C7 Revenge
In the past, the Qiming Continent was home to only a handful of individuals who had achieved the levels of Soul Formation and Nascent Infant. Among them, a few were formidable experts of Soul Formation caliber.
At that time, Qing Yunzi, the Sect Master of the Green Cloud Sect, was a distinguished cultivator in the late stages of Soul Formation. He was an expert held in high esteem across the Qiming Continent.
However, over a thousand years ago, the continent was engulfed in a devastating war.
For reasons unknown, the Devil Clan made a sudden appearance on the Qiming Continent. They advanced stealthily, perpetrating a series of heinous massacres. Numerous sects were wiped out in the carnage.
Qi Country and Yaen Country, situated near the coast, were among the first to fall victim to the slaughter.
In response, Qing Yunzi, alongside other sect masters from the Green Cloud Sect, established the Anti-Devil Alliance. They boldly proclaimed war on the Devil Clan.
Renowned experts from all over the Qiming Continent joined the fray.
The conflict raged with ferocity for over two centuries. Ultimately, the Devil Clan was vanquished and expelled from the continent.
Retreating to the sea, the Devil Clan faced relentless pursuit from the cultivation world's mightiest, who even discovered a passage rumored to lead to the Devil Clan's domain.
There, Qing Yunzi and the surviving experts from various sects engaged in a fierce battle with the Devil King beside the passage, eventually defeating him.
To thwart any future incursions by the Devil Clan, Qing Yunzi and his allies employed a Formation to seal the passage. However, their strength was significantly diminished following the clash with the Devil King. Ultimately, Qing Yunzi and the other experts paid the ultimate price to ensure the passage remained sealed.
The protracted war claimed the lives of all experts above the Nascent Infant Stage, leading to a discontinuity in the cultivation methods beyond that level.
Since then, the pinnacle of cultivation on the Qiming Continent has been capped at the Nascent Infant Stage, with no Soul Formation Stage experts emerging for over a millennium.
Following these events, Yang Ying took it upon himself to enhance the Basic Sword Arts.
"Congratulations, Host. Upgrading the Basic Sword Arts (Great Completion) will require 30 points of Origin Strength. Would you like to proceed?"
"Congratulations, Host. Your mastery of the Basic Sword Arts has now reached the level of Perfection!"
Subsequently, Yang Ying proceeded to enhance his Profound Essence Spell.
"Congratulations, Host. Upgrading the Profound Essence Spell to Initial Success requires 20 points of Origin Strength. Would you like to proceed with the upgrade?"
"Congratulations, Host. The Profound Essence Spell has now reached the stage of Great Completion!"
"Congratulations, Host. To elevate the Profound Essence Spell to Great Completion, 30 points of Origin Strength are needed. Would you like to upgrade?"
"Congratulations, Host. The Profound Essence Spell has ascended to the level of Perfection!"
Afterward, Yang Ying made his way to the area dedicated to cultivation techniques. Following a careful selection process, he ultimately settled on the Gale Fast Sword.
The Gale Fast Sword comprised a total of 108 techniques. This complete set was not only intricate but also exuded a fierce momentum, with each move resonating with the sound of howling winds.
In use, the sword's induced wind grew increasingly intense. The energy it released was piercingly cold, capable of repelling adversaries.
"Congratulations, Host, for uncovering the Gale Fast Sword. To grasp this technique, 30 points of Origin Strength are required. Would you like to comprehend it?"
"Congratulations, Host, you have now mastered the Gale Fast Sword!"
Having acquired the sword technique, Yang Ying curbed the impulse to immediately put it into practice. He swiftly headed towards the area housing demonic beasts and spiritual medicines.
He meticulously searched through the bookshelves and selected the demonic beast illustrated handbook and the spiritual medicine illustrated handbook. These volumes contained the most comprehensive accounts of the demonic beasts and spiritual medicines prevalent across the continent.
"Congratulations, Host, for discovering the demonic beast illustrated handbook. To understand it, 20 points of Origin Strength are necessary. Would you like to comprehend it?"
"Congratulations, Host, you have learned the demonic beast illustrated handbook!"
"Congratulations, Host, for finding the spiritual medicine illustrated handbook. Comprehending it requires 20 points of Origin Strength. Would you like to proceed?"
"Congratulations, Host, you have mastered the spiritual medicine illustrated handbook!"
