7: Fusion of the Lame Foot Method, Skylark Sword Qi slays the demon

【 Lame Foot Technique (Yellow) 】

【 Introduction: Created by Old Man Tian Can. Practitioners must sever their Achilles tendons, then allow highly venomous creatures like scorpions and centipedes to gnaw on their flesh, and immerse themselves in mud for forty-nine days to master it. 】

【 Lame Foot Technique Secret Medicine: Consuming the legs of living beings can accelerate Cultivation. The more spiritual the being, the better the effect. 】

“Another Contemplation Realm method that requires self-mutilation to Cultivate.

Fortunately, I don't have to do that.”

With ten years of lifespan consumed, the Lame Foot Technique instantly reached the Elementary stage, and endless insights flooded his mind.

The more Gu Changsheng comprehended, the more he frowned.

The Lame Foot Technique was only Yellow-grade, but it was indeed a fast-track Contemplation Realm method.

The problem lay in that secret medicine.

Consuming the legs of spiritual beings to accelerate Cultivation.

Is there anything more spiritual than a human?

A demon?

He'd have to be able to defeat it first.

It also described that the most spiritual legs were those of fellow practitioners of the Lame Foot Technique.

Gu Changsheng's mind inexplicably recalled Yan Xiao Yi's words.

“Exchanging children for food… the second best-tasting pig trotters… Lame Foot Technique… Could this fellow have been possessed, eating human legs to accelerate his Cultivation?

This fellow used to carry corpses for a coffin shop.”

Gu Changsheng's expression darkened.

It's hard to say. Faced with readily available power, not everyone can adhere to their original intentions.

“This Lame Foot Technique circulated within the Beggar Clan. Perhaps someone did it intentionally.

To Cultivate food.

Those beggars who Cultivated the Lame Foot Technique were the best medicinal ingredients for Cultivation.

The mastermind… is it the Beggar Clan Leader or someone else?”

Gu Changsheng sighed.

The world was difficult. As long as it didn't provoke him, there was no need to meddle in everything.

The Dao of Longevity emphasizes the word 'endure'.

Near noon, he closed his stall and went to the butcher's stand.

“Give me two pig trotters. Don't shortchange me right off the bat.”

Gu Changsheng pointed to the pig hocks with the hair scraped off.

“Haha, look at what Mr. Gu is saying.

How could I, Old Hu, do such a thing? We're all neighbors here.

At most, I'd fool an outsider…”

Butcher Hu laughed as he picked up a bone-cleaving saber, deftly chopped the two pig trotters into eight pieces, wrapped them in oiled paper, and handed them over.

“It's a good thing Mr. Gu came early.

A few days ago, all the pig trotters were sold out before noon.

Today, there are only these two left.”

“Oh, business is that good?

Then from now on, please save two for me every day, Old Hu.”

“Haha, no problem, no problem.”

Gu Changsheng paid the full silver and left, his brows furrowed on the way.

“Butcher Hu is the biggest meat vendor in this area. Even his pig trotter stock is low, so other stalls are probably the same.

It seems there are quite a few people Cultivating the Lame Foot Technique.”

Livestock have spiritual energy. According to the Lame Foot Technique's introduction, pigs, cattle, and sheep are all spiritual beings with abundant spiritual energy, and they are the easiest to obtain.

Those easier to obtain than pig trotters have insufficient spiritual energy.

Those with more spiritual energy than pig trotters are not easy to obtain consistently.

Back home, Gu Changsheng washed and blanched the pig trotters, then stir-fried them in hot oil and stewed them with soybeans.

With the stove blazing, a rich aroma soon wafted from the pot.

He took them out, and with a poke of chopsticks, the meat separated from the bone.

“The cooking time is just right.”

Gu Changsheng picked up a piece of pig trotter and put it in his mouth.

As the delicious taste seeped in, changes appeared on the panel.

【 Experience +1 】

The experience points added were few, but even a mosquito's leg is still meat.

By the time a pot of pig trotters was eaten, ten experience points had been added.

“It seems that for a while, I'll be having pig trotters for every meal.”

Gu Changsheng chuckled to himself bitterly.

Within the heart space, a Lame Foot Spirit curled up in a corner, not daring to approach the center.

The Jade Faced Python Fox firmly occupied the central position.

As for the Leopard Spirit originally born from the Animal Husbandry Method, it had long been swallowed and Fused by the Jade Faced Python Fox.

The originally pure white fox fur now had sporadic black and yellow spots.

The only regret was that the Fused Jade Faced Fox Method was still Fourth-order and had not advanced.

It probably needed to Fuse more Yellow-grade Contemplation Realm methods to advance.

“After a few days, after feeding this Lame Foot Spirit, it should be about ready.”

Gu Changsheng sensed the aura of the Jade Faced Python Fox, just one step away from Fifth-order.

Ten days later, the Lame Foot Technique was raised to the Third-order limit.

Sure enough, a new special effect appeared on the panel — 【 Elementary Speed 】

Gu Changsheng tried it out. His body felt much lighter, and his running speed was twice as fast as before.

It was probably comparable to the speed of top track and field athletes in his previous life.

In addition, he also noticed that.

Both 【 Elementary Speed 】 and 【 Elementary Strength 】 seemed more like fixed passives that couldn't be improved.

The 【 Beast Taming Technique 】 born from the Animal Husbandry Method was different. After repeated practice, it had now been raised to Second-order.

Its lethality greatly increased, fully displaying its sharpness.

The Lame Foot Spirit was complete; it was time to Fuse.

【 Ding dong, do you wish to consume ten years of lifespan to Fuse the Lame Foot Technique and the Jade Faced Fox Method? 】

Confirm!

