He was an official sent by the Daxia Nation to be stationed in Qingyang Town, in charge of everything related to the Spirit-Opening Pagoda, which was why he referred to himself humbly.
"Let's go, little girl, to the Spirit-Opening Pagoda to open your spiritual meridians, and while we're at it, let's test your spiritual roots," Lu Yun took the initiative to say to Xiaoqing.
Xiaoqing glanced at her young master, clearly looking somewhat frightened.
Yun Chen smiled and said, "Let's go! I also want to find out if you have any talent for cultivation, girl."
"I listen to the young master!" Xiaoqing said in a low voice.
Seeing this, neither Lu Yun nor Gao Ding looked very pleased.
The reason they had come to the Spirit-Opening Pagoda was primarily because faint spiritual Qi fluctuations were lingering around Xiaoqing's entire body.
At a single glance, they could tell that Xiaoqing had never cultivated before. Yet, with spiritual Qi fluctuating around her, she was clearly exceptionally close to the spiritual Qi of heaven and earth. For such a phenomenon to occur, there was almost only one possibility: her spiritual roots were utterly heaven-defying; otherwise, such a manifestation would never happen.
Otherwise, given the cultivation levels of the two of them, would they ever care about a mortal woman?
They had simply been passing through Qingyang Town on business to pick up a few things, never expecting to spot the spiritual Qi fluctuations around Xiaoqing at first glance.
The group walked into the Spirit-Opening Pagoda and headed straight to the top floor.
"Two seniors, this is the finest spirit-opening room in the Spirit-Opening Pagoda, and the testing pillar is right over there!" Jiang Yu led everyone to an incomparably luxurious grand hall and stopped to introduce it.
The testing pillar was a treasured artifact used for testing spiritual roots—a treasure generally possessed only by major sects or top-tier factions.
As for opening spiritual meridians, one only needed to stand on the high platform in the hall and activate the formation to directly initiate the process.
"Little girl, go on up!" Gao Ding said to Xiaoqing.
Xiaoqing looked toward Yun Chen.
Yun Chen awkwardly rubbed his nose.
This little girl seemed a bit too dependent on him.
"Go on! Who knows, maybe our Xiaoqing has a talent for cultivation and can support her young master in the future," Yun Chen smiled.
Hearing this, Xiaoqing nodded repeatedly, her face filled with determination as she said very earnestly, "Don't worry, Young Master! If I can cultivate, once I grow strong, I will definitely help you teach those bastards who bullied you a lesson."
Yun Chen had been expelled from the Tianyang Sect and had been bullied by Zhang Haochran and the others; she had already harbored a deep grudge against those people.
Chapter Nine: Supreme-Grade Spiritual Root, Peerless Genius
Xiaoqing had already stepped onto the high platform in the center.
Inscribed upon the high platform were rows of formation runes carved by a grandmaster of array techniques. Once activated, they would perform the spirit-opening procedure on the human body.
"Please sit cross-legged, place your hands on your thighs with your palms facing the sky. Remember, once the formation is activated, you must not move," Jiang Yu instructed after seeing Xiaoqing get onto the platform.
Seeing Xiaoqing sit down as told, Jiang Yu walked to the side and proceeded to place spirit stones one by one into the four recesses of the high platform.
When the final spirit stone was dropped into place, the runes across the entire high platform successively lit up, emitting a buzzing sound.
Following that, rays of light drilled into Xiaoqing's body.
Standing below the platform, Yun Chen felt somewhat nervous, his fists clenching involuntarily.
He was afraid Xiaoqing's spirit-opening would fail.
"Buzz, buzz, buzz..."
Right at that moment, the space surrounding the high platform seemed to vibrate, emitting a buzzing sound, while the spiritual Qi inside the entire grand hall was swept clean in an instant, frantically drilling into Xiaoqing's body.
"This is..." Lu Yun and Gao Ding exchanged glances, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes, and then spoke in unison: "Spontaneous dantian, born spiritual constitution—this is a supreme-grade spiritual root!"
A supreme-grade spiritual root of legend!
