Chapter 11

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"Single-arm strength has reached 900 pounds."

Putting down the heavy iron lock used for strength testing, Chen Zong analyzed.

"Five energy pills increased my strength by 40 pounds, and mastering the three foundational sword techniques has strengthened my blood qi, increasing my strength by 60 pounds. The effect is better than the Tiger Strength Fist at the same level."

"Thus, if I can cultivate all three sword techniques to the minor success stage, my cultivation will reach the peak of the third level of the Blood Qi Realm."

He drew his sword and began practicing the True Sword Eight Stances.

Chen Zong didn't know why, but the mysterious sword tip's assistance in cultivating the True Sword Eight Stances was less effective compared to other foundational martial arts. Moreover, the True Sword Eight Stances were much harder to cultivate than the Tiger Strength Fist or the Eagle Strike Sword Technique, and progress was slow. He hadn't even reached the peak of minor success, let alone major success.

However, the power of the True Sword Eight Stances was undeniable. Even at the minor success stage, it completely surpassed the Tiger Strength Fist at the perfected stage.

After practicing the True Sword Eight Stances, Chen Zong began to cultivate the Phantom Shadow Sword Technique, followed by the Willow Breeze Sword Technique, and finally the Eagle Strike Sword Technique.

Each sword technique had its own style, but Chen Zong found some commonalities among them, which helped him make more significant progress by cross-referencing them.

On the fourth night after cultivating the three sword techniques, the training ground was sparsely populated. Chen Zong practiced his sword techniques in a corner.

He performed the Phantom Shadow Sword Technique, thrusting his sword to create a series of afterimages.

The hallmark of the Phantom Shadow Sword Technique was the creation of a single afterimage. As he practiced, his thrusts produced a clear first afterimage, and a second, fainter afterimage began to appear.

After ten repetitions, the second afterimage became clearer.

Chen Zong felt a tingling sensation in his body, with his blood qi slightly vibrating, as if his potential was being unlocked, strengthening his blood qi and, in turn, reinforcing his physique.

"Two afterimages, the mark of minor success," Chen Zong smiled, but he wasn't particularly excited because, to him, it was expected.

He practiced the Phantom Shadow Sword Technique a few more times to consolidate his progress, then began the Willow Breeze Sword Technique.

His body swayed, and the iron sword shimmered in the moonlight, like a willow branch swaying in the wind.

As he practiced, Chen Zong again felt a tingling sensation, with his blood qi vibrating and growing stronger.

The Willow Breeze Sword Technique reached the minor success stage!

Finally, he practiced the Eagle Strike Sword Technique.

The sword moved like an eagle's wing slicing through the night sky, leaving a faint trail of light. He thrust the sword swiftly, his wrist turning, and the sword transformed, like an eagle's claw.

He leaped into the air, like an eagle in flight, and struck down, like an eagle's beak pecking at its prey, producing a sharp, piercing sound.

As the moon reached its zenith, he soared through the air, the iron sword striking down, and a faint eagle's cry echoed, with his blood qi vibrating once more.

The Eagle Strike Sword Technique reached the minor success stage!

With the three sword techniques all reaching the minor success stage, his blood qi vibrated and strengthened three times. Chen Zong felt a slight warmth in his body, as if he were soaking in hot water, and his physique gradually improved.

"It's so late, I should go to sleep." Looking at the bright moon in the sky, he sheathed his sword and headed toward the residential area.

The treatment of the clan hall's disciples was quite good, with each person having their own room, about five meters long and four meters wide, fully furnished.

Two days later, Chen Zong went to the testing area, grabbed a 1,000-pound iron lock with one arm, exerted his strength, lifted it, and raised it over his head, holding it for three breaths before putting it down.

"1,000 pounds of strength, the peak of the third level of the Blood Qi Realm, finally reached."

Some people were naturally stronger, like Chen Zhigang, but Chen Zong wasn't one of them. Before obtaining the mysterious sword tip, he was quite average in all aspects. After obtaining the sword tip, his cultivation speed increased several times, but his body didn't change much.

On the training ground, most of the disciples were practicing.

There were fist techniques, palm techniques, leg techniques, saber techniques, and sword techniques.

Chen Zong, as usual, found a corner with fewer people to practice his sword techniques.

"Chen Zong, I heard you are cultivating three sword techniques simultaneously. Coincidentally, I have cultivated the Eagle Strike Sword Technique to the peak of major success. Would you like me to guide you?" Chen Zuoyi and Chen Shuqing walked over, with Chen Zuoyi smirking, a hint of disdain in his eyes, the disdain of a clan hall disciple toward a branch family disciple.

"No need." Chen Zong's gaze was sharp, and he noticed the disdain in Chen Zuoyi's eyes, realizing that Chen Zuoyi wasn't genuinely offering to guide him but had ulterior motives.

"Chen Zong, it's an honor for you that Elder Brother Zuoyi is willing to guide you. You're being too ungrateful," Chen Shuqing scolded, pouting.

"Shuqing, he's just a branch family bumpkin. Even if he agreed, I might not be willing to guide him," Chen Zuoyi laughed, not hiding his mockery.

This small incident made Chen Zong more aware of the situation of branch family disciples within the clan hall.

However, as long as he had enough strength, the distinction between branch family and clan hall would be meaningless.

After practicing each of the three sword techniques thirty times, Chen Zong returned to the residential area after lunch.

"I can start cultivating the Tiger Roar Technique now."

The cultivation of the Tiger Roar Technique was best done without disturbance.

This technique was created by Chen family ancestors over several decades and was a unique foundational technique of the Chen family, suitable for disciples who had reached the peak of the third level of the Blood Qi Realm. It further refined their blood qi, laying a solid foundation for breaking through to the fourth level of the Blood Qi Realm.

