Even in his twilight years, he swept through the chaotic army of ten thousand warriors!

But the more Ji Yan spoke, the stranger Liu Zhe's expression became.

"Developing qi and blood is common, but to develop qi and blood in three days..."

"But this is hardly a normal occurrence!"

Speaking of which, Liu Zhe was also filled with emotion.

"Qi and blood are only the starting point of martial arts, but the process of cultivating qi and blood is often the manifestation of martial arts talent."

"You've cultivated your Qi and blood in these three days, and that's without any breathing techniques and under the influence of old age and frailty..."

"Furthermore, he created his own breathing technique solely based on stance training."

"Exceptional talent, coupled with monstrous comprehension..."

Liu Zhe's voice unconsciously rose a few decibels, filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"This foreshadows a smooth and easy path for you on your martial arts journey!"

"Moreover, your breathing technique is extremely valuable; reporting it in itself is a great achievement."

"So, everyone sees you as the key to their success."

"Yes!"

Liu Zhe suddenly slowed his pace, as if he had remembered something, and spoke.

Now that you've cultivated your Qi and blood, there are some fundamental things I should tell you about.

"The path of martial arts is a long one!"

Upon hearing this, Ji Yan quickly composed himself, for this was indeed what he cared about most.

Liu Zhe cleared his throat and spoke as he walked.

"We common soldiers are collectively known as warriors in the outside world, but in the real world of martial arts cultivation, the realm you have just entered is called the Blood Refining Realm."

He held up one finger and emphasized, "The essence of this realm lies entirely in the word 'refinement'."

"The newly generated wisp of blood and energy within your body is the spark of fire."

"The first priority is to use the cultivation method as fuel, refining it to be robust, condensed, and powerful."

"Once it grows strong enough to surge and flow at your will, you can use its power to repeatedly temper your skin and membranes, making them as tough as old cowhide, difficult to be harmed by ordinary swords and knives—this is called the skin barrier."

"When the Qi and blood advance further and become as powerful as a rainbow, they can penetrate the muscles and fascia, tempering the flesh and blood of the whole body. When they explode, they can produce the sound of a tiger or leopard – this is called the flesh gate."

"Once the Qi and blood are refined to the point of boiling and surging, filling the limbs and bones, they can penetrate deep into the bone marrow, tempering the bones and muscles, making it easy to lift cauldrons and throw elephants—this is called the Bone Barrier."

At this point, Liu Zhe curled his lip in a slightly mocking manner.

"According to the unwritten rules of the garrison, Pi Guan is qualified to compete for the position of banner officer."

"Of the three from the training ground earlier, Zhou Cheng and Wang Long barely made it to the flesh stage, only Li Juyao was worth watching..."

Liu Zhe suddenly grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, his smile full of candor.

"Old Ji, in this world, the truth may be convoluted, but ultimately—"

"Might makes right!"

"I was just transferred here, and I used to give them some face."

"But what if they really dare to sabotage us behind our backs..."

He clenched his fist, and his knuckles cracked slightly.

"It's alright, I'll just talk to them."

As he spoke, Ji Yan compared himself to the situation.

He did reach the Blood Refining Realm, but his blood and qi...

It was quite touching.

Like...a snowflake in winter...

Ji Yan was afraid that if she held it in her hand, it would melt away.

Looking at it this way, the road is indeed quite long.

But then he suddenly remembered something and looked up.

"Liu Qi, to what extent do you need to teach others the breathing technique?"

When he was performing in the martial arts arena, he caught a glimpse of Li Yan. The way that kid looked at him was practically dripping with jealousy.

If possible, Ji Yan wouldn't mind lending him a hand.

And Dongzi...

Liu Zhe raised an eyebrow, looking quite interested.

"There aren't really any hard and fast requirements. It's just that you need to have enough Qi and blood, and you need to have a very precise and meticulous control over Qi and blood."

"After all, you're manipulating someone's meridians. If you make a slight mistake, use too much force, or go astray, you could ruin their meridians..."

"Logically speaking, it should at least be a minor injury, right?"

"What, you want to be a teacher now?"

Ji Yan shook his head, and then answered frankly.

"I have two friends who are still struggling, and I was thinking of helping them out if I could..."

As they were talking, Liu Zhe suddenly slowed down and pointed to a large courtyard in front of him.

"Here you go!"

"This is the Six Banners!"

Ji Yan looked in the direction he was pointing and indeed saw a large courtyard.

The courtyard doesn't have many elaborate carvings and paintings, but it is spacious.

"There aren't many people from the Six Banners. There are only seven in total now, five of whom were originally there, and two of whom I brought down."

"They're all busy with their own things, and they're generally quite easygoing..."

boom!

Before Liu Zhe could finish speaking, the door was kicked open from the inside.

Ji Yan looked up and saw a shirtless, bald man rushing out, carrying a butcher knife and cursing.

The word "easygoing" stuck in his throat, and Liu Zhe didn't indulge him.

He raised his foot and gave the man a powerful kick, sending him flying back into the doorway.

"What's all this commotion about!"

The shirtless man was about to curse, but when he looked up and saw Liu Zhe's face, he immediately withdrew his curse.

Then he tumbled to his feet, neck stiff, and said, "Boss, Xiao Wu's been detained at the gambling den!"

"Xiao Wu, who never gambles, claims to owe fifty taels of silver..."

"If I don't bring a knife, how can I possibly produce any money?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhe frowned instantly.

Xiao Wu is quite capable; he can hold off anyone...

"Liu Qi, you should go and attend to your business first," Ji Yan said immediately upon seeing this. "Now that we're here, I can find an empty room to settle in myself. It's no trouble."

Liu Zhe didn't stand on ceremony and nodded.

"There are plenty of empty rooms, just pick one to stay in!"

"That just so happens, you've also been working non-stop for two days..."

After Liu Zhe finished speaking, he led the bald man quickly westward.

Ji Yan walked through the gate and found himself in a large, square courtyard.

In the center is a polished bluestone training ground, marked with knife and gun marks of varying depths.

The two rows of blue brick side rooms on the east and west sides are mostly empty.

In the southwest corner, an old locust tree leans to one side, its branches shading half the sky.

Ji Yan chose the room under the old locust tree, which had a small side room, thinking it would be suitable for storing some things on weekdays.

Pushing open the door, you'll find the interior simply yet fully furnished.

A bed, a table, a chair, and a weapons rack; the room was bright and clean.

He carefully unwrapped the heavy bow, which was wrapped in layers of tattered cloth, and placed it on the weapon rack.

Then I slowly sat down on the hard bed, finally getting a moment of peace so I could calmly reflect on what I had learned that day.

With a focused mind, the destiny chart panel quietly appeared.

[Destiny: Late Bloomer]

[Client: Ji Yan]

Age: 86

[Realm: Blood Refining Realm (Entry-level)]

[Position: Passerby (2%)]

[Effect: After reaching the age of knowing one's destiny, every ten years one's skill in all arts and crafts will double; with each layer of destiny formed, one divinely bestowed inscription will be selected.]

[Evaluation: Omitted]

[Entry: Old but vigorous, forging a path through dust and mud (4)]

[Skills: Archery (Beginner), Dajing Eight-Stage Kung Fu (Not yet Beginner)]