Let alone the Daxia Nation, probably not even the entire Chilan Continent had more than a few.
Both of them saw the burning fervor in each other's eyes.
Under such circumstances, even without testing her spiritual roots, the two of them knew that Xiaoqing possessed a supreme-grade spiritual root—a truly one-in-a-million peerless genius.
The light on the platform quickly faded.
Xiaoqing blinked her eyes in bewilderment, then looked toward Yun Chen.
"Lu Yun, don't you dare fight me for this little girl! I have never taken on a disciple until now. As long as you yield this little girl to me, I can agree to three conditions of yours and concurrently give you all three treasures I previously acquired; the Heavenly Severing Sword of the North Snow Manor can also be lent to you for a period of time," Gao Ding spoke up first.
How could he possibly let such a genius slip through his fingers?
"No way! Although I have disciples, I have never yet taken a personal direct disciple. With such talent in this little girl, how could I ever yield her to you!" Lu Yun flatly refused.
"Young Master!"
Xiaoqing had already stepped down from the arena and immediately came to Yun Chen's side, calling out to him as young master while grabbing onto the sleeve of his robe.
"Little girl, would you be willing to take me as your master?" Gao Ding hurried to speak: "As long as you are willing to take me as your master, I guarantee that within five years you will advance to the Heavenly Martial Realm, within ten years you will step into the Deity Transformation Realm, and within twenty years, you will set foot in the Star Grade Realm!"
"Oh right, you probably don't know who I am."
"I am Gao Ding, the master of the North Snow Manor, and also a True Deity Realm Expert. Heh heh, our North Snow Manor is even more powerful than the Tianyang Sect. To put it simply, as long as you become my disciple, you can walk sideways across the entire Daxia Nation, and a single word from you can determine the life or death of millions."
"What do you say, do you want to take me as your master?"
"Don't listen to his nonsense, little girl. I am one of the Seven Sword-Wielding Elders of Tianjian Pavilion. Tianjian Pavilion is one of the top-tier factions in the Daxia Nation, and I am also a True Deity Realm martial artist. As long as you follow me, I believe it won't be long before you stand out head and shoulders above the younger generation and rule over the youth of the Daxia Nation."
"I can give you the best cultivation environment and the best cultivation resources, and what's more, I am a woman."
Lu Yun refused to be outdone as she voiced her offer.
She and Gao Ding were figures standing at the very peak of the Daxia Nation. If it were merely an ordinary disciple, the two of them would certainly not bother fighting over them.
However, Xiaoqing possessed a supreme-grade spiritual root!
Such a spiritual root was a rarity in this world.
Once she began cultivation, it would be even simpler than eating and drinking.
According to rumors, those ancient clans and holy lands of the Chilan Continent possessed peerless geniuses with supreme-grade spiritual roots.
Hearing Lu Yun mention that she was also a woman, Gao Ding almost spat blood on the spot.
"I don't want to take a master, I only want to stay with my young master!" Xiaoqing remained completely unmoved.
Hearing Xiaoqing's words, the two immediately realized that everything for this little girl was decided by her young master.
Toward Yun Chen, the two of them no longer bothered to put on any pleasant expressions.
"Brat, you should know what level of faction Tianjian Pavilion is, and you should also know what a supreme-grade spiritual root represents. I can tell you're already sixteen or seventeen years old, right? A sixteen or seventeen-year-old cultivator who has only reached the mere Spirit-Guiding Realm Layer 3—I have to say, your talent is truly as poor as it gets. If you genuinely want what's best for your sister, you should persuade her to come cultivate with me and not ruin her talent."
"Brat, the North Snow Manor is very suitable for her!" Gao Ding also spoke with arrogance, his eyes staring coldly at Yun Chen.
Yun Chen felt extremely displeased in his heart.
Was this the attitude of people asking for a favor?
If the two of them had maintained a somewhat better attitude, for Xiaoqing's safety, he might have agreed.
But right now, he no longer wished to agree.
"Many thanks for the kind intentions of both seniors, but I intend to keep my sister Xiaoqing by my side!"
