Chapter 76: Chapter 75: Centipede Aspect
The Fu Family estate, in the back courtyard.
Beneath an apple tree that had lost almost all its leaves, Fu Juemin was bare-chested, using his bare palms to continuously stir-fry a large pot full of black sand.
The sand was stone sand, medicinal sand, and most importantly, poison sand.
The sand was mixed with large quantities of venom from snakes, scorpions, toads, spiders, and centipedes. Nearby, a pharmacy assistant grimaced as he plucked live snakes and centipedes from jars and cages, extracting their venom on the spot, mixing it into a liquid, and adding it to the pot.
Everyone kept their distance from Fu Juemin. As they watched their young master practice his techniques, their eyes were filled with horror.
Fu Juemin stir-fried the poison sand in the pot again and again as if tireless. When a thin layer of sweat covered his body, he pulled his hands out of the sand. His two delicate, jade-white palms were now completely crimson.
This was the poison sand body tempering method of the Five Aggregates Profound Slaughter Technique. At the Entry Level, one only needed to temper the hands, then slowly move on to other body parts. In the end, one would even have to prepare a large cauldron and, at a specific time each day, seal oneself inside to soak in a toxic medicinal liquid... The process was so cruel and bizarre, it was simply horrifying to imagine.
To be honest, even for this entry-level hand tempering with poison sand, Fu Juemin had to do a great deal of mental preparation before he could resolve himself to begin.
Having people extract the venom on-site was also a way to train his psychological endurance.
Normally, even during this stir-frying stage, an ordinary person would need to use special protective gear to cover their mouth, nose, and other exposed skin to prevent inhaling too much of the poisonous gas.
But since Fu Juemin’s Pharmacist Skill was already at a proficient level, he didn’t need to worry about such minor details.
As soon as Fu Juemin finished, a servant, wrapped head to toe in protective clothing, immediately brought over a prepared medicinal soup.
Fu Juemin plunged his crimson hands into the scalding medicinal soup. With a soft "TSSSSS," strange-colored wisps of poison smoke immediately rose from the basin, just like a special effect in a movie.
After soaking his hands in the medicinal soup and then washing them carefully three times with warm water, Fu Juemin’s hands returned to their smooth, snow-white state. However, on closer inspection, one would find a small, bluish-black crescent at the base of each of his ten fingernails.
This proved that the body tempering session had been very effective.
’I’ll only have truly reached the Entry Level when I can condense a strand of Poisonous Killing Qi. Usually, that happens when the black moon on the nails covers more than half...’
Fu Juemin studied his fingernails, thinking, ’At this rate, it’ll be quick.’
His most unique advantage over other Martial Artists who practiced the Five Aggregates Profound Slaughter Technique was that his proficient Pharmacist Skill allowed him to completely skip the lengthy process of detoxification and recovery.
For example, when Fu Juemin had just pulled his hands from the poison sand, his palms were still burning, numb, and stinging—a sign that the venom from the sand was gradually seeping into his flesh.
But in just a short while, this numb, stinging pain had already greatly subsided. Compared to others who needed at least three days to recover from a single session, his speed was simply incomparable.
’If the goal is to break through the Tongxuan Qi Membrane, then focusing on tempering the Centipede Form is best.
But I have the Demon Soul of the Black-Scaled Snake Demon, so if I practice the Snake Form first, I might get an unexpected surprise...’
Fu Juemin wiped his hands with a dry towel, but his eyes were fixed on the nearby cages of live snakes, centipedes, scorpions, and more.
Although the tempering formula for the Five Aggregates Profound Slaughter Technique included all Five Poisonous Creatures and required various other auxiliary medicinal poisons, the final effect of the Poisonous Killing Qi would differ depending on the core primary venom.
For instance, if one focused on tempering with centipede venom from the Five Poisonous Creatures, the resulting Poisonous Killing Qi would be of the Centipede Form, its effects primarily fierce and tyrannical.
If one focused on snake venom, the resulting Poisonous Killing Qi would be of the Snake Form, its toxicity leaning toward the insidious, specializing in penetration and paralysis...
Fu Juemin was currently focusing on the Snake Form, with the other four poisons serving as subordinates.
"Young Master Fu."
As Little Locust Flower helped Fu Juemin get dressed, a middle-aged man in a skullcap approached with a grin, clasping his hands. "The Shopkeeper gave special instructions today. It’s time to settle the medicine bill."
Fu Juemin slid his arm into a shirt sleeve and frowned. "Doesn’t my Fu Family always settle with your Xing’an Hall once every six months? If I recall, it hasn’t even been two months since the last payment."
"It’s a new rule at the shop. From now on, payments are due upon receipt. There’s nothing I can do. I hope Young Master Fu understands."
The man bowed with an apologetic look on his face.
Fu Juemin watched him. Seeing the man remain frozen in his bow, beads of sweat gradually forming on his temples... he finally spoke coolly, "Fine. Someone take him to the accounting office."
