Chapter 122

Ouyang Feng's eyes flashed with a fierce light, and his left hand involuntarily brushed the head of the spirit snake staff, saying coldly:

"If I were to meet that woman, I would personally take her head, and present it as a founding tribute to your sect on the eighth day of the eighth month next year!"

He spoke while sensing the aura within Niu Dingtian opposite him; after a long while, he felt only a faint, indistinct sensation.

Ouyang Feng's keen eyes inevitably grew solemn: If this youth is not eliminated, he will become a major obstacle to my quest to dominate the Central Plains! As the thought surfaced, a few warm tones appeared on his face, and he declared loudly, "Lord Niu, you are a distant guest, and the night is already late; rest well for the night, and tomorrow I will give you a proper welcome."

After some deliberation, he still decided not to act, confident in the venom of the treasure within the snake staff, yet uncertain of the opponent's strength; if a single strike...

As for the two yellow‑haired girls beside him, their auras were somewhat unstable, clearly both novices to the sect, and he paid them no mind.

Niu Dingtian laughed heartily, "Mr. Ouyang, I have already expressed my gratitude for your intention! When I go to Xiangyang next year, I will host you properly."

He spoke while extending his thoughts, sensing the movement within the opponent's iron staff, and sneered inwardly: "As for how I will host you then, it depends on your own attitude, old fool!" Thus, the two, meeting for the first time, engaged in a rather "friendly" exchange within the courtyard.

Whether tomorrow would be better or bring life and death, Ouyang Feng continued to weigh it in his mind, while Niu Dingtian seemed indifferent.

He knew that the spirit snake staff concealed two uniquely poisonous small snakes; the old venomous creature had just reached out to touch them, likely stirring a desire to act.

But before absolute power, a toad remains a toad, and a poisonous snake is no different from a spicy snack.

Not to mention that he has now fully mastered the Nine Yang Divine Skill, is immune to all poisons, and even the divine effect of spirit spring water renders any deadly toxin ineffective against him.

Otherwise, he would not have felt comfortable bringing Miss Huang and Han Xiao Ying into this poisonous den.

Niu Dingtian and Ouyang Feng continued their conversation, while the others remained silent.

Miss Huang's gaze kept appraising Ouyang Feng; she constantly felt that the old man opposite harbored no good intentions.

Han Xiao Ying suddenly stared at the snake staff, curious.

Ouyang Ke, with a face full of resentment, wanted his father—no, his uncle—to avenge him, but Ouyang Feng simply halted him with a cold stare.

Seeing that Ouyang Feng no longer intended to act, Niu Dingtian gradually lost his desire to pull the trigger, and bowed with a smile, "Mr. Ouyang, you should rest early; tomorrow we will have a proper exchange again."

He then gave Ouyang Ke a friendly smile, and led the two women, along with the old turtle, following the manor's servants to the guest rooms.

"Uncle! Why didn't you act just now?" After the others left, Ouyang Ke began to complain discontentedly, "No matter how formidable the Niu family's martial arts are, how much can they surpass yours? If we employ more tactics, can we drive him out of Kunlun Mountain? As for those two hair‑girls, hehe~ my nephew alone can handle them!"

When mentioning Miss Huang and Han Xiao Ying, a lecherous gleam began to flash in Ouyang Ke's eyes.

Initially, after being battered by Niu Dingtian to near death, he dared not even glance at the two; now that his own father backs him, thoughts naturally began to form.

"Hum—" Ouyang Feng snorted coldly, his vigorous face tinged with frustrated anger: "Just because of you? Let me tell you! Those two little girls could kill you with a single hand!"

"Before you left, I told you to avoid women; look at yourself! Uncle has only been away a few days, and you're already emaciated like this?"

Thinking of Niu Dingtian's age, his strength, and then looking at this ungrateful son before him, Ouyang Feng slowly closed his eyes.

He suddenly felt a pang of guilt toward his deceased sister‑in‑law; after so many years of pampering, he hadn't realized he was spoiling their own son to the point of ruin.

Seeing his uncle angry, Ouyang Ke dared not speak again, merely standing aside with his thoughts elsewhere, unknown what scheme he was plotting.

After a while, Ouyang Feng slowly opened his eyes and said gravely, "How is Uncle's teaching of the Six Yang Divine Skill progressing? Did you slack off while I was away?"

"Six Yang Divine Skill?" Ouyang Ke's expression froze.

He was about to forget it entirely.

