Corpse Ghoul

Xu Qing thoroughly enjoyed this feeling of growing stronger. He carefully felt the Bright Force within his body, existing between the intangible and the tangible, as if every cell in his body was cheering.

"This feeling of getting stronger is truly intoxicating!"

Xu Qing clenched his fist, contemplating the changes within himself. He took a deep breath, thrust his right hand forward, and a faint explosive sound could be heard.

This wasn't the sound of air being shattered, but the sound produced by the eruption of the Bright Force within him.

The night passed without incident.

The next day.

Morning.

Xu Qing woke up very early and arrived at the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School. Today was the last day Coach Zhang He would be teaching Xu Qing the upper portion of the Azure Hawk Force and the Eagle Claw Skill.

After today.

If Xu Qing wanted Zhang He to teach him again, it wouldn't be for free.

The ten taels of silver were merely the entrance fee to the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School. Once inside, every aspect of martial arts training required payment.

"Coach Zhang."

Xu Qing cupped his hands in greeting.

"Mm."

Zhang He nodded absentmindedly.

"Coach Zhang, is something on your mind?"

Xu Qing asked.

"It has nothing to do with you."

Zhang He waved his hand and said, "Since you've been quite agreeable, don't go out casually at night for the next few days."

"Yes."

Xu Qing replied.

Time flew by.

Evening.

The day's teaching was finished.

"Xu Qing."

Zhang He said, "In three days, I've taught you everything I could about the Eagle Claw Skill and the upper portion of the Azure Hawk Force. How much you can learn depends on your own talent and fortune."

"Starting tomorrow."

"If you wish to seek my guidance again, each consultation will cost one tael of silver. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

Xu Qing nodded.

"You may go."

Zhang He waved his hand.

Before leaving.

Xu Qing spent another ten taels of silver to buy a pound of Tai Sui Spirit Meat. He was left with only ten taels of silver, enough to buy another pound tomorrow.

Evening.

Xu Qing returned home.

He studied late into the night.

Under the lamplight, Xu Qing took out his brush and paper, meticulously transcribing everything he had learned that day, and then compiling it into a booklet.

The two secret manuals were transcribed by Xu Qing.

"Record."

Buzz!

Without hesitation, Xu Qing first picked up the Eagle Claw Skill manual. He communicated with the Omni-Codex. The Omni-Codex shimmered with fluorescence as it completed the recording of the Eagle Claw Skill.

[Eagle Claw Skill LV1: 0/10 (This martial art was created by human martial artists imitating the hunting of eagles in the sky. It focuses on finger techniques.)]

Then.

Xu Qing's consciousness entered a mysterious space once more. In this space, he continuously practiced the Eagle Claw Skill, his hands spread like wings, his fingers like sharp talons, just like a majestic eagle.

Slowly.

Xu Qing mastered the martial art of the Eagle Claw Skill.

Boom!

Xu Qing felt as if he had received a divine revelation and had learned and mastered the Eagle Claw Skill. He opened his eyes, and a sharp glint flashed within their depths.

"Eagle Claw Skill."

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Xu Qing let out a light shout. He leaped up, spreading his arms wide like a crane displaying its wings. His hands formed into talons, slicing through the air with a tearing sound.

Not long after.

Xu Qing finished practicing the Eagle Claw Skill once.

[Experience +1]

[Eagle Claw Skill LV1: 1/10.]

Similarly.

Like Eight Extremities Fist, Eagle Claw Skill required ten repetitions to level up.

"Record."

Buzz!

The Omni-Codex flashed with light again.

In Xu Qing's hand was the Azure Hawk Force body refinement method manual. Although it was only the first part, it was a body refinement method, not a combat style.

One must understand.

A combat style consisted of martial arts techniques, fighting skills, and methods of combat, all designed to unleash one's power. A body refinement method, however, was the foundation of the body, as it focused on tempering the physical form.

Therefore.

Body refinement methods were far more precious than combat styles.

[Azure Hawk Force LV1: 0/10 (This is a body refinement method created by human martial artists imitating the postures of the world's eagles, combined with the human body's organs. Upon mastery, it allows one to condense their body's strength into a single point, transforming into 'Bright Force'.).]

Boom!

Xu Qing's mind jolted. His consciousness once again entered a mysterious space where time seemed to cease. Here, Xu Qing continuously practiced the Azure Hawk Force, using a special breathing technique in conjunction with corresponding movements to mobilize the strength throughout his entire body.

Immediately after.

It was like a sudden enlightenment.

Xu Qing had learned the Azure Hawk Force. The Bright Force cultivated by the Azure Hawk Force contained a penetrating power. If combined with the Eagle Claw Skill, it would be enough to pierce through stone with his fingers.

The destructive power of such a strike against a person would undoubtedly cause severe injuries.

"Azure Hawk Force."

Xu Qing let out a light shout and then demonstrated the Eagle Claw Skill again. Like an eagle hunting, his fingers, resembling eagle talons, descended rapidly, gouging out five small holes in the ground, each five centimeters deep.

"Eagle Claw Skill."

Bang!

With a thought.

Xu Qing circulated his Eight Extremities Fist. When channeling the Bright Force through Eight Extremities Fist, the penetrating power was noticeably absent, replaced by a domineering force.

Crack!

As a result.

When Xu Qing used the Bright Force from Eight Extremities Fist to perform the Eagle Claw Skill, the resulting aura was not sharp but possessed a domineering power, clearly different.

