Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve: The Mysterious Martial Technique in the Blood Pattern Ring

Shi Yan suddenly glanced at the dark red ring on his left ring finger. This peculiar ring, which he named the Blood Pattern Ring, came from the Blood Pool and seemed to have a significant connection to it.

A thought crossed his mind, and he vividly recalled the moment he first put on the Blood Pattern Ring. At that time, his essence energy was still very weak. The moment he put on the ring, his essence energy uncontrollably rushed towards it. However, due to its weakness, it failed to break through the skin and enter the ring.

Now, having advanced to the Third Heaven Realm, his essence energy had grown and condensed significantly, to the point where it could overflow externally...

If he were to inject his essence energy into the ring, would something happen?

Shi Yan was very curious and had a hunch that this ancient and simple ring held secrets. Perhaps through this ring, he could understand the abnormality in his body's acupoints.

Observing through the gaps in the leaves, Shi Yan noticed that the Mo Family martial artists were moving farther away and would not return for a while.

Shi Yan decided to give it a try!

Essence energy slowly flowed from his lower abdomen, gradually accelerating as it surged into his left arm. As the essence energy flowed at high speed, his left arm's tendons and veins ached slightly. The essence energy, unstoppable like a flood, rushed into his left ring finger and then fiercely poured into the flesh beneath the ring's surface.

"Zzzt!"

The essence energy, like smoke, first emerged from beneath the Blood Pattern Ring's surface, then a stream of pure essence energy instantly sank into the ring.

The Blood Pattern Ring suddenly emitted a crimson glow, as if a barrier within it had been torn apart. A strange thought suddenly flowed out of the Blood Pattern Ring, surging back into Shi Yan's arm, traveling up to his neck, and finally into his mind.

Martial Technique —— Berserk!

The thought released from the Blood Pattern Ring turned out to be a wave of memory, a mysterious martial technique. The cultivation method of this martial technique flooded into Shi Yan's mind, deeply etched into his memory like a brand.

A martial technique is a method for martial artists to utilize their essence energy, a skill for attacking with essence energy. Like alchemists, martial techniques are also divided into five levels: Common, Mystic, Spirit, Holy, and Divine.

The classification of martial techniques differs slightly from that of alchemists. Alchemists have seven ranks within each level, but martial techniques have no such divisions, only the five levels.

High-level martial techniques can maximize the use of a martial artist's essence energy, allowing them to possess terrifying offensive power. The higher the level of the martial technique, the more sophisticated the use of essence energy. However, to cultivate high-level martial techniques, martial artists must have a corresponding realm. The higher the level of the martial technique, the more stringent the cultivation conditions.

Generally, martial artists at the Innate and Pre-Innate realms are best suited to cultivate Common-level martial techniques. Martial artists at the Human and Hundred Tribulations realms are suitable for Mystic-level martial techniques. Martial artists at the Status and Nirvana realms are best suited for Spirit-level martial techniques. Martial artists at the Heaven and Divine Connection realms are best suited for Holy-level martial techniques. True Gods and God Kings are best suited for Divine-level martial techniques.

If low-level martial artists forcibly cultivate high-level martial techniques, they mostly waste their time.

Due to insufficient realm and essence energy strength, it is generally difficult to successfully cultivate high-level martial techniques. Even if they manage to succeed, they cannot fully unleash the true power of the high-level martial technique due to their limited realm and strength. It is more effective to cultivate martial techniques that match their realm.

For example, a martial artist at the Pre-Innate realm, even if they possess a legendary Divine-level martial technique, would be wasting it. Due to their weak realm and strength, they cannot possibly successfully cultivate a Divine-level martial technique.

Of course, if a high-level martial artist lacks high-level martial techniques and only cultivates low-level ones, they will also struggle to unleash their true power.

For instance, a True God realm martial artist with only Common or Mystic-level martial techniques would have their strength significantly reduced, constrained by the low-level martial techniques, and could only unleash 70-80% of their true power.

On the Divine Grace Continent, martial techniques are even more precious than the elixirs of alchemists. Martial techniques are considered the most valuable treasures on the continent. Generally, martial techniques are controlled by major families and various forces. Some families attract martial artists to join them precisely because of the martial techniques they possess.

The higher the level of the martial technique, the greater its value. High-realm martial artists, without high-level martial techniques, would be at a disadvantage in battles, feeling frustrated and even risking death.

Therefore, to obtain a suitable high-level martial technique, high-realm martial artists will do anything.

Sitting in the center of the leaves, Shi Yan slowly organized the "Berserk" martial technique in his mind. He discovered that "Berserk" had three levels, and he only had the cultivation method for the first level. He did not know the level of this martial technique or whether it would suit him.

This martial technique came from the Blood Pattern Ring, directly infused into his mind through memory. It was mysterious and required essence energy to flow in reverse, which was very different from the cultivation methods of other martial techniques. Shi Yan hesitated, unsure whether to cultivate this unknown and incomplete martial technique.

As one of the five Shi families in the Merchant Alliance, the Shi family naturally had their own martial techniques. The highest-level martial technique in the Shi family was at the Spirit level, and only one existed. It was treasured by the family head, Shi Jian, and only the old man who had reached the Status realm was qualified to cultivate it.

However, besides this highest-level Spirit martial technique, the Shi family also had multiple Common and Mystic-level martial techniques.

Shi Yan originally planned to return to the Shi family and use his new identity to cultivate the Common and Mystic-level martial techniques. Now, with this mysterious martial technique of unknown level and origin from the Blood Pattern Ring, he was unsure whether he should cultivate it.

