C4 Young Master Don't Mess Around

A surge of breath transformed into a Dragon and Elephant, rampaging within Hu Nao's body. Despite being only fist-sized, they radiated an immensely domineering presence, arrogant and unchallenged, charging towards the heavens.

Hu Nao could vividly see the elephant bellowing triumphantly, its trunk sweeping the stars from the sky; the dragon, with its fearsome claws, exuded a majestic aura, sweeping through the cosmos. "Wow, talk about being powerful!" he thought, his delight evident.

The only downside was that after reviewing the martial art from start to finish, he had found no mention of its rank, which left him feeling slightly disappointed. "No matter," he decided, "I won't overthink it. There are no invincible skills in this world, only invincible people. With diligent practice of the Nine Dragons and Nine Elephants, I'm bound to make a name for myself and reign supreme in the Northlands."

With renewed determination, Hu Nao devoted himself to the practice of breathing and refining his inner breath. Slowly, within the depths of his flesh and along his meridians, glimmers of dark gold flame began to emerge. Far from burning, the sensation was pleasantly warm, akin to soaking in a hot spring—a clear indication of the integration between the dark gold feather and his body.

Inside Hu Nao, the flickering flames danced as the Dragon and Elephant surged forward. In moments, they transformed into fiery versions of themselves. His body resonated with the sound of crisp crackling as his flesh, bones, and meridians underwent a profound transformation...

Black viscous fluid, the accumulation of deep-seated impurities and toxins, oozed from every pore, purging his body completely. Opening his eyes, Hu Nao's joy was palpable: "The hallmark of reaching the Fifth Heaven in Body Tempering is the cleansing of muscles and marrow. With my body purified, I can now internally observe the circulation within. From this point on, cultivation shifts from external to internal, channeling breath and deeply refining the body. I never anticipated such progress on my first attempt at breathing. The Dragon-Elephant Divine Might has truly lived up to my expectations. Yet, it seems my rapid advancement owes much to the fiery energy infused by the dark gold feather. How else could I have progressed so swiftly?"

After undergoing deep Body Tempering, Hu Nao's mind became more agile, filled with various thoughts and speculations. Without the dark gold flames, the Dragon and Elephant wouldn't have transformed into their fiery counterparts, and his metamorphosis wouldn't have occurred so swiftly.

Having ceased his skill practice, the Dragon and Elephant within him vanished. Yet, with a mere wave of his hand, he exuded the weighty force of an elephant stomping the earth; with a single breath, his presence was as profound as the long chant of a divine dragon in the sky.

If yesterday marked his rebirth, today he soared, improving at an astonishing pace. Before he knew it, dawn had broken.

Despite staying up all night, Hu Nao felt refreshed. His meditation and internal breath circulation had provided him with the best rest. Far from tired, he was brimming with energy and strength.

He stepped into the courtyard. The Northlands were known for their relentless cold and perpetual snowfall. Previously, the warmth of Spring Lake would vaporize the falling snow before it could settle. But now, with the lake frozen, the temperature had plummeted, and a thick blanket of snow had enveloped the landscape overnight, creating a dazzling, silvery scene.

Once, Hu Nao's frail constitution would have faltered in such cold, but not anymore. A shiver ran through him, and his internal energy roared to life, banishing the chill and infusing him with a comforting warmth and vitality.

"Refreshing, truly refreshing!" he exclaimed.

Surveying the transformed courtyard and reflecting on his own evolution, he was brimming with ambition. "My strength has increased more than tenfold since yesterday. Yet, when compared to prodigies like Zhiyuan, who's my age and has already entered the Spirit Speak Stage, or Qin Feng, who's just a few years older and boasts a Second Heaven Spirit Speak Stage cultivation, it's hardly significant."

Hu Nao reminded himself to remain humble, transforming the pressure into drive as he began practicing the Sky-Splitting Palm.

Yesterday, he achieved great success with the Sky-Splitting Palm, mastering the ability to project his palm energy and strike from a distance.

Now, the power he wielded was of a different magnitude.

"Ha!"

With a swing of his palm, Qi surged forth, scattering the pristine snow in all directions in a magnificent display.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

His movements accelerated, each one seemingly carrying the weight of a thousand kilograms, roaring through the air and creating waves of Qi. Snowflakes danced in the sky, but as they descended, they were swept away by the force, leaving none to settle upon him.

"Shatter!"

Hu Nao bellowed, channeling all his strength into his palms, and struck out at the artificial mountain nearby.

The structure, over three meters tall and shaped like a majestic lion, crumbled under his palm, sending stone chips flying.

"Young Master, it's been months since I last saw you, and your strength has significantly improved. But really, must you be so unrestrained even when practicing at home? At this rate, you'll reduce the Hu family estate to rubble," a sweet voice laced with mischief called out.

"Nan Xi!"

Hu Nao turned to see a strikingly beautiful girl gracefully entering the courtyard.

The girl, around fourteen or fifteen, wore her hair in twin goat horn braids, enhancing her sweetness. Her delicate features and stunning appearance were highlighted by her misty, captivating eyes. Her smile sent ripples through those eyes, reminiscent of sunlight glinting off a lake in spring—a vision as lovely as a painting.

Hu Nao was spellbound for a moment before regaining his composure, grinning as he playfully patted the girl's shoulder, "I haven't seen you in months, Nan Xi, and you've grown even more beautiful."

