“His methods for concealing his fiendish aura are very advanced,” Qiao Zhi explained. “Even for someone like me, who is extremely sensitive to fiendish aura and fiendish blood, I only saw through his disguise because he slipped up slightly while drawing on his qi and blood with all his strength. It’s very likely that even the most powerful Daoist priests at an average Daoist temple wouldn’t be able to see through him.”

“Will he bring other people back here to hunt you?” Chu Qiguang asked with concern.

Qiao Zhi shook his head, but didn’t explain why. Judging from the chunk of fur missing from his tail, Chu Qiguang presumed that he had come out on the losing end of that fight.

The thought that a humanoid fiend might have been the one to kill the demonic scholar dabbling in the dark arts in Bo’xing County struck Chu Qiguang as rather absurd.

As they walked, the two of them discussed matters related to the Daoist temples, Qiao Zhi spoke about the important figures in these temples, such as the abbot, the superintendent, and the supervisor, helping Chu Qiguang gain a deeper understanding of this world.

While they talked, Qiao Zhi led Chu Qiguang into a forest, and began instructing him in martial arts.

“Martial arts are easier to learn than Dao arts, and as a result, there are more cultivators of martial arts than Dao arts. In particular, the Great Han Empire has established both academic and martial examinations to maintain a balance between the two. Two major martial arts academies were also constructed, one in the south and one in the north, recruiting the best martial arts talents under the heavens.

“Almost everyone in the imperial court studies martial arts, and martial arts cultivation is also divided into five states below the Dao Comprehension state. Right now, you are aiming to reach the first state, which is the Full Body Qi state. In martial arts, qi is equivalent to strength. The Full Body Qi state involves filling one’s entire body with strength and condensing it all into a single burst. Only after reaching this state will you have become a novice martial artist.”

Qiao Zhi climbed onto Chu Qiguang’s shoulder, then continued, “You’ve had poor nutrition and no warm clothes your entire life, so your body is too weak. If you start practicing martial arts right away, you could easily harm your life force and ruin your foundation. So today, I’m going to use the Heavenly Fiend Foundation Establishment Technique to nourish your body and strengthen your foundation. Only then will you be able to make rapid progress and eventually reach the pinnacle of martial arts. Now come! Bite me!”

“What?”

Chu Qiguang stared at Qiao Zhi’s extended paw. The white fur around it had turned slightly yellow, and there was some dirt stuck to the pad.

“Do I really have to?” he asked reluctantly.

“My blood is needed to stimulate your bloodline,” Qiao Zhi explained. “How else are you going to draw my blood if you don’t bite me?”

Chu Qiguang hesitated for a moment before asking, “Can I ask which paw you normally use to bury your poop?”

“You think a cat of my status would bury my own poop? Of course I have my subordinates do it for me!” Qiao Zhi replied proudly.

Chu Qiguang let out a sigh of relief, then asked, “How hard do I need to bite?”

“Until you draw blood!” Qiao Zhi snapped.

At Qiao Zhi’s insistence, Chu Qiguang didn’t hesitate any longer and he bit down on the front paw held out toward him, instantly getting a mouthful of cat fur and dirt.

“Harder!”

Chu Qiguang did as he was told, and bit down with more force. The paw gave way between his teeth, and a spurt of blood rushed into his mouth. As the blood entered his body, waves of restless, burning-hot energy instantly spread through him, as if a fire had been lit inside him.

“Alright, that’s enough! A small sip is enough; there’s no need to drink so much.”

Qiao Zhi withdrew his paw, and the wound immediately closed as he flexed the surrounding muscles, making it look as though he hadn't been injured at all.

As the wound healed, Qiao Zhi started to brag, declaring, “The Heavenly Fiend Foundation Establishment Technique is used to stimulate a cultivator’s bloodline, nourishing their body and awakening their latent potential. However, the medium used for bloodline stimulation is very important. Of course, fiend blood is ideal, while the blood of ordinary birds, beasts, fish, and insects is far inferior.

“Additionally, different types of blood should be used to stimulate the bloodlines of different people. Some people achieve the best results with cow blood, and using the blood of cow fiends is even more effective. However, the same blood might not be as effective for others, or it might even be completely useless. Cat blood is perfect for you. You are an exceptional prodigy with a natural love for cats, and I’m determined to raise you into an immortal!”

