Xu Qing reveled in the feeling of growing stronger. He carefully sensed the Ming Jin within him, which felt like it existed somewhere between the corporeal and the ethereal. Every cell in his body seemed to be cheering in exultation.
'This feeling of getting stronger... it's truly intoxicating!'
Xu Qing clenched his fists, contemplating the changes in his body. He took a deep breath and punched forward with his right hand, producing a faint sonic boom.
This wasn't the sound of the air being blasted apart, but rather the sound produced by the eruption of Ming Jin from within his body.
The night passed without incident.
The next morning, Xu Qing rose bright and early and headed to the Cangying Martial Arts Hall. Today was the last day Instructor Zhang He would be teaching him the Upper Chapter of Cyan Eagle Force and the Eagle Claw Technique.
After today, if Xu Qing wanted further instruction from Zhang He, it would no longer be free.
The ten silver was just the price of admission into the Cangying Martial Arts Hall. Once inside, every aspect of martial arts training cost money.
"Instructor Zhang."
Xu Qing cupped his fists in a salute.
"Hn."
Zhang He nodded nonchalantly.
"Instructor Zhang, is something on your mind?"
Xu Qing asked.
"It has nothing to do with you."
Zhang He waved his hand dismissively. "Since I don't find you too disagreeable, I'll give you a piece of advice: don't go out casually at night for the next few days."
"Understood."
Xu Qing replied.
In the blink of an eye, evening arrived, and the day's instruction was over.
"Xu Qing."
Zhang He said, "In three days, I've taught you everything I'm supposed to for the Eagle Claw Technique and the Upper Chapter of Cyan Eagle Force. How much you've learned is up to your own talent and fortune."
"Starting tomorrow, if you want to ask for my guidance again, it'll cost one silver each time. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
Xu Qing nodded.
"Go on."
Zhang He waved his hand.
Before leaving, Xu Qing spent another ten silver on a pound of Tai Sui Spirit Meat. This left him with only ten silver, just enough to buy another pound tomorrow.
That night, Xu Qing returned home.
He lit his lamp and prepared for a long night.
By the light of his kerosene lamp, Xu Qing took out a brush and paper. He wrote down everything he had learned that day from memory, transcribing it all in detail before compiling it into a booklet.
In this way, Xu Qing finished transcribing the two manuals.
'Record.'
BUZZ!
Without hesitation, Xu Qing picked up the Eagle Claw Technique manual and connected his consciousness to the Encyclopedia of All Things. The Encyclopedia flashed with a fluorescent glow, and the Eagle Claw Technique was recorded.
[Eagle Claw Technique Level 1: 0/10 (A martial art created by Martial Artists who imitated the hunting techniques of eagles. It focuses on training the strength and skill of the fingers.)]
And so, Xu Qing's consciousness once again entered a mysterious space. Within this space, he practiced the Eagle Claw Technique endlessly, his hands spread like wings and his fingers like talons, moving just like a great eagle.
Gradually, Xu Qing mastered the martial art of the Eagle Claw Technique.
BOOM!
As if receiving a sudden enlightenment, Xu Qing learned and mastered the Eagle Claw Technique. He opened his eyes, and a sharp glint flashed in their depths.
'Eagle Claw Technique.'
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
With a soft cry, Xu Qing leaped into the air. He spread his arms like a white crane spreading its wings, his hands forming into eagle claws as he slashed through the air, creating a sound like tearing fabric.
Before long, Xu Qing had finished practicing one set of the Eagle Claw Technique.
[+1 Experience]
[Eagle Claw Technique Level 1: 1/10.]
Just like with Baji Fist, he needed to practice the Eagle Claw Technique ten times to raise it by one level.
'Record.'
BUZZ!
The Encyclopedia of All Things flashed with a fluorescent light once more.
This time, Xu Qing was holding the manual for the Cyan Eagle Force, a Training Technique. Even though it was only the upper chapter, it was a Training Technique, not just a combat technique.
After all, combat techniques are martial arts stances and killing skills—methods for fighting and unleashing one's power. Training Techniques, however, are the foundation of the body, as they are used for Refining the Body itself.
Therefore, Training Techniques were much more valuable than combat techniques.
[Cyan Eagle Force Level 1: 0/10 (A Training Technique created by Martial Artists who imitated the posture of eagles and adapted it to the human body. Once mastered, it allows one to condense the body's power into a single current, forming 'Ming Jin'.)]
BOOM!
Xu Qing's mind shook as his consciousness once again entered the mysterious space. Here, he couldn't feel the passage of time. There was only Xu Qing, endlessly practicing the Cyan Eagle Force, coordinating special breathing methods with their corresponding movements to mobilize the power of his entire body.
Immediately after, as if receiving a sudden enlightenment, Xu Qing had learned the Cyan Eagle Force. The Ming Jin it produced contained a kind of piercing force. When combined with the Eagle Claw Technique, it was enough to pierce through stone with his fingers.
If such power were to strike a person, it would surely result in a bloody, broken mess.
'Cyan Eagle Force.'
With a low shout, Xu Qing executed the Eagle Claw Technique again. Like an eagle hunting its prey, his fingers became talons and descended swiftly, gouging five small holes in the ground, each a full five centimeters deep.
'Eagle Claw Technique.'
BANG!
With a shift of his will, Xu Qing channeled his energy using Baji Fist. The Ming Jin he released this way clearly lacked that piercing force; instead, it carried an overwhelming, domineering power.
CRACK!
As a result, when Xu Qing used the Ming Jin from Baji Fist to perform the Eagle Claw Technique, the resulting aura wasn't sharp and piercing, but one of tyrannical power—a distinct difference.
