Chapter 114: Chapter 99: The Sweet Treat_2
After both Chen Ku and the Flower Fox Mink grew stronger, he had experimented and found that the Flower Fox Mink could stay outside for up to seven days. Now, he would let it recover to its peak state, only then would he be confident about going to Yuan Country Ximu Prefecture to hunt the Volcanic Crow on Fire Beak Mountain.
While the Flower Fox Mink was recuperating inside his body, Chen Ku went to Master Yang's place to practice martial arts as usual. However, he only met his senior brother, Yang Shaoqi, and did not see his master.
"I heard that some experts from the Prefecture City have come to the county town, and Master was invited to attend a banquet," Yang Shaoqi said, his voice tinged with longing. "Hongyan Tower! Junior Brother, when will you have another happy occasion and invite me for a meal there?"
"Master is dining with people from the Prefecture City at Hongyan Tower?" Chen Ku's heart stirred, recalling what Sui Qingfang had said. It's not even the New Year yet, and people are already here?
Upon reflection, those who could dine with Master probably weren't young people.
"So, are we still practicing today?" Chen Ku looked at his senior brother, quite eager to try. He had not had a formal spar with his senior brother since his breakthrough to the mid-stage of Inner Qi.
After all, Senior Brother Yang, who practiced the Furious Ape Mighty Staff and possessed a strong Root Bone, was surely much more powerful than those Demon People who only appeared to be at the Peak of Inner Qi.
Chen Ku really wanted to know: having killed those at the Peak of Inner Qi with his Ultimate Skill and Root Bone, could he defeat his senior brother, who was only at the late stage of Inner Qi?
"No, no, no, no!"
Seeing the fighting spirit on Chen Ku's face, Yang Shaoqi hurriedly shook his head and said, "No fighting! No fighting! Even if I could withstand that Qi Power of yours, it wouldn't be pleasant. Besides, what's the point of us brothers fighting?"
His eyes shifted slightly as he continued, "Why don't I take you to spar with some experts from the Guardian Hall? How about that? They have people who practice all kinds of Weapons there; it could help you gain more experience."
"Guardian Hall."
Chen Ku's interest was piqued. He was still thinking about the Bow Technique, one of the Guardian Hall's Ultimate Skills. Since he had nothing better to do, why not go and give it a shot?
「In Hongyan Tower.」
Many guests were curiously looking towards the square table by the window.
There sat Yang Luochen, the toughest old man in the county, possessing the strength of ten thousand jun. In terms of seniority, few in the entire county could rank higher than him.
Now, he was actually scooping up soup, actively serving a bowl to the person sitting across from him.
"Have a taste. This is the most characteristic Snake Soup of Baojiao County. Only Master Chef Li Fugui of Hongyan Tower can achieve such exquisite control over its preparation—it's not fishy or gamey, but sweet and fresh," he said.
Everyone looked on with great interest. Yang Luochen, Master Yang, was known in Baojiao County for his temper; there were hardly any people he respected, let alone someone he would personally serve soup to.
The person opposite him wore black clothes, his hand wrapped with chains that also bound a prisoner in a cangue behind him.
"Zuo, let's be clear. It's almost New Year. Just for escorting this person to be exiled with the Border Army, why make a trip to Baojiao County?" Yang Luochen said, passing over the Snake Soup.
"If it were an ordinary criminal, of course, I wouldn't need to escort him personally... but he's not ordinary..."
Zuo Zongquan, the Five Realms Commander from Qiu Dragon Mansion, held the Snake Soup with one hand and tasted it. His eyes lit up; the broth was indeed delicious and flavorful. After drinking, he glanced back with a smile and pointed, saying,
"However, it's truly not just because of him. It's also because Grandmaster Jin Chui, Qin Sect Master, will soon be here to serve as protector for Lord Tan Chongrui. By then, your little Baojiao County will become a Martial Arts Conference! The waters here will be murky, so naturally, I have to come and test their depth, see if I can find an opportunity to break through to the Sixth Realm."
