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Chapter 19: Breakthrough to True Force (Please favorite)

Chapter 19: Breakthrough to True Force (Please favorite)

"In the Blood-Qi Martial Arts of Da Liang, before the three transformations of blood-qi, one primarily strengthens their own blood-qi, and can be called a Martial Apprentice. . ."

"Once one reaches the peak of the three transformations of blood-qi, they can comprehend a 'Divine Intent Diagram', integrate True Force, and step into the realm of a True Force martial artist!"

"This is also the limit for the vast majority of martial arts hall masters!"

In the backyard of the Fang residence.

Fang Xi seized that hard-won sliver of breakthrough inspiration. The blood-qi power within his body, having reached its peak, circulated through his limbs and bones, subtly on the verge of coalescing into a brand-new strength.

He calmed his mind and qi, contemplating the two Divine Intent Diagrams, his Divine Consciousness merging with the myriad transformations, searching for a certain opportunity.

'Cultivators possess Divine Consciousness, so it seems they also have an advantage over ordinary martial artists when it comes to comprehending Divine Intent Diagrams. . . '

An inexplicable thought surfaced in Fang Xi's mind.

The Red Snake Leg Divine Intent Diagram!

"I didn't expect. . . that the Red Snake Leg would be the first to break through?"

"Indeed, comprehending a Divine Intent Diagram is a matter of chance, ever-changing and unpredictable. . ."

The mountains, rivers, and lines of snake shadows within the original diagram, in Fang Xi's eyes at this moment, were patterns of blood-qi power in motion. . .

Furthermore, even without him consciously willing it, the raging blood-qi within his body began to circulate on its own, following a mysterious path.

Countless strands of blood-qi twisted and coiled. . . like fine threads condensing into steel ropes.

Snap!

As if some kind of shackles had been broken!

Fang Xi inwardly observed himself and discovered a brand-new power!

True Force!

This power was completely different from the 'internal qi' spoken of by mortals in the cultivation world. It relied on the four limbs and myriad bones, flowing between tendons and muscles, strengthening the internal organs.

Because it was 'true', it was named 'True Force'.

The moment True Force formed, the surging blood-qi power within Fang Xi's body rapidly transformed into True Force.

Immediately after, he let out a joyful long howl, feeling the toughness of the membranes across his body, his hands, and his main torso rapidly increasing! Especially in his legs, the degree of strengthening far surpassed all other areas.

After all, this was a realm broken through using the Red Snake Leg!

This was also the drawback of third-rate martial arts: they primarily focused on one area. While other parts of the body also received strengthening, it was more than a notch weaker compared to those secretly transmitted true arts.

Thud!

Fang Xi subconsciously stomped his foot.

Bang!

Beneath his foot, the bluestone slab caved in as if struck by a heavy hammer, forming a large pit, and countless deep cracks spread out densely like a spiderweb in all directions.

Had it been before, Fang Xi would absolutely not have been able to achieve such destructive power with such effortless ease!

"Indeed. . . there is a chasm-like gap between True Force and ordinary Blood-Qi Martial Apprentices."

"No wonder Mu Cang Long defeated She Lei with such effortless ease before; I would do the same."

Fang Xi estimated that his martial arts had at least increased by more than two or three times, allowing him to defeat a dozen or so versions of himself from before the breakthrough.

As for She Lei, he would be nothing more than a single kick away.

He paused, as if remembering something, and a flying sword as thin as a green leaf suddenly appeared in his hand!

—The Green Reaping Sword!

Fang Xi held the sword hilt, pointing the blade at his finger.

After a moment's thought, he still rolled up his trouser leg and pressed the sword tip against his skin.

A faint resistance met the blade.

He continued to press, and after a moment of resistance, the flying sword smoothly pierced his skin, a trace of fresh blood seeping out. . .

"This defensive power is indeed comparable to a Body Cultivator at the first stage of Body Cultivation. . ."

