By the time he returned to Qi Yang Mountain, dusk was already falling. Rosy clouds drifted across the horizon, looking as if they were blooming at his feet and staining the foothills crimson.
A mountain breeze carried the faint, savory aroma of cooking. From the manor nestled on the mountainside came the cheerful sounds of children chasing each other as the first lights of evening began to twinkle on.
"Young Master, you're back!" A young maid was leaning against the doorway, her expression cool and distant as she periodically scanned the path down the mountain. The moment she spotted a familiar figure, she couldn't help but leap for joy and rush toward him from afar.
A red-clad figure rushed toward him, carrying a delicate, sweet scent. Qin Feng caught the light, pliant body in his arms.
"Silly girl!" Stroking the young woman's smooth, dark hair, Qin Feng felt a warmth he hadn't experienced in a long time—the feeling of being cared for. He couldn't remember how many long, dark nights had passed without it. As years slipped by, this tender moment felt as hazy as a dream, like a flower's reflection in water or the moon's in a mirror.
"Young Master, are you alright? People from the Sixth Young Master came looking for you around noon! I'm afraid they've found something out, haven't they?" The young maid's bright eyes scanned Qin Feng from head to toe, filled with anxiety and concern.
'Sixth Young Master, Qin Muyun!' Qin Feng paused, a thoughtful look in his eyes. Then, looking into her anxious, worried gaze, he smiled.
"Don't worry. A punk like Lao Liu is no match for me!"
"But what if he reports it to the Patriarch!" the young maid said, worried.
"Don't worry about it. They were just a couple of dogs, and not even mine. It's not like I could have leashed them. Their legs are their own. Can they really blame me if they wandered off and got lost?"
A cold, sharp light flashed in Qin Feng's eyes. He waved his hand dismissively, his gaze deepening. "Besides, that old bastard wants me dead. It makes no difference whether he has an excuse or not. To him, I'm already a thorn in his side!"
"And don't worry about Lao Liu. The man is wildly ambitious, but he lacks the talent to back it up. In my eyes, he's nothing more than a stepping stone. Sooner or later, I'll crush him under my heel."
"The Qin Family has five branches. The First is led by Qin Yaoguang, the Second by Qin Yaoxian, the Third by Qin Yaowu, and the Fourth by Qin Yaorong. The Fifth Branch is my father's, Qin Zhan. Of the five, the Second Branch is currently weak; all its legitimate sons are mediocre. The Fourth Branch produced a genius, Qin Yu'Er, but she's a girl, which is a pity. That leaves my own Fifth Branch, still in decline. In their eyes, I'm just a useless piece of trash with no threat."
"The First and Third Branches hold the most power. Qin Yaoguang of the First Branch has two sons: the First Young Master, Qin Shu, and the Seventh Young Master, Qin Fang. Qin Shu is the eldest. He's a quiet, conventional man of average talent, completely overshadowed by his own younger brother, Qin Fang."
"The Third Branch has four sons. The Eleventh Young Master is too young to be a threat. The Fourth Young Master, Qin Mubing, manages the family's merchant caravans and is extremely talented himself; he's doing very well right now. The Fifth Young Master, Qin Muhai, is a good-for-nothing fop who only knows how to play around, bully the weak, and suck up to the powerful. He'll never amount to anything. Then there's the Sixth Young Master, Qin Muyun. He's arrogant and ambitious. 'Though in my opinion as an old ancestor, he's mediocre,' he's definitely not a pushover. Just you watch. With the First Branch about to form a marriage alliance with the Yu Family, the Third Branch will absolutely not take this lying down."
"Young Master, you're saying that once the First Branch forms a marriage alliance with the Yu Family, their power will skyrocket, cementing their position as the next in line for the patriarch's seat. The Third Branch will never just sit back and watch that happen!" The young maid was exceptionally clever, grasping his point immediately.
