Chapter 44

"Phew!"

Once again, a mouthful of fresh blood spurted out.

Li Hao groggily opened his eyes. The Five Animals Breathing Technique continued to run, and the turmoil within his body gradually subsided a bit.

However, the red energy kept surging in, and Li Hao felt as if all his meridians were blocked, even solidified, with no pain, only numbness!

It was as if his body no longer belonged to him!

"Awake?"

Beside him, his teacher's voice echoed.

Li Hao opened his eyes, his gaze somewhat weary, and saw his teacher playing with a dog, the black panther.

"Teacher!"

Li Hao coughed, spitting out another mouthful of blood, which was tinged with black.

Yuan Shuo was also very tired, but he had stayed by his side for a whole day. Seeing that Li Hao was finally awake and regained his consciousness, he didn't bother to say much, directly snatching the small sword like a bandit.

"Let me absorb some!"

Li Hao was speechless; his teacher's actions... didn't seem to fit his identity as a literary master!

"Teacher, I..."

"I know. I checked. You have too much energy in your body, but it's in a balanced state now, so you won't die for the time being... If you don't let your teacher absorb some, you'll be dead soon!"

Yuan Shuo said this jokingly, but the situation was indeed quite serious.

If he hadn't been afraid that snatching the small sword earlier would cause his disciple to be overwhelmed by the energy, he would have done it long ago.

It was only because this was his student. If it were anyone else, would he, Yuan Shuo, have waited until now?

His body was now a mess!

Even more chaotic than Li Hao's. Li Hao was just overwhelmed by energy, but he, Yuan Shuo, was drained of energy, internal strength, and even his mental will was significantly damaged.

It involved damage at the mental level.

The "Blood Blade Technique" was indeed a forbidden martial art. This was the first time Yuan Shuo had truly experienced its power. Of course, the "Blood Blade Technique" had nothing to do with Li Hao.

Involving the use of energy at the mental level, Li Hao would have to wait until he reached the Doushan level. This forbidden martial art, though powerful, was not something just anyone could use, and the user couldn't bear the cost.

He absorbed some energy from the jade sword...

Instantly, some of his internal injuries were healed, and Yuan Shuo couldn't help but groan in relief.

It felt great!

Especially great!

The feeling of a long drought finally being quenched was truly comfortable. Damn, if he had worn this small sword earlier, he might have been able to use the Blood Blade Technique one more time. The weapons of the Eight Families were incredibly powerful.

Including that stone blade. If not for the stone blade, he might not have been able to easily break through that guy's defense at the Doushan level.

To slay the Heaven-Cutting Divine Master, both the stone blade and the Blood Blade Technique were essential.

This victory was also a matter of luck.

"Teacher!"

Li Hao looked at Yuan Shuo, who now looked rather disheveled, not like he was pretending. There was no one around, so there was no point in pretending.

"Did we win?"

"We won!"

Yuan Shuo, while absorbing energy, scolded, "Red Moon is really ruthless! To deal with an ordinary person, they sent a top-tier expert at the San Yang level. They really spared no expense... Fortunately, I took care of him!"

San Yang?

Li Hao, unable to move, leaned against the dirty wall and asked, "San Yang... above the Sun level?"

"Yes, that guy!"

Yuan Shuo, feeling the recovery of his injuries, was in a much better mood: "Above the Sun level, gathering the power of three Suns, meaning the total mysterious energy is almost three times that of the Sun level, making him a San Yang expert!"

"I thought, even if the person behind the scenes had some means, with superpowers only appearing 20 years ago, the existence of San Yang level in the Silver Moon Province was extremely rare. The central region had more, but for them to send a Sun level expert was already a sign of respect... Goodness, they sent a San Yang expert directly!"

This time, it was really dangerous.

If not for the stone blade, if not for his own advancement, and the countless ancient texts he could use, a San Yang level existence would have easily wiped them out, and even swept through Silver City without any difficulty.

Li Hao sighed.

Indeed, they really respected him!

The more so, the more it proved that the trouble... might not be over yet!

For his sake, an ordinary person, they sent an expert of this level. Now that his teacher had killed him, what about next time?

"Teacher, how did you kill that guy? Did you break through?"

"No!"

Yuan Shuo suddenly frowned, shaking his head: "It's not that simple. Superpowers aside, for martial artists, above the Doushan level... there's no way forward!"

No way forward!

Li Hao was slightly stunned: "Then, teacher, just advance to the superpower level. Isn't the sword energy enough?"

