"The Qi and blood flow, what a wonderful change," Wei Tao marveled as he stood in the inner courtyard of Martial Arts Hall, narrowing his eyes and carefully observing his hands.
"The muscles have become noticeably more prominent, especially when the blood is surging. This feeling of strength is incredible."
"The skin has also become tougher, akin to a protective layer on the surface."
"I've even grown taller again, and no matter how much I eat at every meal, it seems like I can never eat enough."
He decided to test his newfound power and threw a few more punches.
With each strike, he could feel the power surging from his shoulders, transmitting through his arms, and finally being unleashed through his fists.
Ka-cha! A thick hardwood stake at the mouth of the bowl snapped in response.
Even at the Skin Refinement level, the battle strength of Red Line Fist surpassed that of many seasoned professional fighters on Earth.
Wei Tao eagerly anticipated the heights he could reach in Muscle Refinement, Blood Condensation, and ultimately, the Red Line Realm.
As it was lunchtime, a hearty stew chowder awaited him, with steamed buns and rice as the main food.
After a period of intense cultivation, especially since reaching the Skin Refinement level, Wei Tao's appetite had also increased.
He could now consume a dozen steamed buns in a single meal, along with a basin of stewed meat and half a barrel of medicinal food.
This way, he could barely ensure sufficient nutritional supplementation after his high-intensity exercises.
Time passed gradually, and Medicine Stone Lane returned to its peaceful existence.
The Black Crow of the Qinghe Society still lurked in the vicinity but kept a safe distance from Wei Tao's door. Even when it had to pass by, it moved cautiously and spoke softly, as if afraid of disturbing the residents inside.
Sometimes, when encountering troublemakers wandering nearby, the Black Crow would swiftly intervene to drive them away and prevent any trouble from brewing. Wei Tao had long forgotten about these incidents.
Under Peng Yue's guidance, he had discovered a new way to earn money and continue practicing his boxing. Apart from his training with teachers and attending to his responsibilities at the martial arts hall, he devoted a significant amount of time to this pursuit.
............
In the mountain range, after a refreshing rainfall, the lush green forests came alive with various animals scurrying about in search of food.
A figure dressed in a cloak and gown leisurely walked along a mountain path. As the distant peaks pierced through the clouds, resembling towering giants in the sky, they stood silently under the gray sky.
Gradually, the figure veered off the beaten trail and ventured deeper into the dense jungle. The sounds of other herb collectors faded away, and the surroundings grew tranquil and profound.
Raising his head, Wei Tao gazed at the serene mountains and forests in the distance, his eyes gleaming beneath the cloak.
This person was Wei Tao, and after a lengthy discussion with Peng Yue, this marked his sixth expedition into the depths of Cangmang Mountain.
Upon reaching a flat clearing, Wei Tao spotted the pile of stones he had left during his last visit. He retrieved a cloth bag from his body and poured some coarse salt from it.
Having completed these preparations, he moved a short distance away, concealed himself behind a tree, and patiently waited.
Time passed slowly.
From morning till noon, the surroundings remained eerily quiet, devoid of any creatures except for the occasional fluttering of insects and birds.
Unfazed, Wei Tao maintained a calm demeanor, repeatedly circulating his qi and blood, mentally rehearsing the movements of the Red Line Fist.
Suddenly, a crashing sound echoed through the nearby bushes, but Wei Tao remained unperturbed, his eyes half-closed as if he were in deep slumber.
Finally, a plump mountain deer emerged, cautiously sniffing the surroundings before slowly approaching the stone platform. It greedily licked the surface, completely unaware of Wei Tao's presence.
In an instant, he snapped his eyes open.
Swiftly, several stones shot from his hand, whistling through the air and striking the deer's head. The creature let out a shriek of pain and anguish.
Panicked, the mountain deer lost its composure, desperately attempting to flee. However, Wei Tao swiftly closed the distance, delivering a powerful blow to its neck, extinguishing any hope of survival.
"I never expected that the throwing technique in the Traveling Stone Fist could be so effective here. With enhanced power, it's akin to practicing a hidden weapon throwing martial art," Wei Tao mused, taking out a length of hemp rope from the basket behind him, his face brimming with satisfaction as he gazed at the intact corpse of the mountain deer on the ground.
However, his primary objective for today was not this deer; it was another prey that held ten times the value.
After a brief pause, Wei Tao stopped beside a large tree, casting his gaze upon a mound of feces on the ground. Moments later, he retrieved a Mountain Splitting Saber from the basket behind him.
