Chapter 11

"The Blood Qi Technique is a secret method of the Bi Luo Cave. You must not transmit it outside without the sect's permission. Those who violate this rule will have their skin flayed and souls extracted. Remember this well." After briefly mentioning a few precautions during cultivation, Elder Huhuo changed his tone to a warning.

"Yes." The three of them stiffened and replied in unison.

Elder Huhuo nodded, the stern look in his eyes fading. He took out a jade bottle from his robe, poured out three light purple pills, and handed one to each of them:

"Swallow it."

Yuan Ming took the pill but did not swallow it, glancing at the other two out of the corner of his eye.

"Elder Huhuo, what kind of pill is this?" the Tiger Beast Slave asked.

"Corrosive Heart Pill, a secret medicine of the Bi Luo Cave. After taking it, it will slowly invade your heart meridians. You must take the antidote monthly to suppress the toxicity," Elder Huhuo said in a calm tone.

Upon hearing this, the Tiger Beast Slave and the Wild Boar Beast Slave's expressions changed.

Yuan Ming also frowned, realizing that the Bi Luo Cave intended to control them, the Fur Beast Slaves, using the Corrosive Heart Pill.

However, under someone else's roof, one must bow one's head.

Without further thought, he tilted his head and swallowed the pill. The Corrosive Heart Pill dissolved in his stomach, spreading a cold sensation through his internal organs, stopping near his heart as if a cold dagger was pressing against it, ready to strike at any moment.

The other two, though their faces were grim, also swallowed the Corrosive Heart Pill under Elder Huhuo's cold gaze.

"You have passed the test and been taught the Blood Qi Technique, making you official Fur Beast Slaves of the Bi Luo Cave. From now on, you must submit five vials of fierce beast blood here each month to receive the antidote for the Corrosive Heart Pill," Elder Huhuo said, satisfied with their attitudes.

"May I ask, Elder, what are fierce beasts?" Yuan Ming asked.

"Fierce beasts are wild animals that can absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, with combat power far surpassing the beasts you previously hunted. There is a canyon ten miles south of here, and the forest on the other side of the canyon is where fierce beasts roam. However, you must first cultivate the Blood Qi Technique, or you will likely not return," Elder Huhuo said, glancing south.

Yuan Ming remained silent, his expression grave.

The Blood Qi Technique seemed profound and complex at first glance. He had not yet had time to thoroughly ponder it, but he knew that mastering it would not be easy.

Even if he did master the Blood Qi Technique and could perform the Fur Transformation, he would only reach his previous combat level.

Hunting that black bear had nearly cost him his life, let alone hunting even stronger fierce beasts.

A shadow of doubt crossed Yuan Ming's eyes. In Elder Huhuo's, or the Bi Luo Cave's, eyes, the lives of these Fur Beast Slaves with poor aptitude were not important; what mattered was whether they could be controlled and used.

The other two soon realized the implications, their expressions becoming even more grim.

"Remember, if you perform well, there is hope for the future. I hope you will take good care of yourselves," Elder Huhuo said, having seen countless Fur Beast Slaves and easily reading their thoughts. He didn't bother to care, however, and lightly patted his waist.

The giant eagle soared up again, carrying him into the sky, causing a fierce wind to surge within a dozen yards, like a hurricane, making the surrounding trees sway.

The three of them were blown off balance, struggling to regain their footing.

However, this ordeal somewhat dispelled their heavy hearts.

"That gray eagle's aura far surpasses that of ordinary beasts; it is likely a fierce beast. To be tamed to this extent, it seems the Bi Luo Cave has deep reserves," Yuan Ming speculated, feeling a growing admiration for the Bi Luo Cave.

"The two of you, since we have gathered here today, it is a sign of fate. Let's introduce ourselves. I am Wulu," the Tiger Fur Beast Slave said, bowing.

"Yuan Ming." Yuan Ming picked up the white ape skin and returned the bow.

"Call me Lago." The Wild Boar Beast Slave also gave his name.

"So, Brother Yuan Ming and Brother Lago, you have both experienced the ferocity of the beasts here. The task Elder Huhuo just assigned is almost impossible to complete alone. He did not explicitly say we must act alone. If we work together, what do you think?" Wulu glanced at Yuan Ming and said.

"Great idea! With the three of us working together, we have a good chance of hunting fierce beasts!" Lago's eyes lit up, and he immediately agreed.

"Regarding the hunting of fierce beasts, we can discuss it later. What is most important now is to find a safe place to cultivate the Blood Qi Technique. We have all had our Fur Transformations removed and stand no chance against the beasts. Acting together is safer," Wulu suggested.

"Brother Wulu, you have a long-term perspective. We should indeed find a safe place first," Lago said, slightly taken aback.

"Brother Yuan Ming, what do you think?" Wulu smiled and looked at Yuan Ming.

"Sorry, I am accustomed to acting alone," Yuan Ming said after a moment of silence, and without waiting for them to speak, he turned and left.

