by Feng Yise
Walking further in, there were no longer books on the shelves but a scattered bunch of jade pieces. Ye Yuan know that this was where the essence of the first layer laid.
Highly profound martial techniques could not be recorded down on paper. Only jade pieces could record or replicate it.
Ye Yuan used his essence energy to inspect several jade pieces. These martial techniques were all high-grade Tier 1 martial techniques. These were actually already very rare.
Any single piece of these jade, when placed in the outside world, were objects worth cities. After all, Essence Qi Realm martial artists made up the largest portion of the population in the State of Qin, and the vast majority of them cultivated either low-grade or middle-grade martial techniques.
One high-grade martial technique jade piece to them was something they could only dream of. It was enough for their strength to immediately increase by one stage.
However, Ye Yuan did not have much interest in these high-grade martial techniques. He only looked a while before putting them back.
Ye Yuan had already walked to the deepest part of the first layer. If he still could not find a martial technique he was satisfied with, he could only settle with these high-grade martial techniques.
On the last shelf were only three jade pieces.
Clearly, these three jade pieces were not the same as the others.
Ye Yuan picked up the first jade piece, injected essence energy, and the information within the jade piece reflected in Ye Yuan's mind.
Thousand Feet Leap, a movement technique!
When mastered to the large success stage, it could shrink the distance to inches and traverse a thousand feet in an instant.
"A bit interesting."
Ye Yuan inspected the details of the Thousand Feet Leap. This movement technique had its unique points. Compared to Instant Flash, the Thousand Feet Leap's movement in a straight line was more outstanding. It was somewhat useful regardless of whether using it to sneak attack or flee.
This movement technique already reached the superior-grade Tier 1.
Placing the Thousand Feet Leap jade piece back on the shelf, Ye Yuan picked up a second jade piece. It was a rarely seen lightning-attribute martial technique which was extremely difficult to learn. Grade wise, it was similar to the Thousand Feet Leap.
Although it might be difficult, it did not draw much interest from Ye Yuan.
He casually picked up the third jade piece and investigated it.
"En? Stacking Waves Layered Palm . . . Incomplete martial technique? Estimated to be at least Tier 3 and above. It's just that it is incomplete, causing its current grade to fall to the high-grade Tier 1 category?"
Ye Yuan was attracted by the jade piece's introduction.
But it was not because this martial technique's grade was high. Tier 3 martial techniques were not exactly high-tier martial techniques to Ye Yuan.
What truly attracted him was that this martial technique was a martial technique that paid great attention to the way strength was utilized. When mastered, it could release multiple times, even several dozen times of one's power. The might of it was very substantial.
The introduction on this jade piece should have been left behind by a powerful figure from either the Tranquil Cloud Sect or the Dan Wu Academy. If one could execute this technique to its limits, jumping ranks during battle would simply be like eating rice and drinking water." Ye Yuan sighed in admiration.
Naturally, Ye Yuan also knew that this kind of martial technique would become harder to improve on as it progressed further. The difficulty of it would increase multiple times.
Simply put, it was easy to release twice the power. But the difficulty would increase for four times. After that, it becomes eight times, 16 times, and even 32 times. The further one advanced, the more terrifying it became. Naturally, the difficulty would also become increasingly immense.
Even so, this was a rather amazing martial technique. But sadly, it was way too incomplete.
. . . . . .
"En? You chose this martial technique?" Looking at the martial technique Ye Yuan chose, Zhao Chunyang was very surprised.
"That's right." Ye Yuan long knew that Zhao Chunyang would be shocked.
"But . . . This martial technique might be powerful, but it's incomplete."
Zhao Chunyang tried persuading Ye Yuan.
"I know, but this martial technique looks very impressive. I will put up with it first. We will talk about it again in the future," Ye Yuan smiled and then replied him.
