Chapter 270: The Origin of Shihu

Chen Shihu glanced casually at Lu Bai. "Your Blood Qi is brimming. You must be close to stepping onto the Alchemy Dao. Which Chapter of the Fuyao Skill I taught you have you comprehended?"

Lu Bai hesitated for a moment.

He had previously used Soul Light to comprehend the fifth Chapter of the Fuyao Skill, which was the lost Chapter, "Feathered Ascension to Immortality."

’But how much time has passed?’

’If I tell the truth, it’ll be too shocking.’

Seeing Lu Bai hesitate, Chen Shihu laughed inwardly.

When he had first taught Lu Bai the Fuyao Skill, the boy had comprehended the first Chapter on the spot, nearly making his jaw drop.

’Looking at his reaction now, he must have hit a bottleneck.’

’Now, this is normal.’

Back then, he had spent a great deal of time and energy cultivating the Fuyao Skill.

"This is, after all, a Qinggong comparable to an Ultimate Skill. It’s not that easy to comprehend."

Chen Shihu said reassuringly, "If there’s anything you don’t understand, I can give you some pointers."

Just as Lu Bai was about to answer, the sound of footsteps came from outside. It was Yue Qianshan, Xiao Qingyu, and the others, having escaped from the Longling Mountain Range.

Hearing that Chen Shihu was in the main tent, they hurried over to report.

"Come in."

With this interruption, Chen Shihu didn’t press the matter further.

Yue Qianshan, Xiao Qingyu, and the others entered the main tent, and were all taken aback for a moment upon seeing Lu Bai.

"Thank you, Captain Lu, for saving our lives!"

Jiang Qingsong and Xu Changfeng, along with a few other Golden Core Realm generals, hurried forward and bowed in gratitude.

A moment ago, in the Pill Room of the Longling Great Tomb, if Lu Bai hadn’t appeared and slain Nangong Bo—one of Great Li’s top ten Golden Core Realm combatants—they would have struggled to survive his attacks, even if they hadn’t died in the Corpse Refining Sect’s ambush.

"Oh?"

Chen Shihu, who didn’t know the details, was quite surprised.

’Although Jiang Qingsong, Xu Changfeng, and the others aren’t top-tier True Master Martial Daos, surely they wouldn’t need a rescue from Lu Bai?’

After Jiang Qingsong, Xu Changfeng, and the others described the situation in the Longling Great Tomb, Chen Shihu was greatly shocked.

’Blood Qi like a tidal wave? Golden wings?’

’Could it be...’

Chen Shihu remained expressionless. After the others left, he stared intently at Lu Bai and slowly asked, "Kid, which Chapter of the Fuyao Skill have you cultivated to?"

"The fifth Chapter."

Lu Bai answered honestly.

The corner of Chen Shihu’s mouth twitched.

Even though it came from Lu Bai’s own mouth, Chen Shihu still couldn’t believe it. He pressed, "The fifth Chapter is the lost Feathered Ascension to Immortality. You comprehended it, and you even mastered it?"

"Um..."

Lu Bai hesitated for a moment, then asked cautiously, "Brother Chen, do you want to learn it?"

Chen Shihu: "..."

’With my level of Cultivation, you think I need you to teach me?’

Although he thought this, Chen Shihu couldn’t resist his curiosity and asked, "What’s the deal with Feathered Ascension to Immortality?"

Lu Bai explained the matter of opening Hidden Veins.

"So that’s how it is."

It dawned on Chen Shihu.

Back when he was cultivating the Fuyao Skill, he and his sister had once tried to deduce ’Feathered Ascension to Immortality,’ and had even managed to form a pair of wings with Innate True Qi.

However, that pair of wings couldn’t be sustained for long, let alone reach the stage of Feathered Ascension to Immortality.

Later, after stepping onto the Alchemy Dao, he could walk on air, so he no longer obsessed over it.

"There are the Innate Twelve Meridians, yet you’ve opened fourteen. No wonder you could cultivate your Blood Qi to such a degree."

Chen Shihu pondered for a moment, then said, "From now on, don’t go stand guard over at the Longling Mountain Range. Just stay here in the military camp and focus on your Cultivation. Break through as soon as possible and step onto the Alchemy Dao."

’With fewer military duties, I’ll have more time and can naturally break through sooner.’