As soon as Yun Chen's words left his mouth, a chilling light burst forth in the eyes of both Lu Yun and Gao Ding.
"Brat, do you know what you are saying? Do you realize what a supreme-grade spiritual root represents, and what Tianjian Pavilion stands for? I advise you to know what is good for you," Lu Yun raged, her aura as a True Deity Realm Expert erupting abruptly.
With a muffled "bang", even though she hadn't made a move yet, Yun Chen felt as if his chest had been struck by a massive sledgehammer. A heart-wrenching pain washed over him, sending his entire body flying straight backward before slamming viciously into the high platform dozens of meters away.
Following that, Lu Yun's figure flashed, and a hand-edge lightly chopped against the neck of the dazed Xiaoqing. Xiaoqing's eyes rolled back instantly, and she passed out cold right into her arms.
"Senior Brother Gao, this is the route map to the Imperial Zenith Palace. I've given you the item; I, your younger sister, will take my leave first. Let's consider this as me owing you a favor this time!"
As she spoke, Lu Yun had already tossed out a jade slip, and then, cradling Xiaoqing, her figure flashed and she vanished without a trace.
Gao Ding had originally intended to give chase, but upon hearing Lu Yun's words, he directly abandoned the idea of pursuing her. He reached out to grab the jade slip, cast a cold glance at Yun Chen, and then turned and left as well.
Watching Yun Chen lying on the ground, unable to get back up for a long time, Jiang Yu wore an expression of undisguised disgust.
This fellow was far too selfish.
His sister possessed a talent that was a rarity in this world, yet he actually didn't want to let her leave with Lu Yun and the others?
One had to know that True Deity Realm experts generally did not take in disciples casually.
Every single disciple under their command was without exception a brilliant talent; once they matured, they became the backbone pillars of the major factions.
Yun Chen pulled himself up from the ground, the anger in his heart feeling as though it could set his entire body ablaze.
Without strength, one has nothing!
Xiaoqing had actually been snatched away by that woman.
Lu Yun of Tianjian Pavilion—he had remembered her.
Wiping away the trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, Yun Chen slowly climbed to his feet.
In those eyes flickered a terrifying radiance, and the nails of his hands dug fiercely into his palms, drawing fresh blood without him even noticing.
Chapter Ten: The Dragon Has a Reverse Scale
Given Xiaoqing's talent, she would inevitably be carefully nurtured wherever she was taken.
Therefore, over the next few days, Yun Chen stayed holed up in the inn to cultivate, and his cultivation realm leaped directly from Spirit-Guiding Realm Layer 3 to Spirit-Guiding Realm Layer 9.
Spirit-Guiding Realm Layer 9 could already be considered the late stage of the Spirit-Guiding Realm.
It was just a pity that after reaching Spirit-Guiding Realm Layer 9, his progress became extremely sluggish.
He knew the reason for this was due to the lack of dense spiritual Qi between heaven and earth.
"Looks like I'll have to head to the arena to earn some spirit stones!"
Without strength, there is no dignity.
If he possessed sufficient strength, would that old woman Lu Yun have dared to treat him like that and brazenly snatch Xiaoqing away?
Therefore, he had to elevate his strength as quickly as possible.
...
"That Yun Chen has headed in the direction of the arena!"
Inside an inn, a waiter respectfully clasped his fists toward a burly man before him.
This burly man appeared to be about forty-five years old, with a robust build and a deeply ferocious scar across his face, making him look exceptionally fierce and ruthless.
This person was none other than the notorious Blood-Hand Butcher of Qingyang Town.
His target this time was to assassinate Yun Chen.
Qingyang Town was territory under the jurisdiction of the Tianyang Sect, and naturally, it wouldn't do for him to commit murder openly within the small town, which was why he hadn't gone looking for trouble with Yun Chen during this period.
"Looks like the reward from the Lin family is about to be secured!"
He let out a cold, sinister chuckle, left the inn, and headed straight for the arena.
When Yun Chen stepped into the arena, the surroundings were as bustling as ever, but by his side was no longer that young girl in coarse linen clothes who constantly called him young master.
