Chapter 8

Everyone's faces were lit with smiles; no one expected that Qin Yu, who had been foolish for over a decade, could one day regain his sanity.

And his dispute with Lin Yu followed.

Know that Lin Yu seems to have an ambiguous relationship with several outer sect disciples.

If one truly wanted to punish him, it would be as easy as turning over one's hand.

"You… want me to leave?" A hint of coldness appeared on Lin Yu's face; her inner spirit energy surged, forming a pressure that shot straight at Qin Yu.

"Qin Yu, remember, a fool like you being useful to me is your honor." She said coldly.

"You actually dare to ask for spirit stones?"

"Ha, truly absurd."

She never imagined that even such a useless fool would have the nerve to insult her.

She raised her right hand, preparing to strike Qin Yu's handsome face.

But… at this critical moment, a plain-clothed man appeared before Qin Yu, speaking calmly: "This is a place for lectures; anyone who fights will be confined for three months."

His gaze was sharp as a blade.

Lin Yu hastily withdrew her hand, a flash of resentment crossing her eyes; she blamed Qin Yu, for almost causing her to break the sect rules.

She had originally planned to add Qin Yu's three spirit stones, making exactly ten, to break through to the third level of Body Tempering.

Successfully joining the ranks of outer sect disciples.

But now, all of this has been ruined by Qin Yu.

Suddenly, a scheme formed in her mind.

She pulled the bucktoothed youth beside her and whispered, "Brother Li Xi, look at him… bullying me like this, such a fool living is a waste of sect resources… if Qin Yu's spirit stones each season were given to you…"

"Perhaps you could also secure a place in the outer sect."

Seeing this, the bucktoothed youth's face also showed a hint of joy.

"This Qin Yu's arrival is perfectly timed; he has embarrassed Junior Sister. If I strike out for her, venting her anger… I will surely win the beauty's heart."

He began to fantasize, then turned his gaze to Qin Yu and said, "Profound Yang Sect has a rule: one must not act rashly."

"Let us sign a life-and-death contract; if you win, I will give you the three years' worth of spirit stones that belong to Junior Sister Lin Yu."

"If you lose, you will commit suicide on the spot—how about that?"

Not only Qin Yu, but even the plain-clothed outer sect steward couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

Where did this guy come from… a Body Tempering second-level cultivator actually bullying an ordinary person at the Qi Entrance stage?

What shameless audacity!

Such a person is actually a disciple of our Profound Yang Sect?

But at that moment, the miscellaneous disciples began to speak up one after another.

"Isn't Li Xi clearly trying to take Qin Yu's life to curry favor with others?"

"Cheating a few spirit stones is one thing, but now he also wants Qin Yu's life—this is going too far."

"Qin Yu, take a step back and the world will be vast; it's only three years' worth of spirit stones—what harm is there in giving it to them?"

Although Qin Yu has been dull these years, his diligence has unintentionally helped some miscellaneous disciples.

At this moment, everyone felt a sense of helplessness.

Some even advised Qin Yu not to accept the challenge.

After all… jokes are jokes, but no one wishes for him to die because of it.

Could it be that he has just regained his sanity, only to face death?

Seeing this, the bucktoothed youth couldn't help but feel a bit flustered, shouting loudly: "This is between us two; what does it have to do with you? Don't stir up trouble."

At this time, some miscellaneous disciples jealous of Qin Yu's luck sneered: "Qin Yu, you've been dazed for over a decade; now that you're clear-headed, what's wrong with accepting a life-and-death battle? Fighting a Body Tempering second-level cultivator while at Qi Entrance isn't without chance."

"Perhaps after you awaken, you will gain some insight into the martial way."

His words had just fallen.

In Qin Yu's mind, a prompt appeared.

【Ordinary Advice: You have now regained your sanity; accepting the life-and-death battle will grant you a temporary trait—martial arts awakening. Whether absorbing spirit energy or comprehending martial techniques, you will far surpass ordinary people, akin to the state of unity between heaven and man.】

Qin Yu calmly looked at these people; he had originally planned to resolve the matter with Lin Yu and the bucktoothed youth in three days.

But now, it also seems there is profit to be made.

"Since you all have given advice, I will accept it."

