37: Qi and blood release

In the room.

Xiao Shi looked pained, the ice crystals constantly forming within his body caused him immense agony.

Whether it was his internal organs, meridians, flesh, or bones.

Ice crystals continuously appeared everywhere.

Under the covering of these ice crystals, every part of his body felt as if it was being pricked by needles and cut by knives, making him extremely uncomfortable.

Even though he had already undergone body tempering twice.

The pain during the body tempering process still hadn't diminished at all; each time was a huge test of his will.

An hour later.

The body tempering finally ended.

Xiao Shi felt the changes within himself.

This body tempering didn't bring any changes to his physique; he didn't become shorter, nor did he become stronger.

But inside Xiao Shi's body... earth-shattering changes had occurred!

All of his internal organs, blood vessels, and meridians were covered with a layer of translucent white membrane!

This membrane was incredibly tough, capable of offsetting a certain degree of force, and possessed powerful protective effects.

Once this membrane was present... his originally fragile internal organs would become indestructible!

Although the previous two body temperings also enhanced his internal organs, the extent of enhancement this time was far greater.

This body tempering could be said to be a complete strengthening specifically targeting the inside of his body!

After such a strengthening.

The internal protection of Xiao Shi's body was even stronger than his external protection.

And all of this was merely an improvement from normal body tempering, not an additional enhancement after three body temperings.

The additional enhancement after three body temperings was Qi and Blood!

At this moment, the Qi and Blood within Xiao Shi's body had experienced an astonishing surge from its original foundation, and this Qi and Blood was compressed even more tightly within his body, making Xiao Shi feel as if his body weight had increased significantly.

Not only that.

The Qi and Blood within his body also gained the ability to regenerate on its own!

This ability is usually only mastered upon breaking through to the Entering Martial Realm Ninth Level.

Before the Entering Martial Realm Ninth Level, depleted Qi and Blood cannot recover.

Only upon reaching the Entering Martial Realm Ninth Level... does Qi and Blood gain the ability to recover.

Just like when Xiao Shi used Corrosion Blood to corrode the Qi and Blood of that Ninth Level Entrance to Martial Realm Warrior down to only ten percent, but if he were given two years, he could fully restore that ninety percent of Qi and Blood.

"If Qi and Blood can recover... then I won't have to worry about a large reduction in Qi and Blood from forming too many imprints, which could lead to a drop in cultivation!"

Xiao Shi's eyes shone brightly.

Forming imprints with Qi and Blood always had this drawback.

Now with Qi and Blood recovery, there was no longer such a concern.

"Since Qi and Blood can recover, can I also achieve the other ability of the Entering Martial Realm Ninth Level... Qi and Blood Release!"

Xiao Shi's heart stirred.

He decided to give it a try.

Boom!!

He unleashed all the compressed Qi and Blood within his body, and his entire being was instantly filled with a vast amount of Qi and Blood.

"Release!"

Xiao Shi's body shook.

The Qi and Blood within his body was successfully released from within him, surrounding his body.

"It actually... really works!!"

Xiao Shi's mind was incredibly shaken.

At this moment, he was like that Ninth Level Entrance to Martial Realm Warrior from before, with a multitude of Qi and Blood flowing like air currents around his body.

In his excitement, he tried throwing a punch forward.

Hiss!

The boost provided by the Qi and Blood increased both the speed and power of his punch several times over!

It stirred up a sharp whooshing sound.

"Is this... the additional enhancement after three body temperings?!"

Xiao Shi took a deep breath.

Calming the surging emotions within him.

He knew clearly.

The power of a Ninth Level Entrance to Martial Realm Warrior primarily lay in Qi and Blood Release!

This was also the biggest chasm between a Ninth Level Entrance to Martial Realm Warrior and an Entering Martial Realm Eighth Level!

A Ninth Level Entrance to Martial Realm Warrior with Qi and Blood Release could not be defeated by an Entering Martial Realm Eighth Level, even some powerful and unique Entering Martial Realm Eighth Level would find it difficult to overcome a Ninth Level Entrance to Martial Realm Warrior.

And now... he, at the Entering Martial Realm Eighth Level, had successfully mastered Qi and Blood Release!

This would directly make him invincible at the Entering Martial Realm Eighth Level!

