Chapter 92

For mortals, ten years is a long time, enough to turn a child into a young adult. After ten years of meticulous instruction, the martial arts skills of Bu Jingyun, Nie Feng, and Qin Shuang had all reached the peak of the first-class level, with subtle signs of breaking through to the innate realm.

The words of the clay bodhisattva were always on Xiong Ba's mind: "When encountering the风云 (wind and cloud), one transforms into a dragon." Xiong Ba firmly believed this prophecy. Nie Feng and Bu Jingyun's martial arts talents had always amazed Xiong Ba in secret. In just ten years, Nie Feng and Bu Jingyun had managed to bring his ultimate techniques, "Cloud-Dispelling Palm" and "Wind God Leg," to a minor level of mastery.

Although reaching the peak of the first-class realm was common in the world of风云 (wind and cloud), where first-class experts were as numerous as dogs and second-class experts were as rare as chickens, breaking through to the innate realm was what truly brought fame. Generally, those who could break through to the first-class realm by the age of thirty had a good chance of reaching the innate realm in their lifetime. Nie Feng and Bu Jingyun had achieved this level before they were twenty, which greatly surprised Xiong Ba. Qin Shuang, his carefully chosen disciple, not only had exceptional physical and mental qualities but also made rapid progress in practicing "Heavenly Frost Fist." Nie Feng and Bu Jingyun were found based on the birth dates given by the clay bodhisattva, and they had no connection to the clay bodhisattva. Therefore, the clay bodhisattva had no reason to help these two unknown children. If Nie Feng's martial arts talent came from his father, the famous saber king Nie Renwang, it was understandable, as a tiger father would not have a dog son. But how to explain Bu Jingyun? Bu Jingyun was born in the Bu family village in Jiangnan. Without the birth date given by the clay bodhisattva, this raw gem would likely have lived a life of toil and hardship.

Since Nie Feng, Bu Jingyun, and Qin Shuang joined Xiong Ba's disciples, their status in the Tianxia Society had risen significantly. Xiong Ba kept his children's identities well hidden, and apart from Wen Chouchou, no one in the Tianxia Society knew that Xiong Ba had a son and a daughter. Therefore, Nie Feng and the others were seen as potential successors to Xiong Ba's legacy.

With their elevated status, their living conditions naturally improved, and each of the three had their own residence.

Bu Jingyun, practicing the "Cloud-Dispelling Palm," chose to live near a waterfall close to the Tianxia Society's main hall. He found this waterfall to be steeper and more powerful than the one at the Mandala Manor. According to Li She, only by continuously pushing the limits of one's physical potential and understanding the "realm of intent" could one reach the innate realm and have a chance of avenging oneself. Bu Jingyun followed Li She's advice, not only practicing the "Cloud-Dispelling Palm" but also rigorously training his body.

Today, Bu Jingyun again climbed the steep and slippery waterfall without using any internal energy, relying solely on his physical strength. The powerful current of the waterfall struck his skin with great force. If it were anyone else, they would be in immense pain. However, years of training had made Bu Jingyun's skin as hard as steel, comparable to those who specialized in external hard techniques like Iron Shirt or Golden Bell Cover. Clenching his teeth, he climbed with his bare hands, a thick hemp rope tied around his waist, with a stone weighing over two hundred pounds attached to the other end. The inertia and the force of the current made each step extremely difficult.

With a "crack," the steep and slippery rock wall broke, and Bu Jingyun fell from a cliff over a hundred feet high into the pool below.

A splash of water, and Bu Jingyun took a deep breath, breaking the hemp rope around his waist. With excellent swimming skills, he surfaced. "Huff!" He shook his long hair and exhaled. "Failed again?" he muttered. Looking up at the waterfall, he saw a beautiful rainbow formed by the sunlight.

The less one speaks, the more one notices the details of everyday life. Known as the "Crying God," Bu Jingyun lay in the water, staring blankly at the rainbow in the sky.

Bu Jingyun recalled the encounter with Xiong Ba half a year ago. As the leader of the Tianxia Society, Xiong Ba was often busy with the society's affairs and his own training, so he rarely interacted with his disciples. Bu Jingyun, who spoke sparingly, had exchanged fewer than a hundred words with Xiong Ba in the past ten years.

With his martial arts skills advancing, Bu Jingyun was now on the verge of the "innate realm." Among Xiong Ba's three disciples, Bu Jingyun was the fastest to progress. His heart of vengeance made him train diligently, and his extraordinary talent allowed him to master the "Cloud-Dispelling Palm." He had perfected all eleven moves. Having endured much hardship since childhood, Bu Jingyun was cautious around Xiong Ba and did not reveal that he could use the full set of "Cloud-Dispelling Palm." Outwardly, he claimed he could only perform the ninth move, "Clouds Unbound."

Recalling the interactions with Xiong Ba, Bu Jingyun frowned. The Tianxia Society had now split the world into two, and the climate was set. Most of the martial arts families had either been conquered or joined, and many notorious figures had also joined. Five years ago, many of the society's affairs no longer required Xiong Ba's direct involvement; a single word could destroy a sect. In his free time, Xiong Ba focused on teaching the three disciples and practicing martial arts in seclusion.

