CHAPTER 38: CHAPTER 38: BLACK SAND PALM, GONE

[Black Sand Palm (Extreme): Fusion Pending]

His gaze fixed on the distinctive line on the panel, Qi Xiu tapped his fingers lightly on the table, producing a soft thudding sound.

He had originally thought that after promoting the Black Sand Palm to the Third Realm, he could elevate it to the Fourth Realm and complete it as a True Cultivation Power. However, he hadn’t expected the Third Realm to be the limit of the Black Sand Palm.

The proficiency could no longer be improved.

But a label reading "Fusion Pending" had appeared.

Based on the literal meaning, ’Fusion Pending’ likely meant it could be merged with other martial arts techniques.

"The Black Sand Palm showed no reaction to Swallow Soar and Air-Piercing Point Strike. So, the ’Fusion Pending’ must be targeting similar types of martial arts techniques."

The emergence of the Demon Altar confirmed that the demons outside the city had begun to stir, compounded by Jin Tai’s words: even True Meaning experts couldn’t withstand a single demon.

The renewed sense of urgency had compelled Qi Xiu to use both coercion and enticement to acquire the Red Heart Palm manual from the vendor.

I hope this works.

He trimmed the wick of the oil lamp on the table, took a deep breath, and flipped open the Red Heart Palm Manual, beginning to read by its light.

He read throughout the night without sleeping.

The rooster crowed at dawn the next morning.

Turning the last page, Qi Xiu slowly closed the Red Heart Palm Manual. He rested his hands on his knees, his eyes half-closed. After a long moment, Qi Xiu opened his eyes; ink-like characters flowed in the void before him, and a line of small text gradually emerged.

[Red Heart Palm: 0%]

Leveraging his foundation in the Third-Realm Black Sand Palm, he had barely managed to achieve a rudimentary understanding after reading through the entire Red Heart Palm Manual.

Seeing the Red Heart Palm appear on the panel, a rare flicker of tension crossed Qi Xiu’s face.

Now, it was time to witness a marvel.

His gaze fell upon the Black Sand Palm, and Qi Xiu focused his thoughts.

He concentrated his mind on the "Fusion Pending" label.

BOOM—

His mind suddenly buzzed.

Qi Xiu stiffened, as if struck by lightning, his eyes instantly becoming vacant.

On the proficiency panel, the entry for Black Sand Palm began to fade, bit by bit, from the very top, as if the writing on a blackboard were being gradually erased.

Conversely, the proficiency percentage for Red Heart Palm soared at a visibly frenetic pace.

1%...

3%...

5%...

10%...

...

In an instant, his upper body’s skin turned as red as fire.

Divine Marvel Power surged forth from the unseen, drastically reforging Qi Xiu’s body.

Layers of greyish dead skin peeled off his body, while muscle tissues as tough as steel cables were continuously broken down and regenerated.

In what felt like mere moments, Qi Xiu had successfully cultivated the Red Heart Palm to the Tempering Power Realm.

However, even after reaching the Tempering Power Realm, the Red Heart Palm’s proficiency continued to rise. At the same time, a maelstrom churned in Qi Xiu’s mind.

Red Heart Palm, Black Sand Palm.

The insights, quintessence, and core principles of both palm techniques seemed to have been tossed into a high-speed blender. They continuously merged.

They were like two mismatched puzzle pieces being gradually forced together and reshaped by a wondrous power until they formed a cohesive whole.

A crimson-black aura enveloped his body. Glowing cracks appeared on Qi Xiu’s upper body, and the intense heat radiating from him incinerated his clothes and baked the surroundings.

"PUH..."

His eyes snapped open, and he spat out a mouthful of thick, clotted blood, mixed with several squirming, thread-like worms.

After expelling the corrupted blood and parasites, a refreshing coolness spread throughout his body.

The extraordinary phenomena around him slowly dissipated, and Qi Xiu’s previously bewildered eyes regained their clarity.

On the proficiency panel, the characters for Black Sand Palm had completely vanished.

Conversely, the Red Heart Palm, which had surged forward, breaking through two sub-realms to enter the Second Realm, became hazy and indistinct for a moment before acquiring a new name.

Crimson Sand Palm!

Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Qi Xiu regarded the Crimson Sand Palm. It had absorbed the Black Sand Palm and advanced into the Second Realm. Far from being troubled, he let out a satisfying laugh.

