The Clan Hall was divided into two courtyards: the Heaven Courtyard and the Earth Courtyard. The Heaven Courtyard housed martial artists from the main Clan lineage, while the Earth Courtyard accommodated those from the Branch Clans. The division was clear, fostering a healthy competition between the two.
Chen Zong, hailing from a Branch Clan in Small Lake Town, naturally belonged to the Earth Courtyard.
From what Chen Zong understood, the Clan Hall housed over two hundred martial artists. The Heaven Courtyard occupied sixty percent of the facilities, while the Earth Courtyard claimed forty percent. Separate from both was the Elite District, comprising ten independent courtyard residences. This was the area Chen Zong had previously visited, one of Chen Chuyun's former residences.
Only the top ten martial artists in the entire Clan Hall qualified to reside in the Elite District and enjoy its superior accommodations and privileges.
The Earth Courtyard was a vast complex lined with rows of single-occupancy residences. Each dwelling was twice the size of those occupied by Martial Apprentices and boasted finer furnishings and pristine windows, creating a comfortable living space.
Beyond the residences lay the Martial Training Ground, an expansive arena with four elevated sparring platforms positioned at the cardinal directions.
Structurally, excluding the Outer Hall for Martial Apprentices, the Clan Hall comprised the Heaven Courtyard, Earth Courtyard, Elite District, and the central Martial Repository.
The three-story Martial Repository housed a vast collection of martial arts texts.
Chen Zong now stood on the first floor, gazing at a bookshelf laden with scrolls and tomes. His eyes scanned the titles rapidly before plucking one from the shelf.
The book's cover was a pale gray, emblazoned with a ferocious tiger in crimson. Though the lines appeared simple, their skillful execution brought the creature to life, making it seem poised to leap off the page.
Beside the tiger were three bold, blood-red characters that seemed to pierce through the paper: Fierce Tiger Art!
Legend had it that the Chen Clan's ancestors revered the tiger's fearless spirit and its majesty as the king of beasts. This reverence led them to establish the clan and preserve the tiger's essence through generations. From the Tiger's Roar Manual for Blood Qi Tempering to the Fierce Tiger Art for cultivating Qi Blood Power, and subsequent Tiger-Character Techniques, all bore witness to this legacy.
The Tiger Force Fist Technique was a Foundation Establishment Martial Art, while the Tiger's Roar Manual was a Foundation Establishment cultivation technique.
The Fierce Tiger Art, however, was a Ranked Martial Art.
After becoming a martial artist, Chen Zong learned more at the Clan Hall. He discovered that Ranked Martial Arts were also known as Human-Rank Martial Arts, categorized into low-grade, mid-grade, high-grade, and top-grade tiers.
The Chen Clan's Fierce Tiger Art was a mid-grade Human-Rank manual, comprised of three layers. The volume Chen Zong held contained only the first layer.
"The tiger embodies form... one must adopt its stance, wield its strength... let Qi Blood flow like a tiger, let the body merge with the mountains and forests..."
Opening the Fierce Tiger Art, Chen Zong found the manual's cultivation mantras, detailed annotations, and crucial precautions for practice.
After reading it once, he had completely memorized the contents. By the third reading, he fully grasped its principles.
He now realized that his foundation in the Perfection Realm of the Tiger Force Fist Technique gave him a distinct advantage in both comprehending the Tiger's Roar Manual and cultivating the Fierce Tiger Art.
After committing the first layer of the Fierce Tiger Art to memory, Chen Zong carefully returned the manual to its place and picked up the second book.
This volume had a dark crimson cover emblazoned with two large, bold black characters: Martial Artist!
Its brushstrokes, bold and vigorous, conveyed unstoppable momentum, like silver hooks and iron strokes.
Opening the book, Chen Zong began to read it carefully. Unlike the previous manual, this wasn't a cultivation technique or martial art. Instead, it contained fundamental knowledge about a martial artist's cultivation journey.
"In the Qi Blood Realm, layers one through three focus on strengthening Blood Qi Power, fortifying the physique, and tempering Blood Qi to lay the foundation for becoming a true martial artist."
