Starting from the Locked Dragon Well, I'll grind my way to becoming the Great Sage of Immortal

The Green Robe Gang has three members at the Strong Bone Realm, with the gang leader being a mid-stage Strong Bone Realm expert.

If it weren't for the Yin Thunder Pearl and the movement technique [Wind Step], I would have had to fight that Strong Bone Realm expert tonight.

"My strength is still not enough..."

As always, Jiang Qi reviewed the battle.

After checking and filling in the gaps for a long time, he returned to the table, his eyes falling on the spoils of war, and began to take stock.

The first thing that catches the eye is a thick stack of bills.

Three gold notes and six silver notes gleamed enticingly under the oil lamp.

"...A total of three thousand six hundred taels." Jiang Qi's face lit up with surprise. "Adding what we received before, that's nearly five thousand taels!"

Jiang Qi's thoughts drifted back to the time when he had just awakened his innate wisdom, when he risked selling diluted "Moonlight Water" for ten taels of silver to get into the martial arts school.

In just one year, she went from having ten taels of silver to now being pregnant with five thousand taels...

In this dog-eat-dog world where demons roam, the size of one's fist is directly linked to wealth.

It can only be said that murder and arson bring wealth and power.

He gently shook his head, suppressing his distracting thoughts.

In any case, having this huge sum of money means that for a long time to come, there will be no need to worry about cultivation resources.

After putting away the money, his gaze turned to the 'Black Charcoal' he had obtained after eliminating the evil spirits.

Upon closer inspection, aside from being genuinely black, this object was completely ordinary and its purpose was unclear.

"I'll look into it again when I have time..."

He knew very little about evil spirits, and the outside world only said that evil spirits were terrifying, but had never heard of any black things remaining after evil spirits were destroyed.

So instead of wasting time researching what this thing is now, it's better to wait until we're in the government system and then look up the information directly.

Tomorrow is the day the results of the military examinations will be released. If all goes well, after obtaining the title of "Martial Artist," one can start planning for a military position in the government.

Thinking this, his gaze fell again on the porcelain vase placed in the center of the table.

Upon identification, there were a total of seven bottles of Blood Coagulation Pills, all of excellent quality; there were also four bottles of Blood Refining Pills used to break through the bottleneck of the Blood Refining Realm.

"Seven bottles of Blood Clotting Pills, three pills per bottle, that's twenty-one pills. Four bottles of Blood Refining Pills, two pills per bottle, that's eight pills..."

Jiang Qi pondered, a look of joy appearing in his eyes. "With these tonics, combined with [Moonlight Water] for blending and purification, I should soon reach the sixth stage of Qi and Blood perfection and be able to break through to the seventh stage..."

The six paths of Qi and blood are complete, equivalent to the twelve paths of an ordinary martial artist. The seventh path is the fourteenth path of Qi and blood.

At that time, in terms of sheer strength of qi and blood, he would far surpass the Blood-Burning Realm and be comparable to a true Bone-Strengthening Realm.

Thinking of this, Jiang Qi immediately took a ceramic jar, filled it halfway with water, and poured in a tube of [Moonlight Water].

When the moonlight water is mixed with ordinary well water, the surface of the water immediately shimmers with a layer of fluorescence.

Next, three blood-clotting pills were added.

"Out of water".

As consciousness sank into the water, the Blood Coagulation Pill, under the subtle power of [Separation from Water], separated its medicinal components, impurities, and any possible hidden toxicity.

"The medicine is of pure quality, with Blood-Soul Grass and Red Essence Ginseng as the main ingredients, supplemented by seven kinds of warming and tonifying herbs. The combination of principal, assistant, and adjuvant herbs is well-balanced... and there are no hidden toxicities..."

After confirming that everything was correct, Jiang Qicai placed the earthenware pot on the small clay stove, lit the charcoal fire, and began to slowly simmer it over a low flame to make the [Moonlight Blood-Coagulating Soup].

While the food was simmering, I continued to check on the remaining spoils.

"Blood Refining Technique... Refining Qi and Blood..." He picked up a booklet and flipped through it, glancing at a few pages before setting it aside.

He possessed the "Zhenyuan Body Strengthening Technique," but this same blood-boosting method was of little use.

Immediately, he picked up another book.