"Exactly. Just watch. The Third Branch won't just stand by and let the First Branch reap the benefits. The elders of the Third Branch have always seen me as useless, someone they can control whenever they please. Even if they suspect I have some secret, they'll only investigate quietly, hoping to claim it all for themselves. So, at least until the wedding, they'll make sure the First Branch doesn't get rid of me. They still need to use me to ruin the First Branch's marriage alliance with the Yu Family!"
All manner of schemes flashed through Qin Feng's eyes.
"But the Patriarch won't let you go, Young Master. It seems he's on the First Branch's side now, too!" the young maid said, her voice laced with worry.
"Don't worry. I know that old bastard of a Patriarch wants to sacrifice me to pave the way for his precious grandson, Qin Fang. But I, Qin Feng, am not so easily dealt with. I've already begun to change my innate aptitude and can now cultivate. With just a little training, I'll be able to protect myself. On top of that, I know some earth-shattering secrets. Once I've fully absorbed them, I'll soar to the heavens and completely break free from their control. When that time comes, what will the mere Qin Family of Shanghe Town matter? I'll be able to crush that heartless old beast with a wave of my hand!" Qin Feng was full of vigor, his expression radiant. Looking at the thin, frail young maid before him, he couldn't help but feel a surge of pity. Any personal maid from the other branches would be plump and healthy, well-fed and well-cared for, receiving a hefty monthly stipend.
But his young maid, Honglian, had suffered greatly by his side. Not only did she receive no stipend, but she also had to weave day and night just to support him, a "useless" young master. She no longer looked like a young woman in the prime of her youth. Aside from her tall frame, her skin was ghostly pale and her hair was dry and brittle, as if parched. If not for her height and early development, one could hardly tell she was a young woman at all.
"Young Master, you mean... you can cultivate now?" The young maid's mouth fell open. Her attention was completely captivated by his words, her eyes wide with a mixture of shock and excitement.
"Of course. I've completely shed the label of 'useless.' Just you wait. In one month, on the third day of the third month, is the wedding between the Qin Family's Seventh Young Master and the Yu Family's Palm Pearl. I will be sure to give them a huge shock!" A powerful confidence radiated from Qin Feng's every gesture.
With that, he looked at the young maid, his eyes shining. She was so excited, it was as if she were the one who could now cultivate.
"Honglian, you've suffered these past few years. When I was at my lowest, you were the only one who never left my side. I will remember your kindness. No matter how far I go in the future, I will never abandon you!"
"Young Master..." The young maid's eyes reddened as an unstoppable wave of emotion washed over her. Her pretty face flushed as rosy as the sunset clouds. His words were both heart-warming and sweet.
In the small, dilapidated courtyard, an oil lamp cast a dim, yellow glow. The young maid had carefully prepared dinner: a few small dishes of wild vegetables and a bowl of plain congee. It wasn't a lavish meal, but it was filled with warmth.
After dinner, Qin Feng went out into the courtyard alone. Countless Secret Techniques swirled through his mind.
The Martial Arts Ninth Layer consisted of: the First Layer, Refining Tendons; the Second Layer, Bone Forging; the Third Layer, Blood Exchange; the Fourth Layer, Breath; the Fifth Layer, Inner Strength; the Sixth Layer, Divine Power; the Seventh Layer, True Qi; the Eighth Layer, Transformation Liquid; and the Ninth Layer, Divine Transformation. The first three layers trained the tendons, bones, and skin; the middle three trained essence, qi, and spirit; and the final three layers were for achieving the Unity of Man and God.
To comprehend the transformations of the Unity of Man and God, one needed fortunate encounters and an understanding of the power of Heaven and Earth Attributes. This would allow one to condense an Attribute Seed and nurture an independent space within their Dantian. If one could become a Condensing Vein Realm cultivator, all power and glory would be within reach. Their status would be comparable to that of kings and generals; any kingdom they entered would bestow upon them a high noble title just to win their favor.
Experts at the Condensing Vein Realm possessed all sorts of incredible Divine Abilities: walking on air, breathing lightning, controlling fire and water, manipulating light and darkness, and even altering space-time. These were all within their power. The might produced by True Power of various attributes was beyond the imagination of any mortal.