Yang Luochen pondered.
This Left Commander, known as the 'Sky Killing Star', had a fierce and murderous nature. His twin iron whips each weighed ten thousand catties. As he traveled from prefecture to prefecture, his presence alone could make local experts in any area tremble with fear.
Years ago, when Zuo Zongquan was still a young man passing through Baojiao County, he had been pursued by over fifty experts for eight hundred miles. Not only did he avoid falling into a desperate situation, but he also managed to use various methods to counter-kill more than thirty experts of similar rank along the way. Yang Luochen had admired him deeply back then, considering him a heroic and ruthless figure.
Yang Luochen had secretly aided him, which was how their friendship began. Now, more than thirty years later, Zuo Zongquan had clearly not squandered his natural talent. He had entered the Five Realms years ago and was now the Deputy Commander of Infantry in Qiu Dragon Mansion, leading a thousand soldiers of the Divine Force Army, each possessing the strength of a thousand catties.
In terms of strength, influence, and age, the Zuo Zongquan of today was no longer the youth of the past but a great expert who had reached a state of great achievement in his life.
Even Yang Luochen, before he himself had entered the Five Realms, was not confident he could have handled Zuo Zongquan's twin iron whips.
Grandmaster Jin Chui? He had heard of Qin Yuxian, the President of the Qiu Dragon Martial Meeting, since his youth but had never had the chance to meet him.
"That's right. I heard you took in another Disciple this year? Only at the realm of Inner Qi, yet he possesses a Root Bone with the Irresistible Power of Four Elephants..." Zuo Zongquan said, sipping his Snake Soup as if asking casually.
Yang Luochen narrowed his eyes upon hearing this. "What are you planning?"
Zuo Zongquan sighed. "You also know, old friend, that this Overlord Whip technique of mine, passed down from my esteemed master, is one few are capable of learning. Why not... let your Disciple also acknowledge me as his master? After all, your iron staff and my steel whips are both heavy Weapons. Since he can learn your Stick Technique, he likely has the Qualifications to study my whip technique as well. Besides, I can later arrange for him to join the Qiu Dragon Mansion's Divine Force Army. Wouldn't that offer a much better future than following you in this small border county?"
Chapter 115: Chapter 99: The Sweet Treat_3
Yang Luochen's veins throbbed on his temples. "Bring it on! It just so happens that after my breakthrough, no one has been able to give me a good fight yet. You're worthy. Come, beat me, then we'll talk!"
He hadn't expected this murderous brat to actually be eyeing his personal disciple.
「...」
At this moment, Chen Ku was unaware that a violent, bloodthirsty Commander had set his sights on him.
「In the Guardian Hall.」
Chai Bao, hands clasped behind his back, watched as Chen Ku, wielding an iron staff, successively knocked down six disciples in the late stages of Inner Qi.
From a distance, Yang Shaoqi gritted his teeth. "Damn, this kid... Mid-stage Inner Qi? When did that happen!"
Watching Chen Ku in the Guardian Hall practice the first four moves of the Skyward Strike with the guardians, Yang Shaoqi felt a pang of retrospective fear. It's a good thing I brought him to the Guardian Hall. Otherwise, I really wouldn't have been able to keep him in check.
He steeled his resolve.
No sleep tonight! I'll practice extra, aiming for Inner Qi Perfection.
He was stimulated by Chen Ku's Talent.
If this progress continued, it wouldn't be long before he, as the senior disciple, would lose all prestige.
He certainly didn't want to go out and have people see him and not call him Yang Shaoqi, but "Master Yang's Disciple" or "Young Master Chen's Senior Disciple"...
That would just make him an accessory to his master and junior disciple.
Meanwhile, Chen Ku was genuinely enjoying his fights in the Guardian Hall.
Chai Bao, however, grew more intrigued as he watched.
