Chapter 61

How could this be possible...

How old is this boy before me...

He actually cultivated the divine intent of a top-tier killing technique to the realm of perfection.

Even Song Tianhao, praised as the city's foremost Tongmai Realm master of the Jingtao Palm, is now shocked beyond measure.

The divine intent of a cultivation method is not achieved overnight; it requires a great deal of time to temper and refine.

I have trained in the Jingtao Palm for decades, confident that my understanding of divine intent far surpasses my peers, yet I never expected to lose today to a boy.

Does this not mean that if we were truly of the same realm, that strike just now would have severed my palm and left me gravely injured?

"Uncle, your palm technique is superb. Now, only one move remains!"

Qin Shuo shook his numb, trembling palm, smiling as he looked at Song Tianhao.

That palm strike just now was overwhelmingly powerful, making one feel as if facing a thousand-layered wave, with force stacking layer upon layer, utterly terrifying.

Had I not mastered the supreme killing move of the White Ape Tiangang Saber—Three Elements Returning to One, transforming force into blade—otherwise, unless I used the Burning Blood Secret Technique, I could not possibly have blocked it.

"No wonder you are one of the Four Great Families of the city; a casual palm forced me to use my ultimate technique just to defend. My martial foundation is still too weak." Qin Shuo sighed inwardly.

However, he did not overly belittle himself.

After all, it will not be long before he cultivates the Longxiang Golden Body to minor completion.

By then, he will be adept in both offense and defense, and among peers, few will be able to match him.

Moreover, he still holds the Longxiang Relic; once refined, obtaining its divine ability, Great Longxiang Force, even if facing a Tongmai Realm expert of higher cultivation, he will have a fighting chance.

"No need!"

Song Tianhao lowered his stance, waving his hand: "With your current strength, you are sufficient to replace Tian Bai and fight for our Song Family."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing that no fight was needed, Qin Shuo relaxed, smiling and clasping his hands: "Thank you, Uncle, for your favor."

"Do not thank me; on the contrary, I should be thanking you."

Song Tianhao shook his head, gesturing for both to enter the house.

Afterwards, he summoned a servant to pour tea for Qin Shuo and Song Yan, then continued:

"Having Tian Bai fight was merely a desperate measure, akin to inviting a wolf into the house, drinking poison to quench thirst.

Now, with Qin Xiaoxiong assisting, we can both suppress Tian Bai's breakthrough speed in the Tongmai Realm and ensure our chances of winning the Earth Cave contest; for me and Xiaoyan, this is the best outcome.

"When does the Earth Cave contest begin?"

Having gained recognition, Qin Shuo no longer hesitated and directly asked about the competition details.

"In three days."

Song Tianhao smiled: "In the coming days, you will rest and adjust your condition at the Song Mansion; if you need anything, tell me or Xiaoyan, and we will do our utmost to fulfill.

Especially your external body training—if you can advance further, this match will be a sure victory."

"Does the Song Mansion have a dedicated place for hard-body training?" Qin Shuo asked bluntly, stating his needs.

After arriving at the Song Family, his Longxiang Golden Body training had been put aside; now that the other party brought it up, he saw an opportunity to comply.

"Of course."

Song Tianhao laughed freely: "The Song Family's martial arts encompass all things—not just the Jingtao Palm, but also many hard-body techniques. Not only do we have a dedicated hard-body training ground, but also corresponding medicinal pools and pills to aid cultivation.

Naturally, these require Song Family disciples to exchange contribution points.

Since Qin Xiaoxiong is serving our Song Family this time, the stronger he is, the better; thus, you may freely use the training grounds and medicinal supplies, all recorded on my account.

"Thank you, Uncle." Qin Shuo beamed with joy.

Great Families are extravagant—medicinal pools and pills in martial halls are core resources, inaccessible to ordinary disciples.

Yet here, under Song Tianhao, they have become small favors handed out at will.

"By the way, Senior Sister, Uncle, I have a question I've long wanted to ask: how many people can the Yuan Magnetic Grotto accommodate in total? Why are the spots so limited?" Qin Shuo asked curiously.

According to his understanding, the Yuan Magnetic Grotto is like a gravity field; even if the space is small, it should accommodate over ten people without issue.

Why, upon hearing Song Yan and Song Tianhao's words, does it seem that if I occupy one spot, Tian Bai can no longer enter the grotto to train?

"Three."

Song Tianhao quickly answered his question and explained: "The Yuan Magnetic Grotto relies on a strange Yuan Magnetic Force to function.

This Yuan Magnetic Force is extremely limited; one release requires three years before it can be used again.

Moreover, this Yuan Magnetic Force is evenly distributed among living beings entering the grotto; exceeding three people causes the tempering effect to diminish greatly."

"I see." Qin Shuo nodded.

No wonder Tian Bai is so anxious, fearing Qin Shuo will deprive him of the chance to enter the grotto.

For the Song Family, power is currently held mainly by two factions: one led by Song Tianlin of the cadet branch, the other by Song Tianhao of the direct main line.

Both factions have young disciples who have achieved Inner Strength Great Perfection and await entry into the grotto for tempering; it is impossible to allocate the spot to Tian Bai.

