Chapter 22: Blood As Thick As Mercury

Nighttime.

Jia Yanyong's eyes were red and swollen. Thanks to a physician's treatment, his eyesight was saved. But his eyes remained swollen and blurred, making it hard for him to see clearly.

"Boss, I went to invite Lin Zheyu personally, but he refused to come," said Jia Yanyong, reporting to his boss.

"What did he say?" asked Xu Jingwu as he took a sip of tea and squeezed the waist of the woman at his side.

He appeared to be around forty and was well-kept, without the brutish air of Jia Yanyong. In fact, he carried a faint air of refinement.

"He said that he's busy tomorrow morning, but if you want to hear a story, you can go to the Jade Pill Teahouse in the afternoon," replied Jia Yanyong.

Jia Yanyong spoke plainly, a bit too honest for his own good. If he had been more scheming, he would have slandered Lin Zheyu instead. But it was precisely this honesty that Xu Jingwu valued, which was why he trusted and cultivated him.

"I told you to invite him. Did you threaten him with force?" asked Xu Jingwu, casting him a sidelong glance. He knew Jia Yanyong's nature. Jia Yanyong was nothing but a brute who would rather solve things with fists than with his head.

"No... well, maybe just a little threat," muttered Jia Yanyong. He had wanted to deny it outright, but under his leader's side eye, he spoke sheepishly instead.

"Forget it. I should've reminded you to be more polite. But that scholar does have some guts. Not only did he refuse your threat, but he even struck first. Interesting. Tomorrow, I'll go to the Jade Pill Teahouse myself. I'll listen to the storytelling and see for myself if this fellow is truly as tough as he seems." Xu Jingwu chuckled softly and said to Jia Yanyong, "Your eyes are injured. Take a few days to rest. Luo Tian, give him five taels of silver to see a physician."

"Many thanks, Boss," said Jia Yanyong.

Watching Jia Yanyong's departing figure, a trace of amusement flickered across Xu Jingwu's face. He murmured, "An interesting fellow, with some spirit. No wonder he could write such a brilliant story like

The Legend of the Condor Heroes.

"

He had no interest in flowery romances between scholars and fox yaos. As a martial artist, Xu Jingwu preferred tales like

The Legend of the Condor Heroes

, full of the hot-blooded passion of the martial world.

The story was told with great flair. A few days ago, his curiosity was piqued when he heard his men discussing it, and he too was drawn in. But with only one chapter told per day, it left him unsatisfied, so he had the idea to invite Lin Zheyu to tell stories in his own home.

***

By the time he returned home, it was already quite late. Lin Zheyu's whole body ached as he was covered with fresh bruises. Master Liang had struck far too hard, holding nothing back, leaving even Lin Zheyu's face burning painfully.

Staring into the bronze mirror as he applied medicine, Lin Zheyu couldn't help but cry out in pain, "My handsome face is ruined."

He washed up briefly before climbing onto his bed, utterly exhausted. The hours of sparring with Master Liang had drained him of strength, energy, and spirit. Yet Master Liang had seemed perfectly fine, still brimming with vigor when Lin Zheyu left. Lin Zheyu couldn't help but wonder what level Master Liang was really at.

"I'll ask him tomorrow morning, and also find out about the later realms of martial cultivation," muttered Lin Zheyu to himself before sinking into a deep sleep.

***

At the crack of dawn, Lin Zheyu arrived early at Liang Song's home. The medicine Master Liang had given him was truly miraculous. After applying it last night, the pain was gone by morning, and even the bruises on his face had vanished.

"Master, what realm comes after the Organ Forging Realm?" asked Lin Zheyu curiously.

"Very well, I'll explain it to you. The path of martial cultivation begins with Muscle Forging, Bone Forging, and Organ Forging. These are only the foundation, and they are meant to establish the roots of martial cultivation. Only after completing the Organ Forging Realm can one begin deeper training."

"Beyond the Organ Forging Realm are the realms of Blood Qi, Marrow Refining, Force Transformation, Grandmaster, and finally, Martial Innate. On the martial path, the Organ Forging Realm is a great hurdle. Beyond it, each realm is like stepping into another heaven. A single realm's difference means a world apart in strength," said Liang Song with a tone tinged with melancholy. Due to certain events in his youth, his right leg had become crippled, leaving his cultivation stagnant.

"Then, Master, what realm are you in now?" asked Lin Zheyu with deep curiosity, convinced his master must be formidable.