Archery, in fact, also greatly tests strength. The greater the strength, the heavier the bow one can draw.
For instance, the Eagle-Pulling Bow in his hand, a Treasure Bow of Twenty Thousand Stone Power, could, in the entire Medicine King Hall, only be drawn by Yang Luochen, Master Yang, besides himself.
And Chen Ku, with his Irresistible Power of Four Elephants Root Bone and single-arm strength of Twenty Thousand Jin, already qualified to draw his Treasure Bow.
At that moment, Chen Ku defeated another internal qi expert of the Guardian Hall and proactively proposed, "I know that all my fellow disciples in the Guardian Hall learn archery under Instructor Chai. I've taken much advantage in close combat. So, how about this: if any brother is willing, perhaps you can stand a hundred steps away. I will charge from a hundred steps, and you can shoot your bow. That would seem fair, wouldn't it?"
Originally, these Guardian Hall disciples, already beaten black and blue by Chen Ku, felt disgruntled. Now, hearing his proposal, it was exactly what they wanted, so who wouldn't agree?
Even Chai Bao did not stop them because, usually, when practicing archery in the Guardian Hall, they also shot at each other from several hundred steps away, without arrowheads. Though the arrows could still injure people...
But would Medicine King Hall fear injuries?
If injured, just use medicine to recover. As long as you can develop your skills and Martial Arts, what is there to fear from some injuries?
Thus, after Chen Ku and a disciple stood in position.
"Be careful," the disciple said. Seeing Chen Ku begin to move his feet while standing a hundred steps away, he raised his bow and shot.
Chen Ku immediately activated his Eagle Eye. The arrow flying towards him from a hundred steps away appeared as large as a giant elephant. He didn't dodge but instead met this arrow head-on.
Displaying Piercing Sound Step, though still not at the entry-level, when combined with Inner Qi, a single leap could cover a distance of five zhang. Holding the staff, he spun in mid-air, and with a grab of his right hand, firmly caught the arrow flying through the air.
"What?" The disciple was shocked and instinctively shot again!
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Three arrows were fired in quick succession.
Yet Chen Ku was already seventy steps away, using his Eagle Eye to watch the three successively fired arrows. Although their speed hadn't decreased, in his vision, the targets were enormous, like three pillars.
His fingers continuously snapped out, continually grabbing the flying arrows in midair.
Including the previous arrow, he had now caught four arrows. Within a few breaths, he approached this disciple of the Guardian Hall and swung his staff to strike.
"No more fighting!!"
When Chen Ku's staff was about to land a foot in front of this disciple, he shut his eyes and anxiously shouted, "I surrender! I surrender!"
Chen Ku's staff steadied right there.
The entire Guardian Hall stared at Chen Ku as if he were a monster.
A Divine Archer relies on shooting arrows from a distance. Yet... Chen Ku could actually track the trajectory of arrows in the sky, catch four arrows in one go, and with continuous lunges, switch the long-range battle back to close combat.
What kind of monster is this? We can't win in close combat; he's too fiercely violent. And in a ranged battle, we have no advantage either...
Suddenly, Chai Bao called out to Chen Ku.
Chen Ku immediately turned around, saluting. "Disciple is here."
He also felt somewhat uneasy in his heart. Did I do too much? Did I make the Guardian Hall lose face? That wasn't my intention.
Chai Bao then asked indifferently, "You can catch arrows flying in mid-air. This doesn't seem to be a reaction, but... your eyes can see fast-moving objects, can they?"
With his years of experience as a Divine Archer, he could see everything clearly from Chen Ku's actions just now. He was just confirming.
Chen Ku gently responded, "Yes, Disciple can see them, so I could catch them."
Chai Bao nodded gently. "Hmm, indeed."
Having said that, he turned and walked away.
Chen Ku was dumbfounded.
Hmm? Just 'hmm' and that's it?
