novelraw Chapter 230 170: Silent Dragon's Roar, Inviting Guests to Eat Meat
Chapter 230 170: Silent Dragon's Roar, Inviting Guests to Eat Meat
"Uncle Dao, quickly lend a hand!"
Bai Qi, carrying the over three thousand-pound weight of the Red Blood Qilin Horse on his shoulder, arrived at Tongwen Hall.
His tall and slender figure appeared quite thin in comparison, as if he were crushed under a small mountain.
"Who did you kill to get this horse?"
Lao Dao, who was about to rest, opened his eyes wide as he watched Young Master Qi decapitate this exotic and invaluable steed in front of Tao Rong and Chen Zhao.
"A commonplace trick called 'luring the tiger out of the mountain'! Old as it is, but effective!"
Bai Qi shrugged his shoulders and unloaded the Red Blood Qilin Horse in the front yard with a dull "thud," like thunder that shook up a cloud of dust.
The hard water-ground bluestone cracked with a few visibly wide fractures.
"My teacher told me there's a thousand-year-old monster prepared for the seventh blood exchange.
I feel my skills are complete lately, it's time to break through, so let's get moving."
Bai Qi spoke lightly, as if it were no big deal.
Through Xiaotou and Ah Xie's inquiries from multiple sources, he figured out who backed Tao Rong.
In all of Black River County, there are so many fishermen neighbors acting as informants. Just a few questions will have plenty of helpful folks providing information.
Moreover, Chen Zhao's Red Blood Qilin Horse is exceptionally eye-catching, unforgettable to behold. It's easy to discern Tao Rong and Chen Zhao's whereabouts, even knowing where the latter stayed and how many grooms were hired from the brokerage.
This is where the true skill of the local bully lies—in knowing your opponent's every move inside out.
"Once you bleed it, it'll probably fill an entire vat. Uncle Dao, please heat it and refine the essence, we'll make use of it while hot."
Bai Qi took off his blood-soaked overcoat:
"This beast is harder to deal with than a Second-Training Martial Artist, nearly got trampled by one of its hooves; luckily, I dodged quickly."
He brought a small stool, took out a short knife, skillfully skinning and slaughtering.
Like an experienced butcher, he removed the fascia, cut the tendons, and began bleeding.
His hands moved deftly, with ease!
"Truly fresh!"
Bai Qi sighed.
The bright red blood in the large wooden basin flowed hotly, steaming like boiling water.
This horse, called "Red Blood Qilin," is a naturally exotic species with a dragon tail and single horn, sprinting swiftly, body heat raging, kicking up its four hooves like a whirlwind.
"Not bad, not bad, daring to think and act."
Ninghai Zen appeared behind Bai Qi, hands crossed behind his back, eyes showing satisfaction.
A direct disciple of Tongwen Hall should act decisively rather than worrying and being timid, otherwise how can one dominate Martial Dao?
"Master, is that Chen fellow really the Master's son?"
Bai Qi asked curiously.
"An adopted son, relying on a good mother to act high and mighty."
Ninghai Zen shook his head, scorning those with just a shred of skill yet flaunting full prowess like an embroidered pillow.
"In his early twenties, breaking Bone-Breaking Barrier, exchanging blood seven times, such mediocre talent, arrogant from seeing a little of the world, yet essentially trivial, unfit for grand use.
It's just that the master couldn't resist pillow talk, earnestly seeking true skills, refining elixirs, and sending him to Zhechong Prefecture."
Master's insight is truly high.
In one's early twenties, achieving Muscle Training mastery, Second Training blood exchange seven times.
At least worthy of being called "an outstanding talent."
Bai Qi quietly slaughtered the horse, aside from extracting the hot essence blood, the flesh itself was a treasure; though not pleasant in taste, it's a substantial supplement, dividing several pounds among Xiaotou and Ah Xie to fortify their qi and blood.
Moreover, with his culinary skills, proper cooking wouldn't render it inedible.
"The Red Blood Qilin Horse is an exotic species, continuously eating it for a while will strengthen health and enhance yang energy."
Ninghai Zen commented.
"Would Master like some?"
Bai Qi offered.
"Even if you let your master eat ten horses a day, it would be better than nothing.
The vitality consumed by a Four Cultivation Grandmaster can no longer be replenished by ordinary Heavenly and Earthly Treasures."
