The paths for making money and procurement are all laid out, as each link is steady enough, Li Yuan hasn't encountered anyone foolish enough to attempt a robbery...

The brothers of Qian Da look extremely fierce at first glance, and even when pushing a cart through the forest, no one dares to rob them.

Li Yuan utilized the identity of the Young Master Li to thoroughly understand the channels of demon beast meat in the black market, and has never encountered a robbery...

His daily routine has become somewhat regular.

Every few days, he hunts to earn money.

During the day, he buys demon beast meat, or goes to Master Li's mansion to cultivate.

At night, he accompanies Lady Yan for shopping and sleeping.

It's considered an unusual three-point routine.

Of course, Hengwu Restaurant sometimes won't accept too much wild game and mountain goods due to market fluctuations, but the proprietress of Hengwu Restaurant is very enthusiastic, connecting strings, and introduces Li Yuan as a supplier to other restaurants.

However, the reason why the proprietress is so eager to befriend Li Yuan is not only because of his identity, but also because of Lady Yan.

Lady Yan practiced the "Willow Return Technique" diligently but couldn't master it, so she adjusted her schedule to often go out with the proprietress of Hengwu Restaurant, drinking, eating fruit, and chatting.

The two had similar personalities and gradually understood each other, eventually becoming friends, or rather close confidants.

...

On the other side, Zuo Xiuxiu and Huang Ya going to Wutong Square was a bit of a shock for Li Yuan, as Yu Mao told him about it.

Yu Mao said that not long after Zuo Xiuxiu went to Wutong Square, she was married by the Young Master of Lion Wind Martial Arts Academy.

Lion Wind Martial Arts Academy is also a strong academy, with the master's strength reaching the eighth grade, making it a notable force in Wutong Square.

Zuo Xiuxiu marrying the Young Master caused a slight sensation locally, as the master almost cut off the father-son relationship because of this matter.

But the Young Master deeply loved Zuo Xiuxiu, regardless of her being previously married.

It was clear there was history between them, as for what it was... only they probably knew.

Whether they were childhood sweethearts or love at first sight, or the falling flower had interest but the flowing water is heartless, or one was obsessed while the other was waiting despite being married...

It's all unimportant now, the important thing is that they are together.

...

As for the case of corpses in the black market, it was finally confirmed to be the work of the Wei Family, at least that's what the Blood Saber Sect said publicly.

The Wei Family arranged many spies in the black market, who would look for opportunities to kill disciples of the Blood Saber Sect.

The previous outer disciples of the Blood Saber Sect, including Wen Xiaoqiao and Cai Ze, and even entry grade disciples, were all killed by them.

The Black-faced Elder and Master Li found the list of spies and killed them.

Immediately, the Blood Saber Sect launched retaliation against the Wei Family.

Speaking of the Wei Family...

The Blood Saber Sect, the Wei Family, and the Sun Family were originally the three major forces in Shanbao County.

The Blood Saber Sect and the Wei Family have long-standing enmity.

Previously, due to the Lotus Thieves, they temporarily cooperated, but now the Lotus Thieves have long fled, reportedly heading directly north to Jade Capital City, reigniting the feud between the two families.

Adding to the case of the corpses, it's like adding fuel to the fire.

The forces often clash, with ambushes and fights becoming normal between them, and it shows signs of escalating.

...

At this moment, three months had passed since Li Yuan first bought demon beast meat.

That day, early in the morning, Li Yuan threw the last piece of demon beast meat he previously bought into his mouth in the backyard of the shed area, then tapped his toe on the ground, crouching like a frog, while secretly activating the "Soul-Throwing Technique" eighth grade heart skill, making the Shadow Blood surge towards the surface of his body.

Suddenly, his body shook violently, and the Shadow Blood in his blood and bones seemed to gain life, starting to circulate following a special pattern.

At Li Yuan's thought, the numerous Shadow Blood surged towards the skin like commanded cavalry, and as the skin received the warming nourishment of blood and energy, it began to exhibit a visibly "hardening and becoming denser" trend.

However, the amount of Shadow Blood was ultimately too little, only covering the surface in the most basic way.

Nevertheless, this was the entry level.

And for Li Yuan, entry was sufficient.

At this time, Li Yuan took a deep breath, excitedly glancing at the information.

The "Remaining Points" column now showed "724" points.

The "Cultivation Skill" column had changed to [Cultivation Skill: Willow Return Technique (100/100), Soul-Throwing Technique Eighth Grade (1/300)]

"Then let's max it out!"

Li Yuan didn't hesitate, directly tapping the "++" after [Soul-Throwing Technique Eighth Grade (1/300)] crazily.

Boom!!

Numerous memories emerged in Li Yuan's mind.

He clearly only ate demon beast meat for three months and honed Shadow Blood for three months, yet in these memories, he had already lived like this for three or four years.

During these years, he repeated this three-month routine, continuously accumulating Shadow Blood, and with the eighth grade heart skill, tirelessly mobilizing the Shadow Blood, making it flow like the great river through the wilderness, surging and rolling, transmitting to all his limbs and bones, forming a true "Blood Shirt" beneath the skin.

Li Yuan looked at his own information:

[Name: Li Yuan]

[Add Points: 423 points]

[Realm: Eighth Grade (Skin Refining)]

[Cultivation Skill: Willow Return Technique (100/100), Soul-Throwing Technique Eighth Grade (300/300)]

And his comprehensive strength without any weapon was now "19~30".

Li Yuan flipped his hand and drew out the Sleeve Blade, the comprehensive strength suddenly changed to "69~160".

"Strange, the increase is a bit low."

Originally his comprehensive strength was "49~140", now breaking through a major realm, it only increased this little, which was somewhat unscientific.