But seeing that Chai Bao neither tapped his head three times nor showed any intention of closing the main gate with his hands behind his back and leaving through a side door, he couldn't help but sigh.
Looks like there's no fleece to be had.
「...」
Yang Luochen walked back to the Medicine King Hall with his hands behind his back.
But if anyone looked closely, they would notice that Yang Luochen's hands, hidden in his sleeves behind his back, were trembling slightly.
「At the same time,」
On the official road outside Baojiao County, Zuo Zongquan's hands were also trembling, and he cursed under his breath, "That old fellow is truly fierce. He's as vigorous as ever despite his age."
「Meanwhile,」
Yang Luochen, walking towards his own courtyard, was also cursing inwardly, "Damn it, that was intense! It's been years since my palms were numbed by someone's Weapon in a fight."
But, he had managed to vent some anger.
The audacity! Daring to covet my disciple?
He was sure that the hands of that fellow surnamed Zuo, hidden in his sleeves, were shaking even more uncontrollably than his own.
Thinking this, Yang Luochen huffed a laugh.
Unexpectedly, just as he reached the entrance to his courtyard, he saw Chai Bao waiting at the door, holding something.
Yang Luochen approached and chuckled, "It's not even New Year's yet, and you're already here to pay your respects? You're not brewing up some trouble, are you? Spit it out... What's on your mind?"
Chai Bao looked a bit embarrassed but spoke up anyway, "It's nothing much, really... It's just... you see, could Chen Ku perhaps become my disciple as well?"
Chapter 116: Chapter 100: Robust Qi
When Yang Luochen heard what Chai Bao said at the door, he was initially stunned. Then, he became furious.
How dare they! Every single one of them... All coveting his disciple! It was already enough dealing with that scamp Shang Yunfang, whom he had reluctantly agreed to take a disciple with, practically holding his nose. Today, he had gone out for a meal, only to encounter Zuo Zongquan plotting against his disciple. He had thought that after dealing with the outsiders, his mood for the day was quite good. But upon returning home, he found there were covetous ones inside as well!
"No! Absolutely not!" Yang Luochen said furiously. "Do you think taking a disciple is like buying cabbage? Can you actually bargain with me over this?"
Chai Bao fell silent for a moment.
He wasn't usually this kind of person, but today he was truly tempted. If Chen Ku only possessed the Great Strength Root Bone, it would have been one thing. But he... he could even catch four arrows in mid-air! Such Eye Power—he was clearly a born Divine Archer! At this age, with such a Root Bone and talent, not just Chai Bao himself, but even generations of ancestors who cultivated the Sky Eagle Eight Arrows had never encountered such a promising candidate. And now, this prospect was right here in the hall, not an outsider. Since he had discovered him, he truly couldn't resist the urge to teach him. Just like Elder Shang, who insisted on finding a disciple with talent superior to his own to carry on his inheritance—who wouldn't feel the same? To watch such a gem be wasted, or to let it be polished to unleash a potential far beyond what one might initially see...
So Chai Bao said softly, "Elder Yang, please consider it. This child..."
BANG!
As a result, Yang Luochen, his face dark, walked straight into the courtyard, slammed the main door shut, and gave Chai Bao the cold shoulder.
"If you want a disciple, go find one yourself! Why does everyone keep eyeing my disciple every day? Have you no pride?!"
---
Chen Ku was still unaware of Instructor Chai's true intentions.
Before he knew it, the next day had arrived.
Today was a day for the Butcher Court, and Chen Ku was in luck; it was another day when Demons were brought in.
It was a flock of Black Spirit Doves.
Exactly sixteen of them.
They were the source of the most important ingredient for the Seven-Blood Pill: demon blood.
Although these doves had become Demons, they did not belong to the powerful class among Demons; like herbivores, they still ate only grains.
But they had a unique trait: exceptional endurance and memory. Besides being used in medicine, Black Feather Pigeons were also often cultivated by various factions into evolved versions of messenger pigeons.