Having nearly acquired all the books he aimed to study, and with time pressing on, Yang Ying contemplated briefly before deciding to enhance the levels of both the Soaring Movement Arts and the Gale Fast Sword.
"Congratulations, Host, you've encountered the Gale Fast Sword at the entry-level. Raising its level requires 40 points of Origin Strength. Would you like to level up?"
"Congratulations, Host, your Gale Fast Sword skill has advanced to Initial Success!"
"Congratulations, Host, on unlocking the Gale Fast Sword (Initial Success). Upgrading it requires 50 points of Origin Strength. Would you like to proceed with the upgrade?"
"Congratulations, Host, your Gale Fast Sword skill has advanced to Great Completion!"
"Congratulations, Host, on unlocking the Gale Fast Sword (Great Completion). Upgrading it requires 80 points of Origin Strength. Would you like to proceed with the upgrade?"
"Congratulations, Host, your Gale Fast Sword skill has advanced to Perfection!"
"Congratulations, Host, on unlocking the Soaring Movement Arts (Great Completion). Upgrading it requires 80 points of Origin Strength. Would you like to upgrade?"
"Congratulations, Host, your Soaring Movement Arts have reached Perfection!"
Yang Ying accessed the system interface.
Name: Yang Ying
Identity: Outer Sect Disciple of the Green Cloud Sect
Qualification: Red Level
Level: Sixth Level of Qi Refining
Cultivation Techniques: Profound Essence Spell (Perfection), Basic Sword Arts (Perfection), Soaring Movement Arts (Perfection), Gale Fast Sword (Perfection)
Origin Strength: 0
Origin Strength needed for next upgrade: 0/400
He looked at the system interface, where several techniques had achieved Perfection, and felt a profound sense of fulfillment.
It certainly wasn't easy! If I had to cultivate them on my own, reaching Perfection in even one of them would be a challenge. The original owner of this body took four years just to reach Initial Success with the Basic Sword Arts.
Yang Ying swiftly exited the Tripitaka Sutra Pavilion. Noticing the day was still young, he made his way to the familiar cliffside spot.
Before arriving, he employed the Soaring Movement Arts. With each flash of his body, he covered more than ten meters, leaving a trail of afterimages due to his incredible speed.
Upon reaching the old grounds, he simultaneously executed the Soaring Movement Arts and the Gale Sword Arts. In an instant, it appeared as if four or five Yang Yings were present on the field.
The long sword radiated a fierce aura. The sound of the wind was piercing from all directions. The sword's howl was like a massive wave of wind, relentlessly pushing forward.
Half an hour later, Yang Ying ceased his sword movements. The ground was in disarray, strewn with broken stones.
Yang Ying took a moment to catch his breath on the flat ground. Only after he had fully recuperated did he head toward the dormitory.
Midway, he spotted three figures ahead. He instantly recognized them as Lu Chenghua and his two companions.
With composure, he halted and concealed himself behind a nearby tree.
"What rotten luck!" Lu Chenghua vented his frustration with two sharp kicks against the tree, exclaiming, "How on earth did that nobody manage to reach the Sixth Level of Qi Refining?"
"Exactly! It makes no sense!" The fat one crushed a stone beneath his foot as if settling a personal vendetta.
Lee spat out disdainfully and said through clenched teeth, "There's got to be some mistake!"
Scraping at the tree bark, Lu Chenghua flung the pieces to the ground in a fit of rage. "I'm going to file a complaint!" he declared.
Resolved, the trio started to move on, but the fat one quickly noticed Yang Ying standing coolly in the tree's shade not too far off.
"Young Master! The waste is over here!" he called back to the others before charging at Yang Ying with a malicious grin. "You're in for a lesson today, trash!"
Hearing this, Lu Chenghua roared with laughter. "Well done, Fatty! Let's not hold back today!"
"Wait up, Fatty! Don't finish him off without me!" Lee, seeing the fat one nearing Yang Ying, hurriedly sprinted forward to join the fray.
Yang Ying stood his ground, silently observing their approach.
The fat one reached him, bellowing as he unleashed his full might in a punch that whistled through the air toward Yang Ying.
He could almost see Yang Ying crumpled on the ground, knocked out cold.
