Corpse Ghoul

Xu Qing thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of growing stronger. He carefully sensed the overt force within his body, hovering between the tangible and intangible, as though every cell in his body were cheering with joy.

"This feeling of becoming stronger is truly intoxicating!"

Xu Qing clenched his fist, feeling out the changes in himself. He took a deep breath and struck forward with his right hand, producing a faint explosive crack.

This was not the sound of the air being shattered, but the sound of the overt force within his body erupting.

The night passed without incident.

The next day.

Morning.

Xu Qing rose early and arrived at Azure Hawk Martial Arts School. Today was Instructor Zhang He's final day teaching Xu Qing the first volume of Azure Hawk Force and Eagle Claw Skill.

After today—

If Xu Qing wanted Zhang He to teach him again, it would no longer be free.

Ten taels of silver merely bought one a ticket to enter Azure Hawk Martial Arts School. Once inside, every aspect of martial training required money.

"Instructor Zhang."

Xu Qing cupped his hands in salute.

"Mm."

Zhang He nodded absentmindedly.

"Instructor Zhang, do you have something on your mind?"

Xu Qing asked.

"It has nothing to do with you."

Zhang He waved a hand and said, "Since you're fairly pleasing to the eye, don't go out carelessly at night these next few days."

"Yes."

Xu Qing replied.

Time flashed by.

Evening.

The day's lessons had ended.

"Xu Qing."

Zhang He said, "Over these three days, I've taught you everything I should regarding Eagle Claw Skill and the first volume of Azure Hawk Force. How much you can learn now depends on your own talent and fortune."

"Starting tomorrow."

"If you still wish to seek my guidance, each consultation will cost one tael of silver. Is that clear?"

"Yes."

Xu Qing nodded.

"Go."

Zhang He waved his hand.

Before leaving.

Xu Qing spent another ten taels of silver to buy one jin of Tai Sui Spirit Meat, leaving him with only ten taels. That money was only enough to buy another jin tomorrow.

Night.

Xu Qing returned home.

He burned the midnight oil.

Using the kerosene lamp, Xu Qing took out paper and brush and copied down everything he had learned that day, word for word, before organizing it into booklets.

He had transcribed the two manuals.

"Record."

Buzz!

Without hesitation.

Xu Qing first picked up the Eagle Claw Skill manual. His consciousness connected with the Omni-Codex. Fluorescent light flickered from it, and Eagle Claw Skill was recorded.

Eagle Claw Skill Level 1: 0/10 (A martial art created by human martial artists imitating eagles hunting in the sky. It trains the skill of the fingers.)

Thus.

Xu Qing's consciousness entered that mysterious space once more. Within it, he continuously practiced Eagle Claw Skill. His arms spread like wings, his fingers like sharp talons, making him seem even more like an eagle.

Slowly.

Xu Qing mastered the martial art of Eagle Claw Skill.

Boom!

It was as though enlightenment had been poured straight into his mind. Xu Qing learned and mastered Eagle Claw Skill. He opened his eyes, and a flash of brilliance glinted in their depths.

"Eagle Claw Skill."

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Xu Qing gave a low cry. His legs sprang upward and his arms spread wide like a white crane displaying its wings. His hands formed eagle claws and swept through the air, producing sounds like something being torn apart.

Before long.

Xu Qing finished one full set of Eagle Claw Skill.

Experience +1

Eagle Claw Skill Level 1: 1/10.

Likewise.

Just like Eight Extremities Fist, Eagle Claw Skill needed to be practiced ten times before it could rise by one level.

"Record."

Buzz!

The Omni-Codex flashed with fluorescent light again.

What Xu Qing held in his hand was the training manual for Azure Hawk Force. Though it was only the first volume, it was still a training method rather than a fighting method.

One had to know.

Fighting methods were martial arts moves, techniques for life-and-death combat, methods of battle—ways to unleash one's own strength. Training methods, however, were the foundation of the body, because they tempered the flesh.

Therefore.

Training methods were far more precious than fighting methods.

Azure Hawk Force Level 1: 0/10 (A training method created by human martial artists imitating the posture of eagles beneath the heavens, combined with the organs of the human body. Once mastered, it can condense the body's strength into a single force, forming "overt force.")

Boom!

Xu Qing's mind shook. His consciousness entered that mysterious space again. Time could not be felt passing here; there was only Xu Qing, endlessly practicing Azure Hawk Force. A special breathing method paired with corresponding movements mobilized the strength throughout his entire body.

Immediately afterward.

It was as though enlightenment had been poured into his mind.

Xu Qing had already learned Azure Hawk Force. The overt force cultivated by Azure Hawk Force carried a piercing power. When paired with Eagle Claw Skill, it was enough to pierce stone with one's fingers.

If such power landed on a person's body, it would surely leave heads broken and blood flowing.

"Azure Hawk Force."

Xu Qing gave a low shout and performed Eagle Claw Skill again. Like an eagle hunting prey, his fingers became eagle talons as they swiftly descended, clawing five small holes into the floor, each a full five centimeters deep.

"Eagle Claw Skill."

Bang!

With a thought.

Xu Qing circulated Eight Extremities Fist. When he used it to circulate his force, the overt force he released clearly lacked that piercing power, carrying instead an overbearing strength.

Crack!

Therefore.

When Xu Qing used the overt force of Eight Extremities Fist to perform Eagle Claw Skill, the presence it displayed was no longer sharpness, but an overbearing power. The difference was obvious.