"The life-and-death battle is set for half an hour from now."

"But I have a condition: if I win, I want not only the spirit stones, but also for you to commit suicide."

Half an hour later, exactly when this place closes… enough time for him to break through.

He has reached the bottleneck of Qi Entrance; a light push will allow him to break through.

Plus the martial arts awakening… the time is completely sufficient.

As soon as Qin Yu's words fell, the place erupted in an uproar; many miscellaneous disciples thought he had gone mad.

Even the plain-clothed man before him was slightly taken aback.

Is this… going to his death?

For spirit stones, he doesn't even care about his life?

The bucktoothed youth grinned, revealing his yellowed teeth: "Fine, no problem!"

"What's wrong with waiting half an hour for you?"

Half an hour—can an ordinary person at Qi Entrance possibly defy heaven?

What about adding the condition of suicide?

How could I possibly lose?

Immediately, the two people wrote a blood handprint on the white paper and signed the contract.

Qin Yu saw the situation, immediately sat cross-legged, and began to circulate the Spirit Refining Technique.

With palms facing up, strands of spiritual energy began to flow.

It seemed as if he and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth had merged into one, extremely harmonious.

He could even feel the joy of the spiritual energy in the air.

【You accepted the suggestion of a life-and-death battle, gained a trait, and opened the martial way apertures.】

Qin Yu at this moment felt his consciousness unusually clear.

This feeling…… was completely different from his state of harmony between heaven and man on Blue Star.

「Boom! 」

Just in an instant, a faint muffled sound came from within his body.

Around Qin Yu, spiritual energy gradually covered and flowed on the surface.

「Successfully condensed spiritual energy…… did he break through? 」

「Unfortunately, if he had broken through earlier in his youth, he might now be a direct disciple of the Third Elder, at least an inner sect disciple; how could he possibly still be oppressed by such a shameless scoundrel? 」

「Now there's a good show to watch; Qin Yu, after waking up, directly accepted the life-and-death battle—perhaps… he really has a chance to win? After all, no one would charge forward in a situation where defeat is certain. 」

Many menial disciples began to discuss.

The toothed youth frowned slightly and said in a low voice, 「It's just years of accumulation, breaking through to the Body Tempering First Layer; I can still defeat him with a single move. 」

Lin Yu's expression remained calm as she watched this scene.

She did not think it could stir up any waves.

Qin Yu has been foolish for so many years.

「Buzz! 」

A faint buzzing sound came from within Qin Yu's body, and the surging qi and blood gradually moved, like a fierce wind, stirring his clothes.

「According to the Profound Yang Sect's Body Tempering Method, it is divided into three layers: skin refining, tendon refining, and bone refining. 」

「For skin refining, one just needs to use qi and blood to temper and strike. 」

Qin Yu mobilized the qi and blood of his whole body, continuously pressing the surface skin, allowing spiritual energy to seep in, and waves of pain surged forth.

Faintly, bright red blood flowed out.

But…… the effect was extremely significant.

Qin Yu could feel that his physical strength had greatly increased.

「This feeling of merging with heaven and earth is excellent. 」

「Martial way cultivation is even more at will; everything under control is in my heart. 」

Qin Yu felt somewhat excited inwardly, for merely reaching the Body Tempering First Layer, he had already achieved a strength of a thousand jin!

Moreover, over these years on Blue Star, his control over qi and blood had reached the point of perfection; furthermore, having broken through to the Martial Artist realm, although his realm was unstable, he still had some understanding.

It was only a moment's time.

His entire skin had been tempered by one-third.

「Boom! 」

And the realm…… at this moment, naturally progressed, breaking through to the Body Tempering Second Layer!

Moreover, the momentum was extremely strong; the surrounding spiritual energy became increasingly lively, surging toward Qin Yu like a rolling tide.

When cultivation talent reaches the Heavenly Tier, even if he sits motionless every day, spiritual energy will actively flow into his body.

This is the difference in talent.

But…… this left the toothed youth, Lin Yu, and the menial disciple who had earlier advised Qin Yu to accept the life-and-death battle looking stunned.

「No way…… could he really have opened the martial way apertures? 」

「He directly reached the Body Tempering Second Layer? Breaking through two realms in succession? 」