By evening, Stirling had already come back to Farfield City.

  He had covered two hundred miles, returned from the killing, all in a single day.

  In the end, this was all because his perfect-level techniques greatly improved Stirling.

  Right then, Stirling sat at the table. He took out the "Minor Thunderclap Boxing" manual from the smiler and studied it carefully.

  This boxing technique was very similar to the one its owner used. Stirling thought the cultivator had used the Minor Thunderclap Boxing before worshipping the gods.

  Recalling the fierce attack from that day, Stirling became quite interested in this boxing technique.

  Stirling estimated that after perfecting his fist technique, his virl force speed went up by one-fifth. This led him to a new idea:

  If he mastered another fist technique, would it boost the speed of his viscera-refinement?

  During this time, Stirling learned much that regular people could not access from the Night Watch's archives.

  For example, the samurai talents and worshipper talents in the city town practiced various styles. They verified and strengthened each other's skills. Their strength was much greater than ordinary people, and they also cultivated quickly.

  Stirling now wondered if this was linked to their skill in using various fist intents.

  For an ordinary samurai, mastering one martial art fully can be a slow, frustrating process.

  But didn't they also want to use different techniques to confirm and support each other?

  Most samurai who irrigated their viscera were in their early thirties. Many Blood Boiling Grandmasters were in their fifties or sixties. Their skills and understanding were still limited at this stage.

  Enhancing viscera and boiling blood can tap into the body's potential and increase lifespan. However, these practices often wear people out, leaving them feeling drained.

  Stirling thinks his lifespan is about 75 years. This gives him time to keep improving the martial arts skills.

  Thinking this, Stirling flipped to the last page of the book. He wrote,

  The next moment, a prompt appeared in his field of vision:

  [Current Enhancement Required a lifespan: 11 years and 3 days. Enhance?]

  Although his lifespan had increased, Stirling felt a strange sense of expectancy. After all, the greater the cost of strengthening, the better the foundation. He had already figured out this rule.

  Thinking this, Stirling directly selected

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  [Thunderous Illusory Boxing]

  This fist strike comes from the Minor Thunderclap Boxing of the Three Immortals Sect. It hits with the force of lightning. The force rumbles like thunder, placing it among the top mortal techniques.

  Stirling raised an eyebrow. This was the first time he had seen such a high rating. He turned to the first page. He saw a lightning bolt slicing through the clouds, demonstrating the boxing technique.

  Interesting.

  Stirling got up and flipped through the book. He practiced the techniques in the room.

  ...

  The next day, Stirling finished his shift and went home, where he kept practicing the Thunderous Illusionary Boxing.

  He kept going until it was dark. Then, he quietly left the house and headed to the back wall of the neighbor's courtyard.

  Starting from the second row, Stirling counted the bricks. Then, he picked up the fourth brick and gently pulled it out.

  Hidden in a crevice within the brick was a folded letter. Stirling used two fingers to pull it out, then placed it back in the brick.

  Back inside, Stirling went to the table, lit the oil lamp, and opened the letter.

  The letter was stored where he and Lance had agreed.

  Lance's status meant he couldn't visit often, and Stirling couldn't go to Lance's home much either.

  So, Stirling came up with this idea:

  Establish a contact point nearby. Of course, a location too far wouldn't work, nor could his own house, so he chose the back wall of his neighbor's house.

  By the lamplight, Stirling quickly scanned the information and immediately frowned.

  The letter asked Lance to look into people or events linked to

  And Lance's investigation yielded only one conclusion: Exorcism cults are illegal underground organizations, who emerged suddenly among the people after the astral star calamity.

  The Exorcism Cult included a diverse mix of people. This group ranged from samurai to ordinary citizens. Some were even court officials, while others were beggars on the street.

  But their goal was simple: to sabotage all activities and plans related to worship. Therefore, in the eyes of the gods, these people were nothing more than a group of damned madmen.

  The Exorcism Cult was the most hated and troublesome group among all the temples. So, its members were always on the kill list of worshippers.

  Stirling read the letter. Then, he placed it on the oil lamp and lit it.

  Stirling murmured to himself, recalling the faces of Mosley, Master Kim, and Pillnar.

  November 13th, light snow.

  The weather grew increasingly cold. The wealthy families in the inner city wore padded cotton long ago. Meanwhile, the outer-city residents still dressed in hemp clothing.

  The once-busy streets were now quieter. Clearly, people stayed inside instead of facing the cold.

  Inside, Stirling sat cross-legged on the floor. His hands rested on his knees, and his breathing was steady. He was entering a strange state.

  The next moment, his muscles suddenly contracted inward, as if collapsing.

  His once translucent skin gradually faded. Even Stirling's youthful face shrank, making him look like an old man.

  Dark red blood steamed out of Stirling's skin. It quickly turned to mist and vanished into the air.

  In no time, a red mist swirled around Stirling, creating an eerie scene.

  This situation continued for about twenty minutes. Stirling's body was shriveled and bony. The thick crimson mist around him felt almost real, as if it might drip blood.

  Stirling, who had his eyes closed, suddenly opened them. He quickly grabbed a blood-red pill from beside him and swallowed it.

  As the pill entered his mouth, Stirling's shriveled body visibly filled out again. He was using the pill's power to quickly make blood, filling his nearly empty blood vessels.

  The Extreme Bone-Forging finally showed its power just now.

  Stirling felt his bone marrow greedily absorbing the medicinal power. The strong absorption made the "Hematopoietic pill" run out in just a few breaths. It took 16 days to enhance.

  Stirling quickly took another hematopoietic pill. It barely replenished his low medicinal power, but helped to steady his condition.

  After brewing a cup of tea, the thin Stirling returned to normal. His face was a bit flushed, and his skin glowed with a bright white light, like a perfect statue.

  At this moment, the corners of Stirling's mouth curled up slightly. Blood-boiling ... he had finally succeeded!

  [Your stage has broken through; your lifespan is +30 years!]