Inner Family martial artists, after comprehending Dan Jin, need a period of time to circulate their Qi and blood, stimulating acupoints to enhance their physical strength and improve their constitution.

The time required for this process varies. In Xuanxing Daoist terminology, it's also called "Embracing the Infant" or "Forming the Sacred Embryo."

Only after this process can one be considered to have truly embraced the Dan.

Similarly, the Blood Exchange stage in the Jiu Fu Realm cannot be achieved overnight.

Martial arts cultivation in the Jiu Fu Realm follows the path of Qi entering the body and the combination of essence and Qi.

Blood Exchange, as the name suggests, involves using inner Qi to penetrate deep into the blood to form new blood. This new blood then stimulates the bone marrow to regenerate blood, eventually replacing the old blood.

This process is called the Hundred-Day Trial.

Within these hundred days, as new blood replaces old blood, there will be significant improvements in tendons, bones, skin, flesh, internal organs, marrow, and even the inner strength itself.

A true transformation where Qi and blood unite!

However, during these hundred days, disturbance is strictly forbidden.

If this process is interrupted even slightly, not only might the breakthrough fail, but it could also lead to cultivation deviation and death!

Kong San has been attacking various experts for three months now.

If he is exchanging blood nearby, then he is close to success!

"Master..."

Seeing the change in An Qisheng's eyes, Zhang Haohao was extremely apprehensive: "I... I didn't practice incorrectly, did I?"

"No, you practiced very well."

An Qisheng regained his senses and withdrew his hand:

"Now that inner Qi has been generated, there's no need to rush. For now, just circulate it through your body once a day to nourish it."

"Disciple understands."

Zhang Haohao breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing his master's expression just now, he almost thought he was about to die...

"Go on."

An Qisheng waved his hand, letting the little guy continue practicing his fist techniques.

His mind was filled with contemplation.

According to the life trajectory of Kong San as described in the Dao Yi Diagram, once his Blood Exchange is successful, he will become almost unstoppable. Until his death at the hands of the Heaven-Slaying Sword Master twenty years later, he can be said to have roamed the world unhindered, with smooth sailing and flourishing fortune.

If he misses this opportunity, he might not have another chance to kill him later.

"Kong San..."

An Qisheng murmured, turning and leaving the house.

The Nanliang City in the cold wind had lost its former liveliness. Apart from many residents sweeping the snow in front of their doors, there were far fewer vendors than usual.

The Dafeng Kingdom, similar to ancient Da Xuan, was undoubtedly a slow-paced society. Most businesses went into hibernation as soon as winter arrived.

An Qisheng strolled through several streets and noticed a sudden commotion ahead.

Curious, he walked over.

A quick glance revealed a woman, over fifty years old, kneeling on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

"My son, if you have a soul in heaven, please take a look! The Zhao family has finally received its retribution!"

"The Zhao family has finally received its retribution!"

"Received retribution..."

The old woman cried with tears streaming down her face, gasping for breath, making people worry that she might cry herself to death.

"Alas, poor Widow Wang..."

A passerby sighed softly, a hint of pity on his face.

An Qisheng became curious and stopped the passerby:

"Young sir, what happened?"

"Oh, you're a Daoist elder, may you live a long life."

The passerby saw An Qisheng's white hair and hurried to bow:

"Don't you know? Yesterday, the Zhao family suffered retribution! First, the eldest son, Zhao Qian Du, was killed. Then, the Zhao family caught fire, burning the old Madam Zhao to death. After that, the Zhao family's concubine ran away with the money, only to be beaten to death by the Zhao family's servants. After that, a group of servants almost emptied the Zhao family's wealth..."

"Oh."

An Qisheng feigned understanding, then pointed to the old woman:

"What is her grievance with the Zhao family?"

"Alas, Daoist elder, you don't know. The Zhao family in Nanliang County is truly unspeakable. The old woman's husband's surname was Wang. She was widowed at a young age and worked hard for decades to raise her son, who eventually married and had children.

Who would have thought that one day, her son went into the mountains to gather herbs and somehow got into a conflict with the shopkeeper of the Zhao family's pharmacy. He was captured by the Zhao family and eventually beaten to death..."

"So tyrannical?"

An Qisheng's eyes flickered as he recalled the old ginseng.

"That's right. The reason given was that he stole something valuable from the Zhao family. Heaven have mercy, does anyone in this world dare to steal from the Zhao family?

Wang Da's wife went to demand justice but was also severely injured. She died a few days later, leaving only Widow Wang and her young grandson to rely on each other, alas, a sin..."

The passerby spoke, his face filled with anger.

"A mere local tyrant in the countryside acts like this. Does the imperial court not care?"

An Qisheng found it hard to understand.

The dignity of the law is the foundation of a dynasty. How can it be so ruined? Are the people in the imperial court fools?

It is said that Dafeng is the most powerful of the kingdoms, but it's also like this?

"The imperial court?"

The passerby glanced around and said with a bitter smile:

"Punishments don't reach nobles, and laws don't bind the powerful. What law in this world can be applied to aristocratic clans, high-ranking officials, gentry, and powerful martial artists?"

In the crowd, the old woman kept banging her head on the ground, crying and laughing:

"That great hero, this old woman wishes you many sons and grandsons, much fortune and longevity, and a long life!"

