Noon.
The sun was scorching.
The children of the Orphanage had a one-hour rest period. Exhausted after a long morning of work, they had each found a shady spot to curl up and fall into a deep sleep.
Hong Yi was no different, sleeping even more soundly than the others. He was so deeply asleep that he didn't even notice when someone took the item hidden on his person.
"Fire Separation Mysterious Skill!"
This Cultivation Technique was recorded on a scroll of cloth, which had been ingeniously woven into his clothes.
Without knowing its secret, one could search his entire body and never find the Cultivation Technique.
Fortunately, this posed no challenge to Zhu Ju.
'A Cultivation Technique that leads directly to the Third Grade...'
'...is nothing special!'
Shaking his head, Zhu Ju flicked his wrist, returning the cloth scroll, and ambled toward the back of the Orphanage.
'Third Grade?'
He had once condensed a Primordial Spirit. By this world's standards, that would have made him a Third-Grade master.
Moreover, the Methods he had come into contact with were all direct lineages from Major Sects of the Immortal Sects. Their grades were so high they might have even surpassed the First Grade.
Although the Fire Separation Mysterious Skill was impressive in Taiyuan Prefecture, it was nothing in his eyes.
The only reason he had gone to such lengths to obtain it was to use the Cultivation Technique to understand this world's path of Cultivation.
The Immortals had all fallen.
The Primordial Spirit Method he cultivated was now a dead end.
Only this world's Martial Arts inheritance seemed to offer another way, one that wouldn't be tainted by the Dao Poison.
"Qi Blood Dharma Form!"
"This world's Martial Arts focuses on the Cultivation of Qi Blood. From the Ninth Grade to the Seventh Grade, one strengthens their Qi Blood and tempers their Tendon and Bone. Upon reaching the Sixth Grade, Qi Blood forms a Pill, absorbing the world's mysteries into the body until it nurtures a trace of Legal Principle. For a Third-Grade Martial Artist, the principles of heaven and earth intertwine within their Qi Blood, condensing into a tangible Dharma Aspect."
"So..."
Zhu Ju's eyes flickered.
"Qi Blood! Dharma Aspect!"
Using a Dharma Aspect in place of a Nascent Soul or Primordial Spirit, and Qi Blood in place of Magical Power, one could walk the ultimate path of the Dao.
He suddenly recalled Wujiu, that Fourth-Grade master from the True Martial Sect.
Under the illumination of the Formless Divine Light, the Qi Blood in Wujiu's body had condensed into a Pill, and within that Pill was a Red Flame Qilin.
That Red Flame Qilin must be his Dharma Aspect. For it to be so substantial, he must have already stepped over the threshold into the Third Grade.
'It seems Wujiu's advancement to the Third Grade is a sure thing. Shuang'er has certainly found a good master.'
With a soft sigh, Zhu Ju reined in his stray thoughts.
Forming a Pill from Qi Blood wouldn't be difficult for him. Once he understood the Method, it would happen naturally when his Cultivation was high enough.
But a Dharma Aspect...
The Fire Separation Mysterious Skill could theoretically condense a Fire Dragon Dharma Form, but in practice, no one had ever succeeded.
It was true that this Cultivation Technique pointed toward the Third Grade, but in reality, it could only lead one to the Fourth Grade. The Third Grade was merely a deduction by the technique's creator.
The creator himself had never reached the Third Grade.
'Fire is scorching by nature.'
'The Fire Separation Mysterious Skill uses flames to temper Qi Blood. Theoretically, the stronger the flame one refines, the stronger one becomes. If one could access the legendary Spirit Fire, Divine Fire, or even Immortal Fire, it would help in nurturing a Dharma Aspect.'
'Unfortunately...'
'...this path is too dangerous, and it has gone astray.'
An orthodox Cultivation Technique wouldn't be like this.
Relying on absorbing stronger things to become stronger... what if there is nothing stronger to absorb?
Wouldn't that make it impossible to become the strongest?
Of course, the creator of the Fire Separation Mysterious Skill was only a Fourth-Grade cultivator. He would have been satisfied just reaching the Third Grade and couldn't possibly ask for more.
'Compared to the Fire Separation Mysterious Skill, the complete Giant Spirit Divine Skill should have a more refined path to the Third Grade. I can only say...'
'...the Divine Heaven Sect truly lives up to its name. Even a Method that casually circulates from them is this impressive.'
'A pity!'
Zhu Ju shook his head and sighed softly.
'Taiyuan Prefecture doesn't have the complete inheritance for the Giant Spirit Divine Skill.'