"Not only it is incomplete, but also exceedingly difficult to learn. You know Senior Apprentice Brother Long Tang, don't you? He also once tried to learn this technique, but in the end, he gave up. This technique looks amazing, but it's an arduous yet fruitless labor. Three days . . . Even if you are brilliant, at best you can learn the First Layer Wave. It wouldn't be much use against your opponent, right?"
Actually, Zhao Chunyang's words were already very implicit. In his opinion, even if Ye Yuan spent a month's time, he might not be able to learn the First Layer Wave.
What was the concept of the First Layer Wave? Just the increment of two times the power simply could not compensate for the difference in strength between Ye Yuan and Fei Qingping.
Rather than that, it might be better to just learn a more practical martial technique.
Ye Yuan had a rather good impression towards this Zhao Chunyang. At least he did not see himself as a joke like the others. So he smiled and then said, "Many thanks for your concern, Senior Apprentice Brother. But I have my own plans. As for the deathmatch three days from now, I think I can handle it."
"This . . . Alright then. Since you insist, I will not persuade you anymore. Try your best." Zhao Chunyang shook his head and could only sigh. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_rubbing
Chapter 28 - Each Preparing for Battle
At a hidden location in the Dan Wu Academy.
Two people were currently discussing in a low voice.
"Qingping, what do you think about your deathmatch with Ye Yuan?"
"What's there to think about? Just kill him! This punk's life is really tough! The last time he was sent back, he was already not breathing. Who would have thought that after a few days, he would be alive and kicking? This time, I will definitely not give him any chance."
Fei Qingping's words were filled with contempt as if full of disdain towards Ye Yuan.
Ye Yuan and Wan Yuan grew up competing with one another, so the latter was also naturally very clear on Ye Yuan's nature as well as his strength. Therefore, he did not feel any burden to kill Ye Yuan during the deathmatch.
With regards to Wan Yuan's question, Fei Qingping felt that it was very unusual, so he could not help but asked, "Young Master Wan, listening to your words, you can't possibly be thinking that I will lose to him during this battle, right?"
Wan Yuan frowned and said, "I would not go so far as to say lose to him. I just feel that this time around, after Ye Yuan returned, he is rather unusual. Like . . . somewhat different from the past."
" Sigh. I was wondering what it was. Of course, he's different, but isn't it just rising by two minor realms? However, from the way I see it, he will probably stay like this for the rest of his life. Hahaha! "
Although Fei Qingping was older than Wan Yuan by two years, he always treated the latter as the boss.
Seeing how Fei Qingping was looking down on Ye Yuan like that, Wan Yuan felt that it was very inappropriate, and wanted to rebuke him. Yet, he also felt that Fei Qingping's opinion was correct.
That joke who was like rotten mud that could not even support a wall; could he overturn the heaven?
Although Fei Qingping was not some extraordinary talent, he was an experienced Fourth Level Essence Qi Realm martial artist, merely a step away from the Fifth Level Essence Qi Realm.
The Fourth Level Essence Qi Realm and the Third Level Essence Qi Realm were not even on the same level. Thus, Fei Qingping had a good reason to look down on Ye
Yuan.
This small step was not so easy to cross over.
The Dan Wu Academy was an academy for elites. Practically anyone here, when placed in the outside world, could jump ranks during battle.
The resources they enjoyed, martial skills and techniques they learned, as well as guidance from accomplished teachers, all of these were not what those from the outside world could compare with.
However, within the Dan Wu Academy, jumping ranks during a battle was a challenging thing to do. Unless one really had extraordinary talent.
If Long Tang or Feng Zhiruo was only at the Third Level Essence Qi Realm, Wan Yuan had no doubt that they could jump ranks to defeat Fei Qingping.
But if it were Ye Yuan, even if he were to beat Wan Yuan to death, he would not believe it.
Because he understood Ye Yuan too well!
After a moment of silence, Wan Yuan still shook his head and said, "Qingping, the deathmatch this time, you can only win. Defeat will not be tolerated. Even if Ye Yuan is only a rat, you have to go all out to defeat him. Bear in mind that you must not take him lightly, understood?"