Just as he was about to feign a dismissal, Ouyang Feng let out a cold snort and walked away: "This scoundrel is trying to fool my father again!" After a few steps, his foot suddenly halted; after a brief silence, he said calmly, "Come with me to the room; Uncle has something to tell you."

After all, he's his own kin; with a great enemy looming, it's time to tell him certain matters.

Meanwhile,

Guest rooms of the White Camel Mountain Villa.

Niu Dingtian and the other two had just entered the room when Miss Huang snorted, "Father was right; that old venomous creature is indeed no good! He just now tried to strike Brother Niu, and I saw it clearly!"

"In Ouyang Feng's iron staff, it seems... seems something is moving," Han Xiao Ying mused suddenly.

"Oh?" Niu Dingtian was slightly surprised, "Sister Xiao Ying, can you sense it? How many?"

He hadn't expected Han Xiao Ying could sense it, but after recalling the divine effect of spirit spring water, he felt somewhat relieved.

Such a divine artifact, born of heaven and earth's creation, can purify the spirit and enhance perception without issue.

"Is there really something?" Han Xiao Ying asked in surprise.

She had only felt a faint sensation earlier; as for whether there truly was something inside, she herself was uncertain.

Seeing Miss Huang also look on with surprise, Niu Dingtian smiled, "The iron staff hides two small snakes; though tiny, they are extremely venomous, bred by that old venomous creature over a decade by cross‑breeding the most poisonous snakes."

Han Xiao Ying was enlightened, Miss Huang's eyes flashed with astonishment,

Niu Dingtian continued, "My dealings with Ouyang Feng have been merely superficial; that old fellow is the same—he probably wishes to kill me instantly, and I might end up dealing with him directly someday."

After a moment's thought, he solemnly advised, "Ouyang Feng is not only masterful in Toad Skill, his poison‑using technique is also beyond ordinary people; if you ever encounter him again, you must be cautious."

Originally, in his view, both had taken spirit spring water, so they should not fear any toxins.

However, a sect master at his pinnacle is still a pinnacle, especially one who has been immersed in this realm for years; dealing with a novice just entering the sect would still be a breeze.

In the time that followed,

Han Xiao Ying and Miss Huang also stayed; under Niu Dingtian's guidance, the two began seated meditation and breath regulation in the room.

Now both subtly understand some martial secrets, and in their training they are no longer as lazy and careless as before.

In the end, it is that their hearts have begun to worry about the future.

After personally witnessing Niu Dingtian's mystery, they grew fearful of the distance between them, fearing it will widen in the future; this is most evident in Miss Huang.

As their internal qi continuously circulated, both immersed themselves in cultivation, while Niu Dingtian also began studying the techniques of the Nine Yin Classic.

The Nine Yin Classic not only contains Daoist principles but also encompasses a myriad of martial techniques.

Although it no longer aids his cultivation level, it serves as an extremely valuable reference for his own creation of methods and techniques.

While the three were immersed in cultivation, the White Camel Mountain Villa,

in a secret chamber,

Here is where Ouyang Feng habitually secludes himself to train; the entrance lies beneath his bedboard.

This secret, even his son Ouyang Ke, did not know.

"Uncle, this is..." Ouyang Ke's face was full of surprise.

Never did he expect that in the mountain villa where he had lived for nearly thirty years, there was such a secret place he knew nothing about.

"This is the place where your uncle retreats to practice his martial arts, and also a secret passage leading out of the manor. Ke'er, you must never reveal this to anyone!" Ouyang Ke said solemnly.

This is the most concealed of his three hiding places. It's a matter of great importance, and he worries a bit that this brat won't take this place to heart.

After meeting Niu Dingtian today, he began to feel an unprecedented pressure, a feeling he had never experienced even when facing Wang Chongyang.

He even had a faint, uneasy premonition, and now it was time to pass on his greatest secret to his son.

He then bent down, opened a hidden compartment in the corner of the wall, took out a book, and handed it to Ouyang Ke.

"Six Yang Divine Art?" Ouyang Ke's eyes narrowed slightly; this was the second time tonight he had heard that name.

In the past, whenever his uncle taught him this martial art, he only gave oral instructions, never producing the complete manual, and he himself had never taken this martial art to heart.

Could it be some unparalleled divine art? Thinking of how that Niu fellow seemed to pay special attention to this martial art tonight, Ouyang Ke couldn't help but start to wonder, and then he glanced guiltily at his uncle.