The sensation of marrow extraction struck. In the heart space, the Jade Faced Python Fox's serpentine tail coiled, instantly enveloping the Lame Foot Spirit, then it gulped it down.

In a few breaths, the Lame Foot Spirit disappeared from the heart space.

Gu Changsheng noticed that the Jade Faced Python Fox's four limbs had visibly grown larger and more powerful.

“Indeed, each Fusion is a process of extracting essence.

Snake tail, leopard skin, foot strength.

After multiple Fusions, the original Fox Spirit was practically unrecognizable.

Well, the appearance is a bit strange, but fortunately, the grade has improved.”

On the panel, the Jade Faced Fox Method had indeed risen to Fifth-order.

The python fox inhaled deeply, and black Qi, like a long whale drawing water, gathered in its heart. In an instant, the black Qi filled up, breaking through that barrier.

He had finally broken through to the Late Stage of the Contemplation Realm.

Upon introspection, the black Qi in his heart had solidified considerably, showing a strong tendency to coalesce into a mass.

Gu Changsheng moved his limbs, and his clenched fists audibly cracked.

His speed and strength had improved across the board, making him comparable to a minor superhero from his previous life.

Gu Changsheng smiled, his aura retracted, appearing like an ordinary person.

Even those who attain longevity can die if killed. Only strength can grant true longevity.

“Now my Contemplation Realm has caught up, but the Cultivation speed of various spell techniques is still too slow.

It would be best to find an evil art, one that burns lifespan to increase spell Cultivation speed.”

There was still a long way to go, so Gu Changsheng wasn't in a hurry.

One day, as he was setting up his stall, an officer rushed to his painting stall. Upon seeing Gu Changsheng, he immediately clasped his fists in a salute.

“Brother Gu, save me.”

“Hmm? This officer must have the wrong person.

I'm just a country scholar who sells paintings. How could I have the ability to save anyone?”

Gu Changsheng leaned back in his rattan chair, speaking indifferently.

He recognized Li Gongyi at a glance. The credit for killing Daoist Leopard back then had been taken by this old fellow.

The reward silver alone was three hundred taels.

“Brother Gu, may I speak with you for a moment?”

Li Gongyi pointed to a small, dark alley nearby.

Gu Changsheng nodded slightly.

As soon as he stepped into the alley, Li Gongyi immediately knelt on the ground, grabbing Gu Changsheng's clothes.

“Brother Gu, there were too many people outside just now. Here, your brother kneels before you.

Back then, taking credit was my fault.

Now those demon accomplices have come after me. Please help me, save my life!”

“How can I not understand what the officer means?” Gu Changsheng picked his ear.

Li Gongyi gritted his teeth, pulled out a stack of silver notes from his in my arms, and handed them over with a smile.

“Alas, I was possessed back then and embezzled Brother Gu's reward silver.

Here are three hundred taels. Please accept them, Brother Gu.”

Gu Changsheng chuckled as he took the silver notes, helped Li Gongyi up, and asked, “I'm very curious, Brother Li, how did you recognize me?”

Li Gongyi scratched his head and explained, “Well… your back, your demeanor, things like that.

I've been catching thieves and arresting people for years, so I have a knack for identifying people.

Even ordinary notorious bandits, even if they disguise themselves, can't escape my eyes.

Last time at the yamen, I ran into Brother Gu and recognized you.”

“I see…”

His Fox Shadow Technique still wasn't perfected enough.

“Then, what did Brother Li mean by ‘demon accomplices’ just now?”

Gu Changsheng had taken the money, so it wouldn't be right to just walk away.

“It's like this…”

Li Gongyi recounted the story, and a moment later, Gu Changsheng understood the whole situation.

It turned out to be related to the Human-faced Beast-hearted Fruit Tree.

Initially, the county magistrate ordered the burning of the seeds, but secretly kept a section of the root.

He heard from somewhere that the Human-faced Beast-hearted Fruit could prolong life, so he thought the root should have a similar effect.

He actually used the root to make wine and drank it.

Now, the news had leaked, attracting the covetous gaze of many Ten Thousand Beasts Sect demons.

The Human-faced Beast-hearted Fruit Tree was a spiritual plant, and even a section of its root had the potential to be successfully cultivated.

“It is said that Daoist Leopard's Senior Brother, Daoist Tiger Power, has already arrived in Chenping, and he will probably be the first to come for my life.

Please, Brother Gu, save me.”

Gu Changsheng nodded slightly.

He reached out, and a suction force was born from his palm. A sparrow fell into his hand.

Then, with a flick of his finger, a drop of fresh blood was forced out of the sparrow's body and landed steadily on the plain saber at Li Gongyi's waist.

Obscure black Qi gathered on the saber, then disappeared.

“Alright, Brother Li, I have already infused a single strike's power into your saber. When you encounter danger, just draw it.”

“This… alright.”

Li Gongyi really wanted to say that a single strike's power wasn't enough, and it would be best for him to provide personal protection.

But he also knew that experts had peculiar temperaments and was afraid of angering Gu Changsheng.

Three days later, in an alley, as Li Gongyi was patrolling, a bearded Daoist jumped down from a wall.

“How dare you kill someone from my Ten Thousand Beasts Sect! You're courting death!”

The Daoist's eyes glowed fiercely, his body burst through his Daoist robe, transforming into a striped tiger that pounced.

In a moment of desperation, Li Gongyi abruptly drew his plain saber.

A flash of saber light appeared, and a phantom sparrow flew out, spewing a Saber Qi that instantly cut the Daoist in half, foul blood staining the ground.

“Good heavens, that's fierce.”

Li Gongyi stared at the saber, his face full of disbelief.

A notorious demon on the wanted list couldn't even withstand a single move!