Ninghai Zen laughed, Four Cultivation Grandmasters, Circulation of Qi, are breaking through barriers.
Common grains, once ingested, are quickly depleted, providing no nourishment at all.
"So what do they eat?"
Bai Qi wondered if it was like cultivation, consuming mist and qi.
"Of course, it's the spiritual energy governed by the Dragon Court."
Ninghai Zen answered.
"According to the pre-Dao Loss records, the universe is said to hold 129,600 types of vital energy collectively called 'spiritual energy.'
Each bears different properties, sometimes clear, sometimes turbid, sometimes yin, sometimes gentle, sometimes yang, sometimes fierce... combining into a singular unit.
In the Dao Skill Fourth Realm, starting from embryo concealing, one devours spiritual energy, nurturing the Divine Soul;
In Martial Artist Fourth Training, beginning with qi barriers, one connects human acupoints corresponding to celestial bodies, forcefully absorbing.
Different paths lead to the same destination, returning to one way."
Bai Qi suddenly understood, that's why notable figures gather in Prefecture City, aiming for further progress.
"Master, will these several big basins of essence blood suffice for me to complete my seventh refining?"
Ninghai Zen glanced over and nodded:
"Enough."
He paused for a moment, then added:
"This time might be a bit intense, bear with it."
...
...
In the backyard, a large vat stood securely, stacked underneath with first-rate qingjin wood bought from Chai Market, dense and heavy, harder than fine iron, capable of burning to produce excellent smokeless charcoal.
The still hot essence blood poured in, mixed with several herbs and spring water, displaying a thick, rich hue, coagulating without solidity, like a crimson mud pond, emitting remarkable heat.
"Feels like it might roast me to rare doneness."
Bai Qi's eye twitched, as this large vat of essence blood, boiled for two hours, faintly exuded a ethereal glow, with an unusual fragrance.
"Quickly jump in."
Ninghai Zen and Lao Dao stood respectively or squatted, faces filled with anticipation.
"A bit intense?"
Bai Qi recalled what his master had said, feeling apprehensive, but still stripped to the waist, wearing only a loincloth, he leapt into the large vat that could accommodate several people.
"Hiss!"
As soon as he soaked in, it was as if he had fallen into a sea of fire, with flames engulfing him, threatening to burn his flesh to ashes. Instinctively, he wanted to escape.
Bang!
Ninghai Zen was quick to react, swiftly sealing the vat, forcibly pressing Bai Qi back in.
"Only by enduring the hardest of hardships can one rise above others, Ah Qi! Your master went through the same thing!"
The vat was sealed, trapping the boiling steam inside. With every breath, Bai Qi felt as if his nostrils and mouth were filled with burning charcoal. His tightly closed pores opened, and the condensed qi blood transformed into large beads of sweat, quickly expelled.
Each bone trembled incessantly, extracting vibrant new blood, like a warm current seeping into every muscle, bringing forth a bright sheen.
[You are undergoing the seventh blood exchange, the progress of Arhat Hand's Horse Form Internal Training has increased significantly.]
[You are undergoing the seventh blood exchange, the progress of Dragon Palm's Dragon Form Internal Training has increased significantly.]
[You are undergoing the seventh blood exchange, White Ape Skill...]
The dark talisman trembled repeatedly, but Bai Qi remained unmoved, allowing the vigorous energy refined by four superior martial arts and one health cultivation martial art to circulate his qi blood, surging through his entire body.
Thump!
Thump thump!
Thump thump thump—
His heart pounded intensely, like a mallet striking a drumhead, resonating through the sealed large vat, echoing in the backyard of Tongwen Hall.
"Without Golden Flesh and Jade Veins, how could one seek Mercury Blood Silver Marrow."
Lao Dao sighed, his heart bursting forth, coursing through his entire body. Without a solid flesh shell for support, blood would spurt from his mouth and nose instantly, leading to sudden death.
The complete achievement of the Four Cultivation Stages, each link was interconnected, requiring precision at every step.
"Ah Qi is sure to succeed."
Ninghai Zen watched silently, wanting to tell his master that he was not the only one capable of inheriting the mantle of Tongwen Hall.
"Besides me, Tongwen Hall might have future successors!"
...
...
"Am I nurturing a dragon inside?"
Bai Qi immersed his mind in the transformation of his flesh shell, inwardly viewing his body, as the large dragon bone with twenty-six sections emitted a silent long hum.