Looking at Fei Qingping's careless attitude regarding his words, Wan Yuan finally became angry. "If you still have this attitude, I will eliminate you first! You are not only representing yourself in this match. You will also be representing the Wan Family, the Drunken Star Manor! If you are defeated by Ye Yuan, where do you want my father and me to put our faces?!"
Wan Yuan's roar surprised Fei Qingping for a moment; his brain unable to react in time.
But one thing was clear, and that was Wan Yuan really got angry!
For Wan Yuan to be so concerned with Ye Yuan, that was something that had never happened before.
"I-I understand, I will go all out to finish him!"
Feeling Wan Yuan's wrath, Fei Qingping did not dare to be arrogant and meekly promised this.
With a sigh, Wan Yuan said, "Qingping, I know that you feel Ye Yuan isn't even worth looking at. Actually, isn't that the same for me? But this time around after he returned to the academy, I keep feeling that there's something off."
"Off? Off in what way?" Fei Qingping could not help but became curious after Wan Yuan said that.
He knew that even though Wan Yuan was younger than him by two years, he was very prudent in doing things, just like his father.
Regardless of whether it was talent or intelligence, Fei Qingping was much worse than Wan Yuan. That was why he was sincerely convinced to be his follower.
"Today, I went to find him to destroy his spirit and give him some trouble. I used 70% of my power, but I failed to catch him! Who knows when that punk managed to learn Instant Flash and even trained it to the great success stage!"
"What? Instant Flash?! Great success stage?! H-how is that possible?"
Fei Qingping was startled. He apparently knew what Instant Flash at the great success stage meant. It meant that Ye Yuan was already standing at an undefeatable position.
If it was like this, Wan Yuan's warning was not an unnecessary action!
As if he was confirming his exchange with Ye Yuan today, Wan Yuan mused for a moment before nodding his head, saying, "That's right. It's Instant Flash at the great success stage!"
"I-isn't that too shameless? How could he possibly manage to learn such profound footwork? Could it be a fluke?" Fei Qingping suddenly started to ramble incoherently.
Wan Yuan said in a deep voice, "A fluke? Why don't you try executing Instant Flash at the great success stage by luck for me to see?!"
" . . ."
"Actually, he stirred up a lot of trouble during his trip back to the capital. He even went to the Drunken Star Manor to make a scene, and Father was unable to do anything to him. This time around on the way back here, Father arranged for a Mosha assassin. Yet the result was that Ye Yuan actually arrived at the academy safely! That's why I feel that there is something odd about Ye Yuan after he came back!"
"Then . . . what should I do?" At this point, Fei Qingping was thoroughly panicking.
Patting his shoulders, Wan Yuan slowly said, "Relax. Even if he is a little unusual, the difference in strength between the two of you can't be made up! However, you can't let down your guard during these three days. You have to make full use of all the time you have!"
Hearing Wan Yuan said all these, Fei Qingping really did not dare to lower his guard this time. This battle was a deathmatch where life and death must be determined. Fei Qingping was not willing to treat his life jokingly.
"Young Master Wan, just tell me what I have to do. I will absolutely listen to you!"
Seeing how he really took things seriously, Wan Yuan took out a bottle of medicinal pills and placed it in front of Fei Qingping. He said, "This is the Essence Gathering Pills that my Father refined. Its effectiveness is 50% greater than Essence Qi Pills! These three days, you will use these pills to raise your strength. You must definitely break through to the Fifth Level Essence Qi Realm!"
Fei Qingping's eyes lit up. If he could break through to Fifth Level Essence Qi Realm, then his chances of victory would increase significantly. Just as Wan Yuan said, the difference in strength was not something that can easily be breached. A Fifth Level Essence Qi Realm martial artist versus a Third Level Essence Qi Realm martial artist; he really had no reason to lose!
Immediately, Fei Qingping gave a deep bow and said gratefully, "Many thanks for Young Master Wan's support!"