The girl chided him, "Young Master, you're not being proper again," yet she did not pull away from Hu Nao's touch.

"When have I ever been proper?" Hu Nao shrugged, the picture of a cheeky scamp. Noticing her blush and the delicate softness of her skin, reminiscent of a freshly bloomed lotus, he couldn't resist caressing her cheek, "Not only are you a sight for sore eyes, but you feel wonderful too."

The young woman could no longer tolerate Hu Nao's teasing and pushed his hand away firmly. "Please, gongzi, no more games. I have serious matters to attend to this time. It's been several months since we last saw each other, and I've been..." She blushed, struggling to voice her feelings, "missing you." Embarrassed, she quickly added, "I must go see the family head now."

Hu Nao sobered up at her words. "I've been meaning to ask you. Weren't you training with Elder Hu Binyu? What brings you back so suddenly?"

Nan Xi's story began as an orphan, left to the mercy of the streets, nearly succumbing to the cold.

It was Hu Nao who discovered her and brought her to the safety of Hu Manor.

Out of gratitude, she devoted herself to serving Hu Nao closely.

Eventually, Hu Binyu, a venerable figure in the Hu family, recognized her innate talent and took her under his wing to impart his martial arts knowledge.

Nan Xi was not only blessed with exceptional talent but also possessed the resilience to face hardships. Her martial arts prowess grew rapidly. At just fourteen, she had reached the Ninth Heaven of the Body Tempering Realm. Should she break into the Spirit Speak Realm within the next two years, she would stand shoulder to shoulder with Egluarsall's Number One Genius Girl, Pei Zhiyuan.

A few months back, Elder Hu Binyu had taken Nan Xi on a training expedition to assist her in her breakthrough to the Spirit Speak Realm.

As Nan Xi was about to respond to Hu Nao, Hu Bugui entered the courtyard with a booming laugh. "I knew it! The moment I heard Nan Xi was back, I bet you'd be the first one she'd visit." The butler and several Hu family youths trailed behind him, all of them bowing respectfully to Nan Xi.

Such was the transformative power of martial arts on one's status.

Though Nan Xi humbly considered herself Hu Nao's servant, her martial arts excellence earned her the Hu family's respect. Not just the servants, but even Hu Bugui, the family patriarch, hurried over upon learning of her return. Her esteemed position within the Hu family was evident.

After all, Spirit Speak masters were exceedingly scarce.

And Nan Xi? She was brimming with potential.

Nan Xi greeted Hu Bugui with a respectful bow, "Good to see you, Patriarch." She then inclined her head towards the butler and the others, who hastily stepped aside, none daring to receive her gesture of respect.

Upon realizing that everyone present was a trusted confidant of Hu Bugui, Nan Xi spoke up, "Master, Young Master, I was undergoing training in the Swanpeak Mountain Range when, a few days ago, I noticed a succession of disguised experts heading towards Egluarsall. Elder Hu Binyu sensed something amiss, so he discreetly made inquiries and uncovered a significant development."

Hu Nao was puzzled. As the head of the Hu family, Hu Bugui had a vast network of informants in the city. Piecing together recent events, he ventured a guess, "Could this be connected to Northwind Keep?"

Nan Xi paused, impressed. "Master, your insight is remarkable. Indeed, a high-ranking individual from Northwind Keep intends to establish a Northwind Chapter in Egluarsall. They initially dispatched the elite disciple Qin Feng to gauge the sentiments of Pei Zhan and the major families. Subsequently, they sent over a dozen groups of experts to assist him. Should Egluarsall resist, they might resort to martial force to establish the chapter by compulsion."

"Elder Hu Binyu instructed me to remind the Patriarch that, regardless of the circumstances, we must prioritize the Hu family's interests and avoid rash decisions."

After Nan Xi's report, Hu Bugui murmured with a complex look on his face, "This is indeed a grave matter. It's of monumental importance!"

The Snowlands are home to seven principal cities, each governed by a City Lord wielding supreme military and political authority, with the power to dictate life and death.

Beyond these cities stands a formidable entity in the Northlands: the sacred ground of the Snowlands, known as Northwind Keep.

Northwind Keep is revered by the seven cities, yet for centuries, it has seldom meddled in their affairs. Even when disputes arise between cities, leading to armed standoffs, Northwind Keep typically remains aloof, dedicating itself to the pursuit of martial cultivation and the mysteries of martial arts.

Consequently, Northwind Keep is a haven for masters and prodigies alike, teeming with unparalleled experts.

Northwind Keep places the highest value on martial prowess, followed by genius. Whenever a martial arts prodigy emerges within the cities, someone who has reached the level of Spirit Speak at a tender age, Northwind Keep promptly sends an envoy to extend an invitation.

Hu Nao, hailing from the prestigious Hu family, had a crystal-clear understanding of these matters.

He had initially believed that Qin Feng's arrival in Egluarsall was simply a routine matter, extending an invitation to Pei Zhiyuan to train at Northwind Keep. However, he hadn't anticipated an ulterior motive. If Northwind Keep were to successfully establish a branch in Egluarsall... everything would change!

For instance, with such a branch present, who would dictate the affairs of Egluarsall going forward?

And what about the influx of formidable experts? Could the Hu family maintain its dominance?

It was at this moment that Hu Nao realized why Qin Feng sought to forge a strong relationship with Pei Zhiyuan, even going so far as to ostentatiously invite her to dine at Skylark Tavern just yesterday.