In an instant, Su Changyu froze in shock.
It was because Body Tempering was mentioned.
He couldn’t help but think of that secret manual.
The Ancient Godfiend Body Tempering Technique.
“Can the things taught in that secret manual really be put into practice?”
Su Changyu was astonished again.
That secret manual was purely a secret manual bought from a street stall.
‘Can the techniques in the secret manual really be practiced?’
‘Is it that intense?’
At this moment, Su Changyu couldn’t help but think of an action.
‘Yes, this is it.’
All of a sudden, Su Changyu was really astonished.
If Ye Ping could use that sword mark to deduce countless sword techniques, he would accept it.
Perhaps, Ye Ping was a peerless genius, and hence, it would be normal for him to have a high sense of comprehension.
However, the problem was that it was just a secret manual bought from a street stall and the fact that he could comprehend something from it was just absurd.
It was really outrageous.
‘Previously, there was at least a basis for comprehension.’
‘Yet, you’re now just making something up out of nothing.’
‘Is this just being good at comprehension?’
‘You… you…’
Su Changyu didn’t know what to say.
At this moment, everyone in the sect including Xiao Muxue couldn’t help but look at Su Changyu.
After all, the Body Tempering technique that Ye Ping cultivated was definitely extraordinary. If it was a Daoist Master who imparted it to Ye Ping, Xiao Muxue would not be surprised, but if it was taught to Ye Ping by Su Changyu…
She didn’t believe it at all.
“I have to go to enlighten the Dao of heaven and earth. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”
Su Changyu wanted to flee. After all, it was hard to explain this matter clearly.
“Changyu, I’ll accompany you to comprehend the Great Dao.”
Daoist Tai Hua tagged along.
“Eldest Senior Brother, let’s go too.”
The rest of the Junior Brothers tagged along too and even Xiao Muxue followed them as well.
After all, Ye Ping’s Body Tempering technique was simply too horrifying, and she wanted to go over and ask what was going on.
Everyone left.
Ye Ping and the other two people were the only ones left on the rear cliff.
Da Xu was still staring at Ye Ping with his mouth and eyes wide open.
Previously, Ye Ping was just like a golden lamp in his eyes.
To the demonic and heretical cultivators, people with such strong Qi and blood were extremely conspicuous.
They were great tonics.
However, for those whose Qi and blood were stronger, it would be different as the demons would not dare to go near them.
He looked at Ye Ping again.
Da Xu saw the sun.
Yes, he saw a wheel of sunlight. Ye Ping’s Qi and blood were so strong that Da Xu saw the sun.
If he swallowed Ye Ping…
He inhaled sharply.
Da Xu’s head started to hurt again, and he didn’t even dare to think much about it, for fear that there would be side effects.
However, Da Xu also understood that with Ye Ping’s current strength, other Golden Core realm heretical cultivators would definitely die when they encountered Ye Ping.
Xia Qingmo, who was at the side, was completely speechless.
After all, Ye Ping had condensed the Blood and Qi Furnace and the True Dragon at the age of just twenty-two.
In the Great Xia Dynasty, there was a Dragon Dao Ancient Sutra, but even those who cultivated it would rarely condense the True Dragon. Only a few could do so but the ones who managed had to spend lots of treasures to do it.
Since childhood, they had been bathing in the Supreme Herb Pool, and even the Great Xia Dynasty had sent out supreme experts to slaughter flood dragons and drain their blood in order to help those people sculpt the invincible physical body.
However, Ye Ping relied on his own power to condense the Qi and blood True Dragon, and it was all… indeed extremely exaggerated.
At the same time, in the grand hall of the Qingyun Dao Sect.
Daoist Tai Hua, Su Changyu, Xiao Muxue, Wang Zhuoyu, and Xiao Muxue were all gathered there.
Everyone looked at Su Changyu.
They did not say anything, but Su Changyu was aware of what they meant.
“Don’t look at me like that, I can say it, but it’s up to you to believe it or not.”
