"This must be the seal that Grandpa left for me."
Yang Qingxuan sighed deeply, his expression tinged with melancholy. Grandpa is so muddled. For fifteen years, we've relied on each other. This little shabby house was our home. Now he's gone, and I'm left all alone, isolated once more.
He stood outside for a long while, reading the letter over and over again. Grandpa told me not to look for him because he fears I'm not strong enough and might encounter danger. That means he's gone to a perilous place!
Yang Qingxuan's eyes lit up in determination. I can't just sit back. I must find him! But with my current strength, I'll only be a burden. I don't even know what "Heavenly Position Power" is. I should listen to Grandpa's advice, focus on cultivating my body, reach the strength of a Yellow Turban Warrior, and then condense my own Martial Soul.
Though no longer the fool he once was, Yang Qingxuan was still a man of deep thought, accustomed to careful consideration rather than rash decisions.
He picked up the yellowed Six Yang Palm book and carefully flipped through it. Six Yang Palm, Mystical-grade Primary Martial Technique, extremely yang and rigid, limitless power...
Time passed quickly as Yang Qingxuan stood motionless, his brow furrowed in concentration, absorbed in the technique. As dusk descended, he continued reading, undeterred by the fading light. His keen vision allowed him to read clearly in the dark, unimpeded by the night.
Fully immersed in the study of the Six Yang Palm, Yang Qingxuan stood there, a statue-like figure, until the first rays of dawn lit up the room. Only then did he slowly close the book.
"This technique isn't particularly complicated, but it's simple, direct, and overwhelmingly powerful. It channels all one's energy into one strike. Compared to the Dragon Palm, it lacks the flair, but its power is magnified tenfold."
Having studied martial arts deeply in his past life, Yang Qingxuan quickly grasped the stark differences between the martial techniques of Earth and those of this world. On Earth, martial arts were constrained by natural laws, and the most one could cultivate was the Qi Martial Realm's tenth level. Most martial arts there were designed for that level.
However, the Six Yang Palm could draw upon power beyond the Qi Martial Realm.
Yang Qingxuan put the book away and began practicing the Six Yang Palm, following the prescribed energy flow. His hands formed a complex seal in front of him.
As the technique began, his body's energy seemed to be drawn in, converging fiercely into his palms. His aura transformed instantly, radiating intense heat that spread outward.
Yang Qingxuan's face turned pale as he felt the immense power of the technique. But just as he initiated the strike, all the energy he had gathered suddenly drained away, leaving him powerless to maintain the palm imprint.
In a panic, he hurriedly released the half-formed strike.
Bang!
A huge palm imprint appeared on a nearby tree, instantly severing it. Flames erupted from the impact, turning the entire tree into ash within moments.
Yang Qingxuan's eyes widened in shock. He hadn't expected this level of power even in a half-finished technique.
If I had unleashed the full force... would this strike have been powerful enough to destroy a tank on Earth?
But with his current cultivation, Yang Qingxuan knew he couldn't fully unleash the Six Yang Palm.
Even with just a fraction of its power, his meridians burned with a searing pain, as if being scraped by a sharp blade. He realized it was his lack of cultivation that made it impossible to bear the overwhelming might of the technique.
It all comes down to my lack of strength. I must raise my cultivation as quickly as possible, condense my Martial Soul, and perfect this Six Yang Palm so I can find Grandpa and uncover the truth about my origins.
With his mind made up, he turned and headed back to the shabby house. After packing a small bundle, he set off toward the academy.
With Yang Zhaobing gone, he was alone, and there was no point in staying in the dilapidated house. Yang Qingxuan decided to move into the academy.
He ran swiftly, soon reaching the academy district.
The gates of Tiancong Academy were made of exquisite white jade, the dual-color jade forming a double-door structure. The golden characters "Tiancong Academy" were embedded in the gates, exuding a majestic aura that made it difficult to look directly at.
In front of the gates was an open area. A group of students was gathered, some of them scanning the surroundings.
As Yang Qingxuan approached, his eyes immediately found Xue Hao, Hu Ding, and Zhou Cang. Hu Ding and Zhou Cang had dark expressions, searching the area, while Xue Hao was pale and lifeless, his eyes devoid of spirit, though occasional flashes of hatred flickered within.
"There he is!" Hu Ding shouted, his voice filled with excitement, anger, killing intent, and malice.
Whoosh!
The crowd of twenty or so people immediately dispersed, surrounding Yang Qingxuan from all sides. These were the martial artists from the Xue, Hu, and Zhou families.
Zhou Cang pointed at Yang Qingxuan, gritting his teeth. "Yang Qingxuan! We've been looking for you everywhere! The humiliation from the other day will be repaid a hundredfold today!"
Yang Qingxuan's mind went on alert. There were nineteen people in total, most at the seventh or eighth level of Qi Martial Realm, but six of them were much stronger, likely having reached the Spiritual Martial Realm.
He sneered. "Looks like you three still haven't learned the five virtues and the four good habits. Should I carve them into your bones with a knife so you don't forget?"
Zhou Cang and Hu Ding both shivered slightly at his cold smile, their palms sweating in fear. They couldn't help but feel a pang of dread.
The two exchanged a glance, their faces pale. Surrounded by so many family warriors, they realized that no matter how strong Yang Qingxuan was, he was bound to die. They felt ashamed of their own cowardice.
"Bold!" an old man with a long beard shouted angrily. "You, the grandson of a trash janitor, dare to harm my Zhou family's people. Today, I will break your limbs and make you kneel and kowtow a hundred times to apologize!"
Yang Qingxuan's face darkened, killing intent flashing in his eyes.
Though the old man was formidable, his venomous words ignited Yang Qingxuan's rage.
On Earth, he had fought and conquered many powerful opponents to reach the pinnacle of strength. But in the end, all those stronger than him had fallen before him, becoming mere stepping stones on his path to the top.
While cultivation was important, true battles of life and death also depended on willpower, determination, wisdom, martial skills, and weapons. A true expert wasn't just about cultivation level, but how they maximized every factor in their favor.
"That's too lenient!"
A middle-aged man with a beard shouted angrily. "My son, Xue Hao, has been ruined for life because of this! I'll tear him into pieces, skin him, and crush his bones until my heart's satisfied!"
The middle-aged man, Xue Hao's father, glared at Yang Qingxuan with an intense, burning hatred. The fury in his eyes seemed enough to melt Yang Qingxuan into ashes.