Chapter 60: Testing the Waters!

Song Tianhao looked refined, but when he moved, he acted with swift decisiveness.

As soon as Qin Shuo finished speaking, he struck with a palm toward Qin Shuo's face.

He used only one-tenth of his strength for this palm strike.

With his strength at the Tongmai Peak, one-tenth of his power was enough to overwhelm the vast majority of martial artists at Inner Strength Great Perfection.

Thus, though this palm strike appeared fierce, he had already prepared to withdraw it at any moment.

After all, Qin Shuo was Song Yan's junior disciple; as an elder, although he was merely testing his strength, if he truly injured him, it would reflect poorly if word got out.

Bang!

Fist and palm collided, the sound like thunder.

A tremendous force surged from the palm.

Song Tianhao felt as if he had been struck by a wild ox; caught off guard, he could only withdraw his hand and release his force, his body retreating half a step involuntarily.

"What formidable physical strength!"

He couldn't help but exclaim, his eyes showing an expression of disbelief.

From the collision just now, he could clearly sense that Qin Shuo's inner strength had not yet reached the stage of solidifying into qi.

But his physical strength was extraordinarily formidable; the force he unleashed was at least twice that of an ordinary martial artist.

"Junior Brother Qin, could you also be practicing external body-tempering methods?" Song Tianhao asked in surprise.

"I've dabbled a little." Qin Shuo did not conceal it.

Since he intended to represent the Song Family in competition and earn a spot to enter the Yuan Magnetic Grotto, it was naturally impossible for him to hide his abilities now.

Moreover, Song Yan was aware of his training in external techniques; hiding it would be pointless.

"Junior Brother, you're being too modest. Given your current physical strength, you're at least at the Minor Accomplishment of body tempering; even among the younger generation in the prefectural capital, you'd be considered quite capable. I just don't know what kind of body-tempering method you practice?"

"Perhaps my Song Family has a suitable body-tempering elixir for you, which could aid your physical cultivation and help you advance further."

It must be said, as the Head of the Song Family, Song Tianhao not only possesses keen insight but also conducts himself with seasoned prudence.

Only just now discovering Qin Shuo's impressive physical prowess, in the next second he had already prepared to invest in Qin Shuo and win over his allegiance.

Song Yan beside him was also greatly surprised.

This uncle of his, who has long held a high position and whose judgment is notoriously strict, unexpectedly took a liking to Qin Shuo after just one exchange, expressing interest in investing in his martial path—truly astonishing.

But this is a good thing.

If Qin Shuo truly gains his uncle's favor, with the Song Family's support, his martial path will undoubtedly proceed much more smoothly.

Needless to say, as one of the Four Great Families of the prefectural capital, the Song Family truly lacks nothing in exotic beast meat and elixirs—more than enough to sustain Qin Shuo's cultivation up to the Tongmai Realm and beyond.

"Longxiang Suppressing Prison Technique!"

Qin Shuo hesitated not, directly speaking the name he had long prepared.

The reason he did not utter the true name of Longxiang Golden Body was mainly his fear that people might associate it with the Arhat Golden Body of Dalong Temple, drawing the attention of Yunzhou's foremost sect.

His current strength is too weak; if it became known that he possessed Yunzhou's foremost sect's golden body external technique, he would inevitably invite covetousness.

He might even draw the monks of Dalong Temple, demanding he return the technique, or regard him as a petty thief who stole the sect's secret art, and beat him to death with sticks.

Therefore, he could only casually utter a false name to bluff his way through.

"Longxiang Suppressing Prison Technique? What an imposing name." Song Tianhao exclaimed in surprise.

He truly had never heard of such a technique in the martial world.

However, he thought its rank probably wasn't too high; otherwise, it wouldn't have ended up in Qin Shuo's hands, so he didn't dwell on it and shifted the topic:

"I observe this method should be both internal and external cultivation; once this matter is settled, I will send someone to deliver you a Body Tempering Pill, which should aid your physical cultivation."

"Thank you, Uncle!" Qin Shuo sincerely expressed his gratitude.

Body Tempering Pill—he had seen it in the Wind and Thunder Pavilion, priced at one hundred taels of silver per pill; not a top-tier elixir, but remarkably effective for external martial artists.

Qin Shuo himself had bought one, wanting to test its effect.

Unexpectedly, this Head of the Song Family would be so generous—upon opening his mouth, he offered him a Body Tempering Pill worth one hundred taels of silver.

"Merely a few pills, not worth mentioning." Song Tianhao waved his hand.

Given his wealth, a Body Tempering Pill naturally amounted to nothing, but Qin Shuo's attitude pleased him greatly.

Even if not for Song Yan's sake, he had intentions to win over this youth.

If he could recruit him into the Song Family, perhaps later he might gain another Tongmai Realm Protector to serve the family.

Thinking this, Song Tianhao lowered his stance and smiled lightly:

"At your age, possessing such internal and external cultivation strength is already quite remarkable. However, to surpass Fang Lin, who has transformed inner strength into qi, you still have some gap.

How about this? I will take you as a Protector of the Song Family, with no specific duties, a monthly stipend of eighty taels of silver—are you willing?"

"Uncle, there are still two moves left."