But in the next instant, Yang Ying, without moving from his spot, looked at the fat one and effortlessly caught the punch with his right hand.
"How can this be?" the fat one gasped in disbelief, "I've just advanced to the Fifth Level of Qi Refining!"
With a flick of his wrist, Yang Ying sent the fat one tumbling away. Lee, thinking he had the upper hand with Yang Ying's back turned, raised his fist to strike.
However, Yang Ying, seasoned from his time in the Back Mountain, sensed the incoming attack from the whistle of the wind. He spun around, his right hand meeting the punch head-on.
Lee's fist seemed to strike nothing but air, as if he had punched cotton. A mouthful of fresh blood escaped his lips as Yang Ying's palm struck his chest with force.
Attempting to regain his balance, Lee found himself airborne, his body hurtling backward several meters before crashing to the ground.
Lu Chenghua watched in awe of Yang Ying's ferocity. The fight had barely begun, and already Fatty and Lee lay defeated.
Internally, he cursed, "Useless!" Yet, he charged toward Yang Ying, drawing his sword as he ran.
Lu Chenghua thrust his long sword at Yang Ying's face, but Yang Ying countered with the Gale Sword Arts. The sword gleamed, and in a flash, Lu Chenghua was forced to parry a strike aimed at his chest.
Seizing the moment, Yang Ying swung his sword upward. Lu Chenghua, unaccustomed to such swift swordplay, stumbled awkwardly to the side, rolling away to evade Yang Ying's relentless assault.
Yang Ying pressed the attack, landing a stab on Lu Chenghua's right calf. Lu Chenghua, dragging his injured leg, scrambled backward across the ground.
Yang Ying, undeterred, delivered another thrust, piercing Lu Chenghua's right arm.
"You're the trash!" Yang Ying roared, his anger propelling his foot into Lu Chenghua, sending him flying meters away.
Meanwhile, Fatty had managed to get to his feet and was attempting to flee. Yang Ying, employing the Soaring Movement Arts, closed the distance in the blink of an eye.
Fatty, witnessing Lu Chenghua's pitiful condition, had hoped to slip away unnoticed. But now, with Yang Ying upon him, terror seized his heart.
Collapsing to his knees, Fatty pleaded, "Senior Brother Yang! We've grown up together, from the same village! Spare me, please!"
With his plea, he raised his right hand and struck his own face hard, admitting, "This is all my fault!"
Yang Ying, unmoved by the display, rebuked him sharply, "You know we grew up together? You remember we're from the same village? Then look at your actions! To curry favor with Lu Chenghua, you've repeatedly chosen to confront me!"
With those words, Yang Ying advanced, kicking Fatty to the ground. Gazing down at Fatty's now grotesquely swollen face, Yang Ying drove his sword into the man's thigh.
After a swift flick of his sword, Yang Ying sheathed it with a soft ring. Holding the blade, he strode toward the dormitory, the setting sun casting long shadows behind him.
Upon reaching the dormitory entrance, Yang Ying was greeted by the sight of Wang Mingxuan, who stood against the wall, cradling his own sword. "Senior Brother Yang!" Wang Mingxuan called out, dropping his arms to wave. He circled Yang Ying, a puzzled look on his face. "Senior Brother Yang, there's something different about you. Odd, I can't quite pinpoint the change."
Yang Ying, aware that his recent act of vengeance was the cause, chose to remain silent.
"Senior Brother Yang, have you heard? The Outer Sect Trial Assembly is just a month away!" Wang Mingxuan's voice was tinged with excitement.
"Is it time for the annual Trial Assembly already? Are you thinking of entering?" Yang Ying inquired, eyeing Wang Mingxuan.
"I'm only at the seventh level of Qi Refining and haven't made a breakthrough yet. There's no point in me entering," Wang Mingxuan said, kicking at a pebble with his toe.
"I plan to assist an Inner Sect Senior Brother by guarding the Pill Furnace. Maybe I'll get my hands on a few spirit pills to sell right before the Trial Assembly."
"That's a smart move. Pills are always in high demand during the Trial Assembly."
"Senior Brother Yang, why don't you join me? I've taken on a task from Senior Brother Wang Zhen, an Inner Sect Pill Refiner. He needs two people this month to help guard the Pill Furnace when necessary." Wang Mingxuan's eyes were full of hope as he looked at Yang Ying.
