Six Marvelous Skills

Third Master Qi's mansion, study secret room.

A circle of candlelight flickered, illuminating the majestic and strange figure of a young man in the center.

Like a divine statue on an altar...

Qi Yu completed the eighteen stances of Hunyuan Contending Force in one go, his movements flowing like water, his posture flawless.

Half a day passed, and not only did he show no signs of fatigue, but he was instead energetic, his eyes clear.

When he finished and stood still, he bowed respectfully, his voice filled with a hint of awe, "The method taught by Uncle Yan is truly profound."

Lu Yan froze in place.

Four words echoed repeatedly in his mind...

He actually learned it?

He actually learned it?

He... actually learned it?!!

"Uncle Yan?"

Qi Yu called out again.

Lu Yan finally snapped back to reality, took a deep breath, and slightly lowered his head, concealing the shock on his face. Although his face was disfigured and his expression unreadable, he still subconsciously avoided the young man's gaze, afraid of being seen through.

He learned this too?

And not only that, but he mastered eighteen stances in one go?

Could Hunyuan Contending Force really be trained like this?

Tomorrow, after his injuries heal, he should try it himself.

The next moment, he composed himself, his tone turning serious, "Since you've begun, you must have experienced the power of our sect's foundational techniques, right?"

Qi Yu nodded solemnly, "Yes."

Lu Yan said in a deep voice, "Then do you remember... what I warned you about?"

Qi Yu replied, "I remember. Uncle Yan said that whether I learned this stance or not, I must never mention it to outsiders. When fighting others, unless you can silence them, you must never use this technique at full power, lest others discover it."

He paused, somewhat confused, "But Hunyuan Contending Force circulates within the body and doesn't show externally. How could others tell?"

Lu Yan's gaze sharpened, "Show me a set of punches."

Qi Yu complied, his punches steady, his movements clean.

After completing the set.

Lu Yan observed him intently but detected nothing unusual.

"Do it again."

Qi Yu threw another punch, his momentum still steady.

The set finished again.

Lu Yan still couldn't find any clues, feeling that both times were almost the same.

Hunyuan Contending Force was originally about the subtle coordination of internal strength, leaving no external trace, making it naturally difficult to discern.

Just as Lu Yan was carefully contemplating the traces of Hunyuan Contending Force in these two sets of punches, Qi Yu suddenly spoke, frankly saying, "Uncle Yan, to be honest, I didn't use Hunyuan Contending Force the first time. I only used it the second time."

Lu Yan was a little puzzled. He himself had never practiced Hunyuan Contending Force, and those who had mastered it in the past were all monstrous talents.

Therefore, he had always assumed that once this technique was unleashed, it would be accompanied by an astonishing aura, never expecting it to be so subtle.

Seeing Lu Yan's silence, Qi Yu's heart tightened.

The reasoning was simple...

Uncle Yan had warned him that if he used Hunyuan Contending Force, he must kill to silence them, indicating that this technique must have extraordinary phenomena and absolutely no traces. But now that he had performed it, there was no reaction...

Could it be that what he was practicing was fundamentally different from what the disciples of Uncle Yan's sect practiced?

Qi Yu's voice held a hint of nervousness, "Uncle Yan, did I practice it incorrectly?"

Lu Yan smiled bitterly in his heart, "You didn't practice it wrong, it's me who made a mistake."

However, after a moment of thought, a sudden idea struck him, and he said in a slow tone, "It's not wrong, it's just... inferior. Once the true Hunyuan Contending Force circulates, the flesh and blood writhe, the body swells, and it... "

He raised his hand and gestured, "The height can increase to nearly ten feet. That is true mastery."

Qi Yu glanced at the panel "[Hunyuan Contending Force (18/36)]" and said, "Is this... true?"

Lu Yan suppressed his guilt, pretending to ponder, then suddenly clapped his hands, a look of realization on his face, "Oh~~~ I remember now.

In our sect, Hunyuan Contending Force has always been cultivated in conjunction with another secret technique to achieve its ultimate effect. Yours... is still far from it."

His tone shifted, with a hint of regret, he sighed, "In that case, I can't teach you the subsequent techniques. You should go back to the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall first and build a solid foundation."

Lu Yan's Hunyuan Contending Force was stolen amidst chaos and at the risk of his life. Where would he get any subsequent techniques? This was just to temper the young man's ambition and prevent him from becoming arrogant and causing trouble outside, so he made up this story.

Qi Yu respectfully pressed, "Please enlighten me, Uncle Yan, what technique is it?"

Lu Yan uttered four words: "Hunei Contradictory Body."

"Hunei Contradictory Body?"

Qi Yu repeated in a low voice.

Lu Yan said, "Once this technique is mastered, there won't be any empty spaces left in your entire body. Every part will be filled with reverse force. Even a single strand of hair will be stronger than a weapon. Back then, there was a powerful individual named Three Thousand Feet of White Hair who, using only his hair, caused rivers of blood to flow. Walking... walking... cough cough, in short, he was quite formidable."

