Vajra True Qi

[Vajra Skill · Not yet initiated (3/100)]

"Sure enough, this takes patient grinding!"

Half an hour later, Xu Yang opened his eyes helplessly.

His true qi had barely changed in any noticeable way, and his progress in the Vajra Skill had only increased by "3."

He was in no hurry. He closed his eyes and went to sleep.

[Martial Dao Longevity Points: 33]

The next morning, Xu Yang checked the panel the moment he opened his eyes.

Obtaining the Vajra Skill yesterday had earned him thirty points from the panel. Without hesitation, he used all thirty to improve his comprehension.

[Comprehension: 34]

Satisfied, he closed the panel, got up, and practiced the Turtle-Snake Great Stance for a while before heading to the Liu Residence.

"Yesterday evening, Jade Butterfly was discovered by a Gu Family Expert while committing a crime at the Gu Family estate. Several experts at great accomplishment of Qi Gathering surrounded him, but he relied on his lightness skill to escape with serious injuries.

"This is his portrait. Take a good look, everyone. If you encounter him and capture him, the reward is a full two hundred taels of silver."

Zhang Bo produced a portrait and shared the latest news about Jade Butterfly.

Wang Yun, Wu Yongfeng, Bao Gang, and the others swarmed forward to study the portrait in Zhang Bo's hand.

Isn't that the man from yesterday?

Xu Yang looked over. The man in the portrait was the very one who had attacked him outside White Stone Ward yesterday. He had dumped the corpse in a cave.

He had assumed the man was being hunted because of the Vajra Skill. He had never imagined that he was Jade Butterfly, the sexual predator who had thrown all of Qingyuan into turmoil.

That man was actually Jade Butterfly. Should I claim the reward?

Two hundred taels was a vast sum of silver-more money than Xu Yang had ever seen.

If he retrieved Jade Butterfly's head, he could claim those two hundred taels.

At the same time, word that he had killed Jade Butterfly would spread far and wide, bringing him both fame and fortune at once.

I can't take it!

After a little thought, he decided to give up the reward.

He knew nothing about Jade Butterfly's background. If the man had a powerful master or fellow disciples, they might come seeking revenge.

Besides, that Vajra Skill manual had been sewn so carefully into his trouser leg. It might well have been stolen.

Now that he had practiced it, if its owner came knocking, they might cripple his martial arts or simply kill him.

After weighing everything, the drawbacks outweighed the benefits.

He had all the time he needed to grind away slowly. There was no need to invite unforeseeable danger for two hundred taels. It was better to let the secret of Jade Butterfly's death rot in his belly.

The Vajra Skill manual alone was worth more than two hundred taels. There was no reason to take a risk for such a small sum.

Too bad I didn't find a lightness skill manual, Xu Yang thought regretfully.

Jade Butterfly's greatest strength was his lightness skill. Even surrounded by several experts at great accomplishment of Qi Gathering, he had escaped by relying on it. That was terrifying.

Of course, his killing techniques seemed formidable too. According to Zhang Bo, one Gu Family expert at great accomplishment of Qi Gathering had been killed on the spot, while the others had suffered considerable injuries.

The Vajra Skill was mentioned as well, though Zhang Bo only said that Jade Butterfly practiced a body-hardening art and possessed an astonishing physique, urging everyone to be careful if they encountered him.

It was worth noting that the Gu Family Zhang Bo mentioned was the same Gu Family that Gu Fang of the Mighty Far Hall belonged to. Apparently, Jade Butterfly's target had been Gu Fang herself, though he had failed.

Soon, patrols began again!

Although Xu Yang knew Jade Butterfly was dead, he still patrolled conscientiously.

At the end of the day, he returned home and continued practicing the Vajra Skill.

Three days later, there was still no news of Jade Butterfly, and security at the Liu Residence began to slacken.

Ten days later, the major families of Qingyuan County concluded that Jade Butterfly had either died or left the county. Everything returned to normal.