A glint of cold light flashed.
He swung the two-foot-long saber, slicing the mountain deer's throat with precision.
Shaking off the bloodstains from his hands, Wei Tao located a relatively flat area, hung the deer's body from a branch, and then quietly positioned himself near another large tree not far away.
The blood dripped down, pooling into a small crimson puddle within the hollow of the rocks.
The scent of blood wafted through the mountain breeze, carrying its allure far and wide. Though he couldn't ascertain the exact distance it would reach, for the carnivores inhabiting this area, it was an enticing and delectable temptation.
Wei Tao cautiously retreated further with his knife, taking cover behind a large rock, and settled in for another round of waiting.
This mountain deer was merely the beginning. The true target of his hunt was the red-capped gray wolf that roamed the depths of the mountain jungle.
Unlike other animals, the red-capped gray wolf earned its name from a small patch of red fur in the center of its forehead. However, it wasn't the red fur alone that made it significant. The flesh and blood of the red-capped gray wolf possessed potent tonic effects on the cultivation of the Red Line Fist's qi and blood circulation.
Even the precious auxiliary cultivation medicine crafted within the Red Line Sect, the Blood Activation Pill, required the heart and bone marrow of the red-capped gray wolf as vital ingredients.
However, in the mountain range, the population of red-capped gray wolves predominantly dwelled in the deep recesses of the mountains, rarely venturing close to human settlements.
The deep mountain jungle was not only home to various ferocious beasts and poisonous insects but also shrouded in constant miasma, rendering it a forbidden area for humans.
Even the most experienced hunters of the Orion Group hesitated to venture too deep.
Consequently, despite the increasing price offered by the Martial Arts Hall, it was challenging to acquire a significant number of red-capped gray wolves and impossible to mass-produce the Blood Activation Pill required for training.
Wei Tao had learned about this situation from his Fifth Senior Brother, Peng Yue, when he sought advice on money-making methods.
Peng Yue playfully mentioned the exorbitant purchase price the Martial Arts Hall offered for red-capped gray wolves.
However, he then earnestly helped Wei Tao analyze the various options available as a direct disciple of the Red Line Sect, considering his current circumstances.
The most straightforward approach was to assist the Third Senior Brother in his dart bureau, where each dart trip could yield substantial earnings.
Alternatively, Wei Tao could establish connections with the Fourth Senior Brother and work in the Changle Market as a Martial Master, receiving a fixed monthly income.
Another relatively simple option was to join a small gang as an auxiliary official, standing as their representative and collecting offerings.
However, in Peng Yue's opinion, these methods were not suitable for Wei Tao's current situation. Although dart missions offered substantial income, they demanded excessive time and energy, hindering his progress in cultivating the Red Line Fist.
Since the practice of martial arts emphasizes the cultivation of qi and blood, it is crucial to achieve the best results while young. As one grows older, the natural decline of qi and blood makes it increasingly challenging to attain the same effects, even with arduous efforts.
Furthermore, although dart missions typically don't encounter significant dangers, the world is becoming increasingly chaotic. Any encounter could lead to a life-and-death crisis on the precipice, with a stroke of bad luck potentially resulting in immediate death.
As for becoming a guest official in a gambling house or joining a small gang, Wei Tao, as a newcomer, may not meet the required level of strength expected by others.
Therefore, when it came to the pursuit of both monetary gain and martial arts practice, Peng Yue's eyes lit up, and he enthusiastically shared his experience of hunting beasts in the mountains.
Not only would it allow Wei Tao to refine his boxing skills, but he would also obtain plentiful nutritious supplements from the blood and have the option to sell the peeled and butchered meat. Combined with Wei Tao's previous experience in woodcutting and medicinal plant collection, it seemed to be an excellent tailor-made approach for him.
Wei Tao listened in silence, but his interest piqued when he heard about the red-capped gray wolf. He recalled a time when he was collecting medicinal herbs in the mountains and inadvertently stumbled upon a deserted valley. There, he had glimpsed a pack of wolves with a few individuals with the distinctive red fur on their heads.
However, at that time, he remained oblivious to the fact that they were red-capped gray wolves. Moreover, even if he had known, his strength would have been far from sufficient to provoke such a group of ferocious beasts.
The wind gradually picked up, carrying the scent of blood further into the distance. Wei Tao held his breath and faintly heard a distant wolf howl, piercing through the jungle's barriers and carried by the mountain breeze.