Chapter 24: A Good Dog Doesn't Block the Way

Watching Qiu Ying urge his movement technique to flee, Ye Yuan unhurriedly raised his finger, fully channeling his primal energy to activate the Spirit Catalpa Nine Yang Divine Art.

With one finger thrust, an invisible force shot from Ye Yuan's fingertip, tearing through the air and instantly piercing Qiu Ying's heart.

This force was so fierce that Qiu Ying didn't even realize he was injured; his body continued to charge forward for dozens of zhang by inertia until he lost consciousness and collapsed.

The Absolute Yang Finger was overwhelmingly domineering; the force it emitted condensed without dispersing, delivering immense lethality at a single point. With Ye Yuan's strength at the sixth layer of Primal Energy, its killing power was naturally not to be underestimated.

Of course, the Absolute Yang Finger was not flawless; its greatest drawback was the slow buildup of power, which was why Ye Yuan had been a step too slow when saving Lü'er earlier.

In fact, if Qiu Ying had recklessly engaged Ye Yuan in close combat, preventing him from gathering full power, he might have had a chance to survive.

But Ye Yuan's previous tactics had already made Qiu Ying want to retreat. Especially the finger strike that had sent him flying earlier had deeply shaken his spirit, so he desperately wanted to escape.

This escape, however, gave Ye Yuan the opportunity to build up his power.

From the very beginning, Ye Yuan had seemed casual, but in truth, he had been meticulously planning every step.

He first provoked Qiu Ying with words, unsettling his mind. Then he demonstrated the Flash Step, took the Five Elements Spirit-Connecting Pill, broke the sword with his finger, step by step destroying Qiu Ying's confidence, and finally delivered this killing blow.

It seemed simple, but the entire process was fraught with tension at every step.

Although Ye Yuan had many trump cards, his strength was too weak. If he hadn't taken the Five Elements Spirit-Connecting Pill, even fully activating the Absolute Yang Finger would not have been enough to deal with Qiu Ying.

"Brother Tang, let's go." Ye Yuan couldn't be bothered to look at Qiu Ying lying on the ground and said indifferently to Tang Yu.

Tang Yu stared in shock at Ye Yuan's strike, frozen in place until Ye Yuan called him before snapping out of it.

"Ah? Oh, go, let's go."

Tang Yu mechanically mounted his horse, and the three continued toward the Danwu Academy.

…

Passing through this stretch of rocky forest, the three's视野 gradually opened up, revealing a vast plain before them, with distant carved railings and pavilions faintly visible.

This was the Danwu Academy!

The state of Qin was founded on martial arts and placed great emphasis on the way of martial arts, but this Danwu Academy was not established by Qin.

The area south of the Boundless Forest was known as the Ten States of Youyun, comprising ten countries, of which Qin was just one. They were collectively called the Ten States of Youyun because all ten belonged to the Youyun Sect, and the Danwu Academy was the outer sect training ground of the Youyun Sect.

The Youyun Sect was founded on alchemy, with separate Alchemy and Martial branches, hence the outer training ground was named Danwu Academy.

Upon entering the academy gate, the three were heading toward their lodgings when a group blocked their way.

"Oh, isn't this the perennial tail-ender? Your life is really tough. When you were sent back, you had more breath going out than coming in, and now you're back bouncing around," the leader said in a sarcastic tone.

This man was called Fei Qingping, a loyal lackey of Wan Yuan. The previous owner had been poisoned during a match with this guy, ultimately meeting his end.

These few people belonged to the commoner faction in the academy. In Danwu Academy, commoners who wanted extra resources often chose to attach themselves to the noble faction. Only those with truly exceptional talent would receive the academy's focused training.

"A good dog doesn't block the way. Get lost," Ye Yuan couldn't be bothered to waste words with him. Arguing with a dog would only lower his own status.

"You! Ye Yuan, I think your skin is itching again?" People like Fei Qingping hated nothing more than being called a dog.

"With you?" Ye Yuan said expressionlessly.

"Oh, in just a few days, you've become even more brainless. A mere Primal Energy layer one... eh... how is it possible... you... you're already at Primal Energy layer three?" Fei Qingping took a closer look and gasped. Ye Yuan, who had been at the bottom, had jumped two levels in a few days to reach Primal Energy layer three.