'Snake Body Technique.'
Then, Xu Qing performed the Snake Body Technique, his body moving with fluid agility as he weaved around the room, contemplating the subtle connections between each of his martial arts.
'Interesting.'
Xu Qing carefully contemplated the Snake Body Technique, Baji Fist, Eagle Claw Technique, and Cyan Eagle Force. 'Because of the Encyclopedia of All Things, I can upgrade my martial arts. Even a combat technique, once upgraded, can evolve and deduce the essence of a Training Technique. The resulting martial art will contain both combat and training aspects, creating a wonderfully complete system.'
'Actually, according to the Cangying Martial Arts Hall's requirements, as long as I master the Cyan Eagle Force, condense Ming Jin in my body, and step into the Ming Jin realm, I can become an Official Disciple.'
'So, I've already met the requirements.'
'But...'
Xu Qing shook his head. 'Now is not the time. If I reveal tomorrow that I've already mastered the Cyan Eagle Force and condensed Ming Jin, the consequences are easy to imagine. Such talent probably wouldn't earn me the respect of the Cangying Martial Arts Hall, but instead endless trouble, and maybe even mortal danger.'
'The reason is simple. If I'm too much of a genius, far beyond the norm, others might take notice and assume I possess some kind of treasure.'
'I'll wait a bit longer.'
Xu Qing mused, 'Half a month. Just half a month. After half a month, I'll reveal my Ming Jin from the Cyan Eagle Force. Mastering the Cyan Eagle Force in half a month is already genius-level. It's enough to get the attention of the Cangying Martial Arts Hall without attracting unnecessary trouble or scrutiny. That's the perfect amount of time.'
SHH SHH SHH...
Suddenly, Xu Qing's ear twitched. He had been practicing Baji Fist; to avoid exposure, he had temporarily decided not to level up his Cyan Eagle Force or Eagle Claw Technique and to continue improving his Baji Fist instead.
For now, it was better to master a few martial arts than to know many.
"Who's there?"
Xu Qing stopped mid-motion. He had detected a noise outside his door. His gaze turned cold as he stared toward the entrance.
The next moment, under the moonlight, right at the window of his room—
WHOOSH!
—a head appeared. It had a pallid face, pupils like a dead fish's eyes, and disheveled hair. Its entire body emanated a stench like a rotting corpse.
!!!
Xu Qing's pupils contracted.
A Corpse Ghost.
It was a type of monster.
When a person dies with lingering resentment, their corpse can absorb moonlight and Yin Qi, undergoing a transformation to become a Corpse Ghost. They feel no pain, only a pure hatred for the living and an overwhelming desire to devour their flesh and blood.
In his sixteen years of life, Xu Qing had traveled to many places with his grandfather, Nine Fingers. During that time, he had encountered monsters similar to Corpse Ghosts, but he had never come face-to-face with one.
He never expected to actually run into one tonight.
Most importantly, this was in town—inside the city walls! For a Corpse Ghost to appear here meant that something major must have happened, something Xu Qing didn't know about.
Inevitably, Xu Qing recalled Instructor Zhang He's warning from earlier that day. He had told Xu Qing not to go out at night. Zhang He must have known something to have offered such a kind reminder.
And yet, even though Xu Qing hadn't gone out, a Corpse Ghost had come looking for him.
ROAR!!!
A low growl echoed.
Right in front of Xu Qing, the Corpse Ghost slowly climbed in through the window, filling his room with the nauseating stench of death.
ROAR!
With another roar, the Corpse Ghost lunged at Xu Qing. It opened its stinking, disgusting, blood-filled maw and bit toward Xu Qing's chest—the exact spot where he had placed the Tai Sui Spirit Meat.
'Hm?'
Xu Qing executed the Snake Body Technique, retreating swiftly to dodge the Corpse Ghost's lunge. He paused for a fraction of a second. 'Was this Corpse Ghost drawn here by the Tai Sui Spirit Meat on me?'
It had to be the Tai Sui Spirit Meat.
It was a type of spirit flesh, a delicacy of blood and meat. Not only was it highly effective for Martial Artists, but to monsters like Corpse Ghosts that fed on the flesh of the living, it was an irresistible delicacy and temptation.
This Corpse Ghost had followed the scent of the Tai Sui Spirit Meat right to his door.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
After dodging several more times, Xu Qing was certain. The Corpse Ghost had been drawn by the Tai Sui Spirit Meat he was carrying, because every one of its attacks was aimed at it.
'I spent ten silver on this! There's no way I'm giving it to you! If you want some, go buy it yourself!'
BOOM!
After one more dodge, Xu Qing roared, "Baji Fist! Boom!"
BANG!
A tremendous crash echoed.
Xu Qing's full-power strike, exploding with the peak of his Baji Fist's Ming Jin, generated terrifying power. It slammed into the Corpse Ghost's chest and sent it flying.
CRACK! CRACK!
The Corpse Ghost's ribs broke in several places.
ROAR!!!
But the Corpse Ghost wasn't dead. It climbed up from the ground and lunged at Xu Qing once more.
"Die!"
BOOM! BOOM!
Xu Qing roared. He didn't dodge this time, but charged head-on. Using the Snake Body Technique to evade the Corpse Ghost's attacks, he clenched his fists and landed punch after punch on the monster's head.
BANG!
Finally, with his bare fists, Xu Qing smashed the Corpse Ghost's head into pieces. Bits of red and white splattered across the floor, and the stench in the room grew even thicker.