Returning to the Mysterious Era

Chapter 231 - Death's Fang Force

The weather was perfect that night. The sky was clear with no clouds available to obscure the view. A vast black night sky stretched above, with the moon and surrounding stars embedded at its center.

On that summer night, countless stars twinkled like gemstones in the dark blue sky, resembling countless eyes gazing down at the earth.

A cool breeze carried away the heat of the day, leaving the lakeside rippling gently in the night. The water reflected the faint silver moonlight, creating an oddly tranquil and damp atmosphere.

In this setting, a lone wooden cabin stood by the lake. The moonlight cast shadows on the water's surface, distorting and reforming with the ripples. It was calm and serene, like a scene from a painting.

Feng Liusi had good reason for retreating to the Death Canyon for seclusion. Surrounded by such natural beauty, it was hard not to feel at ease.

Inside the cabin, Feng Liusi's granddaughter, Neve, had already fallen into a deep sleep. Normally, she wouldn't stay overnight in a dangerous place like Death Canyon. She would cross the Loka Mountains in the morning, bringing necessary supplies, and Feng Liusi would personally escort her out of the mountains afterward. However, Cassius's visit had interrupted that routine and Neve would have to return tomorrow.

It was deep into the night, around midnight. On the frost-touched surface of the lake stood a solitary island. In one corner was a tree, and with two figures sitting beneath it.

Feng Liusi and Cassius sat cross-legged on the rocks, facing each other. Between them lay a yellowed piece of modern parchment. Although somewhat worn, the damage wasn't from age but from frequent handling, which had frayed its corners.

The parchment was the star map of the Southern Dipper Red Falcon Fist, a replica that Feng Liusi had created from memory.

In ancient times, human ancestors roamed the earth. They often glanced up at the night sky, seeing the stars twinkling in the darkness. Those stars formed the milky way.

Astrology, constellations, star signs, prophecy, fist principles...

In the Southern Dipper Covert Martial Inheritance, an ancient assassination art, finding references to stars and constellations wasn't unusual. The Southern Dipper Red Falcon Fist had always drawn its inspiration from the Giant Falcon constellation.

The parchment before Cassius was covered with black dots and lines, forming a giant falcon.

The black dots didn't just represent the positions of stars in the sky; they also indicated the vital acupoints on the human body.

In the blank spaces on the parchment, small annotations next to the black dots explained each acupoint's location and function. Though not exhaustive, the explanations were quite clear.

Cassius studied the parchment for half an hour and had counted sixty-six black dots, representing sixty-six acupoints. Each had its own function, and if replicated within the body to form a foundational circuit, the flow of Death's Fang Force would have to follow a specific order and direction like the flow of water.

Compared to typical Covert Martial Arts, the Southern Dipper Red Falcon Fist had more complex entry requirements. Beginners wouldn't even qualify to approach it; only those who were already proficient in Covert Martial Arts, possessed experience, and were quick-witted could hope to master it.

Feng Liusi didn't consider himself unintelligent, but it had still taken him several months to master that stage. Slowly and methodically, he made mistakes and learned from them, finally mastering the star map nearly one hundred days after starting.

Cassius lightly tapped the parchment with his finger, bringing his thoughts back to the present. He had already estimated that he would need just a few days. Whether it would take three days or five depended on the situation.

It wasn't arrogance—it was simply the reality of his ability. What were sixty-six acupoints and a theoretical meridian cycle compared to his previous achievements?

He had previously reconstructed an entire blood circulation system within his body, which was an incredible feat. The human body contained approximately 150,000 kilometers of blood vessels, with an estimated 250 trillion individual vessels, divided into arteries, veins, capillaries, and more.

Even if one ignored the smaller capillaries and focused only on the main arteries and veins, their complexity far surpassed that of the Giant Falcon star map. Cassius had already experienced something much more difficult, so learning this would be much easier for him.

Moreover, he was currently in an inspired state so his mind was sharp and active. With a master like Feng Liusi personally guiding him, progressing dozens of times faster than Feng Liusi would be a conservative estimate.

