Skillful Crossing of Yin and Yang!

Double Separation Hand!

Two Dragons Playing with the Pearl!

...

In the vast Martial Arts Arena, Zhu Ju shifted his feet, swung his arms, and varied his palm techniques, practicing his family’s inherited martial art—the Mixed Element Iron Hand—move by move.

His movements were incredibly slow, with almost no force behind them. He looked like an old man doing fitness exercises.

Not far away, Hex Yufu, who was preparing seasonal fruits, looked on with a puzzled expression.

’Is such a Palm Technique really useful?’

But if an expert had been present, they would have noticed something different—the precision of his moves.

Most Martial Skills emphasize three things: speed, precision, and ruthlessness.

But a true master must understand the principles of making the heavy seem light and using slowness to defeat speed.

This was not easy to do. After all, without immense control, slowing down would cause almost anyone’s movements to become distorted and unstable.

A swift sword thrust can trace a straight line in an instant.

But try to execute a slow, steady thrust over the same distance for the duration of a dozen breaths, and the sword tip would inevitably wobble. The principle was the same.

And yet, while Zhu Ju’s movements were slow and powerless, the precision of his forms was appalling.

This was, of course, a gift he had received after achieving Sensing Ancestral Acupoint.

Sensing Ancestral Acupoint made one’s five senses and six perceptions exceptionally keen. Only with such sharp awareness could one precisely control every ounce of strength in their Physical Body.

Iron Tree Silver Flower!

Ten Thousand Blades Return to One!

...

Even the three great Killing Moves of the Mixed Element Iron Hand, with their supremely complex forms, he could now execute with perfect stability.

"Hmph!"

His movements faltered for a moment, and Zhu Ju frowned.

’The final form, Mixed Element Without Extremity, is still lacking. I haven’t reached the Micro Realm.’

’However...’

’I am, however, starting to understand what Ye Chongshan meant by the Martial Arts Realm.’

The core Killing Moves of a top-tier Martial Skill often contain the true essence of that Martial Art—in other words, its Mental Realm.

To truly comprehend this essence is to master the Mental Realm.

Similarly, every movement and every subtle technique for channeling energy guides the Cultivator toward comprehending the Mental Realm embedded within.

Therefore, by mastering the forms down to the micro level, one naturally comes to understand the essence of the Cultivation Technique.

’Elder Ye truly didn’t lie!’

’The Martial Arts Realm of the Mixed Element Iron Hand must be one of unyielding will, defying both heaven and earth. What kind of injustice must the elder who created this Palm Technique have suffered to comprehend such a resolute Mental Realm and successfully integrate it into his art?’

WHOOSH...

Letting out a long, turbid breath, Zhu Ju slowly drew his practice to a close.

Though his movements seemed slow, they were incredibly draining. After practicing the Palm Technique just once, his forehead was beaded with sweat, and a deep fatigue was visible in his eyes.

Seeing this, Hex Yufu hurried forward with a towel to wipe the sweat from his brow, her expression a little strange.

’To get this tired from such slow, powerless movements... just how weak is his body?’

"Young Master."

Composing herself, she spoke in a crisp voice.

"Le Shan came looking for me yesterday. He said the situation in town has been chaotic lately. Black Tiger Wu Chun is hiding in the shadows, killing for revenge, and he’s preparing to move, just in case."

"Move?" Zhu Ju sat down, took a bite of the pastry she offered him, and asked casually.

"Where to?"

"The Leng Mansion," Hex Yufu said.

"Le Shan, Leng Xing, and Wan Jing have become sworn brothers. It won’t be just Le Shan moving to the Leng Mansion; the others are bringing their families, too."

"Leng Xing is the Patriarch of the Leng Family now. The Leng Mansion has plenty of space and not many people, so it’s no trouble to house a few more families. Le Shan asked if I wanted to go, too."

"Young Master..."

"Should we move near the Leng Mansion as well? There’s safety in numbers, after all."

"Hmm?" Zhu Ju frowned.

"Black Tiger Wu Chun may be strong, but he’s just one man. Besides, the households in the city have already organized patrol guards who are on duty day and night. The Prefecture City will be sending experts soon. There’s no need for Hex Leshan and the others to be so anxious."

"Yes," Hex Yufu nodded.

"I also think Le Shan is overreacting, but he’s always been a cautious person. When he asked me, his expression was so grave, it seemed like the situation was extremely serious."

"Is that so?" Zhu Ju stroked his chin.

’This is the downside of being a loner. My information isn’t up-to-date, so I’m left in the dark even when things are changing right under my nose.’

’But...’

’...with my current Cultivation and strength, I don’t really need to worry so much.’

"The situation is unclear. We’re not moving for now."

With a wave of his hand, Zhu Ju walked back to the Martial Arts Arena.

"If you feel unsafe, you can go find Hex Leshan. You can even take some time off. Decide for yourself. I have to continue practicing my Martial Arts."

"If Young Master isn’t leaving, I’m not leaving either," Hex Yufu said with a light laugh. She genuinely thought her brother, Hex Leshan, was making a big deal out of nothing.

WHOOSH...

A fierce wind stirred in the arena. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Zhu Ju began practicing his Fist Technique again. This time, however, he wasn’t training for microscopic precision but was instead Refining Evil.

