54: Playing the old man in the ring 3

"We're rich!" Ye Huohuo was incredibly excited.

"Don't get excited just yet, open the box."

Ye Huohuo walked to the right and opened the jade box on the stone platform.

Inside the box lay a simple, ancient-looking token, with the character "Sword" carved on it.

"This is..."

"The entrance token for the Qingyun Sword Sect."

Qin Jiuge said, "With this token, you can bypass the examination and directly become an Inner Sect Disciple of the Qingyun Sword Sect."

"Three months from now is the day the Qingyun Sword Sect opens its mountain to accept disciples; this is your chance."

Ye Huohuo gripped the token, a surge of boundless ambition rising in his heart.

The Qingyun Sword Sect was one of the three great Sects in the Zhao Kingdom, where Qingyang City was located! The Sect Master was a powerful figure at the Nascent Soul Stage!

"Senior, I..."

"Don't thank me yet." Qin Jiuge interrupted him, "Take the ring off the skeleton's finger; that is the real treasure."

Ye Huohuo did as he was told and took off the ring.

"This is a storage ring; it contains the life savings of that Golden Core Cultivator." Qin Jiuge said, "However, the Restriction is too weak; I will help you open it."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Restriction on the ring shattered upon the sound.

Ye Huohuo probed inside with his Divine Sense and immediately gasped!

The space inside was ten zhang square, piled high with Spirit Stones, Medicinal Pills, Magical Artifacts, and a large number of Jade Slips containing Cultivation Techniques!

"Roughly estimated, there are five thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, one hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and over a hundred bottles of various Medicinal Pills,"

"Over twenty Magical Artifacts, and more than thirty Jade Slips of Cultivation Techniques." Qin Jiuge listed them as if they were his own treasures, "That should be enough for you to use for a while."

Ye Huohuo was speechless.

This wealth was likely thicker than the entire Foundation of the Ye family!

"Now, you have the capital." Qin Jiuge laughed: "For the next three months, I will personally train you."

"Three months from now, I want you to astonish everyone at the Qingyun Sword Sect's disciple acceptance ceremony!"

Ye Huohuo nodded heavily, flames burning in his eyes.

Liu Yanran, just you wait.

Three-year agreement, I will let you know what true despair is!

And all of this was just beginning.

Outside the cave, the night wind blew past, carrying away a faint, barely audible chuckle.

"An interesting little guy... This game is getting more and more fun."

...

In the following days, Ye Huohuo seemed like a different person.

He was no longer depressed all day, but instead threw himself wholeheartedly into Cultivation.

Under Qin Jiuge's guidance, he progressed at a speed unimaginable to ordinary people.

At midnight on the first day, in the cave behind the mountain, Qin Jiuge's voice echoed in Ye Huohuo's mind:

"The first layer of the Seal on the Nine Yang Battle Body has been undone; your Cultivation speed is ten times that of an ordinary Cultivator."

"But speed alone is not enough; your Foundation must be solid."

Ye Huohuo sat cross-legged beside the remains of the Golden Core Cultivator, surrounded by Spirit Stones taken from the storage ring.

"Now, draw the Spiritual Qi into your body and circulate it according to the route of the 'Nine Revolutions Profound Technique',"

"But when passing through the three Acupoints of 'Tianchi', 'Baihui', and 'Shenting', pause for three extra breaths."

Ye Huohuo did as instructed and immediately felt the difference—when the Spiritual Qi stayed in those Acupoints, it seemed to be repeatedly tempered, becoming more pure and condensed.

"This is the 'Three Acupoint Spirit Refining Method'; although it will slow down your Cultivation speed, it can make the quality of your spiritual power far exceed those of the same rank."

Qin Jiuge explained: "The spiritual power of others at the second level of Qi Gathering is like mist; yours should be like a fine drizzle."

A night passed, and when the first ray of morning light shone into the cave, Ye Huohuo opened his eyes, the fluctuations of Spiritual Qi around his body significantly stronger.

"I've reached the third level of Qi Gathering."

He clenched his fists, feeling the surging power within his body.

"So-so." Qin Jiuge commented: "Don't Cultivate during the day today; go practice actual combat. Show me that 'Falling Leaf Palm' of your Ye family."