Su Changyu was a little upset too because he didn’t know if he had guessed correctly or not.
“Changyu, hurry up and make yourself clear.”
Daoist Tai Hua was a little curious.
The crowd was curious too, let alone him.
Everyone knew that Ye Ping was a genius but there was a certain extent to ingenuity too.
Su Changyu, who had drawn the sword mark, was at least a Sword Dao cultivator and it was possible for Ye Ping to comprehend it even though the possibility was low.
However, no one could understand Body Tempering.
Hence, they were all curious as to what Su Changyu had done, or what cultivation technique he had imparted to Ye Ping to allow him to become so impressive.
“Master, you should remember this. Do you remember the first time we went down the mountain to sell Ye Ping’s painting and used the proceeds to buy lots of secret manuals?”
Su Changyu said calmly.
“Secret manuals? Oh, you mean the secret manual market?”
Daoist Tai Hua suddenly realized.
However, the crowd’s concerns suddenly changed.
“Painting? What painting did they sell?”
“What painting?”
“Ye Ping’s painting?”
The crowd was a little curious, and all of a sudden, Daoist Tai Hua, Su Changyu, and Xu Luochen were stunned.
They let it slip.
“Don’t interrupt, listen to the main point.”
Xiao Muxue interjected.
She didn’t care about the paintings that had been sold. Her main concern now was what cultivation method Ye Ping had cultivated.
“Yes, Master bought a lot of secret manuals back then, one of which is called the Ancient Godfiend Body Tempering Technique. At that time, I just found out that Ye Ping is a genius, and I thought that with my mediocre sword techniques, I won’t be able to teach him for a long time.”
“So I gave him the Body Tempering technique. If I understand what he means correctly, he’s now cultivating the Ancient Godfiend Body Tempering Technique.”
Su Changyu revealed his guesses.
However, as soon as he said that, it was instantly quiet in the hall.
They all knew what kind of a place the market was. It was a place for purchasing books to fill up their library. How could anyone learn anything out of it?
It must be deception.
“Changyu, are you not kidding?”
Daoist Tai Hua also could not help but swallow his saliva. He remembered that matter clearly, but if Ye Ping managed to cultivate to such a level using a secret manual bought from a street bazaar, it would be too incredible.
“Is the cultivation method still there? Can I see it?”
At this moment, Xiao Muxue asked Su Changyu to show her the technique.
However, Su Changyu shook his head and said, “I lost it long ago. I’ve seen it before and it definitely isn’t a supreme technique. There are only a few pictures in there. I’ll show you once.”
Su Changyu had long lost the Ancient Godfiend Body Tempering Technique manual because it was completely useless. Besides, it was bought from a street stall and he thought that no one would care about it.
After saying that, Su Changyu began to practice the stance of the Ancient Godfiend Body Tempering Technique. He remembered all of them. Back then, he thought that it would help improve his looks, but later on, he realized that… there was no use for it at all and thus threw it away.
However, after Su Changyu demonstrated it once, Xiao Muxue frowned slightly.
The reason being, the stances seemed rather peculiar, but there was no function for them at all and there wasn’t any “momentum” either. It could not be considered a cultivation technique and was purely just a strange action.
“Such a pity.”
Xiao Muxue remarked.
All of a sudden, the crowd became even more curious as they could not understand the reason for it.
“There are some mighty figures who have always had strange behaviors since ancient times. They tend to write some strange cultivation methods that seem fake no matter how you look at them. However, they will inscribe it in the secret manual.”
“There are some who are destined or meet the conditions, and thus they can find the core of it. The focus is not on the content of the cultivation method but in the manual. Master, you might have bought a genuine supreme cultivation method.”
“However, the cultivation method is hidden in the manual and not in the content. Only one person can comprehend it. Maybe Ye Ping comprehended and learned the supreme cultivation method by chance.”
Xiao Muxue was knowledgeable and stated a possibility.
After she said that, everyone was shocked.