He had already prepared a safe place to stay and had no trust in Wulu and Lago, whom he had just met. Staying with them would only cause constant worry, so it was better to act alone.

"Everyone says that people from the Central Plains are arrogant and self-important. It seems the rumors are true. To pass the test with a white ape skin that has little power, you must have some skill," Lago said, pursing his lips.

"Let it be. Everyone has their own path. Brother Lago, let's go. I found a safe place during the past two days of hunting. If we work together, we can achieve much," Wulu said, picking up the beast skin and walking in another direction with Lago.

Yuan Ming wrapped the ape skin around his waist, covered his body with mud to mask his scent, and carefully made his way back to the cave where he had been staying, hiding at the slightest sign of danger.

Without the Fur Transformation or any suitable weapons, he was no match for the beasts here, relying only on some basic martial arts.

Fortunately, his luck held, and although he encountered several beasts, he managed to hide and avoid them, reaching the cave safely.

He moved several large rocks to block the entrance, plunging the cave into darkness, with only a few weak rays of light seeping through the cracks.

Only then did Yuan Ming's tense nerves relax slightly. He cleaned the mud from his body, closed his eyes, and began to recall the Blood Qi Technique's incantation, trying to understand and cultivate it.

He first sat cross-legged as Elder Huhuo had instructed, adopting a posture with his five points (two hands, two knees, and head) facing the sky, and then silently recited the incantation.

"Earth's lungs have fire, entering from the deep spring, rising into the abdomen, blazing like a torch..."

As he recited, Yuan Ming felt a warm sensation rise from the ground, traveling up from his tailbone and circulating through his body before settling in his lower abdomen.

He was delighted and tried to stabilize the warm flow in his abdomen, but the next moment, the warm sensation suddenly dissipated, leaving no trace.

"Hmm, what's going on?"

Yuan Ming frowned, finding no mistakes in his actions or the incantation, and tried again.

However, the result was the same. He could only feel a slight warm flow in his lower abdomen, which he could not stabilize, watching it gather and then dissipate.

According to Elder Huhuo, after one complete cycle, the warm flow should remain in the dantian, acting like a furnace to heat the blood and qi, making them active and vigorous, gradually nourishing and strengthening them. This would be a long process, depending on one's insight and aptitude.

When the blood and qi were sufficiently strong, one would feel the hair stand on end, and the pores would open, allowing one to sense and absorb the ethereal spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Once the spiritual energy entered the body and was transformed by the dantian, it would become one's own magical power, which could be accumulated to a certain level and then used to activate the Fur Transformation, making the beast skin come alive and merge with one's flesh, transforming one into a half-human, half-beast form with far greater strength.

However, Yuan Ming found himself stuck at the first step of cultivation.

He tried several more times, but each attempt ended in failure.

Yuan Ming did not become discouraged. He had expected the Blood Qi Technique to be difficult to cultivate. If he couldn't succeed today, he would try again tomorrow, believing he would eventually succeed.

"Rumble..."

At this moment, his stomach growled, signaling his hunger.

Yuan Ming rubbed his empty stomach, got up, cut a piece of black bear meat to eat, drank some water, and continued to cultivate the Blood Qi Technique.

Time passed quickly, and half a month went by.

In the cave, Yuan Ming sat cross-legged, his five points facing the sky.

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth slowly gathered, circulating through his body according to the Blood Qi Technique and sinking into his dantian.

The same problem persisted. The spiritual energy that had gathered quickly dissipated, with only a faint trace entering the dantian and transforming into magical power.

"It's still like this. It seems my aptitude is lacking," Yuan Ming opened his eyes, his expression grave.

After half a month of hard cultivation, he had made some progress, breaking through the bottleneck of the spiritual energy not entering the dantian, but the dissipation was still severe, with only a tiny fraction remaining. After half a month of cultivation, his dantian had accumulated only a thread of magical power, far from enough to activate the Fur Transformation. At his current rate, it would take at least half a year to accumulate enough magical power.

Yuan Ming couldn't help but shake his head and laugh bitterly. Even half a year was too long; he would likely die from the poison in a month.

Could it be that the Blood Qi Technique was more suitable for people from the Southern Frontier, and his body from the Central Plains was not compatible?

He couldn't help but speculate.

Worse, the food and water in the cave were almost depleted, and he couldn't continue cultivating in peace. Going out to hunt would be extremely dangerous with his current physical state, especially if he encountered another black bear or green wolf.

"Am I really going to die here? No, I still have time; I can't give up!" Yuan Ming clenched his teeth, adopted the five-point posture, and decided to continue his hard cultivation.

Apart from continuing to cultivate, he had no other options. Stopping meant certain death, while continuing offered a glimmer of hope.

However, after another half day and several cycles, the thread of magical power in his dantian remained unchanged.

"Give me magical power... I want to return to the Central Plains!" Yuan Ming's anger rose, and his determination only grew stronger.

In the next moment, his vision went black, and he nearly fainted.

At the same time, his right arm suddenly felt a slight warmth, as if a hot current had penetrated it, but it quickly disappeared.