In a natural cave several miles from Lu Family Village.
Qi Xiu stood before an iron pot, teeth clenched. He continuously plunged his hands into the iron sand, his entire body drenched in sweat, with steaming white mist swirling around him and rising into the air.
Just a little more...
He took a quick glance at the proficiency panel, took a deep breath, then quickened his movents.
Today, I must break through to the First Realm of Black Sand Palm.
With focused concentration, all his attention was devoted to practicing Black Sand Palm.
Ti passed, unasured.
Then, at the instant both palms plunged into the iron sand, Qi Xiu’s eyes suddenly beca blank. A certain change occurred in the air around him. A strong surge of qi caused a scalding wind to sweep through the cave, rapidly lting the surrounding snow. The rough and swollen palms, constantly abraded by the iron sand, shed a large amount of dead skin.
In just a few breaths, Qi Xiu’s hands returned to their previous slender appearance, faintly conveying a sense of strength.
Done!
Qi Xiu summoned the proficiency panel.
[Calligraphy (First Realm): 89.9%]
[Black Sand Palm (First Realm): 0%]
[Swallow Soar: 14%]
[Sun Observing Strengthening Skill: 9.1%]
[Culinary Arts: 7.7%]
Raising his palms, Qi Xiu circulated his internal power. His hands instantly turned cyan-black, muscles bulging, the palms swelling to several tis their original size—powerful and domineering. A semi-transparent surge of qi seed to wrap around their surface.
He approached a stone wall in the cave. Qi Xiu raised his hand and ferociously struck out with a palm.
CRACK—
His flesh made contact with the mottled stone wall, overgrown with green moss. Amid the ear-piercing sound of stone cracking, several cracks as thick as a forearm radiated from the palm print. The entire stone wall seed to shake and tremble. The terrifying destructive power was shocking.
It was hard to imagine what the scene would be if this palm struck the body of a living creature.
Is this... the Tempering Power Realm?
Breaking through to the First Realm of Black Sand Palm, his mind automatically assimilated a large amount of Martial Path knowledge.
The so-called Tempering Power Realm is a threshold that martial artists step into. It is also the limit of third-rate Outer Sect martial arts like Black Sand Palm. Once a martial art enters the Tempering Power Realm, the practitioner can, in a short ti, unleash a strength that is several to dozens of tis greater than that of an ordinary person. And the manifestation of activating this power is the appearance of a transparent, invisible surge of qi, wrapping around the practiced part of the body.
Flicking the Vigor from his palms, Qi Xiu sat on a nearby rock, chin propped on his hand, staring at the proficiency panel.
Black Sand Palm is a third-rate Outer Sect palm technique. Even if I cultivated it to death, it would only reach the Tempering Power Realm. But looking at the panel, it seems Black Sand Palm can be practiced further. It’s just that the secret manual’s content only goes up to the Tempering Power Realm...
Rembering the ti he was trapped at the Qian Residence, when simply practicing the palm forms also increased proficiency, Qi Xiu’s eyes flickered slightly. He got up and went back to the iron pot, continuing to train in the previous way.
After about ten minutes, on the proficiency panel, behind Black Sand Palm which had already reached the First Realm, the numbers slowly ticked upward:
0.1%
It really can be improved!
Seeing the progress figure move, Qi Xiu breathed a sigh of relief.
The Tempering Power Realm Black Sand Palm is strong, but it’s far from enough. At least, it’s no match for Qian Yuchuan.
Rembering the night Qian Yuchuan moved as fast as thunder, punching the Corpse Child and sending it flying tens of ters to embed deeply into a wall, Qi Xiu massaged his temples.
That guy couldn’t be so demon in human skin, could he? He’s also only in his twenties; where did such terrifying strength co from?
With a sigh, Qi Xiu lightly tapped his cheek, adjusting his original cultivation plan.