Daoist Tai Hua couldn’t help but be agitated.
He was extremely unlucky all his life, but he never thought that he would one day be able to pick up a treasure.
“Does this mean that I managed to let Ye Ping learn the real skills by a freak combination of factors? In this case, I’m not bringing shame to my status as his master.”
The reason for Daoist Tai Hua’s excitement was not the cultivation method, but the fact that he had indirectly taught Ye Ping something.
These days, he was feeling rather guilty. After all, he had been deceiving Ye Ping and anyone would be uncomfortable with it.
However, things were different now. If that was really the case, whether it was by a freak combination of factors or by chance, Ye Ping had indeed learned something supreme and Daoist Tai Hua would truly be his master.
“There’s a certain possibility, but it’s not absolutely so.”
Xiao Muxue drank a mouthful of wine. Despite saying that, she was already certain that that was the reason. After all, she could not think of any other possibility apart from that.
‘Can a manual bought from a street vendor really make one comprehend the supreme inheritance?’
“Ah, what a pity.”
Su Changyu said, feeling a little sour that he did not cherish a supreme cultivation method that was once placed before him.
“Master, do you still have those manuals that you bought? Where are they now?”
At this moment, Chen Lingrou couldn’t help but ask, in a bid to get her hands on a good manual.
“It’s in the Kṣitigarbha Pavilion.”
Daoist Tai Hua answered very casually, but soon, he looked at Chen Lingrou with a stern expression.
“You can read it but don’t practice it indiscriminately.”
Daoist Tai Hua hurriedly said. Although Ye Ping had obtained the supreme inheritance, the issue was that not everyone could be like Ye Ping.
Perhaps, Ye Ping could comprehend it mostly because he was a genius.
However, what was Chen Lingrou?
Daoist Tai Hua could not be bothered to say.
“I’ll just take a look and not practice indiscriminately.”
Chen Lingrou chuckled and then scurried away.
Seeing that Chen Lingrou had left, Xu Luochen and the others soon grew impatient. Although finding the second cultivation method was indeed difficult, he wouldn’t know without trying.
Who wouldn’t want to have a supreme inheritance?
“Master, we still have something on, we’ll get going.”
“I’m going back too.”
“Master, see you tomorrow.”
The rest of the disciples got up and left to go to the Kṣitigarbha Pavilion one after another.
In a moment, Xiao Muxue, Su Changyu, and Daoist Tai Hua were the only ones left in the hall.
At this moment, Xiao Muxue could not help but look at Su Changyu and said calmly, “Do you have anything else? If not, hurry up and go out. I have something to see Master for.
Xiao Muxue’s tone was very casual.
After she said that, Su Changyu’s expression became indifferent.
“Must I go out just because you tell me to? What do you take me for? A third-rate Sword Dao cultivator?”
Su Changyu had always been at odds with Xiao Muxue.
“Get lost. What are you pretending in front of me for? Hurry back and think of a sword intent countermeasure.”
Daoist Tai Hua could tell that Xiao Muxue had to see him for something important, and hence, he told Su Changyu to leave.
Being driven away by his own master, Su Changyu had nothing to say. Thus, he got up and left to return to his residence, but after thinking about it, he went to the Kṣitigarbha Pavilion instead.
Soon, only Daoist Tai Hua and Xiao Muxue were left in the hall.
Gulp. Gulp.
Xiao Muxue picked up the wine gourd and poured a mouthful of wine with a high alcoholic content into her mouth. Daoist Tai Hua who was on the main seat couldn’t help but frown. He initially wanted to chide her but did not do so after all.
“Muxue, what’s the matter?”
Daoist Tai Hua looked at Xiao Muxue somewhat indifferently.
In fact, Daoist Tai Hua was also full of curiosity towards Xiao Muxue. Unlike the other disciples, both Su Changyu and Xu Luochen were orphans whom he chanced upon.
However, Xiao Muxue was not an orphan. She had taken the initiative to become his disciple.
