Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Courting Death

On every shelf in the Scripture Pavilion, martial arts were categorized by type and grade.

Martial arts were divided into five tiers: Low-grade, Mid-grade, High-grade, Heaven-level, Saint-level, and Divine-level.

In the Qin Family’s Scripture Pavilion, the first floor basically contained only Low-grade martial arts, with only a small number of special or incomplete Mid-grade martial arts placed there.

The second floor housed Mid-grade martial arts, accessible to those at the third level of the Houtian Realm. The third floor was where the pavilion guard cultivated in seclusion.

As for High-grade martial arts, almost no one in the entire Blackstone City had ever seen one. Only factions like the Holy Sun Academy possessed High-grade martial arts, or even Heaven-level martial arts.

As long as one could enter the Holy Sun Academy, they were basically guaranteed to become at least a peak Houtian Realm martial artist, and would even have the chance to glimpse the legendary Xiantian Realm.

After calming his mind, Qin Yefeng went straight to the second floor to select a martial art.

Before this, he had never been to the Scripture Pavilion, nor had he practiced any martial arts because his cultivation had been stuck at the first level of the Houtian Realm.

However, Qin Yefeng possessed the Divine Dragon’s inheritance, which primarily focused on physical strength.

Therefore, he planned to choose an offensive martial art, as well as a movement martial art.

Mid-grade martial art, Falling Leaf Sword Art. Upon reaching major completion, it became impenetrable even to water drops, possessing extremely strong defense and offense.

Mid-grade martial art, Heavenly Net Steps. Upon reaching major completion, one’s figure would become like a phantom, making it impossible to defend against.

Mid-grade martial art, Purple Sand Palm. It possessed a vigorous aura and immense power.

…

Qin Yefeng first browsed through the selection, then, considering his own situation, chose a powerful offensive martial art and a movement technique.

When selecting a martial art, because he cultivated the Nine Dragons Burning Heaven Art and possessed immense physical strength, Qin Yefeng directly gave up on sword arts, which primarily relied on elegant and agile attacks.

He then chose a saber art focused on power and forceful offense.

Black Tiger Saber Art! Its essence lay in being ruthless, accurate, and fierce.

Mainly, the saber’s method of attack lacked overly complex moves; its chops and slashes were direct, which suited Qin Yefeng’s preferences perfectly.

Next was the movement technique. Qin Yefeng chose the Soaring Cloud Movement Technique.

Soaring Cloud Movement Technique: with each completed level of cultivation, one’s speed would increase.

Upon reaching the perfection stage, one could even conjure eighteen phantoms, making it impossible for opponents to track them, while also allowing for brief periods of flight in the air.

Both the martial art and the movement technique were Mid-grade. Once mastered, combined with the power of the Nine Dragons Burning Heaven Art, Qin Yefeng was confident his strength would skyrocket.

After selecting a pure black long saber from the storehouse, Qin Yefeng set off for the Blackstone Mountain Range.

The Blackstone Mountain Range was located at a place called Black Water Marsh outside Blackstone City.

The Black Water Marsh was teeming with ferocious beasts, making it an excellent place for Qin Yefeng to temper himself. Moreover, he could rely on the Burning Heaven Dragon Flame to refine demonic beasts and condense dragon blood.

Meanwhile, in a secluded courtyard within the Qin Family.

A cold voice rang out, “Are you saying Qin Yefeng’s cultivation broke through, and he might have awakened his martial arts talent?”

A woman in a pink dress, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, had a face full of anger.

“Yes, Eldest Miss. We don’t know what happened either. This Qin Yefeng suddenly erupted. The power he unleashed at that time was at least over a thousand catties,” Qin Yu stood to the side, his face showing trepidation as he spoke in a low voice.

On the other side sat Qin Hao in a chair, his body wrapped in bandages.

