However, he clearly had killed Ye Yuan. But why was this ominous feeling in his heart still there?
At this moment, Ye Yuan who was stabbed by Chou Ying gradually dissipated and then turned into nothingness.
What Chou Ying stabbed was actually just an afterimage!
“Hey, it’s very dangerous for you to show your back to the enemy.”
Ye Yuan’s voice made Chou Ying went stiff.
How is this possible?! I already stabbed him!
“Instant Flash! It’s actually Instant Flash!” Tang Yu exclaimed.
“Young Master! It’s great that you are fine!” Lu-er shouted, pleasantly surprised.
“Hahaha. Of course I’m fine. How can your young master die so easily?” Ye Yuan said with a smile.
“Brother Ye actually managed to master such difficult footwork. Furthermore, your use of it was absolutely superb. What a genius!” Tang Yu marveled at this show of ability.
“Just a trifling skill.”
To other people, Instant Flash was an incredibly profound footwork which was exceedingly hard to comprehend. However, to Ye Yuan, this level of footwork did not possess any challenge.
Instant Flash might look impressive, but it was actually only a footwork technique that allowed the user to move freely in a small radius. It was merely a Tier 1 Martial Technique, something that was not very profound.
However, this footwork encompassed Heavenly Dao, making it easy to learn but challenging to master. An ordinary person who wanted to master it would find it incredibly difficult. Even within the Dan Wu Academy, Instant Flash was a highly challenging technique with hardly anyone able to master it.
However, this level of Heavenly Dao was not worth mentioning to Ye Yuan who once had possessed an incredibly high cultivation level.
Chapter 23
Translator: celefoata_ Editor: RegiusProfessor
As a matter of fact, there were still some advantages in Ye Hang sending Ye Yuan to the Dan Wu Academy. That fellow at the very least will attend a few classes and pick up some stuff.
Although these things were not worth mentioning to the current Ye Yuan, it was still a pretty decent option for fooling people.
With Ye Yuan’s current strength, Instant Flash was a practical martial technique, yet not overly conspicuous.
Even though this martial technique faintly encompassed Heavenly Dao, in reality, it just barely touched a corner of it; it did not even count as crossing the threshold.
Ye Yuan spent the past few days reorganizing his predecessor’s memories. By relying on these vague impressions from his predecessor’s classes, he managed to fumble out several basic martial techniques with Instant Flash being one of it.
In reality, while the Instant Flash that Ye Yuan executed seemed right, it was actually different. But by executing it with Ye Yuan’s comprehension, it was only stronger and not weaker than those demonstrated by the teachers in the academy.
“No wonder you dare to not bring along followers. To think that your Instant Flash already reached such a level. Very impressive! Looks like the appraisal of you in the report was fairly misleading.”
Chou Ying naturally knew that Instant Flash was not a unique martial technique. However, as Instant Flash was a footwork technique with only a small range of motion, it was not very useful for assassination. This was why he did not study it much.
Mastery of a martial technique could be classified into several categories. From low to high respectively: entry stage, small success stage, large success stage, great circle stage, and the legendary breaking illusion stage.
Even so, Chou Ying knew that for Instant Flash to leave behind an afterimage, it had to reach at least the great circle stage. To be able to train such an amazing movement technique to the great circle stage, as long as he did not meet any martial artists specializing in movement technique and the opponent was at the Essence Qi Realm and below, he basically had the ability to self-preserve.
No wonder this brat dared to be so arrogant, he really had some capabilities.
As an assassin, Chou Ying naturally had a movement technique that he specialized in. However, his movement technique was only trained till the large success stage. There was still quite a bit of distance away from the great circle stage.
It would be wrong to think that there was only a small difference of one realm between the large success stage and the great circle stage. For mastery of a martial technique, it was as far apart as heaven and earth.
The great circle stage would mean training the martial technique to the pinnacle, without any further room for improvements. Except for those monsters who possessed incredible comprehension, it would be very difficult to train a martial technique to the great circle stage.
