The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS
Chapter 71 - 68: Ouyang Ke, Dead

Chapter 71: Chapter 68: Ouyang Ke, Dead

Over the following several days, Feng Jiu visited Yunlai Inn daily, allowing Qing Yu to pour his inner strength into cultivating the "Black Heaven Book."

What astonished Qing Yu was the rate at which the "Horn Meridian" was being unblocked, originally believing that with his current inner strength, he could only unblock one acupoint per day.

However, on the second day, he managed to unblock the third acupoint, and by the third day, the "Horn Meridian" was nearly clear.

"Who would’ve thought that ’Endless’ has already begun to emerge at this stage."

The "Four Laws of Existence" of the "Black Heaven Book," the third law being Endless, stated that after refining thirty-one meridians, cultivation wouldn’t be necessary as the Tribulation Power within the body would circulate automatically like the stars in the heavens.

Qing Yu had thought he must wait until the Thirty-One Meridians, including the Three Constellations and Twenty-Eight Stars, were fully trained before the "Black Heaven Book" would operate on its own. However, in reality, it was clear why the "Hidden Meridian" was synonymous with celestial phenomena; even without all being unblocked, it could move individually like constellations, affecting the overarching celestial pattern.

As the process progressed, the speed of unblocking increased drastically. Qing Yu just needed to keep infusing inner strength to maintain the energy consumption from cultivating the Tribulation Power.

"Alright, let’s stop here for today. The ’Horn Meridian’ has just been opened; you should go back and get used to it. Remember, do not practice privately under any circumstances," Qing Yu cautioned Feng Jiu once more.

The successful unblocking of the ’Horn Meridian’ would speed up the following process, and if one couldn’t resist cultivating in private, the newly opened acupoints, desperately needing a flow of inner strength, would drain all of one’s Essence Qi, leading to death by dehydration.

"Yes, Brother Meng, I shall take my leave now," Feng Jiu respectfully said.

Watching Feng Jiu’s respectful behavior, Qing Yu inwardly chuckled. Over these past few days, as more and more acupoints were unblocked, Feng Jiu must have subtly felt Qing Yu’s restraint over him. Without Qing Yu’s inner strength, Feng Jiu’s cultivation of the "Black Heaven Book" led to nothing but a dead end.

Thus, the slightly arrogant demeanor he had upon first acquiring inner strength was considerably subdued. At least, in Qing Yu’s presence, he now knew to consciously lower his stance, placing Qing Yu in charge.

"Mm," Qing Yu replied indifferently, showing neither warmth nor coldness. Having made it clear he came to maintain control over the other, there was no need for pretense.

Feng Jiu turned and left.

"One is capable of both bending and stretching; I might have underestimated this Ninth Prince," Qing Yu thought to himself.

A few days earlier, at Lingxian Pavilion, the Ninth Prince’s actions could only be described as folly to the extreme. Not only did he fail to earn people’s admiration, but he also reaped endless mockery and ridicule.

Now granted a new hope, this seemingly unspectacular Ninth Prince was radiating an extraordinary image.

"However, one mustn’t be deceived by his respectful facade. The patience he shows now is likely in anticipation of having payback once the ’Black Heaven Book’ is mastered."

Feng Jiu naturally had a weak constitution but was unwilling to be mediocre, constantly striving for more. Whether his actions were smart or not, for the time being, it was aside. Just his tenacity alone was praiseworthy.

Unfortunately, having cultivated the "Black Heaven Book," even if he turned heaven and earth upside down and became a great sage equal to heaven, he couldn’t escape from the palm of Qing Yu, who was like the Tathagata Buddha.

After the Three Constellations and Twenty-Eight Stars had been trained, the excruciating ’Black Sky Tribulation’ would await him. For Qing Yu, a person with tenacity was good news; at least he wouldn’t give up hope and commit suicide under the threat of the ’Black Sky Tribulation.’

Qing Yu closed his eyes to regulate his breathing, slowly recovering his expended inner strength.

Pouring inner strength into Feng Jiu was tiring, but it brought benefits. The constant expenditure and recovery had solidified Qing Yu’s recently advanced Postnatal Nine Realms.

Once his inner strength was fully restored, Qing Yu opened his eyes, picked up the longsword placed beside him, and said, "System, I want to challenge Ouyang Ke."

"One-star villain Ouyang Ke, initiation of inheritance······"

Speaking of which, Ouyang Ke was somewhat similar to Wei Xiaobao and Yin Zhiping, whom Qing Yu had already inherited from; they were the sort who couldn’t move on after seeing a beautiful woman.

However, he wasn’t as infatuated as Yin Zhiping, who would lose his mind at the mere sight of a woman’s silhouette, nor was he like Wei Xiaobao, born of the brothel, not fussy about his choices, lustful at the sight of any beauty. As the Young Master of White Camel, Ouyang Ke had his fair share of beauties from the East and the West; only an exceptional beauty like Huang Rong could capture his true interest. At least Qing Yu was confident that his female disguise wouldn’t tempt him.