"It seems you've read enough," Feng Liusi said with a nod, then shifted his tone. "Anyone can read, but it's the practice that matters. The Southern Dipper Red Falcon Fist is a difficult, top-tier Covert Martial Art. As an ancient assassination technique, it differs greatly from modern Covert Martial Arts. Learning it won't be easy, and even getting started is quite challenging so don't rush through your training. I'll be here to guide you patiently," Feng Liusi said as he stroked his beard. "Let's set a goal, since I'm half your teacher now. Try to open the first acupoint in five days."

As if struck by a sudden thought, he added, "No, make that three days. Tomorrow, I'll use a special method to help you enter the Southern Dipper state. It'll be easier to train in the Southern Dipper Red Falcon Fist in that state. I'm planning to push you a bit, to see if you can force yourself to break through in three days." Feng Liusi was quite candid, openly goading him, though it barely counted as goading.

He smiled warmly at Cassius, stroking his white beard with his right hand. Cassius looked up at Feng Liusi, his expression and tone unchanged, and simply nodded nonchalantly.

"Alright."

"..." Feng Liusi's hand froze mid-motion. Seeing Cassius's calm demeanor, Feng Liusi suddenly wondered if three days might be too long.

Maybe I should change it to one day? No, one day is too extreme. Two days seems more reasonable.

It had taken Feng Liusi over ten days to open his first acupoint so he ultimately didn't change his mind. The agreement was mostly in jest, and Feng Liusi could only really consider himself half of Cassius's teacher. His sudden interest in teaching the Southern Dipper Red Falcon Fist stemmed partly from genuine excitement but also from the fact that Cassius had mysteriously restored his body to a healthy state, eliminating old injuries and even making him feel at least five years younger.

Firstly, it was admiration. Secondly, gratitude.

A cold wind blew across the lakeside, causing the trees on the island to sway. Feng Liusi suddenly stood up and removed his upper garments, revealing an aged but sturdy body.

He intended to personally demonstrate to Cassius where the sixty-six acupoints of the Giant Falcon star map were located on the body. The timing was perfect, as the stars in the sky aligned with his demonstration.

With the parchment's diagram, a personal demonstration, and the constellation in the sky as a model...

As his chest rose and fell, his Qi began to circulate. Feng Liusi suddenly planted his feet firmly into the ground, as if they were drilling into the earth. He hunched his back, resembling a praying mantis poised to strike. His arms stretched back forcefully like the wings of a predatory bird, with his hands forming claw-like talons that somewhat resembled a bird's beak.

In an instant, Feng Liusi performed the Southern Dipper Red Falcon Fist, and Cassius thought he heard the faint cry of a bird of prey, almost like he was hallucinating.

Feng Liusi froze in place, and one by one, red dots began to light up across his body. They appeared in precise order, starting from his navel, moving to his chest, arms, and back. Finally, they reached his forehead, centered between his brows.

At the same time, Cassius looked up at the sky. In the northwest corner near the moon, there was a faint constellation. Upon closer inspection, it resembled the silhouette of a bird of prey diving to strike.

The sound of flowing liquid echoed from Feng Liusi's body, as faint red steam began to rise slowly from the surface of his skin.

The next day, around ten in the morning, Cassius sat alone on the island, quietly studying the manual, a hand-drawn old book, that Feng Liusi had given him.

Feng Liusi had left early that morning with his granddaughter since the Death Canyon wasn't a place for most Covert Martial Arts Practitioners to stay for long.

At 10:10 a.m., a figure swiftly entered the canyon. By 10:30 a.m...

"Cassius, I don't have to tell you, but you probably already know. The core of the Southern Dipper Red Falcon Fist isn't its techniques—it's the force, Death's Fang Force. This is completely different from the foundation of ordinary Covert Martial Arts. Let me demonstrate it for you. Watch closely." Feng Liusi and Cassius stood by a patch of wasteland, where a half-meter tall stone sat among the weeds. The surface of the stone had faint, colorful patterns, and it was a piece of hard granite, weathered by wind and rain.

"Death's Fang Force has two main properties. Firstly, spiral!"

A gleam of light flashed in Feng Liusi's eyes as his right hand shot out like a bullet. His index finger struck the surface of the stone with a swift motion.

There was a crisp, hollow sound.

When Feng Liusi withdrew his hand, Cassius saw the state of the stone. About two-thirds of the way down, there was a spinning black hole. In the center was a deep puncture the size of an index finger, and around it were spiral wave patterns, spreading out at least ten centimeters.