After one cycle of blood qi refinement, active circulation could temporarily enhance one's overall strength, especially in terms of physical power.

The Tiger Roar Technique had two parts: dynamic and static. The dynamic part consisted of seven movements, mimicking a tiger's actions to mobilize the body's blood qi. The static part involved silently reciting the incantation in a comfortable posture, focusing the mind on the blood qi to achieve the goal of refinement.

According to Sword Instructor Chen Chuyun, out of all the disciples since the founding of the clan hall, only one in a hundred could initially cultivate the Tiger Roar Technique and begin refining their blood qi within a month. The most outstanding one took only half a month.

"I wonder if I can start refining my blood qi within a month?" Chen Zong muttered to himself before beginning the cultivation of the Tiger Roar Technique.

The cultivation of the Tiger Roar Technique could be divided into three steps:

1. Sensing the blood qi.

2. Circulating the blood qi.

3. Refining the blood qi.

It was said that the genius who started refining his blood qi in half a month took three days to complete the first step of sensing the blood qi.

After warming up, Chen Zong took a deep breath, cleared his mind, and focused his spirit. His spine trembled like a wave, and his limbs moved, as if a fierce tiger was stretching its limbs upon waking.

Perhaps because he had cultivated the Tiger Strength Fist to the perfected stage, the seven dynamic movements of the Tiger Roar Technique were not difficult for Chen Zong. With the help of the mysterious sword tip, he easily performed them on the first try, as if he had practiced them hundreds of times.

After the first round, Chen Zong felt a slight warmth in his body. After the second and third rounds, the warmth gradually increased. By the tenth round, he vaguely sensed the flow of his blood qi, as if he could "see" a red river trickling.

"Did I reach the first step?" Chen Zong was surprised.

Wasn't it said that the fastest person in the clan hall took three days to reach the first step? He had only practiced ten times, which took about a quarter of an hour. Was it an illusion?

After the eleventh round, he could indeed sense his blood qi.

"It seems my cultivation talent is even better." He thought, and while the feeling was still fresh, Chen Zong continued to practice.

With each repetition, Chen Zong's body temperature gradually increased, and his skin turned slightly red. His perception of his blood qi became increasingly clear.

After the thirtieth round, Chen Zong subconsciously assumed the Tiger Stance, the starting posture of the Tiger Strength Fist, which he found very comfortable at the perfected stage.

His blood qi flowed faster, like a stream. Chen Zong silently recited the Tiger Roar Technique incantation, focusing all his attention on his blood qi, synchronizing with it, and attempting to control and circulate it actively.

Sensing the blood qi was the first major hurdle, and circulating the blood qi was the second, which was more challenging than sensing it.

Chen Zong temporarily put aside his sword technique practice and devoted himself entirely to the Tiger Roar Technique for one, two, three, and four days.

After ten rounds of the Tiger Roar Technique dynamic movements, assuming the Tiger Stance, Chen Zong's perception of his blood qi became very clear. With his mind and the incantation working together, he exerted full control, gradually increasing the speed of the blood qi's flow.

Chen Zong's ears seemed to hear a low growl from within his body, like a fierce tiger roaring in the distance. This was the sound produced by the vibration and impact of the blood qi's flow, which was the essence of the Tiger Roar Technique, refining the blood qi through this vibration and impact.

After half an hour, Chen Zong had to stop the blood qi refinement due to hunger.

Blood qi refinement involved removing impurities and concentrating the essence, trading quantity for quality. It required replenishment to continue, otherwise, it would damage the body.

How to replenish after blood qi consumption?

By absorbing the body's own strength, which naturally made one feel hungry.

Energy pills were a good supplement, but he could only get three per month, which would be used up in a few days. Most of the time, he had to replenish through food.

Feeling like he could eat a whole cow, Chen Zong quickly tidied up and left his room for the dining hall.

The dining hall provided both main meals and snacks. Chen Zong took a large bowl of beef bone soup and ten palm-sized beef buns, each with a thin skin and a generous, juicy filling, very delicious. As he ate, he listened to the conversation of three people nearby.

"In about twenty days, it will be the monthly group leader competition. I don't think I have a chance."

"Neither do I."

"Who do you think will become the group leaders?"

"For the fist technique group, I think it will be Chen Baiqi. His Furious Python Fist has reached the peak of major success, and his Snake Hand has also reached the major success stage. Moreover, I heard he started cultivating the Tiger Roar Technique before entering the clan hall and has already refined his blood qi once."

"I really envy these clan hall disciples. They can cultivate better foundational martial arts and enjoy better cultivation resources. I heard that every year, the clan hall disciples usually win the group leader positions and break through to the fourth level of the Blood Qi Realm earlier."

"Not necessarily this time. As far as I know, Chen Guzhan from our fist technique group is naturally very strong. It's said that his single-arm strength is 1,600 pounds, and his Heavy Fist has also reached the peak of major success. Chen Baiqi might not be his match."

"1,600 pounds!" The other two disciples gasped, and Chen Zong was also shocked. 1,600 pounds of strength was equivalent to his strength after refining his blood qi three times.

"For the palm technique group, I think it will be Chen Yong..."

"For the leg technique group, I think it will be Chen Ying..."

"For the saber technique group, I think it will be Chen Fenghua..."

"For the sword technique group, I think it will be Chen Zuoyi..."

The people they mentioned were all clan hall disciples, and they had all started cultivating the Tiger Roar Technique and had already refined their blood qi once.

"I heard that someone in the sword technique group is cultivating three sword techniques simultaneously. Maybe he's a sword genius."

"That's a joke."

The three branch family disciples laughed, and Chen Zong was speechless.

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