his stance, transforming his palm into a fist, and unleashed a powerful strike, "Blood Sea Bell Ringing," which slammed into the tree trunk.

With a creak, several thicker branches broke off from the treetop and fell to the ground. The massive tree, weighing several tons, shook violently, and much of the soil around its roots cracked and turned upside down.

Su Daoshan stepped on the chain of blows, got into a fighting stance, and unleashed the Mad Demon Eighteen Hammers, striking the tree trunk in a series of rapid blows.

With each punch, at first the tree merely shook violently, its trunk cracking and splinters flying everywhere. Later, all that could be heard was a continuous creaking sound from the trunk, as radial cracks appeared from the wounds that had been nearly shattered into fine fibers.

As Su Daoshan fought fiercely, he unleashed a move called "Mad Bull Charging a Tree," striking with both fists. The tree finally gave way, and amidst the violent shaking, the top third of it snapped off, crashing to the ground with its crown.

Almost as soon as the tree canopy hit the ground, Su Daoshan grabbed it with his backhand, and the villain was already in his hand.

At that moment, Su Daoshan's eyes suddenly changed.

Anger, hatred, madness, keenness, calmness... Su Daoshan felt as if every cell in his body, already at its peak of excitement, was being doused with oil. His internal energy circulated wildly, his blood and qi were pushed to their limits, and the explosive energy was like a flood from different tributaries converging together.

He leaped into the air and slammed his hammer down.

The 18th move of the Mad Demon's Eighteen Hammers: The Free and Unfettered Demon.

The petals on the tip of the stick bloomed, and a small hammer appeared. With a loud bang, the remaining trunk and roots exploded as if struck by a giant bolt of lightning, turning into countless pieces of wood that flew in all directions.

Su Daoshan stood in the grass. A gust of wind blew, scattering the dust, and broken leaves and wood fell like rain onto the mud, grass, and the broken bricks and tiles of the ruins.

But now, the tree has vanished without a trace, leaving only half a root in the soil, as if to prove that the tree once existed.

His violent heartbeat gradually subsided. Su Daoshan looked at the villain in his hand, then at the wood chips that were almost completely shattered on the ground. He couldn't believe that his move was so terrifyingly powerful.

It's not difficult to break a tree, but to shatter it into such small and uniform pieces with a single blow is something that not just anyone can do.

"No wonder Uncle Meng has always been so attached to the secret artifact of the Red Illumination Palace. My move, the Free Heavenly Demon, was built up from the power of the previous moves, like an avalanche, growing from small to large and unstoppable. But if I had used my fist, I would have been lucky to smash a tree into several pieces."

"And indeed, the villain is best suited for the Mad Demon Eighteen Hammers. Just now, by utilizing its characteristics, he fully brought out the essence of the Mad Demon Eighteen Hammers, increasing its power several times over. Moreover, if such a weapon suddenly appears unarmed, those who do not know its strength will surely suffer a great loss."

Su Daoshan was overjoyed, and his goodwill towards Hongzhao Palace increased by another seven points.

Before today, Su Daoshan estimated his combat strength to be roughly equivalent to a low-level sixth-rank martial artist, while against a mid-to-high-level sixth-rank martial artist, he could at best guarantee a safe retreat. After all, the difference of one rank in martial arts realm was simply too significant. In every aspect, it was an undisputed crushing defeat.

As a weakling at the lower level of the seventh rank, being able to fight against a lower level of the sixth rank is already an advantage due to being a transcendent profession.

Now, Su Daoshan is confident that with the Qi and blood enhanced by the Marrow Strengthening Pill, plus the thugs in his hands, he might not be without the power to fight even if he encountered a mid-level or even high-level sixth-grade martial artist.

This greatly increased Su Daoshan's sense of security.

Looking at the villain in his hand, Su Daoshan's thoughts turned to the puppet hook card, and he finally made up his mind.

Su Daoshan was always cautious about the unknown. But once he understood something, he made decisions very decisively. Everything in the world boils down to weighing the pros and cons.

Even if it means making a deal with the devil.

(End of this chapter)