This sleeve arrow was crafted by an expert from the Mechanical Sect, hired by Hei Yunzi at great cost. It’s extremely powerful and specifically designed to pierce through defenses like the Golden Bell Shield and Iron Cloth Shirt.
So, after firing the arrow, Hei Yunzi’s lips curled into a smug smile.
He believed that even if the young man survived, he would be seriously injured.
But to his surprise, the sleeve arrow was fast, and Zhao Ya was even faster.
In fact, from the moment he made his move, Zhao Ya was mentally prepared for any sneak attack or counterattack.
This Hei Yunzi was able to survive under the watchful eyes of the Azure Dragon Temple with Fifth Realm strength, clearly having unique methods of his own.
So even though his own strength far surpassed Hei Yunzi, Zhao Ya didn’t dare to be careless at all when making his move.
When he saw a ferocious look appear on Hei Yunzi’s face and his fist slightly move, Zhao Ya was already prepared to dodge.
The moment the sleeve arrow was fired, Zhao Ya flashed to Hei Yunzi’s side, lightly placed his hand on Hei Yunzi’s shoulder, and then executed the Great Stone-Throwing Hand.
Boom!
Before Hei Yunzi could even react, he was tossed away. Upon landing, his qi blood was dispersed, and both his bones and meridians were severely damaged, leaving him unable to stand.
Though Zhao Ya rarely used the Great Stone-Throwing Hand, similar to the Close-Range Falling and Striking Skill, it didn’t mean he hadn’t been practicing it diligently in private.
In fact, after coming to the Azure Dragon Temple, Zhao Ya reached a whole new level of understanding of the Great Stone-Throwing Hand.
For example, this time, he could have killed Hei Yunzi directly, but through precise control, he limited the damage to severely injuring Hei Yunzi, rendering him completely powerless without endangering his life.
Now, Zhao Ya stood before Hei Yunzi, first lifting his right sleeve to reveal a cleverly designed hand crossbow.
This hand crossbow, like a piece of armor, enveloped the arm from below the elbow to above the wrist, its entirely black form with sharp lines exuding an alluring mechanical quality.
Back when Zhao Ya was still in Wuxiang City, he had acquired a hand crossbow, but it was merely a design modified by a folk expert, incomparable to the one before him now.
The power and speed of that shot just now still made Zhao Ya shudder in recollection.
Then Zhao Ya, under Hei Yunzi’s resentful gaze, dismantled the hand crossbow.
After carefully examining its construction, Zhao Ya couldn’t help but marvel that even in this era of extremely low productivity, geniuses existed.
Such complex construction made Zhao Ya, who had experienced modern technological advancement, slightly dizzy.
"Mechanical Sect, Li Cun..."
In a corner, he noticed a small engraving and read it softly, memorizing the name.
Of course, he knew the Mechanical Sect, one of the Thirteen Sects outside the mainstream, different from usual sects focused on Martial Dao; it specialized in creating various intricate mechanisms.
Don’t underestimate this, as some powerful mechanisms were daunting even to top Meridian Opening experts.
This was why the Mechanical Sect was ranked among the Thirteen Sects.
However, its entry requirements were stringent, needing not only Martial Dao talent but also excellent hands-on ability and a knack for mechanisms, making it the smallest and most mysterious among the Thirteen Sects.
This Li Cun was apparently a disciple of the Mechanical Sect. Zhao Ya noted his name, planning to meet him if he ever had the chance.
After searching Hei Yunzi and finding little, Zhao Ya picked up the package on the ground, lifting a piece of dried meat for inspection.
The dried meat felt heavy in his hand, fragrant and, in the moonlight, showed a viscous liquid inside.
Once confirming it was nontoxic, Zhao Ya put a piece of the dried meat into his mouth.
With a light bite, it cracked open, releasing a hot liquid that filled his mouth and slid down his throat.
Instantly, Zhao Ya felt every cell in his body cheering.
His digestive talent activated immediately, eagerly absorbing every drop of nutrition, every thread of qi blood.
