Getting to Know Liu Qing

"I'm currently a six-star Dou Master. I'll suppress my cultivation level and fight you. How about it? Do you dare?"

"This has nothing to do with whether I dare or not. We don't even know each other, so why should I fight you?"

Yao Feng asked in confusion. Did water get into his brain? That couldn't be it!

"I'm from the Liu Family of Central Continent. I know a little about the Yao Clan. I want to see just how strong someone from the Eight Ancient Clans truly is."

Liu Qing said solemnly.

Liu Qing's baffling behavior gave Yao Feng quite a headache. He reached up and rubbed his forehead. Before leaving home, he had specifically asked his father to use a secret technique to conceal his Clan Mark, yet he had run into someone who could "recognize quality" so quickly.

"It's not impossible to spar, but a simple match would be too boring. How about we add some stakes?"

Yao Feng's eyes flickered. As the saying went, many hands made light work. If he could recruit Liu Qing, he would gain a great deal of support.

"What stakes?"

Liu Qing frowned slightly. He hated trouble the most, but in order to fight Yao Feng, he could only accept.

"If I win, you'll agree to one request of mine, provided it doesn't violate your principles. How about it?"

"If I win, you'll give me a Proficient Grade Advanced Dou Technique."

Liu Qing hesitated before speaking.

"Deal!"

Yao Feng smiled faintly. Although Liu Qing's cultivation level was far above his, Liu Qing would be suppressing it to fight him. With Heavenly Flames at his command, Yao Feng had no fear of Liu Qing.

"Begin!"

Liu Qing lowered his stance, his hands forming claws. His fingers were covered in calluses as he fixed Yao Feng with a sharp gaze.

"Mysterious Tier Low-Grade Dou Technique—Earth-Splitting Claw!"

Watching Liu Qing burst forward in an instant, Yao Feng's expression tightened and turned serious.

"Wildfire Prairie!"

The blazing Demonic Flame suddenly surged out of his body, transforming into a fireball that rushed toward Liu Qing.

"Explosive Steps!"

At the same time, Yao Feng raised his foot slightly before stomping it down with a boom. Accompanied by an explosive burst of energy, his body shot to the side. In the next instant, he used Absorbing Palm. The immense suction from his palm caused his body to make an unbelievable turn at high speed, and he immediately appeared behind Liu Qing.

"Burning Fire Palm!"

Yao Feng shouted coldly as he unleashed another Dou Technique.

Mysterious Yellow Flame covered his palm as it blasted forth with tremendous force. Seeing his palm about to strike Liu Qing's back, a smile appeared at the corner of Yao Feng's lips. However, the instant Burning Fire Palm touched Liu Qing's body, a tremendous force erupted from Liu Qing's back.

"Mid-grade Profound-tier Dou Technique—Mountain Pressing Back!"

The exposed muscles on Liu Qing's back contracted in an instant. The massive accumulation of blood and vital energy made his back flush red, then the energy within was released in a single burst, causing immense damage.

Unable to dodge in time, Yao Feng felt pain shoot through his entire arm. His body abruptly retreated as he watched Liu Qing cautiously. It seemed he had underestimated him after all.

Liu Qing turned around expressionlessly. Feeling the burning sensation on his back, he frowned deeply.

"What strange flames!"

"Mountain Tearing Hand!"

"Thunder Flood Dragon Transformation!"

After a brief silence, Liu Qing and Yao Feng attacked at the same time. The Lightning Jiao roared forth, while Liu Qing struck out with a cold expression. A domineering surge of Dou Qi poured forth, and his palm tightly seized the Lightning Jiao, plunging them into a brief stalemate.

Watching Liu Qing stop the Lightning Jiao, a grave look surfaced on Yao Feng's face. At that moment, Liu Qing let out an angry roar. Both hands clamped onto the Lightning Jiao, and with a fierce pull, he actually tore it into two pieces. It then slowly dissipated into the air.

The instant the Lightning Jiao vanished, Yao Feng's pupils contracted. A surge of Soul Power burst from his body, forming an illusory Soul Blade that swiftly stabbed toward Liu Qing.

The Soul Blade spun rapidly through the air, emitting strange ripples. Then, just as Liu Qing's old strength had been spent and his new strength had yet to emerge, it pierced into his body.

Struck by the Soul Blade, Liu Qing's body suddenly stiffened and his pupils became somewhat unfocused. Though he regained clarity in only an instant, when he saw Yao Feng already before him, he inwardly cursed. A sharp pain suddenly exploded in his abdomen, and his body bent like a giant shrimp before being flung high into the air.

Yao Feng shook the Mysterious Yellow Flame from his hand, stomped hard on the ground, and charged out once more. His hand formed a claw and clamped onto Liu Qing's shoulder as he said softly:

"Do you still want to continue?"

"As expected of the Eight Ancient Clans. Your methods truly are extraordinary!"

Though Liu Qing was somewhat unwilling to accept it, he did not attack again. He had never expected Yao Feng to possess a soul-based attack Dou Technique. Such things were extremely rare. It seemed the foundation of the Eight Ancient Clans truly could not be underestimated.

"I lost. Name your request!"

Liu Qing put on a shirt. Though there was a trace of displeasure on his face, an agreement was an agreement, and he would not go back on his word.

"As for that, you'll find out later!" Yao Feng smiled mysteriously, waved his hand, and headed back the way he had come.

"Later?"

"That's right. It won't be long before we meet again!"

Fallen Heart Flame was still at Jia Nan Academy. Ranked fourteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, it was a Heavenly Flame Yao Feng would never let slip away.

After Yao Feng had gone far away, an old man appeared beside Liu Qing and said gravely:

"Young Master, an extremely powerful aura appeared just now. It was roughly at the peak Dou Huang level. It was likely someone secretly protecting that youth."

"A prodigy of the Yao Clan having an even stronger expert secretly protecting him is nothing unusual. Let's return to the family first. Jia Nan Academy will be starting soon. I'll have to rely on you to keep an eye on the family's affairs from now on."

"Yes, Young Master."

"Young Master, you weren't hurt, were you?"

When Yao Feng returned, Zhou Tong asked with a smile. Although he had never left this place, he sensed Liu Qing's aura the moment it erupted, so he had naturally been keeping watch over the situation there.

"No, but he's quite an interesting person!"

Yao Feng chuckled. He was not surprised that Zhou Tong knew what had happened near the waterfall. It had not been far away to begin with, and with Zhou Tong's strength, sensing the fluctuations of battle was easy.

Still, encountering Liu Qing here had surprised Yao Feng. In the original story, Overlord Spear Liu Qing's name had been quite renowned. Moreover, he came from the Liu Family of Tian Huang City in Central Continent, which could be considered no small force. Yet why he had appeared here was somewhat puzzling.

"Young Master, the meat is ready!"

Zhou Tong cut off a large piece of meat and handed it to Yao Feng. Yao Feng took it and bit down hard.

"Mmm, it smells so good! Old Zhou, I never expected you to be such a skilled cook!"

He tore off another large piece and stuffed it into his mouth, speaking somewhat unclearly.

"Hehe, as long as Young Master likes it."

Zhou Tong smiled in satisfaction. He also tore off a piece of meat and stuffed it into his mouth, a look of relish appearing on his face.

After wolfing down the food, Yao Feng and Zhou Tong, who had not eaten properly in several days, finally filled their stomachs.

After letting out a satisfied burp, Yao Feng lazily patted his belly and lay down, allowing the sunlight to shine on his face. Drowsiness washed over him as he said softly,

"Old Zhou, let's make camp here tonight..."