My Mosquito Clones Are on a Killing Spree

Chapter 31: Chapter 24: Choice

Which part to refine?

Which path should he take for his breakthrough as a Martial Artist?

Lin Yi hadn’t actually prepared for this.

He had been so focused on increasing his Qi and Blood to break through that he had overlooked this crucial detail.

”Principal!” He looked to the experienced Chen Zhenguo, his voice tinged with inquiry. ”Is there a difference between becoming a Martial Artist by refining different parts of the body?”

”Of course there’s a huge difference!”

Chen Zhenguo leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp and focused, and began to explain seriously:

”The core of a Martial Artist’s first four realms is Bone Tempering. The human body has 206 bones, which are accordingly divided into four major regions—the lower limbs, the upper limbs, the torso, and the skull!”

He paused, his tone turning cautionary:

”However, Martial Artists of the lower three grades have relatively crude control over their Qi and Blood. They can’t manipulate it with precision. Rashly attempting to temper the skull at this stage is exceptionally dangerous. The slightest mistake could cause fundamental damage to the brain. Therefore, the path of the skull has always been the domain of Fourth Realm experts.”

”Therefore, Martial Artists of the lower three grades typically focus on one of three paths to start: the lower limbs, the upper limbs, or the torso.”

Chen Zhenguo held up his fingers, counting them off one by one:

”Choosing a different region for your breakthrough to become a Martial Artist will lead to different combat styles and advantages in the First Realm.”

”The bones of the lower and upper limbs are relatively easy to refine because they are comparatively independent. Even if they’re damaged—even if you lose an arm or a leg—as long as it’s not fatal, there are ways to remedy it.”

”But the torso bones...”

He emphasized his words:

”The torso bones are the pivot for the body’s power. Refining them is incredibly difficult, several times harder than refining the limb bones!”

”More importantly...”

”The way of Bone Tempering requires a sequential, self-contained process. Once you choose a starting point—say, you temper a bone in your lower limbs first—your Qi and Blood Power cannot be channeled into any other part of your body until you have tempered every bone in the lower limbs to perfection.”

”Therefore, the choice of this first bone must be made with extreme caution!”

Chen Zhenguo said earnestly:

”Lin Yi, my personal recommendation is that you choose the upper or lower limbs for your breakthrough. You’re already starting late, and the college entrance exams are only half a year away. If you choose the limb bones, with your aptitude, it won’t be difficult to refine seven or eight bones before the exams. But if you insist on challenging the torso bones... their extraordinary difficulty might prevent you from even crossing the threshold of a true Martial Artist by the time of the exams!”

The gravity in the principal’s voice made Lin Yi understand the difference in difficulty between the breakthrough paths.

He fell silent for a moment, quickly weighing the pros and cons.

Suddenly.

He looked up, his gaze as sharp as a blade, and pinpointed the core of the issue:

”Principal, in the First Realm, which path offers the superior power advantage when comparing the different parts to refine?”

A flicker of approval crossed Chen Zhenguo’s eyes. ’The kid really knows how to get to the point.’

”Refining the lower limb bones allows for lightning-fast movement techniques and a massive boost in speed; refining the upper limb bones enables explosive, thunderous power in your fists and palms, unmatched in its ferocity.”

His words were steady and clear:

”However, in terms of overall combat strength within the same realm...”

”The torso bones reign supreme!”

The principal paused for a moment:

”Successfully refining the torso bones not only greatly increases the torso’s toughness and defense, but because it’s the body’s hub and core for all power, the resulting increase to your Qi and Blood cap is the highest, and the power it generates is the most potent and domineering...”

”And that’s not all...”

Chen Zhenguo added:

”Since the torso bones are the central hub connecting all the limbs, once they are successfully refined, the flow of Qi and Blood becomes smooth and unimpeded. Subsequently, refining the upper and lower limb bones becomes much easier, like how tributaries are more easily irrigated after a major river has been dredged.”

Hearing this, Lin Yi was already leaning toward refining his torso bones first.

The immense appeal of the torso bones was almost incomparable.

But he remained calm and asked another critical question: ”Principal, is there a big difference in the ultimate increase to the Qi and Blood cap when choosing to refine different parts?”

”Big! Very big!”

Chen Zhenguo nodded and said:

”If you choose to refine the lower or upper limb bones, each successfully refined bone will increase your Qi and Blood cap by about 5 points! Hmm, this number isn’t absolute; the increase from each bone varies from person to person. I’m just giving you an average...”

”At that rate...”

”The upper limbs have 64 bones. At First Grade Perfection, they can increase your Qi and Blood cap by 320 points.”

”The lower limbs have 62 bones. At First Grade Perfection, they can increase your Qi and Blood cap by 310 points.”

”As for the torso bones... each successfully refined bone provides a full 10-point increase to your Qi and Blood cap! By refining all 51 torso bones to First Grade Perfection, you can raise your Qi and Blood cap by 510 points!”

”I see! I understand now!” Lin Yi said.

The principal asked, ”So, which part have you decided to refine first?”

Lin Yi said resolutely, ”I choose the torso bones!”

The huge disparity in Qi and Blood was like an insurmountable chasm.

