Chapter 74. Enmity (怨讐), and Origin Water (原水) (4)

Yan Hozheng, who had yet to fully internalize his enlightenment, was undoubtedly inferior to Ming Xue.

However.

Yan Hozheng possessed the ability to turn the tide of this battle. Despite the gap in skill, he had ample experience and enlightenment to bridge the difference. He had insisted on a frontal confrontation with overwhelming killing intent, but now he realized that he needed to change his tactics.

Right at that moment, the Xuanwu Qi (Black Tortoise Qi) reacted.

Rumble.

The turbid qi that had surged due to internal injuries was being expelled at a terrifying speed. Even the slightest damage to the meridians could cause turbid qi to rise, disrupting the cultivation of internal energy and, in severe cases, degrading the quality of one's internal energy.

Yan Hozheng used the enlarged Xuanwu Qi to instantly expel all the turbid qi. He could feel his internal injuries gradually recovering just from this.

But that wasn't all.

'Now that I think about it.'

The sequence of Ming Xue's fist techniques suddenly came to mind.

A short but smooth movement. A fist technique that maximized power with minimal movement.

However, this sequence was undoubtedly more powerful in defense than in attack.

The reason being:

'Northern Heaven's Twelve Walls!'

That's right.

Ming Xue's Linggui Shen Gong (Spirit Turtle Divine Technique) shared the same essence as Xuanwu Gong, despite the difference in color.

It was a surprising fact. So unexpected that it made his anger and killing intent vanish completely.

At that moment, Yan Hozheng recalled what Zhuge Ayun had said during their meeting.

'The history of the Nine Great Families is long enough. But it's not as long as the Five Great Clans, excluding your family. The ancestors of the Ming Family helped the Four Great Emperors end the Blood Sect Rebellion three hundred years ago. That's how the history of the Ming Family began.'

The Four Great Emperors and the Blood Sect Rebellion.

Yan Hozheng also recalled another statement from Zhuge Ayun.

'Anyway, if the Four Great Emperors' skills were as legendary as history suggests, they were indeed invincible. Not just one, but four martial arts were perfected to their limits.'

There was no certainty.

But Yan Hozheng guessed that the Four Great Emperors were descendants of the Four Divine Beasts.

'They were even called the Yellow Dragon Emperor because they could summon a golden dragon. I think that's a bit far-fetched.'

Four martial arts, skilled in offense, defense, and evasion.

And a golden dragon.

The probability that they were descendants of the Four Divine Beasts was high. In fact, this level of evidence was enough to confirm it.

And the ancestors of the Ming Family had helped the Four Great Emperors end the Blood Sect Rebellion.

'Could it be that the Four Great Emperors passed on some of their martial arts to the ancestors of the Ming Family?'

He couldn't help but think so.

He wondered if the ancestors of the Ming Family had stolen the martial arts of the Four Great Emperors, but the probability of that was almost zero.

No one could defeat someone who had perfected the Huanglong Qi (Yellow Dragon Qi), a secret technique of the Four Divine Beasts, the Huanglong Shenwang Gong (Yellow Dragon Divine King Technique).

The creator of the Huanglong Qi was a disaster on the scale of a natural calamity. It was impossible to fight against a natural disaster, let alone a human.

In other words, the Ming Family could be considered a collateral line of the Four Great Emperors.

'Such...!'

At that moment, Yan Hozheng had another realization.

The essence of the Biejing (Extraordinary Meridian) technique, a righteous technique but with a unique color that differed from the martial arts of the Central Plains.

Even if the Dantian had grown larger, it was difficult to remember the characteristics of each martial art of the assailants during the chaotic escape.

But Yan Hozheng remembered the color of their internal energy and the characteristics of the Biejing.

How?

'Because they were similar.'

Yan Hozheng's eyes were bloodshot.

The Bila Zhen Qi (Vermilion Bird True Qi) subsided, and the Xuanwu Qi took over his body. The color of the true qi surrounding Ming Xue's body was immediately recognized.

'The color is different, but the essence is the same.'

He recalled Ming Xue's fist technique and the Biejing.

It was completely different from the Biejing of the Northern Heaven's Twelve Walls. However, there were many similarities in the way it created an internal energy shield to repel the enemy's attack.

In other words, Ming Xue's fist technique used the rebound force of the Northern Heaven's Twelve Walls to enhance its offensive power. This might have come at the cost of some defensive capabilities.

