Chapter 256 - 221: 72 Earth Demons

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

For three days, Zhao Xuanqi trained day and night, never stopping his cultivation for even a moment.

This was possible because the nutrients contained within the Liquor Brew were so pure, with so few impurities, that he barely needed to excrete any waste.

Three days of high-intensity training had consumed an astonishing amount of Liquor Brew. The reserves in Jiang Wu’s cellar were almost completely depleted, and by the last half of the third day, Zhao Xuanqi had begun to consume the dregs from the brewing process.

As for Jiang Wu, his tall figure had been sitting cross-legged nearby for the entire three days, never leaving. He had gone from the initial heartache of seeing his Liquor Brew consumed in vast quantities, to a later numbness, and finally, to a sense of acceptance.

He reasoned that no matter how precious the Liquor Brew was, it was ultimately just a worldly possession. It would take a few years to gather the materials again, which was nothing for someone whose lifespan far exceeded that of an ordinary human.

But some things couldn’t be obtained, no matter how precious the materials.

In his eyes, Zhao Xuanqi’s body was now covered with densely packed points of light, like the stars in the night sky.

These were the acupoints that Zhao Xuanqi had successfully modified over the past three days using the Liquor Brew.

However, most of these acupoints were merely for support and assistance.

The truly dazzling ones were a group of over seventy acupoints among them.

THUMP-THUMP-THUMP-THUMP!!

A faint, continuous throbbing sound could be heard as these acupoints radiated a dazzling light in Jiang Wu’s eyes. It was a lustrous, gem-like glow, naturally produced by the sheer intensity of his Physical Ability.

In fact, even without using his Eye of Qi Observation, Jiang Wu could clearly see Zhao Xuanqi’s body enveloped in a halo of rosy light, as if he had transcended the mortal realm.

Watching Zhao Xuanqi’s process of modifying his body’s acupoints had been incredibly beneficial for Jiang Wu. Although he couldn’t yet modify vital acupoints, he had begun to figure out the method for altering some of the less important ones.

He couldn’t match Zhao Xuanqi’s incomprehensible speed, but with enough time and practice, he might be able to break through the bottleneck that had plagued him for so long.

This was something that the value of the Liquor Brew could never compare to.

Moreover, as he watched Zhao Xuanqi cultivate during this time, a sense of awe began to grow within him.

He had never seen anyone modify their body at such a speed. Having personally experienced the effects of acupoint modification, he understood even more clearly what those seventy-odd illuminated acupoints—and their corresponding support acupoints—inside Zhao Xuanqi’s body truly represented.

The man’s current physical capabilities had likely reached an unimaginable level.

’To accomplish something like this just after entering the Harmony realm...’ he thought. ’The only way to describe him is as a born Saint.’

Perhaps this man could truly be like the Holy Beast Divine Generals of old, cutting through the thorns of a world in turmoil to forge a new era.

Furthermore, judging by how the man didn’t hide his cultivation process, using it as compensation for the loss of the Liquor Brew, he was clearly someone who repaid his debts. Forging a good relationship with him had countless benefits and no drawbacks.

He even found himself hoping that Zhao Xuanqi would continue cultivating so that he could learn more.

Unfortunately, after modifying the seventy-two vital acupoints in his body, Zhao Xuanqi stopped. He did not continue with any further acupoint modification, instead taking the time to consolidate his recent achievements.

The modification of the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Acupoints was now complete.

Zhao Xuanqi’s eyes were tightly shut, his powerful will permeating every corner of his body, controlling every inch of his flesh and blood.

He could clearly feel seventy-two new thumb-sized "nodes" inside his body, constantly throbbing like miniature hearts.

Blood and nutrients condensed and compressed within them, forming pellet-like "Blood Pills" that circulated continuously with the flow of his Qi and Blood.

With a single thought, these "Blood Pills" could instantly dissolve and enter his system, producing a variety of different effects.

Completing the modification of seventy-two acupoints in such a short time was the absolute limit of what he could do.

In the Hundred Dragon Acupoints Method, the Seventy-two Earth Fiends and the Thirty-Six Celestial Spirits were two distinct stages.

The acupoints of the Seventy-two Earthly Fiends, while also being vital human acupoints, were not fatal ones. Thus, their modification was less difficult and could be considered the primary stage of adapting to the Hundred Dragon Acupoints Method.

The truly terrifying part was the modification of the Thirty-Six Celestial Spirit Acupoints. Every single one was a fatal acupoint, and not even Zhao Xuanqi could accomplish it in a short amount of time.

In his past life, at his absolute peak, he had only managed to modify twenty-seven of these acupoints. The remaining nine were each as difficult as ascending to heaven, leaving him with no hope of success.

However, he believed that the power of the Seventy-two Earthly Fiends alone would be enough to see him through the coming crisis.

Finishing his cultivation, he slowly opened his eyes. He glanced at the now-empty cellar beside him, then looked at Jiang Wu with an embarrassed smile. "My apologies, Senior. I’ve used up your entire collection. It couldn’t be helped, but I will be sure to repay you in the future."

"Forget it, forget it. They’re just worldly possessions," Jiang Wu said, waving his hand. "You’ve shown me the cultivation method of the Holy Beast Fist, and I’ve gained a great deal from it. That’s something no worldly possession can measure up to."

"I see you’ve finished modifying the body’s Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Acupoints. Is the next step the Thirty-Six Celestial Spirits?"