Chapter 73: [Gu Qingyi's Trump Card]

At one glance, Chen Yan immediately started groaning inwardly.

He actually knew this place — it was a wild lake in a hollow of Purple Gold Mountain. The locals loved coming here to splash around in summer — even though the authorities had warned them many times, and the wild lake's currents were treacherous with drownings happening year after year, some ignorant folk always insisted on courting death, insisting on swimming here.

The lake wasn't large — the water surface was only a few mu — but the surrounding terrain was open, and to circle around the lake and slip back into the woods would mean covering at least several hundred meters.

Chen Yan sped up his feet, running along the lakeshore, when he heard a roar behind him — that monster had also burst out of the woods.

Seeing the monster a hundred meters behind him, Chen Yan just kept running forward, thinking that if he could once again escape into the woods, he could repeat the same trick and shake this thing off.

But just at that moment, he suddenly heard the lake water churning — bang!

Spray flew in all directions, and a shadow leapt out of the lake, landing smack on the spot between Chen Yan and the woods ahead!

At one glance, Chen Yan sharply sucked in a breath of cold air!

Standing in front of him was — unmistakably — another monster!

In appearance, it was about seventy or eighty percent similar to the one behind him, but its build was a full size larger again!

If the monster he'd fought earlier was about the size of an ordinary person, then the one now blocking his path ahead was basically the equivalent of an O'Neal standing there.

Holy shit…

Chen Yan's vision went dark, and he cursed viciously in his heart.

I burned a Misfortune-Averting Talisman! By all rights my luck should be better!

The giant monster ahead roared at Chen Yan with its mouth open wide, its bloody maw full of crooked, jagged fangs — one glance and Chen Yan judged: a bite from those teeth would definitely not feel pleasant!

The monster behind him suddenly slowed its pace too, letting out a string of low growls. The giant monster raised its head, and beneath its mane of wild hair revealed a savage face, its features twisted — and looking as if they had been pieced together.

It lifted its head and roared repeatedly toward the spot behind Chen Yan…

Chen Yan's heart stirred… They were communicating.

He drew a deep breath and slowly set the girl he'd been carrying on his shoulder down onto the ground.

Sorry about this… I had originally intended to save your life.

Carrying a person didn't affect his use of the Escape Art or the Lightness Talisman anyway, so if he could save someone in passing, he would.

But now…

Chen Yan set the girl down.

When it didn't affect him much, Chen Yan didn't mind saving people. But when it came to endangering his own safety, Chen Yan wasn't that noble.

Once the two monsters had him surrounded, whether fighting or fleeing, there was no way Chen Yan could look after her.

He rapidly ran through every spell he knew in his mind.

Six Yang Righteous Qi Talisman — already proven to damage monsters — but he was out of them.

Fortune-Cutting Art — useless!

Misfortune-Averting Talisman — useless!

Decree · Escape Art — somewhat useful, can be used to dodge attacks or flee.

Decree · Immobilization Art — somewhat useful.

Decree · Shattering Art — useless, the monster clearly attacks physically.

The rest… seemed to be nothing either.

Chen Yan instantly realized one thing: sure enough, only real combat exposes your problems, only it lets you see yourself clearly!

After more than a month of cultivation, he seemed to have learned quite a lot, but the moment real combat came, a fatal problem emerged: he was severely lacking in offensive means.

Keeping calm in great matters had always been one of Chen Yan's greatest strengths. He was the kind of person who, the bigger the occasion, the more composed he could stay, the more resolute he could be.

Of course Chen Yan was afraid right now, but it didn't affect the workings of his mind. Even his trembling hands steadied, and thoughts flashed rapidly through his head…

His fingers pulled Gu Qingyi's talisman from his pocket; primordial Qi flowed from his fingertips, and the talisman paper swiftly turned into a golden flame and burned away…

Gu Xiaoniang, if you don't come now, my life won't be preserved!

·

Finally, the giant monster roared a few times at the smaller one, and the small monster actually retreated a few steps, shrinking back and cowering to one side.

The giant monster spread its claws and slowly walked toward Chen Yan.

Chen Yan's gaze hardened, and he drew a deep breath.

Decree · Escape Art!

He pushed his primordial Qi to the limit, and his body suddenly charged straight toward the giant monster!

