Chapter 231: Blood Qi River

He continuously knocked down longswords and flying daggers, but the weapons assailing him grew more numerous and faster.

During Lu Bai’s ‘Wind Listening’, all manner of conventional weaponry, as well as countless strange and unusual Exotic Weapons, came at him in succession.

He had no idea where Chen Shihu had managed to procure so many weapons in such a short time.

At first, Lu Bai could just barely manage by relying on the Wind Listening Technique.

As the assault grew more intense and the weapons accelerated, Lu Bai had no choice but to open his eyes, execute his Body Technique, and weave through the tent.

He even incorporated the Gecko Wall-Climbing Skill into his movements.

But when he opened his eyes to look, Lu Bai couldn’t help but freeze.

There was nothing around him. Not a single weapon was in sight.

There were only shifting air currents, which produced an effect on par with a Divine Weapon!

Meanwhile, Chen Shihu was still sitting in the main seat, having not moved an inch the entire time.

“Your comprehension is not bad.”

Chen Shihu nodded slightly.

As soon as he spoke, the oppressive feeling from the tempestuous assault vanished without a trace.

Lu Bai stood still, catching his breath. As he recalled the scene, he was secretly overjoyed.

The Wind Listening Technique didn’t do anything to increase the speed of his Body Technique.

However, it made his senses much more acute.

He could now sense danger the moment it arose, allowing him to make a judgment and react instantly!

If he were ever caught in a group battle, the Wind Listening Technique would be invaluable.

And this was only the first part of the Fuyao Skill.

‘I’ll have to find a way to get some Soul Light later and repair the Fuyao Skill. If I can comprehend the remaining four parts, I’ll be soaring to the heavens!’

“You can rest here for the night. We’ll make arrangements for you tomorrow.”

Chen Shihu tossed Lu Bai a felt mat, went to the bed at the back of the tent, and collapsed onto it. A moment later, the sound of snoring filled the air.

Lu Bai spread the felt mat on the ground, but instead of rushing to sleep, he resumed his cultivation of the Piercing Fire Chapter.

‘I’m carrying a lot of stuff.’

‘Two swords, several packages, and three Storage Pouches inside them.’

‘It’s all a bit cumbersome to carry around.’

‘I need to cultivate a wisp of Spiritual Qi as soon as possible. Then I can use a Storage Pouch and just stuff everything inside.’

Lu Bai calmed himself and focused his spirit, silently circulating the Technique of the Piercing Fire Chapter. He used the oil lamp not far in front of him to help capture the ambient Fire Spirit Qi.

After meditating for two hours, Lu Bai let out a soft breath, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes.

‘The Fire Spirit Qi here is noticeably denser than it was in Jingzhou City, and much easier to sense!’

This place was in the southernmost part of Wu Country, separated from the Great Li Dynasty to the south by the Longling Mountain Range. Even the climate was much hotter.

Lu Bai hadn’t been sure when he would be able to reach the First-Layer Qi Refining.

At this rate, he could break through to the First-Layer Qi Refining in one or two months at the fastest, or by the end of the year at the slowest!

Being stationed here and able to accelerate the improvement of his Cultivation Realm was a pleasant surprise.

After cultivating like this until midnight, Lu Bai finally lay down to sleep in his clothes.

However, after closing his eyes for a while, Lu Bai found he simply couldn’t fall asleep!

Chen Shihu’s snoring was too loud. It made his ears ring and his head spin.

Moreover, the sound of each inhale and exhale was completely different.

His exhales were deep and powerful, extremely similar to the breathing technique used when practicing the White Tiger Stance.

His inhales, however, suddenly changed in method and tone.

Distant, drawn-out, ancient… It was hard to describe.

Lu Bai closed his eyes.

In his mind’s eye, the image of Chen Shihu lying on the bed was constantly shifting.

When he exhaled, it was as if a fierce tiger were crouching there.