Even now, Bu Jingyun could not gauge Xiong Ba's true strength. He remembered the story of the small man and the large man that Li She had told him, always keeping a close eye on Xiong Ba's every move. However, as a cunning leader, Xiong Ba could not fully trust even his closest family, let alone his disciples. Over the years, Bu Jingyun had basically figured out Xiong Ba's routine.

Xiong Ba's Sword Pool and the secret training room were places he frequently visited, but they were heavily guarded. Even as one of Xiong Ba's three top disciples, Bu Jingyun could not enter.

Lying in the water, Bu Jingyun sensed a familiar aura that made even the "Crying God" shudder.

"Master Yun, Master Yun! Oh, you're lying in the water? Oh, it's really hard to find you. It's so hot today, and you're taking a cold bath. What if you catch a cold? If Master Xiong blames me for not taking good care of you, I'll be in big trouble!" Wen Chouchou, fanning himself, patted his chest.

Bu Jingyun glanced at the Tianxia Society's chief steward, leaped out of the pool, and came ashore. He looked at the man with a face covered in powder.

Wen Chouchou's pale face and bright red lips were a sight to behold.

Wen Chouchou, with a coy smile, said, "Oh, Master Yun, your chest muscles are so developed, it's... oh, embarrassing!"

"Speak your mind!" Bu Jingyun said coldly.

"Of course, it's Master Xiong looking for you. I also need to inform Master Feng and Master Shuang." Wen Chouchou said with a smile.

"Understood!" Bu Jingyun nodded.

Wen Chouchou bowed and ran off to Qin Shuang and Nie Feng's residences.

Bu Jingyun changed into clean clothes and headed to Xiong Ba's place. In ten years, Bu Jingyun had grown into a handsome young man, with well-defined muscles. He dressed like the Bu Jingyun in the "Fengyun" world, wearing a red cloak, black leather jacket, and leather pants. The cloak was one of his weapons, capable of blocking blades when filled with true energy during the "Cloud-Dispelling Palm."

Bu Jingyun used his lightness skill and ran to the Tianxia Society's main hall. In no time, he arrived at the hall's entrance. The Tianxia Society, now controlling the entire Jiangnan region, was making a fortune. The monthly tax revenue from Jiangnan alone was over four to five million taels of silver, and the main hall was continuously expanded. Thirty-three white jade steps led to the hall, with nine dragon pillars standing tall, gilded and magnificent.

Ten years seemed to have left no mark on Xiong Ba, a near-invincible expert. His three-foot-long beard was black and shiny, his eyebrows thick and sword-like, his thin lips and phoenix eyes making him look exceptionally heroic. Sitting on the throne in the hall, he exuded an aura of dominance.

Bu Jingyun walked into the hall and stood before Xiong Ba. Soon, Qin Shuang and Nie Feng also arrived.

"Second Master Brother!" Qin Shuang greeted.

"Second Master Brother." Nie Feng smiled.

The aloof Bu Jingyun merely nodded.

With all three disciples present, Xiong Ba looked them over and nodded. Ten years! The three children had grown into handsome young men.

"Frost, Cloud, Wind, how far have you progressed in your martial arts?" Xiong Ba asked in a low voice.

As the eldest disciple, Qin Shuang respectfully replied, "Master, I have mastered the sixth move of the Heavenly Frost Fist, 'Frost Traces Abound,' but I have not yet reached the eighth move, 'Proud Snow and Frost.'"

Hearing Qin Shuang's words, Bu Jingyun paid close attention. He knew the Heavenly Frost Fist had eight moves: Frost Wind, Frost Moon, Frost Sky, Frost Snow, Frost River, Frost Traces Abound, Frost Clumsy, and Proud Snow and Frost. It was a technique on par with the "Cloud-Dispelling Palm." He was surprised that Qin Shuang had reached the sixth move. Among the three, Qin Shuang was the most loyal to Xiong Ba, and he would be a significant obstacle if Bu Jingyun wanted to kill Xiong Ba.

Bu Jingyun looked up and saw Xiong Ba's gaze on him. He said, "Ninth move, Clouds Unbound."

Bu Jingyun was always concise, and Xiong Ba was used to it.

Nie Feng had grown into a handsome young man, with a noble and refined appearance. His mother, Yan Ying, was once the most beautiful woman in the world, and his father, Nie Renwang, was a handsome man. With such good genes, Nie Feng could not be anything but handsome. He often played with a folding fan, making him the most handsome man in the Tianxia Society.

Nie Feng bowed and said, "Master, I am not as talented as the eldest and second master brothers. I have only mastered the third move of the Wind God Leg, 'Stormy Rain.'"

Xiong Ba nodded. "Hmm, Frost and Cloud have made good progress. It's not easy to reach the sixth move of the Heavenly Frost Fist and the ninth move of the Cloud-Dispelling Palm in ten years. However, Wind, don't underestimate yourself. The Wind God Leg has only six moves, and reaching the third move in ten years is also commendable."

Xiong Ba stood up and shook his cloak. "Martial arts are not about practicing in isolation; they require practical combat to improve. Although the Tianxia Society controls the entire Jiangnan, there are still many martial arts families who pay lip service but secretly oppose us, especially the remnants of the Five Gates and Seven Sects, who still rely on their past reputation and refuse to submit. I want you to eliminate them for me."

A glint of determination flashed in Bu Jingyun's eyes, while Qin Shuang and Nie Feng were visibly excited.

The three disciples said in unison, "To expand the territory of the Tianxia Society, we are willing to do anything!"