Chapter 63: Chapter 62: Breakthrough: Inner Qi Release

The flesh pellet was the size of a fingernail. It was translucent, like a piece of dark red amber, with no visible muscle fiber.

"Young Master."

Ma Xun pursed his lips, his eyes filled with doubt.

"Do I really have to eat this?"

"Of course," Zhu Ju nodded. "It’s good for you. Eat up."

"..." Ma Xun’s smile was stiff. "It doesn’t look very tasty, kind of like a transparent rock. It won’t give me an upset stomach, will it?"

"Relax!" Zhu Ju sighed. "When have I ever lied to you? This is just a piece of meat, and I guarantee it won’t kill you."

’It won’t kill me? Does that mean it could leave me half-dead? That sounds even scarier than dying.’

In the end.

Under Zhu Ju’s intimidating gaze, Ma Xun squeezed his eyes shut and stuffed the flesh pellet into his mouth.

GULP...

The smooth and tender texture made his expression twitch. Before he could even savor it, he had swallowed it down.

’What a waste! I should have chewed it a few more times.’

The regret had barely surfaced when a surge of heat erupted from his lower abdomen.

"Young Master!"

Ma Xun’s eyes flew open, his face filled with panic.

"It’s so hot!"

"I feel like there’s a current of Qi inside me, like I’m being inflated by it."

"Here." Zhu Ju tossed him the long saber at his side. "Let me see your Saber Technique."

"Yes, sir!"

Without a second thought, Ma Xun gripped the saber and instinctively performed the Yin Wind Saber, darting back and forth within the cramped room.

"Don’t just swing at the air." Seeing Ma Xun’s expression become more and more contorted as he clearly struggled to suppress the internal heat, Zhu Ju beckoned. "Come at me."

"..." Ma Xun gritted his teeth.

"Young Master, be careful!"

SWOOSH!

The Yin Wind rushed forward.

Facing the incoming saber, Zhu Ju casually raised a hand, the Inner Qi circulating within him colliding perfectly with the blade’s edge.

PENG!

Ma Xun felt as if he had struck an incredibly resilient cushion. Not only was the full force of his blow discharged, but his body also warmed, and the power that had been on the verge of exploding within him eased.

’It’s working!’

His eyes lit up, and he began executing one Saber Technique after another.

DING...

PENG!

Zhu Ju remained seated firmly in his large chair, his single hand patting, pressing, striking, seizing, or flicking with his fingers.

With these simple movements, he precisely neutralized every incoming attack.

He was also helping Ma Xun absorb the heat in his body.

An unknown amount of time passed.

HUFF... HUFF...

Ma Xun was drenched in sweat. Bent over and gasping desperately for air, he could no longer hold his long saber, and it clattered to the ground.

"Great Success in Entering Strength!"

Though his body was exhausted, his spirits were higher than ever. "Young Master, I’ve reached Great Success in Entering Strength!"

At this moment, how could he not realize he had received a heaven-sent opportunity, climbing from Minor Achievement in Entering Strength to Great Success in Entering Strength in a single day?

That pellet of flesh wasn’t just non-poisonous—it was practically a Spiritual Medicine!

"Mm," Zhu Ju nodded. "Not bad."

"The medicinal power in your body hasn’t been fully absorbed yet. Spend the next month practicing your Saber Technique and see if you can reach Perfection in Entering Strength."

"You may go."

"Yes, sir." Ma Xun dragged his exhausted body away, overjoyed.

...

The effect of a single pellet of Demon Beast Flesh was far greater than that of a Pusique Snake. After all, the latter was merely a Mortal Beast.

Though the giant rat was weak, it still fell into the category of ’demon’.

It was no longer of Mortal Grade!

GULP!

Zhu Ju swallowed a flesh pellet. A wave of heat surged up, silently merging into his limbs and bones.

What was a powerful tonic for Ma Xun was barely better than nothing for someone at the Inner Refining First Realm of the Thirteen Body Refinement.

However...

He didn’t care much for the Body Tempering effects of the Demon Beast Flesh. Nourishing and strengthening his Inner Qi was the real goal.

He began to circulate the Five Peaks True Form Force.

A mysterious energy emerged from within him, merging with his Inner Qi and surging rapidly through the Eight Extraordinary Meridians.

One wisp!

Two wisps!

...

Ten wisps!

WHOOSH...

Exhaling a long, turbid breath, Zhu Ju slowly opened his eyes, his face alight with excitement.

’One pellet is equivalent to ten days of arduous cultivation, and I can barely feel my body building any tolerance to it.’

