Chapter 26

The black-robed man glided through the air with Qiaofeng, and each time he touched the ground to gain momentum, he could leap over fifty meters, even while carrying someone. It was evident that the black-robed man's lightness skill was at the pinnacle.

Qiaofeng was deeply shaken. Who was this black-robed man? Could there really be a grandmaster-level expert in the martial world?

Qiaofeng had only recently become a grandmaster-level expert. Originally, he thought that grandmaster martial artists were few in the martial world, but he never expected that this black-robed man, who had appeared from nowhere, was also a grandmaster-level expert.

"Thud."

The black-robed man threw Qiaofeng into a cave.

Qiaofeng was already severely injured, and the heavy throw caused him some pain.

"Thank you, Senior, for saving my life. I hope you will reveal your name; Qiaofeng will be forever grateful." Qiaofeng sat cross-legged, adjusting his inner energy, and said calmly.

Qiaofeng had previously been determined to die, so he wasn't very grateful to the black-robed man for saving him. However, the debt of saving a life was greater than the sky, and such a favor could not be left unrepaid.

"Hmph, you are not yet worthy to know my name," the black-robed man said in a hoarse voice. "However, for you to become a grandmaster at such a young age, it truly surprises me. At your age, my martial arts were not as advanced as yours."

"Smack!"

The black-robed man struck Qiaofeng's face with a palm, saying coldly, "You are extremely foolish. With your martial arts, it would be easy to kill all those so-called righteous people, but you did not resist, allowing those second- and third-rate martial artists to severely injure you. If I hadn't intervened, you would have died at their hands."

Qiaofeng looked at his hands and said, "Senior, your reprimand is just. When I left the Beggar Sect, I swore that no matter whether I, Qiaofeng, am from Liao or Han, I would never kill a Han person in my lifetime. But now, the Han martial artists killed by me number no less than a hundred. My hands are stained with blood, and it cannot be washed away."

The black-robed man laughed loudly, "To call you foolish is not an injustice. I really don't know how you cultivated such supreme martial arts. You swore not to kill a Han person, but you have already killed. Killing one person is the same as killing ten thousand. What difference does it make to you? Moreover, those Han martial artists who attacked you, don't they deserve to die?"

Qiaofeng closed his eyes and said no more.

The black-robed man continued, "That little girl, although somewhat attractive, is not a beauty that could topple a nation. Is she worth your life?"

Qiaofeng said firmly, "She is worth it! When I, Qiaofeng, was in dire straits, everyone doubted me, and everyone wanted to kill me. But only A Zhu believed in me, and I also like her. That is enough."

The black-robed man sighed and said, "This cave is hidden, and no one can find it. I have left enough food for half a month, which will be enough for you to recover. If you want to seek revenge and find the real culprit, you must live. If you die, no one will sympathize with you, and the real culprit will remain at large. The girl you like will also become someone else's wife. Think about it."

The black-robed man's figure moved and quickly disappeared, like a ghost.

Qiaofeng opened his eyes and carefully examined the surroundings. Only when he was sure there was no danger did he begin to heal his injuries. However, he had a doubt: "Who is this black-robed man? Why did he speak to me as if I were his junior?"

...

On the official road, Wang Shan, Wang He, and others were riding horses toward Suzhou.

Wang Shan glanced at Wang He and thought to himself, "Why has this kid been so quiet these past few days?"

"Wang He, what are you thinking about?" Wang Shan asked.

Wang He came to his senses and said, "Brother Shan, I thought I was already a skilled martial artist, but I never expected Qiaofeng to become a grandmaster. It's unbelievable. I wonder when I will be as strong as Qiaofeng. I wonder if the Master can defeat Qiaofeng now."

Wang Shan laughed and said, "To become a skilled martial artist, there are no shortcuts; you must focus on cultivation. As for whether the Master can defeat Qiaofeng, I really can't say. Qiaofeng is a grandmaster martial artist, and the Master is also a transformation-level martial artist. They are at the same level in martial arts. However, our internal martial arts do not solely pursue killing power. You are also cultivating internal martial arts, so you should know that internal martial arts prioritize health and longevity. Look at the Master; although he is in his mid-twenties, he still looks like a teenager. This miraculous effect is something other grandmaster martial artists cannot achieve. This is the magic of internal martial arts."

Wang Shan's words made Wang He and the others' eyes light up, and they felt excited. Rejuvenation and eternal youth are not just what women desire; men also hope for it. Previously, they only cultivated internal martial arts as a divine skill, but now they realize that the effects of internal martial arts are not as superficial as they thought, and there are many more miraculous effects. They must return and study it carefully.

Seeing their excited expressions, Wang Shan smiled and said, "Moreover, the deeper the cultivation of internal martial arts, the stronger the blood and qi, and the stronger the vitality. Even if the internal organs or meridians are shattered, with strong vitality, one can survive for ten to fifteen days. Other martial artists with such severe injuries would die immediately, even if Hua Tuo or Bian Que were alive, they could not save them."

...