Chu Qiguang let out a muffled groan as Qiao Zhi began darting back and forth across his body, striking him with the pads of his paws.

Each strike felt like a hammer blow, sending force jolting through his entire body.

At the same time, he could feel the blood flow speeding up wherever Qiao Zhi struck him, pushing Qiao Zhi’s blood as it made its way through his body.

Before long, Qiao Zhi’s paw strikes had Chu Qiguang’s entire body in a state of accelerated blood flow, and Qiao Zhi’s blood quickly circulated to all parts of his body.

“Remember this, and remember it well! The key to martial arts are qi and blood,” Qiao Zhi declared, his voice ringing directly in Chu Qiguang’s mind as the paw strikes continued. “Blood contains the deepest secrets of the body, and it’s the key to bodily function. When we refer to qi and blood, the qi is strength. Only after you have worked your strength into your blood will you have qi infused in your blood, and only then can you unlock the secrets of qi and blood.

“You have yet to begin cultivating martial arts, so today, I will help you circulate your qi and blood using the Heavenly Fiend Foundation Establishment Technique through external force. With your aptitude as a heavenly immortal, you’ll definitely be able to handle it.”

Qiao Zhi’s blood coursed throughout Chu Qiguang’s entire body before finally flowing into his heart. At that exact moment, Qiao Zhi’s paw struck his chest, right over his heart. A burst of agony shot through him, and he fell unconscious as his body convulsed uncontrollably.

When he regained consciousness, Chu Qiguang felt like his entire body was in a state of bliss. He was overflowing with vigor and energy, and he could feel an unprecedented strength within him.

He rose to his feet and examined his body. He still appeared just as thin and frail as before, but as he jumped in place and jogged a few steps, he could clearly feel that his physical abilities had improved.

“This Heavenly Fiend Foundation Establishment Technique truly is amazing!” he exclaimed.

“Of course,” Qiao Zhi replied smugly. “I am the only one in this world who knows how to use this technique to stimulate the bloodline and latent potential. That said, I’ve only laid the foundation for you. In order to reach the first state of martial arts, diligent hard work will still be required on your part.”

At that moment, Qiao Zhi was looking far weaker than before. His eyes weren’t as bright, and even his fur wasn’t as glossy as it had been earlier.

Qiao Zhi rose onto his hind legs, seemingly intending to jump onto Chu Qiguang’s shoulder, but he was too exhausted and gave up halfway.

Chu Qiguang quickly crouched down and picked up the exhausted cat. Cradling him in his arms, he began petting him from head to tail until Qiao Zhi started purring in satisfaction.

“I am truly in awe of your vast knowledge of both humans and fiends, Master Qiao,” Chu Qiguang praised. “It’s a great honor to have you go to so much effort to strengthen my foundation. I will be sure to repay you in the future.”

Qiao Zhi was naturally only willing to go this far because he felt like Chu Qiguang was a bright talent, and seeing such obedience and gratitude from him made all of his efforts feel worthwhile.

“You’re a good kid. Looks like my efforts haven’t gone to waste,” Qiao Zhi remarked. “Hmm, don’t stop.”

“Can this Heavenly Fiend Foundation Establishment Technique be used on anyone?” Chu Qiguang asked.

“Yes, as long as the right blood is sourced,” Qiao Zhi cautioned. “After tasting someone's blood, I can immediately able to tell what kind of stimulation is best for them, but not everyone is capable of this. On top of that, it’s a very delicate technique that’s difficult to control. If the stimulation is too strong, then the human subject will undergo fiendification and begin to develop fiendish physical traits, so make sure you never try this on your own.” 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

The confirmation that this technique could be used on anyone made Chu Qiguang realize how valuable it was. He started asking more in-depth questions about the Heavenly Fiend Foundation Establishment Technique. This was another topic Qiao Zhi took great pride in, so he was happy to provide answers, much to Chu Qiguang’s delight.

Right now, everyone in the Great Han Empire knows that there’s a path to officialdom through the imperial academic or martial examinations, and that could secure them riches and prosperity for generations to come. If Qiao Zhi is able to use this Heavenly Fiend Foundation Establishment Technique on others as well, then it could prove to be invaluable. That said, the risk of fiendification is a bit problematic...