With money, Xun Xie's life was smooth sailing, with a wax ball and a tael of exotic animal meat every day.
The chewing gum grass had different potencies, even after finishing the youngest ones 10-29 years old, he still couldn’t withstand the 30 year old grass. While it didn’t feel like a black hole this time, the feeling of sensing tapeworms in your stomach wasn’t pleasant.
So, he didn’t eat the entire grass and instead ate a few blades each time, slowly increasing the proportion.
This was a huge nourishment for Xun Xie, who is still in the developmental stage.
Three weeks later.
After winning a few minor Great Clarities and with his normal comprehension, Xun Xie could feel he was on the verge of executing the 5th move ‘Tiger Roar Shakes the Heavens and Earth’.
It’s here!
Xun Xie felt a thin barrier now lay between him and accomplishing the 5th move, with just a slight poke it would vanish and show him a brand new world!
Soaking his dry throat, Xun Xie put the bamboo cup on the steps of the Temple of Earth.
Taking a deep breath…
His pupils shone like gems, and the space between his brows birthed a cool feeling as if a cube of ice had been placed on it.
Opening his mouth, he let out a roar like never before.
The dog-like howls that disturbed the maids had vanished and an intimidating roar sounded in the village and valley like a sonic boom!
ROOOAR!
Xun Xie felt his throat vibrate in a mysterious rhythm; the vibrations spread to his veins where even his blood seemed to faintly tremor whilst flowing.
The birds flew up in the sky and the insects stopped chirping. The animals further into the woods felt the disturbance and warily retreated.
“…”
That’s it…?
Seeing no disturbance to the tree in front of him, Xun Xie felt very underwhelmed.
This was what he was working towards?
Having experienced this a few times before with discovering his abilities, Xun Xie of course didn’t feel the move was useless.
“It’s technically an exercise anyways, not a fighting skill, its effects are probably more subtle or just manifest at a different stage later on.”
Feeling this was quite possible, Xun Xie resisted the temptation of trying again and rested his weary throat that had been tortured these past few weeks, having barely rested since first getting the move, resting for a few days is probably best now that he had successfully executed the move.
Xun Xie didn’t realize that the birds that had flown off had fallen unconscious after making it a for meters, the insects were even more tragic and had been instantly killed by the sound of his roar.
Xun Xie rested his throat but didn’t stop practicing the first four moves. After his throat recovered he started refining the wax pill with all five moves and felt a noticeable difference. He spent his days just like that, practicing, eating, resting, practicing, practicing calligraphy and painting, and the cycle repeats…
There is no sun and moon in practice.
In the blink of an eye, three more months have passed, and it's almost winter.
Xun Xie has grown taller again, reaching a height of over 1.7 meters.
He guessed that his age should be around twelve years old. Based on his current health he was normal now and just more fit than his peers, but his height and features matched that age group. Of course, being malnourished wasn’t actually that rare in this town’s children although his initial state was even worse than theirs. His current comparison was with the healthy twelve year olds he had observed, even so among his peers, this height definitely stands out from the crowd.
Moreover, his body is getting stronger and stronger, the muscles in various parts are visible to the naked eye, and the belly is also bulging with fishing line, and it is no problem to play with the 80-pound stone lock.
His skin was also pale like most of his fellow disciples. The only fly in the ointment was that somehow his skin was a bit paler, looking weak and girlish were it not for his shapely muscles.
It can only be said that the meat of exotic animals has a great nourishment effect indeed, and the physical development curve is different from that of ordinary people when taking it as an adolescent.
Xun Xie pinched his fingers and calculated that it had been almost 100 days since he took the secret medicine for the first time.
These days, Xun Xie has been paying attention to the changes in his body.
Apart from getting stronger physically, Xun Xie found that he could see farther, and his vision became clearer.
In addition, even if it is far away, some subtle smells can be smelled, some messy sounds can be heard, and the sense of smell and hearing has obviously become much more sensitive.
The five senses are developed like a beast.
"Does this mean that my blood has been successfully alienated?"
Xun Xie remembered that Old Man Hu said that the speed of alienation of blood varies from person to person, and it can be as fast as a hundred days.
This afternoon, a bleak late-autumn cold rain fell, swept away the fallen leaves, and quickly emptied the streets and alleys.