One bound, ten meters!

The monster raised its head, eyes wide, watching Chen Yan, and roared as it spread its claws.

In the blink of an eye Chen Yan saw the monster already at him; he was mid-air and bellowed: "Decree · Immobilize!!"

The monster's body went rigid with a jerk, the claws swinging in mid-air suddenly stopping dead.

Chen Yan had already landed, right at the monster's flank, then drew another breath, continued channeling the Escape Art, and shot out past the monster's back!!

Man and monster brushed past each other!

Seeing he had already run past the giant monster, Chen Yan's heart leaped with joy!

The stratagem had worked!

The woods ahead weren't far, and Chen Yan rapidly calculated how many more steps it would take to slip into the trees…

Suddenly, a gust of wind came from behind. Sensing it, he didn't dare hesitate — his body flung itself sideways in a dive, rolled several times on the ground before stopping. Before he could get up, he saw a boulder land on the path he'd been running along.

And in the distance, the small monster, still holding two stones it had picked up at the lakeside, was roaring at him repeatedly!

Damn it! That's not fair! We agreed on physical brawling — how the hell are you using ranged attacks?!

As Chen Yan rolled on the ground and scrambled back up, the giant monster's body gave a shudder — the effect of the Immobilization Art had already worn off.

It let out a great roar, its body leapt into the air, and like some Titan ape, its two fists smashed down toward Chen Yan…

Chen Yan had no strength left to dodge. He rolled his eyes and cursed in his heart: Fuck!

Suddenly, a streak of Jin Guang shot from afar! Like a meteor, it slammed into the giant monster's side, instantly altering its momentum—boom—the monster was flung through the air and plunged headfirst into the nearby lake, churning up rolling waves…

Chen Yan widened his eyes and saw Gu Qingyi descending from the sky, standing beside him.

Gu Qingyi glanced down at Chen Yan: "Not bad. Can you get up on your own?"

"..." Chen Yan silently rose from the ground, spat out a mouthful of dirt: "You've been watching me the whole time, waiting until I was about to die before stepping in, didn't you?"

"You guessed right." Gu Qingyi nodded. "How else would you get trained?"

Chen Yan rolled his eyes.

Gu Xiaoniang, don't force me to curse! Filial piety forbids a son from cursing his mother!

Gu Qingyi seemed to sense Chen Yan's silent resentment, merely gave a faint cold laugh, then slowly walked toward the lake.

The little monster roared repeatedly at Gu Qingyi, baring its teeth, yet clearly trembled with fear.

Gu Qingyi's small frame advanced step by step; the monster retreated with each step.

After retreating a few paces, it suddenly let out a roar, turned, and fled.

Gu Qingyi lowered her eyelids, halted, then slowly extended her right hand into a fist—only her index finger slowly extended outward.

From her lips came a cold, clear single word: "Wu..."

As soon as the word left her mouth, primordial energy surged violently!

The girl's cold, clear voice slowly spoke each character:

"... Xiang..."

"... Po..."

"... Jie..."

The monster had reached the forest's edge—just one more step and it would vanish into the trees.

Gu Qingyi's crisp voice uttered the final character:

"... Zhan!"

Chen Yan felt the monster at the forest's edge shudder.

No Jin Guang, no dazzling light or sound—the monster twisted, then silently split into seventeen or eighteen pieces.

Soon, black mist swirled across the ground; the shattered remains dissolved into ash within the dark vapor...

Chen Yan stared, eyes gleaming.

Holy shit, that move...

Kinda cool!

·

"What was the name of that move you just used? Wu Xiang Po... what?"

Gu Qingyi clasped her hands behind her back, calmly looking at Chen Yan: "Wu Xiang Po Jie Zhan."

After a pause, she added slowly: "It locks onto the enemy's qi signature, then uses your own cultivation to summon primordial energy from heaven and earth to strike them down."

Chen Yan's heart stirred even more.

But Gu Qingyi spoke slowly: "This technique can be used against a single target—or multiple."

Multiple targets?

Chen Yan couldn't help but imagine a scene.

Facing a sea of thousands of enemy soldiers... Gu Qingyi standing alone atop a city wall, calm as wind and clouds, extending just one finger.

