Fantasy: Immortality Begins with Absorbing Demons

Chapter 337 Conflict (Part Two)

"Stealing the limelight? What could our Nine-Bend Academy possibly have to do?" Han Yi frowned.

Nine-Bend Courtyard ranks seventh within Jingtian Manor, and it's the last of the seven inner courtyards. Its academic performance is poor, resources are insufficient, and it has few disciples, leading it to be considered a bottom-tier institution. However, it's not well-known, and consequently, it has fewer miscellaneous tasks.

"I knew you were always so engrossed in your cultivation, oblivious to the world..." Huang Rong sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Han Yi, for people like us with no real background, we can't just focus on cultivation all the time. In the martial world, cultivating good relationships is much more important than fighting and killing."

Han Yi looked at her quietly and nodded slightly in agreement.

"You bastard..." Huang Rong was furious at Han Yi's attitude of letting things go in one ear and out the other, but he still shook his head. "Recently, your Nine-Bend Academy has had a few newcomers. It is said that they are quite talented and their cultivation speed is amazing. One of them even alarmed the Master."

"Oh? Your cultivation speed is astonishing, how fast?"

“One of them is named Yang Wei. It is said that her physique is extremely compatible with the Nine-Bend Palm True Skill. In addition, her innate talent and comprehension are not bad. After only three months of training, she has already reached the second level of the True Skill.”

"The second level of true skill?" Han Yi was somewhat moved.

He has been in the Nine-Bend Academy for more than half a year now, and he hasn't even mastered the first level of the Nine-Bend Palm technique... In comparison, it's no wonder he's caused such a sensation.

"Indeed, Yang Wei is quite young, yet she broke through to the second level of true skill in just three months. Once this news spread, your Nine-Bend Academy's head sent people to meet her multiple times, expressing great admiration. I heard that the amount of gold notes bestowed upon her alone is this much..."

Huang Rong stretched out his palm and gestured to Han Yi, his face full of envy.

Han Yi paused for a moment, then asked, "Who is this new disciple you mentioned who alarmed the Master of the Manor?"

"Speaking of this person, he's even more remarkable..." Huang Rong suddenly perked up, "His name is Fang Chengqi, and his background and influence are astonishing..."

"Do you know the three great families of Huayang?" she suddenly asked.

"The Fang family, the You family, the Hu family?"

"Not bad, you're not just a fool who only knows how to practice martial arts." Huang Rong rarely praised Han Yi, and whispered, "This Fang Chengqi comes from the Fang family, one of the three great families. His Fire Ape bloodline has undergone a benign mutation. With his Tongbi Palm combined with the Nine Curve Palm, he is invincible among those of the same level."

"Fire Ape bloodline? The Fang family is a family with a bloodline?" Han Yi was stunned. He didn't expect that Huang Rong would also know about the existence of families with bloodlines, and he didn't expect that there would be people from families with bloodlines among the people around him.

Logically speaking, shouldn't families with bloodlines from spirit beasts be hiding their lineage very, very well...?

"You don't know?" Huang Rong asked, somewhat puzzled. "It's not just the Fang family; the You family and the Hu family, the three great families of Huayang, are also blood-related aristocratic families. You can find out by asking any passerby."

“But…” Han Yi hesitated for a moment, somewhat puzzled.

He thought of Tantai Xunzhen, an ordinary woman who, relying solely on her bloodline, could defeat the ferocious beast king, the Blackbird King, who was comparable to a master of true martial arts, with a single punch.

Does someone like that need to practice martial arts?

"Isn't this a normal thing?" Huang Rong retorted. "Do you think there's any difference between people from noble families and ordinary people?"

"From what I understand, bloodline families only need to tap into their own bloodline potential, right? They don't need to cultivate to become stronger. Their strength, speed, defense, and so on far surpass those of martial artists of the same level. They may even have all sorts of strange talents that they are born with in their bloodline..." Han Yi recalled the knowledge he saw in the library, plus the information he had gathered from casual conversations through various channels.

“No, no, no…” Huang Rong chuckled, “What you’re talking about is all textbook knowledge. Only a few top-tier spirit beast bloodline families can have this kind of talent.”

The aristocratic families around us are actually quite ordinary, not like you imagine.

