108: Hidden Dragon Banquet 2

The Lei Family, Training Grounds.

"Hahaha! Good! Well fought!"

Lei Hao's booming laughter echoed over the Training Grounds.

He had just finished a round of archery practice when he heard his subordinates' report about the Exotic Beast Market, and he immediately burst into hearty laughter.

"That fellow Fierce, relying on the power of the Blazing Sun Martial Arts Hall, walks around with his nose in the air all day. I've long found him an eyesore! Brother Chen's palm strike was truly satisfying!"

He casually tossed the Iron- fetal Bow, which required Three Stones of Strength to draw, to the guard beside him and strode toward the edge of the field, grabbing a towel to wipe his sweat.

"Where is Brother Chen now?" Lei Hao asked.

"Reporting to Young Master, he should have returned to the Yangwei Martial Arts Hall," a follower replied.

"Prepare a horse! No, I'll go to Yuqian Lane personally!" Lei Hao was in high spirits. "Such a joyous occasion calls for a great drink! I must go and back Brother Chen up, and remind him to watch out for that lunatic Yan Chen."

Half an hour later, Lei Hao's characteristically tall figure appeared outside the small courtyard in Yuqian Lane.

"Brother Chen! Lei is here to visit!"

Chen Linsheng was in the courtyard refining a variation of the Willow Leaf Saber Technique with Su Wan. Hearing the voice, he opened the door and was somewhat surprised to see Lei Hao. "Brother Lei? Please, come in."

Lei Hao walked into the courtyard without ceremony. His gaze swept over the elegant yard and the gentle Su Wan, and he grinned. "I'm disturbing the peace of Brother Chen and my sister-in-law!"

Su Wan's face turned slightly red as she bowed. "Young Master Lei."

"No need for formalities, sister-in-law!" Lei Hao waved his hand, then slapped Chen Linsheng hard on the shoulder, praising, "Brother Chen, you really are a hidden talent! That palm strike at the Exotic Beast Market has already spread throughout the County City! That kid Fierce is usually so arrogant, but this time he's finally kicked a steel plate!"

Chen Linsheng invited him to sit, and Su Wan served fresh tea.

"Brother Lei overpraises me; it was merely self-defense," Chen Linsheng said calmly.

"Excellent self-defense!" Lei Hao drained his teacup in one gulp, wiped his mouth, and said seriously, "But brother, you must be careful. Fierce is nothing, but the Yan Chen behind him is a troublesome character. That guy trains like his life depends on it, his strength is incredibly formidable, and he's petty and vindictive. Since he's declared he'll find trouble for you at the Hidden Dragon Banquet, he'll definitely strike ruthlessly."

Chen Linsheng nodded. "Thank you for the reminder, Brother Lei. I know what I'm doing."

"It's good that you know!" Seeing his calm expression, Lei Hao's admiration grew. "But don't worry too much. At the Hidden Dragon Banquet, under the watchful eyes of the public, no matter how wild Yan Chen is, he won't dare go too far. Besides, if he really dares to bully the small as the big or play any underhanded tricks, I, Lei Hao, will be the first to object!"

He patted his chest and said heroically, "Though we haven't known each other long, I, Lei Hao, recognize you as a friend! When a friend is in trouble, I will never sit idly by!"

Chen Linsheng felt a warmth in his heart and cupped his fists. "Brother Lei's nobility is great; Linsheng will remember it."

"Haha, saying that makes us strangers!" Lei Hao laughed. "Right, the Hidden Dragon Banquet is only a few days away. How are your preparations? Do you need any help? Cultivation Techniques, Medicinal Pills, weapons—my Lei Family still has some resources."

Chen Linsheng politely declined. "Thank you for your kindness, Brother Lei, but I lack for nothing at the moment."

Lei Hao didn't push it either. After chatting for a while longer and making an appointment to meet again before the Hidden Dragon Banquet, he took his leave.

After seeing Lei Hao off, Chen Linsheng stood in the courtyard, looking toward the towering silhouette of the building faintly visible in the center of the County City—the Lanyue Tower.

The Hidden Dragon Banquet... Yan Chen... His eyes were calm, but deep within, there seemed to be flames flickering.

Tingyu Pavilion, private room.

The young man in white, White Feather, was still sitting in his usual spot by the window, sipping his tea unhurriedly.

A middle-aged man who looked like an ordinary tea drinker stood with his hands down to one side, reporting in a low voice.

"...Chen Linsheng, a native of Qinghe County, originally a herb gatherer, later joined the Yangwei Martial Arts Hall. Due to his major contributions in wiping out the Black Mountain Gang and killing the Envoy of the White Lotus Sect, he gained the appreciation of Envoy Ling Feng and was recommended for the Martial Scholar examination... At the Yang Wei Martial Arts Hall Branch Drill Ground, he defeated Zhou Tong of the Late-stage Flesh Tempering Realm in five moves; at the Exotic Beast Market, he defeated Fierce of the Blazing Sun Martial Arts Hall with one palm strike..."

As White Feather listened, a gentle smile remained on his lips.

When the middle-aged man finished his report, he gently set down his teacup.

"A solid Foundation, decisive action, and knows when to advance or retreat," White Feather commented softly. "It seems I haven't misjudged him."

