Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Situation
“Master, do you think the Fangxian Dao Sect has any top-tier martial arts?” Qin Yi asked.
Indeed, he yearned for supreme martial arts techniques!
“No. As far as I know, all nine branches of our Daoist sects trace their lineages back to the Taiqing Dao Palace. At present, none of the nine Daoist branches possess any top-tier martial arts. The Fangxian Dao Sect only has a few sixth-grade techniques at best,” Wang Qingxuan replied.
“All warriors dream of mastering top-tier martial arts, but acquiring such skills is exceedingly difficult.”
The two exchanged a glance and lapsed into silence.
...
In the blink of an eye, half a month passed.
During the first seven days, Qin Yi noticed that his wounds were healing much faster than before, thanks to having cultivated the Qingxu Art to the embryonic breathing stage. In just seven days, although not fully recovered, his hand could already move with some ease.
For the remaining eight days, Qin Yi continued to train the Heavenly Authority Claw under Wang Qingxuan’s guidance, gradually regaining his strength.
Meanwhile, the county army and the rebels were fiercely locked in battle at the foot of the mountain, making it impossible for Pang Shaozheng to realize that Wang Qingxuan was hiding right here in the Qingwei Dao Palace!
At last, after half a month, the injury on Qin Yi’s right arm was completely healed.
Even more delightful was the news that, after this period of relentless practice, he had finally mastered the basics of the Heavenly Authority Claw.
In the back mountain—
“System panel!” called Qin Yi.
Qin Yi:
Five Qi Converging Fist: Perfected (Fivefold Force)
Heavenly Pivot Palm: Perfected
Yaoguang Footwork: Perfected (Soaring Shift)
Qingxu Art: Embryonic Breathing
Heavenly Jade Step: Perfected (Instant Step)
Heavenly Authority Claw: Initiate+
Energy points: 62
“Upgrade to Perfection!” Qin Yi frantically allocated points.
A surge of intense heat flooded both his arms, especially his claws, as if they were being tempered by a blazing fire!
The heat coursed from his arms, spreading through his body. Yet as it reached his internal organs, the heat softened into a gentle warmth, and by the time it spread to his legs, it barely registered.
“It seems the Heavenly Authority Claw mainly transforms my hands!”
In his mind’s eye, a figure began to frenziedly practice the Heavenly Authority Claw.
The figure’s speed grew faster and faster—grasping, locking, twisting, flipping up and down, moves linking in rapid succession, mimicking fists with claws, blending form and spirit...
Ten years of bitter training.
Twenty years of grueling practice.
Thirty years of relentless effort.
At the pinnacle of mastery, the figure seemed to break through some invisible barrier—with one claw, stone shattered!
“Whew... Another technique perfected, and I’ve even grasped a secret move!” Qin Yi was overjoyed.
The secret move was called—Penetrate the Wood!
Qin Yi glanced at himself. His muscles had swelled further, their outlines visible even through his clothes, especially the bulging muscles of his arms.
“My strength has increased by another thirty percent! Without even using secret moves, I can definitely reach the seventh stage of power!”
“I’m getting stronger!”
“Let’s test my overall ability!” In a flash, Qin Yi’s silhouette vanished.
“Instant Step!”
“Fivefold Force!”
Boom!
A tree as thick as a bowl was severed at the waist.
“Soaring Shift—Penetrate the Wood!”
The next second, he appeared before another large tree.
His right claw shot out like a venomous dragon.
Crunch!
A tooth-aching sound echoed.
On the massive trunk, thick enough for two men to encircle, there was now a claw mark three centimeters deep and five or six centimeters long!
“If this struck a person... tsk tsk!”
“Again—ha!”
With the addition of the Heavenly Authority Claw, he had gained yet another means of attack.
“Instant Step, Soaring Shift, Fivefold Force! Instant Step, Penetrate the Wood!”
Tree after tree fell victim to Qin Yi’s merciless onslaught.
Suddenly, a sharp pain stabbed at his chest. He stopped abruptly, dropping to one knee.
“What’s happening?”
Not only his chest, but various parts of his body were now throbbing with pain!
“Could it be from overusing secret moves?”
No, that couldn’t be. He had only used Instant Step five times, Soaring Shift three times, Fivefold Force three times, and Penetrate the Wood six times just now!
Given his current state—having perfected the Heavenly Authority Claw and further strengthened his physique—he could feel his capacity for secret moves had increased.
He could now use Instant Step at least twenty times, Soaring Shift fifteen times, Fivefold Force fifteen times, and Penetrate the Wood ten times.
So why the persistent stabbing pain?
Moreover, the pain showed no sign of stopping; it kept intensifying!
“I’d better ask Master!”
...
Inside a room—
Wang Qingxuan took Qin Yi’s pulse and examined him thoroughly, his brows furrowing deeply. “Your qi and blood are agitated, and some of your tendons and muscles are damaged. Did you overuse your secret moves?”
“No! Absolutely not,” Qin Yi replied with certainty.
“That’s odd. Why would your body be in such a state?” Even Wang Qingxuan was baffled.
“Could it be from your recent intense training? Even warriors need to balance exertion and rest. How about you take a few days off? I’ll prepare some medicine to replenish your qi and blood.”
“Alright, let’s try that,” Qin Yi answered helplessly.
Since even his master couldn’t diagnose the cause, he could only rest for a few days and observe.
On the first day, he felt stabbing pain in various parts of his body almost constantly.
On the second day, the pain lessened.
By the third night, it finally vanished completely.
During these three days, Qin Yi refrained from training, focusing solely on recovery.
He also made a discovery—after cultivating the Qingxu Art to the embryonic breathing stage, there seemed to be a faint, elusive presence of energy in his dantian. At first he thought it was an illusion.
Unexpectedly, during these three days, that faint energy seemed to linger in the areas where the pain occurred.
For three days straight!
Even now, Qin Yi could still barely sense that elusive energy—an almost metaphysical sensation, as if there was something in his body, yet not. Sometimes, when he thought it was gone, his mind would sense its presence again!
A most peculiar feeling.
“Let’s test it!”
Qin Yi returned to the back mountain and began frantically unleashing his secret moves again.
Five minutes later—
The same stabbing pain returned.
“Is something wrong with my body?” Qin Yi’s expression darkened.
He sought out Wang Qingxuan again, but he, too, was at a loss.
Three days later, the pain faded once more. After another examination, Wang Qingxuan said, “Strange. Your body seems fine again!”
“Forget it. I’ll just avoid overusing secret moves for now. When I get to Jiangning County, I’ll consult a renowned physician,” Qin Yi said.