Entering the Transformative Force Realm

The piece of Extreme Yin Wood on Yu Hu could restore Qing Lian's demonic soul. It contained pure yin energy and was an exceptionally special yin-attributed spiritwood.

Therefore.

Though it was only a small piece the size of a palm, it was tremendously valuable. If spotted by someone who recognized its worth, it could sell for well over a thousand taels.

Yu Chen and his family were merely ordinary commoners. By all rights, they should never have come into contact with spiritwood of this grade. There had to be some reason behind it.

That was why Xu Qing had asked.

"An... an old... old Taoist gave... gave it to me."

Under Yu Chen's exceedingly sharp gaze, Wang Cuilan could only brace herself and reveal the truth. "That day, I had just come back from the temple when I met an old Taoist on the road. He looked like a beggar and blocked my way, saying that my son would face a great calamity in the future."

"At first, I certainly didn't believe him. But that old Taoist spoke of many things about our family. He even worked out my son's birth date and eight characters."

"So I believed him."

"The most important thing was—"

"That old Taoist only gave me a wooden tag with Yu Chen's birth date and eight characters carved on it. He didn't charge me a single coin, so I had Yu Chen wear it."

"You stinking woman, something this important, and you actually dared to hide it from me?"

Yu Chen was extremely furious.

"That old Taoist told me not to mention it to anyone, not even you. I was afraid something bad would happen to the child, so I never dared to say anything."

Wang Cuilan lowered her head.

"An old Taoist."

Xu Qing pondered as he examined Yu Hu. "There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. That old Taoist gave you a wooden tag made of Extreme Yin Wood. He must have been after something."

"It's just..."

"What exactly was that old Taoist after?"

"Forget it."

Xu Qing shook his head and glanced at Yu Chen. "Let me try treating Yu Hu's condition. Of course, I don't know whether it will work."

"Brother Xu, I'm truly counting on you."

Yu Chen bowed deeply.

"Mm."

Xu Qing nodded. He reached out and took Yu Hu from Yu Chen, then said, "The two of you wait outside. Without my permission, don't come into the room carelessly."

"Alright, alright."

"Understood."

Yu Chen and Wang Cuilan nodded quickly.

The door closed.

Inside the room.

Xu Qing placed Yu Chen on the bed, took out the Ghost Mask, and with a thought, summoned the Shaman Evil Ghost to stand beside the bed.

"Can you save him?"

Xu Qing asked directly.

"Yes, Master."

The Shaman Evil Ghost's voice was hoarse. "However, I can only remove the yin energy continuously eroding his body. I cannot erase the 'spell curse' that has already taken root in his mind."

"Hmm?"

Xu Qing frowned and looked at the Shaman Evil Ghost. "A 'spell curse'? Wasn't he merely being eroded by yin energy?"

"No."

The Shaman Evil Ghost shook her head. "The yin energy began eroding him last night, but the 'spell curse' began four years ago. It has now completely rooted itself in his mind and cannot be removed, unless..."

"Unless what?"

Xu Qing asked.

"Unless Master can find a great Taoist master, or a great Confucian master. If that is impossible, a powerful Qi Practitioner would also do. Only then can it be eradicated at the root."

The Shaman Evil Ghost said.

"I don't have that ability right now."

Xu Qing shook his head. "First remove the yin energy from his body. As for the 'spell curse,' we can discuss it later. If things are truly as Wang Cuilan said, I believe that old Taoist will certainly appear again someday in the future."

"Yes."

The Shaman Evil Ghost responded.

Buzzz!

After that.

Standing beside the bed, the Shaman Evil Ghost inhaled toward Yu Hu and sucked all the yin energy from his body clean. The pallor on Yu Hu's face gradually regained a trace of rosiness.

"That will do."

Xu Qing nodded in satisfaction.

"Return."

Immediately after.

Xu Qing recalled the Shaman Evil Ghost into the Ghost Mask.

"Come in."

At that moment.

Xu Qing called out toward the outside of the room.

"Brother Xu, how is the child?"

"..."

The door was pushed open.

Yu Chen and Wang Cuilan hurried inside.

At this moment.

Yu Hu's eyes moved a few times before he slowly opened them. Seeing Yu Chen and Wang Cuilan, he weakly called out, "Dad, Mom."

"Master."

Yu Hu also saw Xu Qing.

"Mm."

Xu Qing nodded and said, "Go home. Rest well for the next few days, eat more nourishing food, and you'll recover in a few days."

"Thank you, Brother Xu. Thank you, Brother Xu."

Yu Chen was immensely grateful.

"..."

Likewise.

Wang Cuilan was just short of dropping to her knees.

To be honest.

Xu Qing had not expected it either. His first disciple—he had originally thought Yu Chen was merely an ordinary man with some talent for business, and Yu Hu was simply the son of an ordinary merchant.

Yet.

This Yu Hu seemed to have some secret of his own.

It truly came as quite a surprise.

That morning.

After seeing Yu Chen and the others off, Xu Qing left Qingbei Town and once again arrived at White Dwarf Mountain, standing before the same ant nest.

"Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique."

Buzzz!

