From a slave to the Great Qian Martial Saint

Inside the medicine shop, Chen Shi lay naked from the waist up, wearing only shorts on his lower body, on a door panel. Mu Yunsheng squatted beside him, inserting silver needles into his acupoints one by one.

Mu Yunsheng's needle insertion speed was not fast, but her movements were as smooth as flowing water. Dozens of silver needles were inserted in one go, and in just a moment, Chen Shi's body was covered with needles.

"Bear with it."

Mu Yunsheng gave a reminder, and then rhythmically tapped the acupoints with her knuckles.

Although the force was not great, each tap, guided by the silver needles, stirred the blood and qi throughout the body, feeling like being struck in the chest with a heavy hammer.

Chen Shi frowned, but gritted his teeth and didn't utter a single groan.

Compared to the medicinal baths used in cultivating the Elephant King Stance, this is nothing.

"Alright."

After several taps, Mu Yunsheng said something, and with a flick of his sleeve, instantly rolled up all the silver needles.

"How is it?"

Chen Shi climbed up from the door and asked nervously.

Chen Shi had practiced the Eight Directions Night Battle for over ten days, and his moves were already quite proficient, yet his blood and qi remained completely stagnant. Chen Shi originally intended to continue his arduous training, but Mu Yunsheng reminded him that there might be a problem with his body, so she used silver needles to examine him.

"It is indeed a problem with your body."

Mu Yunsheng washed his hands and spoke.

"If we compare the blood and qi of an ordinary ninth-rank martial artist to a pond, yours is a lake. For a martial artist, the more vigorous the blood and qi, the better, but right now your blood and qi are just too abundant."

"...What do you mean?"

"You should know about the Ninth Grade Blood Nourishment and the Eighth Grade Qi Explosion. The so-called Qi Explosion is the burst of blood energy. Through special martial arts, you can draw upon the blood energy in your body to achieve the effect of using energy to fight enemies. But you have too much blood energy, so ordinary Qi Explosion martial arts simply cannot draw it upon."

Mu Yunsheng looked at Chen Shi and added a sentence.

"This is like a small horse pulling a large cart."

"I see."

Chen Shi frowned deeply, his expression grave.

He glanced at Zhe Liu lying on the bed next to him and sighed inwardly.

Zhe Liu was the female assassin he rescued, and also the one who guided him in cultivating the Elephant King Stance.

Zhe Liu had warned him before that the Elephant King Stance had a major drawback: even if he mastered it, it would be extremely difficult to break through to the next level, and he might remain at the ninth rank for life.

He only thought about becoming a warrior and didn't consider the long term, and now he's reaping what he sowed.

"Oh, right!"

After a moment's thought, Chen Shi's eyes suddenly lit up.

"If a small horse can't pull a large cart, how about we get a bigger horse?"

"You mean practicing higher-level martial arts?"

"Hmm! Since low-grade Yellow Rank doesn't work, could mid-grade or high-grade Yellow Rank draw out the blood energy within me?"

Chen Shi nodded vigorously, then looked at Mu Yunsheng with hopeful eyes.

"cannot."

Mu Yunsheng shook his head and said directly.

"You have far too much blood energy in your body. Even a high-grade Yellow Rank explosive martial art would be difficult to be effective. Perhaps a Profound Rank martial art would be more effective."

"Mystic Rank..."

Chen Shi opened his eyes wide, then couldn't help but shake his head with a wry smile.

The Yellow Rank corresponds to the Ninth, Eighth, and Seventh Grades, while the Mysterious Rank corresponds to the Sixth, Fifth, and Fourth Grades. These are already different cultivation realms. Where in this world can you find a Mysterious Rank martial art that reaches the Qi Explosion Realm?

Mu Yunsheng was just using an analogy when he said that.

and many more.

Just as Chen Shi was feeling lost, he suddenly remembered.

Above the Yellow Rank Upper Grade is not the Profound Rank; there is another grade: Yellow Rank Supreme Grade!