The middle-aged man hesitated for a moment and said in a low voice, "Young Master, this person seems to have cultivated a type of Body Refining technique that emphasizes Foundation heavily. His blood-qi purity and physical strength far exceed those of the same rank. Moreover, the palm technique he used to defeat Fierce seemed ordinary but actually contained a certain Hunyuan-as-one Concept; it's definitely no ordinary Martial Skill."

"Oh?" A flicker of interest flashed in White Feather's eyes. "Could you see its origin?"

"Your subordinate's eyes are clumsy and couldn't see it clearly. But it is definitely not a technique passed down by the Yangwei Martial Arts Hall," the middle-aged man shook his head.

White Feather tapped his finger lightly on the table, lost in thought.

"Continue to watch. His battle with Yan Chen at the Hidden Dragon Banquet might reveal more things." White Feather paused and added, "In addition, check his background, especially the detailed situation of his parents and kin. Such a figure should not appear out of thin air."

"Yes." The middle-aged man acknowledged and withdrew.

White Feather sat alone by the window, watching the gurgling water below, the look in his eyes deep and difficult to discern.

"Chen Linsheng... just what secret are you hiding?"

Yuqian Lane small courtyard, late at night.

Chen Linsheng sat cross-legged in his room, not asleep.

Although he hadn't personally seen the reactions of the various parties during the day, he could roughly infer them. The hostility of the Blazing Sun Martial Arts Hall, the change in Hall Master Zhao's attitude, Lei Hao's righteous support, and even the potential attention of that mysterious Young Master White Feather... all of this was within expectations.

Since he had chosen to step onto the stage, he would inevitably have to face these things.

His mind was calm as he began to review his recent cultivation gains.

The White Crane Wind and Cloud Song had been initiated, and its Fusion with Spirit Monkey Hundred Changes was showing initial results. When he dodged Fierce's punch during the day, the agility and swiftness of his Movement Technique were thanks to this.

But it wasn't enough.

At the Hidden Dragon Banquet, facing an opponent like Yan Chen, his Movement Technique had to go a step further.

He closed his eyes and concentrated. In his mind, the Profound Truth of the White Crane Wind and Cloud Song and the essence of the Spirit Monkey Hundred Changes surfaced alternately.

The elegance of the white crane, moving with the wind, a hundred steps in an instant... the deceptive changes of the spirit monkey, shifting and leaping, adapting to the terrain... the two seemed different, but they actually shared common ground. Both emphasized agility, change, and the utilization of the environment.

"Wind-like agility, monkey-like deception... if they can be fused into one, my Movement Technique can surely reach another level."

Chen Linsheng's thoughts moved like lightning. The blood-qi in his body slowly circulated according to the path of the White Crane Wind and Cloud Song, while his body muscles adjusted slightly, simulating the power-generation techniques of the Spirit Monkey Hundred Changes.

Gradually, the aura around him became erratic.

At times, it was like a gentle breeze brushing against willows, soft and ethereal; at times, it was like a spirit ape leaping across a mountain stream, rising and falling abruptly.

The two Concepts appeared alternately on him. Initially, there were some awkward obstructions, but as time passed, they gradually showed a trend of Fusion.

Outside the window, the moonlight was like water, moving silently.

After an unknown amount of time, Chen Linsheng suddenly opened his eyes.

His body didn't seem to move, yet he floated up like a feather. With a light tap of his toes on the edge of the bed, his whole being seemed to lose weight, tracing a graceful arc in the air and silently landing by the table in another corner of the room.

The entire process was silent and as fast as a ghost, carrying an indescribable elegance and agility.

If someone had been present, they would have been shocked to discover that his path of movement was not a straight line, but had naturally turned three times in the air, as if pushed by an invisible wind, or like a spirit ape using leverage to swing through the trees—completely natural and untraceable.

"It's done."

A flash of joy appeared in Chen Linsheng's eyes.

Although it was only a preliminary Fusion and still far from true Perfection, the agility and variation of his Movement Technique had already improved by at least thirty percent!

More importantly, he had found the right direction.

"This Movement Technique, fusing the elegance of the white crane and the changes of the spirit monkey, shall be called the 'Crane Ape Illusory Wind Steps'."

He murmured to himself, quite satisfied with it.

Sitting cross-legged again, Chen Linsheng did not rest there but took out the bottle of Flesh Refining Realm Medicinal Pills he had obtained from Wei Jingtong.

He poured out one pill and swallowed it.

The pure medicinal power dissolved. He circulated the Hunyuan True Body and Python Dragon Strength, guiding the medicinal power to temper his muscles.

There were still more than ten days until the Hidden Dragon Banquet; he had to race against time to increase his strength as much as possible.

Muscles vibrated, and blood-qi surged.

With the assistance of his Minor Achievement in the Jade Marrow Guiding Technique, the efficiency of medicinal power absorption was extremely high, with almost no waste.

He could feel another muscle emitting a faint hum under the impact of the medicinal power. The blood-qi flowed through it, and it took on a bronze luster, marking the completion of its tempering.

Two hundred and one... the night was still long.

The night in the County City seemed even deeper than in Qinghe County.

But within this deepness, undercurrents were surging, and winds and clouds were gathering.

The Hidden Dragon Banquet was already close at hand.