Chapter 938: Gu Linfeng’s Value
The cultivation method of the Seven Orgas Blood Nether Palm involved rapidly circulating the blood within the body, using blood qi as internal force to open the seven orifices in the palm, thereby doubling the power of the palm technique. Each orifice opened doubled the palm’s strength.
Zhang Ruochen sat cross-legged on the first floor of the training tower, spending two days and one night thoroughly studying every line of the *Seven Orgas Blood Nether Palm*’s incantations, gaining a complete understanding of the subsequent cultivation process.
At dusk, Zhang Ruochen walked out of the training tower and headed to an empty sandy beach in the northeastern part of Wangchu Island. Standing in knee-deep shallow water, he began practicing the palm technique slowly and steadily.
At first, Zhang Ruochen’s palm strikes were extremely slow. Sometimes, he would withdraw half the force mid-strike, circulating the palm power while contemplating. The incredibly sluggish pace of his swings made one wonder if he was truly practicing the palm technique.
“Is he really cultivating a palm technique? I think he’s just pretending to be diligent, putting on a show for the Dharma King,” Ruxin said, a look of disdain in her eyes.
Ruyue, her fingers resting on her pointed chin, smiled and said, “I heard the Dharma King passed the *Seven Orgas Blood Nether Palm* to him, which shows he values him quite a bit.”
Ruxin’s face showed a mix of jealousy and coldness. “The Dharma King is far too biased. He passed such a profound technique to him but not to us. However, in the history of the Blood God Sect, no one has ever mastered the *Seven Orgas Blood Nether Palm* to perfection. Even those who opened five orifices are extremely rare.”
Ruyue replied, “Opening five orifices can unleash thirty-two times the palm power, enough to casually kill cultivators of the same realm.”
Ruxin retorted, “But those who opened five orifices were all extraordinary beings of unparalleled talent. As far as I know, even the Dharma King himself only managed to open five orifices when cultivating the *Seven Orgas Blood Nether Palm*. Gu Linfeng is nothing more than a dissolute youth obsessed with pleasure. How can he compare to the Dharma King, who shakes the world?”
“Gu Linfeng has reached the Second-Step Half-Saint realm, so his innate talent is still quite high. Even if he can’t open five orifices, he might still open four,” Ruyue said, her eyes fixed on Zhang Ruochen as he practiced, a seductive smile on her face.
Ruxin glanced at Ruyue, her red lips curling slightly. “Oh? You think so highly of him? Could it be that a single pinch on your rear has won you over? Don’t forget the true purpose for which the Dharma King sent us to serve him.”
“Of course I haven’t forgotten.” Ruyue gave a light laugh, blinking her eyes. “But the Dharma King must have a reason for passing the *Seven Orgas Blood Nether Palm* to him. Who knows, he might actually achieve something with it.”
From the nearby beach came a series of “whoosh” sounds.
Zhang Ruochen’s palm strikes grew faster and faster, generating over a dozen powerful gusts of wind that churned the lake water, creating waves several meters high.
At the same time, the blood in Zhang Ruochen’s arms roared like a surging river, rushing rapidly toward his palms.
“Boom!” A deafening sound of air explosion rang out as the blood qi seemed to break through a barrier, connecting the sacred qi in Zhang Ruochen’s palms with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
That spot was one of the spiritual orifices in the palm.
Once a spiritual orifice was opened, Zhang Ruochen could draw on the power of heaven and earth when striking, doubling his strength.
Zhang Ruochen paused briefly, looked at his hands, and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. “First orifice, Fengchi.”
According to the jade book’s records, the seven orifices of the palm were named: Fengchi, Shaoshang, Yuji, Shaochong, Shaofu, Zhongchong, and Laogong.
Opening the first orifice doubled the palm power.
Opening the second orifice quadrupled it.
Thus, Zhang Ruochen couldn’t wait to continue practicing, aiming to break through the second orifice as soon as possible.
In the distance, Ruyue and Ruxin exchanged shocked glances.
“He opened the first orifice so quickly? Hasn’t he only been practicing for less than an hour?” Ruyue’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Ruxin snorted, “Even if someone has extraordinary talent, they can’t cultivate this fast. I suspect he’s been practicing in the training tower for the past two days, which is why he broke through the first orifice so easily.”
“According to the Dharma King, the first orifice is just the foundation. Opening it isn’t a big deal. The difficulty of the second orifice is several times greater. If Gu Linfeng can open it within five days, then he can be considered exceptionally gifted.”
However, they didn’t have to wait five days. That very night, Zhang Ruochen opened the second orifice, Shaoshang.
This achievement shocked Ruyue and Ruxin deeply.
Ruxin no longer dared to underestimate Zhang Ruochen. She immediately rushed to Kongcheng Island to report this to Haiming Dharma King.
