Chapter 26: The Dragon's Blood Takes Form, the Spirit Grows Strong

The dense forest was thick with the scent of blood, and the weather had turned cold. With the arrival of winter, the low temperatures greatly restricted the dispersal of odors. Had it been midsummer, the townspeople living nearby would have surely caught the stench quite quickly.

Over half the night, Lu Xiao had mastered the preliminary stages of the "Dragon Blood Body Tempering Art"—or, one might say, achieved a modest level of proficiency. Although Wu Shanlong had gifted him the technique with malicious intent, the manual itself was by no means a common object. The men of Dragon King Mountain were generous with it only because they relied on their own internal methods, believing outsiders incapable of practicing it. In reality, the "Dragon Blood Body Tempering Art" was exceptionally powerful for enhancing one's physique and blood vitality, and for forming a defensive barrier of blood energy. Even the core members of Dragon King Mountain held this technique in high regard. Furthermore, the fact that the manual displayed its name in purple was a testament to its value. If the "Gang Qi Heart Sutra," which displayed its name in white, could provide him with such significant benefits, then a technique manifesting in purple was beyond measure.

The only slight drawback was the immense consumption required by the "Dragon Blood Body Tempering Art." Training this way frequently drained too much of his physical stamina and energy. At this very moment, for instance, Lu Xiao felt as though he could devour an entire ox. Upon returning to his small cabin, he simply went to sleep. The "Gang Qi Heart Sutra" was of insufficient quality to provide a striking improvement to his physique. Even when enhanced through refining methods, its strengthening effect on his blood vitality remained inadequate. The "Dragon Blood Body Tempering Art" perfectly bridged this gap; the Gang Qi improved his defensive capabilities, while the Dragon Blood technique ensured his blood vitality remained abundant, effectively mending his shortcomings.

At the hour of the Dragon (7-9 AM), Lu Xiao was awakened by hunger. He ate some of the dry pancakes he had stockpiled to stave it off. His high-intensity training consumed too much; not only was his rest insufficient, but his food supply was also lacking. Lu Xiao actually had some savings left. If it truly came to it, he would have to use that silver to buy cheap, filling food. Recently, he had had to go to the kitchen early after his chores to eat, but the servants always left him so little that he could never get full.

The day after Wu Shanlong departed, the siblings Lu Zhi and Lu Qiao had also left the Marquis’s estate. Though trapped within the Yonglin Marquis’s residence with limited access to information, Lu Xiao could still read the situation. The city of Yonglin had become much livelier recently. Many unfamiliar martial artists had arrived, suggesting that something had happened in the surroundings. Perhaps even Xue Shiwei’s visit to Yonglin City was linked to this; it was unlikely she had come purely as a guest of the estate.

After Xue Shiwei left, Yonglin City began to return to its usual state, becoming much quieter. Lu Xiao could sense this intuitively. A while back, prices in Yonglin City had surged because the influx of people exceeded the city's capacity. Some merchants, seeing the crowds, had prepared extra food for sale. Now that the crowds were gone, they were left in a mess. With goods unsold, they began slashing prices. For Lu Xiao, this was a stroke of good fortune. Food, even dry pancakes, had a shelf life. While they could be stored longer in winter, they wouldn't last forever, and their taste would degrade or they would spoil if left too long. To recoup their losses, merchants were forced to sell at a discount.

At the end of the hour of the Rooster (5-7 PM), the time for the evening meal at the estate, Lu Xiao finished his food quickly and used the opportunity to slip out and buy some pancakes. These baked, dry pancakes didn't taste like much, but they were very satiating. A large bite followed by a drink of water was almost as filling as half a bowl of rice.

The sky was already darkening, and night was falling. The merchant selling the pancakes looked sullen and unhappy. The middle-aged couple who ran the stall had always been full of smiles, but this blind expansion had caused them heavy losses. After the previous period of high demand, they had bought too many materials and made too much stock. Forget about profit; once the crowds dissipated, they couldn't even sell the pancakes at a loss.

Lu Xiao approached and inquired about the price. It was low, but not quite as low as he had hoped. He negotiated, proposing to buy one hundred pancakes in three separate batches. Upon hearing that one person wanted a hundred, the woman lowered the price further, and Lu Xiao paid promptly. She had wanted to ask why a young master of the Marquis’s estate like Lu Xiao needed so many, but she held her tongue. He was a neglected young master, so buying some food for himself was normal, but taking thirty or forty at a time for one person? Still, she didn't dare press the issue, fearing he might walk away and leave her with even greater losses.

One hundred was not a huge number, but it helped them clear a significant amount of stock. Lu Xiao carried his thirty-five pancakes back to his dwelling in a discreet manner. Since breaking through to the Stone-Moving Realm, his eyesight and hearing had improved significantly. He used to be constantly watched by servants lurking in the shadows, but now, it was much easier for him to detect those ordinary people. At this hour, the servants were busy serving dinner to others, and they had no energy left to monitor him.

Lu Xiao stored the pancakes in his room, hiding them away. With these provisions, he could push his training a little harder. In recent days, he had felt famished after every session, and using his ability to refine all things also took a heavy toll. He could now refine items to the third stage, and each time he did so, it left him ravenous.

That night, Lu Xiao continued practicing the "Dragon Blood Body Tempering Art." With a solid foundation, he had far fewer worries. The technique’s impact on his blood vitality far exceeded that of the "Gang Qi Heart Sutra." Blood vitality was the root of a person and the foundation of a martial artist’s powerful physique. Abundant blood vitality brought the martial artist boundless stamina and surging strength. A martial arts master had once said that one only needed to consider two things in martial cultivation: the martial realm and the physical blood vitality. While the statement was somewhat biased—true masters would certainly consider more—it underscored the importance of blood vitality. The richness of his blood further accelerated the strengthening of his tendons and bones. The reason for Wu Shanlong’s gift became even more apparent.

Tonight, Lu Xiao practiced in a different location. The previous forest still smelled of blood from his earlier sessions, and the Yonglin City Magistrate’s office had already sent men to investigate, fearing a murder or that some evil cultivator had infiltrated the city. Both possibilities required vigilant attention.