"At layer four of the Qi Blood Realm, Blood Qi ignites and transforms into Qi Blood. From this point onward, cultivation emphasizes Qi Blood Power through specialized techniques. This stage is known as Qi Blood Awakening. By channeling Qi Blood Power through these techniques, one can amplify their strength by 1,000 jin."
"At layer five of the Qi Blood Realm, Qi Blood Power breaks through its limits, becoming even more formidable and permeating every part of the body. This stage is called Qi Blood Suffusion. By channeling Qi Blood Power through specialized techniques, one can amplify their strength by 2,000 jin."
"Qi Blood Realm, Sixth Layer: Qi Blood Like the Tide. Qi Blood Power surges through the body in rhythmic waves, like the relentless tides of the ocean. By channeling this power through cultivation techniques, one can amplify their strength by 3,000 jin."
"Qi Blood Realm, Seventh Layer: Qi Blood Minor Circulatory Heaven. Qi Blood Power circulates within the body with greater force, accelerating recovery. By channeling this power through cultivation techniques, one can amplify their strength by 5,000 jin."
"Qi Blood Realm, Eighth Layer: Qi Blood Major Circulatory Heaven. The Qi Blood Minor Circulatory Heaven evolves into the Qi Blood Major Circulatory Heaven, allowing Qi Blood Power to permeate every part of the body with increased speed and potency. By channeling this power through cultivation techniques, one can amplify their strength by 7,000 jin."
"Qi Blood Realm, Ninth Layer: Qi Blood Furnace. The highly condensed Qi Blood Power within the Major Circulatory Heaven transforms into a Qi Blood Furnace, becoming the body's central source of power. By channeling this power through cultivation techniques, one can amplify their strength by 9,000 jin."
After becoming a martial artist, the progression from the fourth to the ninth layer of the Qi Blood Realm is entirely dependent on the refinement of Qi Blood Power.
As for physical strength, the standard limit is 1,000 jin. To exceed this limit, one must either possess exceptional natural strength or discover alternative methods.
Upon officially becoming a disciple of the Clan Hall, one gained access to certain privileges: the right to cultivate the first layer of the Fierce Tiger Art, the choice of one low-grade Human-Rank martial art to practice, and unrestricted access to the first floor of the Martial Repository to peruse non-technique books.
After returning the Martial Artist manual to its shelf, Chen Zong's gaze swept over the collection once more.
"The Fierce Tiger Art is a Qi Blood Power cultivation technique, and there are thirteen low-grade Human-Rank martial arts in total."
Compared to Foundation Establishment Martial Arts, the number of low-grade Human-Rank techniques was surprisingly small.
"Of these thirteen low-grade Human-Rank martial arts, four are fist techniques, three are palm techniques, two are leg techniques, one is a finger technique, one is a blade technique, one is a sword technique, and one is a footwork technique. It seems I have very little choice," Chen Zong mused inwardly.
This was the first floor of the Martial Repository. The second floor housed mid-grade Human-Rank martial arts and the second layer of the Fierce Tiger Art.
The third floor contained high-grade Human-Rank martial arts and the third layer of the Fierce Tiger Art.
However, gaining access to the second or third floor wasn't easy; it required meeting certain criteria, such as accumulating sufficient contribution points.
Chen Zong carefully examined each of the thirteen low-grade Human-Rank martial arts:
Tiger Force Fist Technique
Five Elements Fist Technique
Great Monument Crushing Palm
Whirlwind Leg Technique
One-Finger Iron Finger Technique
Water-Splitting Blade Technique
Dividing Light Sword Technique
Wind-Treading Steps
Chen Zong's gaze flickered between the Dividing Light Sword Technique and the Wind-Treading Steps.
Footwork techniques were relatively rare and often considered more valuable than other martial arts. However, Chen Zong, a dedicated swordsman, made his choice without hesitation.
The Dividing Light Sword Technique it would be!
"I can earn more contribution points later to acquire the cultivation rights for the Wind-Treading Steps," Chen Zong muttered to himself as he withdrew the manual for the Dividing Light Sword Technique.
Recently, among the newly inducted disciples who had become martial artists, he was the only one practicing swordsmanship, leaving him no competition for the technique.
"Remember, you must return this within ten days," the Hall Elder overseeing the Martial Repository of the Clan Hall said sternly after completing the registration. Failure to comply would stain his record, jeopardizing future access to martial arts manuals.