Once they took flight, they could fly for three days without food or water.
Moreover, their memory was exceptionally remarkable.
[The Diagram Master killed sixteen Black Feather Pigeons... and obtained eleven strands of First Realm Demon Evil Qi.]
[Black Feather Pigeon Change·Shape Shifting]
[Shape Shifting Part: Black Feather Pigeon Eye (Light Sensing Everywhere)]
Chen Ku looked at the ability of the pigeon's eye.
Unlike the eagle's distant vision and magnification, the pigeon's eye's ability was to clearly discern directions from light, never getting lost.
But this was not the ability Chen Ku needed the most. There were two abilities he desired above all. One was flying, and the other...
As Chen Ku continued to infuse the Evil Qi of the Black Feather Pigeons,
perhaps due to good luck,
on the third attempt, he achieved the ability he wanted.
[Black Feather Pigeon Change]
[Transformation Part: Pigeon Brain (Photographic Memory)]
Here it comes!
Chen Ku was well aware that even the most ordinary pigeon could remember routes flown years earlier, which is why pigeons were cultivated by the Imperial Court's post stations and various factions as messenger pigeons.
This was due to the pigeons' Photographic Memory.
And as a Demon, the Black Feather Pigeon's talent in this aspect was terrifyingly enhanced beyond that of ordinary pigeons.
Chen Ku immediately went inside his house and picked up the two books, the "Treasure Flood Dragon Demon Illustrated Book" and the "Qiu Dragon Demon List."
He read through each page.
Then, he discovered that the content and characters he had read seemed to have truly imprinted themselves in his mind; he had a Photographic Memory and had memorized everything.
Such an ability, if I had it in my former life, I could have easily passed any university entrance exam.
Even in this world of martial arts and strange powers, it was of extraordinary use.
Unfortunately, if the Flower Fox Mink evolves further, it will become a Second Realm Demon... I don't have the Evil Qi from a Second Realm Demon's Embryo Form. Otherwise, I would definitely refine both the Black Feather Pigeon and the White Jade Eagle into the Flower Fox Mink, making it live up to its name and transforming it into a Deity-Sealing Strange Beast with wings on its ribs.
In the Second Realm were humanity's Mystic Barrier masters.
The difference between major Realms can sometimes mean the difference between life and death. Chen Ku felt that he was not yet capable of assassinating a Second Realm Mystic Barrier master. Unless... his Qi Power increased further, and he had more methods at his disposal.
Even so, he released the Flower Fox Mink, setting it on a seven-day mission to hunt Volcanic Crows at Fire Beak Mountain.
Then he began to take one Seven-Colored Pearl daily, increasing his Qi Power.
Seven days passed.
The ingestion of seven Seven-Colored Pearls and the consumption of an entire high-quality Treasure Herb finally brought Chen Ku's internal Qi Power to the threshold of another breakthrough.
Robust Qi is different from Sufficient Qi. It's not just about accumulating Qi Power, but also about forming a kind of momentum...
Chen Ku recalled the teachings of his two masters:
There's a saying, 'righteousness emboldens the spirit.' What is Robust Qi? It's having momentum, an aura that can exert pressure, making people unconsciously feel oppressed by your presence. Only by achieving Robust Qi can one truly understand the essence of merging intent and Qi, aligning Spirit and Inner Qi.
Chen Ku began to focus on sensing the resonance between his Spirit and Inner Qi, seeking to find his own momentum.
This step was closely related to the intent behind his moves.
It was the spiritual imprint of an individual's own Cultivation.
---
As Chen Ku was striving for the Robust Qi of the late stage of Inner Qi, the twelfth lunar month arrived.
The twelfth lunar month, the last month of the year. There was a saying: 'After the Laba Festival comes the New Year.' Some of the solar terms and the calendar of the Daji Dynasty were quite similar to those of Chen Ku's former life.