Wisps of qi blood dispersed, transforming into a dormant dragon coiled above, with two claws gripping his shoulders, the torso clinging to his chest, abdomen, waist, and back. Below, two claws pressed on his thighs, with large tendons pulsing wildly as if stretching and tearing.
A surging strength emerged, filling every inch of his flesh, as if his human body had transformed into a dragon's body!
"In this state, I could crush my sixth blood exchange self with one punch!"
Bai Qi felt an unprecedented, unparalleled power, layers of dead skin washed away, coalescing into a blood-colored cocoon which cracked open.
With just a slight movement, the solid and sturdy large vat creaked, as if it couldn't bear the strain, and burst apart with a loud crash.
Roar!
The silent dragon hum resounded in every bone, its sound akin to muffled thunder, shaking his nearly perfect flesh shell.
"My strength has surged wildly and fiercely!"
Bai Qi clenched his five fingers tightly, streams of air squeezed from between them, with the spinal dragon eager to soar, almost ready to break free and ascend!
"So strong I wish I could crush twenty Yang Mengs!"
...
...
"The precious bone reveals its form, a silent dragon hum! It's born for the Ten Dragons and Ten Elephants Prison-Suppression Skill!"
A strange brilliance flashed in Ninghai Zen's eyes. Compared to Bai Qi's breakthrough speed, his master's adopted son, Chen Zhao, seemed like mere roadside grass, not worthy of attention.
"Young master, for the Ten Dragons and Ten Elephants Prison-Suppression Skill, it's said one needs the fusion of Dragon-Elephant Jade to fully comprehend it..."
Lao Dao hesitated to speak, knowing that years ago Ninghai Zen only took the dragon-shaped seal, as a token of the sect leader, leaving behind the elephant shape.
"The founder spoke nonsense. I didn't have it and still mastered it fully."
Ninghai Zen raised his chin, having never encountered a martial art he couldn't master in his life.
"However, the fusion of dragon and elephant indeed works wonders. Back then, I thought if my master taught good disciples, Tongwen Hall's three true skills might not be unpassable. But they were worthless compared to Ah Qi, barely worth a mention. I'll reclaim it someday when I have time."
...
...
The next day.
At the grand mansion where Chen Zhao was staying, Bai Qi visited him proactively.
"Junior Martial Uncle Chen, I heard your horse is gone?"
The young Master Bai Qi spoke with deep concern:
"The banditry in Black River County has never been quelled. These Red Eyebrow Bandits are utterly rampant! They even dare kill a cherished horse of a Zhechong Prefecture military general! It's said to be a one-in-a-million breed?"
Chen Zhao's face darkened. He and Tao Rong had fallen for a trick the night before, pursuing an assassin who shot arrows in secret, at the cost of Brother Pei's gifted Red Blood Qilin Horse.
It was like cutting out a piece of his heart, pain searing to the bone!
Moreover, in his rage at the time, he had caused a great commotion, exposing his whereabouts, drawing Bai Qilang to his door.
Chen Zhao gritted his teeth, calming his chaotic qi and blood, forcing a stiff smile:
"For you to call me Martial Uncle is enough to comfort me."
Bai Qi was quite enthusiastic, seemingly unaware of Ninghai Zen and Chen Xing's past entanglements, truly treating Chen Zhao as a fellow disciple:
"Junior Martial Uncle Chen, I made a breakthrough last night, and I think a celebration is in order. I'm hosting a flowing banquet at my home, why not join us for some fun? After we've had our fill, we can visit Master Ning at Tongwen Hall."
Chen Zhao slightly furrowed his brows. Bai Qilang did not mention a word about Tao Rong detaining stall workers and boats, leaving him unsure of how to play his role.
He suppressed his restlessness, agreeing:
"Very well."
A moment later.
Chen Zhao followed Bai Qi past the gate of the old Erxian Bridge residence, where Xiaotou and Ah Xie were holding up a large pot, simmering large chunks of cooked meat. It seemed the seasoning was plenty, whetting the appetite.
"What kind of meat is this? It smells wonderful!"
Chen Zhao looked at the unveiled large pot, surprisingly feeling a bit hungry.
Considering his tenure at Celestial Water Prefecture, having tasted all sorts of delicacies, it was unexpected to find himself tempted by the stewed meat of a rural backwater.
"Junior Martial Uncle Chen, have a taste and you'll know."
Bai Qi seemed intentionally mysterious.