Chapter 103: The Blood-Infused Body Refining Technique

Zhu Yao felt an overwhelming sense of relief. Being favored by the Snake King was evidently no blessing. He resolved to be more cautious, to proceed step by step. After all, there was no way he could survive a seventh-rank bomb. Not to mention such a powerful bomb—even the myriad troubles within the school were beyond his capacity to handle.

He couldn’t imagine what horrors awaited him from the Snake King’s follow-up if Zhao Junhong hadn’t decisively launched dozens of bombs. He was truly grateful that the Snake King hadn’t placed too much importance on him.

“No matter what, since the two youngsters have passed the trial, they deserve a reward!” The Snake King smiled slightly and said, “Zhu Yao, personally prepare equipment for a thousand-man battalion for the two kids.”

Zhu Yao was momentarily stunned before he grasped the Snake King’s intent. Those two would inevitably have to face the battlefield. Yet, at this moment, the Snake King didn’t want to openly bestow too much aid upon them. Thus, he secretly prepared equipment sufficient for a thousand soldiers. Future rewards would likely be distributed in a similar manner.

When the two youngsters graduated smoothly, they might find that they already possessed ample equipment and only needed to recruit personnel to form an effective legion. Of course, that was on the assumption they graduated successfully.

“I understand!” Zhu Yao hesitated, then asked, “Is there nothing to be done about the school situation?”

“Do what?” The Snake King responded indifferently, “They haven’t reported everything, so why should I bother?”

That made sense—no matter how absurd the situation, it had nothing to do with the Snake King! Even though he was the principal and secretly stirring trouble, he simply had no involvement. After all, he was the Snake King!

“What are you thinking about?” The Snake King’s voice suddenly echoed in his ear.

Zhu Yao remained composed, replying, “I was just thinking that those teachers at the school, despite their years of service, have made no progress. Kicking them out of the army was indeed the right choice.”

A hint of disdain flickered across the Snake King’s lips.

Not personally eliminating those men was already a courtesy extended to some. Sending them to the Northwest Military Academy was mainly due to their demand for teachers, which wasn’t as great as imagined. If they couldn’t even handle such trivial matters, there was no reason for them to continue existing.

“Though all were expelled from the army, at least they were high-ranking generals. If they truly lost their minds, those two kids…” The Snake King sneered coldly, “If they had the guts, they wouldn’t have been kicked out in the first place.”

He faltered for a moment. Zhu Yao understood what he was thinking. Most who were expelled had been unqualified, cowardly, or useless—lacking courage, unwilling to go to the battlefield despite their strength. Yet, there were a few who had been expelled for other reasons. Even the Snake King felt a tinge of regret for those few. If they acted, Zhao Junyi and Fang Qingyun would be in real danger.

…

Calm.

The Northwest Military Academy fell into an eerie silence.

Teachers who wished to topple Fang Qingyun and Zhao Junhong were frightened by Zhao Junhong’s ferocity. He dared openly hurl bombs at the teachers—what was there that he wouldn’t dare to do? Ultimately, it was just about resources, not worth risking their lives.

With the teachers unwilling to intervene, Zhao Junhong grew even more brazen. He targeted students with strong strength rankings within the school, knocking on their doors one by one. This boldness earned him widespread acclaim within the academy. The hostility from some could be completely ignored.

As for Qin Ran and Cui Sheng, Zhao Junhong also sought them out for challenges. The time and place were set by the two former vice presidents. Qin Ran and Cui Sheng refused without hesitation.

Fang Qingyun’s strength was formidable—even Zhao Junhong found it strangely ominous how much his power had advanced in such a short absence. Despite the uproar, the Snake King did not react. The teachers had calmed down, causing both Fang Qingyun and Qin Ran to feel uneasy. They decided to remain calm and watch for any developments instead of rushing to act.

Their avoidance of conflict caused many neutral parties to lose faith in them. Even their loyal followers wore strange expressions. Soldiers and warriors valued strength, especially at the Northwest Military Academy.

…

“Here, this is what you wanted!” Qin Xiangjun handed a dossier to Fang Qingyun, saying, “This is a somewhat cruel body refining method. Even while sleeping, your body gets exercised—though I doubt anyone practicing it can actually fall asleep.”

Fang Qingyun took it eagerly, but before he could read it, Gu Xi let out a sharp scream.