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Everyone went to hide from the rain.
The yard of the Hu residence was also empty. The apprentices took umbrellas and left one after another, and some people left in the rain.
Xun Xie didn't have an umbrella, so he and a few apprentices sheltered from the rain under the eaves.
He has always been taciturn and rarely speaks. Except for cultivating in Hu Mansion and staying overnight in Song Mansion, he basically acts alone at other times. Wary of exposing his traces when acting familiarly with anyone, he kept a distance. Although he had adapted to this world now, he didn’t feel like joining any of their circles.
Several apprentices were familiar with each other, and they got together to chat enthusiastically, chatting and laughing, and Xun Xie was by himself.
Xun Xie heard that they talked about several large gangs in Blue Grain Town, the Wolf Head Gang, the Black Blade Gang, Broken Fang Gang, the Hero Gang, etc.
They talked about which gang is the strongest, how many masters are there, and how many skills they have learned. Which gang do you want to join when you are successful?
"Is this the future in their eyes? After learning martial arts, the next stop is a gang?"
Xun Xie was thoughtful.
Well, it wasn’t that preposterous, without a government, gangs were basically small companies and the most promising jobs in town likely.
In the main room, Old Man Hu is receiving guests.
The middle-aged guest had a mustache, was wearing a green shirt, and had a mighty blue-eyed green bull embroidered on his chest, looking very shrewd.
"As for escorting the food, I'll leave it to Elder Hu." The blue-shirted guest walked out of the main room and said with a smile.
"Leave it to me, please tell Cloud City Lord, the food must be delivered before the end of the month." Old man Hu continued, holding an umbrella, and sent the blue-shirted guest to the gate all the way.
"Then I bid you a safe journey away from the mist and shadow."
The blue-shirted guest saluted then got on the carriage and left.
Old Man Hu turned around and came back, pacing with his hands behind his back, frowning slightly, as if he was thinking about something.
Xun Xie pondered for a while and went up to meet him.
"Is something wrong?" Old Man Hu had a good impression of any apprentice who paid on time and never took credit, so he didn't have a cold face. The tuition was a given but a lot weaseled with the silver for exotic animal meat.
Xun Xie asked directly: "I practice hard every day and I feel that my body has changed a lot. Does this mean that my blood has begun to alienate, or that the alienation has been successful?"
Old Man Hu was stunned, shook his head, and said with a smile: "Blood alienation is not that simple, nor is it that fast, you probably haven't succeeded yet, keep working hard."
Xun Xie raised his eyebrows, "Then what is the sign of successful blood alienation? How can I judge which stage I have progressed to?"
Old Man Hu pointed out: "The moment the blood alienation is successful, a strange energy will be born in our body, which is called 'blood energy'. Although it can't be seen or touched, it can be clearly felt."
"Blood energy?" Xun Xie couldn't help but imagine a very magical image in his mind, mucus-like snot. The image Old Hu showed him the first time.
Obviously, he is still a long way from success.
"Keep working hard."
Xun Xie sighed softly.
In fact, he originally thought with the chewing gum grass and extra servings of meat, he had great hope of completing the blood alienation within 100 days.
But this failed.
"Ah, I've almost spent all the money I've saved up."
Practicing martial arts and spending money like water, Xun Xie almost went bankrupt, and the salary he received from Mr. Song every month was simply a drop in the bucket.
Two days later, Xun Xie spun the wheel.
Sip!
Sip!
The Grand Prize: 10 seconds of Robbery.
"The opportunity has come..."
Seems he could keep the old gold coin for awhile longer, after all this time he had designated it as emergency funds.
Xun Xie's eyes lit up, he came to the firewood house of Song Mansion, opened up a wooden box, and started taking out a few things he had purchased, a wood chopping axe, long nails, custom steel-plated gloves, and finger-sized needles from the blacksmith along with two sharp meat cleaving blades.
In the bamboo basket, he placed them with his old comrade hoe and covered them with a cloth.
"Perfect" Xun Xie nodded, carried a bamboo basket, rode a donkey, and left Blue Grain Town.
Returning to the Land Temple in Yin Village again, everything was the same as before.
Xun Xie couldn't help but glance at the small river, always worried that a luminous body would suddenly jump out of the water. He was focused on training before but wasn’t he crazy for daring to practice here?
