The Thirty-Six Heavenly Grand Divine Abilities, the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Orthodox Arts, and the Golden Palace Jade Record.
These were the first installment of help promised in the agreement between the underworld officer and Su Qing.
"You've probably heard of the Heavenly Grand and Earthly Fiend arts. Journey to the West, Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie-you've seen all that, right?"
"But you might have misunderstood something. These aren't transformations like turning into a bee or an eagle."
"The Thirty-Six Heavenly Grand Transformations take the eight trigrams as six lines, encompassing all things in heaven and earth. Three upon three without end, six upon six without limit: these are transformations of the 'Dao' of heaven and earth."
"The Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Transformations are transformations of 'arts' based on yin and yang, the five elements, the nine palaces, and the eight trigrams. The two relate as substance and application."
"Learn them without worry, and use them without worry. They'll be more than enough to build a solid foundation during your early growth."
"As for the Golden Palace Jade Record, it's a top-tier cultivation method exceptionally well suited to you. Metal governs slaughter and cutting sharpness; nine represents Qian metal, unyielding and restless by nature. Just like you."
At present, Su Qing's main cultivation method was practicing the Golden Palace Jade Record through guided breathing and movement.
True to its reputation as an orthodox Daoist art of the Divine Land, it had already brought Su Qing's cultivation speed beyond that of the original protagonist, Mu Chen.
Although the journey along the Spirit Road had delayed Mu Chen's cultivation by a year, Su Qing's cultivation realm was not much higher than his.
He now stood at a threshold: Foundation Establishment.
Su Qing was deliberately suppressing his cultivation realm, using Nine Breaths to Subdue Qi to refine his foundation before establishing it.
Once he mastered the method and broke through, he would be able to cultivate a resilient meridian capable of withstanding the murderous sharpness of the Golden Palace Jade Record.
Su Qing had also gained a basic understanding of the other Heavenly Grand and Earthly Fiend arts, and practiced some that he could use at his current cultivation realm.
Not only that, he had repeatedly browsed the spiritual art repositories of both the Mu Domain and the Northern Spiritual Academy.
First, he wanted to broaden his thinking. As the saying went, "Stones from another mountain can polish jade."
Rigid thinking and clinging to one's own outdated ways would never do.
Orthodox Daoist arts such as the Heavenly Grand and Earthly Fiend arts had always advanced with the times as well.
Second, he wanted more means at his disposal.
Dignity rested only upon the sword's edge. Mighty strength and conviction worthy of it were the roots of everything.
The wind stirred the trees, and a streak of the setting sun shone into Su Qing's eyes, making him close them against the glare.
Su Qing drew back his wandering thoughts, bringing his recollections to an end.
When he raised his head, he immediately saw a girl approaching gracefully from afar.
She wore an ink-black robe that outlined her still-youthful curves, her long hair tied behind her head to reveal her fair collarbones.
"Hey, Su Qing."
"What wind blew our big sister Qian'er over here?"
Su Qing stretched and straightened as he spoke.
"Such a slick tongue."
Tang Qian'er's pretty face flushed slightly as she held out a food box with both hands.
"My mother made these flaky pastries. When I came back, she asked me to bring some for you brothers."
Su Qing's eyes lit up. He took the food box and said, "Hehe, thank Aunt Tang for me."
After taking the box, Su Qing quickly lifted the lid, pulled out a pastry, and took a bite, closing his eyes as he savored it in bliss.
Mu Chen, beside him, also reached for a pastry and took a bite. "Aunt Tang really dotes on you. Every time Sister Qian'er goes home, she brings something back for you."
"This is mutual appreciation between food lovers!" Su Qing swallowed his mouthful of pastry. "Besides, whenever I make dried meat or sausages, I send some over too, you know."
"Oh, right, Sister Qian'er." Su Qing brushed the crumbs off his hands and turned toward her with a grin.
"How was the smoked meat I had you take back last time? What did Aunt Tang think?"
Tang Qian'er clasped her hands behind her back, her lovely eyes shifting. "I thought it was good, but my mother said there was too much seasoning. It covered up the flavor of the meat."
"Really? Then I'll improve it when I get back."
Su Qing thought it over as he spoke.
"Mm, then I'll look forward to it."
"Don't worry, Sister Qian'er."
Su Qing waggled his eyebrows at her.
Just then, a commotion came from the distance.
A panting boy burst through the courtyard gate and called out.
"Brother Mu! Brother Qing! Come help! Su Ling and Luo Dong got beaten up by people from the Western Academy!"
"What happened?"
Mu Chen paused in surprise and asked. Su Ling was one of his best friends at the Northern Spiritual Academy.
"Xue Dong couldn't accept losing to you, Brother Mu, so he was bad-mouthing you outside. Su Ling heard him and went over to argue, and then they beat him up."
The boy who had brought the news caught his breath, paused, then continued.
"Luo Dong and the others went to help, but the Western Academy had strength in numbers."
Hearing this, Su Qing narrowed his eyes and told Mu Chen, "Go ahead. I'll be there shortly."
