Chapter 656

The treetops of the peach blossom tree gave him much help; even a weak force counts as borrowing strength.

He tapped his feet, leapt up, his body floated away like a goose feather, and the treetops only dipped slightly.

Zila!

Relying on a mouthful of true Qi, Ye Qin's speed was not slow at all.

Before the treetops could droop from being unable to bear the weight, he took another breath and leapt forward.

When his speed reached a certain degree, the time the treetops actually bore weight also became very short.

With a bit of borrowed force, and using his homemade simple compass to tell direction, he now only needs to hold a mouthful of true Qi and continue his lightness skill; as long as he doesn't stop, he needs no other means.

"I wonder what Old Huang would feel if he knew I broke his formation with this method?" Ye Qin smiled faintly, a rare hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth.

It's no easy feat to make Old Huang, that neither-good-nor-evil fellow, suffer a loss.

He swept through several li of peach orchard in a hurry, and in the blink of an eye Ye Qin had flown several li away.

Seeing this scene, Old Huang would surely be dumbfounded—even he had never tried such a method, yet Ye Qin was the first to attempt it.

"I have lightness skill on me; no matter how mysterious and strange your formation is, it cannot stop me from flying in the high sky. Even if only two or three meters high, it cannot confuse my eyes." He gave a slight smile, a rare smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

No matter how much Lao Huang dislikes him, in the end he can only accept this fact.

"There are houses ahead; that should be Lao Huang and Rong'er's dwelling. Indeed, using my method I stepped directly from mid-air onto those peach trees and came in; they should be very surprised, right?" He landed on the ground around the house, knees slightly bent, then rose, lightly releasing the force of landing.

By the house, Lao Huang was about to practice some martial arts on the training ground he was building, to remind himself not to forget, but suddenly seeing Ye Qin's figure, he was stunned: "You, you how did you come here?"

According to his guess, Ye Qin's disappearance of nearly a year meant either he was dead or he hadn't broken through to the innate realm.

Immediately he also thought, that guy Ye Qin might have broken through by some strange chance and then rushed over: "But even if he is an innate realm martial artist, it would be difficult to break my Eight Trigrams formation's residual method; how did he get in?"

You must know, he never told Ye Qin the method to enter the island; when he left a year ago, Huang Rong apparently also forgot to mention it. Ye Qin didn't know there was a formation on Peach Blossom Island: "Then how did he get in?"

Lao Huang suddenly felt at a loss.

Even Lao Duwu couldn't get in; how could Ye Qin possibly enter so easily?

Ye Qin gave a slight smile, looking at the astonished Lao Huang and said: "Uncle, I managed to get in; you seem quite surprised?"

Lao Huang's mouth twitched as he secretly thought: "Isn't that nonsense? You can break through a few li of peach forest, do you really think it's a place anyone can just wander into?"

He glared at Ye Qin angrily, finally putting on a stern face and said: "Forget it if you won't tell me; anyway I don't want to hear it."

Upon hearing that, Ye Qin secretly looked down on him; this Lao Huang is actually a face-conscious person: "I used unorthodox means to break his formation; I wonder if it will provoke his great anger and make him dig a pit for me again?"

Before he could think further, Lao Huang indeed said coldly: "This place is not welcome to you; hurry up and leave Peach Blossom Island."

Ye Qin widened his eyes, looking at the solemnly spouting nonsense Lao Huang, utterly bewildered. What about the agreement to come after a year to propose marriage?

Ye Qin and Lao Huang locked eyes, and they remained in a stalemate for the time it takes to finish half a cup of tea.

When Huang Yaoshi's old waist began to ache, he gave Ye Qin a fierce glare, secretly sighing how good youth is; at this moment he was truly envious.

Seeing Lao Huang take the initiative to break the deadlock, Ye Qin then spoke up to explain: "Uncle, if I say I flew over using lightness skill, would you believe me?"

"Lightness skill?" Lao Huang shook his head, mocking: "No matter how powerful lightness skill is, flying a hundred or so zhang might be possible, but using lightness skill for several li—how could you possibly fly that far?"

Does he think lightness skill is some divine art that can fly to the heavens and burrow into the earth? Anyway he doesn't believe it; even if he himself pushed it to the limit, he couldn't fly over several li of peach forest, otherwise Lao Duwu would have already set foot on Peach Blossom Island.

Ye Qin had anticipated this; he said calmly: "Ordinary people are indeed as you said, unable to fly over a formation covering several li. But an innate realm martial artist is different: draw a breath of true qi, add my cultivation method whose body technique is unfathomably mysterious, and borrow the strength of the treetops, and one can continuously fly over."

