I Can Merge Techniques-Chapter 88 - 87: Great Success in the Hundred-step Piercing Willow Arrow Skill
After a few more pleasantries, Chu Fan tactfully took his leave.
Once Chu Fan’s figure had vanished, Zhou Tianci waved his hand.
Sun Zixuan and Ling Feng saw the gesture and hurriedly bowed before retreating.
With only the three of them left in the courtyard, Zhou Ye could finally no longer hold back. "Second Uncle, are you really going to place so much importance on that kid? He looks like a rebellious sort to me. I doubt he’ll listen obediently."
"A genius will naturally have a sharp edge," Zhou Tianci said calmly, taking a cloth to wipe his sweat. "I went to great lengths to snatch him from the other Incense Masters."
"Since he’s a fine talent, he should naturally be nurtured with care."
"Even a wild horse can be tamed, to say nothing of a mere boy."
His tone was even, but a deep, inscrutable light flickered in his eyes.
Xia Huanhuan frowned slightly and said in a low voice, "Second Uncle, I heard from Ling Feng that Guardian Cao thinks very highly of Chu Fan and has been taking good care of him lately... Can this person truly be used by us?"
Zhou Tianci was dismissive. "They’ve known each other for less than two months... What kind of decent benefits could that cheapskate Guardian Cao possibly offer? Nothing more than a few minor favors."
"If we’re willing to invest heavily, why worry about him not joining our side?"
Zhou Ye was still not convinced. "But..."
"Enough." Zhou Tianci’s expression turned stern as he cut him off. "Let’s first discuss the matter of the Moon Worship Sect. As you learned last night, many of Tang Xiao’s subordinates were killed, which has already alarmed the higher-ups of the Blood Saber Sect."
"I also received news today that the Government Office has started investigating the whereabouts of the Moon Worship Sect. This affair is getting bigger and bigger..."
"You must absolutely not act on your own again or venture into dangerous territory!"
"Wait until I’ve discussed this with Huanhuan’s uncle, then we’ll make a plan!"
Xia Huanhuan nodded.
But Zhou Ye let out a soft laugh. "Chaos is good. In chaos, there’s opportunity to seize the treasure..."
"Idiot!"
Zhou Tianci’s expression changed abruptly as he berated him, "Are you tired of living?!"
Zhou Ye shrank back, mumbling, not daring to speak further.
Zhou Tianci said coldly, "This is no small matter. How could someone at the mere Bone Marrow Forging Realm like you get involved? Seize the treasure? What makes you think you’re capable enough to even entertain such a thought?"
"That Moon Worship Sect is nowhere near as simple as you think!"
"Tang Xiao of the Blood Saber Sect, whose strength is comparable to mine, isn’t he also helpless and at his wit’s end now?!"
Xia Huanhuan’s delicate brows knitted together. "This matter... should we report it to Hall Master Qin?"
Zhou Tianci mused for a moment before speaking slowly, "If we let Hall Master Qin know, I’m afraid the Zhou and Xia Families won’t even get a sip of the soup."
"When the time comes, we’ll still be the ones doing the work."
"But the benefits will have nothing to do with us."
Xia Huanhuan’s heart skipped a beat!
’His words mean he wants to hide this from the sect’s higher-ups and seize the object using only the power of the Zhou and Xia Families?’
’The treasure the Moon Worship Sect is searching for might truly be extraordinary.’
’If they can get their hands on it, the Zhou and Xia Families will surely soar to new heights.’
’It might not even be impossible for them to surpass the deeply rooted Four Great Clans of Cyan Yang Ancient City.’
’However...’
Xia Huanhuan’s lips moved slightly, wanting to persuade him but stopping herself.
’Human greed is like a bottomless abyss.’
’Even with a house full of gold and silver, and power over a whole region, when has the chasm in one’s heart ever been filled?’
’In the end, it’s just playing with fire and bringing about one’s own destruction.’
A sense of powerlessness washed over Xia Huanhuan.
’That mysterious person who sent the message by throwing a stone was clearly trying to use them.’
’But even someone as calm and steady as Second Uncle, who knows someone is trying to use them, is still caught in the trap, unable to pull himself free.’
...
When Chu Fan returned to his quarters, Zhao Tianxing had not yet come back.
He took out the white jade porcelain bottle gifted by Zhou Tianci and poured out two Blood Refining Pills.
The medicinal aura was faint and impurities were visible; the refining method was clearly crude.
But regardless of their quality, he had no use for them now.
He had already broken through "Blood Refining," and what he needed now was medicine for "Bone Marrow Forging."
These Blood Refining Pills and medicinal ingredients were perfect to leave for Tianxing.
Chu Fan practiced the Twelve Forms Fist five times in the courtyard, then picked up his Iron-Saturated Wood Bow and went out.
Outside the courtyard stood a row of Profound Iron Wooden Stakes.
[Skill: Hundred-step Piercing Willow Arrow Skill (Small Success) 273/300]
He was only twenty-seven points away from reaching Great Success in the "Hundred-step Piercing Willow Arrow Skill."
Chu Fan drew his bow while moving swiftly, circling the stakes and firing arrows in rapid succession.
The bow, drawn like a full moon,
Sent arrows flying like shooting stars.
Arrow after arrow, the sound of them cutting through the air was incessant.
The feathered arrows all bounced off the Profound Iron Wooden Stakes, and many of them broke.
These arrows were all personally crafted by Zhao Tianxing.
Some were wooden, others bamboo.
They were acceptable for hunting and usable for archery practice.