After returning to the Ye family, Ye Huohuo practiced the family palm technique in his small courtyard.

After only two moves, Qin Jiuge scoffed: "Stop, stop, stop! What is this rubbish? It's so soft, it's too slow even for swatting mosquitoes!"

Ye Huohuo said awkwardly: "Senior, this is already the best Martial Skill of our Ye family..."

"Garbage." Qin Jiuge was blunt, "Listen well, I will pass on a set of 'Blazing Sun Palm' to you; although it is not of a high grade, when combined with your Nine Yang Battle Body, its power can be increased threefold."

Lines of the exquisite palm technique's mental formula were transmitted into Ye Huohuo's mind, and he immediately became immersed in it.

This 'Blazing Sun Palm' had nine forms, each one domineering and fierce, with a faint scorching aura when striking, perfectly suited to his Physique.

In just half a day, Ye Huohuo had practiced the first three forms to proficiency.

"Now, find someone to test it on." Qin Jiuge said.

Ye Huohuo thought for a moment and went to the Ye family's martial arts arena.

At this time, several Ye family disciples were sparring, one of whom was his cousin Ye Feng, who had a cultivation of the fourth level of Qi Gathering and had often bullied him in the past.

"Ye Huohuo? You're here to practice martial arts too?" Ye Feng saw Ye Huohuo and sneered, "Don't joke around, you can't even sense Spiritual Qi, what martial arts are you practicing?"

Several surrounding Ye family disciples burst into laughter.

Ye Huohuo's expression was calm: "Cousin Ye Feng, may I ask for some pointers?"

"What did you say?" Ye Feng thought he had misheard, "You want to fight me?"

"Yes." Ye Huohuo nodded, "Just three moves."

Ye Feng laughed loudly: "Good! Since you're looking for a beating, I'll grant your wish!"

The two assumed their stances, and the others in the martial arts arena gathered around, prepared to watch the joke that was Ye Huohuo.

"For the first move, Ye Feng will use the 'Falling Leaves Scattering' from your family's palm technique, attacking your upper body."

"You will use the first form of the Blazing Sun Palm, 'First Sun Breaking the Dawn', and strike straight at his middle."

Qin Jiuge guided him in his mind.

Ye Huohuo concentrated, and sure enough, he saw Ye Feng strike with a palm, palm shadows flying, covering his head, shoulders, and chest.

He didn't move, and when the palm wind approached, he suddenly thrusted a palm, simple and direct, yet as fast as lightning!

"Bang!" The palms met, and Ye Feng was actually forced back two steps!

"What?!" The onlookers exclaimed.

Ye Feng's expression changed; he felt the power coming from Ye Huohuo's palm, which was nothing like that of a trash who couldn't Cultivate!

"Come again!" Ye Feng was embarrassed and angry, using his full strength, "Falling Leaves Return to Roots!"

This palm strike was powerful and heavy; it was a lethal move among the Ye family's palm techniques.

"The second form of the Blazing Sun Palm, 'Scorching Sun in the Sky', meet it head-on." Qin Jiuge said calmly.

Ye Huohuo didn't retreat but advanced, striking with both palms, the palm wind scorching as if a blazing sun was burning!

"Boom!" This time, Ye Feng was blown back three zhang, stumbling a few steps before standing steady upon landing, his face pale.

The whole place was dead silent.

Ye Feng, at the fourth level of Qi Gathering, was actually defeated in two moves by the recognized trash, Ye Huohuo?

"No need for the third move." Ye Huohuo withdrew his palms and turned to leave, leaving behind the shocked crowd.

Back in his small courtyard, Ye Huohuo couldn't hide his excitement: "Senior, I won!"

"Winning against someone at the fourth level of Qi Gathering, is that worth being proud of?" Qin Jiuge poured cold water, "Your goal is not these small characters. Keep practicing; tonight you will break through the fourth level of Qi Gathering."

Ye Huohuo nodded heavily.

The next day, a major event occurred in Qingyang City.

The Liu family suddenly announced that Liu Yanran had broken through to the Great Perfection of Qi Gathering and was about to go into secluded meditation to attempt Foundation Establishment!

Once the news broke, the whole city was shocked.