"Thank you, Young Master Fu."
The man left in a hurry, as if he’d been granted amnesty.
Fu Juemin silently watched the man’s retreating back for a moment, then withdrew his gaze and walked toward the main residence.
He hadn’t taken more than a few steps when Cao Tian approached him and spoke in a low voice.
"The Red Sticks from the Black Shark Gang have all found excuses not to come for the next month..."
Cao Tian paused, then added, "I made some inquiries. The order came from the Master."
Fu Juemin couldn’t help but chuckle. He glanced at Cao Tian and said, "Then why are you still here?"
Cao Tian replied with a deadpan expression, "Young Master said that I am your man first, and a Red Stick of the Black Shark Gang second."
Fu Juemin stopped in his tracks and turned to look Cao Tian directly in the eyes.
After a moment, Fu Juemin resumed walking, and without turning his head, gave a cool command, "Remember to bring your sister and mother to the estate tomorrow. I’ve had rooms prepared for you for a while now."
Cao Tian was slightly taken aback, then nodded and answered, "Yes."
Fu Juemin returned to his room and opened his character panel. His gaze swept over it, and just as he expected, the Blue Energy Slot at the very bottom was full again.
Behind the three entries in the Basic Attribute Bar, the familiar blue "+" signs had appeared once more.
As usual, he added the point to the [Life] attribute. With a light tap, the blue "+" disappeared, and the "9" behind [Life] logically became a "10".
Compared to adding Skill Points, adding Attribute points had always been an imperceptible change.
This time, however, Fu Juemin felt something different.
First came the usual strengthening of his five viscera. Then, perhaps because his [Life] attribute had reached 10 points and triggered some kind of qualitative change, Fu Juemin actually discovered a ball of "qi" within his body.
It was formless and intangible, able to roam freely throughout his body at his will, but it couldn’t leave his body, nor did it provide any boost to his striking power.
’What is this? It doesn’t seem like the Vitality that’s born from robust Qi Blood after passing the Blood Breaking Barrier...’
Although Fu Juemin’s Qi Blood was currently robust, he was still a long way from the Blood Barrier. Logically, he shouldn’t be generating Vitality at this stage.
But if it wasn’t Vitality, what could it be?
Just as Fu Juemin was puzzling over it, there was a knock at the door, and Little Locust Flower’s voice came from outside.
"Young Master, the master has returned and asks you to come over at once."
"Alright, I know."
Fu Juemin temporarily set aside his research into this strange qi, straightened his clothes, and went out.
’Looks like Father got what he was after.’
Five minutes later, in the study, Fu Juemin looked at Fu Guosheng’s relaxed expression and asked with a smile.
Fu Guosheng simply pointed at the desk without speaking.
Fu Juemin picked up a document on the desk that was stamped with the Provincial Government’s steel seal. When he saw a certain number written on it, he couldn’t help but laugh.
"This Song Lin... he really has some nerve..."
"Why wouldn’t he dare? He has Song Zhenyuan backing him."
As Fu Guosheng spoke, he took out another document and handed it to Fu Juemin. "The Xu Family sent this over this morning. Take a look."
Fu Juemin took it and glanced at it, discovering it was a marriage contract—his and Xu Leyi’s.
Without a second look, he calmly tossed it aside and said, "Father, now that we have the Donation Decree, we should hurry up and arrange the next steps."
"We’re already in talks to sell a few of the shops, but I’m afraid once news of the Donation Decree gets out, people will maliciously drive the price down even further..."
But Fu Juemin was unconcerned. "Everyone wants to take this opportunity to get a bargain. That just makes it easier for us to sell them off quickly..."
Fu Guosheng nodded, then advised, "For the time being, just behave yourself. Don’t cause any unnecessary trouble and give Song Lin a reason to change his mind..."
Hearing Fu Guosheng’s words, Fu Juemin just smiled faintly and shook his head. "Father, you’re wrong.
At a time like this, the more trouble I cause, the more at ease... that Song Lin will be."
Fu Guosheng was taken aback for a moment, then nodded thoughtfully.
.......
「Seven days later, at Qunyu Garden.」
It was supposed to be a time for watching opera, but right now, the area below the stage in Qunyu Garden was even livelier than the stage itself.
Below the stage, a crowd was packed three layers deep, completely surrounding an empty space in the middle. Inside, several people were trading blows, their fists and feet flying with a WHOOSH WHOOSH.
Whispers of discussion spread through the crowd of onlookers.
"Why did the Fu Family’s young master suddenly start a fight with Master Huang?"
"I heard Master Huang cheered and gave a reward, which upset Young Master Fu."
"(Surprised) What’s it to Young Master Fu if someone else shows their appreciation?"
"You don’t know? On stage today is the final act of ’The Peach Blossom Fan’—the Li Mansion collapses, and Li Xiangjun, holding her fan, dies heartbroken on White Snow Bridge!"
"No wonder... no wonder..."
