Chapter 310: Chapter 309: Zhang Yunqing Emerges from Seclusion
Yang Fei and Qin Yanyang took up residence in a quadrangle dwelling.
Unlike previous closed-door cultivations, which were secretive and isolated, this time their cultivation was quite open.
They practiced day and night, scarcely having any idle time.
During the occasional breaks, Qin Huai’an would call them to his side and share some of his own experiences when he had his breakthrough to the Innate Realm.
Yang Fei scoffed at this.
By rank, he had long surpassed the Innate Realm, so he didn’t appreciate Qin Huai’an’s well-intentioned advice in the slightest.
Sometimes he even interjected to correct what he saw as Huai’an’s mistaken views.
In the blink of an eye, a week had passed.
In recent days, Qin Yanyang had begun to sense something mysterious, feeling that even when practicing alone, she could somehow leverage her acupoints, creating some kind of profound and mysterious connection between her martial meridians and the world.
But that connection was incredibly tenuous, almost imperceptible, and not at all stable.
Qin Huai’an was overjoyed, declaring that she was truly on the verge of a breakthrough.
Yang Fei acknowledged this as well.
What followed was solidifying that sensation, making it increasingly intense.
On the morning of the eighth day, in the inner courtyard of the Zhang Family, a triumphant laugh rang out as Zhang Yunqing strode out of the secret chamber.
His complexion was ruddy, his momentum like a rainbow, and he radiated a powerful sense of confidence.
Upon seeing his older brother, Zhang Yunqing hurriedly jogged over, gratefully saying, "Thank you, big brother, for protecting me during my cultivation. I succeeded, haha..."
Zhang Yunlong, seeing his brother breakthrough again, was also extremely delighted and asked, "What realm are you at now?"
"Peak of Ninth Grade, the equivalent of the Unique Tier," Zhang Yunqing said proudly.
A hint of disappointment flickered in Zhang Yunlong’s eyes.
That elixir was extraordinarily powerful and, combined with a special secret technique, according to Zhang Yunqing’s previous rank, an advance to the Unique Tier or even stepping into the Innate Realm was possible.
However, Zhang Yunqing had only managed to reach the Peak of the Energy Transformation Realm Ninth Grade and didn’t even possess the combat power of the Unique Tier. It truly was a waste of resources.
But it was also understandable. Zhang Yunqing’s strength had soared in recent years, almost entirely driven by medicinal power, but his natural talent was still far too insufficient. Given that, his current achievement was already remarkable.
If he were to consolidate his current realm for another ten or so years and then receive another opportunity, stepping into the Innate Realm wouldn’t be difficult. But after reaching the Innate, Zhang Yunqing would have no more room for development.
That was fine, though.
For martial artists across the world, reaching the Innate was the ultimate goal.
Those who could make a breakthrough on the basis of the Innate Realm were few and far between.
Grandfather’s talent was exceptional, and if not for that particular stroke of luck, he wouldn’t have been able to go any further.
Moreover, to this day, the only advance Grandfather had made was that small step.
Cultivation was as daunting as reaching for the heavens!
"Not bad, with such a realm, even in the Divine Continent Martial World, you’re considered a first-class master, scarcely meeting an adversary," Zhang Yunlong said, patting his brother’s shoulder, satisfied.
With his momentum like a rainbow and his confidence at its peak, Zhang Yunqing said boldly, "With the several combat skills that big brother and grandfather have passed on to me, even against the Unique Tier, I’m confident I can fight."
Zhang Yunlong chuckled and said, "Good, under normal circumstances you can use those two sets of combat skills to briefly contend with the Unique Tier, but defeating a Unique Tier won’t be that easy."
Zhang Yunqing felt unconvinced and said, "Is the Unique Tier really that powerful?"
Zhang Yunlong replied, "The Unique Tier is equivalent to a Half-step Innate. Their combat power is far stronger than that of Energy Transformation Realm Ninth Grade. Do not be overconfident. In the future, when you encounter a Unique Tier cultivator, you must not be reckless."
"Yes, I’ll remember that," Zhang Yunqing said, a touch of defiance still in his heart, but he truly believed his brother’s words and quickly responded.
"Hmm, with your current realm, people who would dare to provoke you in this world are already few. Moreover, with grandfather and me around, within Divine Continent Country at least, no one would dare to affront you," Zhang Yunlong stated.
Zhang Yunqing’s eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he said fiercely, "Qin Yanyang is only at that Realm. Now, I no longer fear her. I want to see if she will still dare to underestimate me in the future."
Zhang Yunlong’s eyes twinkled with cold light as he said, "That woman is no longer worthy of becoming a daughter-in-law of the Zhang Family. Yunqing, during the time you were in seclusion, she brought that boy back to Imperial City and went to the Qin Family."