He could even fight against an Entering Martial Realm Ninth Level!

The only slight imperfection was that his Qi and Blood had not yet reached the level of the Entering Martial Realm Ninth Level.

Xiao Shi recalled carefully.

He clearly noticed that the Qi and Blood surrounding his body was not as abundant as that of the Ninth Level Entrance to Martial Realm Warrior at that time.

Although his Qi and Blood increased after each successful body tempering, it was still some distance away from the Qi and Blood of the Entering Martial Realm Ninth Level.

In fact, the reason why the process of breaking through from Entering Martial Realm Eighth Level to Entering Martial Realm Ninth Level is slow.

Is precisely because the Entering Martial Realm Ninth Level requires an enormous amount of Qi and Blood!

Of course.

Even if Xiao Shi's current Qi and Blood had not yet reached the level of the Entering Martial Realm Ninth Level.

He already possessed the power to fight.

Even if he couldn't win, he could at least ensure his own safety.

"The next additional enhancement will be at six body temperings! I wonder what kind of enhancement that will bring?"

Xiao Shi's heart was filled with anticipation.

His craving for heavenly materials and earthly treasures also grew stronger.

At the same time.

In a hidden cave in Seven Stars Province.

A group of figures was gathered inside the cave.

"Di Jin failed in his assassination, and now there's a vacancy in the mission to assassinate Cen Qingci, the 473rd ranked genius on the Bounty Hunter list. Is anyone willing to take it?"

A deep, hoarse voice echoed through the cave.

When Bounty Hunters of the Senluo Organization choose targets, it's usually one Bounty Hunter for one target.

If a chosen target has already been selected by another Bounty Hunter, then they can only choose a different target.

This is also to prevent multiple Bounty Hunters from simultaneously assassinating one person, thereby avoiding conflicts.

Only when the Bounty Hunter carrying out the assassination fails, can other Bounty Hunters choose their assassination target.

"I'll go!"

A cold voice then resounded in the cave.

"If that good-for-nothing Di Jin hadn't gotten to it first, this target should have been mine to assassinate. He couldn't even kill a target of that level; that good-for-nothing Di Jin is simply a disgrace to us Bounty Hunters!"

The figure who had spoken with a deep, hoarse voice glanced at him and said in a low voice.

"According to reports from our embedded agent in Jin Yun City, Di Jin was killed before he even began his operation. This situation is extremely rare."

"And the person who killed Di Jin is said to be a Night Watch from the Night Watch Division who wishes to remain anonymous."

"Although we don't know how this person discovered Di Jin's identity, judging from the scene, Di Jin was directly cut in half with a single blade by this person. This indicates that this mysterious Night Watch possesses at least the strength of an Entering Martial Realm Ninth Level!"

"You, like Di Jin, are only an Entering Martial Realm Eighth Level. If you encounter this mysterious Night Watch, you will not be an opponent."

The person in the shadows nodded upon hearing this.

"I know that."

"But I don't believe he can see through my disguise before I even make a move. That good-for-nothing Di Jin was probably careless, or there was some other reason he was discovered. I wouldn't make such a rookie mistake."

"Besides, even though I'm also an Entering Martial Realm Eighth Level, my strength is much greater than that good-for-nothing Di Jin. Even if I'm not a match for an Entering Martial Realm Ninth Level, I'm confident I can escape from him."

The figure who had spoken with a deep, hoarse voice nodded slightly.

He also believed that the reason Di Jin was discovered was either because he made some rookie mistake, or some coincidence occurred.

With their Senluo Organization's disguise capabilities, he didn't believe the other party could see through Di Jin's identity at a glance before he even made a move.

If the Night Watch had such an ability... then in the past, there wouldn't have been cases of Bounty Hunters successfully assassinating in Jin Yun City and then retreating unscathed.

With his wisdom.

He immediately saw that the Night Watch Division was clearly trying to use this coincidence to deliberately create the impression that this mysterious Night Watch could see through the identities of Bounty Hunters.

This was to intimidate their Senluo Organization, so that their Bounty Hunters would no longer dare to assassinate in Jin Yun City.

Such a trick... would only scare ordinary people.

How could their Senluo Organization be so easily bluffed?