With a serious expression, he again condensed his essence energy and tried to inject it into the Blood Pattern Ring. However, the essence energy was blocked by a barrier within the ring. No matter how hard he tried, he could not break through the barrier. He sensed something behind the barrier but could not know what it was without breaking through.

Behind the barrier, there might be more information about "Berserk," including the cultivation methods for the other two levels. Unfortunately, it seemed that only when his essence energy reached a certain strength could he break through the barrier.

Frustrated, Shi Yan withdrew the essence energy from the Blood Pattern Ring and reviewed the incomplete "Berserk" martial technique in his memory, hesitating again.

Should he cultivate it?

His dark eyes gleamed with determination. Wrapped in the leaves, Shi Yan's expression was uncertain. After a long time, he decided to give it a try, intending to see what changes the first level of "Berserk" would bring to his body.

Essence energy slowly flowed to the Giant Bone Acupoint. After the essence energy reached the Giant Bone Acupoint, Shi Yan followed the rotation method of the first level of "Berserk" and slowly injected the essence energy. The Giant Bone Acupoint suddenly rotated, and the negative emotions of resentment, despair, and madness hidden within it were triggered, transforming into a force that began to alter the surrounding muscles and flesh.

Pain followed!

The flesh in the area of the Giant Bone Acupoint suddenly contracted, and the muscles seemed to tighten instantly.

Shi Yan's heart trembled, and he quickly reversed the flow of essence energy. He felt a tearing pain spread throughout his body. The essence energy reversed a few inches, and Shi Yan, determined, forced it to continue. The essence energy, like a wild beast, instantly swept through the Giant Bone Acupoint and rushed toward the Shoulder Well Acupoint.

The essence energy gathered at the Shoulder Well Acupoint and rotated in the same manner, triggering the negative emotions of resentment, despair, and rage hidden within it. Shi Yan felt the flesh in that area suddenly contract, and a misty white fog emerged from the pores of his shoulder, mixed with emotions of despair and hatred, captivating the soul!

The essence energy reversed again, and Shi Yan's right arm ached as if it were about to split. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead, and his back was drenched.

The pain was excruciating!

Gritting his teeth, the wild side of Shi Yan suddenly erupted. Ignoring the pain in his arm, he continued to stimulate the essence energy in his body, rushing toward the Five Mile Acupoint...

After an unknown amount of time, enduring the pain that made him want to scream, Shi Yan's essence energy surged from the Giant Bone Acupoint to the Yang Pool Acupoint in his wrist. All the negative forces in the acupoints of his right arm seemed to have been triggered.

Upon closer inspection, he noticed that his right arm's muscles had contracted and become significantly leaner. A misty, grayish-white fog lingered around his arm, emitting various negative emotions of resentment, despair, and fear.

Just looking at it seemed to affect one's mind, instilling a sense of fear.

The essence energy flowed back and forth in his arm, and a force like a flood, mixed with various negative emotions, surged within it. Shi Yan felt his right arm as if it possessed infinite power, with a strong desire to burst out.

Deep down, violent and murderous thoughts suddenly surged!

Shi Yan panted, his eyes filled with killing intent. In the leaves, he searched for a target like a fierce wolf, eager to crush anyone beneath him with the power in his right arm, reducing them to a bloody mess.

...

After a while, two figures slowly approached, cursing as they walked. They were two Mo Family martial artists who had been dispatched by Mo Yan Yu to search this area after finding nothing in other directions.

"That little bastard, I don't know where he's run off to. If I see him, I'll cut off his head! Damn it, my lover is waiting for me in the Merchant Alliance, and I've wasted so much time here, damn it!" One of the martial artists, a tall and broad-shouldered man with a thick beard, cursed loudly.

"Zheng Tie, be careful. That kid killed four of us. He's not an easy opponent. He eats more in one meal than the two of us combined. There's something strange about him. Don't underestimate him," the other martial artist warned, his expression cautious as he looked around, clearly more prudent.

"Don't worry. We're both at the Second Heaven Realm. If that little bastard dares to show up, he's just asking for death. Let's finish this quickly. I'm sick of this place. I need a woman! I need a woman!" Zheng Tie, clearly desperate for a woman, roared in the forest.

"Hehe, a lady is a woman too..." the cautious martial artist whispered with a lecherous smile.

"Hehe, a lady is indeed a woman, but we don't have the privilege to enjoy her. I've noticed that Master Karu has been visiting her frequently. I wonder if he's had the chance to kiss her. Her face, her butt, tsk tsk, I wonder which bastard will get to enjoy her. Unfortunately, our realms are too low, and we probably won't have the chance in this lifetime."

Zheng Tie lowered his voice, a lecherous smile on his face, as if fantasizing about something. He even thrust his hips forward and laughed loudly.

"Don't daydream. The lady has a fiancé, Ling Shaofeng. He's not someone to mess with. If he finds out you're fantasizing about the lady, you're dead!"

Mentioning Ling Shaofeng, Zheng Tie's face changed, muttering, "That kid is very strange. They say he's almost at the Human Realm. I've seen him kill people, and his methods are unimaginably cruel. If Karu meets Ling Shaofeng, he's probably dead too. We need to be careful. If our words get to that kid..."

Zheng Tie shivered, clearly very wary of Mo Yan Yu's fiancé.

The two men continued to discuss Ling Shaofeng in low voices, their expressions grim, gradually approaching Shi Yan's position, unaware that a bloodthirsty beast was hiding in the dense leaves above them.