Opening two orifices in a single day was far too exaggerated. Even Haiming Dharma King in his prime probably hadn’t cultivated this fast.
Such a prodigy might only be surpassed by the Blood God Sect’s number one talent, Mei Lanzhu.
Upon hearing the news, Haiming Dharma King merely smiled faintly. “He’s already opened two orifices. Not bad—he’s indeed a promising talent.”
Ruxin knelt below, unwilling to accept it. “Dharma King, the *Seven Orgas Blood Nether Palm* is so profound and mysterious. An ordinary person might spend ten years and still achieve little. Gu Linfeng only got the manual two days ago—how could he open two orifices so quickly? I believe he must have practiced this technique before.”
Haiming Dharma King said, “If it were a Fish-Dragon Realm cultivator, it would indeed take ten years to achieve such results.”
“However, Gu Linfeng is a Half-Saint who has always practiced palm techniques. He has already grasped the rules of the palm path, and his understanding of palm techniques is far beyond that of a Fish-Dragon Realm cultivator.”
“Given his current grasp of palm path rules, mastering any palm technique comes naturally to him. So it’s no surprise he can learn the *Seven Orgas Blood Nether Palm* so quickly. If he can open four orifices within ten days, then perhaps I’ll think more highly of him.”
Ruxin said, “It’s just that my realm is too low to understand that level. I will work hard to cultivate and strive to break through to the Half-Saint realm as soon as possible, so I can do more for the Dharma King.”
Haiming Dharma King glanced at Ruxin, wanting to tell her that with her talent, the Ninth Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm was already her limit, and she would never break through to the Half-Saint realm.
Instead, he said, “From now on, stay by Gu Linfeng’s side. Whatever he asks you to do, you must comply.”
Ruxin’s heart sank. She now understood clearly that in Haiming Dharma King’s eyes, her value probably didn’t even match one of Gu Linfeng’s fingers. That was why he so casually gave her away to Gu Linfeng.
Haiming Dharma King had ultimately underestimated Zhang Ruochen. It took only three days for Zhang Ruochen to open the fourth orifice, unleashing sixteen times the palm power.
Even Haiming Dharma King was startled by this news and personally sent a divine thought to closely observe Zhang Ruochen as he practiced.
Another three days passed, and Zhang Ruochen broke through again, opening the fifth orifice.
Once the fifth orifice was opened, the *Seven Orgas Blood Nether Palm* reached a minor level of mastery. Each strike could unleash thirty-two times the palm power.
The power of the palm technique rivaled that of a secret art.
Having achieved this, Zhang Ruochen had far exceeded Haiming Dharma King’s expectations. This gave the Dharma King much more confidence in the plan he was about to execute.
…
On the tenth day, Ji Shui returned to Xianming Sea.
Like a humanoid mass of blood mist, she stood in the center of the Dharma King’s hall and truthfully reported the information she had gathered in Yuan Mansion to Haiming Dharma King.
“So it seems the Blood Dragon Hall was indeed destroyed by experts from the Death Zen Sect.” Haiming Dharma King’s expression was quite dark, a cold, icy aura seeping from his eyes.
No one could guess what he was thinking at that moment.
Ji Shui said, “Not long ago, the Zhenyu Ancient Clan and the Undying Blood Clan clashed in Yuan Mansion, with many forces getting involved. The Death Zen Sect has always had a murky relationship with the Undying Blood Clan. It’s not unusual for Death Zen Sect experts to appear in Yuan Mansion.”
Haiming Dharma King let out a cold laugh. “The Kunlun Realm is already showing signs of great chaos. No one can predict which direction the future will take. For now, it’s best not to antagonize the Death Zen Sect. Let’s set this matter aside.”
Ji Shui’s voice was ethereal. “On my way back, I passed by Wangchu Island and saw that Gu Linfeng has already opened five orifices, reaching a minor level of mastery in the *Seven Orgas Blood Nether Palm*. This technique must have been passed down by you, Master.”
At this mention, a rare look of admiration appeared on Haiming Dharma King’s face. “This boy is indeed a rare palm technique prodigy. If nurtured carefully, his future achievements will be limitless, enough to become my right-hand man.”
“If he had appeared a hundred years earlier, I might have hesitated to send him to the Netherword Heavenly Palace.”
“But now, his only value lies in going to the Netherword Heavenly Palace to investigate the secrets of the Endless Abyss for me. If he dies there, I can only say it’s a pity.”
Ji Shui understood clearly that in her master’s eyes, everyone had a value assigned to them. Only those with sufficiently high value could gain his favor, receive sacred stones, elixirs, and top-tier techniques and martial arts.
Clearly, Gu Linfeng’s current value was probably even higher than hers.
(There will be another chapter later. It’s best to wait until tomorrow morning to read it. Don’t stay up late.) (To be continued.)