Chapter 587: If There's a Next Time, I'll Beat You Up Again.

“This… isn’t this the Great Astral Sect’s Tiger-Breaking Technique?”

Among the spectators, some knowledgeable ones immediately recognized the technique—it was the secret martial arts technique only that belonged to the Great Astral Sect and was renowned for its strength and effectiveness.

It was true that the disciples of the Mount Shu Sect rarely studied martial arts. In fact, most disciples that followed the school of Daoism did not learn martial arts. Even physical cultivators typically concentrated on strengthening and fortifying their bodies rather than honing martial techniques.

The core logic of physical cultivation often came down to this statement: "So what if you cultivate your flashy techniques? I will be faster and stronger than you. My fist will just be more powerful than yours."

This was basically the fundamental approach to physical cultivation.

However, before the recent closed-door training in the Divine Mirror of the Eight Trigrams, Chu Liang had a conversation with Ling Ao.

With only seventy days left, focusing further on refining his physical cultivation or advancing his current realm wouldn't have given Ling Ao a significant combat boost. After all, any kind of cultivation eventually reaches a point of diminishing returns.

In martial arts, however, Ling Ao had very little experience. Even the techniques he had learned were primarily aimed at enhancing speed and strength, with little focus on actual combat skills.

Having practiced the Brick Combat Technique himself, Chu Liang knew that martial arts could provide a significant edge in many situations. Martial arts allowed the practitioner to achieve great impact with minimal effort, making them invaluable in combat. Since Ling Ao’s experience in this area was limited, focused training over this period would surely lead to substantial improvements.

To learn martial arts, one needed the right manuals. While the Mount Shu Sect had a decent collection, choosing the most suitable one was another challenge.

At this point, Chu Liang once again showcased the power of his extensive network.

He called Yun Chaoxian over late at night to evaluate Ling Ao’s physical attributes and help select the most suitable martial arts technique.

The disciples of the Great Astral Sect were often said to share a single brain, having devoted all their intellect to mastering martial arts. In this respect, Yun Chaoxian was undoubtedly a genius.

After careful assessment, Yun Chaoxian concluded that Ling Ao’s speed, explosive power, and reflexes were top-tier, but his physical resilience was lacking. Therefore, he recommended techniques that emphasized offense and agility over defense.

In the end, Yun Chaoxian left the Tiger-Breaking Technique with Ling Ao to practice.

The Tiger-Breaking Technique emphasizes close-quarters combat, relying on swift, decisive strikes and precise maneuvers, making it a formidable weapon in melee encounters.

Now, Ling Ao was demonstrating the results of his seventy days of grueling practice with the Tiger-Breaking Technique.

"

Ha!

"

While Qi Lin'er was still in a daze, Ling Ao seized the opportunity, charging forward with relentless speed.

His movements were so fast that they left a blur of afterimages. Qi Lin'er twisted and dodged, but Ling Ao was relentless, closing the gap with every step.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh—

Thanks to the spacious corridor, the chase continued, but it didn’t take long before Ling Ao caught up to Qi Lin'er.

Thwack.

Qi Lin'er spun and threw a punch, but Ling Ao intercepted it with a sharp chop to the wrist, quickly following up with a knee strike.

Bang—

The strike landed hard on Qi Lin'er's waist, sending his small physique crashing into the corridor wall. Before he could recover, Ling Ao landed another punch!

Crash—

Each of these blows would have killed an ordinary person, yet Qi Lin'er managed to endure them all, despite his small and slender physique.

As Ling Ao prepared to seize the opportunity and deliver another strike, Qi Lin'er suddenly opened his mouth and roared, "Aaargh—!"

His roar was like the cry of a celestial beast, and his eyes blazed with fierce light!

The force of the roar sent Ling Ao flying, crashing into the opposite wall!

"

Cough…

" Qi Lin'er dropped to the ground and spat out a mouthful of blood. He sounded raspy as he said, “I originally planned to use this move to defeat Chu Liang, but since it's come to this, I'll settle things with you first…”

As he spoke, his pupils started looking different. They became vertical, glowing with golden flames. Azure scales began to emerge, spreading across his skin, while horns sprouted from his forehead. His body twisted and reshaped, transforming into a terrifying dragon-human hybrid.

This was... the Dragon Soul Possession!

Ling Ao had studied dragon techniques extensively—perhaps even more so than Chu Liang—and he immediately recognized that this transformation was a gift of a higher level than the legacy of the dragon scale.

The gifts of power granted by dragons were strictly tiered, ranging from dragon blood to dragon breath, and finally to dragon soul—each representing a distinct level of power and mastery.

Dragon blood was often bestowed upon subordinates or servants, using a drop of True Dragon blood essence to refine their physical body. This granted a temporary boost in power, but it ended up limiting their potential.

The gifting of dragon breath was reserved for juniors or disciples, involving the bestowal of a dragon scale imbued with Dao essence. This granted them the presence of dragon breath. While it might not result in immediate increases in strength, it held immense potential and the highest upper limit over time, serving as a form of legacy or cultivation inheritance from the True Dragon.

The dragon soul was even rarer and more valuable, as it required the True Dragon to weaken themselves and bestow a fragment of their soul to another. This allowed the recipient to tap into the dragon soul when needed, borrowing some of its immense power. This gift was typically given by mature True Dragons to their pure-blood offspring to protect them from being killed by enemies.

It could be said that dragon blood served as an enhancement, dragon breath as a legacy or cultivation inheritance, and the dragon soul as a form of protection.

At this moment, Qi Lin'er had activated the protective power of the Azure Dragon.