"Serpent Evasion Technique."

Afterward.

Xu Qing then demonstrated the Serpent Evasion Technique, moving nimbly and weaving through the room, experiencing the subtle connections between each martial art.

"Interesting."

Xu Qing carefully contemplated the Serpent Evasion Technique, Eight Extremities Fist, Eagle Claw Skill, and Azure Hawk Force. "Thanks to the Omni-Codex, I can upgrade martial arts. Even for combat styles, once upgraded, through innovation, I can deduce the essence of body refinement methods. Furthermore, the deduced martial arts contain both combat and refinement aspects, presenting a complementary marvel."

"In fact, according to the requirements of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, as long as one masters the Azure Hawk Force, condenses Bright Force within their body, and reaches the Bright Force level, they can become a formal disciple of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School."

"So, in other words."

"I have met the requirements."

"But..."

Xu Qing shook his head. "It's not time yet. If I reveal tomorrow that I've mastered the Azure Hawk Force and condensed Bright Force, it's foreseeable that such talent would not only attract the attention of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School but also bring endless trouble, even life-threatening danger."

"The reason is simple."

"Being too much of a genius, exceeding the norm, could lead others to target me, believing I possess some treasure."

"I'll wait a bit longer."

Xu Qing pondered. "Half a month. Just half a month. After half a month, I'll reveal my mastery of Azure Hawk Force's Bright Force. Mastering the Azure Hawk Force in half a month is already a sign of genius, enough to attract the attention of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School without drawing unnecessary trouble or scrutiny. This is the optimal time."

Rustle, rustle...

Suddenly.

Xu Qing's ears twitched. He was practicing Eight Extremities Fist. To avoid exposure, Xu Qing decided not to upgrade the Azure Hawk Force and Eagle Claw Skill for now, and would continue to focus on improving Eight Extremities Fist.

For now.

Martial arts are about quality, not quantity.

"Who?"

Xu Qing stopped abruptly. He sensed movement outside the door and halted, his gaze sharp as he looked towards the entrance.

The next moment.

Under the moonlight.

Swish!

Right at the house's window.

Suddenly.

A head poked out. Its face was pale, its pupils like dead fish eyes, and its hair disheveled. It exuded a corpse-like stench.

"!!!"

Xu Qing's pupils contracted.

A Corpse Ghoul.

This was a type of monster.

When a person dies and their resentment lingers, their corpse absorbs moonlight and yin energy, leading to a corpse transformation. It becomes a Corpse Ghoul, devoid of pain, possessing only pure hatred for the living and a desire to devour their flesh and blood.

For sixteen years.

Xu Qing had traveled to many places with his grandfather, Nine Fingers. During that time, he had encountered monsters similar to Corpse Ghouls but had never faced one directly.

He hadn't expected.

To run into one tonight.

More importantly.

This was in town, within the city walls, and yet such a Corpse Ghoul appeared. This definitely meant something major had happened, though Xu Qing was unaware of it.

Unconsciously.

Xu Qing recalled Zhang He's reminder from earlier that day. Zhang He had told Xu Qing not to go out casually at night. It was likely Zhang He knew something, which was why he had kindly warned him.

As a result.

Xu Qing hadn't gone out, but a Corpse Ghoul had come looking for him.

Roar!!!

A low growl sounded.

The Corpse Ghoul slowly crawled in through the window right in front of Xu Qing, filling his room with a foul, corpse-like odor.

Roar!

Another growl.

The Corpse Ghoul lunged at Xu Qing, opening its foul, disgusting maw to bite at Xu Qing's chest. This was precisely where Xu Qing had placed the Tai Sui Spirit Meat.

"Hmm?"

Xu Qing executed the Serpent Evasion Technique, quickly retreating and evading the Corpse Ghoul's lunge. He was slightly taken aback, "Was this Corpse Ghoul attracted by the Tai Sui Spirit Meat on me?"

Indeed.

Tai Sui Spirit Meat.

It was a type of spiritual meat and blood food. Not only was it highly beneficial for martial artists, but for monsters like Corpse Ghouls that fed on living flesh and blood, it was also a great delicacy and temptation.

This Corpse Ghoul had tracked the scent of the Tai Sui Spirit Meat to his door.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Xu Qing dodged multiple times and was now certain that this Corpse Ghoul had been attracted by the Tai Sui Spirit Meat on him, as its every lunge was aimed at the Tai Sui Spirit Meat on Xu Qing's person.

"I spent ten taels of silver on this, there's no way I'm giving it to you! If you want to eat, go buy your own!"

Boom!

After evading once more, Xu Qing roared, "Eight Extremities Fist! Collapse!"

Bang!

With a loud crash.

Xu Qing's full-power strike, the peak Bright Force of Eight Extremities Fist, erupted, generating terrifying power. It struck the Corpse Ghoul's chest, blasting it backward.

Crack! Crack!

The Corpse Ghoul's ribs broke, at least several of them.

Roar!!!

However.

The Corpse Ghoul did not die. It got up from the ground and lunged at Xu Qing again.

"Kill!"

Boom! Boom!

Xu Qing roared. He didn't dodge, but charged forward. Using the Serpent Evasion Technique, he avoided the Corpse Ghoul's attack. At the same time, he clenched his fists and struck the Corpse Ghoul's head with punch after punch.

Bang!

Finally.

Xu Qing's bare fists smashed the Corpse Ghoul's head, splattering red and white matter all over the floor. The stench in the room grew even stronger.