Testing the Improved Battle Technique

Two mornings later, Qin Yu was practicing battle techniques alone in an open space near his home.

After several days of repeated practice, he had refined Rock-Splitting Palm and Rock Fist even further.

Especially after combining the two battle techniques into one, the power unleashed was far more than a simple one plus one equals two!

Unfortunately, Bai Chen had been too weak. Qin Yu had defeated him before he even needed to use a battle technique.

"Brother Qin Yu!"

A familiar voice came from nearby.

Qin Yu stopped and turned around, only to see Xiao Ning jogging over, his face carrying the particular enthusiasm of a young man.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to hang out with you!"

Xiao Ning said with a grin.

Although Xiao Yu had beaten him until his face was swollen and bruised, he still had to come find Qin Yu!

As long as the two of them got together in the future, his sister would definitely understand his good intentions now! She might even thank him!

"Aren't you and my sister about to leave for Jia Nan Academy? You only have a few days left in Wutan City. Want to take a walk together?"

Xiao Ning was still a teenager, and everything he was thinking showed plainly on his face. Qin Yu considered it for a moment and did not refuse.

The two headed toward the city together. Xiao Ning's mouth never stopped along the way, though most of what he talked about was Xiao Yu.

If Xiao Yu ever found out about this, Xiao Ning probably would not even be able to leave the Xiao Household tomorrow.

"By the way, Brother Qin Yu, I heard about you teaching that senior student a lesson from my sister."

Xiao Ning suddenly lowered his voice, his eyes gleaming as he asked tentatively,

"I heard a Three-Star Fighter was like a child in front of you. Are you really only a One-Star Fighter?"

"As long as the gap in cultivation is not too great, there is still room to make up for it."

Qin Yu answered calmly.

"I like hearing that!"

Xiao Ning slapped his thigh in wholehearted agreement.

"My cousin Xiao Yan became a Dou Zhe at eleven. He was so full of himself, but then..."

He suddenly stopped halfway through, perhaps feeling that discussing his own family in front of Qin Yu was inappropriate.

Qin Yu did not press him, and the two continued wandering around.

After turning onto another street, they saw a somewhat handsome young man with a slightly pale face approaching from ahead, an arm around a woman as he teased her.

"Well, if it isn't Young Master Xiao Ning of the Xiao Household?"

The young man spotted Xiao Ning, and a mocking smile appeared on his face. He released the woman in his arms and strolled over.

Xiao Ning's expression changed. He whispered to Qin Yu,

"Jia Lie Ao, the young clan leader of the Jia Lie Clan. He's no good."

"I heard someone from your Xiao Household passed Jia Nan Academy's test this year? Tsk, tsk, not easy. After all, your Xiao Household is now..."

Before Jia Lie Ao could finish, his gaze suddenly fell upon Qin Yu, sizing him up from head to toe.

"And who is this?"

"What's it to you?"

Xiao Ning stepped in front of Qin Yu. Jia Lie Ao sneered and waved his hand. A burly guard behind him immediately stepped forward, Dou Qi surging around his body. He was clearly a Six-Star Fighter.

"A friend of Young Master Xiao Ning is a friend of mine, Jia Lie Ao."

Jia Lie Ao wore a smile that was not quite a smile, as though he already had Xiao Ning cornered.

"How about making friends?"

Xiao Ning's face turned ashen, and he was about to speak when Qin Yu reached out and stopped him.

"A Six-Star Fighter..."

Qin Yu looked at the guard, battle intent quietly rising in his eyes.

A Six-Star Fighter was sturdy enough to take a beating. He should be suitable for testing the quality of his improved battle technique.

"What, does this friend want to test his skills?"

Jia Lie Ao seemed to see through Qin Yu's intentions and called it out loudly.

He had only meant to make things difficult and disgust Xiao Ning and Qin Yu. The two clans had never gotten along anyway.

But now, this was not him picking a fight. Qin Yu was the one who wanted to fight!

"Then let's try it."

Qin Yu stepped forward and rolled up his sleeves. Dou Qi began circulating within him. Facing a Six-Star Fighter, he naturally had to go all out to prevent things from getting out of control.

"Brother Qin Yu..."

"Hey, Xiao Ning. Since this friend is willing, why can't you help him fulfill his wish?"

Xiao Ning wanted to stop him, but Jia Lie Ao interrupted as soon as he opened his mouth and gave the guard a look.

The guard let out a low shout and attacked without hesitation, his fist carrying a fierce gust of wind as it smashed straight at Qin Yu.

A Six-Star Fighter's attack was indeed much stronger than Bai Chen's had been yesterday, but in Qin Yu's eyes, this straightforward style was not fundamentally different from that man's.

The only difference was that this opponent was stronger.

He sidestepped, brown Dou Qi gathering in his palm and covering his hand in a hard protective layer. Then he struck the guard's chest with a palm.

The strike looked light and effortless, but its force penetrated deep into the guard's body.

The guard felt as though his chest had suffered a fierce blow, followed by several forces twisting through him at once. He grunted and staggered back several steps.

"This is... Earth-Attribute Battle Qi?"

The guard stared at Qin Yu in alarm and uncertainty. Even after taking that palm strike, its lingering force was still acting up.

Thick and enduring, as heavy as a mountain—the guard immediately realized that he had encountered a formidable opponent.

But Qin Yu gave him no chance to catch his breath. He closed in again, his fists and palms working together flawlessly.

In just a few breaths, the guard had taken three more palm strikes, blood spilling from his mouth.

"Enough!"

Jia Lie Ao called out with a grim expression, and the guard hurriedly retreated to the side.

Qin Yu withdrew his hand and stood still, his expression unchanged, as though he had merely loosened up.

Earth-Attribute Battle Qi was not known for overwhelming destructive power. What it emphasized was stability, density, and endurance.

But when Rock-Splitting Palm was used in combination with Rock Fist, it could not only deal a heavy blow to an opponent immediately, but also increase the damage of Rock-Splitting Palm's subsequent surging force.

"Impressive skills. Young Master Xiao Ning, your friend is no ordinary man."

Jia Lie Ao tugged at the corner of his mouth in a fake smile, then flicked his sleeve and left with his people.

Xiao Ning stood frozen in place, his eyes wide as saucers.

A Six-Star Fighter... had been defeated just like that?

"Let's go."

Qin Yu flexed his wrist, fairly satisfied with the power of the improved battle technique.

After all, it had only been improved from a Yellow Tier battle technique. Being able to help him defeat a Six-Star Fighter across ranks was already good enough.

But the more that was the case, the more Qin Yu looked forward to going to Jia Nan Academy.

"Brother Qin Yu, you... Come on, come on, let's go to my house. I have to thank you properly!"

Xiao Ning blinked his little eyes, as though something had occurred to him, and dragged Qin Yu straight toward the Xiao Household.

The Xiao Household residence was much larger than Qin Yu had imagined. He had only been able to look around from the outside before; this was his first time entering.

"Grandfather!"

Xiao Ning led Qin Yu farther inside and pushed open a door. An elderly man with graying hair but a vigorous spirit sat in a grand chair, drinking tea.

"Ning'er? Where have you been running off to again? Have you finished today's cultivation?"

The Xiao Household's First Elder glanced at Xiao Ning. Though his tone was stern, there was no blame in it.

"Grandfather, let me introduce you. This is my friend, Qin Yu!"

Xiao Ning pulled Qin Yu into the room and vividly embellished the events from earlier, praising Qin Yu so extravagantly that even Qin Yu felt deeply embarrassed.