"Roar—" Fully transformed into a dragon, Qi Lin'er exuded immense pressure, releasing an enraged dragon chant that echoed through the sky.

Boom!

With a sudden burst of speed, he charged forward. The air cracked with explosive sounds, and he seemed to teleport, appearing instantly before Ling Ao.

Break, redirect, strike.

Ling Ao silently recited the essentials of the Tiger-Breaking Technique, his body bracing for impact. But when his palm made contact with the opponent's fist, he was met with an immovable force.

Bang—

Even though he blocked Qi Lin'er's fist with his left hand, Ling Ao was still struck on the shoulder.

In retaliation, he smashed his right elbow into Qi Lin'er's temple, causing the flames in the latter's vertical pupils to flicker.

However, dragon scales covered Qi Lin'er's entire body, including every vulnerable spot. After the hit, he quickly turned his head back.

Boom boom boom boom crash—

When Ling Ao executed the Tiger-Breaking Technique again, he found that he could no longer inflict significant damage to Qi Lin'er. Although he could land three strikes for every one of Qi Lin'er’s, the difference in their physical strength had become insurmountable—this gap was beyond what martial arts techniques alone could overcome.

After exchanging blows, Qi Lin'er's dragon scales cracked, and the flames in his eyes flickered weakly. Clearly, this form of Dragon Soul Possession was very exhausting. Meanwhile, Ling Ao lay collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath, his body worn from the intense battle.

"The fact that you forced me to use my dragon soul shows just how powerful you are," Qi Lin'er said. It hadn't been an easy win, which was why he acknowledged the opponent before him.

With that, he turned and walked into the open portal.

"Qi Lin'er of the Penglai Supreme Sect has defeated Ling Ao of the Mount Shu Sect!"

The announcement echoed through the corridors as Qi Lin'er stepped forward, his gaze lifting to meet the figure he had long anticipated.

"Chu Liang?" A cruel smile spread across his dragon-scaled face. "So it's you after all."

Since Qi Lin'er and Chu Liang had entered from different directions, the chances of them encountering each other in the first two rounds were very small. However, with five participants coming from each direction in the second round, a one-on-one matchup would inevitably leave one person without an opponent.

And now, unexpectedly, they had encountered each other.

𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Ever since Chu Liang had slapped Qi Lin'er unconscious during their last encounter, Qi Lin'er had been unable to let it go. He felt humiliated, believing he had been ambushed unfairly and had not even gotten the chance to use his divine techniques.

When had he ever suffered such humiliation in his entire life?

If he had the chance to face Chu Liang openly in a fair fight with real blades and spears, he would never have suffered such a humiliating defeat, nor would he have become the laughingstock of the immortal sects.

Thus, Qi Lin'er had harbored a grudge, waiting for the opportunity to seek revenge on Chu Liang during the Battle at the Imperial City.

He didn't think that this moment would come just like this!

"I just defeated your fellow disciple, so it seems I’m destined to reach the top by trampling the members of your sect. I hope I can meet Jiang Yuebai in the next round. If she agrees to be my wife, then I..."

While Qi Lin'er was still rambling, Chu Liang had already drawn the Dustless Sword.

He didn't particularly dislike children, but for a brat like this who seemed poorly disciplined, some lessons had to be taught.

If once wasn’t enough, then twice.

Last time, Chu Liang had needed the aid of the Great Pill of the Endlessly Devouring Whale to instantly defeat Qi Lin'er. This time, with a full grasp of a Great Dao, he struck again. With a single swing of his sword, a dragon-shaped burst of sword qi roared forward with unstoppable force!

Qi Lin'er hadn't even finished speaking when he saw Chu Liang strike. He planned to endure it with his formidable body, but the moment the dragon-shaped burst of sword qi materialized, a wave of dread washed over him.

No! This sword qi is too dangerous for me. I have to dodge! Chu Liang must have used some despicable, underhanded technique again; this attack doesn’t match his cultivation level.

The warning rang in his mind, but Qi Lin'er found himself unable to avoid it in time. Desperation surged through him, and he dove into the earth, burrowing underground!

But the sword qi generated through the Great Dao of Severing Void relentlessly pursued him, slicing through the earth and splitting the thick ground in an instant...

Boom!

When the dazzling sword qi finally dissipated, a massive pit nearly a zhang deep had formed where Qi Lin'er had been standing.

Chu Liang slowly approached the edge of the pit, his gaze fixed on Qi Lin'er, whose dragon scales were shattered, and blood streaked across his body. The child trembled, struggling to climb out of the massive hole.

"You..." Blood filled his eyes as he gritted his teeth. "You snuck up on me again..."

"Who told you to run your mouth so much, kid?" Chu Liang looked down at him without a trace of emotion. As he watched Qi Lin'er struggle to the edge of the pit, Chu Liang slowly lifted his foot and added, "Many admire Senior Sister Jiang, and I don’t mind. But I don’t want to hear you say her name again... You're not even of age."

As Qi Lin'er was about to climb up, he saw a patterned shoe sole descending from above, stamping onto his face.

Boom—

With all his strength, Chu Liang delivered a powerful kick to Qi Lin'er's face, smashing it inward and sending him tumbling back into the pit, unconscious. It was fortunate that Qi Lin'er's skin was thick—had it been another child of his age, they would have died eight hundred times over from such a blow.

Nevertheless, it was uncertain if Qi Lin'er could hear Chu Liang's last words to him.

"If there's a next time, I'll beat you up again."

GLTD Alternate Universe's Thoughts

Translator: GT