Blind Spot
Chapter 428 - 391 Pine Pattern One

Chapter 428: 391 Pine Pattern One

Inside the Wang Family Courtyard.

Li Chengyi sat cross-legged in the bedroom, with his forearms exposed.

On the previously smooth and fair skin of his forearms, there were now densely packed black spots.

The black spots faintly turned red and wriggled like worms, attempting to burrow deeper into the flesh.

’This thing... it’s a bit evil,’ Li Chengyi frowned deeply.

In terms of speed and strength, he was far superior to his opponent.

But as soon as the True Qi made contact, it would seep in; he had just tried, whether using the Radiance Field or Flames of Death Energy, nothing could expel or kill these things.

Moreover, they were continuously devouring his flesh to strengthen themselves.

When he had just returned, they were only the size of a palm, but now they had expanded to cover both of his forearms.

’Just a common small town, and yet it has the power to harm me, this place... I’ve indeed come to the right place.’

Looking at these black spots, Li Chengyi’s mind stirred and immediately, the Death Energy surfaced like mud, completely submerging the black spots.

Although Death Energy couldn’t kill or expel the black spots, its immense dullness and chilling low temperature could greatly slow down the growth of the spots.

’It seems that only with the local power can this issue be resolved. I’d better figure out how to practice martial arts first and acquire True Qi,’ Li Chengyi thought.

He speculated that if he possessed True Qi, he should be able to resolve the infiltration of the black spots.

’In fact, when I think about it carefully, most of the power in my body comes from the Flower Language Technique, and it is not fully under my control. There’s a barrier, and I cannot manipulate it with fine control.

Even the later Death Energy, I have only just mastered it, and I severely lack control over it.

The Dragon Realm techniques of combat skill purely train physical strength and have nothing to do with these supernatural black spots.’

So in terms of fine manipulation, I indeed can’t contend against these black spots.’

Li Chengyi pondered for a moment, and only after ensuring that the growth rate of the black spots had become extremely slow did he pull down his sleeves.

’Good, this trip can be an opportunity to refine my finesse with the local True Qi Martial Arts.’

He got out of bed, walked out of the room, and just happened to see Wang Yiheng supporting the arrest officer, Wang Yifeng, as he entered the door.

This adoptive father was covered in bloodstains, his complexion pale, and the thick-back Official Sword in his hand was unsheathed, with notches all over the blade.

"Brother Feng!" Wang Lin’s Clan rushed out, hurriedly supporting Wang Yifeng.

"I... I’m alright, just a light injury..." Wang Yifeng waved his hand and straightened up, "It’s just the Li Family’s Dahong... sigh. We met briefly, and out of four of us, two died in the blink of an eye... If the Town Guard hadn’t arrived in time..."

He thought back to the earlier scene, and even now, he shivered with a bone-chilling cold.

His full-strength slash, when inflicted on the opponent, was actually defended by the protective True Qi, leaving the opponent unscathed.

To think that he concentrated all his True Qi at one point to slash, while his opponent evenly distributed True Qi to cover the whole body.

Such a disparity made him freeze on the spot, unsure of what to do.

If the Town Guard had not arrived in time with reinforcements, he probably would have...

Seeing that everyone in the family wore worried expressions, Wang Yifeng’s heart tightened, and he quickly forced a smile.

"Fortunately, the people from the Blood Guard Bureau will be arriving soon. As long as we hold out for another two weeks until they arrive, things will be a lot safer here."

"That monster was also hacked to death by the Town Guard, so it won’t reappear for now. Don’t worry too much."

"It’s just as well that I rest and recuperate at home in the coming days, with Old Ding covering for me at the yamen (government office)."

With a few sentences, he stabilized the emotions of his family members.

Wang Yiheng and Wang Lin’s Clan took his words for the truth, their expressions visibly brightening, but Li Chengyi silently picked up on the worry and concern in their voices.

"Just in time, Dad, these days I have begun to re-practice the Pine Deer Blade Technique, and you could give me some pointers while you’re at home," Li Chengyi volunteered.

"That’s good, that’s good... It’ll prevent you from wandering outside and encountering danger," Wang Yifeng nodded repeatedly.

Soon, he was assisted by his family into the house to rest and to change his clothes and tend to his wounds.

Li Chengyi stood alone in Sifang Garden, glanced over at the flowerbed in his elder sister’s garden where the false spirea bloomed.

He walked over slowly, sensing that no one was nearby, then extended his hand and lightly touched the purple and white-edged petals.

’False Spirea: Also known as ornament bush and liana bush, it’s a shrub that usually grows 1.5 to 3 meters tall, with drooping branches and young leaves often covered in fine hair. Flowers are blue or bluish-purple. Prefers warm sunlight and a well-ventilated environment.’

’Flower Language: Sorcery (generates a random special enhancement effect according to the environment).’

’Floral Dress: Not confirmed as the main flower.’

’Sorcery... this Flower Language...’ Li Chengyi’s heart stirred.

False Spirea was also present in Yi Country, but he had not collected it previously. Very few people cultivated this plant in Yi Country.

Withdrawing his hand, he turned and walked towards the main house. After all, as the third son of Wang Yifeng, he should show some concern during such times.

Soon, time flew by.

Since Wang Yifeng came home to recuperate, three days had already passed in the blink of an eye.

In these three days, just as he had said, he didn’t sustain any major injuries; he was just shocked and his spirit was weakened. The blood wounds on his body were caused by his own excessive force.

Having rested sufficiently, and his leave from work not yet over, he naturally started practicing the blade at home with Wang Yi Chen.

Li Chengyi couldn’t have asked for more.