'How could I not know this...?'

It was inevitable.

It was hard to imagine that the martial arts he had learned would be passed on to his archenemies. Even if Yan Hozheng felt a sense of familiarity, it was difficult to make the connection.

Not until he faced them directly, as he did now.

Yan Hozheng felt a sense of futility.

'The martial arts passed down by my master are in the same lineage as those used by the villains who harmed my family...?'

He was speechless.

After regressing to the past, he had never experienced such a significant mental shock. For a moment, he felt an impulse to uproot the Baihu Qi (White Tiger Qi) and Xuanwu Qi from their roots.

'That's how it was. That's why I...'

Everything fell into place.

Before fighting Qingbai Wubing on Mingchi Mountain, he had felt a sense of déjà vu when recalling the martial arts of Ming Wenzhi.

Her martial arts followed the characteristics of Xuanwu Gong. However, her level was so low that he couldn't feel the unique water qi and heaviness of Xuanwu.

If he had fully mastered Xuanwu Qi, Ming Wenzhi would not have been a match for him.

'Four Divine Beasts... Four Divine Beasts!'

"Xuanwu Gong? What the hell is that?"

Yan Hozheng looked at Ming Xue with a dazed expression.

Ming Xue twisted his lips.

"What's that look for? Hmph! Did my martial arts shock you?"

"..."

"You're silent. Fine, I'll end this now."

Bang!

Ming Xue approached with a powerful true qi.

Yan Hozheng involuntarily shook his head.

'Guizhu Budong (Strange Pillar Unmoving) shouldn't be used like that.'

Even his footwork was similar. Like the fist technique that enhanced offensive power through the Northern Heaven's Twelve Walls, this footwork adapted the Guizhu Budong's movement to a forward-moving style, similar to the Baihu Junlin Bu (White Tiger Dominance Step).

"Kaaah!"

With a shout, Ming Xue's fist aimed for Yan Hozheng's chest.

It was a fatal blow. If received without internal energy, it would shatter the ribs and spine.

Yan Hozheng closed his eyes.

Bang!

"Ah!"

Unable to withstand the impact, Ming Xue was pushed back five steps.

Whoosh.

Yan Hozheng, who had put down his axe, spread his hands. A hexagonal gui jia (armored shell) appeared around his spread hands.

It was a move from the Northern Heaven's Twelve Walls, the Zhenwu Dadi Zhongbi (True Wu Great Emperor Heavy Wall).

Zhenwu Dadi (True Wu Great Emperor) is also known as Xuantian Shangdi (Black Heaven Supreme Deity), who is the deified form of Xuanwu. The defensive power of this move is evident from its name.

However, Ming Xue was repelled not just because of the strong rebound force of the Zhenwu Dadi Zhongbi.

"Again."

Sssss!

With a black smoke, the semi-transparent true qi shield of the hexagonal gui jia disappeared.

Yan Hozheng flicked his hand.

"Try again."

Ming Xue's face turned red.

"Damn you!"

Bang!

This time, he would use his full strength. He didn't care if he died with this blow.

Ming Xue's attack revealed his intense killing intent. After an explosive footwork, the final move of the Linggui Shen Quan (Spirit Turtle Divine Fist) was unleashed.

Ming Hui and Ming Xian, who had retreated ten feet away, shouted.

"Brother!"

"Don't kill him!"

A massive fist struck Yan Hozheng's chest directly.

Bang!

A loud explosion echoed.

It was as if a fist had ignited gunpowder. The power was incomparably brutal.

Crack.

Yan Hozheng's feet sank five inches into the ground.

'...!!'

Ming Xue's face was filled with shock.

His fist was on Yan Hozheng's chest, and Yan Hozheng's hands were gripping his arm.

Yan Hozheng slowly raised his head.

"I'm... fine."

Yan Hozheng's face became even paler.

But that was all. He couldn't avoid internal injuries, but he prevented any bones from breaking.

It wasn't the Northern Heaven's Twelve Walls. It wasn't even the Huowang Jiubise (Nine Walls of the Tiger King).

Before the fist hit, he had used the reverse sequence of the Northern Heaven's Twelve Walls to dismantle and neutralize the overwhelming force.

With the destructive force completely eliminated, the full impact was impossible. His muscles and trained fist were protected by the Bila Zhen Qi.

"How...?!"

Ming Xue's mouth opened like a fish.

"How... did you dismantle it?!"

"Like this."