As for the legendary breaking illusion stage, it would mean to break out of the great circle stage and create an alternate possibility; a sort of evolution from the original martial technique.
The requirements needed to train a martial technique to the breaking illusion stage were so harsh that it made one’s hair stand on its end. That was why it was considered a legendary stage. Generally speaking, training a martial technique to the great circle stage represented attaining the highest stage.
Chou Yin had always been somewhat confident of his movements, but he did not want to lose to a silkpants.
“You flattered me. But there are no bonus marks. You still have to die,” Ye Yuan said lightly.
“Hahaha!” As if he just heard a hilarious joke, Chou Yin laughed wildly before saying, “To not know the immensity of heaven and earth! I admit that my movements are inferior when compared to you. But I don’t think those two people beside you also have movement techniques at the great circle stage, do they? I’d like to see how a weak silkpants at the Third Level Essence Qi Realm like you going to receive my blow directly!”
Chou Ying was a veteran in battles. After missing that one strike, he immediately looked for another way. Obviously, the two people beside Ye Yuan were his biggest weakness.
Tang Yu was still fine, but Lu-er was a lamb waiting to be slaughtered in Chou Ying’s eyes.
Your movement technique is fast? What’s the use of you being fast if I force you to fight me head-on?
Yet at this moment, that wild smile froze on his face; what replaced it was bafflement.
Because at this moment, Ye Yuan’s aura started to increase explosively under everyone’s perception.
Peak Third Level Essence Qi Realm!
Fourth Level Essence Qi Realm!
Fifth Level Essence Qi Realm!
Sixth Level Essence Qi Realm!
Ye Yuan’s cultivation realm broke through its bottleneck from the Third Level Essence Qi Realm to the Fourth Level Essence Qi Realm and continued rising rapidly; all the way until it passed the Sixth Level Essence Qi Realm before stopping.
Looking at this scene, Chou Ying was dumbstruck and forgot to make his move for a moment.
“H-how is this possible?” Chou Ying sucked in a cold breath.
He suddenly recalled the scene where Ye Yuan swallowed the medicinal pill and thought to himself; could this possibly be the effects of that medicinal pill?
Even though he had heard that some medicinal pills were able to increase strength temporarily, this was his first time seeing a medicinal pill which could increase three small cultivation realms in a row.
Chou Ying could not help but think that if he had a medicinal pill like this, wouldn’t completing missions be as simple as cutting up vegetables?
Yet the reality was that a rookie who had a difference of four small cultivation realms from him, in a blink of an eye, created a gap by only one small cultivation realm than him . . .
Although the Sixth Level Essence Qi Realm and the Seventh Level Essence Qi Realm were not on the same level, without a doubt, Ye Yuan indeed possessed the capital to fight with him now. Coupled with his Instant Flash being at the great circle stage, it might be possible for Ye Yuan to battle him.
Chou Ying suddenly felt tha
t today was very bizarre. This brat in front of him had truly given him too many surprises. Initially, he was still grumbling about how this mission was too simple. Now, he could not help but somewhat regretted taking on this mission.
However, regardless of what happens, the mission had to be completed. Otherwise, he would most likely lose the status he earned painstakingly in Mosha.
Apparently, the reason why Chou Ying was still thinking about completing the mission was that even after Ye Yuan swallowed the Five Elements Spirit Link Pill, his cultivation realm ultimately had stopped at the Sixth Level Essence Qi Realm.
This was a cultivation realm that he could handle.
Narrowing both eyes, the killing intent from Chou Yin firmly locked onto Lu-er.
“One Word Kill!”
Chou Ying immediately made his strongest move which he had used to finish off countless opponents in the past.
One Word Kill; simple and straightforward, yet it was domineering. A straightforward move that was not flashy at all.
Lu-er stood there completely unable to react as the sword already reached in front of her.
A hideous smile flashed across Chou Ying’s face as if he could see the beauty, Lu-er, was dying, and the image of Ye Yuan’s heart-wrenching grief.
However, just as Chou Ying’s sword was about to pierce Lu-er’s throat . . .
Ding!