The Fire Separation Mysterious Skill was of little use to his Cultivation, serving only to give him some understanding of this world's Martial Arts.
However, the Artifact Refining Method within it was a real eye-opener for Zhu Ju.
Qi Blood Divine Weapon!
One could nurture a Weapon with their Qi Blood until their auras merged, at which point the Divine Weapon could be integrated into the Physical Body.
Hong Qingyi's Fire Separation Spear was a Qi Blood Divine Weapon.
He normally kept it nurtured in his Dantian and would manifest it during battle. Because their Qi Blood was fused, its power was extraordinary.
Back then, even though he was heavily injured and besieged by three Sixth-Grade masters, Hong Qingyi had a chance to turn the tables precisely because of his Fire Separation Spear.
A Qi Blood Divine Weapon not only enhanced one's strength but could also act as a second Dantian, helping to bolster their Qi Blood.
*
*
*
The carriage wheels rumbled.
As the Zhu Mansion carriage drove away from the Orphanage, Hong Yi, who had been watching anxiously from the crowd, let out a sigh of relief.
"Hyah!"
"Whoa..."
Several strong horses galloped down the road, pulling up sharply just as they were about to pass the carriage ahead.
"Miss Zhou, Miss Nie."
Hai Yunzou reined in his horse, his slanted eyes glinting as he smiled and called out to the two young women in the carriage.
"What a coincidence, to see two such beautiful young ladies at the same time."
"Elder Hai."
The two women's expressions shifted slightly. Zhou Ruxuan lifted the carriage curtain and gave a small bow.
"Greetings, Elder. Where have you been?"
"Some stubborn remnants of the Qingyi Gang wouldn't see reason and actually attacked the granary outside the city. I went to take a look. I have to say, those tough old bones tasted quite good." Hai Yunzou licked the corner of his mouth. The sight of flesh and blood between his teeth sent a chill through the two women.
"Are you two nieces heading home? Do you need your uncle to escort you?"
He leaned forward slightly, sniffing the air. The sweet scent of the young women brought a look of pleasure to his face.
"How fragrant!"
"There's no need," Nie Leyao said, her face pale.
"If you have business, Elder, please attend to it. We can get back on our own."
"I heard that the Qingyi Gang's Vice Gang Leader, Ma Gulan, has already snuck into the city. It wouldn't be safe for you if you ran into her," Hai Yunzou said, shaking his head.
"It's better if your uncle escorts you!"
With that, he dismounted and moved to board their carriage.
SHING!
The guards from the Zhou and Nie Families drew their swords and surrounded the carriage. The atmosphere in the area instantly changed.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Hai Yunzou's brow twitched, and his slanted eyes grew fierce.
"You..."
"Second Uncle," a 'person' whispered, leaning close to his ear at that moment.
"Someone found Ma Gulan's body in the canal on the west side of the city."
"Oh!"
Hai Yunzou raised an eyebrow. He glanced at the two women's carriage one more time, then vaulted back onto his horse and waved his hand.
"Let's go!"
"Hyah!"
The sound of hooves echoed.
As Hai Yunzou's party gradually disappeared into the distance, the guards from the Zhou and Nie Mansions couldn't help but sigh in relief.
Faced with the oppressive aura of a Sixth-Grade Great Demon, they had already done their utmost just by protecting the carriage.
If a real fight had broken out...
...their group would have been no match for Hai Yunzou.
And it wasn't just Hai Yunzou.
The burly men following him, though they each looked like 'people', were actually Demons that had taken human form.
Although they weren't Sixth-Grade Great Demons, their strength was still considerable.
This pack of Demons ran wild in the human city, looking at people as if they were prey.
A feast on a platter!
Inside the carriage behind them, Zhu Ju slowly lowered the curtain and reached out to gently stroke the Demon-Devouring Iron beside him.
'Demons run rampant in this world, and the weak are meat for the strong. It seems I need to forge a Qi Blood Divine Weapon as soon as possible.'
'A Qi Blood Divine Weapon...'
The Demon-Devouring Iron, weighing over two thousand pounds, could be forged into many kinds of Weapons, but he planned to make a suit of armor.
The Golden Brilliance Armor!
This was a type of Spirit Armor from the Cultivation Realm, which would be classified as around the Fourth Grade by this world's standards.
'Qi Blood is different from Magical Power. I'm not aiming to forge a Fourth-Grade Spirit Armor; I'll be more than satisfied if I can make a Fifth-Grade one.'