Qin Shuo shook his head; though he did not directly answer, his refusal was already clear.

His goal is to enter the Yuan Magnetic Grotto, not to become a Protector of the Song Family, so despite the generous offer, he will not accept it.

Back when he and Qin Lan were so poor they could only eat bran and bitter greens, he never thought of selling himself into servitude.

Now that he has already achieved Inner Strength Great Perfection and can support himself, why would he become a mere guard for eighty taels of silver a month?

The title of Protector sounds exalted, but in reality, it is merely a higher-status household servant.

"If so, then be careful next—I will not hold back."

Song Tianhao raised his eyebrows; though he felt some regret inwardly, he still intended to fulfill the three-move agreement as agreed.

"Please!"

Qin Shuo's face remained calm, showing no emotional fluctuation from refusing Song Tianhao.

This made Song Tianhao look at him with renewed admiration.

Young in age, yet able to face superiors without servility or arrogance.

This kind of character and temperament truly surpasses Tian Bai, Fang Lin, and their ilk by a great margin—no wonder his own niece holds him in such high regard and pays him such close attention.

But approval is one thing; Song Tianhao's subsequent strike showed no restraint whatsoever, directly employing twenty percent of his strength and attacking Qin Shuo.

The contest at the Yuan Magnetic Grotto admits of no loss; even if he holds Qin Shuo in high esteem, he cannot possibly hold back in such a matter.

Twenty percent of the strength of a Tongmai Peak cultivator cannot possibly be withstood even by a martial artist who has achieved Inner Strength Great Perfection through the transformation of Inner Strength into Qi.

Unless the opponent possesses superior martial arts and has cultivated them to the stage of Three Origins Merging into One, defeat is certain.

The reason Fang Lin of the Fang Family is so strong, able to overwhelm the younger generation of the Song Family single-handedly, is because he has not only transformed Inner Strength into Qi but has also trained the Fang Family's Hanshan Fist to the state of Immovable as a Mountain.

This is a superior martial art ranked among the best in Songyang Prefecture City, dynamic as a collapsing mountain, static as a towering peak, and not inferior to the Song Family's Jingtao Palm in the slightest.

Boom!

Song Tianhao struck out with his palm, and Qin Shuo only felt a towering wave rolling toward him, layer upon layer, as if the Jingtao Palm were crashing against the shore.

"Palm technique Divine Intent, Jingtao Thousand Heavy Waves!"

Song Yan, watching from the side, changed expression, her eyes showing worry.

Jingtao Thousand Heavy Waves is one of the top three techniques in the Song Family's Jingtao Nine Styles in terms of power.

In the past, Song Tianhao relied on this palm to repulse his paternal uncle Song Tianlin of the collateral branch and successfully seize the position of Family Head.

Now, Song Tianhao's use of this technique against Qin Shuo clearly indicates he is serious, its power having more than doubled compared to the first strike.

Faced with such an overbearing and domineering palm, Qin Shuo remained unchanged in expression.

Only seen, he made his palm into a blade, his body moving like a divine ape dancing.

In an instant, Song Yan seemed to see thirty-five white apes simultaneously waving blades, then instantly merging into one, bringing down a chop upon Song Tianhao's palm in midair.

Upon the edge of his palm, a thread of cold light suddenly appeared, like the divine blade that cleaved heaven, sharp beyond compare.

"White Ape Splits the Mountain, strength transformed into light?"

Song Yan widened her eyes, her face full of disbelief.

As an Instructor of the Liuhe Martial Arts Hall, although she primarily cultivates the Songfeng Baihe Sword, she has also dabbled in the White Ape Tiangang Saber, and naturally knows the terror and difficulty of its final killing move, White Ape Splits the Mountain.

According to her knowledge, in the entire Liuhe Martial Arts Hall, aside from her master and senior martial brother, no one has yet mastered this technique.

Not even the most talented third senior martial brother, Zhan Bai, has today comprehended more than half of the divine intent of the first thirty-five forms of the White Ape Tiangang Saber.

How long has this Qin Shuo been studying...

Less than three months... and he has already mastered this killing move, comparable to a superior martial art.

Even Song Yan, accustomed to seeing heaven's pride like clouds in the prefecture city, now finds herself somewhat doubting life.

Equally shocked is Song Tianhao.

Although he does not know how long Qin Shuo has trained, the fact that he can display a superior killing move of Three Origins Merging into One at this age already indicates this child's extraordinariness.

Bang!

Like a heavenly blade cleaving a great wave!

Qin Shuo's palm edge collided with Song Tianhao's palm, producing a dull impact sound.

In a daze, Song Yan seemed to see a heavenly blade cleave the great wave, the sea's surging waters parting to both sides, revealing a dry riverbed.

This is the collision of divine intents of two martial arts!

Clearly, Qin Shuo's White Ape Splits the Mountain has the edge in divine intent!

Immediately afterward, she saw the two figures retreat with successive thuds, the blue stones in the courtyard cracking under their feet.

And her second uncle's palm actually bore a thin, long red mark.

Though no blood was drawn, it was extremely conspicuous and eye-catching.

This move appeared to be an even split!

In reality, it was actually her second uncle who suffered a not insignificant hidden loss.