"It's not that. I'll tell you later. As for you... first break through the hundred barrier, the road ahead is long."

He didn't want to say much at the moment. Saying too much would only interfere with Li Hao.

He continued, "Of course, your current situation... I can't even understand! What did you absorb? Your meridians and blood are almost solidified, all energy, but not mysterious energy."

Li Hao thought for a moment and explained, "It's that thing at the mental level I mentioned. It entered my body and was counter-injured by my small sword. Then a large amount of energy surged into my body, combining with the sword energy inside me, forming a special energy... I've absorbed it before, but only a little. It had a powerful effect, but not like now, absorbing too much, it's indigestible!"

"Definitely!"

Yuan Shuo nodded: "I know your physical condition. In the Ten Realms, you're not weak, but the energy you absorbed... might even exceed the Doushan level! Too much, it didn't burst you, thanks to the sword energy! It neutralized the power, but also put you in a difficult situation."

Li Hao tried to digest the energy again but found it impossible, it really seemed to be solidified!

What should he do?

Yuan Shuo, whose injuries had recovered a lot, saw Li Hao trying to absorb and shook his head: "You unconsciously absorbed too much energy in your sleep. Now it's solidified! It's probably hard for you to absorb it on your own!"

Li Hao frowned.

He looked at his teacher, thinking his teacher must have a solution.

To Li Hao, Yuan Shuo was almost omniscient, though this might be an overestimation. But from the beginning, it had always been so. Whatever Li Hao didn't know, his teacher seemed to know everything.

He could solve any problem raised.

Yuan Shuo continued, "You might face even bigger trouble next... But you are the only heir of the Eight Families in Silver City. Red Moon didn't achieve their goal and lost a top-tier San Yang expert. They probably won't let it go easily!"

"Of course, because I'm here, they don't know my situation and dare not act rashly... Besides, I killed a San Yang expert this time. If they send more people, it won't just be one San Yang. The Night Patrol still exists and is the official authority. I'm still a nominal cooperative professor of the Night Patrol... So, they probably won't act rashly in the short term."

Yuan Shuo said this partly to make Li Hao understand that his problem wasn't solved yet.

Partly to reassure him that the problem wasn't too big, and there wouldn't be any immediate trouble. The Night Patrol, though weak, could still hold its ground, and Red Moon wouldn't act rashly unless they mobilized all their forces, which would lead to a major battle. Red Moon didn't have the courage for that.

"As for your problem, it's easy to solve."

Li Hao's eyes lit up, knowing his teacher had a solution.

"Two methods!"

Yuan Shuo held up two fingers and smiled: "First, cut and bleed!"

"..."

Li Hao was embarrassed. Of course, if there was no other way and it could solve the problem, it wasn't impossible, but cutting and bleeding... sounded painful.

"Second, dual cultivation!"

"Hmm?"

Li Hao wasn't completely clueless. Hearing this, he immediately asked, "Find a woman?"

"Get lost!"

Yuan Shuo, annoyed, said, "Don't think of the wrong things when you hear dual cultivation! At your age, thinking about women! Dual cultivation is just a cultivation method, don't think of it as something nice! I mean with me..."

Li Hao's mouth dropped open!

Yuan Shuo chuckled, "What's wrong? Not willing? What's wrong with letting your teacher take advantage? You absorbed too much energy, and ordinary people can't help. We are from the same school, your fundamental technique is the Five Animals Breathing Technique, and so is mine. Dual cultivation with me, with my strength, I can help you consume most of the energy... Of course, that means you'll lose out. The energy you worked hard to absorb will be mostly taken by me!"

"Actually, there's another way..."

Yuan Shuo slowly said, "The third way, wait! Gradually absorb, bit by bit. In your case, I think you might absorb it all in one or two years. After absorbing, you might become a peak Hundred-Breaker or even a Doushan... Of course, the chances are slim. Doushan mainly depends on mental will, this is just energy, but a peak Hundred-Breaker is a hundred percent!"

If Li Hao was willing to wait, in one or two years, he should be able to absorb this energy and become a peak Hundred-Breaker martial artist. Such a speed would be envied by many.

The time wasn't really long.

But Yuan Shuo didn't mention this first because he knew Li Hao might not have the patience to wait that long.

If the energy couldn't be absorbed and solidified the meridians and blood, Li Hao, even if he could maintain life, would probably have to lie in bed for one or two years, being a patient.

"If you dual cultivate with me now, I'll absorb most of the energy, and you'll only absorb a small part. Although you'll improve a lot, reaching the peak of the Ten Realms won't be a problem, but breaking through to the Hundred-Breaker... will be quite difficult!"