"What?"
Zhang Yunqing was furious. "There is an engagement between the Qin Family and our Zhang Family. How dare they allow that boy to visit and pay respects? Is this not a slap in the face of our Zhang Family?"
"Exactly, this is something the Zhang Family cannot swallow," said Zhang Yunlong.
Zhang Yunqing said fiercely, "I want to kill that boy with my own hands."
Zhang Yunlong nodded and said, "We’ve been waiting for you to come out of seclusion. Now that you are at the peak of the Energy Transformation Realm Ninth Rank and have special combat skills, the power you can unleash is enough to contend with the Unique Tier. Although that boy is strong, his combat power is at most Energy Transformation Realm Ninth Grade. You should have no problem killing him."
Zhang Yunqing said, "Exactly, I must kill that boy. Issue a challenge immediately. I want to duel with that boy on the Life and Death Platform. The humiliation I’ve suffered before, I will reclaim tenfold on the Life and Death Platform."
"Do whatever you want to do," Zhang Yunlong nodded, then said with overwhelming confidence, "In just over a month, our grandfather will leave seclusion. By then, our Zhang Family will soar to the heavens. In the face of Divine Continent, who can compete with us?"
Zhang Yunqing was overjoyed. "Really?"
"Why would I lie to you? Remember this, from now on, not only will Divine Continent be under our Zhang Family’s command, but all of Asia, and even more expansive regions in the future, will be dictated by our Zhang Family," Zhang Yunlong declared, a fierce ambition flashing in his eyes.
The Zhang Family had the power to make this a reality.
Moreover, the Zhang Family had a truly powerful backing!
That very afternoon, a challenge invitation appeared on the main forum of the Martial Alliance.
Second Young Master Zhang, Zhang Yunqing, personally issued a Life and Death Platform duel challenge to Yang Fei.
The moment this news appeared, it immediately shook the entire Divine Continent Martial World.
In recent years, the Zhang Family’s influence had been on the rise, and they were on the cusp of becoming the number one aristocratic family in Divine Continent.
Faced with the rise of the Zhang Family, even established families like the Qin Family decided to form marital ties and ally with them.
Originally, the two families had reached an understanding and were preparing for Zhang Yunqing and Qin Yanyang to marry, uniting the two families. However, three months ago, Qin Yanyang suddenly announced on her social circle that she was married, and the groom was not Zhang Yunqing of the Zhang Family.
The matter caused a huge stir at the time.
Everyone was sniggering at Zhang Yunqing behind his back.
Zhang Yunqing also saw it as a disgrace and secretly took a series of actions, hoping to make Qin Yanyang a widow.
However, Yang Fei’s strength exceeded Zhang Yunqing’s expectations, and he survived time and again.
Not only that, but last time on the Life and Death Platform in Binhai, after Yang Fei killed Yan Zhongshan and others, he even issued a challenge to Zhang Yunqing, barely stopping short of calling out Zhang Yunqing’s name.
At that time, Zhang Yunqing was nearly driven to rage.
It was clear to everyone that the mastermind behind it all was him, but when faced with Yang Fei’s provocation, he didn’t have the full confidence to accept the challenge on the spot.
This had once been a source of shame for Zhang Yunqing.
To personally wash away this disgrace, regardless of whether it would harm the foundation of his future cultivation, he implored his elder brother for help, seeking another opportunity to break through.
Now that he had finally made a breakthrough and believed that he could personally exterminate Yang Fei, Zhang Yunqing wasted no time in issuing a challenge post, demanding a duel with Yang Fei on the Life and Death Platform.
Only by personally killing Yang Fei could he alleviate the hatred in his heart!
At the Wang Family, Wang Chengcuo looked at the challenge letter with the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.
"Even if you, Zhang Yunqing, possess Unique Tier combat power, it’s still not possible for you to kill that boy. On the Life and Death Platform, life and death are unpredictable. If you were to die at the hands of that boy, Zhang Yunlong or Zhang Wenfeng would surely go mad," Wang Chengcuo said to himself, a ruthless look flickering in his eyes. "Boy, with Zhu Tianshou protecting you, although I cannot kill you, I must avenge the murder of my beloved disciple. This time, I want to see how you will die!"
He had decided that on the day of the duel on the Life and Death Platform, he would personally attend.
As for the fact that Yang Fei’s combat power far exceeded Zhang Yunqing’s expectations, he still chose to keep it a secret.
His disciple had been killed right in front of him by Yang Fei, which was a humiliation to him. Concerning matters of face, he wouldn’t easily let others know about it.