Probing

In the blink of an eye, more than half a month had passed...

[Qi Yu]

[Realm: Eighth Rank Blood Burst]

[Combat Power: 22~32]

[Skill Points: 22]

[Cultivation Technique: Spirit Serpent Skill - Grand Completion (6/16)]

[Demon Bear Posture Nurturing Method (2/2)]

[Strange Swallow Posture Nurturing Method (2/2)]

[Demon Alligator Posture Nurturing Method (2/2)]

[White Monkey Posture Nurturing Method (2/2)]

[Wild Horse Posture Nurturing Method (2/2)]

[Five Plum Blossom Fist - Practice Method (4/4)]

[Mystic Tiger Fist - Practice Method (4/4)]

[Rooster Fist - Practice Method (4/4)]

Lines of information appeared...

Qi Yu watched quietly.

Logically, the skill points gained from newly practiced posture methods and practice methods should have been 22 points.

But in reality, it was directly halved, only 12 points. Adding the original 5 points, and the 5 points from the Spirit Serpent Skill, it reached 22 points.

It was clear that although these cultivation techniques were different, they had some subtle "overlapping areas," which caused the skill points he gained from extra cultivation to be reduced by nearly half.

One could imagine that if he continued to cultivate these low-level nurturing and practice methods, the skill points gained afterward would only become less and less, until... none.

The Nine Postures were complete...

Inside the residence...

Qi Yu looked again at the ninth posture of Hunyuan Contending Force.

He took a deep breath, silently reciting "Heaven rewards diligence," and then slowly assumed the [Spirit Serpent Posture], before adjusting his stance to integrate the other eight postures one by one, until he assumed the ninth posture from the golden book.

All nine of his postures were perfect, without any flaws.

After integrating them, he stood silently in the ninth posture of Hunyuan Contending Force.

One breath...

Two breaths...

Ten breaths...

Twenty breaths...

A hundred breaths...

Half an incense stick's time...

One incense stick's time...

Qi Yu rejoiced in his heart, thinking, "Did it work?"

But just after this one incense stick's time, he suddenly felt a fine, ant-like crawling sensation in his flesh and blood. A dense itching began subtly in his feet and abdomen, then swept through his entire body like a tide.

Immediately after, his limbs felt as if they were filled with lead, and every breath became heavy and difficult.

"Can't stop..."

He gritted his teeth and endured.

However, the more he exerted himself, the heavier and more sluggish the sour, numb, and heavy feeling became. Slowly... he felt his muscles and bones as if they were fighting each other, and his blood essence seemed to be forming turbulent whirlpools within his body, a breath stuck, like drowning.

Bang!

He finally could no longer hold on, falling backward onto the ground, gasping heavily. It took a long time before he staggered to his feet.

On his status panel, there was still no change. The words "Hunyuan Contending Force" had still not appeared.

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and sighed, "It seems I still need to go ask Uncle Yan for advice."

Study Secret Room.

The candlelight flickered dimly...

In the dim light and shadow, the young man gritted his teeth and practiced the posture method once more. But after only about an incense stick's time, his legs suddenly went weak, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

The sound of heavy chains dragging grew from far to near...

Lu Yan looked down at him, his brow furrowed slightly. He reached out and lifted him, placing him flat on a low table.

The table was covered with plain white linen, and several silver needles were neatly arranged. This was where he usually performed acupuncture.

Lu Yan probed the pulse at his fingertip, examining it closely, but... the more he looked, the more confused he became.

Hunyuan Contending Force was always profound – either you could do it, or you couldn't.

If you couldn't, thirty seconds was the absolute limit; if you could, it meant you'd at least gotten started, and wouldn't collapse after only the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

But this kid could last for an entire incense stick?

So, did he know it or not?

After Qi Yu's breathing stabilized slightly, Lu Yan withdrew his hand and said calmly, "Show me the nine posture methods you've been practicing."

Qi Yu slowly sat up, feeling a bit dejected. He said softly, "Uncle Yan, am I... just not cut out for this?"

He felt that the cultivation methods of these major sects were truly extraordinary. Even with all his effort, he couldn't even touch the threshold.

He had been full of ambition originally, but now... this was the first time he realized how cruel reality was.

He was merely a prodigal's foundation. In front of true geniuses, he didn't even have the right to get close. He was just an incredibly ordinary person.

And this was just the introductory posture method of Uncle Yan's sect!

Lu Yan said lightly, "Practice the postures."

Qi Yu nodded, then began to assume the postures one by one.

Lu Yan watched intently.

As he watched, he suddenly understood something.

Every posture the young man before him executed was extremely perfect, without any flaws. He murmured to himself, "No wonder... he's forcibly extending his life by relying on perfect form, which is why he can last for the time it takes an incense stick to burn."

Immediately after, he couldn't help but sigh, "Mastery is easy, perfection is difficult.