Black Sand Palm has already broken through to the First Realm. The acquisition of proficiency has slowed down considerably. I need to reduce the daily practice ti for it and focus on the other techniques. Calligraphy is just 10% away from breaking through to the Second Realm. I can concentrate for a few days and aim to advance one level in one go. Swallow Soar, this movent technique, can be the main target for the next phase. If I can fight, I’ll fight; if not, I can still run. As for this Sun Observing Strengthening Skill...
Glancing at the bright light outside the cave from the corner of his eye, Qi Xiu scratched his forehead.
How should I put it about this martial skill? It certainly is effective. Not only can it strengthen the spirit, reduce fatigue, and invigorate a person, but it can also train one’s eyesight. The only downside is that it’s too uncomfortable to practice. Gazing directly at Taiyang... This thod of practice goes against basic human physiological conditions and causes a strong repulsion in the body. It’s much more uncomfortable than the pure pain of Black Sand Palm. Moreover, after each practice of this martial skill, I have to face nearly two hours of semi-blindness. Both eyes see only a white haze, able to vaguely discern outlines rely two or three ters ahead. Fortunately, as proficiency increases, this duration is also shortening.
Qi Xiu’s gaze wandered back and forth between the several skills. In the end, it slowly settled on Calligraphy, which had been with him the longest and had repeatedly accomplished remarkable feats.
It’s decided then, you’re the one!
In the cold and silent mountain forest, a breeze brushed through the treetops, and snowflakes landed with a faint, crisp sound. On a winding mountain path, two figures trudged slowly. Two Daoists dressed in Taoist Robes, with large bellies, trudged along the mountain path, one step deep and the other shallow. One, carrying a bamboo basket, had pale skin and a green birthmark on his forehead. The other, shouldering a bundle, had a red birthmark on his forehead.
"Brother, are we there yet? My stomach is about to starve. Shall we find sothing to eat?" said the Green Birthmark Daoist, the one with the basket.
"Where can you find food in these godforsaken mountains? Hurry up; we’re probably close to Baoho County. Let’s finish the task Master assigned quickly so we can return sooner," replied the Red Birthmark Daoist, the one with the bundle.
As the two Daoists conversed, the rustling of footsteps ca from around a bend in the mountain road not far ahead.
A man carrying a wicker back-basket uphill to chop wood looked surprised at the Daoists before him.
Since when was there a Daoist temple on this mountain?
"Good day, sirs," the man said with a polite smile, greeting the Daoists.
The two Daoists facing the man exchanged a look and simultaneously revealed sinister, eerie smiles.
"Boundless freedom, benefactor. You have co at such a fortuitous ti," said the Green Birthmark Daoist with a beaming smile as he approached the woodcutter, the veins on his neck subtly bulging and twisting as he walked.
"Ah?"
The woodcutter, bewildered by the advancing Green Birthmark Daoist, was startled for a mont. The Daoist opposite him suddenly opened his mouth wide. A thick, intense green fog surged out from his throat. Like a living thing, it drilled into the woodcutter through all seven of his facial orifices.
"URGH!"
Clutching his neck abruptly, the woodcutter didn’t even have ti to let out a scream before he collapsed, stiff as a board.
"Hahaha, finally, sothing to eat! After several days out, the treasures in my belly were starving," the Green Birthmark Daoist cackled, rubbing his bulging stomach and grinning maliciously. As his robes shifted, nurous fist-sized pustules were revealed on his stomach, with so kind of creature squirming faintly within them—an utterly disgusting sight.
"There’s a cave over there," suggested the Red Birthmark Daoist, having spotted a spacious cave nearby. "This rustic’s skin is rough and greasy; it’ll affect the taste. Let’s peel him over there before we eat."
"Okay, you always know the best way to eat, Brother! Let’s go." The Green Birthmark Daoist snickered, slurping back the drool from the corner of his mouth as he hefted the man onto one shoulder with a single hand.
The pair proceeded toward the cave, laughing and joking as they went.
...
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