After arriving in Qingyang Town, he hadn't even bought a single set of clothes for her.
"Little girl!"
The scenery remained, but where was the person?
Yun Chen took a deep breath and strode toward the direction of the combat ring.
At Spirit-Guiding Realm Layer 9, he intended to challenge an expert of the same realm.
"Young Master Yun Feiyang, tsk tsk, where has your little maid gone? Could it be that you really had no gold coins left on you and sold your little maid to a brothel? I have to say, you really are vicious enough!"
Before Yun Chen had even managed to challenge anyone else, a sarcastic voice drifted over from a combat ring not far away.
Instantly, everyone's gazes shifted and landed on Yun Chen.
The person speaking was a burly man whose gaze toward Yun Chen was as excited as a hunter spotting his prey.
This man was none other than the Blood-Hand Butcher.
He had arrived at the arena a step early with the sole purpose of provoking Yun Feiyang into making a move against him.
After all, youth is hot-blooded, and he believed that as long as he provoked the fellow a few times, this Yun Chen would inevitably challenge him.
"It's the Blood-Hand Butcher."
"That's Yun Feiyang, once the number one prodigy of the Tianyang Sect. What a pity—word has it his cultivation was completely crippled, yet last time he came to the arena, by fighting desperately he actually forced Hong Batian into near surrender and won ten thousand gold coins."
"His little maid is indeed gone. Could it be that he really sold her off?"
The surrounding discussions caused Yun Chen's gaze to turn icy cold.
He didn't know why this Blood-Hand Butcher was targeting him; he didn't even recognize this person.
However, the dragon had a reverse scale, and whoever touched it must die.
Xiaoqing was Yun Chen's greatest reverse scale.
"What is your cultivation realm?" Yun Chen asked, and without waiting for the other to answer, he continued: "Regardless of what your cultivation realm is, tomorrow next year will be your death anniversary, Blood-Hand Butcher."
Hearing this, the Blood-Hand Butcher froze slightly before bursting into loud laughter.
"Ha ha ha ha! Brat, what did you say? My death anniversary? Do you really think that just because you scared that trash Hong Batian by fighting desperately, others will be afraid of you too? If that's what you think, I can only say you are far too naive. Originally, I only intended to break your four limbs and turn you into a complete cripple, but now, I've changed my mind—I'm going to tear your body into eight pieces!" A fierce murderous intent flickered in the Blood-Hand Butcher's eyes, and his expression grew increasingly savage.
"Idiot, this Yun Feiyang really is an idiot."
"The Blood-Hand Butcher has been at the peak of the Spirit-Guiding Realm for many years; even cultivators in the Qi Cyclone Realm wouldn't dare take him lightly. For this Yun Feiyang to dare speak to him like that is simply overestimating his own capabilities and courting death."
"Hmph, he probably still thinks he's the number one prodigy of the Tianyang Sect."
Many people sneered and mocked.
"Yun Feiyang!"
At that moment, a pleasant voice sounded from beside him.
Turning his gaze, he saw a young girl dressed in a moon-white gauze dress walking over.
Wherever the girl passed, the crowd parted to make way.
"It's her!"
Yun Chen had some impression of this girl; she was precisely the young girl who had invited them onto her carriage last time and been refused by him.
"My name is Qu Wan'er, from the Qu family!" The girl walked over and smiled charmingly, "We met once before."
Seeing Qu Wan'er actually greeting Yun Chen, the Blood-Hand Butcher's expression shifted slightly.
However, remembering that he had the Lin family backing him, he relaxed once more.
The Qu family was one of the eight great clans of the Daxia Nation, a family that he, the Blood-Hand Butcher, could not afford to offend.
"Hello, Miss Qu!" Yun Chen greeted her politely and asked, "Is there something you need?"
"The Blood-Hand Butcher is already at the peak of the Spirit-Guiding Realm. You'd better not go up on the ring to challenge him!" Qu Wan'er advised, "I know you've been expelled from the Tianyang Sect. If you trust me, I can introduce you to join another sect as an outer disciple."