Xuanwu Qi rippled across Yan Hozheng's upper body.

Sssssss.

The Xuanwu Qi rose and moved from his shoulders to his hands.

Then, the Xuanwu Qi swirling around his hands penetrated Ming Xue's arm.

"Ah!"

Startled, Ming Xue tried to pull his fist back.

But his fist wouldn't budge. The grip of this young man was strengthening at a terrifying speed. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't pull his arm free.

"You...!"

Smack!

Yan Hozheng's head turned from the punch of the free hand. Blood gushed from the corner of his mouth.

Ming Xue's face turned pale.

'What... is this?!'

Even without internal energy, his punch could shatter a log. It would be strange if his cheekbone and jaw weren't broken.

But Yan Hozheng was unharmed. A torn corner of his mouth and a bit of blood, that was all.

Witnessing this unrealistic scene, Ming Xue had a chilling realization.

'He's getting stronger, while I'm getting weaker?'

At that moment, Yan Hozheng spoke.

"Xuanwu represents the north and winter. As the water deity of Guihai (癸亥), it governs water."

"..."

"Branches flow into the main stream. The countless collateral lines in the world ultimately converge into the main family."

"What... nonsense?!"

"Qinglong (Azure Dragon), Baihu (White Tiger), Zhuque (Vermilion Bird), Xuanwu (Black Tortoise). These are also known as Longlang (Dragon Wave), Hoxiong (Tiger Fierce), Bisal (Flying Kill), and Guibei (Strange Wall). Xuanwu, the Strange Wall, symbolizes perfect defense and an invincible shield."

Yan Hozheng's eyes were filled with authority.

Seeing those eyes, Ming Xue, incredibly, felt himself shrinking.

"By loosely modifying a martial art that has reached perfection, your qi will soon reverse and your essence will be shattered. The reason is that in the Four Divine Beasts, qi and technique are one."

"..."

"To manifest martial arts by sacrificing your lifespan. You've turned a world-changing divine technique into a half-baked demonic technique."

Ming Xue's mouth gaped open.

Sacrificing one's lifespan? This was a truly ominous statement.

Sssss!

Yan Hozheng's eyes turned completely dark.

"I, the Grandmaster, will take everything from you."

Crack!

"Ah!"

Ming Xue knelt. His thick arm was crushed by Yan Hozheng's grip.

That wasn't all.

Gush!

Ming Xue's mouth opened wide.

The Linggui Qi was being sucked into Yan Hozheng's hands. It flowed away at a terrifying speed, like a surging river, with no resistance possible.

Fear filled Ming Xue's face.

The internal energy he had cultivated for decades, and the Linggui Zhen Qi he had transformed it into after mastering the Linggui Shen Gong, was all being transferred to the opponent. So easily, so smoothly.

'Could it be... absorption...?!'

Sssss!

All the true qi was sucked into Yan Hozheng. Most of the impurities in the absorbed Linggui Zhen Qi were expelled, and a small amount of pure Xuanwu Qi seeped into Yan Hozheng's kidneys.

Snap!

Yan Hozheng grabbed Ming Xue's face with one hand.

Ming Xue couldn't turn his head. He had lost his strength as the true qi was drained.

Ming Hui and Ming Xian, watching from a distance, sensed an ominous atmosphere.

"Brother?!"

"What... are you doing?!"

Yan Hozheng smiled.

His smile was somehow dazed yet full of authority.

"Are these your brothers?"

"Cough."

"Are you curious about what fake martial arts your brothers have learned? I'll send them to where you are soon."

"Please... spare..."

"Go well."

Crack!

Ming Xue's skull shattered.

"Ah!"

"This... this guy?!"

Boom!

Ming Hui and Ming Xian rushed forward with incredible momentum.

Yan Hozheng's eyes flashed.

Despite the speed being difficult to react to, he could see it. He could instantly recognize the martial arts they had learned and which of the Four Divine Beasts' techniques they were based on.

Sssss!

A sharp spear thrust and a fiery palm force pushed Yan Hozheng back. If he hadn't raised his axe to block it like a spear, he would have been killed instantly.

Puff.

White smoke rose from the spear.

It was an overwhelming killing intent, a terrifying killing technique. A single slash could carry the aura of ten thousand deaths, and a single gesture could spill the blood of a thousand people.

Yan Hozheng raised his head.

In the dark eyes of the north, a sun-like power emerged.

"Zhuque (Vermilion Bird)."