"Serpent Evasion Technique."

After that.

Xu Qing performed Serpent Evasion Technique. His body moved with agility as he continuously darted about the room, experiencing the subtle connections between each martial art.

"Interesting."

Xu Qing carefully contemplated Serpent Evasion Technique, Eight Extremities Fist, Eagle Claw Skill, and Azure Hawk Force. "Because of the Omni-Codex, martial arts can be leveled up. Even fighting methods, once leveled up, can derive the essence of training methods amid the process of casting off the old and bringing forth the new. Moreover, the martial arts derived contain both fighting methods and training methods, revealing a marvelous complementary mystery."

"Actually, according to Azure Hawk Martial Arts School's requirements, as long as one masters Azure Hawk Force, condenses overt force within the body, and steps into the overt force realm, one can become an official disciple of Azure Hawk Martial Arts School."

"In other words."

"I have already met the requirement."

"But..."

Xu Qing shook his head. "Now is not the time. If I reveal tomorrow that I have mastered Azure Hawk Force and condensed overt force, one can well imagine that such talent would likely not bring Azure Hawk Martial Arts School's attention, but endless trouble—and perhaps even mortal danger."

"The reason is simple."

"Because being too much of a genius, beyond the ordinary scope, might draw the attention of others. They might think I possess some kind of treasure."

"Wait a little longer."

Xu Qing pondered. "Half a month. In half a month, I'll reveal the overt force of Azure Hawk Force. Mastering Azure Hawk Force in half a month is already the mark of a genius. It will be enough to draw Azure Hawk Martial Arts School's attention without inviting unnecessary trouble and prying eyes. That is the best timing."

Rustle, rustle, rustle...

Suddenly.

Xu Qing's ears twitched. He had been practicing Eight Extremities Fist. To avoid exposing himself, he temporarily had no plans to level up Azure Hawk Force or Eagle Claw Skill, and would continue improving Eight Extremities Fist instead.

At present.

Martial arts valued refinement over quantity.

"Who's there?"

Xu Qing immediately stopped. He sensed movement outside the door and swiftly came to a halt, his gaze turning icy as he stared toward the entrance.

The next moment.

Under the moonlight.

Whoosh!

At the window of the house.

All of a sudden.

A head poked in. Its face was deathly pale, its pupils like those of a dead fish. Its hair hung loose and disheveled, while its entire body exuded a stench like that of a corpse.

"!!!"

Xu Qing's pupils contracted.

A corpse ghoul.

It was a kind of monster.

After a person died, if their resentment did not disperse and their corpse absorbed moonlight and yin energy, it would undergo a corpse transformation and become a corpse ghoul like this. It felt no pain, possessing only pure hatred for the living and a desire to devour their flesh and blood.

Over the past sixteen years.

Xu Qing had traveled to many places with Grandpa Nine Fingers, and he had encountered monsters similar to corpse ghouls during that time, but never face-to-face.

He had not expected.

To run into one tonight.

Most importantly.

This was the town. This was inside the city, yet a corpse ghoul had appeared here. Something major must have happened; Xu Qing simply did not know what.

Involuntarily.

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

Yet in the end.

Xu Qing truly had not gone outside, but a corpse ghoul had come knocking at his door.

Roar!!!

A low growl rang out.

Right before Xu Qing's eyes, the corpse ghoul slowly crawled in through the window, filling his room with a foul corpse stench.

Roar!

Another growl.

The corpse ghoul pounced at Xu Qing, opening its disgusting, foul-smelling bloody maw and biting toward his chest—precisely where Xu Qing kept the Tai Sui Spirit Meat.

"Hmm?"

Xu Qing used Serpent Evasion Technique and swiftly retreated, avoiding the corpse ghoul's pounce. He froze slightly. "Could this corpse ghoul have been drawn here by the Tai Sui Spirit Meat on me?"

Indeed.

Tai Sui Spirit Meat.

It was a kind of spiritual flesh and blood food. It was not only highly beneficial to martial artists, but also an immense delicacy and temptation to monsters like corpse ghouls that fed upon the flesh and blood of the living.

This corpse ghoul had followed the scent of Tai Sui Spirit Meat to his door.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Xu Qing evaded several times and confirmed it. This corpse ghoul had indeed been drawn by the Tai Sui Spirit Meat on him, because every time it pounced, it targeted the Tai Sui Spirit Meat on Xu Qing's body.

"I spent ten taels of silver on this. How could I possibly give it to you? If you want to eat it, go buy it yourself!"

Boom!

After another dodge, Xu Qing shouted furiously, "Eight Extremities Fist! Collapse!"

Bang!

A deafening impact rang out.

Xu Qing's all-out strike erupted with the peak overt force of Eight Extremities Fist, unleashing terrifying power as it struck the corpse ghoul in the chest and blasted it flying.

Crack! Crack!

At least several of the corpse ghoul's ribs had broken.

Roar!!!

However.

The corpse ghoul did not die. It climbed up from the ground and pounced at Xu Qing once more.

Kill!

Boom! Boom!

Xu Qing roared. He did not dodge, but charged straight ahead, using the Serpent Evasion Technique to avoid the corpse ghoul's attacks. At the same time, he clenched both fists and struck the corpse ghoul's head again and again.

Bang!

In the end.

Xu Qing smashed the corpse ghoul's head apart with his bare fists. Red and white splattered across the floor, and the stench in the room grew even stronger.