Chapter 502: Chapter 333: Lesson 2
The token in his hand cleared the way, granting him unimpeded access to Qiu Qing’s temporary residence. After the disciples at the gate verified its authenticity, he was led to the study in the rear courtyard of the two-section compound.
As Zhao Xuanqi approached the study, he cupped his hands and said softly, “Disciple Zhao Xing, requesting to see the Elder!”
“Come in.”
Qiu Qing’s gentle yet impassive voice rang out. Zhao Xuanqi pushed open the study doors, stepped over the high threshold, and walked into the room.
The study’s decor was simple. In the center was a red desk, upon which sat a thick stack of documents. Qiu Qing was seated behind it, flipping through a file in his hands.
Beside him, a woman stood in attendance, brewing tea.
This woman was at least five-foot-eleven, and even the loose, plain robes of the Red Heart Sect couldn’t conceal her superb figure. The vibrant, heroic air she exuded, combined with her delicate features, created a unique aura. Most men would feel inadequate in her presence, unable to even meet her gaze.
It was none other than He Xijun, who had fought alongside him in the Ghost City.
Seeing Zhao Xuanqi enter, He Xijun paused, raised her head, and sized him up, her eyes showing a trace of interest.
Zhao Xuanqi avoided her gaze, simply cupping his hands and bowing in a show of respect.
‘But he already knew what this meant.’
‘With someone else present—even He Xijun—it meant Qiu Qing probably wasn’t plotting anything against him.’
Qiu Qing, having finished the document, looked up. He studied Zhao Xuanqi for a moment, then a warm smile spread across his face. “Zhao Xing, correct? From this day on, you are my disciple. When I saw the dense Primordial Qi within you, I knew you were a talent worth shaping.”
“Now, I must state two rules you must follow. First, you are not to use my name to act arrogantly or cause trouble in the sect. If you do, you won’t have to wait for others to deal with you—I will personally clean house. Second, you must not slack off in your cultivation. Every quarter, I will assess your progress. If I find you’ve been lazy, you will suffer the consequences. Are you willing to abide?”
Qiu Qing asked, looking at Zhao Xuanqi.
“This disciple is willing.”
Zhao Xuanqi replied with a cupped-hand bow.
“Mm. I heard your parents and kin all died at the hands of Evil Spirits. That incident in Guming County dealt a heavy blow to our Red Heart Sect as well. In the world today, Evil Spirits run rampant and calamities are endless. We Martial Artists cultivate our skills to protect the innocent. I hope you will remember your past suffering and channel it into eliminating these monsters. It would be a way to honor your fallen family,”
Qiu Qing said.
“This disciple will not let Master down!”
Zhao Xuanqi pledged again.
“There is one more thing I must explain. Although you are now my disciple, my duties in Guming County are numerous. I must oversee the general situation and cannot be in two places at once. Therefore, the task of guiding your cultivation will fall to your senior sister.”
“Come, let me introduce you. This is He Xijun, a disciple I took on two years ago. She is now one of the strongest disciples in the Blood Strengthening realm. She is more than qualified to guide your cultivation. If you have any questions you truly cannot resolve, then you may come and ask me,”
Qiu Qing said to Zhao Xuanqi, gesturing to He Xijun beside him.
“Senior Sister He, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Though this is our first time meeting, I have long heard of your great reputation. I hope you’ll guide me well in the days to come.”
Zhao Xuanqi said, cupping his hands to He Xijun.
He Xijun also cupped her hands to Zhao Xuanqi but said nothing more, appearing quite cold and aloof.
“Alright, I still have matters to attend to here. Xi Jun, you can take Zhao Xing and begin his training.”
After saying this, Qiu Qing gave a casual wave of his hand and picked up another document to read. It appeared he had only accepted Zhao Xuanqi as a disciple out of situational necessity.
‘But it made sense. As an Innate Martial Artist, a sect Elder, and the one in charge of Guming County, he couldn’t possibly have the time to personally instruct someone in the Blood Strengthening realm. If Qiu Qing had been overly enthusiastic, Zhao Xuanqi would have been even more suspicious.’
‘In fact, this casual, dismissive attitude made him feel more at ease.’
‘It seemed the man hadn’t uncovered his secrets after all. Taking him as a disciple was likely just a coincidence.’