“Blood Burning Body Refinement? Damn it, do you want to harm him?”

“Huh?” Fang Qingyun was startled.

Gu Xi stared intently at Qin Xiangjun. “Qingyun, this is a notorious forbidden technique. When practicing it, your blood continuously burns. Some careless people have literally burned themselves alive.”

“Burned alive? Life-threatening?”

“Yes!” Gu Xi answered resolutely.

Fang Qingyun blinked. That sounded almost too good to be true! Life-threatening? Recently, ordinary poisons didn’t affect him; he was preparing to buy large quantities of spiritual medicines for warriors. Thinking about money gave him a headache—he had quite a debt. After finally earning some, Zhao Junhong had already used it to buy spiritual energy bombs.

If he could train while flirting with death… that would be ecstasy!

“Calm down, Gu Xi!” Fang Qingyun soothed her. “I’m not an idiot. If this truly were that evil, how could I practice it?”

Indeed.

Gu Xi snorted and smoothed down her fluffed-up hair.

Qin Xiangjun watched with interest, focusing on Fang Qingyun. To her, Gu Xi was merely a woman—nothing more. She was far more intrigued by Fang Qingyun.

“You’re going to practice it!”

Qin Xiangjun suddenly said, “I can feel you’re very interested in this technique.”

“Heh, you’re quite perceptive!” Fang Qingyun didn’t even look at her, focusing intently on the manual.

“Hey, hey, hey!” Qin Xiangjun protested, “I just gave you what you wanted, and you’re already turning your back on me? Scumbag!”

Fang Qingyun casually replied, “With your sharp perception, how did you not realize I’m an ungrateful scoundrel?”

Qin Xiangjun’s mouth twitched; she snorted and turned away.

“Pfft!” Gu Xi couldn’t help but laugh.

“Well done. You get a reward tonight.” Gu Xi kissed Fang Qingyun on the cheek with a smile.

Fang Qingyun smiled faintly.

Qin Xiangjun was truly a troublesome woman. As his injuries healed and his strength gradually returned with sharper senses, his sense of danger from Qin Xiangjun only intensified.

Moreover, he was more interested in the technique in his hands.

Blood Burning Body Refinement!

Practicing this technique accelerated blood flow, activating muscles, and during the process, produced a unique power that vaporized blood. Hence the tales of practitioners burning to death.

“Fantastic!” Fang Qingyun murmured, “This body refinement technique is damn near perfect for me.”

Long-term practice would increase physical constitution—just the cherry on top!

“Qingyun, you can’t practice this,” Gu Xi said sternly.

“Oh?” Fang Qingyun looked at her with interest. “You seem very familiar with this technique.”

“Many are,” Gu Xi said gravely. “Some warriors have limited talent and seek alternative paths to refine their bodies. Others want to master a few powerful techniques and thus focus on body refinement. Even some elites, when breaking through, find their spiritual energy too strong and bodies too weak, so they train their bodies to assist the breakthrough.”

“Body refinement grew popular in those times. Among them, Blood Burning Body Refinement is well-known because it rapidly increases strength—as if… like the Killing Slash Technique!”

Fang Qingyun: “……”

“But…”

Gu Xi’s tone turned serious. “This technique is addictive.”

“While practicing, the body is rapidly honed and can improve in a short time.”

“So many feel they’re done for but refuse to give up, always thinking they’re on the brink of breakthrough.”

“Oh!” Fang Qingyun was even more intrigued. “So mysterious?”

“Don’t think I’m exaggerating!” Gu Xi said sternly. “Many prodigies have died by their own hands. You rarely attend classes, but if you did, you’d hear many teachers explicitly forbid this technique. I don’t know where that woman got it, but clearly, she harbors ill intent.”

At the end, a trace of murderous intent gleamed in Gu Xi’s eyes.

“Don’t worry,” Fang Qingyun smiled gently. “You’ve already warned me—do you think I’d be foolish enough to practice this?”

“Good.” Gu Xi continued, “There are many similar techniques among humans, like the Killing Slash Technique, which is traceable and created by great human masters. But Blood Burning Body Refinement is different—its origins are completely unknown.”

“Your implication is that it might be a demonic technique introduced to humanity?”

Among all techniques, the demons were the strongest!

