36: Chapter 36 Ax Technique

Ye Jing went to his room and took out the "Black Whirlwind Axe Technique" manual.

He headed straight for the back mountain.

Ye Jing held the "Black Whirlwind Axe Technique." Since his family had been practicing the "Body Forging Method," they had focused all their energy on increasing their Blood Qi.

They hadn't touched any related offensive techniques at all.

Ye Jing hadn't practiced the "Black Whirlwind Axe Technique" before either. He took the broadaxes used for chopping wood at home and tried to dual-wield them.

Once he mastered this "Black Whirlwind Axe Technique," he could confidently let his family practice it, providing them with a way to defeat enemies.

Holding the broadaxes, which weighed dozens of catties, Ye Jing felt they were light. He followed the patterns in the Cultivation Technique, swinging the axes over and over again.

He thought of the bandit he had killed; although that man's axe technique looked intimidating, he seemed to be just a beginner who hadn't mastered its essence.

Furthermore, his strength was lacking; he likely hadn't fully become a Third-Stage Martial Artist yet, otherwise Ye Jing and Ye Xuan wouldn't have been able to kill him so easily.

This axe technique emphasized ferocity and speed. A stable center of gravity and quick strikes were essential; when facing an enemy, defeating them with overwhelming power and speed was key.

Initially, Ye Jing's moves were somewhat clumsy, and his axe swings were crooked. After practicing for less than an hour, his arms were so sore he could barely lift them.

Yet Ye Jing gritted his teeth and persisted. Sweat rolled down his cheeks, soaking his clothes, and the skin on his palms was soon rubbed raw.

In the following days, Ye Jing's martial arts became increasingly solid. His horse stance was steady, and his axe swings were full of power. Amidst the flying shadows of the axes, a sense of discipline and form began to emerge.

Until one day, just as Ye Jing was entering a state of flow, he suddenly felt the Blood Qi surging within him, and the strength in his arms increased dramatically.

Ye Jing held his breath and continued to practice, challenging his physical limits until an ancient script appeared in his mind: "The Family Head's Blood Qi is surging; he has become a Martial Artist. Gained ten points of Immortal Light!"

As the voice rang out, Ye Jing's eyes widened instantly.

He didn't feel tired at all as he clenched his fists in excitement. He had finally achieved a Breakthrough and officially become a Martial Artist!

Ye Jing gripped the axe handles happily. It seemed their family now had its second Martial Artist!

That evening, after Ye Jing announced he had become a Martial Artist, the whole family was happy for him.

His two daughters-in-law immediately slaughtered two Mountain Delicacy Chickens to celebrate.

However, before the Ye family could celebrate for long, something went wrong with Zheng Dadao.

While he was conducting a secret transaction with Guo Zhengning, he was followed by a group of Third-Stage Martial Artists and nearly had his identity exposed.

If Guo Zhengning hadn't reacted quickly enough and killed that group of Third-Stage Martial Artists, the matter of the golden spirit rice might have been exposed.

Zheng Dali hurriedly ran to the Ye family home under the cover of night.

Night.

Zheng Dali sat in a chair with blood seeping from his arm, his face pale and covered in cold sweat.

Ye Jing slowly smoked his pipe, his expression grave. "You're saying someone has their eyes on the golden spirit rice?"

Zheng Dali nodded. Before he could even recover from his fear, he hurriedly said, "Uncle Ye, you have no idea! Those people were terrifying. They approached us silently, and I didn't notice a thing. If Director Guo hadn't reacted, I'm afraid I would have been followed all the way here!"

Beside them, Ye Xuan was bandaging Zheng Dali's wound with some medicine. He asked, "Uncle Dali, where did those Third-Stage Martial Artists come from?"

Zheng Dali shook his head. "They were all dressed in black, completely covered up, and carrying large sabers. I couldn't tell which family they belonged to."

“But I remember their leader warned us that the golden spirit rice must be supplied to the Tang Family from now on, or they would cut off its distribution channels."

"The Tang Family?" Ye Jing narrowed his eyes. He immediately thought of the group from the Tang Family he had encountered while catching Mountain Delicacy Chickens on the mountain.

It seemed the massive sales of the golden spirit rice had caused them to set their sights on it.

"This Tang Family is too overbearing! To actually use such underhanded tactics!" Ye Yi said indignantly.

Demanding tribute for the Tang Family—wasn't that just blatant robbery?

With a dark expression, Ye Jing said, "We will temporarily stop selling the golden spirit rice for a few days."

Before this, the Tang Family had already occupied most of their Qinling Mountains to use as a hunting ground. Now, they were sending people to track the golden spirit rice and trying to use forceful threats.

