Three days passed with Qin Feng seated before the Six Tripods Ancient Temple, almost forgoing food and sleep as he comprehended this True Martial Level Boxing Technique.
The profundity and mystery of a True Martial Level Boxing Technique were far beyond what any low-level cultivation method could compare to. Even after a full three days, Qin Feng had only managed to scratch the surface.
He had only learned the first form of the Xuanwu Yin Yang Dao.
As Qin Feng mastered the first form, his cultivation in the Martial Arts Second Layer Heaven naturally reached Perfection. His muscles and bones were tempered to their absolute limit, as if they were a Xuanwu Dragon Bone being forged again and again.
His muscles and bones, hammered countless times, became like a flawless Dragon Bone. With just a slight exertion of force, he could easily unleash Nine Hundred and Ninety-nine Catties of Great Strength.
Nine Hundred and Ninety-nine Catties of Great Strength was the ultimate power one could possess at the Martial Arts Second Layer Heaven. Only by reaching the Martial Arts Three Heavens and undergoing a Blood Exchange, making one's blood as heavy as lead, could one break through a hundred catties and possess the Thousand Jins of Elephant Throwing Power.
But Qin Feng felt that he had only scratched the surface of this True Martial Level Boxing Technique. In fact, it couldn't even be called that.
And that was the truth. The essence of the Xuanwu Yin Yang Dao lay in the principles of heaven and earth it contained; it did not actually focus on specific moves.
One could say that while it had form, its essence was what truly mattered.
This was a Daoist Realm Fist Skill. As long as one comprehended that sliver of its universal principles, one could apply it to any other Fist Technique.
What Qin Feng found most incredible was that as he grasped a sliver of the mystery of the Static and Dynamic Form and comprehended the first form of the Xuanwu Yin Yang Dao, the once-ordinary Spiritual Snake Demon-Subduing Fist and Profound Turtle Sea-Suppressing Fist suddenly gave rise to countless new profundities. He felt that if he executed them now, their power would be several times greater than before.
It was as if he had opened a once-sealed acupoint, giving rise to countless flashes of Spiritual Light and inspiration. Many of the ordinary moves from the two techniques, when combined in pairs or groups of three, now possessed even greater power. He was struck by a profound sense of revelation.
'Incredible. To think the Six Tripods Ancient Temple was hiding such a divine Fist Technique. No wonder that bastard Qin Fang later proclaimed himself the Mystic Black Tortoise Divine Venerable!'
Qin Feng clicked his tongue. 'No one would have ever imagined that this dilapidated temple contained such a world-shaking Fist Technique.'
Just then, the sharp-eyed Qin Feng noticed that some "guests" had arrived by the woods near the swamp. There were quite a few of them; from a distance, he could see a bustling crowd of people.
The group, having just emerged from the Ancient Locust Forest, also spotted the youth practicing his fist techniques beside the ancient temple.
A hurried figure squeezed out from the crowd. In just a few days, Qin Muyun and his men had actually found their way to the ancient temple.
He was dressed in brocade robes and wore a Star Moon Crown. His handsome eyebrows were angled sharply, and his eyes held a mix of excitement and anxiety. He looked rather disheveled, likely from spending so long in the woods; his soft, feathered robe was torn to shreds.
"Sixth Young Master, it looks like Qin Feng is in that temple! He seems to be practicing his fist techniques!"
'Practicing his fists? Could there be a Secret Manual left by Qin Zhan here? That damned good-for-nothing is certainly taking it easy!'
Qin Muyun shoved aside several fawning family servants who had crowded around him, Evil Qi raging in his eyes as his fury soared to the heavens.
"Idiots! Now that you've found him, what are you waiting for? Go and capture that bastard!"
Sixth Young Master Qin roared viciously, practically hopping mad. After wandering in circles through the mountain forest for days, he was about to explode with anger. If the shame and rage fueling him hadn't kept him going, he would have gone mad by now.
'What a monstrous humiliation! To think that I, a Direct Lineage Disciple of the Qin Family, was repeatedly played for a fool by a good-for-nothing. If word got out, how could I ever show my face again?'
"Young Master! Just you watch! This subordinate will immediately go and capture that disrespectful brat for you!" a large, fierce-looking man shouted, jumping forward and pounding his chest in assurance. His face was full of joy. 'A chance to earn merit has arrived! With my cultivation at the Mid-First Heaven of the Martial Dao, catching a good-for-nothing with no cultivation will be child's play!'
The man was built like a bear, with a ferocious, round-eyed face. Wielding a Mountain-Cracking Machete, he cut an impressive figure. His words made the surrounding guards cheer him on inwardly, and even Qin Muyun's expression brightened considerably.
He forced a smile and said, "Excellent!"
Fearing the other Guardians would compete for the merit, the large man swung his Mountain-Cracking Machete to block the others. Amidst their annoyed glares, he laughed smugly. "No need to use a sledgehammer to crack a nut. It's just a good-for-nothing, no need to trouble all you brothers. I can handle this myself!"
After speaking, he even deliberately flexed his arms to show off his own prowess and powerful muscles.
Although a swamp dozens of zhang wide separated them, cultivators had sharp senses. Qin Feng could, of course, hear the brute's voice. This was especially true since the man had deliberately bellowed, as if afraid he couldn't show off his prowess otherwise.
'So, Qin Muyun has finally arrived. I'm not surprised he was able to track me here. The outer Manghuang Mountain Range is vast, but this spot is close to the Qi Yang Mountain Range. If he was determined, finding it wouldn't be hard. But now that I've mastered the first form of the Xuanwu Yin Yang Dao, it doesn't matter. Crossing this swamp is no easy feat.'
'And let's not forget the starving Cyan Rock Crocodiles in this swamp. Those big guys aren't exactly friendly to trespassers!'