The Evil Qi from the Demon Beast Flesh had been made extremely faint through medicinal refinement, but a residue still remained. This Evil Qi could be stored in the Physical Body and integrated into the skin and membranes.

The Mixed Element Iron Hand included a method for Refining Evil into one’s palms.

If he could channel the Evil Qi into his Palm Technique, its power would increase another level.

’Cultivating Inner Power and Martial Skills, comprehending the Mental Realm, then attempting to achieve Illuminating Profound Light and practice Magic, and then continuing to explore the Otherworld... I’m a very busy man.’

*

*

*

「In a remote courtyard of the Zhou Mansion.」

Zhou Huaijing sat cross-legged on a cushion, his chest and abdomen rising and falling gently as he breathed in the wisps of Corpse Qi from his surroundings. Guided by his Cultivation Technique, the dense Corpse Qi was transformed into a type of Alien Internal Qi.

This cold, dark Inner Qi was also influencing his mind, making his actions increasingly logical, cold, and merciless.

More than twenty corpses were arranged in a specific pattern around him.

Directly opposite him, another corpse sat in a cross-legged position.

Unlike the others, however, this corpse was covered in all manner of intricate patterns.

The markings looked like runes, or perhaps some kind of Spell.

’Alien Internal Qi!’

’That Cold Pool... I have no idea what fortuitous encounter he must have had to cultivate such a unique Inner Qi, one that even altered his physical constitution to a degree.’

’No wonder he rose from obscurity to become a Patriarch.’

Opening his eyes, Zhou Huaijing wore a solemn expression. His hands flew through a series of Seal Techniques as he chanted in a low voice:

"Acupoint, open to the Celestial Court, grant this one long life! Three Souls and Seven Spirits, return to this vessel, revert to your origin! Three Souls to the left, Seven Spirits to the right! Heed the divine command, perceive the unseen! Walk without witness, sit without notice! By the statutes and ordinances, let this be done with haste!"

"Rise!"

SWOOSH!

At his command, the corpse of ’Cold Pool’, dead for an unknown length of time, shot to its feet. A sinister wind instantly whipped through the courtyard.

"Excellent!"

Zhou Huaijing’s eyes gleamed with fanaticism.

"Heaven truly never seals one’s path."

"A mere Corpse Nourishing Fragment and an incomplete Silent Extinction Path of Evil Death... and with them, I’ve actually managed to refine a zombie."

"Once I finish refining this into my Lifebound Corpse, not only will my own power increase dramatically, but I’ll also be able to forge my Innate Dao Path!"

"Haha..."

"Zhou Family... when I finally achieve Perfection, I will be sure to ’repay’ you for the kindness you’ve shown my father and me!"

"Refine for me!"

"ROAR!"

’Cold Pool’ let out a low roar, its mouth gaping wide. It rapidly devoured the dense Corpse Qi permeating the air, refining it through a special Method and fusing it with its Physical Body.

A zombie!

Copper Skin and Iron Bones, a thirst for human blood, and the ability of Absorbing Yang Qi to Strengthen Oneself.

This was different from a Walking Corpse.

A Walking Corpse is merely a mutated cadaver. They possess only a faint Corpse Qi, move slowly, and are pathetically weak.

As long as one isn’t afraid, even a Martial Artist in Entering Strength could easily dispatch a Walking Corpse.

A zombie, however, is the bane of the living. Its Corpse Qi can suppress a Martial Artist’s Inner Qi; only Innate True Qi can truly subdue a zombie’s Corpse Qi.

"Profound Yin transforms, Yin and Yang unite."

"Refine!"

Zhou Huaijing formed a Seal Technique, and the Qi inside him changed. As time went on, his own aura grew almost identical to the zombie’s.

’This Profound Yin Corpse Nurturing Chapter may be just a fragment I stumbled upon, but it must be connected to the teachings of the Immortal Sects. Once I successfully refine my Lifebound Zombie, my strength will grow as it does. If I can one day raise it to a Golden Armored Corpse, or even the legendary Flying Corpse, then I too will be able to soar through the skies and achieve immortality.’

’Cold Pool’s body contains that alien Qi, and it has also absorbed the dozens of Walking Corpses I’ve spent years cultivating. A Flying Corpse might be out of reach for now, but advancing it to a Golden Armored Corpse on par with the Innate realm should be no problem.’

’Hmm?’

’Resentment!’

To refine a zombie into a Lifebound Zombie, their auras must merge. And if the person harbored resentment at the time of their death, that resentment would affect the cultivator.

As his Cultivation Technique ran its course and the refinement process deepened, the resentment ’Cold Pool’ had accumulated before death began to surface in Zhou Huaijing’s own heart, an unrelenting killing intent welling up within him.

’This won’t do!’

’I can use my technique to suppress this resentment for a month or two, but to truly refine ’Cold Pool’ into my Lifebound Zombie, I have to resolve it completely.’

Shaking his head, he continued to cast the spell, pushing onward with the refinement.

At some unknown point, two figures appeared in his Sea of Consciousness.

Leng Xing!

Zhu Ju!

This was the source of ’Cold Pool’s’ dying resentment.