Learning Both Weapons?

His voice was so loud that two groups of people not far away all looked over.

Chen Fan was also startled.

"Ahem, it's nothing, it's nothing. You all continue."

Zhang Ren was a bit embarrassed as he greeted them, then stared unblinkingly at Chen Fan. "Can you really trigger Qi and Blood Power? No, wait, how do you know about these things?"

In his memory, he had never mentioned it because the time hadn't come yet.

"It's this."

Chen Fan didn't intend to hide it and took out a very thin booklet.

"Liuxing Arrow Art?"

Zhang Ren read the name, his expression extremely confused as he took it.

Opening the cover, just as Chen Fan expected, Zhang Ren immediately frowned.

He read extremely fast, almost skimming through it, and in just a few seconds, he had flipped to the last page.

"This is an incomplete version?"

A moment later, he looked at Chen Fan.

"Yes."

Chen Fan nodded and told him what had happened on the way back.

Zhang Ren's eyes widened. He absolutely hadn't expected such a perilous event to occur on the return journey. Fortunately, Chen Fan had remained calm in the face of danger and eventually turned the crisis into safety.

"Uncle Zhang, it's better not to tell the others in the camp about this yet," Chen Fan said in a low voice.

"Mm."

Zhang Ren acknowledged, then looked at the thin book in his hand and muttered to himself, "This Liuxing Arrow Art should be a genuine archery martial art. Unfortunately, the content is missing too much. But thinking about it, it's to be expected; for only 10 catties of rice, how could one get a martial arts manual?"

Chen Fan nodded repeatedly in agreement.

"Right,"

Zhang Ren turned his head. "You must have understood these four words 'triggering Qi and Blood' from inside this, right?"

"Yes."

Chen Fan hesitated about whether to speak of his previous sensations.

Zhang Ren's voice followed. "Triggering Qi and Blood Power is something only those in the Flesh Refining Realm can do."

"Only in the Flesh Refining Realm?"

Chen Fan's eyes widened.

"That's right."

Zhang Ren glanced at Chen Guodong and the others who were standing like wooden stakes and said, "For martial artists in the Body Tempering Realm, the Qi and blood in the body is still relatively thin. Only upon reaching the Flesh Refining Realm, where the Qi and blood in the body is dense, can one trigger Qi and Blood Power."

"Then what kind of effect will it have?"

Chen Fan couldn't help but ask.

"Naturally, the strength is greater and the speed is faster. For example, in an unarmed state, triggering Qi and Blood Power makes the punch speed faster and the destructive power stronger. If there's a long spear or short saber in hand, triggering Qi and Blood Power makes the swinging speed faster and the force heavier. If using a bow and arrow,"

His voice paused for a moment as he looked at Chen Fan. "One should be able to pull a heavier bow, and the arrow's flight speed will also be faster."

Chen Fan nodded, understanding in his heart. No wonder he hadn't felt any effort when pulling the bow earlier; so that was why.

In that case, triggering Qi and Blood Power was similar to that Gu Ze's ability. This path of a martial artist was still very promising.

"Of course, it's not to say that one absolutely must reach the Flesh Refining Realm to trigger Qi and Blood Power."

Zhang Ren added, "There are some with extraordinary talent who can do it at the third stage of Body Tempering. However, if one's own Qi and blood is not yet thick and dense, frequently triggering it is instead harmful and without benefit."

After saying that, he intentionally or unintentionally glanced at Chen Fan. Seeing that the other was unclear about the situation, he sighed in his heart. It seemed he was overthinking.

Thinking about it, it made sense. At only the first stage of Body Tempering, how could he use Qi and Blood Power?

Even in a passive situation, it wasn't realistic.

"Uncle Zhang, so to speak, for those Flesh Refining Realm martial artists, triggering Qi and blood is fine?"

Chen Fan asked curiously.

"Not necessarily."

Zhang Ren shook his head. "Even for a Flesh Refining Realm martial artist, they won't easily use it unless they are certain, because once used, they will fall into a period of weakness. At that time, even a third-stage Body Tempering martial artist could kill them.
If used frequently, it will deplete Qi and blood even more, and over time, it's like destroying one's own future."

Chen Fan sucked in a breath of cold air.

As expected, one still had to be moderate.

Qi and Blood Power was good, but in the end, it wasn't an Awakened's ability where the more it was used, the better.

Suddenly, he thought of something and asked further, "Uncle Zhang, is the Strength after Entering Strength transformed from Qi and Blood Power?"

Zhang Ren's eyes showed surprise, then he nodded and said, "Not bad. When the physique is strong to a certain extent, the Strength in the body will naturally appear. The effect is roughly the same as triggering Qi and Blood Power, but the power is stronger and there are no side effects.
If one becomes a Hidden Strength Martial Artist, they can also send the Strength in their body into the opponent's body to cause damage, making it hard to defend against.
As for Transforming Strength Martial Artists..."

He didn't continue, looking up at the starry sky with a look of yearning in his eyes.

Chen Fan nodded; he felt like he understood.

When Qi and Blood Power is dense to a certain extent, it transforms into Strength. And does Strength, when dense to a certain extent, transform into True Qi in the body?

It's very likely!

"The path of Martial Arts is endless. In short, work hard."

Zhang Ren retracted his gaze and looked at Chen Fan. He had a premonition that this kid's future achievements would be immeasurable. Perhaps he could become one of those legendary people whose bodies manifested an aura.

Of course, the specific time was unknown; it could be a few years, or it could be over a decade.

Chen Fan nodded, feeling a bit curious in his heart. He wondered what realm Uncle Zhang was in.

At least the Entering Strength Realm.

Judging from his performance just now, he was very likely a Hidden Strength expert.

"Right, I came to find you for another matter."

"Uncle Zhang, please speak."

"You all will be setting off for the Songjia Fort in a day or two, right?"

Chen Fan nodded.

"The Songjia Fort is a place of mixed dragons and snakes. In case a conflict breaks out and the distance is too close, your archery might find it difficult to exert its normal effect."

"Uncle Zhang means?"

Chen Fan seemed to understand.

"Mm."

Zhang Ren nodded slightly. "You'd better learn another weapon. It could be a spear or a saber; both have their advantages."

"A long spear—an inch longer, an inch stronger. Once spear techniques are mastered to a certain extent, with a spear in hand, one is invincible. Whether dealing with people or fierce beasts, it's extremely effective. But it also has drawbacks: it's too long to carry at all times and isn't suitable for fighting in narrow areas.
A saber is different. It's considered a close-combat weapon, but at over a meter long, it can be carried on one's person. Even if there's no saber, in an emergency, picking up a branch or a piece of wood can be used as a saber. In practical combat, a short saber is fierce and valiant, full of threat. The drawback is its short reach; when facing fierce beasts, the probability of being injured is much higher than when using a spear."

After saying that, he frowned, clearly also agonizing on Chen Fan's behalf. Which one should he learn?

Or, which one should he learn first?

In his opinion, he definitely leaned toward learning the spear because he was proficient in spear techniques.

But Chen Fan was proficient in archery. Undoubtedly, learning a close-combat weapon to supplement his close-range weakness was more suitable. And when dealing with fierce beasts, he could certainly shoot arrows from a distance, so why use a spear in close combat?

"Uncle Zhang, how about... learning both?"

Chen Fan thought for a moment and asked.