“Yes.”
Zhao Xuanqi and He Xijun replied in unison and exited the room.
“Follow me.”
After they left the room, He Xijun glanced at Zhao Xuanqi and spoke, then turned and headed toward a side courtyard within the residence.
“I heard from Master that you’ve only been a disciple for a little over a month, but the Primordial Qi you’ve accumulated is far denser than that of an average New Disciple. Now, use a Blood Qi Rune and strike with your full power. I want to see what level your Blood Qi is at,”
He Xijun said to Zhao Xuanqi.
“Okay, Senior Sister.”
Zhao Xuanqi nodded, pulling a block of Cinnabar Seal Paste from his pocket. After dabbing his finger in it, he quickly drew a Blood Qi Rune on his palm. Then, taking a step forward, he channeled his Qi and Blood and released his Force in a palm strike.
Instantly, the Blood Qi diffused, transforming into a red glow that erupted in a one-foot radius.
“Your released Blood Qi can fill a one-foot radius? Not bad,”
He Xijun said with a nod.
“Thank you for the praise, Senior Sister,”
Zhao Xuanqi said with a smile.
“Don’t get too full of yourself. That’s only considered upper-mid tier. When I was a new disciple, after only a month, my Blood Qi could fill a two-foot radius. You still have a long way to go,”
He Xijun said, glancing at Zhao Xuanqi while feigning calmness.
“How could I possibly compare myself to you, Senior Sister?”
Zhao Xuanqi replied with a strained laugh.
As if a fundamental need for social validation had been met by his reaction, He Xijun gave a small nod, seemingly very satisfied with Zhao Xuanqi’s attitude.
Although her strength was considerable, ranking her among the top disciples in the Blood Strengthening realm, she was, after all, only eighteen years old. She was usually called “Senior Sister” by other Blood Strengthening disciples due to her power, which required her to put on an aloof facade. But in reality, she still had the disposition of a young girl. This was her first time teaching a student on behalf of her master, and it gave her a strange sense of accomplishment.
“Continue practicing the True Essence Skill on your own. That Cultivation Technique is the foundation of all our sect’s methods. Progress depends on individual aptitude, so others can’t help much. What I will teach you here is related to Techniques.”
“In the Blood Strengthening realm, Blood Qi is merely the most basic method of our Red Heart Sect. To advance, you must further refine your Blood Qi, transforming it into Blood Fire. The next step is Crimson Fire, and after that, Golden Fire. These are the Blood Qi Three Transformations.”
“With each transformation, the power of the released Primordial Qi increases dramatically. I myself can now condense Crimson Fire. As for that Senior Brother Zhao from the Ghost City incident… he used Golden Fire…”
Speaking of Golden Fire, He Xijun seemed a bit dazed, as if lost in a memory.
“I’m getting off track. For you, while you continue to practice the True Essence Skill, you now need to start training in the technique of condensing Blood Qi into Blood Fire.”
“This technique requires the coordination of multiple factors, such as Technique, Force Release, Blood Circulation, and Spirit. The core principle is ‘Ignition’.”
“It’s like lighting a flame, causing the power in your body to erupt violently, like dry wood meeting a fierce fire. For example…”
He Xijun said, then forced a drop of blood from her fingertip, drew a Blood Qi Talisman Technique in her palm, and suddenly struck out.
Her body went from still to moving in a flash, like a sudden conflagration—it was an explosive display of Force and Intent.
BOOM!!
Blood Qi radiated from the Technique. Under the explosive Force, the red light pulsed and swelled, vaguely taking the shape of a flame.
“When you can use a Blood Qi Rune to stimulate Blood Qi and make it show the Form of a flame, you’ll be considered to have reached the threshold. At that time, I will teach you the content of the Technique that allows for the sustained stimulation of Blood Fire. Now, release your Force, and I will adjust your movements,”
He Xijun said.
Zhao Xuanqi nodded and thought for a moment, appearing to be concentrating his spirit.
Then he circulated his Qi and Blood, struck out with a palm, and mimicked He Xijun’s movements from a moment ago.
FOOM!!
The Blood Qi escaped, its crimson light spreading out. Only this time, the edges of the light trembled, already showing the faintest hint of a flame’s form.
Seeing this, the expression on He Xijun’s face froze slightly.