Chapter 49

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The little monk stumbled, his face flushed, but he didn't look very old, only about sixteen or seventeen years old, with a very handsome appearance.

His skin was fair, his eyes half-closed, and he seemed half-drunk, half-awake, causing the women returning from washing clothes by the river to gape in surprise.

"The monk's wine! No looking back at the other shore! The monk's wine! Under the Bodhi tree, the seasons are set..."

It wasn't until the little monk's figure disappeared that the women came to their senses, their faces twisted in confusion. They noticed the burn marks on his head, and thought that monks should abide by the precepts, yet here was a monk who drank and ate meat.

At the Hu residence.

In front of the side room, the young man in black stood taut, his eyes stern and cold, emitting a scorching aura that made the air behind him distort, with a red glow flickering as if something was trying to break free.

A chilling cold radiated from him, not the usual winter chill, but a bone-deep cold that seemed to freeze the soul.

Several middle-aged martial artists soon couldn't bear it and staggered back, leaving only the young man in black and Su Qignian, who stood a丈 away behind him.

"This young man..."

Suddenly, Su Qignian stood out like a crane among chickens, the martial artists' faces pale, their eyes filled with shock and doubt.

Old Master Hu's eyes lit up. The martial artists, including Mao Jiu, had cultivation levels close to the sixth layer of perfection in the "Galloping Horse Technique." He didn't know much about the young man in black, but he had initially thought Su Qignian was just a naive young martial artist eager to show off. He hadn't expected such a surprise.

"One cannot judge a person by their appearance. The sages of old have said this. As a scholar, I have been too agitated lately and forgotten my usual composure. I made a mistake, I made a mistake!"

Old Master Hu sighed inwardly but kept his eyes fixed on the young figure in the side room, the chilling face making his heart feel as if it were being gripped, his breathing becoming labored.

"Fiend, reveal yourself!"

Suddenly, the young man in black took a horse stance, his voice cold, and the air behind him split, a fiery red horse emerging, galloping into the world.

"Seventh layer of perfection in the 'Galloping Horse Technique,' the power of a fiery horse!"

The martial artists exclaimed in surprise, not expecting this seemingly aloof young man to have such astonishing cultivation. The seventh layer of perfection in the "Galloping Horse Technique" meant he was qualified to冲击筑基, 开辟丹田, and cultivate internal martial qi.

"Wait! What fiend! Is this child possessed by a fiend? Why can't I sense any demonic aura?"

Mao Jiu's face turned even paler. Possession by a fiend was no small matter; even powerful demonic beasts couldn't do it, let alone without any detectable demonic aura. The martial artists felt a chill run down their spines. If it were true, it would be difficult to resolve peacefully.

What!

Old Master Hu was also shocked. A fiend? What kind of fiend? His grandson possessed by a fiend?

He had read many volumes of the "Fiend Manual" published by the Imperial Academy, and no matter the records and descriptions, being possessed by a fiend rarely ended well. His grandson had just turned three days ago.

Su Qignian raised an eyebrow, not expecting the young man in black to see through the deception. However, from the rising qi and the boxing stance, it was clearly the seventh layer of the "Galloping Horse Technique." He could also sense that the fiend in the Hu residence was not so simple.

Giggles!

At that moment, the little boy in the side room looked at the young man in black, his eyes a sickly green, but his smile grew wider, his giggles piercing the minds of those present.

A cold wind rose, a fierce gust swept through, and the sky filled with sand and dust. In an instant, everything changed.

When everyone regained their senses, their legs trembled. They were no longer in the Hu residence. They stood on sticky mud, the air filled with a putrid smell, and they could see white bones and broken tombstones, some wooden, but long rotted and illegible.

Greenish phosphorescent lights floated, the cold air several times more intense.

Now, the little boy stood before a broken tombstone, his feet on a pile of bones, his giggles like the call of a hellish spirit.

"This is the乱葬岗 on the hill behind the village, the burial ground for generations of villagers killed by demonic beasts!"

The young couple cried out in shock, their expressions changing. How did they suddenly end up here?

"Wrong, this is an illusion!"

The martial artists, though not well-known outside their county, had some knowledge.

"Legends say that powerful demonic beasts or fiends can create illusions to confuse the mind, leading people to their doom."

"Indeed, a fiend! We are trapped in an illusion. But how do we break free? According to historical records, only martial experts who have cultivated internal martial qi, with a strong will, can shatter illusions with force."

Mao Jiu and the others quickly panicked. They were minor figures in Green Mountain Town, and in Yunyang County, they were ordinary. They had no idea how to handle this.

"The fiend is still trying to harm us!"

Suddenly, the young man in black attacked. He moved like a galloping horse, his step covering a deep ravine, his fist sharp, the fiery red horse neighing and galloping, merging with him. This spectacle made Su Qignian's eyes shine.

Man and horse as one, spirit and essence united!

This was the symbol of mastering all seven forms of the horse fist, the power of a fiery horse integrated into his body, man and horse as one, his full strength multiplied.

Whoosh!

The young man in black's fist pierced through, the little boy's figure seeming illusory, shattering instantly.

"Everything in the illusion is a shadow!" Mao Jiu said hoarsely.

However, the young man in black didn't stop. Even as his fist passed through the little boy, he showed no surprise. He suddenly turned, his fists bursting out in a series of three, like a herd of galloping horses.

"Excellent boxing!"

Su Qignian praised. This was no longer the horse fist. The young man in black clearly had more skills, and this boxing technique, in Su Qignian's view, was on par with the Turtle-Snake Fist. The fiery red horse around him instantly grew, taking on the form of a blood-sweating steed.

Bang!

The young man in black stopped, his fist striking the air but meeting resistance. The air vibrated, and a young figure appeared, a small hand pressing against the fist, lightly shaking.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The young man in black's face changed, and he retreated several steps, his eyes more serious than ever.

"Not a demonic beast! Demonic beasts don't understand martial arts. They couldn't block my fist so easily. You are a fiend!"

The young man in black's words were shocking!

What are fiends? Compared to humans, this extraterrestrial race has much stronger innate abilities. Their natural physical prowess far exceeds that of humans of the same age, and they possess various innate talents. Their martial arts are varied and unpredictable, even surpassing those of the demonic path. Most importantly, once they reach adulthood, they can have the strength of a fiery horse, and with a bit of cultivation, they can easily cultivate internal martial qi.

Although the Han emperors have valued martial arts and the Imperial Academy has compiled the "Galloping Horse Technique" for the masses, humans are relatively weak by nature, and the rate of cultivating internal martial qi is much lower than that of fiends.

Su Qignian's pupils also narrowed. Just like martial artists in the world, unless they belong to a major sect like Wudang, with profound cultivation, it is difficult to leave their county. The same applies to fiends. Martial sects, noble families, and even the imperial dragon guards and local troops often hunt fiends lurking in the wilderness. Generally, fiends who dare to appear in the empire and enter towns and villages are rarely uninitiated. (Midday update, votes please, votes please, favorites, favorites, la la la la la!)