I can increase my power through breathing.

Chapter 13 Major Events in the Martial World, Bloodshed and Fiery Flames
A few hours later.

As dawn broke, Zhou Qing passed through a small town called Qiuye Town.

After such a long journey, he also felt a bit hungry.

Second-rate martial artists are strong, but they are not capable of going without food. Although they can withstand hunger for a long time by relying on their internal energy, they will not starve to death after two or three days without eating. However, it is still necessary to maintain sufficient physical strength at all times.

So, Zhou Qing entered Qiuye Town.

Some of the vendors had just set up their stalls.

The breakfast stalls along the streets of the town were already bustling with activity.

Zhou Qing bought a straw hat from a roadside stall, put it on, and then went into an inn, intending to eat something and recover his strength.

It's breakfast time now.

There were still quite a few guests in the lobby of the inn.

Among them were many martial arts practitioners carrying knives and swords; they either talked in hushed tones or laughed loudly, creating a lively atmosphere.

Zhou Qing found a seat by the window, ordered a bowl of steaming hot beef noodles, a basket of meat buns and a few side dishes, and listened to the martial arts enthusiasts around him discussing some major events that had recently occurred in the martial arts world.

"Hey, have you heard? Blood Hand Butcher Li Baichuan has returned to the martial world. A few days ago, he massacred Cold Moon Manor. The manor lord, Cold Edge Sword Shen Chengping, and his entire family, along with 170 disciples, were all killed. Only my daughter, Shen Qingyue, who joined the Canghai Sect, escaped the calamity."

A lean man spoke up.

"This matter has spread throughout the martial arts world of Wanzhou. Master Shen is known for his chivalry and goodwill. Old Demon Li has actually committed such a heinous crime. He will be punished sooner or later!"

"Such a demon will be punished by Heaven."

"Your information is outdated. Shen Qingyue has already issued a bounty. Whoever can kill Old Demon Li will be rewarded with the family's Xuanbing Heart Sutra."

"The Profound Ice Heart Technique, this is a top-tier internal energy cultivation method!"

"Although top-tier internal energy is precious, Old Demon Li has been at the level of a top-tier martial artist for more than ten years. Even Shen Chengping, who is also a top-tier martial artist, is no match for him. Killing Old Demon Li will not be an easy task."

"To be honest, those who have the strength to kill Old Demon Li don't care about first-class internal energy, while those who need first-class internal energy don't have the strength to kill Old Demon Li."

The wandering swordsmen were indignant and sighed.

"By the way, two major events have recently occurred in the martial arts world. Are you aware of them?" A burly man with a thick beard took a swig and then said, "Three days ago, Jade-Faced Flying Dragon Nangong Yu killed the Heart-Eating Old Monster Mo Xie in Qixia City, successfully climbing to the eighty-ninth place on the Human Ranking. Now he is famous far and wide."

"What? Nangong Yu has made it onto the Human Ranking, and he's ranked eighty-ninth!"

Upon hearing this, the martial arts practitioners around all gasped in shock.

"It's absolutely true. This kid has only been in the industry for two and a half years. He broke through to the first-class realm in his early twenties and has now even killed a master on the Human Ranking."

"Sigh, it's true that the younger generation surpasses the older generation. We old bones have wasted so many years in the martial arts world, and at our age we are still only third-rate martial artists."

In the corner, several elderly men with gray hair and beards looked at each other and smiled bitterly.

"What is the other important matter? Tell me."

A wandering swordsman asked.

"Do you remember the major event that happened three years ago at the Vajra Gate, a top-tier power in Yuanzhou?"

"The burly man with the thick beard said in a low voice."

“Three years ago, the Vajra Sect?” A martial arts practitioner pondered for a moment, then said, “I remember that three years ago, the old sect leader of the Vajra Sect passed away, and his son Luo Xi succeeded him. However, the sect’s Grand Elder tried to seize power and wanted to depose the new sect leader Luo Xi. A fight broke out between the two sides, and Luo Xi was defeated and seriously injured. He escaped from the Vajra Sect and disappeared without a trace. Could it be that Luo Xi has reappeared?”

"What I've heard is that someone has been selling the Hundred Refinements Golden Body Technique on the black market in Anqing Prefecture for the past month. This is one of the true teachings of the Vajra Sect, and only true disciples are qualified to practice it."

"Could that person be Luo Xi?"

"Whether it is Luo Xi or not is unclear. Perhaps Luo Xi has already died, and this person only obtained Luo Xi's inheritance by chance. But if the Vajra Sect receives the news, they will definitely send someone to investigate."

