Chapter 13

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The lamplight flickered, the pungent smell of lamp oil mixed with the odor of inferior charcoal. Su Qinnian looked out the window at the cold moonlight and suddenly smiled.

"It seems that compared to the intrigues of the officialdom in my previous life, in this world, where martial arts and various judgments are intertwined, even the laws of nature cannot be followed by the memories of my past life. Each world has its unique trajectory, and being reborn does not necessarily mean one can advance further or be superior to others."

At this moment, Su Qinnian felt a sense of relief. In this scene, he finally let go of many things, no longer clinging to the past. Now, he was Su Qinnian, the second son of a Han Dynasty official of the eighth rank, and the most humble among the over a hundred convicts serving in the Wudang Xiaoyao Valley.

"Winter lotus root, born in the cold of winter, a variant of the water lily in early summer, can be eaten raw to strengthen the foundation and purify the blood and qi..."

Su Qinnian looked at the demon tiger meat soup on the table. The Taoist Jingdu had specifically mentioned the winter lotus root, so the toxins in this bowl of demon tiger meat soup must be something that destroys the foundation and pollutes the blood and qi. This Taoist servant dared to take the risk but certainly wouldn't dare to poison me to death. This kind of poison is likely a chronic one that gradually manifests over time."

Su Qinnian's keen insight gave him a plan. That night, he did not meditate but slept like a normal person, relying on rest to recover his mental energy.

Before the hour of Chen, the sky was just beginning to brighten, and the early chill pierced the heart. Su Qinnian opened his eyes and got up. He sensed that although his mental energy had recovered somewhat during the night, it wasn't much, but it had reached about seventy percent of his peak. Moreover, this seventy percent seemed more refined than before.

"It seems that continuous use of mental energy is also a process of refinement, just like practicing the 'Turtle Snake Kung' punching stance and standing the Turtle Snake桩. The skin, tendons, bones, and marrow are refined layer by layer, a process that requires endurance."

...

When he arrived at the bamboo pavilion, Taoist Jingdu was already up, standing in a桩 in front of the eternal lamp.

In Su Qinnian's mental perception, Taoist Jingdu seemed to be about to disappear, his aura becoming faint, like a flickering lamp that could go out at any moment.

Turtle Snake桩!

Su Qinnian's eyes lit up. Clearly, the Taoist had been holding back during the daily martial arts demonstrations by the river. To Su Qinnian, the Taoist Jingdu, though a person, seemed like an ancient turtle transformed, every movement as if he had been asleep for thousands of years. Even the moment his eyes opened, Su Qinnian felt an endless sense of沧桑 and the weight of ancient times.

After half an hour.

Su Qinnian left with great satisfaction. He had asked Taoist Jingdu about the essence of the third and fourth layers of the 'Turtle Snake Kung.' Although it was only a short half-hour, Su Qinnian not only thoroughly consolidated the third layer but also completed most of his understanding of the fourth layer. He believed that in a couple of days, he would have mastered it completely.

At the hour of Chen.

Su Qinnian came to the riverside as usual, but today, no one paid much attention to him. Even when their gazes occasionally swept over him, they showed undisguised disgust and contempt. To them, he was a weak, spiritless, and lifeless waste, like a sick person on the verge of death.

Of course, this was the image Su Qinnian was now creating. He used his mental energy to envelop his body, not to create illusions to deceive others, but to subtly alter his aura, making others' perceptions enter the range of his mental energy, thus being more easily influenced, without needing to penetrate and enter their spiritual palaces.

Taoist Jingdu continued his martial arts demonstration as usual, completing seven layers of the punching stance. Su Qinnian again verified his own state, but he only stood in the桩 for a short while, performing a few movements before stopping. His physical body was still deficient, and he could not engage in intense training, as it would consume his own essence. Subsequently, he would face more dangers in the mountains.

The other convicts didn't know, but the few young men who had been harvested last night thought he had given up, not even valuing morning exercises, which would likely lead to an early end to his probation, with half his head already on the guillotine.