An Qisheng shook his head:

"Then this law is better off without."

After saying that, he ignored the passerby's change in expression and walked into the crowd, helping the old woman up. He channeled a surge of energy into her to disperse the stagnant Qi in her body:

"Your great revenge has been avenged, go home. Excessive grief harms the body."

"Thank you..."

The old woman's breathing calmed down, her bloodshot eyes were devoid of light, as she had already gone blind.

An Qisheng flicked his wrist, and a silver note had already fallen into the old woman's arms without a trace:

"Alas, go home, there's still a child waiting for you to take care of."

"Yes, yes."

The old woman's stagnant Qi was almost completely released in her crying, and she staggered away, leaning on her crutch.

"Daoist priest, some words shouldn't be said carelessly."

From the dispersing crowd, Tie Shan stood expressionlessly.

"Officer Tie."

An Qisheng turned around:

"Has the murderer been caught? These past few days, this old Daoist has been very worried."

Tie Shan's face darkened even more, and he changed the subject:

"I went to the Zhao family to investigate. The fire was suspicious. Moreover, there were three bodies in the fire, one of whom had strong bones and muscles, as if he had cultivated internal strength. Daoist priest has been in Nanliang for a long time. Does he know if there are any internal strength experts in Nanliang County who are also related to the Zhao family?"

"Internal strength experts are not cabbages. How many internal strength experts can there be in a remote county like Nanliang?"

An Qisheng knew who Tie Shan was talking about and replied:

"Related to the Zhao family, there is no one else besides Zhao Hongxuan."

"No one else..."

Tie Shan's brow furrowed slightly.

The person who died in the fire had been struck to death, not burned to death.

In other words, the Zhao family's fire was caused by someone.

"There's no one else. The Zhao family's internal strength expert is probably only Zhao Hongxuan."

A ripple flashed in An Qisheng's eyes.

"Zhao Hongxuan died a long time ago. I saw his body through the ice coffin."

Tie Shan's brow furrowed even deeper.

The day he went to check Zhao Hongxuan's body, the Zhao family insisted on waiting for Zhao Qian Du to return and refused to open the coffin. Could it be...

'The master is right, this old Daoist is indeed a little strange. He seems to be giving me hints...'

His heart stirred, and he took a deep look at An Qisheng.

He turned and hurriedly headed towards the Zhao family.

Whether that person is Zhao Hongxuan or not can be determined by simply checking if there is a corpse in the ice coffin.

"The efficiency is too low..."

An Qisheng shook his head slightly. This Tie Shan might not be a bad person, but as a constable, he is not very qualified.

His case-solving efficiency is not as good as the old criminal police officers in Xuanxing.

But then again, who said that good kung fu makes you suitable to be a constable?

Although there is a possibility that he might notice some flaws this time, it is worth it.

If this group of constables can find Kong San before he completes his Blood Exchange, they might be able to capture this future master of the Hell Demon Sect.

"Kong San..."

An Qisheng muttered to himself and slowly strolled towards the city gate.

If Tie Shan can't follow the clues he provided to find Kong San's hiding place, he will have to take action himself.

A future peerless expert, master of the Hell Demon Sect.

It's better for such an enemy to die early.

Otherwise, not to mention whether he will come to kill him, he himself will feel uneasy knowing that he is alive.

Near the city gate, on the second floor of a restaurant by the window, An Qisheng ordered a few dishes, eating slowly.

He didn't have to wait long. About an hour later, he saw Tie Shan galloping on horseback, rushing out of the city.

Obviously, he had made a major discovery.

"Not bad..."

An Qisheng nodded slightly, paid the bill, and left the restaurant.

He sent someone to send a letter home to the two little ones, and then stepped on the thick snow, leaving the city.

........

The Hua Yan Mountain Range is majestic and vast, spanning three provinces and intersecting with seven prefectures. There are many mountains and dense peaks, hiding countless ferocious beasts, wolves, and bandits.

It is a place that makes people change color in the nearby provinces. Except for well-funded large merchant groups and some small merchants who harbor illusions, ordinary people will not venture too deep.

On the contrary, the mountain people nearby enter the mountains to collect herbs and hunt, and these bandits often turn a blind eye.

After all, most of these mountain bandits are wanted by outsiders, and the only people they can communicate with are these small villages.

Whoosh~

The cold wind howled, the sky and earth were bleak, and as far as the eye could see, the mountains were all a vast expanse of white.

On a desolate mountain, Ming Tang stood with his hands behind his back.

Behind him, constables such as Tie Shan were lined up in a row, numbering in the dozens. They were all constables who had been investigating other prefectures and had gathered here.

"Tie Shan, are you sure of the accuracy of the information?"

Ming Tang looked at the distant mountains and forests and asked indifferently.

"Reporting to the lord, it is about 70% reliable."

Tie Shan bowed and replied:

"The Hua Yan Mountain Range stretches for tens of thousands of miles, and there are countless ferocious beasts and bandits. If Kong San wants to heal his injuries, he must contact outsiders. Compared to these bandits, the Zhao family is indeed the most likely!"

"That's right."

Ming Tang's eyes were deep and serene:

"However, after returning this time, we must also investigate the purpose of that old Daoist priest..."

Everyone's expression was solemn, waiting in full battle array.

"In that case, follow me and apprehend Kong San!"