[Vajra Skill · Initiated (1/1000)]

That same day, Xu Yang finally reached the entry level of the Vajra Skill. His true qi now carried a trace of vajra true qi and was purer than before.

As his true qi circulated through his meridians, they stung as though being sliced by knives.

He channeled his true qi into his palm and struck. The impact actually rang out like refined iron, and the defensive strength of his flesh had greatly increased.

"Vajra true qi really is domineering. Now I just need to keep grinding away. Sooner or later, I'll cultivate genuine vajra true qi."

A cool sensation washed through his head. After adding all the points he had accumulated recently to his comprehension, it reached "37."

After many days away, he and Wu Yongfeng returned to the Mighty Far Hall.

Almost everyone in the Outer Court was an unfamiliar face. The two of them entered the Inner Court under the admiring gazes of those Outer Court disciples.

"Xu Yang, Senior Brother Wu, you two finally showed up."

As they entered the Inner Court, Zhang Yong and Zhang Hong greeted them with smiles.

"It was all because of that Jade Butterfly business. Now it's finally over, and we can get back to training."

Wu Yongfeng smiled. "Come on, Junior Brother Zhang Yong. Let's exchange a few moves so your senior brother can see whether you've improved lately."

"That's exactly what I had in mind."

Zhang Yong darted forward and began sparring with Wu Yongfeng.

"Do you know who Jade Butterfly violated in the Huang Family?" Zhang Hong sidled over furtively.

"Who?" Xu Yang had intended to spar with Zhang Hong, but stopped when he heard that.

Zhang Hong lowered his voice. "Apparently, it was the young lady promised to Lu Ren. They're supposedly already engaged, with the wedding set for three months from now!"

Xu Yang: ...

For a moment, he had no idea what to say. He knew someone in the Huang Family had fallen victim to Jade Butterfly, but he had never imagined it was the woman they intended to marry to Lu Ren. Now Lu Ren could neither break off the engagement nor comfortably go through with the marriage.

He turned to look and saw that Lu Ren had come as well. His condition seemed unaffected, however, and he was practicing the Turtle-Snake Great Stance in a corner.

He's much stronger than I am now.

With a brief assessment, he recognized the gap between them. He was probably no match for Lu Ren anymore.

Without using the panel to improve his techniques, he spent only two or three taels a month on cultivation, while Lu Ren had fifteen. The gap between them was gradually widening.

"We've never truly fought before. Do you dare face me?"

As though sensing Xu Yang's gaze, Lu Ren opened his eyes and challenged him.

At those words, every Inner Court disciple showed keen interest.

Back in the Outer Court, Xu Yang had always been close on Lu Ren's heels. Now that both had reached Qi Gathering nearly two months ago, everyone wondered whether they were still as evenly matched as before.

"I hear you're about to marry a noble young lady of the Huang Family. I wouldn't dare fight you," Xu Yang said calmly.

The spacious Inner Court fell silent at once, and Lu Ren's face visibly flushed red.

Who didn't know by now that his fiancée had been violated by Jade Butterfly? He was still discussing a solution with the Huang Family. Xu Yang's words were simply

tearing open his wounds.

"You're courting death!" Lu Ren roared, striding toward him.

But halfway there, Sun Tao stopped him. "Junior Brother Lu, you know the Inner Court's rules."

Lu Ren's chest heaved. He forcibly swallowed his anger and returned to practicing his stance.

"What a vicious tongue!" Zhang Hong gave Xu Yang a thumbs-up.

"He was the one trying to use me as a stepping stone!"

Xu Yang did not want to provoke Lu Ren either, but since the bastard wanted to step on him, he naturally would not hold back.

"Come on, exchange a few moves with me. I haven't had time to practice lately. My hands are getting rusty."

"Senior Brother Xu Yang, let me spar with you," Qiu Wenjie called out.

Zhang Hong smiled. "You haven't been here lately, so I forgot to tell you. This fellow successfully reached Qi Gathering right at the three-month mark."

"All right, then you're up!"

Xu Yang stepped forward, his fist tearing through the air toward Qiu Wenjie. The two swiftly launched into battle.