Qu Wan'er genuinely wanted to help Yun Chen out.
The sight of Yun Chen fighting desperately for ten thousand gold coins had deeply moved her.
One had to remember that Yun Chen was once a renowned figure in the Daxia Nation!
He had been a top-tier genius.
Yet now, he had fallen to such a state.
"Many thanks for Miss Qu's good intentions, but this old scoundrel, the Blood-Hand Butcher—I am determined to kill him!"
With those words, Yun Chen leaped, his body landing directly upon the combat ring.
Seeing Yun Chen rush onto the stage, Qu Wan'er could not help but feel a twinge of regret.
This Yun Feiyang was simply too impulsive.
Knowing full well it meant certain death, he still rushed up there.
This wasn't courage; it was sheer recklessness.
"Miss, this fellow is utterly ungrateful!" exclaimed Cai'er, the maid by her side, looking indignant.
Qu Wan'er shook her head slightly and said nothing more.
"You actually dared to come up on stage?" The Blood-Hand Butcher looked somewhat astonished.
The surrounding onlookers were equally dumbfounded.
Had this Yun Feiyang lost his mind?
"A man's hot blood—how could it ever run cold?" Yun Chen articulated each word clearly.
"Well said!"
"Well said! 'A man's hot blood—how could it ever run cold?' If you manage to survive, this young master will have a drink with you and take you as a friend!"
From below came a shout of enthusiastic applause.
Hearing this, the Blood-Hand Butcher scoffed derisively, "Heh heh, a man's hot blood? It's just a pity that your hot blood is about to turn cold right now. Go to hell!"
As his voice fell, the Blood-Hand Butcher moved.
He raised one hand and grabbed fiercely toward Yun Chen's direction, causing the air to emit a cracking explosion. Upon his claw-like hand, crimson spiritual Qi flared wildly as if tearing through space itself, lunging straight at Yun Chen.
Yellow-grade top-tier martial skill: Blood Shadow Claw.
Chapter Eleven: Raging Thunder Palm
The dark red claw-image carried a violent momentum capable of tearing everything apart, and was about to land directly on Yun Chen.
Right at that moment, as spiritual Qi surged within Yun Chen's body, his footsteps shifted abruptly.
The next second, his figure abruptly appeared on the other side of the combat ring.
Because of his extreme speed, an afterimage of him was left lingering in his original spot.
Mystic-grade low-tier martial skill—Phantom Clone.
This was a movement martial skill, and furthermore, it was a renowned movement martial skill of the Tianyang Sect.
With a "swish-rip" sound, the claw descended, and the afterimage dissipated.
Seeing this scene, Qu Wan'er below could not help widening her eyes.
Everyone else was stunned as well.
Hadn't they said Yun Feiyang was completely crippled?
What was going on right now, then?
The movement skill he had just executed clearly carried spiritual Qi fluctuations, meaning he possessed cultivation within him.
Seeing that his attack had only struck an afterimage, the Blood-Hand Butcher's expression immediately shifted. He hurriedly spun around to see Yun Chen watching him with a smile, as if mocking him.
"Blood Shadow Art!"
He kicked off the ground with both legs, propelling his entire body forward like a hunting leopard. Crimson spiritual Qi erupted from his body, causing his speed to surge violently.
"Tiger Roaring Fist!"
Seeing that he was about to close in on Yun Chen, the Blood-Hand Butcher pulled his arm back and then threw a ferocious punch.
"Roar!"
Clearly just a fist, yet it emitted a sound resembling a roaring tiger, and faintly atop the fist materialized the phantom image of a tiger's head, looking ready to devour its prey.
"Raging Thunder Palm!"
Instead of retreating, Yun Chen advanced. Mobilizing the spiritual Qi within his body, he slammed his palm outward. The palm pressed toward the opponent's chest with the momentum of a rages-striking thunderbolt.
With a resounding "bang", Yun Chen was struck in the chest by the Blood-Hand Butcher's fist. His protective spiritual Qi was shattered, and staggering underfoot, he was forced back several steps.