"I'd like to hear the details," Han Yi said, listening intently.

He also understands that in this era, the knowledge in books often contains a lot of errors and is outdated.

People like Huang Rong, who are native to Tianjing Town and live near Jingtianzhuang, and who have made many friends from her childhood while running errands, would know a lot of things that he doesn't, even if she doesn't come from a wealthy or powerful family.

Huang Rong didn't keep them in suspense and went straight to the point: "Most aristocratic families, like ordinary people, need to eat, drink, and relieve themselves. If they want to become stronger, they can only grow through martial arts. The only difference between them and us is that they may be born with a certain talent. For example, the Fire Ape Fang family, their members are particularly sensitive to and skilled in fist and palm martial arts."

Of course, this is both a talent and a constraint. People from aristocratic families possess talents that ordinary people do not have, but they also have inherent side effects.

Take the Fire Ape Fang family as an example. Everyone in this family is extremely afraid of water. Whenever they encounter the ocean, deep lakes, or other underwater battles, they are basically reduced to less than one-tenth of their original strength.

Her tone was disdainful, clearly showing that she had no envy for this bloodline with its powerful side effects.

Han Yi instantly understood that this bloodline family was far less miraculous than described in the books.

Hearing Huang Rong say this, it's clear that bloodline is like a double-edged sword.

Those who possess a particular bloodline are like having a double buff; while they have strengths in certain areas, they also have a significant side effect…

However, when he thought of Tantai Xunzhen, he became curious about the side effects of her bloodline, which could unleash such power in an instant.

"Moreover, the strength of a bloodline family's scion's talent depends entirely on the first bloodline patriarch," Huang Rong continued. "As far as I know, the most fundamental origin of bloodline families is actually just ordinary people like us."

However, through a certain secret technique, by fusing the bloodline of a demonic beast into oneself, as long as the fusion is successfully achieved despite rejection, there is a chance of leaving a powerful bloodline in the next generation. But…”

She shook her head: "The stronger the demon beast that you integrate into, the stronger the talent you leave to your offspring, but the lower the success rate and the greater the rejection reaction... So, the three great families of Huayang City, whose origins were infused with demon beasts that had little potential, are not as promising as those who practice martial arts."

She paused, giving Han Yi time to reflect. "In other words, the strength of a family's bloodline is related to the power of the demonic beasts it absorbs. If the demonic beast's bloodline is strong, the power left to its descendants will also be strong, and vice versa."

For example, the Fang family's Fire Ape bloodline. Fire Apes are inherently low-potential beasts with little to unleash. That's why Fang Chengqi of the Fang family chose to come to our Jingtian Manor, join the inner courtyard, and choose to learn martial arts.

Han Yi thought for a moment before speaking.

“You’re right.” Huang Rong showed a look of approval, “Actually, what you’re talking about, the extraction of bloodline power, does exist, but only a few top bloodline families do it.”

Our current Emperor of the Great Xuan Kingdom, and his powerful family, the Tantai family, are a prime example.

"Tantai?!" Han Yi's heart skipped a beat.

No wonder Tantai Xunzhen's bloodline power is so strong; she's clearly of noble and high-ranking royal lineage...

So, the people who dare to hunt her down...

Before he could think any further, Huang Rong said, "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Those top-tier spirit beast bloodlines are mysterious and ethereal, too far removed from our lives."

Just remember this: compared to those with fixed bloodlines and potential, we martial artists can reach the same heights as those with fixed bloodlines and potential; we can even reach heights they cannot!

"Hmm?" Han Yi's heart stirred, and he glanced sideways.

Huang Rong's remarks were truly domineering.

"That's what my master told me, hehe." Huang Rong playfully stuck out her tongue. "Speaking of which, the reason Fang Chengqi was able to attract the attention of the Manor Lord's lineage is because our Deputy Sect Master, Fang He, is also a member of the Fang family, so..."

She gave him a knowing look, and Han Yi instantly understood. He sighed, "No wonder... I knew that no matter how talented an ordinary disciple was, they wouldn't attract the attention of the Master... By the way, what about Yang Wei? Could she also be from some kind of aristocratic family?"

“Her…” Huang Rong frowned and thought for a moment, “She doesn’t seem to have any bloodline…”

"Oh...it seems our Jingtian Manor is quite fair..." Han Yi was about to say a few words of encouragement to boost morale.