The demon race, renowned as the mightiest, possessed not only formidable individual combat power but also far-advanced technology and cultivation methods compared to humans and demons.

Racial dominance was now expressed in two domains: technology and spiritual energy.

The demon race surpassed both humans and demons in every aspect.

Between humans and demons, humans led in technology, demons in spiritual energy.

If humans hadn’t advanced rapidly and demons hadn’t multiplied massively, both races would still be oppressed by the demons.

“Exactly,” Gu Xi said gravely. “Many suspect this technique was passed down from the demons, a curse upon human prodigies.”

“Then why isn’t it banned?”

“Of course it is!” Gu Xi said helplessly. “But every time it’s banned, the technique reappears soon after. Because of this, human leaders have instructed universities to openly warn of its dangers. If someone believes they are destined or wishes to practice it, then so be it.”

“A person truly bent on suicide cannot be stopped—they will find new ways to bring about their end.”

Fang Qingyun: “...Makes perfect sense.”

A day later, the self-destructive master Fang Qingyun quietly began practicing Blood Burning Body Refinement.

The results were surprisingly effective.

After a short time, he noticed his body’s vitality had increased. Naturally, a small portion of his blood was consumed—so little it was negligible.

Impulses surged within him—the urge to continue practicing, pushing the technique to its limits.

The effects were simply too remarkable.

“Tsk, tsk!” Fang Qingyun clicked his tongue. “No wonder this technique is demonic. But I can still hold back!”

He ceased practicing Blood Burning Body Refinement and instead resumed cultivating the Killing Slash Technique.

He had already advanced the Killing Slash Technique to the eleventh level, each training session producing tremendous tearing force that seemed ready to rip him apart.

Fortunately, his constitution was strong enough that by the next day, he successfully pushed the technique to the twelfth level.

“One level stronger than the last,” Fang Qingyun murmured. “With my current physique, I can reach between the eighteenth and twentieth levels at peak condition. Otherwise, the overwhelming tearing force could threaten my life.”

That was just right.

Fang Qingyun eagerly anticipated teetering on the edge of death.

“Hmm, what are you doing?” Just as he opened his eyes, he saw a pair of bright eyes staring intently at him—pupils like autumn water, filled with disbelief.

Qin Xiangjun.

“Killing Slash Technique?”

Qin Xiangjun murmured, “You’re actually practicing the Killing Slash Technique?”

Her voice carried clear anger.

Fang Qingyun sneered, “What about the Killing Slash Technique?”

“What about it?” Qin Xiangjun snapped, “Don’t you know its fatal flaw? It’s not only a waste of time but also damages your body and wastes your talent.”

Fang Qingyun raised an eyebrow.

He was well aware of the Killing Slash Technique’s drawbacks. With his current mid-level general-grade physique, he absolutely couldn’t push it beyond the twentieth level. The pressure would only intensify.

Eventually, he would have to switch techniques. By then, his body would be so ravaged by the Killing Slash Technique that becoming a true powerhouse would be impossible.

His talent would be squandered.

But what did any of this have to do with Qin Xiangjun? Did she harbor feelings for him?

Fang Qingyun sneered.

“You…” Qin Xiangjun, noticing his dismissive attitude, snapped angrily, “You’re a prodigy of our human race! You should be thinking about killing more enemies to protect humanity!”

“If everyone acted like you, recklessly, what future would our people have?”

Fang Qingyun coldly laughed, “How do you know I’m reckless? Are there no masters of the Killing Slash Technique?”

“You…” Qin Xiangjun grew more furious at his argument, “There are masters, yes, but have you looked at who they are? Only three people in human history have achieved such mastery. They all come from noble families. You…”

It was a cruel and harsh truth.

Those from noble lineages had natural advantages—not only guidance in cultivation but abundant resources.

Everything they could want!

Not like Fang Qingyun, who was drowning in debt and couldn’t even afford poisons.

The money earned from the companies Fang Zhiheng left him was negligible compared to the costs of spiritual energy poisons and medicines.

He could go bankrupt in no time, let alone afford top-tier resources. Even a fraction of those would be beyond his means.

Qin Xiangjun calmed herself and said coldly, “Even those three, after mastering the Killing Slash Technique, switched to other techniques. What does that tell you? The Killing Slash Technique is fundamentally flawed.”

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