"Although the strength of the Vajra Sect has been affected by the passing of its former sect leader, it is still a top-tier power. The current sect leader is a grandmaster at the Innate Realm."

"..."

Mentioning the Vajra Sect, all the martial arts travelers in the inn wore solemn expressions, clearly showing their extreme fear of this behemoth.

"The Hundred Refinements Golden Body Technique comes from the Vajra Sect!" Zhou Qing was also startled upon hearing the discussions of the surrounding martial artists.

He knew that top-tier martial arts skills purchased on the black market must have come from illegitimate sources, but he never expected the Hundred Refinements Golden Body Skill to have such a background.

A top-tier power is not something he can contend with now, even if he becomes a first-class martial artist.

Therefore, he must not easily reveal that he has mastered the Hundred Refinements Golden Body Technique.

Soon.

Zhou Qing ate and drank his fill.

These martial arts practitioners and merchants were still discussing some of the things that had happened in the martial arts world, and Zhou Qing even heard some people talking about him.

However, the things he did were insignificant compared to the rest of the martial arts world. If it weren't for the imperial court issuing an arrest warrant and the Zhou family offering a reward of three thousand taels of silver, no one would have even discussed it.

After finishing his meal, Zhou Qing simply booked a room at the inn. He went to the room to meditate and cultivate, restoring his inner strength.

When he reached the fifth level of the Hundred Refinements Golden Body Technique, his Qi and blood were more than four times stronger than before. His twelve regular meridians and eight extraordinary meridians were also expanded and strengthened. Therefore, the speed at which he could use the Returning Spring Technique to transport Qi and blood and convert it into internal force increased several times.

He doesn't need to worry about his meridians not being able to withstand it.

Qi and blood surged through Zhou Qing's body like a great wave, flowing through the twelve regular meridians and the eight extraordinary meridians, completing one great cycle after another.

About half an hour.

Zhou Qing's internal energy was fully restored.

Name: Zhou Qing

Realm: Fifth level of the Acquired Realm (Second-rate martial artist)
Mastered martial arts: Rejuvenation Skill / Level 10 (Characteristics: Enhances internal energy healing, increases lifespan by half a century, increases poison resistance by 300%, improves physical constitution)
Seamless Blade Technique/Perfect (Specialties: Blade Speed ​​Burst 300%, Power Burst 200%)

Swallow Triple Skim/Perfect (Characteristics: Light as a swallow, uses airborne momentum, speed bursts up to 200%)

Hundred Refinements Golden Body Technique / Level 5 (Characteristics: Copper Skin and Iron Bones, Qi and Blood Enhancement 400%, Reflection 50%)

Talent: Nine-Breath Breath Control (By breathing for nine breaths, one will be blessed with mysterious supernatural powers, automatically refining the power of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth into Dao Source. One point of Dao Source can be automatically obtained every day, and each point of Dao Source is equivalent to one year of arduous cultivation.)
Daoyuan: 1
Zhou Qing opened the data panel.

After midnight, he obtained another Dao Source Point.

"Enhance the Hundred Refinements Golden Body Technique!"

Zhou Qing silently recited in his heart.

[After a year of arduous training day and night, your Hundred Refinements Golden Body Technique has broken through from the fifth level to the sixth level. Your Qi and blood have undergone a transformation, turning into a cloud of Qi and blood smoke.]

Zhou Qing's Hundred Refinements Golden Body Technique had already reached the peak of the fifth level, so he only needed a year of arduous training to break through to the sixth level.

Hundred Refinements Golden Body Technique / Level 6 (Characteristics: Copper Skin and Iron Bones, Vital Energy and Blood, 80% Counterattack)

hum~~~
Zhou Qing's body trembled.

He clearly felt his internal energy and blood become incredibly condensed. With a thought, it transformed into a blood-red mist that shot into the sky, swirling above his head and adding to his imposing presence.

This is the Qi and Blood Wolf Smoke.

Only by cultivating body-refining techniques and reaching a certain level can one cultivate the Qi Blood Wolf Smoke. Its function is the same as a martial artist's internal energy. Once the Qi Blood Wolf Smoke is unleashed, it can greatly enhance a martial artist's strength, defense, and other abilities.

"Not bad!"

Zhou Qing nodded in satisfaction.

Close the panel.

He left the inn.

However, as soon as Zhou Qing stepped out of the inn, he noticed a man dressed in black wolf-patterned clothing standing not far ahead, his aura locking onto him.

"Eagle Wolf Guard!"

Zhou Qing narrowed his eyes slightly and immediately placed his right hand on the hilt of the knife.

(End of this chapter)