“This… is needle-prick Qi?”
Lu Sheng moved beside a flowering tree, placing his palm lightly against its trunk. In an instant, countless tiny pinholes bloomed across the bark, clustered densely like a swarm.
“Yin-Yang Jade Crane Skill is actually a needle-prick Qi force?!” A flicker of shock crossed his features.
From the beginning, this inner force had been a mantra that cycled solely within his body—exactly as he had anticipated. Yet now, it had transformed into a force capable of affecting external objects, reminiscent of the fantastical feats in wuxia legends. How long had he practiced this? Barely any time at all.
“No… something’s off. I may achieve this, but others might not.” His gaze sharpened as he reasoned through it. “This strike… without decades of cultivation, most people would never reach this level. My inner Qi must be too powerful—so powerful its essence transformed entirely, creating this unique effect.” Understanding settled in his mind.
He withdrew his hand and inspected his palm. Nothing unusual—unlike the Blood Fury Skill that stained the palms a sinister dark red. The Yin-Yang Jade Crane Skill hid its nature well.
‘If I were to strike with Yin-Yang Jade Crane in one hand and Blood Fury in the other…’
A thrill stirred within him. Left hand Blood Fury, right hand Yin-Yang Jade Crane—he thrust both palms forward at once.
CHI!
An earsplitting screech tore through the greenhouse.
The tree before him, thick as a bowl in width, took both strikes at once. With a sharp “KA-CHA”, it burst apart. The upper trunk toppled with a heavy thud—its break scorched black, riddled with dense pinholes like a charred beehive.
Without pause, Lu Sheng spun and drove both palms into the ground.
BOOOOM!
A second “KA-CHA” rang out as two distinct palm-prints carved themselves into the stone tiles.
He straightened, eyes dropping to his handiwork.
The right-hand Blood Fury imprint was a finger’s depth deep and charred through.
The left-hand Yin-Yang Jade Crane palm-print sank more than two fingers deep into the stone. Countless tiny holes clustered within the mark, forming a jagged-edged impression on the floor.
‘With equal force on both sides, the killing power of the Yin-Yang Jade Crane Skill far surpasses Blood Fury Skill.’Lu Sheng grasped the truth at once.
‘Can this still be called a life-force skill?’ The thought left him momentarily speechless. “Still… Blood Fury Skill is being refined by the Ultimate Crimson Mantra. Once that conversion completes, the Ultimate Crimson Qi should grow far stronger and eventually catch up. But for now, Yin-Yang Jade Crane Skill is my greatest trump card.”
He had not expected the integrated Yin-Yang Jade Crane Skill to be so overwhelmingly powerful—nearly twice the might of Blood Fury. Used on an opponent who had no time to react, it could overturn a fight in an instant.
He closed his eyes, regulating his breath in the calm of the greenhouse before eventually stepping out. Moving unhurriedly, he headed toward a small side house to rest and eat.
The structure was a simple gray-brown, one-story hut made from bricks of compressed black mud. Gardeners and guards usually took their meals here, but today it had been cordoned off for his use.
His meal had been arranged by someone from a city branch of the Sect: stewed beef with potatoes, mushrooms braised with chicken, cold noodle rolls, and a pot of aged mountain ginseng soup simmered with tiger bone.
These dishes were rich and nourishing, delicacies suited to someone of his standing. Ordinary families could rarely afford even a taste of meat like beef or chicken.
“This treatment is indeed worlds apart from what the young masters of common wealthy families receive,” Lu Sheng murmured, moved as he gazed at the spread before him.
“Precisely. Young Master, you may not know this, but every year many members of our Crimson Whale Sect raise cattle themselves, while others venture into the forests to hunt for aged mountain ginseng and tiger bones. All of these can be exchanged for contribution points. Though the points may seem little to ordinary members, when saved up, they can be traded for better martial arts manuals,” Ning San explained respectfully from the side.
Ever since the incident at Song Manor, Lu Sheng had kept Ning San close—not for any special reason, but because this man had once slept among a horde of ghosts and somehow walked away untouched. That alone had stirred Lu Sheng’s curiosity.