Mu Chen immediately left the courtyard with the boy and hurried over.
Tang Qian'er knew Su Qing extremely well too. Seeing his narrowed eyes, she teased him.
"Well, well, well, Young Master Su is angry, is he? Why aren't you going with Mu Chen?"
Su Qing gave Tang Qian'er a helpless glance. "I need to take the pastries back first. I can't exactly go into a fight carrying a food box."
"Ahaha... is that it?"
Tang Qian'er gave an awkward, dry laugh.
"Why don't you take them back for me? Just leave them on my desk."
Changing his mind, Su Qing held out the food box.
"Hey, hey, hey! That wouldn't be appropriate! It's the boys' dormitory!"
Tang Qian'er's cheeks reddened as she protested.
"You've been there several times already. Do you think I've forgotten how you came over early in the morning and pinched my nose to wake me up?"
Su Qing sighed.
"Why do I feel like you're a little off today?"
"I don't think so. I feel pretty much the same as usual."
Tang Qian'er retorted.
"You are a little off. A string's gone missing in your head."
"Hey! You! You're asking for a beating! I'm not talking to you anymore!"
Tang Qian'er huffed.
"No, no, no, big sister Qian'er, I was wrong! You're as clever and quick-witted as ever, beautiful outside and wise within."
"Hmph! You're forgiven."
"All right, I'll take them back for you. Hurry along. Don't let me hold you up."
"Okay, then I'm off."
With that, Su Qing set out.
Before long, Su Qing reached the scene of the conflict, where Mu Chen, Su Ling, and the others were facing off against the Western Academy group.
"What, you want to fight?"
An arrogant-looking boy from the Western Academy raised his hand and pointed toward several figures watching the commotion nearby.
"This is bad. They're senior students from the Western Academy."
Su Ling spoke under his breath.
Mu Chen pressed his lips together. Although those students were seniors, they were still only at the early stage of the Spirit Movement Realm. If it really came to blows, there was no telling who would laugh last.
But two fists could hardly contend with four hands. Su Ling and the others would certainly suffer a beating.
Was he going to give up?
Just then, a light chuckle came from behind.
"Beat him up, Mu Chen."
Su Qing walked up from behind Mu Chen with both hands tucked into his pockets.
"Don't worry about them. Just focus on beating up these Earth Tier students."
Su Qing loosened his wrists as he walked toward the Western Academy seniors.
"You're not going to lose to them, are you, Mu Chen? If they beat you until you cry, remember to call your big brother to settle the score for you~"
Su Qing suddenly looked back and teased him.
"Piss off!"
Mu Chen's face darkened as he shot back.
Unruffled, Su Qing waved a hand and continued walking.
Two flowers bloomed, each with its own branch to tell.
On Mu Chen's side, once Su Qing took on the Western Academy seniors, everyone's fighting spirit flared.
"Leave Xue Dong to me. Hold the others off. I'll finish him as quickly as possible, then come help you."
Mu Chen drew a deep breath as he spoke.
"Okay."
"Let's go."
At once, everyone charged toward their respective targets.
"Mu Chen, I was careless last time. This time, I'll win."
The boy standing opposite Mu Chen spoke.
He was none other than Xue Dong, ranked third in the Earth Tier, whom Mu Chen had defeated head-on two days earlier.
"A defeated foe dares boast of valor?"
Mu Chen's expression turned icy. Before his words had faded, he drove off the ground and charged toward Xue Dong.
Spiritual energy gathered in Mu Chen's left palm as he struck hard toward Xue Dong's chest.
Xue Dong immediately raised his left arm to block the attack, gathering spiritual energy in his right hand for a counterattack.
But just as Mu Chen's left hand was about to strike Xue Dong's right arm, it swept upward and seized his wrist.
Then he locked onto the tendons, clenched hard, and jerked upward, crippling Xue Dong's left hand.
While Xue Dong was thrown into complete disarray, Mu Chen pressed his attack.
After crippling Xue Dong's left hand, Mu Chen kept his grip on Xue Dong's wrist. Instead, he stepped back half a pace, planted his feet firmly, and put his whole body behind his left hand to yank Xue Dong forward.
Then a vicious elbow struck Xue Dong's temple, ending the fight.
Xue Dong collapsed with his eyes rolling back. Without a moment's delay, Mu Chen moved to support the others.
Just like that, two against one became three against one, steadily widening their advantage and securing victory.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Su Qing walked slowly over and drawled.
"Are you going to beat yourselves up, or... do I have to do it?"
The Western Academy seniors pointed at Su Qing.
"Don't get cocky, Su! Don't think we're scared just because you've reached the late stage of the Spirit Movement Realm. We might all be at the early stage, but there are five of us!"
"We're all in the Spirit Movement Realm. Five against one-the advantage is ours."
"I'm telling you, don't blame us for ganging up on you."
Hearing this, Su Qing let out a cold laugh.
"You lot are nothing but heads with price tags stuck on them. Hurry over and collect your beating."