"It’s still during the day, don't think wildly." Xun Xie took a deep breath, concentrated his attention, and walked towards the valley.
Crossing the mountains and forests, wading across the creek.
Xun Xie raised his head, his gaze passed through the two adjacent trees, and pushed aside a tall wormwood clump.
All of a sudden!
A low, dark hole came into view.
"If that grizzly bear happened to be out foraging and wasn't in the cave..." Xun Xie tiptoed closer.
When he was about ten meters away from the entrance of the cave, he stopped and put down the bamboo basket.
Xun Xie quickly took out his weapons, stuck the wood-chopping axe on the ground, and the fish-killing knives to his waist hanging plus the two meat cleavers, one in each of his left and right hands covered with his gloves. The hoe was placed on his back as a last resort.
When he was ready, Xun Xie raised his voice and shouted, "Bear, get out!"
I shouted twice...
The next moment, I saw a shadow seeping out of the hole, gradually revealing a majestic figure, it was the grizzly bear.
Xun Xie stared at the big bear without any fear. He had a lot of prep time and mental rehearsal yet his body still instinctively trembled but fortunately, it was within an acceptable range.
The big bear also saw Xun Xie, and roared at the enemy who had invaded its lair, then rushed over.
Ten meters, nine meters, eight meters, seven meters…
The big bear is approaching quickly!
Xun Xie stood still, three meters, two meters, one meter!
The big bear had already opened his bloody mouth, and a stench rushed toward his face. At this moment, Xun Xie started the robbery.
"I'm Batman!"
Ssssh!
The whole world is momentarily still like a picture.
The big bear appeared in a running posture, with its bloody mouth wide open, its fangs exposed, and the hair on its body stretched back.
10 seconds!
Xun Xie stepped forward, raised both hands at the same time, and stabbed the two cleavers out at the head and face, directly into the bear's eyes. Leaving two needles in their place.
Blind the big bear first.
Even if it couldn't be killed within ten seconds, a blind grizzly bear could not pose as large a threat to Xun Xie afterward, so he could take care of it slowly.
Following that thought, he stuck two needles and nails each in its nostrils, aiming to block its keen sense of smell. He could have coated it with something to increase the effect, but he didn’t feel it was necessary.
The fish-killing knife entered the big bear's eye socket and sank deeply until it couldn't stab any deeper. Xun Xie immediately released his hands and grabbed the wood-chopping axe on the ground without any pause.
5.4 seconds!
Xun Xie picked up the wood-chopping axe and slashed the brown bear's neck with an axe.
The brown bear's fur is extraordinarily thick, and the axe does not cut it deeply.
4 seconds!
Xun Xie slid to the ground near its hind legs which were still in the air. Hammering a few needles and nails where its ankles or joints were likely to be.
He stuck the remaining cleaver up its rear entrance ruthlessly.
He went to grab the axe and made another slash quickly.
Xun Xie immediately retracted the axe, gritted his teeth, and slashed again with all his strength.
The second hack was successful!
Finally, the skin opened, and the flesh burst open, and blood was faintly revealed about to spill out.
Time: 0.8 seconds!
Xun Xie jumped to the side.
The next moment, the world started to work again, and the brown bear was still running forward, threatening to bite.
But Xun Xie had already moved his position, and the grizzly bear threw himself in the air.
Immediately afterward, a shrill roar sounded!
After the brown bear lunged forward, it was followed by severe and sharp pain and darkness.
It shook its head violently and scratched its eyes with its claws, but it touched the handle of the needles and knives, which made it even more painful. The cleaver up its behind was even more uncomfortable and searing, dripping slowly.
At the same time, blood spurted frantically from the neck, spilling all over the place.
Xun Xie silently retreated to ten meters away, grasping the wood chopping axe in both hands, silently watching the brown bear short of breath, his face splashed with a bit of blood in the retreat.
Death can be very fast, it can also be very slow, very slow...
The brown bear suffered such a severe injury but struggled for nearly half an hour before falling down, panting heavily, and twitching from time to time.
As expected, common sense couldn’t be applied to this world’s creatures. Its joints had holes poked in it and yet it resisted for so long.
Xun Xie looked at the exaggerated blood spilled on the floor before its death and the many wounds that had only just now killed it and was speechless. Luckily he had prepared sufficiently.