Granite wasn't like clay that could be twisted by hand. Its surrounding areas hadn't even been touched, yet they were distorted by some strange force, causing the stone to deform under the power of Death's Fang Force.

If that strike hit a human body, it would create an inward spiralling cavity, several centimeters in diameter. The force would directly cover half a person's chest.

Feng Liusi glanced at Cassius and continued speaking, "The second property, fragmentation!"

He drew his right hand in a black arc through the air, splitting the stone on contact. The granite's surface bore a small pit as deep as a knuckle.

Crack!

Cracks spread outward, instantly covering the entire stone. It now resembled a giant black spider web. With a loud crash, the stone shattered into pieces after three seconds. @@novelbin@@

"When these two types of force are combined, you get the Death's Fang Force, which is the core of the Southern Dipper Red Falcon Fist. Any flesh struck by this force ends up mangled as though chewed by teeth, hence the name 'Death's Fang.'" Feng Liusi glanced at Cassius. "I won't demonstrate it again."

Cassius nodded.

Another hour passed. After a simple lunch, the two resumed their training session.

Feng Liusi finished explaining some basic concepts and now decisively brought up the Southern Dipper state he had mentioned the previous day.

"Yesterday, I told you that I have a way for you to try out the Southern Dipper state ahead of time," Feng Liusi said, noticing Cassius's gaze. "Don't rush. Let me explain the situation in detail, and after you hear it, you can decide if you want to try."

"Here's how it works. You'll relax your body, and I'll inject a small amount of Death's Fang Force into you. Then, I'll guide the energy using the Southern Dipper Red Falcon Fist, making sure it reaches the correct points."

"This will force the creation of a temporary foundational structure, giving you a chance to enter the Southern Dipper state. The risk is low, thanks to your help in restoring my health. The success rate of guiding the force is at least ninety-nine percent." Feng Liusi laid out the pros and cons word by word.

The downside was that if it went out of control, the force would wreak havoc on its own. All things considered, the method sounded reliable. However, Cassius didn't agree because if Feng Liusi directed the force through his body, he might discover the secrets of the Golem Covert Martial Arts.

Thus, he opted for a different approach. Feng Liusi would inject the Death's Fang Force, but Cassius would guide it on his own. According to Feng Liusi, this method had a low chance of success, and Cassius would likely end up injured if he attempted it.

Five minutes later...

"Alright, let's give it a try then." Feng Liusi clicked his tongue. He extended two fingers and quickly jabbed them into the back of Cassius's hand, sending a burst of force through it. Immediately, Cassius took over, guiding the force through his body. Two seconds later...

Boom!

Cassius's forearm exploded! A fingernail-sized hole appeared on the back of his hand, and blood poured from it, dripping steadily.

Without any expression, Cassius said, "Continue."

Five seconds later, his upper arm exploded, blood gushing out.

"Continue."

Three seconds later, his forearm gained another wound.

"Continue."

Another strike to the upper arm.

"Continue."

His shoulder, chest, and abdomen continued to crack.

Feng Liusi watched, heart pounding. He was becoming even more aware of how ruthless this young man was with himself. He was completely unafraid of pain, like a maniac. To some degree, it reminded him of his own younger self.

A few minutes later, a dull thud came from the left side of Cassius's waist.

"Just a kidney..."

The right side echoed.

"Two kidneys..."

Finally, at 1 p.m., Cassius completed what Feng Liusi had spoken of earlier. The price was being covered in fresh blood and injuring some insignificant, or even unnecessary, internal organs. He had the confidence to heal, so he was completely unrestrained in his actions.

Feng Liusi knew that Cassius had such confidence. That was why he let him continue as he wished.

After toiling for half an hour, Cassius succeeded. All sixty-six of his acupoints now contained faint traces of Death's Fang Force. His body glowed with subtle, flickering red dots. When connected, the dots formed a three-dimensional image of a falcon diving to strike, radiating a strange, bloody and ferocious aura.

Feeling the situation within his body, a slight smile crept across Cassius's face as he slowly raised one hand. His index and middle fingers gently tapped the cross on his forehead.

Persona shift, Killer Persona activated.