Xu Qing pricked his fingertip and squeezed out a drop of blood. He used the Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique to form a Beast Taming Blood Curse, successfully taming eight ants at once.

Experience +1

Although he had successfully controlled eight ants at the same time, he could only gain one experience point. This was because the condition for gaining experience was one point for each successful use of the technique.

Afterward.

Xu Qing crushed all eight ants beneath his foot.

A stabbing pain rose in his mind.

"Continue."

Xu Qing squeezed out another drop of blood and continued using the Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique.

Experience +1

Experience +1

In the blink of an eye.

An hour later.

Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique LV4: 30/80

"Time to go back."

Xu Qing felt the dull pain and heaviness in his mind. He had already reached his limit and could not continue farming experience, so he left White Dwarf Mountain and returned to the courtyard in town.

"Eight Extremities Fist."

After resting for a while.

Xu Qing began his boxing practice for the day.

Experience +1

Experience +1

With each completed set of movements, the Eight Extremities Fist gained experience bit by bit. Its upgrade was drawing ever closer; there were only a few days left.

That night.

Xu Qing began practicing the Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking.

When he had time.

Xu Qing also practiced the Serpent Evasion Technique and other skills.

It could be said.

Every day of Xu Qing's life was exceptionally full, every moment packed to the brim.

Time flashed by.

In the blink of an eye.

Four days later.

Morning.

"Phew..."

Xu Qing exhaled a breath of stale air. He had finished a set of Eight Extremities Fist and slowly drew his stance to a close. A gleam flashed in his eyes as the information on the Eight Extremities Fist surfaced in his mind.

Eight Extremities Fist LV7: 640/640 (Upgradeable!)

"Upgrade Eight Extremities Fist."

Xu Qing said.

Buzzz!

The Omni-Codex glimmered with fluorescent light.

The next instant.

Countless small black figures seemed to appear before Xu Qing's eyes, ceaselessly practicing the Eight Extremities Fist. Before he knew it, Xu Qing's consciousness seemed to enter a mysterious space.

Boom! Boom! Boom!!!

Within that mysterious space, Xu Qing continuously practiced and deduced the Eight Extremities Fist, making it more complete, more profound, and more powerful.

Rumble!

At last.

The Eight Extremities Fist broke through a limit and reached another level. At the same time, Xu Qing's strength underwent another breakthrough, advancing from peak Dark Force into the Transformative Force realm.

"Eight Extremities Fist."

Bang! Bang! Bang!!!

Xu Qing opened his eyes. A sharp gleam flickered within them as his force moved freely, spreading into every corner of his body.

Strong.

Exceptionally strong.

Clearly.

Xu Qing had surpassed the utmost limit of Dark Force and stepped into an entirely new realm. He had broken through from peak Dark Force into the Transformative Force realm, becoming a true Transformative Force martial artist.

Eight Extremities Fist LV8: 0/1280 (A profound fist technique combining combat methods and cultivation methods. Its movements are fierce and simple, its force rapid, its explosive power extremely strong. It tempers the sinews, bones, and flesh; force penetrates the sinews and bones and courses through the entire body. Once mastered, it allows one to enter the 'Transformative Force' realm.)

"Phew..."

Xu Qing opened his eyes, his gaze blazing. He sensed the changes in his condition and the changes in his force. It was as though, when he closed his eyes, he could see his internal organs and bodily structures, faintly reaching a realm akin to "inner sight."

At this point.

Xu Qing finally understood what Transformative Force was.

As the name implied.

After entering the "Transformative Force" realm, one's force could already flow throughout the entire body. One could even use that force to regulate the internal organs, clearly recognize every organ within and without, and master them completely.

In this way.

As long as one continued training through the mysteries of "Transformative Force," strength could reach even the teeth, tongue, fingernails, and hair—the four extremities. Dark Force would spread throughout the body, until not a feather could be added and not even a fly could land.

It could be said.

This was already gradually stepping into a realm akin to the extraordinary.

"Transforming Force."

The corners of Xu Qing's mouth lifted slightly. "I finally made it. All those days of bitter cultivation weren't in vain. Now that I've reached the level of Transforming Force, my physical strength has already become far greater than that of an ordinary person. The difference is very obvious."

One had to know.

Before this, whether it was Manifest Force, Hidden Force, or Transforming Force, "force" was a kind of power that existed between illusion and reality. Only when used would it condense and reveal itself; when not in use, it remained in an illusory state.

Moreover.

At the levels of Manifest Force and Hidden Force, although one's body was strengthened, the gap was not especially obvious. Some people were born with unusual constitutions or innate divine strength; even without stepping into the realm of Manifest Force, their physical strength might rival that of an ordinary person who had cultivated Hidden Force.

Because of this.

When Du Cangying examined Xu Qing's body, he had not noticed anything unusual about him, nor did he know that Xu Qing had actually already reached the level of Hidden Force.

But now, things were different.

Xu Qing had already stepped into "Transforming Force." After reaching Transforming Force, he could use it to regulate his internal organs and temper his body. While extending his lifespan, his body's strength would also undergo obvious changes.

Therefore.

If Du Cangying examined Xu Qing's body again, he would notice that Xu Qing's physical strength was abnormal and thus determine his realm.