Chapter 19: Mastery of Black Tiger Heart-Claw

Inside the dilapidated thatched hut, a pungent odor filled the air, with thick black smoke continuously billowing out, almost as if it were on fire.

Chen Luo squatted before a wood-burning stove, vigorously fanning the flames with a reed leaf fan. The choking smoke mixed with the foul smell of medicinal herbs deterred even dogs from approaching.

The medicine inside the stove was left by the original ‘brain,’ and Chen Luo had been using it consistently.

His remarkable progress in martial training owed much to the assistance provided by these medicinal ointments. Fortunately, they weren’t made from particularly rare ingredients, allowing him to purchase large quantities for a minimal cost. The key lay in the precise ratio of herbal components and the refining technique, which constituted the core knowledge.

After a short while, the ointment finished brewing.

Using tongs, Chen Luo carefully removed the earthenware jar from the stove and placed it aside. Nearby, he had already prepared specialized cloth for the ointment.

“This smell is just too overpowering.”

Even after nearly a month of use, Chen Luo still couldn’t tolerate the scent. Each time he cooked the medicine, he wrapped a towel around his nose, but it barely helped. His eyes often teared up due to the intense aroma. However, for the sake of enhancing his strength, he endured this discomfort.

After waiting for the clay jar to cool down, Chen Luo picked up a nearby bamboo spatula and vigorously stirred its contents.

One circle, two circles…

He continued stirring until the medicinal paste solidified, then spread it onto strips of cloth.

About ten minutes later, freshly made medicated patches were complete. After placing them on a rack to dry, Chen Luo swiftly left the courtyard, only exhaling deeply once he reached the riverside, where he began gulping fresh air.

“With one more week’s worth of these medicines, I should be able to break through.”

Regaining his composure, Chen Luo sat on a stone, reflecting on his progress over the past three days.

It had been five days since Third Uncle’s departure.

The rebellion in Qingya County was now a full week old, with significantly less activity reported recently. According to traveling merchants, the revolt had been suppressed, resulting in numerous casualties. The county was currently under military control, with strict restrictions on entering or leaving.

Chen Luo’s cultivation base had fully reached the pinnacle of inner training. With the boost from the Imperial Brain, he could distinctly sense that he was on the verge of breaking through.

Today’s impromptu medicine preparation aimed to ensure a smoother breakthrough, providing additional medicinal strength to support his advancement.

After about an hour, Chen Luo returned to the courtyard.

By this time, the strong scent of the medicinal paste had dissipated somewhat. Chen Luo approached and carefully removed two sticky patches, then with determination, applied one to his abdomen and another to his back.

Instantly, the potency of the medicine spread, creating a warm sensation throughout his body.

He swiftly assumed a stance and began practicing his punches.

Once.

Twice.

As he executed the Fierce Tiger Fist, his body heated up, and the flow of blood qi accelerated rapidly. Unconsciously, his cultivation technique surged towards an even higher level.

Achieving mastery in Black Tiger Fist enables Bone Tempering.

In Cripple Ma’s prime, he reached this very realm, prompting the imperial court to deploy general-level experts against him. Now, Chen Luo also touched upon this level.

‘Yes, this is it.’

Immersed in this state, Chen Luo continued practicing relentlessly, feeling his inner qi circulate faster and faster. The previously thumb-thick inner qi gradually grew stronger without him noticing. This transformation enhanced the power behind each punch, causing them to produce explosive sounds as they cleaved through the air.

His fists resonated like thunder, swift as lightning.

Now, every movement of Chen Luo’s limbs resembled that of a true ferocious tiger, emanating a menacing aura. Vaguely, he felt as if he had transformed into a mighty tiger leaping through the mountains, with all around him becoming his prey. The medicinal paste on his abdomen and back had fully dissolved into energy, merging with his blood qi, reaching the state of ‘harmony within and without.’

‘Just a little more.’

Chen Luo could sense he was at his limit.

Given his innate aptitude, breaking through seemed virtually impossible. Cripple Ma’s declaration of him being a “useless talent” wasn’t merely empty words.

‘Switch to the Imperial Brain!’

Realizing his lack of spiritual insight, Chen Luo decisively activated the ‘external brain.’ He had used these brains last night, and ordinarily, they would need rest during the day. However, Chen Luo couldn’t afford to wait; failing this attempt might waste countless days ahead.

As the saying goes, ‘Strike while the iron is hot, for it cools with each delay.’

Roar!!

Upon utilizing the Imperial Brain, Chen Luo immediately identified the issue and pinpointed the breakthrough point. Instantly, all his internal strength surged towards it.

With a crisp ‘crack,’ Chen Luo’s aura underwent a transformation as his bones visibly shifted within him. Clear sounds emanated from his body; he grew taller by nearly half a foot, and his muscles condensed like solid rock, containing an explosive power.

His entire being underwent a metamorphosis, entering the third realm of martial arts:

Bone Tempering!

The breakthrough was swift and triumphant.

Unable to contain himself, Chen Luo let out a powerful roar that echoed like waves spreading outward.

Considering his secluded residence, with few people around during daylight hours, there was little concern. The village elder who rented him the house lived far away. Occasionally, vagrants or stray dogs took shelter in nearby huts, but when Chen Luo had been preparing medicinal ointments earlier, the strong odors drove them off. Now, he felt free to unleash this exuberance without worries.

After his resounding cry, the flow of blood and qi within him noticeably improved.

The overwhelming pressure from the breakthrough subsided significantly, allowing his inner energy to gradually stabilize.

Standing in the courtyard, Chen Luo lifted his hand for inspection.

He could sense the surging energy within. Compared to the previous stage of inner training, his inner qi now flowed more vigorously. Moreover, his fist strength permeated deep into his bone marrow, making each punch several times stronger than before.

Considering Shimei He Min’s strength as a benchmark,

it was now difficult to estimate his own.

Against Wei-gonggong, taking on fifty at once wouldn’t be an issue.

After some thought, Chen Luo walked towards a withered tree at the edge of the courtyard and began channeling his inner qi. The energy flowed like water through his meridians, gathering finally at his fist.

Boom!

With one punch, the withered tree snapped instantly, sending splinters flying everywhere. The upper half of the tree trunk catapulted forward, crashing against the stone millstone with a resounding thud.

Chen Luo stepped closer, brushed aside the broken branches, and examined the core of the tree with his fingers, finding that the inner wood had been pulverized entirely by the force of his punch.

The Black Tiger Heart-Claw technique had reached significant mastery.

“It’s time for a return visit.”

Containing his power, Chen Luo turned, directing his gaze towards Qingya County.

Previously, he had fled in disarray due to insufficient strength. Now, armed with greater prowess, it was natural for him to seek revenge and settle old scores.

Firstly, to confront the Qingya County Magistrate, and secondly, to search for more valuable brains.

For ordinary people, chaos is something to avoid, but in Chen Luo’s eyes, the more chaotic, the better. Chaos meant death, and where there is death, there is no shortage of ‘brains.’ With luck, he might even find a few exceptional brains akin to those of royal lineage.

As someone destined to cultivate immortality, lacking genius would hinder his path significantly - how could one aspire to become immortal without extraordinary talent?