In Wang Family Village, Wang Yue was practicing martial arts on the back mountain, and A Bi was watching from a distance. Wang Yue's practice also allowed her to gain many insights.

Wang Yue was practicing the Three-Body Stance, which is the foundation of Xingyi Quan. To improve his martial arts, he had to seek breakthroughs in the Three-Body Stance.

"After entering the transformation level, each step of progress and breakthrough is extremely difficult," Wang Yue thought to himself.

However, he was not anxious. Each breakthrough is the result of thousands of accumulations. If he cannot break through, it means the accumulation is not enough.

Wang Yue's body slightly undulated, and ripples appeared around him, like water.

Wang Yue reached out into the air, as if grabbing something.

A transparent energy ball the size of a fist formed in Wang Yue's hand.

This is the ability of internal martial arts at the transformation level; it is impossible to grab air at the hidden level.

"This is the innate qi!"

Wang Yue waved his hands, and the transparent energy ball suddenly grew larger, enveloping him in a transparent protective shield.

The protective shield formed by the air was astonishingly dense, like glass, clear and visible. Even a grandmaster martial artist's full-force attack might not break it.

Wang Yue thought, and the protective shield around him dissipated.

A Bi walked up and said happily, "Brother Wang Yue, you have finally succeeded. This is the innate qi? It's so powerful!"

The innate qi is indeed powerful, not only in defense but also in attack.

Wang Yue nodded and said, "Yes, this is the innate qi. The innate qi is unique to internal martial arts. However, although the innate qi is powerful, it is not invincible. The true qi of grandmaster martial artists, which has liquefied into innate true qi, is also extremely terrifying. A Bi, you should practice well; you will also reach this level in the future."

In recent days, Wang Yue had read many books and learned the differences between true qi techniques and internal martial arts.

The transformation level of internal martial arts is equivalent to grandmaster martial artists in the martial world.

The dan level of internal martial arts is at the same level as the grandmaster martial artists of true qi.

There are still some grandmaster martial artists in the martial world, such as the Heavenly Mountain Child from the Spirit Crane Palace, Li Qiu Shui, the Empress of Western Xia, and Wu Yazi from the Free and Easy Sect. Murong Bo and Xiao Yuan Shan are also grandmaster-level experts.

As for whether the sweeping monk of Shaolin Temple is a grandmaster, Wang Yue does not know.

...

Wang Yue arrived at the Suzhou National Martial Arts Hall, and Wang Shan and Wang He had already returned.

"Village Chief, you really should go to Juxian Manor," Wang He said to Wang Yue. "You don't know how powerful Qiaofeng's martial arts are. No one in Juxian Manor could withstand his single move, even the high monks of Shaolin Temple were injured by his palm. If Brother Shan hadn't intervened, Qiaofeng might have killed everyone."

Wang Yue listened to Wang He's account and was secretly surprised. Qiaofeng's martial arts were much stronger than when he competed for the leadership of the martial world on Mount Tai.

At this moment, Wang Shan said, "Wang Yue, Qiaofeng's martial arts are already at the grandmaster level. The Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms left me in awe. I could only use my full strength to burst the hidden power, but Qiaofeng could easily repel and injure me with a single palm. I don't know if you are his match now. Moreover, a black-robed man appeared at the end, whose martial arts were no less than Qiaofeng's. However, A Zhu's injuries were really severe."

Wang Yue thought to himself, "That black-robed man must be Xiao Yuan Shan."

"I haven't fought him, so I don't know how my martial arts compare to Qiaofeng's. However, to prove who is stronger, there's no need to fight to the death. If there's an opportunity, I can challenge Qiaofeng. As for A Zhu, with Doctor Xue, she will be fine. Don't worry. I will talk to A Bi about this when I return."

...

In the evening, Wang Yue, as usual, studied medicine. A Bi entered the study, her mouth opening and closing several times, but she couldn't say anything.

Seeing A Bi's hesitation, Wang Yue said, "A Bi, if you have something to say, just say it. We are husband and wife; there's no need to be reserved."

A Bi nodded and said, "Brother Wang Yue, you should still go to Kang Min. She might really know the whereabouts of the Purple Yang Bamboo."

Wang Yue put down the medical book and asked, "A Bi, why do you think so?"

A Bi said, "Although Kang Min is a petty and jealous woman, she is not an ordinary woman. She probably has many rare herbs, and she might know about the Purple Yang Bamboo. Even if Kang Min doesn't know the whereabouts of the Purple Yang Bamboo, it won't hurt to visit her. But if she does, there's hope for Father's illness."

Wang Yue nodded and said, "A Bi, you have a point. In matters like this, it's better to be safe than sorry. My judgment in the apricot forest was too hasty. Since that's the case, let's visit the Beggar Sect again. Maybe Kang Min really knows the whereabouts of the Purple Yang Bamboo."

Wang Yue didn't have much hope in Kang Min, as she was a master of lies. Every man she had met had been deceived by her.

However, Kang Min might be the only hope for Wang Yue to find the Purple Yang Bamboo, so he had to go.

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