Chapter 40: Itchy Hands, Itchier Heart

  "Xuan Bing Qi? Xiao Lao... is it very powerful?"

  Looking at Xiao Lao and Xiao Ding's shocked expressions, Chen Huan asked with a hint of surprise. In his mind, it was just a coincidence that the icy air in the Yuanling Cave had merged into his own yuan force, nothing more. But he didn't expect Xiao Lao and Xiao Ding to be so shocked, seemingly far from being as simple as he thought.

  "It's not just formidable..." Xiao Lao took a deep breath and said: "Martial artists cultivate, reversing the heavens and changing their fate. The highest realm is 'reversing the five elements, inverting yin and yang'. Only by reaching this realm can one possibly become a legendary existence that transcends the Martial God realm..."

  "Beyond the Martial God Realm... a legendary existence?" Chen Hao exclaimed in surprise.

  What is the concept of Wu Shen?

  The levels of martial artists are divided into nine levels: Martial Disciple, Martial Scholar, Martial Knight, Martial Master, Martial Emperor, Martial Sage, Martial Saint, and Martial God. This is the highest level he has known so far, and Martial God is his ultimate goal that Chen Huan has been striving for. However, Old Xiao's words clearly tell him that Martial God is not the end...

  "The path of cultivation has no end. The Martial God is formidable, but after all, it's just the highest realm for a martial artist... Above the Martial God, there are legendary existences that we can't even touch! I've lost hope in this life...". Xiao Lao said up to here, with a hint of envy and relief in his eyes, then continued: "You little brat might reach it one day..."

  "This..."

  "'Turning the five elements, reversing yin and yang' is precisely the realm of Martial Saint and Martial God. Only by advancing to the Martial Saint realm can one comprehend the subtleties of the five elements, truly merging their robust yuan force with heaven and earth as one, freely transforming it into powerful and infinitely useful five-element attribute energy at will. After the five elements cycle through to the pinnacle realm, where life and death are endless, one can then reverse yin and yang, stepping into Martial God! And you..."

  Xiao Lao paused for a moment, then continued: "However, at the Wu Shi boundary, you have already grasped a kind of five-element energy, and it's even the strongest Xuan Bing Qi in the water attribute! You're only twelve years old... I don't dare say that you'll definitely reach Wu Shen or surpass Wu Shen to become a legendary existence, but I can confirm that as long as you focus on cultivation and there are no accidents, advancing to Wu Sheng is absolutely not a problem... Wu Sheng, in our Zhen Yuan Kingdom, is considered the highest level of mastery..."

  Chen Hao was clear that Xiao Lao was only a high-ranking expert at the level of Wu Emperor, and as for how many ranks of Wu Emperor, Chen Hao wasn't clear. As for Xiao Ding, although he had comprehended the Wu Emperor's barrier, he was still only at the 9th rank of Wu Huang realm...

  "Am I really that amazing?" Chen Hao looked at Xiao Lao and Xiao Ding's admiring eyes, couldn't help but scratch his head, and said with a bit of embarrassment.

  "It's very powerful, but it's potential... you little brat, I'm telling you seriously now, never use the Xuanbing Qi unless absolutely necessary, especially not at the Yunzhou Martial Assembly! Your current cultivation realm is too low, but you have this potential, if others who are enemies of our Xiao family find out, they'll probably try to kill you before you can grow up, no matter what it takes..." Old Man Xiao said with a serious expression.

  "Is it that serious?"

  "Yes!" Xiao Ding also said in a low voice: "This matter, before you truly become powerful, must not be told to anyone. Generally, geniuses are nothing, even if it's Xiao Jihans, they don't matter. But you're different, you've comprehended the Xuanbing Qi at the Martial Artist realm, this is really too astonishing... Who dares to let an enemy with a great possibility of advancing to Wu Sheng grow up? Even our Xiao family would not hesitate to pay any price... Otherwise, in the future, it will be the entire family that will be destroyed..."

  "Hmm, Xiao Ding is right. However, our intention is not to make you a tolerant person. A warrior must never lose the spirit of advancing bravely and must have the bloodlust and sharpness that they should have! This is the heart of a warrior, once lost, it's a loss that can't be made up for... Don't use it unless in a life-or-death situation. Do you understand our intention?"

  "Understood! Don't worry, Elder Xiao, family, I know what to do..." Chen Huan could feel the concern of Elder Xiao and Xiao Ding towards him, so he also didn't dare to be careless, his expression serious and solemn as he nodded and said.

  "That's good. Xiang Hao, you and Xiao Jihan's life-and-death duel, don't worry about it. I and Old Xiao will think of a way..." Xiao Ding said.

  Xiao Jihan has already advanced to a 7th rank martial artist, and for the time being, no matter what, Chen Huan is not his match, the gap in their realms is too great. Although Chen Huan controls the Xuanbing Qi, his own realm cannot bring out the true power of the Xuanbing Qi, and in a duel under the eyes of everyone, Chen Huan also cannot expose himself. Therefore, from Xiao Ding and Xiao Lao's point of view, Chen Huan has no chance of winning.

  "Master of the house, I don't want you and Old Xiao to interfere in this matter! Just now, Old Xiao also said that a martial artist cannot lose the heart of a martial artist!"