But when he inhaled, he transformed into a different beast, one so colossal its form was boundless. It opened its cavernous maw and, like a whale devouring the sea, swallowed the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi!

Lu Bai could clearly feel that the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi within the tent was far richer than outside!

The vibrations from the sound of each breath made it difficult for Lu Bai to calm his own Blood Qi.

Since the noise was keeping him awake, Lu Bai simply got up, sat cross-legged, and began to cultivate the Eight Desolates Returning Essence Scripture.

‘The essence qi in this tent is so rich. It would be a waste not to absorb and refine it.’

A ceaseless torrent of Heaven and Earth Essence Qi poured into the tent, the vast majority of it entering Chen Shihu’s body.

Only a small fraction was absorbed and refined by Lu Bai.

Yet even this tiny fraction of essence qi was as vast as an ocean to Lu Bai, who was only in the Innate Realm!

Back in the Capital City, Lu Bai had only just broken through to the Seventh Meridian.

On the journey south, despite his diligent daily training, he had been unable to break through to the Eighth Meridian.

But now, surrounded by such dense Heaven and Earth Essence Qi, he encountered almost no resistance. In less than two hours, the Eighth Meridian was cleared!

Lu Bai’s spirits soared. He didn’t stop circulating his energy. Eyes shut tight, he steadied his Heart and Spirit and continued to push for the Ninth Meridian.

After a moment, Chen Shihu opened his eyes from the other bed. He glanced over at Lu Bai, a look of gratification on his face.

Although he was clearly awake, the sound of his breathing continued without a single pause or hitch, maintaining the same rhythm as before.

「The night passed in a flash.」

As the sun broke over the horizon, Lu Bai’s body trembled as he broke through another Meridian!

The Innate Ninth Meridian!

Previously, the Blood Qi circulating in Lu Bai’s body was merely like a stream.

But after the Ninth Meridian was cleared, the Blood Qi coursing through his Meridians became like a mighty river, surging endlessly and emitting a ROARING sound!

“Tsk, tsk.”

Lu Bai heard the strange clicking sound and couldn’t help but open his eyes.

At some point, Chen Shihu had woken up and was watching him at his leisure. He clapped his hands and laughed. “The Innate Ninth Meridian, and you’re already showing signs of a Blood Qi River. Young man, your future is limitless!”

As a Martial Artist’s Cultivation Realm increases, their Blood Qi grows stronger.

But even an Innate Martial Artist who has cleared all Twelve Meridians might not necessarily show signs of a Blood Qi River.

The Realm is merely a quantitative increase; achieving a Blood Qi River requires a qualitative transformation of one’s Blood Qi!

The two Ultimate Skills, the White Tiger Stance and the Dragon Elephant Suppression Skill, had helped Lu Bai with Yijin and Bone Forging, performing a complete Bone Marrow Replacement. This forged for him an unparalleled foundation, allowing him to show signs of a Blood Qi River after clearing only nine Meridians!

“I must thank you, Brother Chen.”

Lu Bai stood up and bowed deeply.

Chen Shihu laughed heartily. “My snoring is quite loud. Good to know it didn’t disturb you.”

“How could it?”

Lu Bai said hurriedly, “I’d be happy to stay here and sleep with Brother Chen every day.”

“In your dreams! You think you can just stay here and freeload off me!”

Chen Shihu shot Lu Bai a glare. “Get your things ready today. Then get your ass over to Fuhu Camp.”

“Fuhu Camp?”

Though Lu Bai had arrived at the border, he knew nothing about the Huben Army or the Longxiang Army.

“Sir, General Yue is here.”

“Let him in.”

As Chen Shihu finished speaking, the tent flap was lifted, and a general strode inside.

The man wasn’t wearing heavy armor, nor was his frame particularly imposing, yet he gave Lu Bai the impression of something unshakeable—like a towering mountain, firm and immovable!

“Yue Qianshan, reporting to the Grand General.”

The man bowed deeply in salute.