OBS Chapter 32: Dragon Tendons and Vital Veins
Chapter 32: Dragon Tendons and Vital Veins
So that night...
[Progress completed (Introduction to Dragon Slayer): 100/100]
[Has the potential for early mastery of the Collapsing Dragon Force been realized?]
Wu He was steaming with white vapor, as if he had just come out of a hot spring.
After a period of arduous practice, he finally completed the progress of the Collapsing Dragon Force.
"Advance payment!"
Without the slightest hesitation, I made another advance payment.
[Martial Arts Skill Already Received in Advance: Minor Success of the Crushing Dragon Force]
[With tendons and muscles as resilient as a dragon coiled around a mountain, a single burst of power can split the earth three zhang deep.]
[Next Stage Preview: Mastery of the Dragon Collapse Technique]
[His muscles and tendons transformed into the true form of a coiled dragon; his punches were like a blue dragon overturning the sea, their power reaching ten zhang (approximately 33 meters).]
In an instant, a scalding heat swept through his entire body, and his muscles throbbed like a raging sea dragon.
The most prominent one is the large tendon on the spine.
Wu He felt as if it were being poured with magma, constantly taut and growing larger, like a giant dragon clinging to his back.
The reinforcement stopped after ten seconds.
He exhaled a long breath, feeling refreshed and as if countless previously blocked passages had been opened, giving him a feeling of being reborn.
Looking down at himself, he saw that his muscles were even more muscular than before, and when he clenched his fist, the popping sound was even crisper.
"At the Lesser Completion of the Dragon-Shattering Force, the mid-stage of the Flesh Refining Realm, once you reach this stage, the so-called hidden strength of Qi and Blood begins to solidify."
Wu He felt a warm sensation in his chest, which was the blood and qi condensed after the muscles and tendons were thoroughly tempered and refined in the Flesh Refining Realm, and it was also one of the foundations of a martial artist's cultivation.
As you advance further in your cultivation level, your Qi and blood will continue to grow stronger.
Glug glug~
Just as I was feeling this boost, the feeling of hunger returned.
Wu He immediately went to the kitchen and ate all the remaining treasure beast meat for the day. However, even after eating three pounds of meat, his hunger was not completely eliminated.
He frowned slightly; this feeling was all too familiar.
Marrow cooked.
After some time, having advanced to the mid-stage of the Flesh Refining Realm, this hunger resurfaced.
"The higher the cultivation level, the more energy is required. The meat of rare beasts from ordinary years is no longer enough to keep up with my consumption."
"Judging from this, it would take the meat of a treasure beast that is over ten years old to fill my stomach."
Wu He sat on the threshold, deep in thought.
Like people, mythical beasts are also divided into different levels, usually based on age.
The powerful ones possess extraordinary intelligence, some even able to speak human language. Their flesh is priceless and cannot be bought on the market.
If you want it, you can only hunt outside the city or buy it from the military camp.
"The Garrison Army has a branch specifically responsible for hunting precious beasts, called the Hunting Office. Let's go check them out tomorrow and buy some."
The following morning, the garrison commander patrolled the town.
The wind blew through the gate, causing hundreds of wooden pieces hanging on it to rustle and rattle, all of which were items from the hunting quarters' inventory.
Wu He rummaged through them, his gaze settling on a wooden slip that read "Ten-Year Mountain Wolf Meat".
He then picked it up and flipped to the back, where there were a few more lines of tiny print.
[Ten catties: One bandit leader at the Refined Flesh Realm, or fifty taels of silver]
Fifty taels!
Wu He's expression changed immediately upon seeing the price; it was ten times more expensive than the spirit deer meat sold outside.
But upon further reflection, it wasn't wrong.
After all, the primary standard for exchanging all resources in the military camp is military merit; silver is only a last resort, so it's normal for it to be more expensive.
Feeling the growing hunger in his body, Wu He made a tough decision.
Buy it with real money!
Just as he was about to take out the silver, a series of hurried footsteps sounded beside him. Wu He turned his head and saw that the person approaching with a face full of white, fat flesh was none other than Yu Long.
"Chief Yu".
"Captain Wu, we've finally found you."
Yu Long said anxiously, "Quickly gather your men and assemble at the training ground. We have a mission!"
