Chaotic World Book

"This cultivation technique would be strange if it weren't powerful; after all, it's something that the top ranker of the Heavenly List left for their own child to practice. If it were a low-level technique, that would truly be incomprehensible.

Before, when I had just begun cultivation, I couldn't feel anything special about it, and Zhao Changhe didn't have any point of reference, so he couldn't compare its quality. Now that Yue Hongling is here, it's just the right opportunity for her to analyze it.

But although I trust Yue Hongling a lot, I dare not divulge all my secrets, so Zhao Changhe could only say, "I don't even know what this technique is; it doesn't even come with a breathing technique or mental method, so I practice it blindly. Uh, let's just call this technique 'Xia Ji's Eight Refinements' for now... Could you take a look at the quality of my True Qi?"

Yue Hongling gave him an annoyed glance: "Give me your hand, I will probe it."

Zhao Changhe obediently held out his hand, and Yue Hongling placed her palm against his, probing slightly. Her expression became more and more astonished.

The True Qi refined by Zhao Changhe's cultivation technique was of extremely exaggerated quality, surpassing even the high expectations she had set.

Why is there a division of realms? Whether it's Inner or external strength, the power one possesses can be quantified. Those in the same realm are similar, which can be taken as a standard for differentiation, and the ones who can surpass their level are worthy of praise; otherwise, what's the meaning of these levels?

To put it simply, when your True Qi reaches the volume of one, you're at the Mystical Gate First Layer. The upper limit of this realm is ten, and when your cultivation reaches ten, you hit a bottleneck. You must break through the Second Layer of the Mystical Gate in order to continue increasing the volume of True Qi. This is the same for everyone.

This isn't like the instant results of external strength, where a breakthrough at a certain checkpoint can greatly enhance one's physical strength, and one might even turn the tables right then and there. For Inner Strength, you still need to continue accumulating after the breakthrough to increase the gap.

The typical difference between a Divine Skill and an ordinary cultivation technique is that cultivating a Divine Skill might only require three days to accumulate from one to ten, and breaking through the blockade is easy; whereas garbage techniques might require three years of accumulation, and the bottlenecks could be agonizingly difficult to overcome.

Moreover, with a good technique, the upper limit might reach all the way up to the Secret Treasure, while garbage techniques might only be sufficient to practice to the Second or Third Layer, with nothing beyond.

The most crucial factor is, the nature or quality of the True Qi cultivated from different techniques varies. Everyone's Dantian is a reservoir of the same size. Some people store ordinary clear water, some venom, some kerosene, some life-giving sweet dew, and there are cheaters who store solid ice, making their 'water volume' practically several times that of others when called upon...

This is how the disparity between the high gates and great sects, the aristocratic families, and ordinary martial artists widens. The emergence of a Divine Skill can cause a bloody storm of contention, all because of this.

Zhao Changhe had just broken through to the Second Layer, and his Dantian meridians were that of a reservoir the size of the Second Layer, which was not a problem.

The problem was that the quality was too incredible—it was you I was talking about when I said someone was being cheeky with a reservoir full of solid ice!

Others at this level of cultivation would have True Qi that is basically formless and substanceless, but Yue Hongling could almost see the dense white mist in this guy's body, like smoke or fog.

If you were someone stuck at the Second Layer of the Mystical Gate for a long time, unable to break through the ceiling, and could only try to refine the quality of your True Qi, accumulating over days and months to reach this level, then that would still be common. But you've just broken through and already have such quality? If you deliberately refine it, are you trying to defy the heavens?

What cultivation technique is this?

Xia Ji's Eight Refinements... I've never heard of it.

After listening to Yue Hongling's explanation, Zhao Changhe stroked his chin: "So, does this mean that the problem of me starting martial arts too late has been resolved by this technique?"

"No," Yue Hongling shook her head: "Why do they say one must start cultivating from a young age? Because children are more malleable, and the Dantian and meridians can gradually expand along with cultivation, but yours are already fixed. Your meridians are that narrow and cannot withstand the blast of True Qi that is too violent; your Dantian is only so big, even if you break through to the Nine Layer Heaven, you'll find your Dantian cannot contain so much True Qi. Without some special opportunity, I'm afraid your achievements in this life may be limited."

Zhao Changhe smiled: "I see, thank you for the explanation; I understand now."

Yue Hongling wondered: "How can you be so nonchalant?"

The treasure capable of marrow washing that had been right in front of him was willingly given up; at least it proved such things truly exist in the world. Zhao Changhe wasn't that entangled after all and said with a carefree smile: "Heaven never seals off all the paths; there will always be heavenly materials and earthly treasures in the world. Since things have already come to this, what's the use of being vexed? Let's just keep practicing the Blood Evil Skill for now. According to what you said, the Blood Evil Skill is also very strong."

Yue Hongling had to admit that his carefree attitude did appeal to her, so she consoled him: "The Blood Evil Skill cultivates lifeblood, and it actually suits young men better; it really can turn your age disadvantage into an advantage. Moreover, this technique has a high limit. You might as well practice it at ease for now. Who knows, when the time comes, perhaps fortune will fall upon you?"

"Yes," Zhao Changhe said leisurely: "For this, I've endured many drawbacks; there's no helping it. Eh, speaking of which, there's a secret move in my Blood Evil Saber Technique called 'Gods and Buddhas Scatter', which requires an exorbitant amount of Blood Evil Qi to execute. It's said that you need at least the Mystical Gate Third Layer just to barely use it once. Can I substitute it with this True Qi? If I can, with the quality you've mentioned, I should barely be able to use it once."

