Chapter 62: Blade Technique, Interrogation, A Free Gift?

Taking a deep breath, he slowly exhaled, his respiration long and steady.

A profound wave of fatigue washed over him as the vital energy and blood within his body were frantically consumed.

Yet, he could faintly perceive something surging forth from his flesh and blood, continuously regenerating the consumed vitality.

His entire body radiated intense heat—the definitive sign of reaching the peak of physical vitality!

He fished out two pieces of blood salt, placed them in his mouth, and let them dissolve slowly.

Closing his eyes, as his thoughts delved deeper into his mind, countless faintly glowing lines began to intertwine and weave together, forming a picture that was both intricately complex and orderly.

"Huh? Why is it no longer fist techniques, but saber techniques instead?"

Xia He felt a secret surprise in his heart. Completely different from the fist forms he had practiced previously, the progression of this saber technique's movements was unimaginably fast.

It encompassed chopping, slashing, lifting, and thrusting, along with numerous complex, ever-changing, and formidable combination techniques. Just a single glance was enough to feel its sharp and matchless momentum.

The bolstering effect of the two blood salt pieces still could not offset the immense pressure Xia He endured during visualization.

In no time at all, he felt his temples throbbing violently, his head aching as if it were about to split open.

With no other choice, he took out two more pieces of blood salt and put them in his mouth, finally managing to barely memorize the entire routine of saber movements.

The Great Qin military manuals were all designed for battlefield slaughter, so the saber techniques were naturally combat-oriented.

"The breathing technique has already crossed the threshold into mastery..."

Xia He immediately allocated one attribute point to improve the White Ape Breathing Technique.

Going from the initial threshold to minor mastery took merely the space of a few breaths.

The vital energy and blood around his entire body seemed to ignite, shifting from warm to scalding hot.

The sweat erupting from his pores evaporated instantly into white mist like steam.

"Hah..."

"A superior breathing technique is truly different; one can clearly feel the speed of tempering vitality and blood accelerating significantly."

As for the remaining attribute point, Xia He had originally intended to use it on the [Spirit Snake Fist Technique].

However, cultivating this martial art was still quite troublesome, as it seemed to require external assistance.

"It is best to find someone and ask."

As for whom to ask, naturally, it had to be someone who had practiced it.

Although the Spirit Snake Martial Arts Hall had been burned to the ground by a fire, not all of its disciples had been utterly wiped out.

Xia He went straight out and arrived at a tavern.

Before long, he spotted a drunken man loudly boasting about how, when the bandits invaded that day, he had fought a three-hundred-round battle with them before desperately breaking through the siege to preserve his life.

Some people believed him, while others sneered. Enraged, the man smashed a table with a single palm strike, prompting the tavern keeper to chase him out directly. He stumbled and staggered right toward Xia He.

"A good dog does not block the path. Scram!"

Without standing on ceremony, Xia He delivered a single palm strike that knocked the man unconscious, then dragged him into a deserted, pitch-black alley.

Another palm strike utilizing the lucid consciousness technique caused the man's eyes to bulge as he snapped wide awake.

"You... who are you!"

"Don't kill me, please don't kill me!"

"I ask, you answer. How is the Spirit Snake Fist Technique cultivated? What methods are required?"

The man froze. The man before him had a slender figure, but his face was completely shrouded in shadows, making it impossible to see clearly.

"You want to secretly learn it...?"

Logically speaking, the martial arts of the Spirit Snake Martial Arts Hall were strictly prohibited from being passed on to outsiders and required joining the hall.

If someone had interrogated him like this in the past, he certainly would have invoked the martial arts hall to intimidate the intruder.

Yet now, the martial arts hall had been burned down, and the remaining members were scattered like loose sand, existing only in name.

Seeing him hesitate, Xia He delivered several more slaps across his face.

"Will you talk or not? Will you talk or not! Will you talk or not!"

"You... at least ask more specifically!"

The man was beaten until his mind spun, his cheeks swollen high.

Only then did Xia He fire off a rapid sequence of questions.

After a short while, he tossed the unconscious man into the dark alley like a dead dog and walked out.

"Beating the chest and back with wooden sticks, and tempering fingers and palms with iron sand?"

He pondered thoughtfully.

Such beatings were not random blows; there was a technique to them.

The martial arts hall disciple he had just captured and interrogated had demonstrated it for him, and it did not seem particularly difficult.

However, the crucial point was that this process consumed far more vitality and blood than ordinary martial arts.

Coupled with the fact that it was a superior martial art, achieving the ultimate effect meant that the required resources would be doubled.

"Blood-replenishing soup cannot be skimped on, otherwise it is very likely to damage one's own foundation."

Yet precisely because of this, the Spirit Snake Fist Technique was capable of reaching the bone-refining realm!

Xia He turned and headed straight for the black market.

Although the silver notes he had looted from the young master of the martial arts hall could not be brought out into the light, if he wanted to accelerate his martial arts progress, he had no choice but to take some risks.

However, just as Xia He arrived at the black market and was inquiring about prices, someone approached him.

"Master Kui invites you."

"Master Kui?"

Xia He looked at the subtle expressions of flattery between the brows of the two men before him.

"Yes, respected sir. Master Kui has given orders: the moment you are seen, we are to invite you over."

"How do you recognize me?"

"We have your portrait."

Xia He wore a suspicious expression, unable to guess Master Kui's attitude.

However, if he wanted to purchase items in the black market in the future, he would inevitably cross paths with Master Kui, so he might as well go and take a look.

Xia He was led to an exquisite courtyard deep within the black market.

Master Kui had been waiting in the courtyard for quite some time. Seeing Xia He, he immediately greeted him with a beaming smile.

"Little brother Xia, we meet again."

"Master Kui, you summoned me here..."

"Oh, oh, brother Xia, as I said last time, I want to make friends with you."

"My subordinates have already told me that you are looking for the materials to make blood-replenishing soup, right? I have already had someone prepare them."

Immediately, several large chests were carried over by attendants. Upon opening them, they were filled entirely with medicinal herbs used for refining blood-replenishing soup—enough in quantity to concoct dozens of batches at the very least.

"I don't have any great talents, but I do love doing business. I've built a commercial association right here in this black market, so I have plenty of wealth."

"Master Kui, isn't this inappropriate?"

"What is inappropriate about it? I won't beat around the bush, brother Xia: I want to know how you managed to track down that lightning marten. Can you sell me the method?"

"As expected."

Since Master Kui was a businessman, he would certainly not act without the prospect of profit.

Making friends? That was all utter nonsense.

"Master Kui, you jest. It was purely luck on my part."

Xia He cupped his fists, offering a wry smile.

"It's fine. It seems I was being overly demanding."

"Well then, I am extremely interested in exotic beasts. If there are traces of other exotic beasts next time, I hope brother Xia can lend me a hand. How about it?"

"Since Master Kui thinks so highly of me, I shall do my best."

Master Kui immediately burst into loud laughter, clearly looking extremely pleased.

Though the recruitment had failed, he still insisted on giving all the chests of medicinal herbs behind him to Xia He.

"Master Kui, I cannot accept such a reward without rendering service."

"These few coins mean nothing to me. If brother Xia refuses to accept them, it means you don't want to be my friend!"

"Very well then..."

Feeling helpless and entirely without room for refusal, Xia He ultimately cupped his fists to express his gratitude.

After he departed, Master Kui stood in place with narrowed eyes. A tall, robust man slowly walked up from behind him—none other than Zhou Chong, the senior apprentice brother of the weapon-forging workshop.

"Master Kui."

"Ah, you're here. From your perspective, how is this person's strength?"