A sixteen-year-old Foundation Establishment Cultivator; this had never happened in the history of Qingyang City!

The Liu family's reputation was unparalleled for a time, and many people began to distance themselves from the Ye family, turning instead to curry favor with the Liu family.

In the Ye family's main hall, the atmosphere was heavy.

"If Liu Yanran really succeeds in Foundation Establishment, my Ye family is in danger!" An Elder said worriedly.

"What is there to fear? At worst, we'll fight to the death!" Another Elder said angrily.

Ye Tiannan sat in the main seat, his brows tightly locked. He looked at his son: "Huohuo, what do you think?"

Ye Huohuo stood up and said calmly: "Father, Elders, there is no need to worry."

"Three months from now, the Qingyun Sword Sect will open its mountain to accept disciples, and I will enter the Sword Sect with the first-place result."

"By then, the Liu family will not dare to touch the Ye family in the slightest."

"First place?" Grand Elder Ye Qingshan smiled bitterly, "Huohuo, it is good to have ambition, but when the Qingyun Sword Sect accepts disciples, geniuses from the entire Zhao Kingdom will go,"

"Among them, there will be no shortage of young talents at the seventh, eighth, or even ninth level of Qi Gathering, you..."

"I can do it." Ye Huohuo said firmly.

After he left the main hall, Ye Qingshan sighed: "Family Head, is Huohuo... too confident?"

Ye Tiannan, however, smiled: "No, I saw a light in his eyes that I have never seen before."

"Perhaps, my son can really create a miracle."

That night, in the cave behind the mountain.

"Senior, Liu Yanran is going to attempt Foundation Establishment." Ye Huohuo said in a deep voice.

"So what?" Qin Jiuge said indifferently, "She has a System to cheat; it's normal for her cultivation to improve quickly."

"However, her Foundation is unstable; forcing a Foundation Establishment will have endless hidden dangers."

"Then I..."

"You should Cultivate step by step." Qin Jiuge said, "The most important thing during the Qi Gathering stage is to lay a solid Foundation."

"Every time a layer of the Seal on your Nine Yang Battle Body is undone, you will have a qualitative leap."

"Now, prepare to break through to the fifth level of Qi Gathering."

Ye Huohuo sat cross-legged and took out a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone to hold in his hand.

Under Qin Jiuge's guidance, he had already broken through to the fourth level of Qi Gathering in the past half month, and was now preparing to charge towards the fifth level.

"The fifth level of Qi Gathering is a small Bottleneck; for others, it might take months or even a year,"

"But for you..." Qin Jiuge paused, "You must break through tonight."

Ye Huohuo nodded, circulating the 'Nine Revolutions Profound Technique', and the Spiritual Qi poured into his body like a river.

Time passed minute by minute, and his aura continued to climb.

At the third quarter of the Zi hour, the cave suddenly filled with brilliant golden light!

Nine Acupoints around Ye Huohuo's body lit up simultaneously, forming a small cycle.

The second layer of the Seal on the Nine Yang Battle Body was undone!

"Boom!" Fifth level of Qi Gathering, Breakthrough!

Not only that, because the second layer of the Seal was undone, his Physical Body strength soared, and the quality of his spiritual power reached another level.

"Now, your true combat power is already comparable to the seventh level of Qi Gathering." Qin Jiuge commented, "Combined with the Blazing Sun Palm, you can fight against the eighth level."

Ye Huohuo felt the surging power within his body, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"Still not enough." He said in a deep voice.

"Of course it's not enough." Qin Jiuge laughed, "So next, I will pass on a set of movement techniques to you, the 'Phantom Fire Steps'."

A series of complex footwork techniques were transmitted into his mind, and Ye Huohuo immediately began to practice.

This movement technique was bizarre and unpredictable; when executed, it was like a flame jumping, difficult to pin down.

Combined with the Blazing Sun Palm, its power was doubled.

Just like that, days passed one by one.

During the day, Ye Huohuo lived normally in the Ye family, occasionally giving pointers to the Ye family disciples on their Cultivation. Of course, what he taught were the basic Cultivation Techniques improved by Qin Jiuge, which caused the strength of many Ye family disciples to soar, and they became increasingly respectful towards him.