Nodding his head, Wan Yuan acknowledged it calmly and continued saying, "Another thing. These three days, you also have to put all your effort into training the Lesser Capturing Hand. Use it to counter Instant Flash, and you will be in an invincible position.
. . . . . .
In a training room at the Dan Wu Academy.
Ye Yuan stood quietly with his eyes tightly shut as if asleep.
Ever since he looked at the jade piece, Ye Yuan was already standing here for close to two hours!
Suddenly, Ye Yuan's eyes snapped open.
Taking a step back, he then executed a palm movement!
"Stacking Waves Layered Palm, First Layer Wave!"
A burst of wind carried forward, and with a boom, a fleshy palm smashed onto the wall!
A dent was made on the wall, but one could see it rapidly recovering with their n.a.k.e.d eyes.
Looking at the wall, Ye Yuan shook his head, "This Stacking Waves Layered Palm is indeed hard to train. No wonder Senior Apprentice Brother Zhao advised me to give up. I already used two hours to adjust the essence energy in my body, yet this palm still doesn't have the effects of the First Layer Wave."
Ye Yuan sighed. If Zhao Chunyang saw this, his jaws would definitely drop, followed by scolding Ye Yuan being an ungrateful wrench.
One has to know, back then when Long Tan was training his martial technique, the First Layer Wave was only mastered after a month.
Even though Ye Yuan did not mastered it yet, he was not far from mastering the First Layer Wave already. Furthermore, he merely used two hours.
"Once more!" Ye Yuan was not discouraged. Following the original method stated, he started to circulate the essence energy within his body once again.
Chapter 29 - Wager
Stacking Waves Layered Palm was actually a martial technique that creates a resonance between essence energy within the human body and heaven and earth essence energy, amplifying it in order to damage the enemies.
Just like how tossing a rock into water will cause ripples to spread outwards.
Describing it seemed easy, but to actually accomplish it was as hard as reaching the heaven.
Heaven and earth essence energy was a vague and ethereal existence. In order to create a resonance, one needed to have an incredibly profound understanding towards heaven and earth essence energy.
To martial artists, cultivating essence energy was instinctive. One would just need to gather essence energy according to their corresponding martial skill.
It was merely a matter of knowing how to do something, but
not understanding why.
Although every martial artist cultivated essence energy, most likely no one would be able to say what exactly was essence energy.
As cultivation realm increased, martial artists would gain a deeper understanding towards essence energy.
When completely ignorant about essence energy, one could only go through non-stop training to be able to slowly grasp that sort of resonance in order to master Stacking Waves Layered Palm. That was the reason why this palm technique was so difficult to learn.
Ye Yuan possessed an extremely high cultivation realm in his past life. Furthermore, he also had extremely great attainments in Alchemy Dao. That was why it was much easier for him to learn this technique.
Slowly raising his right palm, a faint earthly-yellow glow started to condense on Ye Yuan's palm, forming a tiny vortex.
Releasing a palm strike, that faint yellow light spread out like water ripples.
Peng!
The wall sunk in heavily and the dent even deeper than previously.
Stacking Waves Layered Palm!
Ye Yuan managed to execute it on his second palm strike!
"Well, that's the feeling alright. But it still isn't that stable. Also, the execution time is too long. Looks like I still need to practice more," Ye Yuan muttered to himself.
. . . . . .
In a blink of an eye, three days had passed.
On this morning, the combat arena was surrounded by a lot of people that not even water could seep through.
After three days of seething, virtually everyone in the Dan Wu Academy knew about Ye Yuan and Fei Qingping's deathmatch.
In this world, there was no lack of people who liked to watch a good show. It was the same everywhere.
Even though the ones fighting in the deathmatch were just two small characters, it was still a deathmatch. It meant that one party would definitely die. Who would miss out on such a good show?
After all, there had not been a deathmatch in the Dan Wu Academy for over two years.