Tyrant Blade

Qin Jiu rubbed his brow.

Though he had rested only about half an incense stick's time, with Withered Wood Meets Spring, his mental recovery was still extraordinary compared to ordinary people, but it inevitably required some time. If he could pair it with a precious medicine, recovery would certainly be much faster.

After Wang Yue left.

He walked into the courtyard and pushed through the Dragon-Tiger Stake.

Though this health-nurturing stake had no combat techniques, paired with the Withered Wood Meets Spring talent, its healing effects were remarkably good.

About half a shichen passed.

Wang Yue returned to the courtyard with surprise on his face.

"Young master, this old servant followed your instructions and asked Wei Yan about it. I didn't expect that Xie Xuan really does have some connection to Qin Xiong, but what exactly their relationship is still needs some time to confirm."

"As for Xie Xuan, this old servant has already locked him in the dungeon."

"Do you wish to interrogate him personally?"

"You handle it."

Qin Jiu shook his head.

He already knew the other's identity; instructing Wang Yue to handle this matter was merely an excuse.

"What about the precious medicine?"

"The mansion rarely uses such precious medicines, and the accounting office has none in storage."

Wang Yue said, taking a porcelain bottle from his bosom, and continued: "This is a Rejuvenation Pill from the Four Seasons Pharmacy. It also has the effect of restoring energy. Please try it first. If it really doesn't work, this old servant will go to the Four Seasons Pharmacy to purchase this kind of precious medicine."

"Rejuvenation Pill? That works."

Taking the porcelain bottle, Qin Jiu poured out a pill and tossed it into his mouth, then continued pushing through the Dragon-Tiger Stake.

Seeing this, Wang Yue prepared to withdraw.

"Uncle Wang, wait a moment."

Qin Jiu stopped him.

Then, after demonstrating the stake technique once more.

He came before him and said: "Recently, dangers have been rising within the city. I have now entered the gateway of the Dragon-Tiger Health-Nurturing Stake, but this technique has no combat methods. If I encounter an enemy and you happen not to be by my side, my safety can only be entrusted to others."

"Yet in the entire Qin Mansion, I only trust you."

"How about starting today, you first teach me the Tyrant Blade Technique?"

"This..."

Wang Yue's face showed reluctance.

What Qin Jiu said was not unreasonable, but that blade technique was harsh and violent. If he cultivated it, it would inevitably affect his future martial path.

He did not wish to see Qin Jiu follow in his own footsteps.

"Uncle Wang need not worry."

Qin Jiu knew what Wang Yue was worried about, and said: "Even if this blade technique will backlash against the body, that will only happen later. But right now, undercurrents are surging within the city, and I urgently need a superior martial art to protect myself. Moreover, even the vice hall master of the Four Seasons Pharmacy has methods to treat this injury. In the future, I may not necessarily be trapped by this blade technique."

He explained patiently.

This was not because of the other's martial realm.

But because this old man was truly worried about him. Thus, he spoke very thoroughly and would not force him using his position as family head.

"Very well."

Wang Yue said solemnly: "But I hope the young master will promise this old servant one request."

"If you feel a stabbing pain in your internal organs while cultivating the blade technique, you must stop and regulate your body. You absolutely must not affect your own martial foundation, or else this old servant will have no face to face the old master after death..."

"I understand."

Seeing that he was about to ramble again, Qin Jiu quickly interrupted him.

Wang Yue nodded, then set up a stance on the spot, and said: "The Tyrant Blade Technique originated from military killing formations. Beginners must temper their bodies with fierce blade momentum until Bone Forging generates internal force, only then can they cultivate the practice method."

"This technique has the distinction of internal and external three harmonies."

"The internal three harmonies are the stake technique and breathing method; the external three harmonies are the blade technique."

"Among them, the seventy-two stance stake technique mainly consists of twenty-four static stances, supplemented by forty-eight dynamic stances..."

He thoroughly explained this stake technique.

Then he slowly began demonstrating the seventy-two stance stake technique, as if afraid Qin Jiu wouldn't remember, moving at an extremely slow pace, occasionally explaining some key points of power release.

"The internal three harmonies are further divided into major and minor three harmonies. The major three harmonies are heart harmonizing with intent, intent harmonizing with spirit, spirit harmonizing with breath. The minor three harmonies are hands harmonizing with feet, elbows harmonizing with knees, shoulders harmonizing with hips."

"When the three harmonies connect, power rises from the ground."

"Motionless, nothing happens..."

Qin Jiu watched attentively.

He had previously cultivated the Dragon-Tiger Health-Nurturing Stake.

Now learning this stance art, he found it not at all strenuous. With Wang Yue's meticulous guidance during practice, it took less than two hours for him to commit the stance's movements and breathing method to memory.

"The young master's talent grows ever more astonishing."

Wang Yue couldn't help but exclaim.

Qin Jiu shook his head. "You've practically broken this martial art down and fed it to me piece by piece."

"If I still couldn't learn it like this,"

"it really would be inexcusable."

"Also, didn't you say before that mastering this art requires tempering the body with a fierce blade momentum?"

"Correct."

Hearing this, Wang Yue's expression turned grave once more. "The reason this martial art is so brutal lies entirely here. One must use blade momentum to cleanse body and mind until Bone Forging generates internal force, only then can one cultivate the combat techniques."

"Young master, wait a moment."

He said this and hurriedly left the East Wing.

When he returned, he carried a pitch-black weapon shaped like a long-bladed saber.

"Though this saber art stands apart from military formations, it inherits their armor-breaking might. Once the blade momentum rises, both man and horse are shattered. Hence the name Tyrant Blade. Young master, you must push through the stance art under this blade momentum until you step into Second Refining Bone Forging to end it."

Wang Yue's originally hunched back and waist

slowly straightened as he spoke.

At the same time, a terrifying aura of slaughter surged skyward, instantly flooding the East Wing courtyard.

Qin Jiu sucked in a cold breath.

The man merely stood there, yet it made his hairs stand on end, as if he were immersed in a sea of blood—one misstep and his head would roll to the ground.

"Thud."

Wang Yue reversed the long saber in his hand and drove the hilt fiercely into the bluestone ground.

Almost simultaneously, that aura of slaughter

descended upon him in an instant.

Qin Jiu took a deep breath, then tensed his mind and slowly began pushing through the stance art.

The small courtyard fell silent.

Only the occasional sound of somewhat heavy breathing broke the stillness.

The sun slanted westward.

In the blink of an eye, dusk arrived.

"Plop."

Inside the East Wing courtyard, Qin Jiu was drenched in sweat, his clothes soaked through. Yet he felt no heat—instead, a strange chill seeped into his bones, making it harder to push through the stance art. Finally, he collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air.

"Two hours..."

A glint of light flashed in Wang Yue's eyes.

He released his grip on the long saber, and his back and waist gradually hunched again.

"Young master, are you alright?"

"That's enough for today."

Qin Jiu spoke. "I feel fine. We'll continue tomorrow. Tonight, you'll come with me to the Qian Family."

"Yes."

Wang Yue nodded.

He reached out to help Qin Jiu up.

But the moment his withered hand touched Qin Jiu's wrist, his pupils violently contracted.

The Three Great Refinements of martial arts—each was a chasm.

As a martial artist above Three Refinements, Wang Yue's martial strength and experience were both the pinnacle of what the county town had to offer.

With just that single touch, Wang Yan realized with shock that his young master had somehow quietly achieved mastery in Skin Polishing.

And at this point, how long had it been since his second breakthrough?