13: Blood, Qi, and Three Realms

“Since you have achieved the Blood Qi Realm, let me tell you about the three Blood Qi Realms.”

Master Zhao said, returning to his grand chair and sitting down.

“The so-called three Blood Qi Realms are Qi Refining, Liquid Transformation, and Ninggang.”

“Simply put, like you now, you can only use Blood Qi to empower yourself, not external objects; this is the Blood Qi Realm.”

“Upon reaching the Liquid Transformation Realm, you can use Blood Qi to empower weapons and armor, giving them the effects of demon-breaking and evil-dispelling.”

“The Ninggang Realm is even more powerful. You can manifest Qi Gang from your body, transforming it into sabers, swords, or armor. A ten-meter radius around you becomes the attack range of your Qi Gang. At that point, ordinary weapons and armor will hold no value for you, because Qi Gang will be your best weapon and armor.”

Seeing Qin Yue’s longing expression, Master Zhao cleared his throat. After Qin Yue came back to his senses, Master Zhao said again:

“I tell you these things to give you an overall understanding of the Blood Qi Realm. What you most need to know now is how to Cultivate in the Qi Refining Realm.”

Qin Yue had indeed been a bit distracted when he first heard Master Zhao explain the “three Blood Qi Realms.”

The Qi Refining and Liquid Transformation Realms were fine; Qin Yue could understand them. But the Qi Gang manifesting from the body in the Ninggang Realm was too powerful. Qi Gang manifesting from the body into sabers and swords, controlled at will—wasn't this like the Flying Swords in the cultivation novels of his previous life?

Although the range was only ten meters, it was still powerful enough.

Now that Master Zhao was going to discuss the cultivation methods he was most concerned about, Qin Yue immediately adopted the attitude of a diligent student listening attentively.

Seeing Qin Yue’s proper attitude, Master Zhao nodded secretly. He was afraid that Qin Yue, having achieved success at a young age, would only dwell on past achievements and cease to strive for progress.

“Cultivation in the Qi Refining Realm is mainly divided into two parts:

The first part is Qi storage. You must have sufficient Blood Qi reserves to Breakthrough to the Liquid Transformation Realm. Your current Blood Qi cannot condense into a single drop of Blood Qi liquid. To Breakthrough to Liquid Transformation, you must first accumulate enough Blood Qi to condense at least twelve drops of Blood Qi liquid.

The second part is Body Refining. To Breakthrough from the Qi Refining Realm to the Liquid Transformation Realm, you must use your body as a Cauldron to compress Blood Qi. If your body strength is insufficient during the Breakthrough, Blood Qi will dissipate, which will not only result in a failed Breakthrough but, in severe cases, can lead to immediate bodily explosion.”

“Bodily explosion?”

Qin Yue believed that Martial Artists who could Cultivate to Breakthrough the Liquid Transformation Realm were elites who had survived countless competitions. To die from a bodily explosion during a Breakthrough due to insufficient Body Refining strength was truly regrettable.

“Master, how does one store Qi, and how does one refine the body?” Qin Yue asked.

Master Zhao did not answer this question but instead asked Qin Yue, “What do you think?”

“I think… it must require Cultivation Techniques for Qi storage and Body Refining,” Qin Yue replied.

“Cultivation Techniques for Qi storage and Body Refining are certainly needed, but you missed the most important thing.”

“The most important thing?” Qin Yue mumbled…

This time, Master Zhao didn't keep Qin Yue in suspense.

“The most important thing for Qi storage and Body Refining is eating. Eating well and abundantly accelerates Qi storage and Body Refining; eating little and poorly slows down Qi storage and Body Refining progress.”

“So, what should we eat?” Master Zhao continued to ask Qin Yue.

Without waiting for Qin Yue’s answer, Master Zhao continued, “Eat Yao Beast meat, drink Yao Beast blood!!!”

When Master Zhao said this, his expression was extremely grim, even ferocious, his teeth clenched as if he were biting into the throat of a Yao Beast.

“Master, where are the Yao Beasts? Why have I never heard of such things?”

After his Transmigration, Qin Yue had been very busy and hadn't interacted much with people. However, he had the memories of his previous body, and in the fifteen years of the original body's memory, he had never heard of Yao Beasts.