"Blood Fiend Claw..."

Yan Liang's famous claw technique.

His moves are ruthless and vicious, targeting vital points, and when combined with his blood energy, they are incredibly powerful.

"Although I mainly use a knife, the principles of martial arts can be applied to other areas. This claw technique is worth studying."

Then, I looked at the third book.

"Blood and Spirit Forging Bones..."

"...Blood and qi are the fuel, and muscles and bones are the furnace. When the blood is fully smelted, the blood and qi become abundant like a river. However, a river, though flowing, eventually needs embankments to hold it together. Muscles and bones are the framework of the human body's embankments..."

The opening scene alone caught Jiang Qi's eye.

This book is actually a method for strengthening bones and muscles in the second stage of martial arts, the Bone Strengthening Stage!

"The realm of strong bones is not achieved overnight. It requires a foundation of abundant qi and blood, guided by specific methods, progressing step by step to temper the bones throughout the body. From the outside in, from the extremities to the core, it advances layer by layer..."

Jiang Qi read on, word by word, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.

"Initially, the focus is on tempering the bones of the limbs, greatly enhancing their strength, speed, and toughness. One's fists can break stone tablets, and one's fingers can pierce stone."

"Mid-stage tempering of the main bones of the torso strengthens the body's core and stabilizes the center of qi and blood;"

"The later stage of skull tempering is the most dangerous step, requiring utmost caution..."

"But to achieve perfection, it is necessary to connect the head and torso, using the Dazhui (GV14) and the dragon spine to connect the Qi and blood throughout the body..."

"So that's how it is... limbs, torso, head, Dazhui (GV14)... step by step, link by link."

Jiang Qi suddenly felt enlightened.

What Coach Zhou said before was only a general outline, but the explanation in "Blood and Bone Forging" details the Bone Strengthening Realm.

Unfortunately, although this booklet explains a lot, the actual tempering method only applies to the tendons and bones of the hands and arms at the early stage of the Strong Bone Realm.

"However, that's enough for now."

According to Instructor Zhou's previous statement and the theories in the manual, as long as one's Qi and blood accumulate to more than eleven levels and one masters the corresponding bone-forging methods, one can attempt to temper one's bones and enter the realm of strong bones.

"My current blood and qi, after being purified by the [Blood Absorption] technique, have reached a total of twelve times that of an ordinary martial artist, making me even stronger than Yan Liang."

"So, I should be able to try bone forging..."

His heartbeat quickened slightly.

If one could begin bone forging now, even just the initial tempering of the bones in one's hands, one's strength would undergo a qualitative leap.

"At that time, when facing a true expert in the Bone Strengthening Realm like tonight, perhaps I won't need to rely on the Yin Thunder Pearl to create an opportunity to escape, but will truly have the confidence to contend with them, or even compete with them."

Despite thinking this, Jiang Qi did not immediately begin cultivation.

The path of cultivation, especially the dangerous steps involving tempering muscles and bones, requires thorough preparation and extreme caution.

"First, refine the six streams of Qi and blood, then try this bone-tempering method..."

Putting aside the bone-strengthening secret technique for the time being, Jiang Qi looked at the strange leather book.

The cover bore the large characters "Qingtao Duanlang Blade".

Swordsmanship!

Jiang Qi was overjoyed.

If I remember correctly, the Qing Shui Gang leader's signature sword technique was the "Qing Tao Duan Lang Saber".

Turn it over and take a look.

"With body as reef, the sea flows into its veins; as the blade rises, the green waves surge a thousandfold; as the blade falls, the vast ocean cleaves with immense force..."

"Excellent swordsmanship!" Jiang Qi felt a domineering sword intent rushing towards him after only reading the descriptions and techniques of the first two moves.

Its swordsmanship is absolutely superior to that of the "Breaking Wind Blade".

He immediately became engrossed in it, completely forgetting about time.

It went on until late at night.

The firelight illuminated Jiang Qi's profile.

The Moon Essence Blood-Coagulating Soup transforms into pure Qi and blood, continuously strengthening the sixth channel of Qi and blood.

Deep within his consciousness, the golden characters on the [Book of a Hundred Trades] pulsed with his comprehension and cultivation.

[Shadow Chaser Swordsman] +1

[Shadow Chaser Swordsman] +1...