It was clear at a glance that the Tang Family was not to be trifled with. Currently, Ye Jing's family was not strong enough to face the Tang Family head-on, so they had to avoid them if possible.

As soon as he said this, Zheng Dali hurriedly replied, "But the golden spirit rice is so popular. Cutting it off like this would be too much of a loss, wouldn't it?"

Ye Jing also looked troubled. "There's no other way. The Tang Family is powerful and influential; we don't have the strength to go head-to-head with them yet. We'll wait for a while and let this heat die down first."

Zheng Dali felt helpless hearing this but nodded in agreement.

Although he was reluctant to give up such a profitable venture, as the saying goes, what's the point of earning money if you're not alive to spend it? Everything would be for naught.

"Alright, Uncle Ye. I'll pass your words on to Director Guo."

After nearly dying, Zheng Dali was even starting to hesitate and didn't want to help Ye Jing deliver goods anymore. Ye Jing saw through his thoughts and offered a few words of comfort.

After resting for a bit, Zheng Dali quickly left the Ye family home.

Inside the house, the Ye family members all looked worried.

Ye Yi said unwillingly, "Father! Are you really going to give up? We finally have a chance to make money!"

"Who said I'm giving up?" Ye Jing interrupted Ye Yi calmly.

The family members were stunned.

Ye Jing tapped his pipe and looked at Ye Yi. "Starting today, Ye Yi, Ye Xuan, you don't need to do farm work anymore. Start practicing the 'Black Whirlwind Axe Technique'."

"Father, what do you mean?" Ye Yi was confused.

Ye Jing tapped Ye Yi on the head. "You're so slow. I'm having you practice this axe technique so you can protect yourselves. Once you've mastered it, I'll have you two meet with Guo Zhengning to deliver the goods!"

Ye Yi's eyes suddenly lit up, his previous confusion vanishing instantly, replaced by sheer excitement. "Father, you mean... we aren't giving up the golden spirit rice business, just changing how we deliver it?"

"Give up? It's not that easy." A hint of calculation appeared in Ye Jing's eyes.

"Our family is relying on the golden spirit rice to change our fortunes. Why should the Tang Family be allowed to just take it? Zheng Dali is just an ordinary person; once he's targeted, it's a dead end."

"If he dies, our cooperation with Guo Zhengning will be severed. That's why I need you two to replace Zheng Dali and continue working with Guo Zhengning."

Having said that, Ye Jing looked at Ye Xuan and said, "Xuaner, you need to work hard too! Whether our family can produce a third Martial Artist depends on you!"

Ye Xuan's face stiffened, and he nodded.

His Blood Qi training progress seemed slower than Ye Yi's, but as the eldest brother, he naturally didn't want to fall behind! He had to work even harder.

Meanwhile, at the martial arts hall in Yanggu County Town.

"Dali! Is that really what he said?" Guo Zhengning asked in disbelief.

Zheng Dali said helplessly, "Director Guo, there's no other way. The Tang Family is so powerful; they simply can't afford to offend them."

Guo Zhengning was very unwilling. Standing with his hands behind his back, he said, "The golden spirit rice business is selling so well, yet it's stopping just like that. This..."

Seeing Guo Zhengning's resentment, Zheng Dali consoled him, "Director Guo, the seller didn't say they wouldn't supply anymore, just that we should wait for the current heat to pass. Please don't be anxious!"

Hearing this, Guo Zhengning could only sigh helplessly. "Fine. If he still wants to cooperate, go tell him that I'll still welcome it!"

For a time, Guos Grain Shop temporarily suspended the sale of golden spirit rice, causing the townspeople to lament.

"Damn it, the golden spirit rice was already scarce, and now it's actually stopped selling! I worked so hard to save up that money!"

"Exactly! My boy just started his Cultivation and was relying on this golden spirit rice to supplement his Blood Qi! Now that sales have stopped, is he supposed to just give up halfway?!"

"Did something happen? Why did it suddenly disappear? Will there be no more golden spirit rice in the future?"

The people in town were abuzz with discussion.

Sitting in a restaurant, Young Master Tang Shaojie looked down at Guo's Grain Store with cold eyes and cursed viciously, "Useless trash! They actually alerted the enemy!"

Those Third-Stage Martial Artists were the ones sent by Young Master Tang Shaojie to secretly track Guo Zhengning and find the source seller. He hadn't expected them to be exposed, and their fate remained unknown.

Now, the mastermind behind the supply of golden spirit rice had completely gone into hiding.

There was no way to find them. Was the supplier cowardly or cunning?

"Just you wait. As long as you're still selling golden spirit rice, I will eventually catch your trail!"

Young Master Tang Shaojie crushed his teacup and cursed.