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In terms of attributes, true qi is like hands, while battle qi is like a sword. True qi excels in its flexibility and subtlety, while battle qi excels in its raw power. However, my true qi, which rivals that of a Sword Master, facing only a Silver-level battle qi, is like a strongman twisting iron wires—it can be handled with ease. Battle qi does not flow through meridians but runs through muscles and blood vessels, which is not a problem. I infused my Nine Yin True Qi into Bahrain's entire body, then channeled it through his acupoints to gradually restrain and guide the scattered and rampant battle qi back to its source. Through continuous experimentation, I gained a deeper understanding of the meridians and acupoints of humans in this world, which will undoubtedly help me further master the Nine Yin Manual. Bahrain also benefited from this misfortune; his original Silver-level battle qi, nourished and compressed by my Nine Yin True Qi, allowed him to successfully advance to the rank of Gold Warrior within a few days.

Seeing him eagerly waiting for me to fulfill my promise, I couldn't go back on my word. So, I casually gave him the "Blood Flood Heavens" cultivation method used by the Red Pig Guard of the Pig Clan. I wanted to see if this cultivation method would turn red when practiced by humans, just like steamed crab. However, due to my intervention, although Bahrain's strength increased, he was left with hidden dangers. Without any other fortuitous encounters, he would be destined to stop at the Sword Hero realm and never have the chance to cultivate Moon Flame Battle Qi. This fact, I wouldn't tell him.

In fact, when I used Tiger Essence Qi to help my subordinates, including the elder Hake of the mercenary group and four Half-Orc Sword Heroes, advance to the Sword Master realm, I also planted hidden dangers, preventing them from ever becoming Sword Emperors. However, Hake was already old, and the Half-Orc Sword Masters had low intelligence, so they had no chance of advancing further anyway. Thus, there was nothing to regret. Bahrain, however, was originally an excellent martial arts prodigy. My intervention completely ruined his future as a warrior, which is quite regrettable. But as a member of the Orc Alliance, it is natural, and I am not a kind-hearted person, so I quickly dismissed these thoughts.

The little girl Jin Luosha, seeing Bahrain wield the fourth level of the Nameless Sword Technique with great vigor, became interested and begged me to teach her martial arts as well. Naturally, my affection for her far surpasses that for Bahrain, so I couldn't teach her inferior martial arts. However, my strongest technique, the Nine Yin Manual, requires sufficient internal energy, and I don't have any internal cultivation methods. Asking Jin Luosha to practice the Golden Bell Shield, standing in horse stance with stones on her head, and being beaten with wooden sticks or even iron bars every day, is something I could never bear. As for battle qi, her innate essence has already begun transforming into mental energy, so no matter how hard she tries, she won't be able to cultivate battle qi. Only if her essence is extremely abundant and there is some leftover after transformation, might she have the chance to dual-cultivate magic and martial arts.

However, I must find a way to make the little one happy. So, I chose to teach her the "Butterfly Love Flower" technique from Peach Blossom Island. This combination of lightness and palm techniques is generally effective in combat, but its beauty lies in its graceful and agile movements. Striking someone feels like a tickle, but it is very effective for escaping. In fact, this technique was originally created by my master for my master's wife to improve her health and circulation. Only my master's wife and Chao Feng, that thief woman, learned it on Peach Blossom Island. However, it is simple enough that I memorized it after seeing it many times, allowing me to now teach it. I also incorporated some principles from the "Golden Bell Shield" and "Tendon Forging Chapter" to add an external-to-internal cultivation method for true qi. However, its effectiveness—if the little girl practices non-stop for a hundred years, she might eventually cultivate true qi.

As Jin Luosha happily flew around, Bahrain diligently practiced martial arts, and I quietly studied internal energy techniques, we gradually approached the "Star Shattering Abyss."

Due to the abundant water sources, the area around the "Star Shattering Abyss" is covered with tropical plants, making it seem like a seaside city in the midst of the vast desert. The massive city is defended by four layers of white walls, with twelve bustling gates. Outside the walls is a deep moat, though it lacks water. Even with the abundant water here, such extravagance cannot be sustained. In fact, during wars, the moats are filled with the desert's special black oil, which can burn for days once ignited. At the center of the city stands the palace of the King of Mercenaries, but the most prominent building is the towering "Heaven-Piercing Tower," reaching hundreds of feet high.

"This thing is called the 'Heaven-Piercing Tower'? It's just a pillar, where is the tower?" In my previous life as a citizen of the Song Dynasty, I had seen many famous towers. Whether the white, round Buddha Light Pagoda or the overhanging eaves of the Many Treasures Pagoda, they were all magnificent and elegant. The current tower, despite its terrifying height, is extremely crude in design. It resembles a massive white stone pillar, with spiraling stairs wrapped around it, wider at the bottom and narrower at the top, devoid of any decoration. It truly wasted my imagination.

"There's no helping it. Although it was initially built with practicality in mind, it was once decorated. However, the materials used were too wasteful for such a tall structure. Someone suggested using the magical glass from the Sunken Star Valley to adorn it, but the Heaven-Piercing Tower itself is a powerful magical cannon. After one shot, the magical fluctuations destroyed all nearby magical materials. Later, when the Star Shattering Abyss became wealthy, they considered redecorating it, but the first King of Mercenaries insisted on keeping the tower's simplest form to remind future generations that naked power is the foundation of ruling a nation. Now, those reminders have become a joke. The rulers who truly remembered self-improvement no longer exist, leaving only the Heaven-Piercing Tower to guard the Star Shattering Abyss." Bahrain explained with a sigh.

Upon entering the Star Shattering Abyss, regardless of Bahrain's reluctance, I terminated our employment relationship and found a high-end inn in the bustling city to stay with Jin Luosha. We took hot baths to wash away the dust of travel before heading to a nearby restaurant for a meal. I must admit, the wealth here is evident. Delicacies from the East, South, West, and even the Orc Alliance are available. Apart from their high prices, the flavors are identical, ensuring travelers would be willing to spend extra to taste the flavors of home.