Fei Qingping thought he had misseen, but after careful inspection, he confirmed Ye Yuan was indeed at Primal Energy layer three. Wasn't that too heaven-defying?

"Dog eyes are blind, huh? Took you this long to see?" Ye Yuan's words made Fei Qingping's mouth twitch again.

But by now, Fei Qingping had recovered from the initial shock and thought of a possible explanation.

He naturally knew that Ye Yuan's father, Ye Hang, was a Grand Alchemist. If he spared no expense, it wasn't incomprehensible for him to boost his son's cultivation by two levels.

In fact, there were many such methods to suddenly increase strength, but they came at the cost of sacrificing one's potential.

It was said there was a sinister technique called 'Vessel Initiation,' where the recipient could even break through the Primal Energy realm directly into the Spirit Liquid realm. But the price was that the person would never be able to improve their strength again.

In just a few days, Ye Yuan had reached Primal Energy layer three. It must be that Ye Hang, knowing his son lacked talent and fearing he would be bullied, had used a method similar to 'Vessel Initiation' to boost him by two levels.

Having figured this out, Fei Qingping sneered inwardly. Such a rookie, even at layer three or four or five, was no match for him.

Fei Qingping was at Primal Energy layer four, a small step higher than Ye Yuan, so naturally he had no reason to fear him.

"Heh, it's good to have a powerful father. Not only did you survive being poisoned, but raising your strength is so easy. This really is an era of relying on one's father!" Fei Qingping taunted.

Ye Yuan immediately understood Fei Qingping's thoughts and naturally didn't bother to explain. Instead, he laughed and said, "Yeah, I can rely on my father. Can you? I heard your father is a watchdog for someone. He used connections to get you into Danwu Academy, but who knew you'd become a watchdog here too. Like father, like son! Two dogs in one family, impressive, impressive!"

From the previous owner's memories, Ye Yuan knew that Fei Qingping's father was a trusted aide of Wan Donghai, and Fei Qingping had entered the academy through the Wan family's connections. Otherwise, with his talent, he would never have been admitted.

Although he was at Primal Energy layer four like Tang Yu, he was a full two years older. Both were commoners, but with the support of the Wan family's resources, Fei Qingping was only at Primal Energy layer four. At most, he would reach the early Spirit Liquid realm, or maybe even get stuck at the Primal Energy realm.

"You!" Fei Qingping was furious. Ye Yuan's repeated 'dog' remarks made him lose face completely.

Fei Qingping glanced at his companions out of the corner of his eye. Though none laughed openly, he could feel they were all struggling to hold back their laughter.

"Me what? Want to bite me?" Ye Yuan extended an arm and laughed, "Here, go ahead."

"Hahaha!" This time, everyone burst out laughing.

Seeing everyone mocking him, Fei Qingping's face turned the color of pig liver.

"Ye Yuan, I challenge you to a life-or-death duel! If you've got the guts, accept it!" Fei Qingping pointed at Ye Yuan, fuming.

Danwu Academy did not prohibit private fights among students; in fact, it tacitly allowed friction. However, without academy permission, killing was forbidden, or one would face the academy's wrath.

But if both parties agreed to a life-or-death duel, the academy would not stop it and would even send an instructor to officiate.

Ye Yuan looked surprised and said, "You really want a life-or-death duel?"

"Scared? If you're scared, kneel and kowtow three times, then say 'I am a dog' three times!" Fei Qingping, thinking Ye Yuan was afraid, continued to provoke him.

Last time, he had used this method to get Ye Yuan to agree to a match.

Ye Yuan cupped his ear, pretending not to hear clearly, and asked, "Say what three times?"

"Say 'I am a dog' three times!" Fei Qingping blurted out, realizing he had been tricked as soon as the words left his mouth.

"Hahaha!" The onlookers burst into laughter again.

Fei Qingping wished he could slap himself twice and roared, "Ye Yuan, you coward! If you don't dare, you resort to these petty tricks!"

"Good dog, so obedient! Your Ye master never checks the owner before beating a dog. Since you've come to me, I'll beat you for your owner to see," Ye Yuan laughed.