"I understand," Chen Zong nodded, accepting the manual.
In truth, he could have memorized the entire sword technique on the spot without borrowing it. But the pleasure of flipping through its pages at his leisure was too tempting. It would allow him to better comprehend the profound mysteries contained within the technique.
With the Dividing Light Sword Technique in hand, Chen Zong headed toward the Earth Courtyard.
"Chen Zong, wait until I master the first level of the Heavy Mountain Fist Technique, and then I'll challenge you again!" Chen Guzhan declared upon encountering him.
"Sure, I'd like that," Chen Zong agreed readily, looking genuinely welcoming.
Entering his dwelling, Chen Zong closed the door behind him and settled comfortably into a dark red wooden chair. He opened the manual for the Dividing Light Sword Technique and began studying it intently.
Human-Rank Martial Arts differed significantly from Foundation Establishment Martial Arts.
Foundation Establishment Martial Arts focused on strengthening the body and enhancing Blood Qi through structured techniques. Human-Rank Martial Arts, on the other hand, offered no such physical benefits. Their true power lay in channeling Qi Blood Power, and instead of distinct techniques, they were classified by levels of proficiency and realms of mastery.
The Dividing Light Sword Technique comprised two levels:
First Level: Dividing Light Shadowing!
Second Level: Dividing Light No Shadow!
The manual included both detailed diagrams and incantations. The diagrams clearly illustrated a swordsman demonstrating the training movements for both levels.
"To advance to the second level, Dividing Light No Shadow, one must first achieve Great Perfection in the first level, Dividing Light Shadowing. This truly highlights the fundamental differences between Human-Rank and Foundation Establishment Martial Arts," Chen Zong mused inwardly after reviewing the entire manual.
After careful contemplation, Chen Zong decided not to begin cultivating immediately. While his living quarters were spacious, they weren't suitable for practicing sword techniques.
"Sword techniques are difficult to cultivate here, but the Fierce Tiger Art should be fine," he mused to himself.
Chen Zong retrieved a wooden box from beside his bed. Opening it, he revealed three small, dark red spheres, each the size of a lotus seed, emitting a faint, fishy odor.
Beast Blood Pills!
These pills were crafted from the refined blood essence of ferocious beasts, combined with the extracts of several decade-old medicinal herbs. They were meticulously brewed over dozens of hours, alternating between gentle and intense heat. While related to Vitality Pills, their potency far surpassed that of the latter.
Vitality Pills only benefited Martial Apprentices; for martial artists, they didn't even qualify as a supplementary food source. Beast Blood Pills, however, significantly boosted the cultivation of Qi Blood Power. Absorbing the power from a single pill was roughly equivalent to a day's worth of diligent practice with a low-grade Human-Rank cultivation technique for a martial artist at the fourth level of the Qi Blood Realm.
New martial artists from the Clan Hall received three Beast Blood Pills as an initial reward. Thereafter, they could claim one free pill each month. Obtaining more required their own efforts and abilities.
After reviewing the mantra for the first level of the Fierce Tiger Art, Chen Zong retrieved a Beast Blood Pill, placed it in his mouth, and let it dissolve. He banished all distractions, focusing his mind entirely on the Qi Blood within his body. Like a Ferocious Tiger coiled in anticipation, he used his mental intent to guide the flow of Qi Blood Power according to the mantra.
Compared to Blood Qi, Qi Blood Power was purer and denser, making it more challenging to manipulate. However, having broken through only after tempering his Blood Qi seven times, Chen Zong found that with just a little effort, his Qi Blood Power gradually accelerated under his mental command.
As the flow of Qi Blood Power quickened, a portion of it was consumed, while the Qi component steadily strengthened, in turn nourishing the blood. This created a synchronized enhancement of both Qi and blood.
The Beast Blood Pill had fully dissolved in his mouth. He swallowed it, sending it down his esophagus into his stomach, where its power diffused throughout his system. The medicinal energy permeated his blood vessels, flowing along with the Qi Blood to be absorbed.
Chen Zong could clearly feel his Qi Blood Power steadily increasing. Within fifteen minutes, the entire potency of the Beast Blood Pill had been completely absorbed.