Watching Su Qinnian come to collect his breakfast, the servant Taoist smiled, even giving him a larger piece of demon tiger meat than the others.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the only breakfast was not further poisoned. After identifying it, Su Qinnian began to consume it.

Gulp! Gulp!

As the demon tiger meat soup went down, Su Qinnian could even hear the sound of his body swallowing, like a lost traveler in the desert who had been thirsty for days, finally finding a refreshing drink, his complexion glowing.

Of course, no one else knew this. Only Taoist Jingdu, watching Su Qinnian leave, had a faint look of admiration in his eyes.

After a short while.

In the thatched hut, Su Qinnian woke from his meditation. His eyes sparkled, his complexion rosy, his blood and qi full, and his mental energy restored to its peak. Indeed, it was more refined than before. With a thought, he could control it like an arm, and even the obstruction and heat he felt when breaking through his body in the early morning were slightly reduced.

He put on his medicine basket and a package containing the two servings of demon tiger meat soup from last night.

...

Entering the mountains again, Su Qinnian was familiar with the way. He knew where the thorns were, where venomous insects and snakes often appeared, and where fierce tigers and wolves roamed. The events of yesterday were still vivid in his mind.

However, within a ten-mile radius, gathering herbs was not a casual affair. Many times, it required careful observation. With Su Qinnian's keen mental energy, he could only advance ten miles in a day, and there were still likely some omissions. For others, even if they had been in the valley for many years, they might not be much faster than him.

Today, Su Qinnian was much faster than before. He quickly crossed the ten miles he had covered yesterday. His medicine basket only had a thin layer of herbs. Beyond the ten-mile mark, his speed slowed again, and he walked through the old forest where few had ventured. If there were too many footprints, the area would have already been searched, and he might not find much.

Half a day later.

At a pond about three zhang in diameter, Su Qinnian entered the water and carefully picked a winter lotus root. This root was at the bottom of the water, and only a small section was medicinal. It was very fragile, and if the force was not properly controlled, the outer skin could be damaged, and it would completely rot within half an hour, losing all its medicinal properties.

Holding the lotus root, which was purer than snow, Su Qinnian couldn't help but marvel at the wonders of nature. This was a variant of the water lily that he had never seen in his past life. Over the years, Su Qinnian had discovered that the richness of species in this world far exceeded his imagination, and even known species had various characteristics that were somewhat different.

Opening the package on his back, the demon tiger meat soup, which had been simmered overnight, was still warm. Su Qinnian didn't hesitate. The snow-white, crystal-clear winter lotus root melted in his mouth, turning into a sweet liquid that entered his stomach.

The demon tiger meat followed, and the two servings were quickly ground into powder by his teeth and mixed with the fragrant tiger bone soup. Soon, a strong heat began to surge in his internal organs.

Sigh!

Su Qinnian took a deep breath and stood in the Turtle Snake桩, simultaneously practicing the first layer of the 'Turtle Snake Kung' punching stance.

The 'Mental Control Technique' ran, his mental energy condensed, and Su Qinnian saw the subtle details, constantly adjusting the force of every inch of his tendons and bones. His whole body's strength was concentrated, and his movements were slow, but the opening and closing of the punching stance were unusually heavy, and the air around his fists began to make a whistling sound.

After a short while, Su Qinnian changed his stance to the second layer. After another half an hour, the blood and qi in his body surged, producing a sound like flowing water.

Snap!

In the next instant, like a bowstring being pulled, Su Qinnian's muscles and tendons appeared, stretching and contracting, like a powerful bow, producing a continuous sound of arrows being released.

Exercising the tendons like a bowstring, achieving the perfect continuous bow!

This was the description of the third layer of the 'Turtle Snake Kung' for the perfection of tendon exercise. Now, with the abundant blood and qi, Su Qinnian pushed the third layer to its peak, achieving perfection. As he extended his stance, his tendons moved in unison, and he could perform large movements with ease, like a strong bow shooting arrows in rapid succession, without any strain. (Please give daily recommendations to boost the rankings, and please add to your favorites. The rankings on Monday morning depend on everyone's recommendations. Ten steps beg everyone, thank you!)