Beyond that, Ning San possessed a resilient nature, good manners, proper conduct, and a sharp grasp of human affairs. Before long, Lu Sheng had simply grown accustomed to having him around.
“The taste is decent, though it could use a bit more spice,” Lu Sheng remarked as he picked up a cold noodle roll with his chopsticks. The vinegar’s sharpness made him frown slightly.
“I’ll inform the main chef right away,” Ning San responded without hesitation.
“Mm.”161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKzKEveNKe
Lu Sheng lifted the wooden tub of soup—large as a human head—and drank deeply.
In one long pull, he drained a third of the tiger bone broth. With a sweep of his chopsticks, he hooked the bones and ginseng from the bottom and bit into them with satisfaction. The bones had been simmered until tender; blended with the rich broth and the faint sweetness of the ginseng, each bite was deeply gratifying.
He ate quickly, already halfway through the meal, when the thunder of hooves burst from outside.
“Young Master! Bad news! BAD NEWS!” Soaked in sweat, Duan Meng’an stumbled into the house, terror written across his face.
“What happened? Sit down and speak.” Lu Sheng’s tone was neither hurried nor slow. Lifting the rice tub, he shoveled a large mouthful of rice into his mouth, chewing only a few times before swallowing. Only then did he raise his head, unhurried, to look at Duan Meng’an.
The heavily built man stood trembling, his face pale and drenched in sweat. In his hands, he clutched a white slip of paper—something like an invitation.
“Young Master! Terrible news! Deputy Sect Master Gongsun Zhanglan has personally issued you a duel challenge! And it’s a deathmatch!!!” His voice cracked as he thrust the note toward Lu Sheng.
“A deathmatch?” Lu Sheng’s brows lifted slightly. “So his niece is finally at death’s door. Only now does that old turtle choose to act, huh.”
He still had no clear sense of Gongsun Zhanglan’s true strength, but how could the man be stronger than the old Sect Master? Even if he were on par, with Lu Sheng’s raw and overwhelming inner Qi, was there any reason to fear that he couldn’t drag the other down with him?
“Young Master! This is Deputy Sect Master Gongsun Zhanglan!” Duan Meng’an was nearly in tears. “When he was young, he shook the entire Wan Feng Mountain Stronghold by himself and killed thirteen wanted murderers in succession. He’s a terrifying expert—strong enough to scatter over a thousand bandits!” For all his hulking size, Duan was a born coward. Entirely unlike Ning San, whose slight frame concealed an iron will.
Ning San stepped forward, voice steady. “So what? Rumors are always blown out of proportion. Besides, our Young Master has never feared such things. After he beat up that Gongsun Jing earlier, didn’t he already expect this would happen?”
Though fear pounded in Ning San’s chest, he maintained a calm facade. He had staked everything on Lu Sheng.
Unlike the slow-witted Duan Meng’an, Ning San had long since seen through Lu Sheng’s intentions. He knew the Young Master had injured Gongsun Jing on purpose, deliberately provoking Gongsun Zhanglan into direct confrontation. If Lu Sheng had initiated such provocation, then he must be confident in winning. And if Ning San wished to rise swiftly within the Sect and become External Affairs Emissary Lu’s trusted right hand, he could not let this chance slip past him.
“Since that old fogey has finally shown his hand, I accept this duel.” Lu Sheng picked up the note, flicked it open, and glanced at the lone line written upon it:
Three days later at Long Rift Gorge, before sunrise; a death match. – Gongsun Zhanglan.
“Interesting. Where is Long Rift Gorge?” Lu Sheng asked casually.
“In response to Young Master: legend says that deep in the eastern mountains lies a gorge infested with black tigers,” Ning San replied.
“Do you know the way?”
The moment those words left Lu Sheng’s lips, Ning San froze. A thousand thoughts flashed through his mind. The meaning behind the question was unmistakable—if he knew the route, then he would likely have to accompany Lu Sheng. And the risks were immense.
If Lu Sheng lost, Ning San’s life would be swallowed by the Deputy Sect Master’s wrath.
A cold sweat threatened to rise, but Ning San forced himself to steady his breath.
“Yes!”
