Stronger with Crimson Modifier-Chapter 97: Inheritance Secret Martial Arts (3)
The sensation was truly wondrous.
It was as if he had learned it before, only to forget it, and was now remembering it all over again.
After a rough appraisal of its contents, he found the key insights and sensations were far more profound than those of the Snake Form Posture.
Just then,
suddenly,
a crimson, semi-transparent panel materialized before his eyes without any warning.
————
[Three-Eyed Primordial Snake Spirit Devouring Map (Entry-Level)]
...
Modification Point: 1 (3%) 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎
A glint appeared in Hu Qi’s eyes as he saw this.
’It seems what I obtained wasn’t the Red Snake Secret Martial Arts Helinta mentioned, but the Three-Eyed Primordial Snake Spirit Devouring Map.’
’And this Inheritance Secret Martial Arts is already at the Entry-Level stage.’
’Could this be the result of a perfect inheritance?’
...
Hearing the door open, Helinta, who had been standing to one side, turned to look.
Her wine-red eyes swept over Hu Qi, then glanced through the open doorway at the Divine Intent Map, which had already been covered.
"What was that just now?"
A look of lingering fear crossed Hu Qi’s face.
"That is the Divine Intent Map for the inheritance, drawn by the Founder to condense his true intent. Paired with Concentration Incense, it can briefly pull a person’s consciousness into an Illusion Realm.
Generally, one needs to view it at least three times to receive the complete inheritance."
Helinta withdrew her gaze and spoke coolly.
"However, given the nature of the Divine Intent Map and the toll it takes on one’s will, you must wait a week after each viewing before you can look at it again.
In any case, you’re still a ways off from Qi Blood Perfection, so there’s no need to rush."
"I see!"
Hu Qi nodded.
"Alright. Now that you are the Master’s Direct Disciple, it’s time you enjoyed the corresponding privileges."
Helinta said.
"Privileges?"
Hu Qi’s eyes glinted.
"That’s right. As the Master’s disciple, you are no longer an ordinary student.
From today on, your status will change from an ordinary Shexin Sect Disciple to a Direct Disciple.
Additionally, you will be appointed as a department head within Zhu Xi. Someone will be assigned to brief you on the specifics in due time."
Helinta’s expression was placid.
...
「One day later.」
Inside an office in Zhu Xi Mansion.
Hu Qi leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowed as he bathed in the warm autumn sun.
’Revealing my Talent and becoming a Direct Disciple was the right choice, after all.’
Hu Qi mused, his eyes narrowing slightly.
The office was located quite high up. While not on the top floor, it still offered a panoramic view of most of Anshan City.
His status within Zhu Xi had been elevated from a common member to a department head.
This shift in status would also grant him more advantages.
This, too, was one of Hu Qi’s objectives.
’An increase in power bringing ample privilege and money is only natural.’
’Reality wasn’t some melodramatic, female-targeted romance novel.’
’It would be abnormal if Extraordinary Power *didn’t* lead to an increase in privilege and wealth.’
KNOCK KNOCK!
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in!"
Hu Qi said coolly.
At his word, a tall, curvaceous figure pushed the door open and entered.
She was a woman in her twenties with a classic oval face, thin eyebrows, large eyes, a high-bridged nose, and thin, pale lips.
Her long, chestnut-brown hair was casually tied back, with a few strands falling naturally along her cheeks, adding to her casual and alluring charm.
She wore a white blouse with the collar slightly open.
She wore a black pencil skirt that accentuated her shapely hips and long, slender legs.
She wore black high heels.
Tall and willowy with a slender waist, she walked with a steady, powerful gait.
This was Dai Shu, the assistant assigned to help him get acquainted with the affairs of Zhu Xi.
She was also a Secret Martial Artist who had reached the Qi Blood Second Transformation.
"Director, here is the file you requested."
Dai Shu approached Hu Qi’s desk and handed him a stack of documents.
Hu Qi nodded, taking the file and beginning to flip through it.
This was the file he had asked her to compile.
It detailed the origins of the Exotic Beasts.
Compared to the publicly available information he had seen before, its contents were undoubtedly far more detailed.
It didn’t deviate much from his previous deductions.
The Exotic Beasts were indeed connected to the Inner Earth World in some way.
According to the research, the Inner Earth World might be the origin of all life on the planet.
This included both humans and beasts.
They all originated from ancestors who had lived in the Inner Earth World, but were brought to the surface by a chance tectonic shift countless years ago.
As for whether the creatures in the Inner Earth World look the same as those on the surface, that remained unknown.
After all, species can change and adapt to their environment.
This change is similar to how monkeys, forced to the ground by deforestation and shifting food sources, had to adapt. They developed new ways of walking, foraging, and socializing, which in turn gradually altered their physical structures and behaviors.
Similarly, some fish in shallow waters, faced with drying habitats, increased competition, or other environmental pressures, gradually developed traits suited for life on land.
This could include evolving organs for breathing air or altering their skeletal structure to support movement on land.
The so-called Exotic Beasts, then, were simply creatures with a strong Bloodline that had undergone a certain degree of atavistic regression.
Based on this, one could make a bold hypothesis.
Perhaps humanity’s ancestors were, in fact, the Black Blood Species.
Similar experiments had been conducted on this very subject.
However, the conclusion was that there was no connection between the two, suggesting that other life forms must exist in the Inner Earth World.
...
This information undoubtedly confirmed Hu Qi’s prior suspicions.
It also explained why his Camphor Tea Duck hadn’t been poisoned by the Black Blood. Instead of dying, it had undergone something akin to an evolution.
"Keep an eye out for any sign of Exotic Beasts. If you find any, acquire them for me, no matter the cost."
Hu Qi instructed.
"Yes, Director!"
Dai Shu nodded.
Although she was puzzled by Hu Qi’s order, she was tactful enough not to ask any questions.
She just assumed he must be preparing to concoct some special Secret Medicine.
Her job was simply to complete the tasks he assigned her.
The reasons why were not her concern.
Hu Qi watched her leave, then retracted his gaze.
’Now that everything is on track, all I need to do...’
’...is to practice more Pile Skills, increase my total Qi and Blood to the level of Perfection, and prepare to break through to Martial Arts Family.’
However, while Pile Skills were not part of any School’s core Inheritance Secret Martial Arts, they weren’t easy to come by either.
Hu Qi wasn’t worried about this, however.
He recalled that when he had browsed Zhu Xi’s exchange list, he had seen other Pile Skills besides the White Whale Posture.
However, like the White Whale Posture, they were all severely incomplete, containing only a fraction of the full technique.
To other Secret Martial Artists, they were of little more than reference value—barely better than scrap paper.
’But to me,’ Hu Qi thought, ’they are all complete Pile Skills.’
’As long as I have enough Modification Points to fix them.’
Just then,
his phone vibrated.
It was a message from Song Jian.
Just like before, he had acquired another Exotic Beast and wanted Hu Qi to come over tonight.
Seeing this,
he thought for a moment before pulling a piece of paper from his desk drawer.
On it was information regarding Song Jian’s mother, Qin Lu.
It’s just that after he read it,
his expression was very strange.
’He wondered if he should even tell him.’
...
"What? You’re saying my mom ran off with another man?"
「Evening. Inside the villa.」
Song Jian’s expression was a chaotic mix of emotions, his face paling and flushing by turns.