To be honest, when he first met Xiao Muxue, Daoist Tai Hua was shocked. In the beginning, he thought that Xiao Muxue was Su Changyu’s follower, but he soon realized that Xiao Muxue was not at all kind to Su Changyu.
He took Xiao Muxue as his disciple mainly because Xiao Muxue was not self-sufficient, she could also casually bring some silver back to the sect whenever she went down the mountain. Hence, he had been turning a blind eye to Xiao Muxue.
“Master, let me ask you about something, but please be honest.”
Xiao Muxue stood in front of Daoist Tai Hua and said in a casual tone.
“What is it?”
Daoist Tai Hua was a little curious.
“About twenty years ago, the world experienced some major events like the appearance of the True Dragon in the East Ocean, an emperor in the Great Qian Dynasty, an immortal emerging in the Longevity Mountain, the Qingzhou aurora, and the annihilation of 67,000 people in the Linglong Ancient Land. Do you know about these things?”
Xiao Muxue spoke slowly while staring at Daoist Tai Hua.
Xiao Muxue’s expression was indifferent.
On the other hand, Daoist Tai Hua had a strange gaze in his eyes, as if he was trying to say, “What are you talking about?”
“Muxue, listen to my advice, in the future, don’t read those nonsensical books with Lingrou. What nonsense are you talking about? True Dragon in the East Ocean?”
Daoist Tai Hua was bewildered.
‘What a random topic, can you slow down?’
Gulp. Gulp.
Xiao Muxue did not have any change in emotion and instead chugged some wine again. Immediately afterwards, she looked at Daoist Tai Hua.
“Well, you should know about the disappearance of the Tenth Prince of the Great Xia Dynasty 27 years ago, right?”
Xiao Muxue’s voice was calm.
Her gaze was even calmer.
Daoist Tai Hua looked puzzled.
“What do you mean?”
Not only did he know about the disappearance of the Tenth Prince of the Great Xia Dynasty, but everyone in the Jin Nation did too.
At that time, the incident spread throughout the Ten Nations and everyone was in danger. The Great Xia Dynasty soldiers were conducting secret inspections everywhere, but they still did not manage to find the Tenth Prince in the end.
However, there were rumors that the Tenth Prince had actually been strangled to death, but for the sake of covering it up, the Great Xia Dynasty misled others into thinking that the Tenth Prince was not dead but was stranded in the mortal world.
“Master, if I tell you that… Su Changyu could possibly be the lost Tenth Prince of the Great Xia Dynasty… would you believe me?”
Xiao Muxue said while staring at Daoist Tai Hua.
“Yes!”
“I completely believe it. Changyu might have a weak cultivation level and aptitude. He also likes boasting but other than that, he doesn’t have any flaws. Most importantly, no one in this world can compare to him in terms of aura and appearance.”
“I’d believe you even if you say that he’s the reincarnation of the founding emperor of the Great Xia Dynasty. Muxue, why don’t you contact the people of the Great Xia Dynasty and say that Changyu is the Tenth Prince? If he reunites with them, we won’t have to live in this tiny place anymore, we can just go live in the palace.”
Daoist Tai Hua said seriously.
However, Xiao Muxue could tell that it was sarcasm.
Daoist Tai Hua was indeed being sarcastic.
‘Su Changyu?’
‘The lost Tenth Prince of the Great Xia Dynasty?’
“Hah!”
‘Apart from his looks, nothing about Su Changyu is like that of a prince.’
‘Like father like son, like mother like daughter.’
‘Even if the son of the king of the Great Xia Dynasty is incompetent, it shouldn’t be to such an extent.’
Ye Ping managed to reach Major Perfection in the same sword technique, but Su Changyu still hadn’t learned a few moves of it.
Daoist Tai Hua would believe her if she said that Ye Ping was the Tenth Prince of the Great Xia Dynasty.
However, he felt that it was impossible for Su Changyu to be the Tenth Prince.