Although the Second-Realm Crimson Sand Palm was a step below the Third-Realm Black Sand Palm, in the long run, this was a massive gain.

The Black Sand Palm was merely a third-rate martial art. Even if the Divine Marvel of the proficiency system had forcibly elevated it to the brink of True Meaning, it would have been inherently flawed compared to other techniques that naturally reached that stage. After all, the foundation determines the superstructure. The basis of a third-rate martial art was simply insufficient.

But now, he had fused the Black Sand Palm into the Red Heart Palm. The two palm techniques had merged into the new Crimson Sand Palm. Although its current realm was one level lower, its foundation had become incredibly solid and profound.

The Red Heart Palm was originally a first-rate martial art. Combined with the Black Sand Palm, which had been forcibly pushed to the brink of True Meaning, the new technique’s intrinsic quality had leaped, becoming even more formidable than typical first-rate martial arts—a top-tier technique.

Next, as long as I push the Crimson Sand Palm, which has dropped a realm, back up to the Third Realm, I feel I could beat ten of my former self.

Clenching his fists, feeling the boundless vitality surging within him, Qi Xiu couldn’t suppress the grin spreading across his face.

Today is truly a joyous occasion. Perhaps a visit to the House of Pleasure is in order?

"Demon Altar? What is that?" Guo Youfang was sitting in a Taishi Chair in the back hall, about to sip his fragrant tea, when he frowned upon hearing his subordinate’s report.

"I don’t know either. This letter was delivered anonymously early this morning," the subordinate said, bowing his head as he stepped forward and handed the report letter to Guo Youfang. "It reports that a cult in the city is gathering, has set up a Demon Altar, is making sacrifices to demons, and murdering people. The writer hopes the authorities will investigate and prosecute diligently."

Guo Youfang took the letter, his brow furrowed. He scanned it impatiently and said, "It’s only been peaceful for a few days, and now another cult emerges? I understand. You may leave."

"Yes." With that response, the bailiff turned and left.

Guo Youfang watched the bailiff leave the back hall, his expression darkening. He folded the letter, tucked it into his robe, and hurried to the study in the backyard.

After checking to ensure no one else was present, Guo Youfang turned back and bolted the door securely.

He fumbled around on a curio shelf for a moment.

CLICK. A mechanism engaged.

Behind the bookshelf, a secret door slowly opened.

The secret chamber was less than ten square meters. Illuminated by a crimson glow and filled with a peculiar, sweet fragrance, it housed a bizarre and sinister altar standing in its very center.

And upon this altar lay the very Fox Immortal statue that Qi Xiu and the others had previously destroyed.

Who could have imagined that the County Magistrate himself was a devotee of demons!

"Lord Fox Immortal, I’ve been feeling terribly weak these past few days. Could you please allow me to regain my youthful vigor for a few more days? My concubine in the outer residence is in the prime of her life, as voracious as a wolf, and in my current state, I truly can’t keep up," Guo Youfang prayed sincerely, kneeling before the Fox Demon statue.

As if sensing Guo Youfang’s plea, the Fox Demon statue’s eyes suddenly gleamed with a faint red light. A crimson slip of paper slowly drifted down before Guo Youfang.

Picking up the note, a single, small character appeared on it:

Three!

"You require Blood Meal again? But... weren’t two delivered just three days ago?" Guo Youfang’s expression turned troubled.

Although he was the County Magistrate and could use his authority to designate death-row prisoners as Blood Meal for the Fox Demon, such prisoners were not an inexhaustible supply. Recently, the death-row inmates in the jail had almost all been used. To provide more would mean using those convicted of lesser crimes.

As Guo Youfang hesitated, the Fox Demon statue suddenly exhaled a puff of pink mist that flowed into his seven orifices.

His body abruptly grew fiery hot, the previous sensation of weakness and cold vanishing as if he had returned to the vigor of his twenties.

Guo Youfang’s cheeks flushed with excitement, and he cast aside all his reservations.

"Excellent, excellent! Lord Fox Immortal, rest assured, I will find them for you immediately! Right away."

His mind muddled by the heat coursing through him, Guo Youfang rose and walked out, muttering under his breath, Just you wait, I’ll wear you out tonight...

BOOM—

The door of the secret chamber closed again.

In the dim, gloomy space, suffused with a crimson glow, the light in the Fox Demon statue’s eyes intensified.

HEE HEE HEE HEE...

An eerie, bell-like laughter, chillingly clear, echoed throughout the secret chamber.