He didn't dare tell his uncle that he had already sold him out.

"Exactly, it's the Six Yang Divine Art." Ouyang Feng sighed.

At this moment, his face rarely showed a hint of regret as he said: "Uncle, you once told me that I was born with five pulses, which are incompatible with the Six Yang, making it difficult for me to cultivate this martial art."

"But there's one thing I haven't told you: Ke'er, you were born with an extra reverse meridian, which together with your five pulses forms the rare six-pulse anomaly, making you the ideal candidate for cultivating the Six Yang Divine Art."

As he spoke, he turned his gaze to his son's pale face, feeling somewhat heartbroken.

He never expected that in such a short time this brat would indulge in excess to this extent, and then he sighed: "I have earnestly advised you over the years to practice this martial art properly, yet I never even passed on your uncle's proudest Toad Skill, and I never imagined you would have neglected it all these years."

Under Ouyang Feng's gaze, Ouyang Ke's eyes darted away, but then a flicker of hatred flashed through.

If not mentioned, it would be fine, but bringing it up reminds him of how Niu Dingtian frightened him tonight, and it seems his lower body still hasn't shown the slightest response.

Seeing his son's eyes suddenly turn ruthless and lose their frivolity, Ouyang Feng felt a slight relief and continued: "This was the manual that your great-grandfather and great-grandmother,

"which they stole at the risk of their lives from the Spirit Vulture Palace on the Misty Peak of the Tian Shan; as for its origin, it is said to be deeply connected to a secret sect."

"After obtaining this martial art, your great-grandfather feared that the secret sect would track him down, so he brought your great-grandmother from the Sea of Stars to Kunlun Mountain and established the White Camel Mountain Villa."

"Later, after expending great manpower and resources over many years, they managed to carve out this vast, concealed secret chamber."

As he spoke, Ouyang Feng pondered something, his eyes grew complex, he glanced at Ouyang Ke and said softly: "Your father once told me on his deathbed that this is a top-secret, supreme internal cultivation method; it is said that after mastering it, one's internal energy becomes unparalleled, and it can wash the tendons and purify the marrow, rapidly restore the body, making it a divine art even superior to the Nine Yin Classic."

Actually,

he still had some secret fortune he had not revealed.

Because this martial art involves great stakes, it has been passed down in a single line since his great-grandfather.

After it was passed to his father's hands, the choice of the next generation's heir presented him and his elder brother as the two options.

Finally, unable to resist the twin temptations of his sister-in-law and the divine art, he used some special means to eliminate his elder brother, and only then did the martial art pass into his hands.

His sister-in-law, too, after discovering the truth, chose to follow his elder brother away.

But fate played a trick: only after obtaining the manual did he discover that he was actually born unable to cultivate this divine art.

After his lifelong schemes collapsed, he began to turn ruthless and cruel, merciless and heartless.

In despair, he painstakingly developed his own Toad Skill while vying for the Nine Yin Classic at the Martial Arts Summit.

After Ouyang Feng finished speaking, the secret chamber fell into silence.

He himself was immersed in guilt and longing for his sister-in-law, while Ouyang Ke was immersed in the joyful hope of revenge and the prospect of a beautiful woman.

After a long while, Ouyang Feng stroked the two little creatures coiled on his staff tip, sighed helplessly, and said: "Today it's not that I, as your uncle, am unwilling to avenge you; it's simply that the aura on that person is too unfathomable, and I fear that if I strike, both you and I, uncle and nephew, might end up defeated by him."

"Uncle, you're not his match?" Ouyang Ke's face slightly changed color.

Ouyang Feng did not answer, merely slowly recalling the feeling he had when he just faced Niu Dingtian; the more he recalled that feeling, the heavier his expression became, and finally he spoke in a low voice:

"Uncle originally planned to tell you this secret only a few years later, but tonight I saw Niu Dingtian's reaction, and it seems he already knows that I have been scheming behind his back to harm him."

"That little bastard is the type who must repay even the slightest grudge; even if today we merely go through the motions with him, he will surely not let me off easily in the future."

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Ke's beautiful dreams gradually faded; he nodded somewhat glumly, and at this moment he rarely stopped thinking about women, realizing that even his uncle's reputation was no use.

After steadying himself, he slowly opened the manual in his hand, only to see on its yellowed first page twenty large seal-script characters: "Carefree Martial Arts, Six Yang as the root, earthly qi as yin, heavenly qi as yang, hence the name Yin-Yang."

(End of Chapter)