"Wait, don’t I have the Disguise Technique?"

Qing Yu suddenly remembered the incredibly magical disguise technique from the "Lianhua Treasure Book" he possessed – it seemed he could still easily snip some more chives with his female disguise.

But now, with the inheritance already underway, even if he had female clothing on hand, it was too late to change.

"Perhaps it could work," Qing Yu had another bold thought.

After a few strokes on the face, when the hand was lowered, there appeared a face of stunning beauty, exuding an allure that was almost celestial. Qing Yu had molded a new face based on the most brilliant one in memory: Little Dragon Girl. Combined with the Confucian robe, it was akin to Zhu Yingtai from another world. Now, Ouyang Ke, let’s see if you can escape death this time.

At that moment, the figure of Ouyang Ke also became visible.

He was dressed in a long white satin robe embroidered with golden threads, holding a folding fan, appearing to be around thirty-five or thirty-six years old. Despite his age, he didn’t lack charisma, with dashing, upward-slanting eyes and a refined yet commanding appearance—a truly handsome man.

However, it was the silver gleam in Ouyang Ke’s eyes when he looked at Qing Yu that transformed him from a charming uncle to a lecherous rake in an instant.

"Miss, I am Ouyang Ke. May I have the honor of knowing your name?" As soon as he appeared, Ouyang Ke’s eyes were fixed on Qing Yu, unable to move away from the captivating vision of a beauty dressed in men’s attire.

Qing Yu remained silent and attacked with the "Quanzhen Swordsmanship."

It’s not that Qing Yu couldn’t gain an even greater advantage through dialogue. Even though the thought was revolting, if it would allow for a swift execution of Ouyang Ke, Qing Yu wasn’t opposed to using it. Unfortunately, the art of altering one’s voice required years of practice and, although the Lianhua Treasure Book contained such magic, Qing Yu didn’t have time to practice. Speaking would surely give the game away.

"Quanzhen Swordsmanship." As one of the inheritors of the Five Extremes, Ouyang Ke was all too familiar with this famous sword technique. His uncle (father) harbored a bone-deep hatred for Wang Chongyang, and Ouyang Ke was exceedingly familiar with the martial arts of the Quanzhen Sect—the second most, after a certain rival’s Dragon Subduing Palm.

"Could it be that the lady is a distinguished disciple of Sun Bu’er from the Quanzhen Seven Sons? What a coincidence, my sect also has deep ties with the Quanzhen Sect. By seniority, I suppose you should even address me as ’Martial Uncle’."

Ouyang Ke thoroughly enjoyed toying with this woman in men’s clothing, whose martial arts seemed to be inferior to his own.

His figure fluttered up like willow fluff—silent, gentle, yet extremely swift. Suddenly, he moved behind Qing Yu.

This was the "Instantaneous Thousand Miles."

His palm attack was unpredictable, the "Divine Camel Snow Mountain Palm."

But midway through his attack, the silver in Ouyang Ke’s eyes flashed, and he switched from "Divine Camel Snow Mountain Palm" to "Spirit Snake Fist." His arms became as if boneless, transforming into a lively snake, the snakehead aiming to loop over Qing Yu’s shoulder and strike at the chest, seemingly to test the thickness of the Evil-Wrapping Cloth.

At such a close distance, attempting such a high-risk move meant Ouyang Ke—an audacious man with a lustful heart—likely did not realize how sharp the sword in Qing Yu’s hand was.

Qing Yu gripped the long sword with a backward hold and stabbed backward.

A harsh, merciless Sword Light glittered in the complacent eyes of Ouyang Ke.

"You..." Ouyang Ke hastily retreated using "Instantaneous Thousand Miles."

But it was too close. "Exorcism Swordsmanship" was inherently swift and ferocious. Even though Ouyang Ke tried his best to dodge, the tip of the sword, by an inch, still sunk deep into the area between Ouyang Ke’s chest and abdomen.

"Too much talk."

A pure male voice, leaving Ouyang Ke, amidst severe pain, still involuntarily shocked.

Qing Yu’s figure vanished like a shadow and flickered deviously around Ouyang Ke.

Now on the left, the long sword thrust out, now appearing on the right, the edge of the blade chilling to the bone.

Ouyang Ke, already slower than Qing Yu, now severely wounded by the sword, was helpless to counter and could only defend in disarray.

Another sword thrust from a blind spot on the left aimed at Ouyang Ke’s neck.

In desperation, Ouyang Ke twisted his body and, with a folding fan made of gold and jade in hand, tried to block the sharp edge.

But at the clash of sword and fan, the long sword lost momentum and fell to the ground. Qing Yu had already abandoned the sword after the attack, and it was only due to inertia that Ouyang Ke was able to block it with ease.

Behind him, Ouyang Ke’s heartbeat raced as he felt a sharp edge approaching from his back.

Too late. The scene replayed, only this time it was Qing Yu behind him. The long-unused Mystic Iron dagger penetrated his back on the left, piercing through the heart.

Ouyang Ke, dead.