Lu Sheng studied him for a moment, then smiled. “Good. Then you’ll lead the way, and we’ll go together.”
This duel was not officially sanctioned by the Sect—it stemmed from a personal feud. Neither side could prepare openly.
After finishing his meal, Lu Sheng didn’t return to Mountain-Edge City. Instead, he headed straight for the Crimson Whale ship, making his way toward its most vital chamber—the Martial Proclamation Library.
The Library sat deep in the heart of the Crimson Whale ship’s massive hull, safeguarded from all directions. Built as an independent tower fused into the ship’s core, it was one of the most heavily protected places in the entire Sect.
The small tower rose silently from the heart of the ship, its exterior painted a deep, lightless black. On each of its four sides stood sturdy outer-force experts, their posture rigid, ever-vigilant in guarding the place.
Lu Sheng produced his command medallion and passed through a series of stringent checkpoints before finally stepping onto the first floor of the Martial Proclamation Library.
This level housed the most basic of martial arts techniques—ordinary methods even more common than Chasing the Wind Blade or Bear-Wrestling Arm. Not a single inner-force skill could be found here. The Crimson Whale Saber Technique was even offered freely.
He recognized several techniques from his past training, including Precious Eight Steps. Though he had modified it to perfection until it shared little resemblance with its crude origins, it remained nothing more than a third-grade martial art—barely worth noting.
A brief sweep of the shelves told him all he needed to know: the skills on this floor were run-of-the-mill, unable even to reach Strength Proficiency. Crowds of disciples came and went, casually flipping through scrolls.
Without lingering, Lu Sheng headed to the second floor.
Here, only a handful—perhaps ten—were present, quietly studying the manuals that caught their interest.
For martial arts that required contribution points, only the names and brief descriptions were on display. The actual manuals were not placed on the shelves.
Lu Sheng browsed along the rows until he located Bear-Wrestling Arm. As expected, it was classified as a free hard-body skill.
Nearby were other hard-body techniques, listed only by title and description:
“Golden Veil Skill, Soul Smashing Fist, Jewel Pillar Skill, Dusk Dantian Inflating Skill…”
The names lined up one after another, each accompanied by detailed cultivation requirements inscribed in fine, precise script.
Lu Sheng had always been drawn to hard body skills. They were practical, reliable, and invaluable in moments where a single exchange determined life or death. If he could cultivate a few of them, he would no longer find himself in a desperate position during critical battles.
But a thought suddenly surfaced.
“I’m learning too many skills… everything is becoming scattered. I’m burning through energy, Qi, and spirit, but because my focus is diffused, my actual improvements in combat aren’t as great as I expected. Perhaps I should choose one martial art as my core, and continuously refine and elevate it—push it to a level no one could imagine. Otherwise, no matter how many skills I pick up, I’ll end up a jack of all trades and master of none.”
Standing before the shelves, he sank into deep contemplation.
A short while later, clarity returned to his eyes.
“Ultimate Crimson Mantra is profound—seven layers deep. It alone is enough to cultivate for a long time. I’ll use that as my primary skill. As for Yin-Yang Jade Crane Skill… its power is extraordinary, and it can serve as the foundation for future upgrades. It’ll be my second main skill—my hidden trump card for life-and-death moments.”
With his thoughts sorted, Lu Sheng felt a new clarity as he surveyed the manuals before him.
“First, I need a stronger hard body skill for defense. Combined with Ultimate Crimson Mantra, the resulting strike will be shockingly terrifying.”
His gaze drifted across the rows of hard body manuals. Nearly ninety percent of them required special medicinal brews or pills as an aid to cultivation. Without mastering the knowledge behind those concoctions himself, Lu Sheng would never entrust something so vital—his own life and cultivation—to another’s hands. He had even questioned several physicians about the ingredients used in the Ultimate Crimson Pill, and tested one on a rabbit beforehand.
Because of this, he immediately dismissed all hard body skills that required the consumption of medicinal herbs.
Only two shelves remained, holding a total of fifteen manuals. This was the entirety of the Crimson Whale Sect’s accumulated hard body techniques—ranging from Strength Proficiency to Intent Proficiency, with none reaching the realm of Spirit Focus or higher.
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