……
A moment later, the entire T-shaped scout team assembled at the training ground, while many other horsemen shuttled back and forth, raising clouds of dust.
Wu He and Yu Long stood to one side.
He explained in detail: "A few days ago, an earthquake struck. Many wild animals came out of Xiaoheishan, about 30 miles west of the city, and attacked the nearest village, Shanghe Village."
"After the local militia drove away the wild beasts, they unexpectedly saw Khitans coming and going on Xiaoheishan Mountain."
"Military Commander Liu is suspected of having a conspiracy. He has ordered your scout team to go and investigate the situation. If it is true, send a message by carrier pigeon and stay at Xiaoheishan to await further orders."
"Captain Wu, this is your first mission since joining the army, so you'd better do your best."
Yu Long patted Wu He on the shoulder and grinned.
"Okay, I'll take the men there right away." Wu He nodded in agreement.
"We must hurry. As far as I know, the C-class scout team has already set off."
Yu Long then added, "After Qian Bin's death, the new tenth general of the Bingzi scout team is Du Jianlian. He is Wang Junshi's man and has always been at odds with our Lord Liu. This opportunity to make a name for ourselves cannot fall into the hands of others, especially not Wang Junshi!"
"Understood."
Before this, Wu He had already learned some things about the internal workings of the Zhen Guan Army from Yu Long.
The garrison troops within Xiongzhou were strictly hierarchical, with numerous factions. From the governor and military supervisors at the top to the commanders and captains of various departments, the relationships between them were extremely complex and intertwined.
His own scout team, including Captain Yu Long, was under the command of Military Commissioner Liu Baoze.
The military commander Wang mentioned by Yu Long was Liu Baoze's mortal enemy. The two had been fighting openly and secretly for nearly a year for the position of deputy commander, and their most important asset was their accumulated military merits.
This time, the key to spying on the Khitan's movements in Xiaoheishan lies in which scout team can deliver intelligence in time and strike first.
Wu He doesn't care about fame and fortune right now; he's just thinking about whether he can take this opportunity to fight the Khitan soldiers and quickly catch up on his sword-wielding skills.
The first light of dawn broke, and the sound of horses' hooves rang out.
A group of twelve riders galloped out of the west gate, disappearing into the snow and mud.
……
Xiaoheishan.
"Whoa—"
At the foot of the mountain, Wu He tightened the reins and looked up at the small mountain, which was about two hundred meters high and filled with dark green pines and cypresses. Even in the daytime, it was gloomy and shrouded in a light mist.
"You few stay at the foot of the mountain and keep a close watch on all the points of entry and exit from the mountain."
"These are our team's carrier pigeons, with red dye on their wings. Before I return, shoot down all the carrier pigeons that fly out of Xiaoheishan, except ours."
Wu He will show everyone the carrier pigeon he brought, making sure everyone can see it clearly before draping it over his shoulder.
He then handed the horse to one of them, leaped into the air, and disappeared straight into the misty pine forest...
[Progress completed (Beginner's Guide to Wild Goose Formation): 4/100]
……
[Progress completed (Beginner's Guide to Wild Goose Formation): 5/100]
……
As he moved through the air, his progress in improving his lightness skill was increasing rapidly, even faster than within the city.
"The terrain in the natural environment is much more complex than in the city, which makes it more effective for practicing light-body skills."
Wu He had a slight understanding in his heart. After searching quickly in the mountains for half an hour, he finally saw two figures in the mist climbing up the stone steps.
He quietly landed in the tree canopy and squinted to look.
The two men were dressed strangely, wearing tattered black and gray cloaks, with their lower garments mainly consisting of sheep bone and leather drums. They leaned on long wooden canes and were hunched over, resembling old men.
"This outfit..."
Wu He pondered for a moment, feeling that this style of clothing was somewhat familiar.
Like... a Khitan shaman!
Memories surged back to when the original owner first entered Xiongzhou City and saw the town's guards escorting several Khitan shamans through the streets.
It's similar to the style we see now.
"Shaman, sorcerer."
"What brings you to Little Black Mountain?"
Wu He was suspicious, but he followed them uphill.
Until, near the mountain peak, there was a dilapidated old temple.