Chapter 41: Blood Ginseng, Blood Refining, and the Blood of Tigers and Wolves!

Seeing him in such a state, Uncle Zhou felt a mix of frustration at his lack of progress and helplessness, tinged with a deep sense of shame.

"Uncle Zhou, there is no need for this."

"Your son was merely deceived. I believe that woman will not give up; she will surely return. We need only be patient and wait."

"Sigh... Xiao He, I came today not knowing whether to beg for forgiveness or offer my thanks."

"This blood ginseng is something I obtained by chance in the mountains years ago. It is over fifty years old. I had originally intended it for the lad to temper his blood and energy, but now..."

"Please, take this. It will help an old man like me feel a little more at ease."

Uncle Zhou carefully pulled a brocade box from his robe. Upon opening it, a blood-red, crystalline ginseng root was revealed.

Xia He was startled and quickly waved his hands in refusal.

Before he could finish his sentence, however, Uncle Zhou grabbed his son and forced him to kowtow to Xia He.

"If you do not accept this, then you look down upon me."

With that, he turned and walked away without looking back.

Xia He was left at a loss. He watched Uncle Zhou’s retreating figure, let out a long sigh, and finally shook his head resignedly, slowly turning his gaze to the blood ginseng in his hand.

The ginseng was clearly over fifty years old, its shape uncannily like that of a human. Bringing it closer, a rich, intense medicinal fragrance wafted out, refreshing his mind. Just by smelling it, Xia He could tell that its potency far surpassed any ordinary restorative tonic.

"This blood ginseng is indeed a rare treasure, but with such a potent supplement, I fear my wife will suffer again tonight."

"With this, I should be able to cultivate blood-energy within ten days!"

Having said this, he closed the box and tucked it into his robes.

...

Under the bright sun, Xia He sweated profusely on the training grounds. His movements were peculiar, vastly different from those of ordinary men. Each motion seemed strange, yet his taut muscles appeared to harbor a powerful, mysterious explosive force. From a distance, he looked like a fierce, terrifying beast coiled and ready to strike.

The essence of techniques like "Mountain Crushing" and "Mountain Opening" lay in overcoming the enemy with unparalleled, unstoppable force. Though the movements were odd, for a true art of killing, did aesthetics really matter?

As time passed, Xia He’s muscles began to twitch more rapidly, and his expression grew increasingly grave, as if he were bearing immense pressure. Sweat poured down his face. The onlookers surrounding the field watched with astonishment.

They felt an indescribable, heavy pressure, causing even their breathing to become cautious.

Just then, Xia He let out a sudden roar: "Break!"

The sound was like a thunderclap, deafening and powerful. At the same time, something seemed to erupt from his flesh, forming a thin layer of white mist upon his skin.

"It’s done!"

After days of grueling training, Xia He had finally succeeded in cultivating a strand of blood-energy, as thick as a finger and about half a foot long!

Yet, this was only the beginning. The moment this first strand was born, his "Mountain Crushing" and "Mountain Opening" techniques, already quite powerful, simultaneously reached the minor accomplishment stage. This catalyzed a second, equally potent strand of blood-energy! For a moment, the two currents surged joyfully within him before merging into his limbs and flesh.

[Skill: Blood Refining - Basic Soldier's Blood Refining (Entry)]
[Progress: 0/1000]
[Effect: Fists can shatter stone, robust blood-energy, immunity to freezing cold.]

The new effects made Xia He’s body tremble slightly. Early winter had arrived, and common folk were already bundled in cotton-padded clothes. Yet, despite being shirtless, he felt no chill—only a lingering, pleasant warmth.

The birth of blood-energy had transformed his blood. Blood refining was, in essence, blood replacement. Now, whenever he exerted force, his power was faster and stronger than before. He had also gained weight, a result of the strange phenomena within his blood. It was said that those who reached the Bone Refining stage after Blood Refining possessed bones with the density of metal!

Only then did the crowd come to their senses. They stared with wide, disbelieving eyes before surging toward him like a tide.

"This... how is this possible? How long has this lad been at the Skin Refining stage? How could he cultivate blood-energy so quickly?" someone exclaimed, their voice filled with shock and doubt.

For an ordinary person, moving from Skin Refining to Blood Refining required at least eight to ten years of hard work, provided one had average talent. Most of them had followed this path. Yet, this boy had done it in less than half a month—it was simply inconceivable!

As the crowd buzzed with discussion, the sturdy, armored Battalion Commander Wang pushed through the throng.

"Good lad, let me test you!"

Commander Wang’s gaze locked onto Xia He, filled with a touch of skepticism but mostly curiosity. He suddenly thrust his right hand out like an eagle’s claw, moving with astonishing speed.

Facing the sudden attack, Xia He felt no fear. He met the Commander's eyes, knowing there was no malice, and did not dodge. Instead, he reached out and firmly caught the Commander’s hand.

In an instant, a thunderous "boom" erupted, as if a lightning bolt had struck the ground. Where their arms met, a powerful force exploded, sending ripples through the surrounding air. The dull thud was the result of their blood-energy being instantly mobilized.

Commander Wang had expected to easily subdue Xia He, given his own years of experience in Blood Refining. To his utter shock, before he could even exert his strength, a massive counter-force surged up his arm.

Caught off guard, he staggered back several steps, nearly falling to the ground. Once he regained his balance, he looked at Xia He with a face full of terror.

It was confirmed: Xia He had not only cultivated blood-energy, but it was also incredibly dense!

Logically, newly cultivated blood-energy should be thin as silk, requiring time to refine and strengthen. How could it be like this?

Even Xia He was stunned, his heart racing.

[Skill: Blood Refining - Blood Fiend Art (Coagulated Blood)]
[Progress: 0/1000]
[Effect: Bursting blood-energy, Tiger-Wolf Blood]

"This barbarian's Blood Fiend Art... it's absurdly strong."

"Tiger-Wolf Blood—is this the effect of the Blood Fiend Art?"

It was rumored that some people were born with unique constitutions, causing their blood-energy and physique to be vastly different and far stronger. But if the barbarian's Blood Fiend Art could achieve the effects of a unique constitution, did that not mean every barbarian who mastered it became a creature of Tiger-Wolf strength?