From dozens of zhang away, Qin Feng could see Qin Muyun's triumphant gaze. In response, he simply thought, 'Idiot.'
As if sensing Qin Feng's contempt, the brute could no longer contain his anger. Shouldering his Mountain-Opening Ghost Head Saber, he charged into the dark, wet, bubbling mire.
He seemed intent on crossing it in one go.
The brute charged recklessly through the swamp like a rampaging bull, the ground seeming to tremble with his steps. He shot through the mire like a cannonball, crossing two-thirds of the distance in a flash. His mighty display made even Qin Feng look twice, while Qin Muyun beamed with a smile.
He was just about to reach the rock where the ancient temple stood when, suddenly, he let out a "heroic" scream. "AHH!" With a GULP, he was dragged down into the mire as if he were a slippery loach.
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! The sounds of a struggle between predator and prey erupted from the mire, occasionally punctuated by the one-sided, pig-like squeals of the man.
Qin Muyun and his men were dumbfounded. What was going on? How could the man just vanish halfway across?
Qin Feng stood on the rock, watching the brutal scene with a mocking look. Though he said nothing, his expression was enough to infuriate Qin Muyun. 'What a complete moron. This swamp is the territory of the Cyan Rock Crocodiles. Even *I* wouldn't dare charge through it, yet he did? Was he trying to die faster?'
The Sixth Young Master's face turned livid. As proud as he was, when had he ever been mocked like this? He gritted his teeth.
"Charge! I don't care what phantoms are in that swamp, just get across and capture that damned bastard for me!"
Several of the guards' faces turned grim. 'This swamp is too dangerous. Didn't we just see that "valiant" brute get devoured, bones and all, in the blink of an eye? Who knows if there are vicious traps or Fierce Beasts in there.'
Seeing the guards' hesitation and fear, Qin Muyun was so angry he could have spat blood. 'These bastards are always boasting about how incredible they are, how they'd climb a mountain of blades or plunge into a sea of fire for me. But when it's time to act, every last one of them is scared to death!'
Seeing that the men refused to advance, Qin Feng felt a slight pang of regret. 'The Cyan Rock Crocodiles in the swamp must be starving,' he thought.
His gaze fell upon the six Ancient Tripods, his expression shifting. Forming his hand into a claw, he moved like the wind, suddenly unleashing the first form of the Profound Turtle Sea-Suppressing Fist. A great power surged through his fingers, slamming into one of the Xuanwu Ancient Tripods.
VMMMM!
An invisible sound wave rippled out, carrying a unique rhythm. Faintly, all six Great Tripods began to vibrate in unison.
'It seems a certain profound method of exerting force within the Profound Turtle Sea-Suppressing Fist is the key to these six Xuanwu Ancient Tripods, activating some kind of mechanism. Using a fist move as the key and a sound wave as the tumblers to open the lock... Even with all my knowledge, I have to admire the ingenuity of this mechanism.'
RUMBLE!
Before the shocked eyes of everyone, the six Ancient Tripods began to rotate in unison. The rumbling was deafening, and the entire swamp shook as if an Earth Dragon were turning over beneath it.
Slowly, the six tripods shifted, moving three zhang to the side to reveal an underground entrance beneath them. Qin Feng's eyes lit up. 'This must be the entrance to the underground ruins!' Without a second thought, he leaped down into the opening.
"What is that place?!" Outside the swamp, the eyes of the men went wide.
"Idiot, do you even need to ask? It must be a treasure vault! There could be Spirit Pills or Secret Manuals inside!" someone roared, his eyes bloodshot with greed.
Qin Muyun's eyes widened. 'So that good-for-nothing Lao Jiu really was hiding a huge secret!'
RUMBLE! Just then, the open underground entrance began to vibrate again. The ground shook as the mechanism started to close!
"Oh no, the entrance is closing! Everyone, charge!" someone yelled, his eyes bulging and turning bloodshot.
The entrance to the treasure trove was closing! Soon, only a sliver of the opening remained. This was an outrage!
"Don't close!" A series of heart-wrenching, desperate cries shattered the swamp's silence.
One figure after another, no longer caring for the hidden dangers of the swamp, charged forward with reckless abandon. Qin Muyun was the fastest of them all.
However, what greeted them were rows upon rows of bloody maws. It was as if the Cyan Rock Crocodiles in the swamp had heard a dinner bell. SPLASH! SPLASH! SPLASH! They leaped from the mire one after another, as eagerly as diving carp. Their graceful forms were almost like Mermaids.
To the guards, however, these creatures were far more terrifying than Evil Ghosts. Each time a Cyan Rock Crocodile shot out of the sludge, another greedy soul was lost to a jagged-toothed maw.
The charging figures fell like dumplings into a pot, dropping into one horrifying maw after another. Screams and curses echoed across the small swamp.
Qin Muyun's eyes were crimson as he sprinted madly. His luck was incredible; he somehow avoided the massive-jawed Cyan Rock Crocodiles and rushed into the ancient temple in one breath. RUMBLE! The mechanism was just about to seal shut. The entrance to the underground ruins had shrunk to a gap the size of a hand, clearly too small to enter.
"Don't close! Don't close! Let me in!" Sixth Young Master Qin roared, his face flushed and veins bulging in his neck. He lunged forward like a starving tiger pouncing on its prey. But it was too late. The mechanism had sealed completely. His face turned ashen, his eyes filled with a murderous light, as if looking for someone to devour.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
With a few whooshes of air, an imposing, green-robed man covered in blood burst into the temple. His aura was immense and unfathomable. A mere shockwave from his presence sent Qin Muyun flying several zhang away, coughing up a mouthful of blood.
Staring at the completely sealed entrance, a look of thunderous rage flashed across the green-robed man's face.