Night fell, and the government office was brightly lit.
Several figures sat in quiet discussion. If anyone else had been present, they would have recognized one of the men—a middle-aged figure with a refined yet authoritative demeanor—as Zhao Jiang, the County Magistrate of Lin County.
The other two were more imposing. One was a tall and thin man named Shangguan Jiang, while the other was a burly, intimidating figure known as Ye Yuan. In front of these two, Zhao Jiang looked deferential, bordering on servile.
"My Lords," Zhao Jiang began humbly, "Lin County is now completely sealed off. What should our next step be?"
"The Blood Spirit Formation is nearly complete," Ye Yuan responded, his eyes cold and voice dripping with menace. "You need to ensure that the entrances and exits are tightly guarded. We cannot afford any mistakes like the last time. If anything jeopardizes our plan, your position as county magistrate will be forfeit."
Zhao Jiang quickly nodded in agreement, his posture lowering even more in submission.
Shangguan Jiang, who appeared more cordial, added with a smile, "Don't worry, Magistrate Zhao. Handle this matter well, and we'll see to it that you're appointed to a higher post. Lin County is just a small, inconsequential place—your talents deserve a broader stage. Perhaps one day you might even step into the imperial court."
Zhao Jiang's face brightened with joy. "Thank you, my Lord!"
But just as he began to feel reassured, Shangguan Jiang's demeanor shifted subtly. A dark, eerie power seemed to emanate from him, and his shadow under the candlelight twisted in a disturbing way.
"I'm feeling a bit hungry…" Shangguan Jiang's voice took on an otherworldly tone.
Zhao Jiang's heart skipped a beat. His forehead beaded with sweat as he quickly excused himself. "I'll arrange something right away, my Lord!" he stammered, practically fleeing the room in his haste.
—
Meanwhile, in a courtyard nearby, Gu Qingfeng was practicing the Collapsing Mountain Fist, executing each move with precision and fluidity. He had long mastered this martial art, every punch and form flowing naturally, almost as if they were an extension of his body. This mastery was more than just practice—it felt like he had spent decades refining the technique, even though it had only been enhanced through focused training.
As he practiced, Gu Qingfeng felt a strange sensation creeping into his consciousness. It was subtle, an insight hovering just beyond his grasp. He knew that if he could seize it, he might push the Collapsing Mountain Fist beyond its current limits and even advance to a higher level of cultivation.
But it wasn't easy. Creating new martial arts or surpassing the bounds of existing ones was an arduous task, one that many warriors never accomplished.
After another round of punches, he felt the power of the Blood Refining Pill circulating through him, his body fully absorbing its potency. This was his third day of knowing about the Evil Suppression Bureau and his sixth day after consuming the pill. His energy and blood had reached a critical point, and he sensed he was on the verge of a breakthrough.
Determined, Gu Qingfeng swallowed another Blood Refining Pill. As it dissolved in his stomach, the medicinal energy surged through him like fire. His skin flushed red, his veins bulging as his body struggled to contain the raw power coursing through him. But Gu Qingfeng's eyes lit up, sensing that this overwhelming energy would help him grasp the opportunity he had been waiting for.
"Time to break through the Blood Refining Realm!" Gu Qingfeng declared to himself.
He resumed his Collapsing Mountain Fist, each punch generating immense force. The sound of his fists cutting through the air reverberated like thunder, jolting his son, Gu Yang, awake.
Gu Yang arrived in time to witness his father's astonishing display. Each strike seemed powerful enough to collapse mountains and shatter rocks. Gu Yang stood there, wide-eyed, mesmerized by the sheer force of the technique.
But Gu Qingfeng was focused entirely on his own progress. Immersed in the fusion of the Blood Refining Pill's medicinal power and the Collapsing Mountain Fist, he felt his energy surging toward a breakthrough.
With a final, earth-shattering punch, Gu Qingfeng unleashed a wave of energy so potent that it shattered a nearby rock formation, reducing it to rubble. The raw power from the punch dissipated, and his body relaxed as the transformation within him completed.
Breathing heavily, Gu Qingfeng examined his progress. His attribute panel had changed:
Name: Gu Qingfeng
Age: 29/100
Realm: Blood Refining (Initial Stage)
Martial Arts: Collapsing Mountain Fist (Indestructible Level 1), Iron Body Art (Perfect)
Improvement Points: 0
"The Blood Refining Realm—at last," he muttered to himself, feeling a sense of accomplishment.
He couldn't help but notice a change in his Collapsing Mountain Fist as well. The breakthrough had elevated the technique beyond its original limits. Now, it had reached what he called the "Indestructible" level, a step beyond perfection.
"The fist technique has broken through its original boundaries," he mused, realizing that it had now ascended from a low-grade martial art to a mid-grade one. With his fists at this level, he felt that they could indeed cleave mountains and break rocks with ease.
Yet, the most profound change was his new strength. The difference between the Skin Refining and Blood Refining Realms was staggering. If he had faced his former self now, Gu Qingfeng was confident he could defeat him in just three punches.
In Lin County, Gu Qingfeng had become one of the most formidable warriors. Even against someone like Xu Jun, he knew he could now fight and win.