But as Li Yuan was no longer a rookie, he thought it over carefully and understood the issue.

It was still due to skills and weapons.

My skills are all ninth-grade skills, naturally unable to exert eighth-grade power, and though the weapon is fine steel for ninth-grade, it's somewhat lacking for the eighth grade.

"Hmm..."

"However, since I've entered the eighth grade, I need to quickly cultivate the 'Spring and Autumn Blade Second Technique——Jingzhe'."

Li Yuan, with a resolved mind, flicked out the Sleeve Blade again, pressed the button, and the blade "swished" out.

He gently pressed the blade on his arm, lightly swiping it.

Sss~~

Not even a white mark was left on his skin.

Li Yuan gradually increased the force, and it was only when he exerted a little more strength that a white mark appeared on his skin.

And this slight exertion matched a comprehensive power of "8~9".

In other words, this is the maximum power a normal person could exert while holding a decent weapon.

Now, unless he was seriously injured, causing his power to diminish, even if Qian Da attacked him with a blade in his optimal state, he wouldn't even pierce his skin.

Li Yuan activated Shadow Blood, his skin faintly reddened, covered by a light Shadow Blood Shirt.

He continued to apply more force, this time adjusting it to a full "20", only then leaving a faint white mark.

A comprehensive power of "20", this was the maximum strength that plainclothes government official he once saw at the Little Ink Workshop could achieve.

Back then, that plainclothes official shocked him, but now they couldn't even cut him.

"Eighth Grade, truly a leap forward."

Li Yuan felt great, seized the opportunity, and grabbed the Fine Steel Blade to practice "Jingzhe".

...

Another seven days passed in succession.

Li Yuan continued his routine of training and occasionally taking leave for experience.

On this day, as night fell and he sheathed his blade, he suddenly felt a sense of complete mastery.

There was finally an additional entry in the "Skills": [Spring and Autumn Saber Eighth Grade - Jingzhe (Basic) (1/10)].

Behind [Spring and Autumn Saber Eighth Grade - Jingzhe (Basic) (1/10)] was a line of small red text: Requirement [Spring and Autumn Saber Ninth Grade - Spring Thunder] to reach Advanced.

Behind the red text were also "+" and "++" symbols.

Li Yuan glanced at the "486" remaining points and started adding them.

[Spring and Autumn Saber Eighth Grade - Jingzhe (Intermediate) (1/20)]...

Advanced...

Expert Level...

"Keep adding!"

Grandmaster Level...

"336 points left."

"Then... max it out!"

Li Yuan gritted his teeth and invested another 160 points.

Countless memories of becoming stronger surfaced quickly.

Through diligent practice, numerous real battles, enlightenment in the training room, guidance from mentors, achieving Great Perfection in man-blade unity.

In just a few moments, it felt like Li Yuan experienced several years of time.

The reason it was only a few years, rather than a dozen or several decades, is because in this memory process, everything felt smooth and natural: after practicing diligently came real battles, after real battles came enlightenment, after enlightenment came encounters with mentors, and after their guidance came man-blade unity...

At this moment, Li Yuan held the long blade and glanced over his own information again.

Comprehensive Power: 119~190!!

"Now I can attempt to fuse the two Shadow Bloods!"

Li Yuan closed his eyes slightly, maneuvering the Shadow Bloods to approach each other, then carefully, gently, slowly, touch them together.

This time was different from before.

Last time it was like two stars colliding, this time, it was like a meteor falling into a river and lake, still conveying powerful energy, but the blood being squeezed was blocked by the "Shadow Blood Shirt" on the surface and wouldn't explode.

Swish, swish, swish!

In an instant, Li Yuan's face flushed crimson, his pupils like electricity, his black hair flamed wildly without wind, whirling above his head, layers of oppressive pressure spreading out like river tides in waves.

Buzz... buzz buzz buzz...

The long blade in his hand suddenly emitted strange, clear bell-like shrieks, exuding a bloodthirsty and murderous desire.

Li Yuan silently counted in his heart.

This time, the state seemed good, it looked stable.

With a thought, he separated the two Shadow Bloods again, withdrew his strength, the redness on his face rapidly faded, turning back to normal in an instant.

"Phew... finally, I can maintain this state."

Li Yuan exhaled softly.

"Now, how much power should I display appropriately?"

He had once seen other Eighth Grade Inner Sect Disciples of the Blood Saber Sect, and from what he observed, their power limits were often between "60~80".

Thinking of Master Li's full-strength power being "200~210", Li Yuan immediately had a simple understanding of his own power.

He closed his eyes slightly, then stood up.

In the future, just be a genius among the Ninth Grade.

It's not good to fight for power in this world, it's easy to die.

It's not good to not strive either, as you won't have access to stronger cultivation skills.

So, keep covering up seven and revealing three, leaving enough remaining points, and keeping the trump card of "Double Shadow Blood Fusion"... should be enough.

Li Yuan glanced at the sky, it was still early.

He then got up, changed his clothes, and looked at the dilapidated shed area.

Today, he needed to go back to Master Li's place; there was something... that needed to be resolved.

...

...

Note: The author gets a headache calculating the numbers...

Let's roughly explain the idea, so readers can understand a bit.

Let's skip the process.

First, the protagonist's two Shadow Bloods are calculated separately.

Secondly, a weapon initially given a value of 3 at the Ninth Grade will have its value reduced to 2 upon reaching Eighth Grade; the same applies to Ninth Grade skills when rated against Eighth Grade Martial Artists.

And there's a major precondition before this: after reducing and lowering, it's absolutely impossible to become weaker after a breakthrough than before. So, if a certain computed value turns out to be lower, then a tiered algorithm will be used. That means the extra "comprehensive power" will be computed with the lower value, adding it to the original power. It's about two algorithms, choosing the larger value.

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