But without infusing them with Qi Blood Power, they couldn’t pierce these hard Profound Iron Wooden Stakes.
That was why in the past, Chu Fan would always go to the forest outside the sect to practice, to avoid wasting too many arrows.
But he had something to take care of today and was eager to break his "Hundred-step Piercing Willow Arrow Skill" through to Great Success, so he couldn’t be bothered with such concerns.
[Hundred-step Piercing Willow Arrow Skill Experience Points +1]
[Running Technique Experience Points +1]
He was completely immersed, losing all track of time, feeling only the bow and arrow in his hands become like an extension of his own limbs.
[Skill: Hundred-step Piercing Willow Arrow Skill (Small Success) 299/300]
Only one point left!
Chu Fan’s breath hitched. His gaze sharpened, and he stopped, his eyes locked onto a stake in front of him.
For this arrow, he gathered his Qi Blood Power...
SWISH!
The arrow shot out like a bolt of lightning, striking the stake dead center. It drove deep into the wood, vibrating unceasingly!
[Hundred-step Piercing Willow Arrow Skill Experience Points +2]
[Skill: Hundred-step Piercing Willow Arrow Skill (Great Success) 1/600]
In that instant—
Scenes flooded Chu Fan’s mind—the countless times he had drawn his bow, aimed, and released the string all came rushing back.
Every arrow’s deviation, every moment’s hesitation, every slight imbalance in force, all reappeared with perfect clarity!
Immediately, a mysterious power surged from the depths of his heart. It flowed through his entire body like a warm current, beginning to correct his posture, his force, and his focus.
The right amount of force was already clear;
The perfect timing was now a matter of instinct;
Wherever his mind pointed, the arrow would follow!
A change in quantity had finally led to a change in quality...
With a moment of enlightenment, Chu Fan’s understanding of archery suddenly became completely clear, and he stepped into a whole new realm!
Chu Fan tilted his head back slightly, spun around, and fluidly fired another arrow.
SWISH!
This arrow was fast, steady, and accurate, incomparably sharp, and it struck a branch of the crabapple tree in the courtyard.
The strange bird that had been perched on the branch was scared out of its wits. It flapped wildly into the sky, then circled above Chu Fan, screeching madly!
CAW CAW!
CAW CAW CAW!
Chu Fan raised his bow to the sky, aiming the arrowhead at the strange bird.
With a frantic flutter, the strange bird fled toward the northwest.
"Stupid bird!"
Chu Fan slowly lowered his bow, his aura focused and his gaze as sharp as a falcon’s.
Now that his Hundred-step Piercing Willow Arrow Skill had reached Great Success, it was time to switch to a stronger bow and diligently practice the "Moon Eclipse Arrow."
Even though he had just started practicing the "Moon Eclipse Arrow," with a stronger bow, his Qi Blood Power from the Blood Refining Realm, and his Great Success "Hundred-step Piercing Willow Arrow Skill," he could already kill enemies from a distance!
Chu Fan put the Iron-Saturated Wood Bow back in his room, crossed the Martial Arts Arena, and walked to the small courtyard where he used to chop firewood.
Inside the courtyard, besides the short, stout teenager and his two friends whom he recognized, there were two new faces. The five of them were idly chatting about Chu Fan beating up Sun Zixuan that morning, spitting animatedly as they spoke.
When they saw Chu Fan enter, all four of them except for the short, stout teenager rose to their feet with looks of trepidation. "Greetings, Senior Brother Chu Fan!"
Chu Fan nodded slightly and looked at the short, stout teenager. "Fatty, do you know where Master Cao lives?"
"Why are you just giving people nicknames!" the short, stout teenager grumbled, getting up. He walked to the doorway and pointed northwest. "Go that way, turn right after the big locust tree, then take a left after the alley, and then another right..."
SMACK!
Chu Fan slapped him on the back of the head. "Are you trying to walk a dog?"
"Weren’t you the one who asked for Instructor Cao’s address!" the short, stout teenager said indignantly.
"Just knowing the general direction is enough," Chu Fan said. "Once I get over there, I can just ask someone."
As he spoke, he looked the short, stout teenager up and down. "You were shoved hard by Sun Zixuan’s men this morning. Are you hurt?"
This fatty was actually quite loyal. Even knowing that Sun Zixuan and his group meant trouble, not only did he not avoid Chu Fan, he even ran out to speak up for him.
"I’m fine..." The short, stout teenager waved his hand. "I just took a fall. My butt’s a little sore."
Chu Fan nodded and took out the white jade porcelain bottle from Zhou Tianci.
He poured two Blood Refining Pills from the bottle and handed them to the short, stout teenager. "Here, take these."
"What are these? Antitoxic Pills?" The short, stout teenager’s eyes went wide.
Chu Fan paused, the corner of his mouth twitching. "What Antitoxic Pills? Are you thinking about eating poisonous mushrooms again? These are ’Blood Refining Pills’!"
The short, stout teenager’s eyes grew even wider.
He had not yet broken through "Blood Nourishing," but he had long heard of "Blood Refining Pills."
Chu Fan said, "You haven’t broken through ’Blood Nourishing’ yet, but these ’Blood Refining Pills’ can still increase your qi and blood..."
"Crush these two pills and take a small amount dissolved in water each day. It’s much stronger than that Blood-Nourishing Medicine Soup from the dining hall."
With that, he tossed the Blood Refining Pills to the short, stout teenager and turned to leave.
After he had gone some distance, the other four in the courtyard ran out, staring at the Blood Refining Pills in the short, stout teenager’s hand, their eyes filled with envy.