Fang Xi nodded.

A Body Cultivator at the first stage of Body Cultivation is comparable to a cultivator at the early Qi Refinement stage!

However, this didn't mean their body could be harder than a low-grade artifact!

Comparing flesh and blood to metal was inherently a foolish endeavor.

"To truly be immune to low-grade artifacts, or rather, for one's body to be as tough as an artifact, one would probably need to be above the fourth stage of Body Cultivation, which is equivalent to a Foundation Establishment-level Body Cultivator. Only then could one say that no hair would be lost, no matter how low-grade or mid-grade artifacts struck them. . ."

"A Body Cultivator at the first stage of Body Cultivation, when facing a low-grade artifact's strike, can offer a moment of resistance. . . and their muscles and bones are firmer, potentially trapping the low-grade artifact, making them more resilient and stronger. . . that's about it."

With these advantages, a Body Cultivator would gain a significant upper hand when engaging in close combat against ordinary cultivators.

"Therefore, my artifact flying sword poses a considerable threat to martial arts hall masters, and even to that overseer Linghu Yang!"

"Furthermore, this is akin to freeloading dozens of Spirit Stones and achieving the first stage of Body Cultivation. Great joy, great joy. . ."

Fang Xi flicked the Green Reaping Sword, causing its blade to hum and buzz like a dragon's roar.

"Today's breakthrough is a great joy, so I should kill a few people to unwind. . ."

He looked towards the direction of the Red Snake Martial Arts Hall.

Lu She and She Lei had always been on his little blacklist; he had merely been patient and hadn't acted before.

After all, She Lei was one thing, but Lu She still posed a bit of a threat.

Now, after his breakthrough, the other party was no longer worth a second glance.

'And. . . by killing Lu She and the others, I can make the masterminds behind Yuan He Mountain believe that I've only uncovered what they wanted me to uncover. Heh heh. . . weren't they trying to lead me into a trap? I'll let them know that the same trap, when applied to different people, can have entirely different outcomes. '

...

That night.

Red Snake Martial Arts Hall!

"I don't know what's gotten into the Hall Master lately; he's been having overnight discussions with a few elders."

A disciple on night patrol yawned, gazing at the still dimly lit buildings, muttering to himself.

With his superiors being so diligent, he couldn't even sneak off to sleep and slack off.

As he was in a drowsy haze, something suddenly seemed to flash past.

"What was that?"

He hurriedly raised his lantern, rubbed his eyes again, and found the surroundings utterly quiet, with only the occasional chirping of insects.

The disciple muttered, then continued his night patrol.

Inside the study.

Lu She looked at a map, his expression grim: "This demon hunting expedition. . . initially, everything was supposedly going smoothly, but then Old Feng and the others suddenly met their end. Rumor has it they vanished without a trace, dead or alive. This is troublesome. . ."

Before Lu She were only a few of the Red Snake Martial Arts Hall's main elders and instructors, all of whom had reached the three transformations of blood-qi. She Lei was among them.

"Hall Master. . . could it be that Yuan He Mountain also didn't discover anything? " She Lei asked.

"Hmph, that Linghu Yang from Yuan He Mountain is nothing but a blockhead! " Lu She cursed in anger.

But after cursing, he fell back into thought.

Although this overseer of Yuan He Mountain in Black Stone City was unsociable, he wasn't foolish.

His behavior at the time was indeed somewhat strange.

Could it be. . . he discovered some clue?

"If it really is that. . . then Black Stone City might become uninhabitable."

Lu She held the candle-lit lampstand, examining the map back and forth, lost in thought.

Pfft, pfft!

Just then, several soft sounds suddenly emerged from the void.

"Ene. . ."

Before an elder of the Red Snake Martial Arts Hall could finish his word, an invisible sword qi severed his throat, leaving him clutching his windpipe as he fell into a pool of blood, unable to utter a sound.

"What kind of martial art is this?"