One Wu Xiang Po Jie Zhan... and thousands of soldiers turned to ash...

"Is this your ultimate technique?"

"Mm. Sort of." Gu Qingyi nodded.

Chen Yan frowned: "With your realm, you shouldn't need to use your ultimate technique against a monster like this."

Gu Qingyi narrowed her eyes at Chen Yan: "I used it deliberately—for you. You've grown increasingly disrespectful lately. I need you to recognize the gap in our strength."

Chen Yan tugged at his mouth, walking over to Gu Qingyi's side: "What about the one in the lake? Is it still alive?"

Gu Qingyi snorted, tilting her head toward the lake.

Chen Yan looked—and only now did the lake's surface calm. A massive monster's body slowly floated up, riddled with holes, wisps of black qi seeping out.

"It's not dead yet. I'm leaving it to you to kill." Gu Qingyi watched Chen Yan silently.

Chen Yan raised an eyebrow.

Me?

He wasn't afraid—but he had no real killing techniques.

Gu Qingyi stepped behind Chen Yan and gently placed her small hand on his right shoulder.

"I'll teach you a simple offensive technique now—also powered by primordial energy. Pay close attention."

As she spoke, Chen Yan felt primordial energy surge into his body!

The energy was gentle yet profound; entering his body, it flowed from his right shoulder along a specific path, gathering steadily at his fingertip.

"This technique is called Finger Sword. It concentrates primordial energy into a single point to pierce your enemy. The damage depends entirely on how well you control your qi."

Having finished speaking, Gu Qingyi withdrew her hand, stepped back, and stood still, watching Chen Yan.

Chen Yan narrowed his eyes, recalling twice the path the energy had taken through his body.

Slowly, he raised his right hand, extending his index and middle fingers into a sword gesture, pointing at the lake...

A few seconds later... a silent streak of primordial energy shot out!

It pierced straight through the giant monster floating in the lake!

The monster shuddered twice, then fell still. Its body began to melt, more and more black qi spewing out and dissipating, its form slowly dissolving into the lake water...

Gu Qingyi stood behind Chen Yan, staring at his back with astonishment.

He…

Already mastered it?!

Indeed… no wonder he's that man's son.

·

Chen Yan turned around, face bright with delight: "How was that? Did I use the move correctly?"

Gu Qingyi's expression stiffened; he turned his head aside and said coolly, "It's… alright."

Chen Yan didn't notice anything odd; he thought for a moment, then asked, "Before we came, you said we had to collect the evil spirits' dark qi and yin energy after killing these monsters? That it helps my cultivation?"

"Mm."

Gu Qingyi shook off his thoughts and focused again, then reached into the collar beneath his neck and pulled out something.

Chen Yan looked — it was a jade gourd, no larger than a thumb.

This object must have been worn close to Gu Qingyi's body all along; Chen Yan had never seen it before.

Gu Qingyi held the gourd in his hand, raised it high — instantly, the thick black mist hanging in the air was sucked into the jade gourd.

Gu Qingyi glanced at Chen Yan; his eyes held something new, something not there before: "When we return, I'll teach you how to use this yin-sha energy to forge your nascent soul."

Gu Qingyi glanced at the unconscious girl on the ground, walked over, lifted her up, examined her closely to confirm she hadn't awakened, then gently blew a breath onto her face.

"Hm? You're…"

"Just a trivial mind-distorting spell — used to avoid giving you trouble," Gu Qingyi shook his head. "She'll wake up on her own in a few minutes. Come on, let's go home…"

As he spoke, Chen Yan felt a cold, slippery little hand shoved into his palm; his face changed, and he barely managed to say, "Wait—"

A violent wind surged, carrying Chen Yan's cry of alarm — Gu Qingyi had already whisked him away at breakneck speed…

·

By the lakeside, the silent forest seemed to have stilled even the wind.

Slowly, a foot stepped across the grassy ground of the forest. A simple, thin training robe, though inadequate for the cold night, appeared utterly unfazed by the chill.

The old man glanced far off, then at the lake mere steps away, and sighed.

"Youngsters are always impulsive… someone's got to clean up after them."

With that, the old man sneered, pointed a finger at the lake's surface: "Come out — no more hiding!"

·