“I heard the Patriarch bought a rank-two Purple Spirit Pill for Qin Yefeng. I wonder if it’s because of the Purple Spirit Pill,” Qin Hao said, his eyes also filled with fear.

Listening to the words of the brothers Qin Hao and Qin Yu, Qin Xue stood there, her eyes filled with a cold glint.

After pondering for a moment, Qin Xue looked at a man in black standing nearby and said, “Senior Brother Liu Qian, I’ll have to trouble you. The Holy Sun Academy is currently at a critical juncture for its assessments. This unstable factor, Qin Yefeng, must be eliminated.”

Qin Hao and Qin Yu were horrified inwardly. Qin Xue’s cultivation was already at the sixth level of the Houtian Realm. For her to call him Senior Brother, this Liu Qian’s cultivation must be even higher.

“He’s just a piece of trash at the third level of the Houtian Realm. Leave this matter to me,” Liu Qian looked at Qin Xue and smiled flatteringly.

After inquiring about Qin Yefeng’s route, Liu Qian leaped towards the Black Water Marsh.

At this moment, Qin Xue’s eyes were filled with a piercingly cold light.

“Qin Yefeng, you are dead for sure!”

…

The Black Water Marsh was located twenty kilometers outside Blackstone City.

The Black Water Marsh was densely populated with demonic beasts. Even in the outermost periphery, various demonic beasts equivalent to the Houtian Realm lived there.

The demonic cores within the bodies of demonic beasts contained powerful energy, and their fur and hides were precious materials. Not to mention, the Black Water Marsh held many heavenly treasures and earthly relics.

Therefore, the Black Water Marsh was one of the favorite places for rogue martial artists.

At the outer edge of the Black Water Marsh, various merchant guilds and traders gathered, forming a small market.

Just then, Qin Yefeng’s figure appeared at this entrance.

Originally, Qin Yefeng had wanted to take a look at the market, but after sensing the murderous aura of those martial artists, he dismissed the idea to avoid causing trouble.

“Alone? He’s really courting death!” Outside the market, several martial artists stared at Qin Yefeng’s figure, cold light flickering in their eyes as they spoke in chilling tones.

“Hehe, dressed in fine silk and satin, he’s obviously some rich kid. Does he really think the Black Water Marsh is a place for practice?” As the burly man’s words fell, several figures chased after the direction Qin Yefeng had just left.

In the Black Water Marsh, demonic beasts were everywhere, and dangers lurked at every corner.

But similarly, apart from these external dangers, there was something even more perilous: the other rogue martial artists within the Black Water Marsh.

Sometimes, human hearts were far more terrifying than demonic beasts.

However, Qin Yefeng didn’t care about any of this.

By now, Qin Yefeng had already entered a small hill on the outskirts of the Black Water Marsh.

In his line of sight, there were only thorny woods and trees dozens of feet tall. Looking into the distance, he could even see the black lake water at the edge of the hills.

Further away were the silhouettes of other hills situated within the Black Water Marsh.

From not too far away, the roars of demonic beasts could be heard from time to time.

“The periphery is mainly inhabited by Houtian Realm demonic beasts. As long as I’m careful, with the power I’ve gained from cultivating the Nine Dragons Burning Heaven Art, there shouldn’t be any major danger.”

Sensing the power within his body, a glint flashed in Qin Yefeng’s eyes as he muttered softly.

Hiss, hiss!

As Qin Yefeng walked under a giant tree with lush foliage, a sudden noise rang out.

Immediately after, the sound of something tearing through the air rushed straight toward him.

A cold light flashed in Qin Yefeng’s eyes, and he immediately slashed out with the black iron saber in his hand.

Slash!

Accompanied by a sound like tearing silk, the head of a small green snake was chopped off and sent flying, landing heavily on the ground.

Watching the blood splatter and the severed snake head lying on the ground, a trace of lingering fear appeared in Qin Yefeng’s eyes as he muttered, “Even a random beast is at the third level of the Houtian Realm?”