Among First-Grade Martial Artists, what did having double the Qi and Blood mean?

It meant an absolute, crushing power advantage!

Moreover, successfully refining the torso bones first would build an incomparably solid foundation of Qi and Blood, making subsequent cultivation faster and more efficient.

Its role as the hub connecting the entire body, and the assistance it provided for refining other bones, was a hidden advantage that money couldn’t buy.

In other words, apart from the high difficulty, there were only advantages to refining the torso bones!

As for the greatest challenge in Bone Tempering—the problem of a sustained supply of Qi and Blood?

That wasn’t a problem for Lin Yi.

After all, regardless of which part he chose for his breakthrough, he had never relied on conventional accumulation.

’It’s all going to depend on the mosquito’s Blood Sucking anyway!’

Chen Zhenguo seemed to have already anticipated Lin Yi’s choice. After all, what genius doesn’t want to walk the strongest path?

But he still sighed and tried to persuade him:

”Lin Yi... are you really not going to reconsider? Challenging the torso bones on your first refinement is so difficult it can’t be compared to refining the limbs. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it ten times more perilous! Half a year will fly by in an instant. If...”

He paused, trying to persuade him with more practical reasoning:

”The Martial Dao requires steady, gradual progress. Only by planting your feet firmly on the ground can you go far.”

”In truth, prioritizing the torso bones only offers some advantages in the Lower Three Mirrors! After all, once you reach Fourth Grade Perfection and have refined every bone in your body, your total Qi and Blood won’t be any different regardless of which part you started with.”

”Choosing the upper or lower limbs for your First Grade Realm breakthrough is the safe path. It will ensure you don’t run into any mishaps during the upcoming college entrance exams.”

”Principal, I understand your concern.” Lin Yi’s resolve was firm. ”But I still want to try!”

Chen Zhenguo looked at Lin Yi’s determined gaze and fell silent for a moment. The old principal, who had weathered many storms, felt his expression of worry slowly morph into a complex look of respect and expectation.

”On the path of the Martial Dao, every step is a major decision that concerns your own destiny! This is your own path; others have no right to criticize it, nor can they bear its consequences for you. A teacher can only guide you to the entrance, not decide which way you go!”

”Lin Yi, since your mind is made up, I respect your choice and won’t try to persuade you any further. But you must remember, now that you’ve chosen this path, you must bear all its consequences—whether it’s the glory of the peak or the thorns along the way.”

”I hope you won’t have any regrets!”

”Don’t worry, Principal!” Lin Yi met the principal’s gaze and said, clearly and powerfully, word by word, ”I, Lin Yi, will have no regrets!”

”Good! Follow me!” Chen Zhenguo said no more. With a wave of his hand, he turned and strode away, his steps firm and powerful, exuding an air of decisive action.

The principal’s office was on the top floor of the faculty building, and deep within that top floor, behind a heavy alloy door, lay another, much vaster space.

The principal’s private Cultivation Room!

The moment he stepped inside, Lin Yi’s breath caught in his throat.

The equipment in the principal’s private Cultivation Room was far superior to the student ones, even more advanced than the one the Zhou family had specially configured for Zhou Meng.

Various cultivation-aiding instruments flickered with a profound light, a perfect fusion of technology and the aura of the Martial Dao.

Concentration Incense, Qi Storage Incense, Fatigue Relief Incense...

Thanks to his Spiritual Nose Spirit Essence, Lin Yi instantly identified the different scents in the air.

There were at least seven different types of Spirit Incense burning in the room!

Just stepping inside, a vast and abundant wave of pure energy washed over him, instantly invigorating his spirit.

A top-tier setup like this would be impossible to achieve without an investment of at least a million!

”Register your fingerprint and iris scan with the electronic lock.” Chen Zhenguo pointed to a sophisticated device by the door that was flashing with a faint blue light. ”From now on, you can come up to cultivate by yourself even when I’m not here.”

”Yes, Principal!” Suppressing his astonishment, Lin Yi immediately went forward and carefully registered his fingerprint and iris information.

Once the registration was complete, Chen Zhenguo pointed to the widest area in the center of the Cultivation Room, where the energy fluctuations were strongest:

”You can cultivate here in peace. If you run into any difficulties or have any questions, use the Cultivation Room’s built-in smart assistant to contact me at any time.”

”Thank you, Principal!”

Lin Yi bowed deeply, his gratitude sincere.

This trust and support were incredibly precious.

Chen Zhenguo said nothing more and turned to leave.

The heavy alloy door slid shut silently.

Completely sealing off the noise from the outside world.

Lin Yi was left alone in the enormous Cultivation Room.

He slowly walked to the center of the Cultivation Room and sat down cross-legged.

He took the USB drive containing the ”Bone Tempering Skill” from his pocket.

He then quickly connected the USB drive to his wrist communicator and transferred the crucial cultivation technique file.

After all this was done, Lin Yi closed his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling the rich energy fluctuations in the Cultivation Room gradually fill his entire body.

A moment later.

He opened his eyes, his gaze focused and sharp, and immersed his mind in the light screen projected by his wrist communicator—

The profound text and diagrams of the ”Bone Tempering Skill” slowly unfurled.