However, Lu Bai could tell that Chen Shihu had more to say.

"Have you heard of the Golden Platform Martial Arts Discussion?"

Chen Shihu asked.

Lu Bai nodded. "I’ve heard some of the generals in the army mention it. It’s a grand event held in the Capital City at the end of the year, gathering True Master Martial Daos from all over Wu Country to compete on the Golden Platform and see who is superior."

Chen Shihu said, "That’s right. The winner is ennobled as a Marquis and bestowed the title of Wu Country’s First True Master by Your Highness. So, are you interested?"

Lu Bai hesitated slightly.

’Compared to this kind of martial arts competition, I’m more interested in Soul Light.’

’First True Master? It’s just an empty title.’

Chen Shihu seemed to see what Lu Bai was thinking. "Don’t think this is just a meaningless competition. The winner is ennobled as a Marquis. Having a title is like having an extra layer of identity. Not many people in Wu Country would dare to touch you then."

"What’s more, if you can really win the title of Wu Country’s First True Master, you’ll also get an Ancient Exotic Treasure, the Desolate Emperor Ancestral Coin. I hear you’re quite fond of collecting those things."

Lu Bai’s heart stirred.

This reward was indeed very tempting.

Chen Shihu seemed to recall something, a hint of memory flashing in his eyes. "My father’s famous battle was on a stage just like this. In the end, he even won an extremely resounding title."

"Hehe, my name, ’Shihu,’ came from that."

Lu Bai hadn’t expected there to be such a story behind it.

Chen Shihu said, "You are now at Innate Realm Perfection, you’ve cultivated your Blood Qi to the point where it’s like a tidal wave, and you have ’Feathered Ascension to Immortality’ to help you. You can already defeat an ordinary True Master Martial Dao.

"If you can step onto the Alchemy Dao, your Blood Qi will be even more abundant, and you might really have a chance to seize the title of Wu Country’s First True Master."

Lu Bai nodded. "Alright. If I can step onto the Alchemy Dao before the end of the year, I’ll go to the Golden Platform Martial Arts Discussion and give it a try."

’I’ve been away for over half a year. This is a good chance to go to the Capital City, see Sister Luo, and ask how my family is doing.’

’Even though I left Black Dog and Ah Ming with the Luo Family, I did offend Marquis Jingzhong. I still can’t help but worry.’

"Oh, right. To condense a Martial Arts Golden Core, you need some Demon Beast Golden Cores for assistance. Your Cultivation Technique leans toward the yang attribute. I’ll take a trip to the Longling Mountain Range later. If I find a suitable Demon Beast Golden Core, I’ll bring it back for you. You just focus on your closed-door cultivation."

After saying this, Chen Shihu ordered his Personal Guard to set up a tent for Lu Bai right next to his own main tent.

This was for Lu Bai’s upcoming closed-door cultivation. Without his permission, no one was to disturb him.

Back in his tent, Lu Bai thought back to his trip to the Longling Mountain Range and couldn’t help but feel a wave of lingering fear.

Back then, if he hadn’t summoned Bai Chuchu, he would have met his end in that great tomb of the Corpse Refining Sect.

’My Cultivation is still too low.’

In fact, in the half-year he’d been at the border, he had improved greatly in all aspects.

Not only had his Martial Arts Cultivation reached Innate Realm Perfection with fourteen opened Meridians, but he had also broken through in the path of Cultivation itself, reaching the First-Layer Qi Refining.

His combat power from Cultivation was negligible, but with this First-Layer Qi Refining realm, he could now use a Storage Pouch, making things much more convenient.

Treasures like the Five Emperors Gold Coin Sword and the Cyan Cloud Sword could all be stuffed into the Storage Pouch at once.

In that Storage Pouch, there was also a "Talisman Manual" left behind by the First True Monarch, Mo Yuan.

There was no Soul Light in the Ancient Mirror, so for now, he couldn’t use it for cultivation.

Besides, right now, the most important thing for Lu Bai was to raise his Martial Arts Cultivation as quickly as possible and condense his Martial Arts Golden Core.

To condense a Martial Arts Golden Core, it was best to have the assistance of a Demon Beast Golden Core.

A thought struck Lu Bai.

’I may not have a Demon Beast Golden Core, but I have a True Dragon Heart!’