Thus, Tian Bai's sole hope of entering the Yuan Magnetic Grotto rests upon Song Yan.

Song Yan is naturally frail, deficient in qi and blood, and cannot cultivate in the Yuan Magnetic Grotto.

As a nominal son-in-law of the Song Family, Tian Bai thus gained the opportunity to participate in the Earth Cave contest.

Qin Shuo's appearance made Tian Bai sense a crisis.

He feared Song Yan would bestow their faction's quota upon Qin Shuo, hence the display of strength at the foot of Dongling Temple.

After leaving Song Tianhao's courtyard, it was already noon.

After Qin Shuo and Song Yan had lunch together, they proceeded to the Song Family's training grounds.

The training grounds are very spacious, with all eighteen types of weapons—blades, spears, swords, halberds—arrayed around, plus plum blossom stakes and wooden dummies for pile gong and step technique training.

Although it is now midday rest, many household guards and martial instructors are still training on the grounds.

Seeing Song Yan and the two approach, a middle-aged man resembling an instructor smiled and came forward to greet them:

"Miss, why have you come? Do you need to select household guards?"

Upon hearing this, a group of martial artists practicing in the square had their eyes light up.

As martial artists of the Song Family estate, they all knew that Song Yan was the sole daughter of the former Family Head of the Song Family.

After her father's death, he left her an extremely substantial inheritance.

If one could become this Miss's guard, aside from anything else, medicinal pills and cultivation techniques would certainly not be lacking.

Moreover, it is said that she and her son-in-law have a poor relationship; if she takes a liking to someone, becoming a guest in her household……

Thinking of this, many martial artists felt their eyes grow hot, and began to exert themselves in displaying their skills—some showing off muscles, others showing off techniques—all hoping to attract Song Yan's attention.

However, from beginning to end, Song Yan did not glance at anyone, merely saying to the middle-aged martial artist responsible for training the household guards: "Arrange a training room suitable for practicing external hardening techniques for me—I need it today."

"Miss wants to practice external hardening techniques?" The middle-aged martial artist stared in astonishment.

"Not me, it's my junior martial brother."

Song Yan looked toward Qin Shuo and said gently: "Junior brother, tell Instructor Yang whatever requirements you have for the training room, and he will arrange it."

"I need a copper dummy post—the sturdier the better." Qin Shuo stated plainly.

"A copper dummy post? That is something only martial artists who have achieved success in external hardening would need……" The middle-aged martial artist surnamed Yang frowned.

Ordinary external hardening practitioners find an iron-wood post sufficient for tempering the flesh.

Unless one has achieved success in tempering the flesh and needs to go further, or has reached the Tongmai Realm, few martial artists use a copper dummy post.

This youth before us looks to be about seventeen or eighteen; no matter how you look at it, he does not appear to have achieved success in external hardening, let alone be a master of the Tongmai Realm.

The other party's request to use a copper dummy post is likely just like those household guards and estate martial artists—wanting to show off in front of the Miss.

"So it's just a pretty boy trying to climb the social ladder—hmph, I'd like to see if you really dare to train with a copper dummy post."

The middle-aged martial artist inwardly scoffed, but said aloud: "The third training room has a Dinghai copper dummy post, which was crafted at great expense by order of the former Family Head when he was young.

However, this post is covered in rivets all over, causing extreme damage to a martial artist's body—it cannot be used unless one has achieved success in tempering the flesh……"

"Is there no other copper dummy post?" Song Yan frowned.

She also had an impression of that Dinghai copper dummy post—it was made by her grandfather, extremely difficult to use, and aside from him, almost no one in the Song Family dares to use it; it has been gathering dust for years.

"The sixth training room has a copper dummy post, but that room is exclusively for the Fourth Young Master……" Yang Chuan glanced cautiously at Song Yan.

As an old hand who has spent many years in the Song Mansion, the tension between the main branch and the cadet branches is no secret.

And the Fourth Young Master, Song Shan, is precisely the mortal enemy of Song Yan's branch, being the eldest son of Song Tianlin.

"Senior sister, let's just use this Dinghai copper dummy post." At this moment, Qin Shuo spoke calmly.

Being able to prompt the former Family Head of the Song Family to spend lavishly on its creation, this Dinghai copper dummy post must be extraordinary—perfectly suited for his cultivation of the Longxiang Golden Body.

"Pretense! I'll let you keep pretending—later, you won't be able to cry even if you want to."

Yang Chuan muttered inwardly, but said obsequiously: "This young master is truly a heroic youth—that Dinghai copper dummy post, aside from the former Family Head, no one has been able to move it in recent years; it seems I am fortunate to witness this today, hehe."

"Lead the way!"

Song Yan raised her eyebrows, always feeling that Yang Chuan's words harbored ill intent, that he was heaping praise upon Qin Shuo to set him up for a fall.

But since he is a long-time instructor trained by the Song Family, and his words contain no obvious fault on the surface, she cannot rebuke him, so she can only follow along to see.

If that Dinghai post is unsuitable for Qin Shuo's junior brother, even if it risks offending Song Shan, she will find a suitable training room for her junior brother.

After all, in the Song Family, it is her branch that is the main line.

Even she does not have a dedicated training room—what right does Song Shan, a cadet branch member, have to one?