Even with such monstrous talent, he can't get started... it seems Hunyuan Contending Force isn't meant for people to practice.

Knowing he wouldn't be able to learn it, why did I risk my life to steal this fragment of the golden book? Now I'm covered in injuries that are hard to recover from."

Then, Lu Yan began to ponder.

As he thought, his eyes lit up, and he suddenly said, "There's another way."

He coughed a few times and put on a stern face, saying, "This is something my sect uses... to guide dull disciples. Give it a try."

Qi Yu respectfully said, "Uncle Yan, please teach me."

Lu Yan leaned in and whispered, "Like this, and like that..."

As Qi Yu listened, a look of astonishment appeared in his eyes.

Third Master Qi's manor, afternoon.

A martial artist in brocade robes entered the courtyard carrying a gift box, led respectfully by the steward.

The man strode briskly, a smile on his face, and waved towards Qi Yu from afar, "Brother Yu! Long time no see. I was busy outside these past few days and couldn't even visit during the New Year..."

Qi Yu looked up.

The person was Sun Li.

He used to be Qi Yu's follower, but now he carried himself differently.

However, according to Wang Yuan, this kid had already followed Qi Feng.

He thought for a moment, recalling the Qi family gathering on New Year's Eve, and how Qi Feng had asked to spar with him under the guise of giving pointers. His mind was instantly clear.

Back then, Qi Feng wanted to spar with him to test his limits, given his displayed talent.

Today, Sun Li's visit was likely on Qi Feng's orders, to see how his cultivation was progressing.

Qi Yu sighed inwardly.

His cousin was truly cautious. Even though his second branch was practically guaranteed to inherit the Qi family's business, holding eight out of ten shares in the Poison Water Army and the Herb Gathering Pavilion, he still wanted to keep an eye on this potential competitor.

"Little Li, you've come at the perfect time. I heard the Golden Wind Jade Dew Pavilion has a new girl, and I was just thinking I had no one to accompany me. Want to go?"

The Golden Wind Jade Dew Pavilion was the largest brothel in Mount Wei City. It didn't belong to any local forces in Mount Wei City; instead, it was rumored to be established by an external force through connections with the City Lord.

Precisely because this brothel didn't belong to any major power, the young masters were all the more enthusiastic about it. After all... here, everyone could compete fairly, fairly vie for the first night, and fairly snatch the courtesan of the year. The establishment wouldn't favor any particular side.

In the past, Qi Yu had frequented this place. He had gotten into fights and competed with the young masters of the Wang family here. And the Umbrella Sect disciple who had made him spend a fortune just for a sachet was encountered on the way to this very place.

A flicker of surprise flashed in Sun Li's eyes, and he quickly forced a smile, "Brother Yu, haven't you been diligently practicing martial arts lately? Why... this, lust is a bone-scraping knife."

"Just messing around."

Qi Yu lowered his voice, "After all... I'm growing up. I have to take on some responsibilities."

Sun Li's smile deepened, but his tone was feigned melancholy, "Yes, growing up. Some burdens... you have to carry them even if you don't want to."

Qi Yu said, "Little Li, you seem to be in good spirits today. Really not coming along?"

Sun Li quickly waved his hands, "Brother Yu is joking. I rushed back this time and have to leave immediately to attend to other matters... Let's catch up another day!"

"Alright, Little Li, another day then." Qi Yu replied lazily and turned to leave.

Sun Li followed him to the door. Seeing him get into Old Gu's carriage and gradually disappear into the distance, the contempt in his eyes could no longer be hidden.

With a cold laugh, he thought, "Still so useless. Young Master Qi Feng was indeed worrying too much.

'Let's meet again another day?'

Heh. In a few more days, you'll probably have to bow down and call me Brother Li when you see me.

And I... will have to call you Little Yu. Hmph!"

Qi Yu sat in the carriage, thinking about Uncle Yan's method.

That method was: dance.

Compared to martial arts, the art of dance was practically unheard of, only found in the company of courtesans, nowhere near presentable.

However...

Dance, like martial arts, was a method with ancient origins, capable of inspiring human talent and vitality, and strengthening the body.

Besides that, he vaguely remembered that in the game [Abandoned World], dance... had also had many solo feature shots during the worship of gods.

Those scenes of people dancing gracefully under towering, terrifying god statues, wearing mysterious golden masks, were quite exquisite... It was just that, at the time, he had always "skipped, skipped, skipped" and never paid close attention.

Martial arts and dance, one hard, one soft.

If blood essence was stagnant and brute force clashed, it was better to do the opposite, using softness to guide hardness, turning aggression into gentleness.

"Let's give it a try. This is the method Uncle Yan's sect uses to guide dull disciples.

Surely... I won't be worse than those dull disciples, even with my status panel?"

Qi Yu had a fire in his heart.

Was he really that stupid?

So stupid that he couldn't even learn the basic posture methods of a major sect?