Hearing Qin Yue’s question, Master Zhao smiled and said, “Where are the Yao Beasts? You’ll know where the Yao Beasts are after the Selection Competition. By then, you’ll only wish there weren't so many Yao Beasts.”

“You can’t access Yao Beasts now. The best way to obtain Yao Beast flesh and blood is through Blood Replenishing Powder.”

“Didn’t you ask before why Blood Replenishing Powder could make the Divine Bull Blood Refining Art Cultivate faster?

Because the Divine Bull Blood Refining Art is a Qi storage Cultivation Technique, and the main Materials of Blood Replenishing Powder are Yao Beast flesh and blood.”

“Yao Beast flesh and blood? I can’t taste it at all!” Qin Yue thought.

“I remember Blood Replenishing Powder even had a coffee flavor. Although it turned red after brewing, I didn't smell any blood!”

Regardless of Qin Yue’s reaction, Master Zhao continued, “I still have five hundred packets of Blood Replenishing Powder here, and they are all yours, as a reward for your Breakthrough to the Blood Qi Realm!”

Hearing Master Zhao say this, Qin Yue was happy but also had a hint of doubt.

Master Zhao was too generous to him. He had given him over seven hundred packets of Blood Replenishing Powder in total. This would be seven hundred taels of silver. At a purchasing power of about five hundred yuan per tael, that's three hundred fifty thousand yuan! He just gave it to me for free?

“Are you thinking that I’ve given you too much, and that I have some ulterior motive?”

Master Zhao was indeed an experienced Jianghu veteran. Seeing Qin Yue’s hesitation, he immediately guessed his thoughts.

Qin Yue was a little embarrassed. He had just been criticizing someone in his mind and then was called out on it directly.

“You don’t need to overthink it. Giving you so much Blood Replenishing Powder is because your Breakthrough to the Blood Qi Realm is too important to me.”

“Didn’t you ask me what Realm I was in before?

I’ll tell you now, I am a cripple who failed to Breakthrough the Qi Gang Realm and lost his Blood Qi.”

Master Zhao’s expression was Gloomy as he continued.

“Because I failed my Breakthrough and my physique was injured, my Blood Qi has been constantly draining. Although I saved my life, I can no longer fight, which is why I was sent to teach you all to Cultivate.”

“Now that I have nurtured a Genius like you, who Breakthrough the Blood Qi Realm before the age of fifteen, I will receive a Life-Generating Pill during the Selection Competition, which will allow me to rebuild my physique, recover to the Liquid Transformation Realm, and have another chance to assault the Qi Gang Realm.”

“Now, do you think I gave you too much Qi Replenishing Powder?”

Seeing Master Zhao’s eyes on him, Qin Yue did not hesitate. He clasped his hands and bowed, saying, “Thank you, Master, for the reward. This Life-Generating Pill is what Master deserves for teaching the young people of our village for ten years. This Blood Replenishing Powder is a gift from Master. Qin Yue truly dares not take credit.”

Master Zhao’s eyes were full of admiration as he looked at Qin Yue. He hadn’t expected Qin Yue to undergo such a drastic change after the upheaval in his family.

“Don’t thank me so quickly; I have two more Cultivation Techniques to pass on to you.”

With that, Master Zhao got up and went to the study, taking out a box and two small booklets.

“The first set is Body Refining Cultivation Techniques, passed down to you by the Zhao family, the owners of this farmstead. It includes the previous Wild Bull Fist, the later Divine Bull Blood Refining Art, and the Blood Qi Body Tempering Skill which I am about to pass on to you. These three Cultivation Techniques complement each other and are excellent for building a foundation.”

“The second set of martial arts is a saber technique called Mad Demon Saber Technique. This is a Cultivation Technique I acquired by chance. Originally, I thought your temperament was cautious and reserved, not suited for this saber technique. However, during the last arena match, you fought Song Xiuwu. Although your strength was clearly not his equal, you fought to the death without retreating, overcoming Song Xiuwu with sheer willpower. Perhaps there is a madness within you that even you haven’t noticed, so I decided to pass this saber technique on to you.”