If he had a top-grade Yellow Rank explosive martial art, wouldn't that solve his problem?

Thinking of this, Chen Shi looked at Zhe Liu again.

The Elephant King Stance is a top-grade Yellow Rank martial art, as Zhe Liu told him. The method of cultivating the Elephant King Stance was also taught to him by Zhe Liu.

If there really is a top-grade Yellow Rank martial art specifically designed for his situation, perhaps Zhe Liu knows about it!

"Stop having illusions."

Before Chen Shi could ask, Zhe Liu's voice came.

"There was indeed a top-grade Yellow-rank explosive martial art that was specifically designed for the Divine Power Elephant Fetus, but it has long been lost."

"Lost in history..."

Chen Shi opened his mouth, but the glimmer of hope that had just appeared in his eyes instantly dimmed again.

Could it be that he really can't improve any further and will be stuck at the ninth rank for life?

Do not!

Immediately afterwards, Chen Shi's gaze suddenly hardened.

In order to get back his and Cui Nong's indenture and to live freely, no matter how difficult it is, he must continue his cultivation!

A small horse pulling a large cart—if the small horse puts in all its strength, I don't believe it can't pull the large cart.

Chen Shi dressed and went out of the house. He picked up a short bamboo pole and began practicing Night Battle in All Directions again.

If once isn't enough, then do it a thousand times, ten thousand times; if ten days isn't enough, then do it for ten years, a lifetime!

In short, he will keep practicing until he succeeds or he practices until he dies.

"How stubborn."

Mu Yunsheng glanced at Chen Shi practicing his martial arts outside and said something indifferently.

He glanced again at Zhe Liu, who was still lying on the bed with her face turned inward, but didn't say anything and went back to doing his own thing.

Zhe Liu lay on the bed, completely still, like a statue.

Several hours passed, and before they knew it, it was sunset.

Chen Shi had been practicing for several hours.

"Stop practicing."

Zhe Liu got out of bed at some point and stood at the door, looking at Chen Shi with a hint of anger.

"With your training method, you'll never reach the eighth rank, even if you train your whole life!"

Chen Shi ignored him and continued to practice the seven sword techniques diligently.

"Why are you all so stubborn!"

Zhe Liu said angrily, then took a deep breath to calm himself down before speaking again.

"To utilize the immense blood energy of the Divine Elephant Embryo, one must either draw it from within, which is achieved through specialized Yellow-Rank Top-Grade Explosive Qi Martial Arts, or stimulate it from the outside."

"External stimulation!"

Chen Shi suddenly stopped and looked at Zhe Liu with excitement.

"How do I activate it!"

"Medicated bath".

"Very good!"

"There really is a way!" Chen Shi exclaimed softly, his face full of excitement.

The previous medicinal bath had already caused him unbearable pain; this advanced medicinal bath must be even more painful.

But Chen Shi didn't think about any of that. All he wanted to do was advance to the eighth rank, even if it meant risking his life.

"Please tell me the prescription!"

"I don't."

Zhe Liu sighed, and before Chen Shi could show any disappointment, he continued.

"This recipe is only available to the Fufeng Society."

"Fufeng Association?"

"Once you enter Fufeng, there is no turning back."

Zhe Liu's gaze dimmed, and then he spoke.

"It's a clandestine martial arts organization with influence throughout the Great Qian Dynasty, even extending to the imperial court. They are cunning and ruthless, willing to do anything to achieve their goals. Joining them is tantamount to falling into hell."

"...You mean, only by joining the Fufeng Society can I obtain a prescription that can stimulate the blood and qi within me."

"That's right, the Divine Strength Elephant Embryo is a unique physique possessed only by the Holy Son of the Fufeng Society!"

Zhe Liu looked at Chen Shi with an extremely serious expression.

"At least you still have a peaceful life now, there's no need for you to join the Fufeng Society just to break through to the eighth rank."

"I want to join!"

Chen Shi took a deep breath, his voice unwavering.

He would do anything to break through to the eighth rank!