Chapter 563 - 312: Three Blood Exchanges, Qi Blood Transforms into Flood Dragon! (Part 2)

"What a pity... This is not the path I, Su Mu, wish to take. Born from hardship, perishing in comfort!"

Cultivation is like rowing against the current; if you don’t advance, you retreat!

During this period, Su Mu was secretly paying attention to the matter of Master Cang. However, despite the Cyan Fish Gang’s outrage and thorough investigation, not even a shred of news turned up.

Su Mu knew that if this continued, it would probably end up unresolved.

"I am now an Alchemist... I should just focus on refining pills."

Su Mu shook his head. With the entire Cyan Fish Gang unable to resolve the issue of Master Zhou Cang being abducted, there wasn’t a clue to be found, let alone him investigating alone.

As usual, Su Mu had dinner. Instead of returning to his small courtyard, he left the Cyan Fish Gang under the cover of night.

Inside Su Mu, a surge of Qi and Blood was restless and unsettled.

A few days ago, Su Mu’s injuries had healed completely. Now, his Qi and Blood, having been nurtured and strengthened over time, reached a critical point for ascending to a higher realm.

Su Mu’s figure soon vanished into the darkness.

...

In the Cyan Fish Gang, inside a magnificent grand hall.

Liu Yuan, looking uneasy, knelt on one knee outside the hall, his face showing no signs of impatience.

Soon, the sound of footsteps rang out. Under the long corridor in the night, three silhouettes approached, led by a man with a vigorous and imposing stride, wearing a blue robe and tight garments. His face, around forty years old, was not very handsome, and his physique was not overly robust, yet he possessed an undeniable aura of authoritative charisma.

His eyes were deep and bright, seeming as though they could see through a person’s heart.

"Vice Gang Leader!"

Upon seeing the daunting man, Liu Yuan respectfully spoke.

The man in blue was none other than Gongyang Jue, the Vice Gang Leader of the Cyan Fish Gang. Being the second-in-command in the gang, he had even overshadowed the faction led by the Gang Leader.

Beside the man in blue stood a person in a gold-bordered alchemy robe, a rotund figure with a smile on his face. This man was no ordinary person; he was a significant figure in the Cyan Fish Gang, the current Hall Master of the Alchemy Hall, Zhao Mingde.

Following Zhao Youde was a young woman with an excellent appearance. If Su Mu and Shangguan Miao were present, they would recognize her as Zheng Qi, one of their peers who entered the Alchemy Hall.

"Hall Master!"

Gongyang Jue and Zhao Mingde ignored the greeting. After taking their seats, Zheng Qi stood by, serving tea, and Zhao Mingde took a sip, then inquired.

"You’ve been observing that boy for half a month, speak your thoughts?"

With respect, Liu Yuan reported, "That Sun Li, besides refining pills each day, stays in his little courtyard, seemingly unaware of the outside world... he is always humble but extremely cautious in his actions, showing little reaction to the matter of Zhou Cang..."

Upon hearing this, Gongyang Jue’s eyes flickered with interest, "Continue."

"In response, Gang Leader, ...," Liu Yuan promptly spoke.

"This person has exceptionally high talent in Alchemy; not only is his efficiency high, but his success rate in refining pills is extremely stable. Following this path, he might achieve Sixth Grade Pill Master status in less than a year, a rare Alchemy genius."

This mention of the Gang Leader could be a slip of the tongue or intentional, as neither of the two drinking tea showed any change in expression.

Upon hearing Liu Yuan’s high praise for Su Mu, Zheng Qi, brewing tea, flashed a trace of jealousy and unwillingness in her eyes.

"This person was brought into the Alchemy Hall by that man, can be viewed as a registered disciple of his; this point can be used."

Then Zhao Mingde spoke, "Hmm, a registered disciple of Zhou Cang, young and potential,... If possible to win him over, then do so."

With those coldly spoken yet unfinished words carrying immense chill, Gongyang Jue’s plain expression sent shivers down Liu Yuan and Zheng Qi’s spines, chilling their hearts.

"Yes!"

Liu Yuan quickly responded. He understood; if Su Mu was wise enough to voluntarily submit, it would be okay, but otherwise, he would be destroyed. Liu Yuan knew Gongyang Jue’s methods well, who never showed mercy to enemies, submission or devastation.

Having received orders, Liu Yuan departed, and Zheng Qi was also dismissed.

Gongyang Jue watched the window, Zhao Mingde followed the sight to see a portion of the ’Cyan Fish’.

"Hall Master Zhao... do you think that old fool is dead?"