He was only lacking a guide, and then he could truly begin cultivating True Qi. The black spots were still lingering on his arms, waiting for him to deal with them.

This place can’t even be passed through without injury by a common small town, let alone other places. Shortcomings must be swiftly addressed.

On this day, the weather was splendid, bathed in ample sunlight.

Wang Yifeng began formally teaching Li Chengyi the Family Pine Deer Blade Technique in Sifang Garden.

He was dressed in a gray martial outfit, his long hair tied back with a leather thong, holding a thick-backed Official Sword in a reverse grip.

"Our Wang Family’s Pine Deer Blade Technique ranks within the top five in all of Xinmeng Town. If you practice well, a quick stroke of the blade can effortlessly cleave the opponent into pieces."

"The core of this technique is the Pine Pattern Energy we are familiar with!"

Wang Yifeng raised the sword, bent his waist and knees, assuming the posture of a stag thrusting its antlers forward.

He held the sword horizontally in front of him, with both hands braced against the flat of the blade.

"Watch carefully, the cultivation method of Pine Pattern Energy mainly relies on three core movements."

"First, the Stag Thrust Posture."

"Second, the Stag Sideways Form."

He lowered the sword, gripping it with both hands, and swiftly swung his hands so the tip of the sword remained at a single point, while the hilt kept moving.

"Third, the Stag Jue Strike!"

Clutching the sword with both hands, he suddenly pushed forward, eyes wide open, muscles throughout his body bulging as if he was channeling all his strength into his hands.

"When practicing these three forms in sequence, you must imagine that you are a mighty stag, intimidating your foe with your most formidable weapon, your antlers. While visualizing, also pay attention to the intricacies of the mental approach..."

Wang Yifeng explained in detail, and Li Chengyi listened intently.

From time to time, he also posed questions.

Why must this posture be adopted, and no other?

Why imagine a stag?

Why must the imagined stag intimidate the enemy?

Question after question left Wang Yifeng at a loss for words. At first, he gave a few stammering explanations, but later, unable to make any sense, he became annoyed and angry and, after finishing the lesson, sent Li Chengyi back to his own courtyard to practice.

Wang Yiheng, his second sister, watched the entire exchange while covering her mouth to hide her laughter.

"Dad, Chen seems different now, he never had this much interest before."

"That’s true, but he has too many questions. These family martial arts have been passed down from Grandpa’s generation; who knows why they must be practiced this way? If I knew all that, would I still be his father? I might as well be Grandpa," Wang Yifeng said, speechless.

Feeling well-rested, he sheathed his sword, changed his clothes, and walked outside.

"I’m going to the yamen to check."

He was still somewhat worried about the Town Guard.

On his way out, he glanced at the courtyard entrance and saw his third son, Chen, still meticulously pondering the three forms of energy cultivation he had just demonstrated.

Therefore, Wang Yifeng’s initially worried mind found some solace.

With his wife and daughter seeing him off, Wang Yifeng, dressed in his arrest officer’s uniform, briskly made his way to the Town Guard Bureau.

The so-called bureau was simply a large courtyard composed of three houses.

At the gray rooftop center, there stood a red cinnabar horn, signifying the highest point locally.

Wu Xinhao, the Town Guard, was fifty-eight years old, yet he appeared to be just over thirty.

He was short and stout, practicing the Black Hawk Iron Claw Technique passed down through his family.

Seeing Wang Yifeng return, he nodded in greeting.

In this bureau, besides himself, his deputy Guo Hu, and Wang Yifeng, there were no other formidable martial artists.

Guo Hu practiced the Descending Yuan Returning True Leg Technique, and his Black Hawk Iron Claw Technique belonged to the same classification. Rated as Five-Color Rank Martial Arts by the Imperial Court, though only the lowest white tier, they were still excellent skills, bestowed by the court.

In contrast, Wang Yifeng’s Pine Deer Blade was merely a local martial arts tradition, judged as an ungraded external tier for its power and efficacy, meaning it didn’t significantly differ from the common martial arts circulating amongst the martial fraternity.

Wang Yifeng’s strength as an arrest officer partly came from his inherent supernatural strength.

But that was his limit; there was no advancing further.

However, others could continue to improve, showcasing the gap between their martial techniques.

Despite the disdain for his martial arts, Wu Xinhao still valued Wang Yifeng highly, especially at a time when manpower was needed.

"Old Wang, have you recovered? Good timing. That woman in her Latent Phase from before was blasted to bits on the spot by a mysterious person a few days ago. It temporarily saved us some trouble. Otherwise, once she developed further, we could have been in real danger," Wu Xinhao said as he wiped his weapon, a pair of metal gloves crafted to resemble eagle’s claws.

"A mysterious person... exploded her? For real?" Wang Yifeng was taken aback.

"Would I lie to you? Our bureau has only a few skilled hands. Later you can see the scene for yourself; the blood has been cleaned and neutralized with ash powder," deputy Guo Hu sighed. "What’s certain now is that the Blood Creature outside has likely joined the Spirit Wisdom Valley."

"The monsters from Spirit Wisdom Valley have come here too?" Wang Yifeng was startled.

In Shaoyin Country, just as there is the official Blood Guard Bureau, naturally, there are substantial opposing organizations.

Spirit Wisdom Valley is one of them.

Despite their frequent madness and potential for indiscriminate killing, the Blood Creatures are not without intelligence. To avoid being exterminated, they tend to gather and band together.

Spirit Wisdom Valley is the largest such organization of Blood Creatures nearby, albeit loosely organized, with an unknown number of creatures of varying strength within it.

Blood Creatures vary in strength, and there is constant competition and infighting among them, so their numbers and power can fluctuate dramatically.