Yuan Shuo smiled at him, "Tell me, what do you think?"

"Also, I forgot to mention, the first method, cutting and bleeding, can also loosen the energy and absorb some of it. It might even absorb more than dual cultivation with me, maybe even enough to break through to the Hundred-Breaker level!"

Three choices, dual cultivation, Li Hao might benefit the least.

Because Yuan Shuo was too strong!

If he got involved, most of the energy would be absorbed by him.

Li Hao thought for a moment, "Teacher, can I choose a fourth option?"

"Hmm?"

What fourth option?

Yuan Shuo looked at him, puzzled. Are you more resourceful than me?

Li Hao, embarrassed, said, "I remember you mentioned we have a senior sister in White Moon City. Does she know the Five Animals Breathing Technique? What if..."

"Get lost!"

Yuan Shuo was speechless!

Dreaming of something nice!

Besides, where would you find your senior sister now? Many people are watching us. Be low-key, focus on healing, and think about your senior sister...

Thinking of this, Yuan Shuo touched his clean chin, "Forget about your senior sister! Besides, she's over thirty, past her prime. You, a young man, really don't care about anything!"

"..."

Li Hao was speechless, shaking his head and smiling, "Dual cultivation... Forget it, don't say the word 'dual cultivation,' teacher, it makes me uncomfortable! Use another term, and I'll choose this!"

"Decided?"

"Of course!"

Li Hao smiled, "Teacher, your strength is my capital to survive! Like this time, if you hadn't acted, I would have been burned to ashes long ago!"

He hadn't really considered it, just found the term 'dual cultivation' uncomfortable.

Of course, he chose to share the energy with Yuan Shuo. This way, he would benefit, and his teacher would also benefit.

A win-win!

Otherwise, even if he reached the peak of the Hundred-Breaker, what good would it do?

The opponent started with a king bomb!

They sent a top-tier San Yang expert to assassinate him, two levels higher than the Hundred-Breaker. Without Yuan Shuo's protection, Li Hao would be finished!

Yuan Shuo laughed, "I know you're not stupid! I said I'd give you three choices, but there's really only one... You have to dual cultivate, I'm so thirsty! My internal strength is almost gone. If you weren't my student, I would have absorbed it all while you were sleeping!"

"..."

Li Hao smiled bitterly, "Teacher, we are on the side of justice, your actions make me feel like we are the bad guys!"

"Ridiculous justice!"

Yuan Shuo, unconcerned, said, "Twenty years ago, martial artists ruled. I, with my iron fists, swept through all directions, killing countless people! Everyone called me Old Devil Yuan! Some even called me Ape, because I specialized in the Five Animals Technique and was fast, so it wasn't entirely wrong!"

Anyway, he had no good reputation.

What about the Three Spears of Silver Moon? That had nothing to do with him. He was just the old devil.

He only became low-key after the rise of superpowers.

"Less talk, let's dual cultivate quickly. You've been lying here for a day... Silver City is fine now, the Night Patrol has reacted. Red Moon probably won't dare to send more people rashly. We need to get back quickly!"

"So urgent?"

Li Hao wasn't too worried...

Before he could finish, Yuan Shuo, frustrated, said, "Are you an idiot? How many people did we kill? One San Yang, one Sun, ten superpowers, and some martial artists... How much good stuff? How much mysterious energy? If we don't quickly take the spoils before the Night Patrol's experts arrive, would I, your teacher, fight with them over some spoils? They also sent a Sun level expert this time, and they'll have to take the blame and protect us... Would I fight with them?"

"No!"

Li Hao shook his head.

"Then that's settled!"

Yuan Shuo smiled, "Now, only Huang Yun is here. He's afraid of me, so he won't compete. When I return, everything will be mine! Otherwise... if a San Yang really comes, the Night Patrol will definitely take a share, and we won't leave them a single hair! Even if we don't need it, your captain and that big-chested woman can use it, right?"

He was talking about Liu Yan, right?

Li Hao was speechless. His teacher still had the heart to care about this, truly... not acting his age!

He hadn't noticed this before!

Could it be that he was just pretending before?

It's possible!

Before, his teacher couldn't fight the opponents and had to be low-key, pretending to be a professor at the ancient academy. Now, with his strength improved and a San Yang level expert killed, he naturally became more confident!

"Quickly, stop dilly-dallying!"

He threw the small sword back to Li Hao, "The energy feels much weaker now. It seems the energy inside is limited... What a pity,