In the dark, Zhao Mingde’s kind appearance stiffened, his expression shifting unpredictably.

...

Su Mu was naturally unaware of their conversation, nor did he realize that despite his efforts to keep low key and conceal himself, someone was scheming against him.

After nightfall, the snow came down harder, continuously covering the earth with large flakes.

Deep in the dense forest, the sound of muscles and bones resonated amidst the roaring stream, as wind and snow halted in mid-air.

"Sizzle, sizzle—!"

From the top of the youth’s head, a blazing blood-colored smoke billowed upward, instantly melting the layered snow into swathes of white mist.

The rolling Qi and Blood smoke transformed into a river of Qi and Blood, rushing rapidly before it suddenly broke!

Thirty-three feet.

Thirty-seven feet.

Forty-one feet!

The scale of the Qi Blood River grew ever larger, swiftly rising to over forty feet before slowing until it approached fifty feet.

Fifty-three feet.

Ultimately, the Qi Blood River surrounding the youth stabilized at a staggering fifty-three feet!

It’s known that a martial artist’s blood exchange almost corresponds with the length of the Qi Blood River, such as three blood exchanges corresponding to thirty feet, and four blood exchanges to forty feet.

Yet now Su Mu, having only undergone three blood exchanges, reached an astonishing fifty-three feet. Such news, if spread, would likely be dismissed with laughter, as if an absurd rumor.

Roar!

Amongst the crashing waves, resounded a resounding dragon’s call, the Qi Blood River of fifty-three feet consequently transforming into a crimson Flood Dragon, its body swaying, with scales formed by condensed Qi and Blood emerging, lifelike and powerful.

The realm of blood transformation into Flood Dragon was achieved in his third blood exchange!

With a thought, the blood crimson Flood Dragon converged, instantly forming into an imposing Flood Dragon blood armor. The moment the blood armor was formed, the surrounding temperature skyrocketed, and the soaked forest ignited into massive flames.

Su Mu slowly opened his eyes, his five fingers clenched into a fist in a split second.

The power of heaven and earth cradled in his palm, the domineering fist momentum flashed and disappeared, extinguishing the blazing flames wanting to transform into a sea of fire without a trace. The forest leaves merely shook slightly, as if nothing had just transpired, it was all but illusion.

Whoosh!

Su Mu lightly exhaled a breath, infused with the still-dissipating vigorous Qi and Blood, like a rainbow soaring skyward. The thick tree leg-sized a meter away emitted a brittle snap, breaking loudly.

Feeling the Qi and Blood power surging within, Su Mu smiled, his heart beginning to harbor the desire to leave.

Thunder Shock Fist (Great Success 93%)

Su Mu swept over the Thunder Shock Fist, lingering dormant for many days. At the moment of breaking through the fist momentum of Bai Jiao Mountain, he felt insight, but suppressed it. Now, the transformation into the next stage of comprehension was imminent.

Before leaving, he intended to complete the comprehension transformation, planning to use Thunder Shock Fist for the final breakthrough, to see his self-created first Martial Arts reach perfection.

"Inference requires several days... I’ll return first."

The next day, after finishing alchemy, Su Mu returned to his small courtyard to continue inferring the last perfect form of Thunder Shock Fist. Under the terrifying comprehension as high as one hundred ninety-nine points.

The spiritual light in his mind grew increasingly vivid, resembling the outline of a lightning bolt.

"Ding!"

At this moment, a resonant bell rang deeply within the Cyan Fish Gang, causing Su Mu in the small courtyard to sharply open his eyes.

"Ding ding ding!"

The bell sound was not a coincidence; subsequent rings broke the peace, and flames erupted in the Cyan Fish Gang.

============

The following day, after concluding alchemy, Su Mu returned to the courtyard to further deduce the final perfect form of Thunder Shock Fist. Under the terrifying comprehension of 199 points.

The spiritual light in his mind became increasingly clear, taking the shape of a lightning bolt.

"Ding!"

At that moment, an echoing bell struck from deep within the Cyan Fish Gang, causing Su Mu in the courtyard to abruptly open his eyes.

"Ding ding ding!"

The bell’s resonance was not mere happenstance; subsequent rings shattered the tranquility, flames erupted across the Cyan Fish Gang.

At that moment, from deep within the Cyan Fish Gang, a resounding bell rang, causing Su Mu within the small courtyard to suddenly open his eyes.

"Ding ding ding!"

The bell ringing was not coincidental; successive tolls shattered the calm, leading to fires breaking out within the Cyan Fish Gang.