His hand which was gripping his sword became numb, and the short sword which had never left his side was sent flying away.
A terrifying strength was transmitted, and Chou Ying was sent flying away as well.
At the critical moment just now, Ye Yuan reached Lu-er with Instant Flash, while his attack which was released after, struck first.
He only stretched his finger out and tapped lightly, accurately hitting Chou Ying’s short sword and sent it flying!
Absolute Yang Finger!
Ye Yuan’s Absolute Yang Finger already had some progress, reaching the entry stage after several days of cultivation.
A martial technique of this rank obviously was not so easy to learn. To have reached the entry stage within a few days showed how outstanding Ye Yuan’s talent was.
Even though it was only the entry stage of Absolute Yang Finger, executing it with Ye Yuan’s current Sixth Level Essence Qi Realm was not something that Chou Ying could withstand.
Chou Ying rolled on the ground. Puhwark! He spat out a mouthful of blood.
Looking at Chou Ying, Ye Yuan said coldly, “I will only use one finger. Whether you can escape or not, it is up to your abilities.”
Right now, Chou Ying’s innards were in mayhem. But he knew that he had hit a hard plate. This brat was clearly pretending to be a pig in order to eat a tiger! He was too strong!
Forcefully suppressing his injuries, Chou Ying could not be bothered to care about anything else and started to wildly circulate all the essence energy in his body.
He wanted to flee!
Chou Ying could feel Ye Yuan’s surging killing intent. Clearly, his actions to kill Lu-er just now had thoroughly infuriated Ye Yuan.
Chou Ying used all the strength in his body to escape. He could even feel that his current speed was faster than it had ever been before. It was so fast that his movement technique had touched the threshold of the great circle stage.
This discovery made him ecstatic with joy!
I can escape!
I definitely can escape!
Chou Ying was screaming in his mind, and then his consciousness gradually blurred . . .
Chapter 24
Translator: celefoata_ Editor: RegiusProfessor
Watching Chou Ying utilized his movement technique to try to escape, Ye Yuan raised his finger leisurely and channeled essence energy with all his might using the Spirit Bristle Nine Yang Divine Art.
A finger pointed forward, and a formless force shot out from Ye Yuan’s finger. It tore through the air, penetrating Chou Ying’s heart in an instant.
The force was so swift and fierce that Chou Ying did not even notice his injury. His body continued charging forward for several meters more, collapsing only after he lost consciousness.
Absolute Yang Finger was incomparably domineering. The force shot out concentrated instead of dispersing, resulting in an incredibly powerful pinpoint and deadly attack. Being executed using Ye Yuan’s Sixth Level Essence Qi Realm strength, its lethality obviously could not be underestimated.
Of course, Absolute Yang Finger was not without any weaknesses. The biggest flaw was that it took too long to charge up. That was also the reason why Ye Yuan was slower by a beat when saving Lu-er just now.
In reality, if Chou Ying recklessly tangled with Ye Yuan in close proximity, leaving Ye Yuan unable to charge up his full strength, he might have a slim chance of survival.
But the various means used by Ye Yuan had long made Chou Ying wanted to withdraw from the fight. Especially when Ye Yuan had sent him flying with only one finger. This shocked Chou Ying’s state of mind greatly that made him wanted to flee at all cost.
Yet this attempt to escape gave Ye Yuan the chance to charge up.
From the beginning, Ye Yuan looked as if he was careless. But in reality, he advanced gradually, entrenching himself firmly at every step.
First, he used words to agitate Chou Ying, disrupting his state of heart. Next, he displayed Instant Flash. Following which, he swallowed the Five Element Spirit Link Pill, using his finger to overpower his opponent’s sword, crushing Chou Ying’s confidence step by step. Finally, he launched this certain kill strike.
It might have looked bland, but the entire process was filled with trepidation.
Although Ye Yuan had a lot of hidden cards, his strength was still too weak. If it was not for the fact that he swallowed the Five Element Spirit Link Pill and unleashed the Absolute Yang Finger with his full strength, he would not have been able to do anything to Chou Ying.