"No, her parents were both disciples of the inner academy, true masters of martial arts. After leaving the inner academy, they built a large business empire outside... It's said that their family owns shops on several streets in Huayang City..."

Huang Rong looked on with envy. She had no other hobbies but loved money, yet she was penniless.

"Uh..." Han Yi was so startled by the bump that his voice stopped abruptly.

So, another second-generation rich kid...

He paused for a moment, then sighed, "Never mind, martial arts training ultimately requires taking one step at a time, being down-to-earth... Having more money doesn't really matter..." As he finished speaking, his voice grew softer and softer, and even he himself seemed a little weak.

"Alright, you should have kept quiet. You've only made me angrier." Huang Rong tossed his hair and rolled his eyes. "Let's go. Want to go to Huahu Villa together? Let's see if there are any new ways to make money."

“These past few days…” Han Yi frowned, glanced at Huang Rong who was playing with her bangs with her fingers, and pondered for a moment.

Although he is currently short of money and resources, he has just broken through the Heaven-Mending Technique, and his most important task now is to recover his body as quickly as possible to prepare for cultivating the true art.

"No, let's wait a few days. I want to quickly master the first level of the true skill." He didn't refuse directly, but said tactfully.

"It's alright, it's just that getting started with the real skills is quite important," Huang Rong said, expressing his understanding.

"Then I'll go first." She smoothed her bangs that were hanging down on both sides of her face.

"Um..." Han Yi sighed, hesitating to speak. He actually wanted to tell Huang Rong that this hairstyle didn't suit her well, as it made her forehead look a bit too big.

But seeing her frequently touching her bangs with a delighted expression, he suddenly couldn't bring himself to say it.

"What's wrong?" Huang Rong asked, noticing Han Yi's strange look.

"It's nothing, let's talk later if you need anything," Han Yi replied.

After Huang Rong left, he immersed himself in the ocean of martial arts knowledge and devoted himself to practicing the Cold Yin Nine-Bend Palm.

Life goes on

The practice never ends.

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Snowflakes, like large goose feathers, fell obliquely from the sky, sprinkling across this boundless land. This vast plain has a frigid name: the Eternal Frost Plain.

Located in the far north, this place is perpetually cold and frozen, with snow and ice that never melts. The climate is extremely harsh, with blizzards and freezing winds raging year-round.

The white snow swirled and raged across the sky, and the sun hung brightly in the sky, but it brought no warmth, only making the earth more dazzling, and had no other effect.

Therefore, this place also has another name: Eternal Day Plain.

But today is a rare polar night on the perpetually bright ice sheet.

In a deep, dark, white, dense forest.

Wisps of white mist drifted and floated in the wind, while fine, scattered snowflakes hung like pieces of white cloth among the trees.

Awooo~~~~~

A series of long, mournful wolf howls rang out, and the pure, quiet white space suddenly began to tremble restlessly.

Large swathes of icicles fell continuously from the rhomboid-shaped frozen tree canopy, creating numerous dents.

A large group of white wolves suddenly appeared, sweeping through the snow-covered forest like the wind.

These white wolves were each significantly larger than ordinary wolves, and their eyes gleamed with a faint green light in the darkness.

Bang! !

Behind the white wolf, something heavy seemed to fall, as if an elephant had raised its foot and was trampling on something.

BOOM! BOOM!! BOOM!!

The dull, buzzing sound of stomping feet echoed continuously, while the howls of the wolf pack rose and fell like a chord.

"Who would have thought that the once mighty and unstoppable Ice Wolf King would have fallen to such a state..."

A slightly hoarse voice pierced through the wind and snow, ringing out clearly.

Waaaaaah~~~~~

The already frenzied wolf pack became even wilder, howling wildly with unbridled abandon and searching incessantly, but to no avail.

boom! ! !

The ground suddenly shook, and a huge stomping sound followed, with no echo for a long time.

"Oh, so it's you..." A vast, hollow voice echoed through the white snow forest.

"How dare you step into this place? Have you forgotten the ancient covenant?!"

boom!

In the snowy forest, a pair of blood-red, long, narrow eyes, several meters in length, slowly opened.