After hearing Ye Qin's explanation, Lao Huang finally understood: it was relying on abundant true qi, mysterious body technique, and cleverly using the treetops as a springboard; thus, as long as one discerns the direction correctly, one can keep leaping forward.

This method directly bypasses the mysterious, complex, and ever-changing passage within the peach forest, saving countless steps and coming straight over.

After figuring out the principle, Lao Huang's old face twitched again: "How did this kid come up with this method?" He had never before considered whether such a method was feasible.

No matter what he thought, in the end he was still face-slapped by Ye Qin.

Thus he put on a stern face and said coldly: "I'm going to study the formation; Rong'er is inside, go find her yourself."

He had long been mentally prepared; even back in Lin'an he had seen it coming—he couldn't stop it even if he wanted to, so it's better to not see and not worry, and take the opportunity to study the formation, which is worthwhile.

From the moment Ye Qin appeared before him, although he was surprised, he also knew this kid had already broken through to the innate realm.

"Uncle, would you like me to explain again?" Seeing Lao Huang put on a stern face, Ye Qin also didn't know whether this old guy actually understood.

"No need." Lao Huang said unhappily, without turning back, walking toward his peach forest.

Although he dislikes Ye Qin, his own daughter likes him, and he is powerless to change that.

But every time he didn't give Ye Qin a good look; the first meeting he was face-slapped by his prospective son-in-law, and now again face-slapped by this kid, his heart filled with a ball of anger hard to quell: "If it weren't for wanting to check the formation's loopholes, I would absolutely not let anyone find a loophole!"

Ye Qin is merely a special case. He even dares not think that if he let this kid continue researching, his meager savings wouldn't even be enough to spare. He turned his head and glanced at Ye Qin slowly walking away, then murmured: "I hope this kid treats Rong'er better; that way, even if I die, this old body of mine would be worth it."

Life and death are fated, wealth and honor are heaven's decree; his life has had too many ups and downs.

He goes to examine the formation, thus avoiding being face-slapped by Ye Qin again.

Although he has been repeatedly "struck", Ye Qin this kid also counts as having rendered great help.

He stood at the edge of the pink peach forest and mused: "If it weren't for him using that clever method to cross the peach forest, I wouldn't have known this formation has such loopholes; some top-notch experts with decent body techniques simply wouldn't enter the forest, and the formation would naturally become mere decoration."

His original intention was to use this formation to protect Peach Blossom Island, so basically no one would dare come to cause trouble.

"Looks like I need to find a way to make up for it; too bad that kid won't help me." Although that kid keeps "slapping" his face, causing his proud formation to also show loopholes, he really wants to press Ye Qin to the ground and give him a good beating.

As Ye Qin turned and walked away, he gave a slight smile; this Lao Huang is quite interesting.

"His heart is still conflicted, but as long as he doesn't oppose, that's enough. Otherwise I could just give him martial arts manuals from the various sects to study, to pass the time?"

This idea just popped up and was immediately nipped by him. The secret manuals of the various sects all have certain flaws; giving them to Lao Huang would basically be setting him up for a trap. Although he doesn't like Lao Huang much, this guy is after all Huang Rong's father.

"Forget it; after I leave, I could instead transmit the Nine Grades Dao Art to him. After all, it's a cultivation method that offers a chance to break through to a higher level, and the next level I'll be able to sort out in a few days. Once the Nine Grades Dao Art combines the secret manuals of Daoism and Buddhism, it should be able to reach an even higher level."

The innate realm is not the end, nor should it be the end.

In Ye Qin's view, Lao Huang's aptitude is not bad. Even if he leaves this world, Lao Huang remains his father-in-law, which cannot be changed.

Thinking of this, he turned his head to look at that slightly stooped figure, whose sturdy body had gradually been worn away by time—Dong Xie Huang Yaoshi—and suddenly said: "Uncle, how about I help you improve it another day?"

He thought for a while; perhaps this is also a way to mend the relationship between the two parties.

Lao Huang stood at the edge of the peach forest not far away, halted his steps, and asked curiously: "You also understand formations?"

!

"I don't understand!" Ye Qin shook his head, smiling slightly, and said: "But I know how to prevent people from intruding. As for the formation, you just need to carry it out."

He really gave Old Huang plenty of face.

Huang Yaoshi's mouth twitched, and he suddenly thought: "What if that kid turns out to be more skilled than me? Then I'd lose face again. If it were someone else, I'd have killed him long ago; how could he still be alive now? Although I care about face, I also know that Rong'er likes him." He sighed.

It would also be wrong to split them up, and he didn't want to be a villain. He glanced back at Ye Qin again and finally said: "Forget it, I'll figure it out myself; you just forget about it."

He certainly didn't want to be slapped in the face again.