"This winter, it seems there will be no snow. A cold winter without snow means next year's harvest will surely plummet..." Sui Qingfang, wearing a green inner robe and draped in a large white fox fur-lined cloak, said softly.
"Next year, I fear it will be another lean year. The Demon People of Peace Path will surely seize this opportunity to stir up major civil unrest."
"I didn't expect Miss Sui, though a young lady, to see things so clearly."
Behind Sui Qingfang stood a noble young man with his hands clasped behind his back. His sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes turned to look at her as he said, "Even if that happens, a bunch of rebellious Demon People won't achieve much. What you should be worrying about, Miss Sui, is how to deal with those of us from Qiu Dragon Mansion."
The young man, named Lin Xinglong, had deep eyes.
Looking at the plum blossoms blooming in the courtyard, he said, "If things really don't work out, after the spring examination, you should come with me to Qiu Dragon Mansion."
Upon hearing this, Sui Qingfang's slightly martial eyebrows rose slightly.
"Cousin, do you look down on the younger generation of Baojiao County so much? Although Baojiao County is small, Qilin can also be hidden in its fields. There are a few whom even you, from Qiu Dragon Mansion, should not underestimate."
"Oh?" Lin Xinglong chuckled lightly.
"You're not talking about Xie Qingfeng, are you? In terms of age, he's not yet thirty but already possesses Fourth Realm Cultivation and is known as Thirteen Young Master Xie. His talent and Root Bone are indeed, even in Qiu Dragon Mansion, worthy of being called Outstanding. However... this time it's the Military Scholar examination for twenty-year-olds, and he won't be participating."
"Besides Thirteen Young Master Xie, there are others, of course," Sui Qingfang said flatly.
"Haven't some of the people from Qiu Dragon Mansion already started compiling a list of talents in Baojiao County? In time, you will naturally see this generation of Baojiao's youth."
"Just say it directly, Miss Sui." Lin Xinglong's eyelids drooped slightly, making his gaze narrow as his peripheral vision swept over Sui Qingfang on the veranda.
"From your tone, it seems you are quite optimistic about someone, even thinking they can compare with those from the Prefecture City."
"Yes, this person is named Chen Ku, and he's only seventeen this year," Sui Qingfang said, revealing Chen Ku's name.
"Seventeen isn't a particularly valuable age. Seventeen-year-olds with Inner Qi are a dime a dozen in the Inner City," Lin Xinglong said indifferently.
"I haven't finished," Sui Qingfang stated earnestly. "Seventeen, with a Root Bone of the Irresistible Power of Four Elephants. Reportedly... just a few days ago, he stepped into the mid-stage of Inner Qi. A young man like this, can't he be compared with your people from the Prefecture City?"
Lin Xinglong finally looked at Sui Qingfang with a serious expression. "Oh? There's such a person?"
---
「In the courtyard.」
Chen Ku's hands were long as he swept out with his staff. Unlike before, this strike was filled with a ferocious impulse.
It was as if a Fierce Ape intended to smash everything before it.
A violent momentum, accompanied by Chen Ku's Inner Qi, dispersed into his Force Power and throughout his entire body.
I understand now. I cultivate the Fierce Ape Mighty Staff, and the momentum it trains is encapsulated in a single word: 'ferocious.' This is the momentum of the Skyward Strike, and it is also the momentum of my Inner Qi...
Chen Ku felt his Spirit merge into his Inner Qi, endowing the already robust Inner Qi with a distinct momentum.
Late stage of Inner Qi! Robust Qi! Only with sufficient Qi Power, and then momentum, can it be called Robust Qi! I have the momentum... but it's still not enough. I need to continue practicing... However, I have indeed achieved the late stage of Inner Qi.
An entire Seven-Colored Pearl Fruit, combined with an Ultimate Skill and the enhancement from his additional spiritual power, had successfully elevated him another level.
Just as Chen Ku was silently sensing the formidable Qi Power within his body, the Flower Fox Mink he had released returned after seven days.