"Of course you can. It's just missing that ferocious aura, so the effect will be somewhat reduced. After all, the martial arts that come with the cultivation technique will definitely have their unique synergistic effects, which other techniques can't replace. But in terms of the power of the saber move itself, it's still formidable."

"So it's missing effects like numbness and fear, but the power hasn't weakened much; that's acceptable."

Yue Hongling thought his description was odd but quite apt. This bandit chief seemed to be more cultured than she had thought... After pondering for a moment, she asked, "It seems like you're asking this for a specific purpose. What are you planning on doing?"

Zhao Changhe smiled faintly: "How can one go without a secret move? It's not necessarily about having a specific target."

Yue Hongling looked at him askew, feeling quite irritated by his smile, which seemed to hide some mischief. She said, "Do you remember what I told you before, that I could teach you in three areas? Leading you in Inner Strength cultivation is only the first part."

""

Zhao Changhe scratched his head. Various interruptions had nearly made him forget that Yue Hongling indeed said she could teach three aspects, with Inner Strength being merely "the first."

He sheepishly asked, "I'm already very grateful for the Inner Strength, so what comes next?"

Yue Hongling ground her teeth subtly and unhurriedly drew her sword, "Sparring with you in real combat."

Zhao Changhe stepped back in fright, "What's the point of fighting you? It would just be an instant defeat for me, not a real exercise."

"You've always fought against those worthless opponents and can't develop any real skill. Without facing a true, difficult challenge, without tasting defeat, what value is there in such training?" Yue Hongling said with excitement, "Enough nonsense, stretch your head over… oh, draw your saber!"

Zhao Changhe turned and ran, "No wait, you're still injured. Can we do this some other day…"

Yue Hongling pursued him with sword in hand, "What's this little injury? It's enough to thrash you!"

"I think you just want to beat me up, don't you?"

"Don't slander me. I, Yue Hongling, am upright and never take out my anger on others."

"Ouch, damn it… I'm fighting back now, you know!"

"Come on, let me see how much you weigh, Zhao Village Chief, to dare call my Yue'er by name."

"Sure enough, you were waiting for this…" Zhao Changhe laughed and cried at the same time, but his running footsteps around the courtyard suddenly stopped.

"If knocking you down means I can call Yue'er by name, then I really want to try!"

Yue Hongling, full of interest, stopped chasing him, prepared to say something, only to see Zhao Changhe stamp his right foot to the ground, suddenly twisting his body, leaping up with his saber, and slashing down rapidly.

The scene at that moment was quite mystical, and very much like something straight from the Demon Sect.

On New Year's Eve, with the crescent moon hanging in the sky, the blood-colored sword light fell like it was from the Nine Heavens, perfectly obscuring the crescent moon. It was as though a blood moon was descending from the sky, ripping through the heavens.

In the darkness, Zhao Changhe's face couldn't be made out, but one could see a pair of blood-red eyes, suspended in the air, divine and demonic.

Blood Evil fills the air, all gods and buddhas scattered!

This wasn't some Mystical Gate Third Layer Saber Technique… The Mystical Gate Third Layer was something he could barely use once.

This must be at least a secret technique of the Mystical Gate Sixth Layer or above that one could use regularly, one of the most famous Saber Techniques from the Blood God Sect. It was the first time in Zhao Changhe's hands that it revealed its terrifying fangs.

Yue Hongling had seen this saber strike before. The Sect Hierarch Xue Canghai had used it. If this strike were entirely driven by the Blood Evil Skill, the "fear" effect Zhao Changhe speculated about would indeed be real. Against opponents with weaker wills, this blow could truly shatter both heart and courage.

But whether it was because she was injured and her energy was weak at the moment, or because the atmosphere of the scene was just right... Yue Hongling always felt that even when she faced Xue Canghai at that time, it wasn't as imposing as Zhao Changhe's current momentum, like the Blood God wielding a crescent moon furiously splitting the heavens and earth.

Truly a natural-born villain… This Demon Sect cultivation technique suited him so perfectly.

The thought flashed by, and Yue Hongling's longsword had already touched the edge of the blood moon.

Brilliant sunset clouds illuminated the sky, where the setting sun and the blood moon coexisted on the horizon before both faded into silence.

"Bang!" Zhao Changhe was thrown several meters back, slamming heavily against the courtyard wall, coughing laboriously.

Looking up, Yue Hongling was also leaning on her sword with some difficulty, a hint of blood seeping from her lower abdomen, where the wound had been opened again by movement. She looked at Zhao Changhe coughing by the wall, with genuine admiration in her eyes. Who could have expected such an outcome beforehand?

Her injury was supposed to be minor, just enough to hit a child with the force of a casual sword strike. She should not have needed to exert any force in her abdomen that could cause the wound to open. Yet Zhao Changhe's saber strike was much more powerful than expected, causing her to instinctively engage her abdominal muscles on that strike, and naturally, the wound was aggravated.

It was a self-inflicted wound. She was supposed to be healing and resting, instead, she had aggravated her injury unnecessarily.

Well, it wasn't caused by his strike, so there was no need to call him Yue'er... The Chaotic World Book probably wouldn't notice either; otherwise, Zhao Changhe's saber strike could have made him famous.

Across the way, Zhao Changhe struggled to his feet and suddenly laughed, "Exhilarating, truly exhilarating! You were right… only such battles are interesting… when you're healed, let's do this again!"