Before Qi Yu could ponder further, Lu Yan added, "And then there's All Nations Come to Court."

Lu Yan continued, "And then there's All Nations Come to Court."

"All Nations Come to Court?"

Qi Yu grew even more astonished.

Lu Yan said, "Although this doesn't have the Foundation Establishment benefits of Hunyuan Contending Force, it can push the explosive power to its absolute limit. If the two were combined, the might would be unimaginable. Even... a single finger could suppress a... a... a city!"

Fearing Qi Yu would ask too many questions, he spoke faster and faster, listing them as if reciting from memory: "Besides these, there's Great Atmosphere Breathing, Air Swimming, Four-Eyed Nuo Dance... too many to count."

Lu Yan suddenly stopped speaking and glanced at the young man, saying sternly, "So, don't think you're all that just because you've learned a bit of Hunyuan Contending Force. You've still got a long way to go."

"Uncle Yan, I don't think it's anything special."

"Good that you know!"

Qi Yu was taken aback by the explanation. After a long pause, he finally asked, "Uncle Yan, your sect..."

Qi Yu was stunned by this string of seemingly impressive techniques. After a long pause, he softly asked, "Uncle Yan, your sect..."

Lu Yan grinned wryly. "Kid, I'm a defector. I'm currently a fugitive. Your father took me in privately. If you let even a hint of this slip, not only you, but the entire Qi Family will face disaster and annihilation."

His gaze suddenly sharpened. "The reason I told you not to reveal Hunyuan Contending Force is precisely for this."

Qi Yu nodded solemnly. "Uncle Yan, I understand."

A moment later, Qi Yu's figure disappeared at the end of the stairs.

Footsteps, however, could be heard again from the entrance of the staircase as a slender figure slowly descended.

The arrival was Third Master Qi, Qi Changshun. He was wearing a slightly worn blue-grey brocade jacket, his face a little pale, carrying an air of scholarly refinement and illness.

He spoke gently, "Brother Yan, did you tell him everything?"

Lu Yan turned around, and only then did admiration appear in his eyes. "Your son is truly remarkable. He actually managed to cultivate Hunyuan Contending Force. That's Hunyuan Contending Force..." His tone grew excited. "One of the Six Marvelous Skills of the lower three ranks!"

He counted on his fingers: "Hunyuan Contending Force, All Nations Come to Court, Hunei Contradictory Body, Great Atmosphere Breathing, Air Swimming, Four-Eyed Nuo Dance... Out of the Six Marvelous Skills, he has actually mastered one."

Upon hearing this, Qi Changshun's eyes gleamed with unconcealed joy. He looked back in the direction his son had left, his gaze seeming to pierce through the walls, seeing the continuation of his life, the future hope of his family.

A gratified smile touched his lips. After a moment of silence, he slowly clenched his fist.

Since his son was so promising.

He was determined to spare no effort to pave a bright path for his son.

With that thought, he smiled and said gently, "Brother Yan, don't just talk about my son. He... he's also somewhat your disciple. After the martial arts examination, I'll have him formally pay his respects to you as his master."

Lu Yan remained silent for a long time. "Are you truly willing to let him take me, a half-dead fugitive, as his master?"

Qi Changshun nodded. "It is his good fortune to be able to take Brother Yan as his master."

Lu Yan tilted his head back, took a deep breath, and finally nodded, saying, "It is also my good fortune."

Qi Yu returned to the courtyard and found Madam Liu.

"Mother, I wish to go to the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall to train for a period of time."

Green Bamboo happened to return from the Clear Wind Sword Hall, standing by the corridor in a green robe.

Qi Yu's gaze fell upon the cool-mannered maid.

He remembered the bet.

This time, he needed to show some strength to dissuade his mother from sending A Bi away under the guise of "his well-being."

A mother knows her son best...

Madam Liu immediately understood his intentions and gestured, "Green Bamboo, the young master has not yet cultivated killing techniques. Unsheathe your sword and spar with him."

After speaking, she slightly nodded to the side.

Granny Wang understood and quickly closed the courtyard gate.

Green Bamboo removed the long sword from her waist and placed it on a stone stool, the sword body making a light sound. After removing her weapon, the sharp aura around her slightly subsided, and her combat power dropped from "32~52" to "22~42."

Qi Yu's was "27~42."

The two stood facing each other, their gazes meeting. The courtyard fell into a momentary silence.

Green Bamboo wasted no words. She simply bowed, her slender hand slightly raised, and said coolly, "Young Master, please."

Qi Yu's gaze lifted slightly, his fists clenched.

Layers of strength surged into his limbs like a hundred rivers converging into the sea.

In an instant... his blood essence surged, and his fighting spirit was boundless.

"Please."