This was a path that led directly to the realm of God-Demons!
Qin Feng knew countless Secret Techniques, but few were suitable for the Martial Arts Ninth Layer realm. The Nine Heavens Thunder Emperor Scripture was powerful, but it could only be cultivated after reaching the Condensing Vein Realm.
The Qin Family, however, did have a few suitable techniques. The Gale Bone-Forging Fist, the Wind Roar Acupoint Closing Method, and the Clear Wind Spirit Refining Stake were all high-grade cultivation Dharma Gates, sufficient for refining one's tendons and bones and renewing one's blood.
In the end, Qin Feng decided to practice the Qin Family's Bone and Muscle Refining Method. Firstly, it would help conceal his true identity. Secondly, the family's techniques were indeed superior Foundation Establishment methods.
'They're barely high-grade, but they're not without potential. If I can just refine some of the flaws in the Cultivation Method, the results might be even better.'
The thought of recklessly modifying a Cultivation Technique would be terrifying to others, but for an old Demon like Qin Feng, who had lived for millennia and perused countless Divine Secret Techniques, it was no problem at all.
Millions of years of the Martial Dao's evolution and countless profound Mystical Meanings had converged in his mind, blossoming into what could only be described as the pinnacle of culture. It would be no exaggeration to call this old Demon a being of heaven-piercing wisdom.
How could a mere Foundation Establishment Technique possibly stump him? If he had more time, he could even create a new, perfectly tailored Foundation Establishment Technique from scratch.
In a single night, he completely refined the Clear Wind Spirit Refining Stake. After his modifications, the technique's cultivation speed was now more than one and a half times faster than the original.
If word of this speed got out, it would absolutely blow people's minds!
The next morning, Qin Feng began his first session of cultivation for the Martial Arts Ninth Layer Heaven in the courtyard. His eyes were as calm as still water, his mind steady. He stood atop a wooden stake in the yard as if it were a qigong post, his legs firm. Stretching out his arms, he assumed a peculiar posture, his tendons and bones pulled taut, like a clear wind holding back a great river.
He had practiced this stance countless times in his mind, so performing it now felt completely natural, without the slightest difficulty. A gentle warmth slowly began to generate in his legs, followed by a tingling sensation that traveled up through his tendons and bones, spreading throughout his entire body. The power felt raw at first, but with time, it slowly seeped from his muscles into his bones and organs, finally integrating with his spiritual will until he could command his body with perfect freedom.
He practiced the movements and channeled his power again and again.
Without realizing it, Qin Feng entered a mystical state. It was as if he were standing on a vast green plain. A clear wind blew, and his body turned transparent, revealing a "great dragon" that ran through his entire skeleton—the network of his tendons and bones.
The clear wind brought a refreshing coolness that seemed to penetrate deep into his sinews, nourishing and polishing the great dragon strand by strand. In the wind, the great dragon of his frame pulsed rhythmically, dancing with the breeze.
The sensation was both wondrous and deeply familiar. It was as if the clear wind was his skeleton, the heavens and earth were his body, and the mountains and rivers were his acupoints. He felt like an infant returned to the womb—enveloped in a profound, gentle warmth.
In that instant, he seemed to grasp the true essence of the Clear Wind Spirit Refining Stake. He had cultivated the "God of Clear Wind." His tendons and bones moved like the wind, vibrating with a mystical rhythm. His Blood Qi circulation quickened, and streams of black, foul-smelling impurities erupted from his pores.
At the same time, his once-pale complexion slowly grew ruddy. Before, one glance was enough to tell his body was frail and weak, like a sickly sapling. He still looked lean, but now there was a vigorous, graceful quality to him, as if he possessed a spiritual aura. Though his build hadn't changed, the feeling he gave off was that of a completely different person.
'Power... I can feel power! The strength of my tendons and bones is finally showing!'
Late-First Level of the Martial Dao!