“How did you come up with that idea?”
Thinking of this, Daoist Tai Hua asked in displeasure.
“Lingrou said so. She was too embarrassed to ask, so she asked me to.”
Xiao Muxue answered casually.
Hearing her answer, Daoist Tai Hua got even more infuriated.
“Lingrou said so?”
“Hmph, all she does is read some useless books all day instead of cultivating properly.”
“I’ll burn Lingrou’s nonsensical novels when I see her. You guys are too bored and idle all day. All you think about is taking a shortcut. Don’t make up a story for every orphan.”
Daoist Tai Hua chided angrily.
He then continued to speak.
“Twenty-seven years ago, two Essence Soul realm powerhouses from Jin Nation and Qing Nation respectively went on a massacre and struck through the North Abyss and great rivers. 70% of Jin Nation suffered a flood and countless innocent people died.”
“There are lots of orphans like Changyu in Baiyun Ancient City.”
Daoist Tai Hua explained the reason that Su Changyu was an orphan, lest she got too immersed in that thought.
“Oh, I see. What a pity, I thought I could cozy up to the powerful Great Xia Dynasty.”
Gulp. Gulp.
“Okay then, Master, I may have to go out again in a few days. Manage the sect well, I hope that there’ll be progress when I’m back.”
After getting the answer, Xiao Muxue left the hall casually while drinking.
After Xiao Muxue left, Daoist Tai Hua couldn’t help but fall into contemplation in the hall.
After a while, he could not help but murmur.
“Would it be a capital crime to assume the identity of a prince?”
He was thinking about it and seemed rather curious.
However, in the blink of an eye, it was late at night.
In the main hall, Daoist Tai Hua was formulating a grand plan for the development of the Qingyun Dao Sect.
However, at this moment, Su Changyu’s voice sounded.
“Master, are you asleep?”
“Come in.”
Daoist Tai Hua stopped writing, looked at Su Changyu who was outside the door, and allowed him to enter.
Soon, Su Changyu walked inside the main hall.
His footsteps were light and he frowned a little while walking towards Daoist Tai Hua.
“Master, let me ask you a question.”
Su Changyu suppressed his voice and seemed a little mysterious.
“What is it?”
Daoist Tai Hua was curious.
“Master, do you know Lu Changsheng?”
Su Changyu’s eyes were full of curiosity.
‘Huh?’
‘Lu Changsheng?’
Daoist Tai Hua was stunned.
‘Who’s that?’
‘Is he very famous?’
Sensing Daoist Tai Hua’s bewilderment, Su Changyu couldn’t help but speak up.
“Lingrou said I look like a person named Lu Changsheng, but when I asked her who Lu Changsheng is, she did not tell me. So, I came to ask you.”
Su Changyu continued.
After he said that, Daoist Tai Hua immediately got furious and walked out.
“Master, what are you going to do?”
Su Changyu asked.
“Burn some books.”
Daoist Tai Hua instructed.
Just like that, five days passed.
During those five days,
Ye Ping had had an enjoyable time in the Qingyun Dao Sect as he comprehended the Sword Dao every single day, read books, and even taught Gu Jianxian.
On the other hand, Daoist Tai Hua seemed to be wanting to renovate the Qingyun Dao Sect. Da Xu and Xia Qingmo took the initiative to help. Da Xu moved the things around while Xia Qingmo bargained and negotiated the price to help Daoist Tai Hua save a lot of silver.
Their behavior gained the favor of most people in Qingyun Dao Sect.
They became closer.
In Jin Nation.
Huangfu Tianlong was still waiting for Ye Ping, but most people knew that Ye Ping definitely wouldn’t appear. They even felt that it was just a lie of Jin Nation Academy.
However, on the very next day…
All of a sudden, the sounds of horse hooves moving neatly filled the air.
The sounds were deafening, breaking the silence in Baiyun Ancient City like a tsunami.
Soon, tens of thousands of iron cavalry appeared in Baiyun Ancient City.
