Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies

Chapter 42: Chapter 41: Great Perfection of Qi and Blood (Request for Follow-up Reading)

"Skillful Baiting, Poison Shadow? Can greatly increase the success rate of hunting?"

Shen Qing gazed at the scriptural explanation, lost in thought, then a surge of indescribable joy bubbled up in his heart.

As the name suggests, this skill is an upgraded version of baiting and tracking.

These two skills appear simple, but in reality, they are among the most demanding hunting skills, requiring intense hunter power.

Usually, without ten or fifteen years of pondering, it is impossible to grasp the essence, leading only to a clumsy understanding.

Shen Qing was surprised that he could master it directly.

Now with this skill, he could either use baits or poison powder to overturn his prey or approach them silently, undetected.

If he encountered cunning and agile prey such as foxes or minks in the future, he wouldn't miss his shot.

Perhaps even those rare mountain delicacies wouldn't pose a problem.

With nothing else to do, he secretly tried it out and found that whether arranging baits or stealthily taking down prey, he was doing it seamlessly, his skill was unnaturally seasoned.

Prey without spiritual wisdom would hardly notice any human traces.

Shen Qing's mood was greatly uplifted.

After several trials, Shen Qing gradually got the hang of the changes and felt reassured.

Then, carrying the goat that was no longer struggling, his figure slowly vanished into the forest, leaving behind a trail of deep footprints in the snow.

When he reached a three-way fork in the road, he stopped and stood still.

Soon, two fairly large figures emerged from the forest.

It was Shanwa and Hu Zi.

Seeing the goat Shen Qing was carrying, their eyes lit up, "Brother Qingzi, we actually caught one, yeah!"

"When have you ever come back empty-handed with me on the mountain?" Shen Qing said with a smile.

Unlike before, his prestige in the village was now akin to being at its peak, with many people wanting to join groups with him to hunt on the mountain.

But he noticed their intentions, recognizing they wanted to do him a favor by currying favor with him.

All in all, it felt strange to him, as everyone seemed to have their own motives.

To silence others, during this period every time he went hunting on the mountain, he deliberately took his cousins Shen Xiaohu and Shen Xiaoshan with him.

This not only trained their hunting skills but also helped alleviate some of the burdens on their uncle and aunt's family.

It was a win-win situation.

"Brother Qingzi, if this continues, I'm afraid the game in this mountain will be depleted by you, leaving nothing left to hunt."

"You really worry too much. Our village has been living at the foot of this Shicheng Mountain for many years now. Have you ever seen it hunted clean? As long as we take care after spring, making sure not to drain the resources, it shouldn't be a problem."

Shen Qing lifted his foot, "Let's go, time to head back."

The two cousins, each holding a sandalwood bow, followed behind Shen Qing, heading towards Hongshan Village at the foot of the mountain.

Along the way, Shen Xiaoshan suddenly asked, "Brother Qingzi, can I still join a Martial Arts Hall to practice martial arts?"

"It might be difficult."

Shen Qing knew his uncle's family wasn't very wealthy; it was already hard for them to support one person in a Martial Arts Hall, not to mention another.

Now that Shen Xiaohu was fortunate enough to join Linfeng Hall, there was no chance for Shen Xiaoshan anymore.

Shen Xiaoshan, knowing this might be the answer, reluctantly asked again only to face the same result, looking somewhat downcast.

"Do you really want to learn?" Shen Qing asked, turning back.

Shen Xiaoshan quickly replied without hesitation, "Yes!"

"Then when I have time, I'll teach you some stance training for nourishing and training Qi and Blood," Shen Qing said as he walked through the forest, "Initially going to a Martial Arts Hall involves nourishing and training Qi and Blood, you can practice just the same at home.

Once you've developed your Qi and Blood and your uncle's family is in a better position, going to a Martial Arts Hall won't hold you back."

Upon hearing Shen Qing's words, Shen Xiaoshan's face glowed with sudden happiness.

"Thanks, Brother Qingzi. That goat must be heavy, let me help you carry it for a while."

"No need, no need..."

The three brothers frolicked as they walked toward Hongshan Village at the foot of the mountain.

The setting sun poured down like molten gold, covering the snowy forests of the mountain, as well as the three Shen Qing, bathing them in a layer of golden light.

In the distance at the mountain's foot, blue smoke from cooking rose gently from the village houses, drifting slowly in the evening breeze like a light veil.

It was a time of peace and tranquility.

...

Four days later.

Shen Qing had consumed all the medicine Li Linfeng had given him, including some tonics he had previously scavenged from the Chen Family, leaving none behind.

He secretly calculated that the cost of the medicine he had consumed was no less than five or six taels.

Enough to cover the expenses of an ordinary family for nearly half a year.

It is said that poverty breeds scholars and wealth breeds warriors.

He had indeed gained some insight.

But you get what you pay for.

In recent days, after taking these tonics, Shen Qing's progress in stance training and nourishing and training Qi and Blood surged as if he had activated a cheat code, increasing at least twice as fast as before.

In less than ten days, he had once again met the conditions for a breakthrough.

[Skill: Nine Skills (the level of mastery)]

[Progress: 306/300 points]

[Status: Can be elevated]

Shen Qing licked his dry lips.

If he were to break through to the Great Perfection of Qi and Blood, he would undeniably be stronger than now.

By then, he should be able to deal with one or two local tyrants of the Outer City.

In the candlelit room, as the light flickered eerily, it illuminated Shen Qing's resolute face. He hesitated no longer, "Break through for me!"

Boom!

Shen Qing felt a muffled sound, and the Qi and Blood within his body seemed to boil suddenly.

Underneath his skin, the veins resembled ignited fuse, circulating a fiery glow, and the sensation of Qi and Blood reached an unprecedented intensity.

An invisible force erupted from Shen Qing's Dantian, like a volcanic eruption, transforming into waves of warmth, flushing every inch of his body.

As this warm flow washed over him, moments later, a slight yet soul-shaking crack was heard, causing Shen Qing's eyes to suddenly open wide, shooting out beams of intense light, brightening the dim room momentarily.

Never having seen such a phenomenon before, Shen Qing was momentarily astounded.

As time slowly passed and all signs of the breakthrough had subsided, Shen Qing began to carefully sense the changes in his body.

To his amazement, he discovered that the warm flow inside him had grown even thicker, almost twice its original size.

It moved with his thoughts, continuously circulating within his body.

Shen Qing took a deep breath, his energy boundless, feeling better than he ever had before.

So this is what the Great Perfection of Qi and Blood feels like.

With a thought from Shen Qing, the description of the Nine Skills appeared before his eyes.

[Skill: Nine Skills (the Great Perfection)]

[Progress: 6/400 points]

[Status: Cannot be elevated]

[Note: As Heaven's movement is ever vigorous, so must a gentleman ceaselessly strive to strengthen himself. Continuously practicing and advancing in this cultivation technique can help break limits of this skill.]