Ye Qin laughed embarrassedly, also considering Old Huang's concern, and immediately said: "Uncle, take your time studying it; I'll go see Rong'er." After all, they'd been apart for a year, and he missed her greatly.

Over the past year, many things happened—some people died, some survived. He combed through the secret manuals of the Buddhist and Daoist schools across the world, and his own strength broke into the Innate Realm.

After the next integration of the Nine Grade Dao Technique, he could advance a level, likely no longer limited to the Innate Realm.

He had also studied that mysterious Vajra Bracelet many times—the miraculous object that brought him from Earth to the Qingxuan Continent, making him an ordinary outer-disciple waste of the Haoran Immortal Sect, and inexplicably traversed time and space to bring him to the Southern Song era as a treasure.

It draws upon the origin of heaven and earth; martial dao exists in this world.

Those secret manuals are the carriers of the origin. When he touches a secret manual, the origin on it is drawn away, and the various miraculous cultivation techniques recorded on it are also logged by the Vajra Bracelet, which then returns to the source and fills in the gaps.

It rearranges and combines those defective techniques to form new ones—just as Huang Shang, after browsing vast Daoist archives, was able to create the Nine Yin True Classic.

Except that the Vajra Bracelet's effect is stronger than Huang Shang's!

Of course, what Ye Qin cares about is the Vajra Bracelet's ability to traverse time and space. He could leave at any time himself, but what if he brought another person?

The Qingxuan Continent is a place extremely distant for Ye Qin; at least in this Southern Song time-space, he still feels somewhat familiar, but there it is completely foreign and unknown to him.

He is uncertain whether, if he confesses everything to Huang Rong, she would be willing to follow him away; he is also uncertain whether the Vajra Bracelet truly has the capacity to take a person with him; and even more uncertain is whether, after they leave, they would still have a chance to return here.

"But no matter what, I will try." Some things don't allow him to think too much; he hardly has any choice.

Inside the room, a woman dressed in pale goose-yellow palace attire sat before the dressing mirror, her expression somewhat dazed. She gazed at her reflection in the bronze mirror—skin like snow, delicately flawless, her exquisite features enough to topple countless people.

If this nation-toppling, city-overturning beauty were known to the outside world, surely someone would be willing to overthrow everything for it.

On her right ring finger she wore a gold ring—a token of affection Ye Qin gave her the night before Old Huang arrived at Lin'an Prefecture. She lightly stroked the ring, unable to keep from furrowing her brow: "Brother Qin, have you broken through to the Innate Realm yet? Our agreed-upon year is just a few days away—can he make it in time?"

If Ye Qin fails to show up, Old Huang will likely use this as an excuse to pick a fight.

"Dad is being overly heartless—Brother Qin has done so well, even when holding a high position he doesn't flirt around, and he treats me so well; how could he oppose us?" Huang Rong felt puzzled by her father Huang Yaoshi's behavior.

"Father hopes his daughter will marry into a good family, which is natural—but here I just can't understand it that way; it's truly baffling."

Perhaps her own father is just an oddball, his feeling about wanting a good home for his daughter unlike other fathers'.

Before she could think too much, a chilly breeze blew in, making her involuntarily shrink her shoulders, secretly thinking: "Winter hasn't even arrived—why do I feel a bit cold?"

Her clothes aren't warm enough; when the cool wind blew, she instinctively shivered, still wondering: "I don't know how Brother Qin is doing now—even if he hasn't broken through to the Innate Realm, he should come see me."

A year has more than four thousand double-hours, but each one feels agonizingly slow to her.

She very much wants to see Ye Qin, to talk heart-to-heart, even if just a sentence or two.

Suddenly, Huang Rong felt someone tightly embrace her from behind—a broad, warm chest and a familiar scent. She immediately turned around, "Brother Qin..."

Ye Qin finally arrived, he tightly embraced Huang Rong, took a deep breath, and comforted her: "Don't worry, I'm back."

He came as promised, not breaking the vow made a year ago.

"You finally came—I've been waiting for you so long." Huang Rong, voice choked with tears, cried out to Ye Qin: "Over the past year, I've missed you so much."

She had always hoped Ye Qin would come to Peach Blossom Island, even if he hadn't reached the Innate Realm.

"I miss you too." Ye Qin nodded slightly, speaking gently: "Besides, I have now broken through to the Innate Realm. I suppose Uncle won't oppose us being together anymore. Tomorrow I will propose to him!"

Gazing at the person who cares for him, Ye Qin's heart filled with satisfaction.

In life, aside from cultivating immortality and seeking the Dao for longevity, one should also have a companion.

Otherwise, even if one cultivates immortality and does not die, it would be merely dull and boring, and would instead lose the joy of life. (End of chapter)