"Heh. I am in the Blood Qi Realm. But with age and a weakened body, my cultivation has declined," said Liang Song with a shake of his head, full of regret.

"Grandmaster... Martial Innate..." murmured Lin Zheyu, his heart filled with longing. Surely, a Martial Innate expert's power must be as unfathomable as gods and spirits.

Liang Song glanced at Lin Zheyu and, seeing the look of yearning on his face, couldn't help but smile faintly.

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"Don't aim too high too soon. Keep your feet firmly on the ground. The path of martial cultivation is incomparably difficult. Even those in the Organ Forging Realm are already considered experts in Songyi City," said Liang Song.

"Yes, Master," replied Lin Zheyu.

He then collected his thoughts. He took off his outer coat, left only in a tight vest, and stepped into the courtyard center to begin practicing his fist techniques.

After half an hour of fist practice, Liang Song nodded in satisfaction.

"That's enough. Next, I'll teach you another technique. The Barbaric Ox Fist is merely a third-rate technique, you see. Even at its peak, it only helps its practitioner reach the Organ Forging Realm. The technique I'll now teach you counts as second-rate. If you can fully master it and push it to the limit, your strength can reach the peak of the Blood Qi Realm!" said Liang Song with grave seriousness.

In his eyes, only techniques of second-rate or above can truly be considered martial cultivation techniques. Techniques like the Barbaric Ox Fist were barely worth counting.

In the past, he had only taught such third-rate techniques to others. But after seeing Lin Zheyu's extraordinary talent and perception, Liang Song developed a fondness for nurturing him and decided to pass on a higher-level technique.

"Master, is the gap between the Organ Forging Realm and the Blood Qi Realm really that great?" asked Lin Zheyu curiously.

The Barbaric Ox Fist could help one reach the peak of Organ Forging Realm, yet based on Liang Song's tone, it was nothing special. But when he spoke of a technique capable of helping one reach the peak of the Blood Qi Realm, his words carried a heavy weight.

"Of course. Muscle Forging, Bone Forging, and Organ Forging are only the foundational stages, laying the groundwork for the martial path. Reaching the peak of the Organ Forging Realm means one's physique has hit the limit of ordinary humans. Once you step into the Blood Qi Realm, your strength undergoes a tremendous leap. And what is the most important thing for a martial artist?"

Without waiting for Lin Zheyu's reply, Liang Song continued, "It is blood qi! Blood qi is the foundation of the body, the very root of martial cultivation. To step onto the path of the Grandmaster Realm, and even to break through to the Martial Innate Realm, blood qi is absolutely crucial."

"Please instruct me, Master," said Lin Zheyu respectfully, pouring his master a cup of tea.

Liang Song took the cup in satisfaction and sipped. He went on to say, "Blood qi is of utmost importance to the martial path. Through in-depth study, the predecessors divided the Blood Qi Realm into nine minor stages.

"These nine stages are also called the Nine Transformations of Blood Qi. If one can complete all Nine Transformations of Blood Qi, reaching the state where blood is thick as mercury and blood qi condenses into a rising smoke-like aura, then the chances of stepping into the Grandmaster Realm are greatly increased!" explained Liang Song, his tone filled with yearning.

But he shook his head and said, "Yet to complete all nine is as hard as reaching the heavens. Most martial artists can only achieve the first transformation. At my peak, I only managed to cultivate to the third transformation of blood qi."

He removed his outer robe, left in a tight training vest, and stepped into the center of the courtyard.

"Now, I will teach you my main cultivation technique, called the Golden Goose Technique. The Golden Goose Technique focuses on leg techniques, specializing in offensive and defensive arts of the legs. Our legs are the strongest and most explosive part of the body.

"The Golden Goose Technique excels in speed and agility. It's perfect for both attack and defense. But it has a drawback: it's limited by the legs' lesser flexibility compared to the arms. Though its strikes are explosive, they lack the dexterity of fists and palms."

"......"

Liang Song explained slowly.

After finishing his introduction, he began demonstrating each move one by one for Lin Zheyu. Lin Zheyu studied intently with a keen comprehension. Liang Song was not particularly skilled in teaching disciples, but fortunately, Lin Zheyu's aptitude was high, allowing him to grasp Liang Song's intent quickly.

The more Liang Song taught him, the more satisfied he became. To meet a disciple with such perception gave him an excellent teaching experience, even giving him the illusion that he was an exceptional teacher.