Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies
Chapter 124 - 48 Skin Forging Great Perfection, Qi Cultivation Realm

In the dark forest,

four corpses lay scattered haphazardly, like discarded dolls.

Their faces were twisted, frozen in expressions of terror at the moment of death.

The blood, under the sunlight, appeared a strange dark red, pooling on the ground in small streams, winding like a river.

The air was filled with the stench of iron rust mixed with the rotting leaves.

Occasionally a gentle breeze blew through, but it couldn't disperse the thick, bloody smell.

Lian Bing and the other two, still alive, had their gazes fixed tightly on Shen Qing, their eyes filled with astonishment and doubt.

They looked as if they were seeing some indescribable monster.

Lian Bing opened his mouth to ask something, but in this deathly still forest, he found that the countless words he wanted to say simply wouldn't come out.

He glanced down at Shen Qing, letting the shock seep into his heart.

After a while, under the gaze of the few people present, Shen Qing bent down and slowly fiddled with the corpses, taking the silver and Qi Blood Pills from their hands and unceremoniously stuffing them into his own pockets.

Lian Bing and the others did not stop him, as if it were only natural.

After ensuring he hadn't missed anything, Shen Qing poured out a ruby-red Qi Blood Pill, placing it in the palm of his hand.

He walked up to Lian Bing and asked, "Officer Lian, is this Qi Blood Pill truly effective?"

Lian Bing snapped back to reality, hurriedly clasped his fists respectfully, and honestly responded, "This is a common elixir in the official salary we receive from the government office. One Qi Blood Pill contains more Essence Qi than a bowl of nourishing soup. We usually consume one before our training sessions to speed up cultivation. After exhausting battles outside, we also use one to rejuvenate ourselves."

"I see. I just went through a battle and expended quite a bit, so it's perfect for replenishment."

Shen Qing looked at the Qi Blood Pill with interest for a moment, then threw it into his mouth, crunching it loudly.

The taste was somewhat like a calcium tablet, with a slight sweetness to it.

Gulp!

Shen Qing swallowed it in a single gulp, quietly feeling its effects.

At first, there was nothing unusual, but after a moment, he suddenly felt a burst of vitality.

It happened!

Shen Qing sensed a faint herbal aroma spreading in his mouth, the Essence Qi from the marrow merging with the Essence Qi from the pill, surging outwards from within.

The massive flood of Essence Qi now rampaged like an unbridled horse through his meridians, continuously washing over his flesh and skin.

Shen Qing noticed that the membrane on his arms, refined by the Dragon Roar Armor, became even clearer and brighter, keeping the surging Essence Qi locked within.

His skin was turning visibly redder, looking from afar like a boiled shrimp.

Shen Qing knew this was the effect of the Qi Blood Pill.

With joy bubbling up inside him, he guided the pill's energizing spirit through his meridians, repeatedly washing over his body.

The effects of a single Qi Blood Pill lasted a mere half an incense stick's time before dissipating completely.

Just when he began to feel the effects, it stopped. Shen Qing frowned slightly, feeling a bit unsatisfied.

He did not hesitate, immediately taking out another Qi Blood Pill and swallowing it.

At this moment, Shen Qing sensed his skin starting to grow tight, hardening, seeming as if he was touching a barrier, constantly shifting.

He understood this was the result of his cultivation advancing rapidly under the influence of the Qi Blood Pill.

The initial consumption of a Qi Blood Pill provided an extraordinary benefit.

After consuming two consecutively, Shen Qing still felt a hunger within his flesh, nowhere near the limit.

"In that case..."

Shen Qing swallowed the remaining seven Qi Blood Pills in one go.

Watching this scene, Lian Bing couldn't help but be flabbergasted.

He had never seen such a fierce method of consumption before.

Having eaten too many at once, a large amount of Essence Qi escaped from his mouth.

Shen Qing quickly covered his mouth and nose, continuously refining.

Time ticked away, and in a moment...

Shen Qing suddenly heard a dull roar in his ear, as if in an instant, he had suddenly broken through an obstruction layer.

Within his flesh and skin, something shattered and broke apart.

Immediately, the muscle groups attached to his bones began to wriggle, slowly expanding.

The red hue on his skin faded away like tidewater, absorbed back into it, and all anomalies abruptly ceased.

Shen Qing raised his hand to touch, feeling the icy and hard texture.

"Have I, have I completed Skin Forging? Have I advanced to the Qi Cultivation Realm?"

His eyes sparkled with a hint of delight.

He clenched his fists and moved his muscles and bones, realizing that each of his actions was brimming with incredible power.

The skin all over his body was thick like cowhide, hard as iron.

"Just as I expected, the Skin Forging Realm is indeed the easiest realm for me to break through." Shen Qing whispered inwardly, "With such strength, plus the Dragon Roar Armor's membrane, I estimate my defense is at a terrifying level."

He withdrew his fist, stood with hands clasped, and looked around, his face filled with immense confidence.

Lian Bing and Xiao Zhi were unaware of the internal changes in Shen Qing, only noticing his aura subtly becoming different, seemingly more... powerful.

Just then, a blast echoed from the distant mountains and forests.

Shen Qing and the others all turned their heads toward the sound.

Lian Bing sprang up and blurted, "Someone has found traces of the tiger demon."

A trace of panic flickered across his face.

Previously unaware of the horror of the tiger demon, having seen how hard ghosts were to handle, the mention of a tiger demon made him jump in fright like a startled bird.

Shen Qing glanced at Lian Bing but said nothing.

He turned his head to look at an ancient tree with a trunk as wide as a person's embrace next to him, then kicked off with both legs, climbing up to the tree's canopy.

He peered into the distance where the fireworks exploded, his eyes narrowing, "Eagle Eye!"

Buzz!

A series of images appeared repeatedly in Shen Qing's mind, combining to form an overhead view.

He clearly saw birds startled into flight in some mountain spots.

A huge, tiger-like beast the size of a calf raced through the woods toward him.

Shen Qing licked his lips and shouted to Xiao Zhi, "Give me the bow and arrow!"

Upon hearing the call, Xiao Zhi hurriedly threw the heavy bow with arrows up into the tree.

Shen Qing caught it smoothly.

He hooked his foot around a branch, finding his footing in the tree.

Amidst the lush green mountains, under the hot sun, Shen Qing slowly raised the heavy bow in his hands.

His long arms stretched like a tree limb, with muscles bulging as if ready to explode, the lines sleek and filled with explosive power.

Shen Qing took a deep breath, nocking a heavy arrow onto the bowstring, pulling it taut.

When the bowstring was fully drawn to the shape of a full moon, a momentary silence fell in the forest.

Shen Qing suddenly released his grip, the bowstring thunderously releasing.

The dark iron arrow tore through the sky, carrying a whistling wind and ferocious momentum, shooting in a perfect arc toward a spot in the distant mountains and forests.

The huge, majestic tiger was rushing, unaware of a thing, suddenly sensing a lethal intent, was startled, with its fur bristling.

Before understanding what was happening, it saw a dark ray descending from the sky, aiming straight at its head.

Boom!

The moment the dark ray hit it, it seemed as if the entire forest trembled from the impact.