The already surging Qi Blood Power became even stronger.
After absorbing just half, Zhao Ya felt a distinct sense of fullness.
This surprise and joyed Zhao Ya, as the previous Black Flood Dragon Dried Meat required eating at least a dozen pieces to achieve this effect.
This indicated the high grade of the dried meat and the profound Qi Blood it contained.
Zhao Ya, inspired, tucked the remaining dried meat away securely and quickly left the area.
Lying on the ground unable to move, Hei Yunzi was puzzled.
What did this guy go off to do?
Why did he leave without dealing with him?
But soon, hope flickered in Hei Yunzi’s eyes.
If that guy truly left, there was still a chance for survival.
Thinking this, Hei Yunzi tried his best to rally his scattered qi blood, hoping to regain some movement and escape.
Meanwhile, in a secluded part of the forest, Zhao Ya was practicing the Eight Vajra Longevity Skill.
Every movement guided the flow of qi blood throughout his body.
Gradually, Zhao Ya felt himself entering a mystical state.
Suddenly.
Completing the last move, Zhao Ya felt a shiver run through his body, a warm current coursed through him, and a line of text appeared before him.
[Gallbladder Unlock Successful, Talent Acquired: Lesser Yang Spring Birth]
Immediately, Zhao Ya felt his previously fiery qi blood become mellow.
The previously vigorous heartbeat also calmed, with the Heart Devotion and Red Transformation talent shifting into a spring-like tranquility.
Meanwhile, his internal organs felt renewed with no trace of heat.
Zhao Ya also felt his spirit and appearance rejuvenated, brimming with vitality.
Whereas Zhao Ya had previously been somewhat too fierce and intense, now he appeared soft and gentle, even his skin improved noticeably.
His pores shrank away, making his skin resemble a freshly peeled egg, enviable to women.
Zhao Ya felt these changes and, looking at the reflection in his knife blade, couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
If previously Zhao Ya looked like a typical twenty-year-old youth, now he seemed fifteen or sixteen, a tall, elegant, distinguishedly handsome young man.
Was this the gallbladder’s talent effect?
Zhao Ya was speechless.
Gratefully he had learned the Disguise Technique from Cong Bo, a little disguise should prevent others from noticing anything unusual—otherwise, it would be hard to explain.
Nevertheless, this was a good change.
With this thought, Zhao Ya opened his attribute panel.
Name: Zhao Ya. Age: 20 years. Remaining lifespan: 2099 (+121 days) years.
Skills: Eight Vajra Longevity Skill (Peak Performance 99%)
Five Tiger Fist (Returning to the Essence 99%)
Wind-Slaying Saber Technique (Extraordinary to Saint)
Light as a Feather (Returning to the Essence 99%)
Spirit Turtle Hibernation Technique (Returning to the Essence 74%)
Great Stone-Throwing Hand (Peak Performance 99%)
Great Vajra Fist (Peak Performance 99%)
Golden Body Armor Technique (Returning to the Essence 57%)
Little Five Paths Chasing Soul Leg (Peak Performance 99%)
Little Arhat Fist (Peak Performance 47%)
[Gallbladder Unlock Progress: 100%]
After unlocking the gallbladder, Zhao Ya’s lifespan surged again, breaking past two thousand years.
Soon, the final line of text faded away and was replaced by two new prompts.
[Small Intestine Unlock Progress: 1%]
[Large Intestine Unlock Progress: 1%]
This time both major organ unlocks were initiated simultaneously.
Zhao Ya was not surprised, for the large and small intestines were essentially one, with only slight functional differences.
Taking a deep breath, Zhao Ya closed the attribute panel and didn’t return immediately but instead ran in a chosen direction.
Upon reaching a large tree, he paused.
For in the middle of the tree was a round hole, as if something had shot through.
Zhao Ya continued in that direction, noting how two more trees were pierced until at the farthest tree, he found a crossbow arrow embedded deeply within the trunk.