“Brother Tang, it is time to go,” Ye Yuan said to Tang Yu lightly, not even bothering to look at Chou Ying who was lying on the ground.
Tang Yu was shocked by Ye Yuan’s attack and stood there dumbfounded the entire time. Only when Ye Yuan called him did he recover from his shock.
“Ah? Oh . . . Go . . . Go.”
Tang Yu mounted his horse awkwardly, and the three of them continued heading towards the Dan Wu Academy.
. . . . . .
Passing through this stretch of messy stone forest, their field of vision gradually widened. In front of their eyes was a vast plain, and they were able to indistinctly make out what looks like multi-storied pavilions.
It was the Dan Wu Academy!
The State of Qin established itself through martial arts, with a strong emphasis on the Martial Dao. However, this Dan Wu Academy was not established by the State of Qin.
The domain south of the Endless Forest was hailed as the Tranquil Cloud Ten Nations. There were a total of ten nations, and the State of Qin was only one of them. The reason why they were collectively known as the Tranquil Cloud Ten Nations was that these ten nations were all under the jurisdiction of the Tranquil Cloud Sect; the Dan Wu Academy was the outer sect establishment of the Tranquil Cloud Sect.
The Tranquil Cloud Sect established its sect fundamentally with alchemy; even so, the sect’s internal hierarchy could be divided into the Pill Faction and the Martial Faction. This was why the outer sect establishment was named the Dan Wu Academy. 1
Just as the three of them entered the gates and were about to head to the residential area, they were stopped by a bunch of people.
“Yoh! Isn’t this the Ten Thousand Years Last Place? Well, aren’t you a tough one. When they sent you out, you were clearly breathing in but not breathing out. To think you had actually returned alive and kicking,” the person in front of them exclaimed, clearly with sarcasm.
He was called Fei Qingping, a loyal lackey of Wan Yuan. Ye Yuan’s predecessor was poisoned because of competing with this fellow and ended up losing his life.
The
se several people in front of them all came from ordinary backgrounds. In the Dan Wu Academy, in order for those with ordinary backgrounds to obtain additional resources, many would choose to attach themselves to figures from the noble families. Only those who truly had outstanding talent would be heavily groomed by the academy.
“Good dogs don’t get underfoot, get lost.” Ye Yuan could not be bothered with him. Would he not be demeaning his own status to act seriously against a dog?
“You! Ye Yuan, looks like your skin is itching again!” For someone like Fei Qingping, it was a taboo for other people to scold him a dog.
“With just you?” Ye Yuan asked expressionlessly.
“Yoh. After not seeing you for a few days, you became even more brain-damaged. You First Level Essence Qi Realm . . . Yii . . . How’s that possible? Y-you are already at the Third Level Essence Qi Realm?” Fei Qingping had only just sized him up, and could not help but to draw a cold breath. Ye Yuan was originally at the bottom place. After a few days of not seeing him, he actually rose two level consecutively, stepping into the Third Level Essence Qi Realm.
Fei Qingping still thought that he had seen wrongly, and he checked closely again before realizing that Ye Yuan was indeed already at the Third Level Essence Qi Realm. Wasn’t this a little too heaven-defying?
“Are your dog-eyes blind? Still can’t tell after staring for so long?” Ye Yuan’s words once again made the corner of Fei Qingping’s mouth twitched.
However, at this moment, Fei Qingping had already recovered from the initial shock and thought of a certain possibility.
He naturally knew that Ye Yuan’s father, Ye Hang, was an Alchemy Grandmaster. If he spared no expenses, pulling his son up by two small cultivation realms was not something incomprehensible.
As a matter of fact, there were plenty of methods to suddenly raise strength in this manner. But the price would be to sacrifice one’s potential.
It was said that there was an evil technique called Ghee Empowerment. The empowered individual could even directly break through the Essence Qi Realm and reach the Spirit Condensation Realm. But the price of this sort of empowerment was that it would no longer be possible for the person to increase his strength throughout his lifetime.
Unrivaled Medicine God c1-1444 Page 16