Lu She was both shocked and enraged!

This skill of invisible sword qi was already akin to mythical legends.

Perhaps, only the rumored Grandmaster-level experts could achieve it.

But if it truly were a Grandmaster, why bother with a sneak attack?

With a single command, the entire Red Snake Martial Arts Hall would be razed to the ground.

Bang!

Just as he was still in shock and fury, a figure rushed into the room, their leg shadows flying.

"Ugh!"

Amidst several muffled groans, the few elders who were still barely intact were simultaneously sent flying, as if all the bones in their bodies had turned soft and rotten.

She Lei, in particular, had his sternum caved in directly; he was clearly no longer alive.

"This is. . ."

"Red Snake Leg!"

Lu She's eye twitched; he recognized the leg technique of the assailant.

That leg technique, boneless and ever-changing in mid-air, he would absolutely not mistake!

"True Force martial artist, who exactly are you?"

Lu She bellowed.

"Noisy!"

Fang Xi, masked in black, moved his right leg. True Force surged into his thigh, making the muscles bulge, hard as iron, sweeping away a thousand soldiers.

Bang!

Lu She, also at the martial arts hall master realm, performed a 'Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg' and kicked out.

Two leg shadows entangled like pythons, then swiftly separated.

In the air, only muffled thuds echoed.

"What a pity. . ."

Fang Xi stood with his hands behind his back, suddenly sighing with deep melancholy.

"Why a pity? " Lu She's gaze subtly flickered to his own calf; a numbing sensation had already begun to spread from the point of contact between them.

Though very unwilling, he had to admit that youth conquers strength!

Moreover, the opponent's violent blood-qi completely exceeded his expectations, putting the martial arts hall master at a disadvantage.

"It's a pity that the Red Snake Leg truly has no further path of advancement."

Fang Xi replied honestly.

This Red Snake Hall Master only had this much strength, not even a secret technique. He was pathetically weak.

From this, it was clear that after reaching the martial arts hall master realm, there truly were no other cultivation methods for the Red Snake Leg.

Fang Xi felt quite helpless about this.

He still wanted to raise his martial arts realm even faster!

After all, the martial arts hall master realm was equivalent to the first instance of body refining. So, if he were to break through another major realm, would it be equivalent to a Body Cultivator at the second instance of body refining?

One should know that in the Green Bamboo Mountain market town, the cost for the first instance of body refining was roughly dozens of Spirit Stones, while for the second instance, it would cost at least over a hundred Spirit Stones!

Once successful, he would absolutely be comparable to a mid-stage Qi Refinement cultivator!

If he reached that realm, Fang Xi would dare to act a bit more freely in the cultivation world.

"Your Excellency was once an apprentice of this hall, and you've come for the follow-up techniques of the Red Snake Leg?"

Lu She's pupils constricted to pinpricks, and he loudly declared: "A pity. . . the Red Snake Leg's limit is True Force; it cannot train the entire body, nor can it allow True Force to transform into True Vigor, stepping into the higher realm of a Martial Master!"

"Oh? After the martial arts hall master realm, one trains the entire body and allows True Force to transform?"

Fang Xi's eyes lit up.

"Heh heh. . . Your Excellency's talent is outstanding, but unfortunately, you've already gone astray. With the Red Snake Leg perfected, your blood-qi will inevitably clash with other martial arts, making it impossible to practice true arts. Your future achievements are limited, ha ha!"

Lu She burst into hearty laughter.

But after he finished laughing, he felt that something was amiss.

His laughter gradually subsided, and his expression grew increasingly bewildered.

"Are you wondering why, despite your deliberate loud shouts, the people outside are as good as dead and haven't come to rescue you? " Fang Xi's eyes held a playful mockery: "Too bad. . . I won't tell you!"

Outside the door, a talisman was quietly pasted in a corner.

No matter how thunderously loud the explosions within the room, the outside remained utterly silent. . .