’As expected of the legendary Demon Flesh!’

He took out another pellet, swallowed it, and continued to circulate his Cultivation Technique.

「Two days later.」

BOOM!

With a great roar resounding inside him, the Inner Qi he had been cultivating finally reached its limit and underwent a qualitative transformation.

Inner Qi Release!

Inner Refining Second Realm of the Thirteen Body Refinement!

"Hmph!"

With a low grunt, Zhu Ju’s body shuddered, and a formless, fierce torrent of Powerful Qi burst forth.

Protective Gang Force!

Unlike the Qi Blood Gang Force of Qi Blood Martial Arts, Inner Qi Gang Force has greater Defensive Power and is more versatile.

The Gang Force first extended an inch from his body, then two inches, three inches...

all the way to five inches!

’Those who have just entered the Inner Qi External Release Realm can usually only extend their Gang Force an inch from their bodies. Three inches is already considered outstanding.’

’Five inches of Gang Force?’

A smile appeared on Zhu Ju’s face.

’This shows the effort I’ve put into the Thirteen Body Refinement. My Physical Body is stronger than that of other Martial Artists at the same Realm.’

’And...’

’it also proves that the Five Peaks True Form Force is absolutely a Method that leads directly to the Innate Realm!’

If it were only a matter of having an outstanding Hard Skill, three inches of Gang Force would have been the limit. Five inches was clearly thanks to the boost from his Cultivation Technique.

Only by practicing a Wonderful Dharma that leads directly to the Innate Realm could one break the three-inch Inner Qi limit. This was the kind of power gap created by different Cultivation Techniques.

’An Innate Technique, a Top-Notch Hard Skill, and numerous Martial Skills... I’m probably no weaker than Ye Chongshan was in his prime.’

’In San Fen Hall, I could probably make Elder if I put in a little effort.’

He glanced at the many flesh pellets he had left, growing even more satisfied, and continued to immerse himself in his Cultivation.

*

*

*

On the outskirts of the county.

A merchant caravan from out of town arrived at the posthouse.

After eating and drinking their fill, the sky grew dark. They instructed their subordinates to guard the goods, and everyone retired to their rooms to rest.

SWOOSH!

A dark figure flitted across the eaves like an agile cheetah, pouncing on a patrolling guard.

CRACK!

The faint sound of a bone snapping echoed. The patrolling guard collapsed without a sound, blood pooling from his neck.

Dragging the guard’s corpse into the shadows, the dark figure turned its gaze toward the posthouse’s guest rooms, a look of craving in its eyes.

’Kill people!’

’Increase my Cultivation!’

’As long as I kill enough people—strong people—I too can reach the Inner Qi Release Realm, and even higher.’

...

「In a dilapidated courtyard somewhere.」

"Brother Hek."

A man raised his wine cup and asked,

"Didn’t you say you were going to introduce us to a distinguished person today? How come no one has arrived yet?"

"Don’t be hasty," Brother Hek said with a wave of his hand.

"He’s a distinguished person, so of course he’s busy. But it’s about time for him to arrive."

"This man is a major figure in the county. If we brothers can get in with him..."

"He’s here!"

He broke off mid-sentence, his face lighting up as he moved to greet the approaching figure.

"Brother Zhou Qing, you’ve kept us waiting!"

"But I’m here now, aren’t I?" Zhou Qing grinned. His gaze swept over the men in the courtyard, and his eyes began to gleam.

"Sit!"

"Quickly, sit down!"

"I heard some fine heroes would be here, so I brought a bottle of good wine for us to savor."

Seeing his refined demeanor and the fine wine he’d brought, the men’s initial displeasure from the long wait quietly dissipated.

"Drink up!"

"Let’s drink our fill today!"

...

At some point, only Zhou Qing was still eating and drinking at the feast. The others had all collapsed.

"Heh heh..."

With a sinister chuckle, Zhou Qing slowly approached one of the men, leaned in close to his neck, and took a deep breath.

"Fresh blood and flesh..."

"It’s truly... intoxicating!"

CRACK!

...

In an annex of the Zhou Mansion.

The mysterious figure from the Capital City, Zhou Jianmi, stood on a rooftop with his hands clasped behind his back, surveying the entire county. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

’It’s starting.’

’A group of man-eating monsters appears in the county, their power steadily growing. What will the others do?’

’Heh heh...’

’Eat!’

’Kill!’

’Only this will generate more ’Yin Corpse Evil Qi’ to help me achieve the Great Dao.’