  As soon as Xiao Ding's words fell, Chen Huan shook his head and said with a firm expression.

  "This..."

  "Xiao Ding, listen to this kid!" Just as Xiao Ding was about to say something, Old Xiao suddenly stopped him.

  "Alright... then go and join Xiao Guan's group now. In the last twenty days before the Yunzhou Martial Arts Conference, Xiao Guan will have people accompany you for training every day, mainly targeting the other three major families, conducting targeted training, which is very important for you!" Xiao Ding said: "Also, your spiritual medicine is with Xiao Mei. Xiao Mei is also your personal instructor and training partner for this period of time!"

  "Hmm." Chen Hao responded with a single sound, clasped his fists together in respect towards Xiao Lao and Xiao Ding, bowed slightly, then walked out of the room.

  ……

  "Ancestor, do you think Xiang Hu can surpass Xiao Jihuan?" Looking at Chen Hu's quickly departing figure, Xiao Ding slightly furrowed his brow and asked the elderly Xiao beside him.

  "Whether or not he can surpass me is uncertain, at least for now it's uncertain. But as for Xiaojihuan wanting to kill him, it's probably unlikely... This kid has a lot of things that even I couldn't see through. You should know that he entered the Móyún Mountains to train when he was still in the 9th rank of martial arts, right?"

  "I know."

  "At first, I didn't dare to let him go alone? But... " Xiao Lao's old face was a bit twisted, but he still said it: "I actually lost... Wu Emperor, I am a sixth-grade Wu Emperor, and I lost a Wu disciple..."

  "Uh......this......"

  "In the four months since Mo Yun Mountain Range, he rose from a 9th rank martial artist to a Martial Master, skipping three ranks. His life-and-death duel with Xiao Jihuan was also just over a month ago, at the Cloud State Martial Assembly... With this kid's freakish talent... Can you be certain what rank he'll be in another month? Not to mention..."

  "What's more, what?" Xiao Ding was already a bit moved. He only thought of the gap between Chen Huan and Xiao Jihans now, but he ignored Chen Huans abnormality, which was also because he didn't understand Chen Huan too deeply.

  "This stinky kid, as I've observed, never does anything without being sure of it... and besides, there are many things about him that I just can't see through..." Xiao Lao shook his head, seeming quite frustrated but also full of anticipation, saying: "Xiao Ding ah, our Xiao family's temple is too small for him, his world will definitely surpass our imagination. Now you should understand why I treated his family like that, right?"

  "Understood!" Xiao Ding's face showed a hint of embarrassment, and he said in a low voice: "The old ancestor is far-sighted..."

  "What we want is just this good fate, one person gets the way and the chicken dog rises to heaven. When he really grows up, as long as he remembers a thread of kindness from our Xiao family, it's enough... Also, from now on, you should pay attention to the Dongfang family..."

  Upon hearing Xiao Lao's words, Xiao Ding's expression slightly stunned for a moment, but then revealed a hint of sudden realization, and respectfully said: "Yes, Ancestor!"

  Ginger is still old and spicy. Xiao Ding had to admit that compared to Old Xiao, his vision, insight, courage and experience in handling affairs were far from comparable.

  Xiao Jihan was originally named Dongfang Han, and the Dongfang family is Xiao Jihan's ancestral home. Although it is not a martial arts family, its influence in Yunzhou is no less than that of the four major families. It is the richest man in Yunzhou, with strong financial resources, supporting a group of top-notch experts, and has very close ties with the Yunzhou City Lord's Mansion and the four major families.

  This is the real hidden danger of Chen Hao and Xiao Jihan's life-and-death battle...

  Xiao Jihan's defeat is nothing, but Xiao Jihan was beheaded by Chen Huan?

  Xiao family has chosen Chen Hao, so they can't help but prepare for the worst. This is also the real reason why Xiao Ding was initially hesitant and slightly dissatisfied with Xiao Lao's full support for Chen Hao's family.

  ……

  The inner courtyard of the Xiao family's martial arts hall is where the disciples of the Xiao family usually practice. However, at this moment, it has been taken over by Xiao Guan and others. Unlike the outdoor martial arts arena, one side of the hall is filled with all kinds of weapons, including knives, guns, swords, spears, axes, whips, and clubs, each type numbering in the dozens.

  Inside the hall, apart from Xiao Guan and Xiao Jihan, Xiao Jishan and other disciples who participated in the Yunzhou Conference, there were also ten inner door disciples. These ten inner door disciples were all over twenty years old, seven men and three women, and they were all the best disciples of the Xiao family. They had all participated in the Yunzhou Martial Arts Conference and were specially arranged by Xiao Guan as sparring partners for Xiao Jihan and others.

  "Rumble, rumble, rumble..."

  "Clang clang clang......"

  When Chen Huan arrived at the inner courtyard's performance martial hall, Xiao Jihan, Xiao Jishan and others were respectively fighting against an inner door disciple, with flashing knives and swords, coming and going, the majestic yuan force fluctuations and the crowd's shouting voices, making Chen Huan's blood boil, itching for action...

  It's really itchy...

  After four months of bitter cultivation in the Demon Cloud Mountain Range, I returned and except for that one time when I fought against Xiao Shi Qing without feeling any pain or itch, I haven't had a thrilling fight yet. If my hands don't get itchy, then I'll really see a ghost.