Chapter 11: Master Makes a Move!

By dusk, Ling Feng had already performed acupuncture on Duanmu Qingshan, temporarily suppressing the hidden injuries within his body to prevent them from erupting at any moment.

However, to completely heal these injuries, medicinal assistance would be necessary.

This was not something that could be rushed, but under Ling Feng's treatment, Duanmu Qingshan's complexion had already improved significantly.

After gathering sufficient medicinal ingredients, Ling Feng began practicing the martial techniques he had copied today via the "Heavenly Eye" in the courtyard: the Black Wind Claw and the Cloud Chasing Steps.

Although neither was an extraordinary technique, Ling Feng had never encountered any martial arts before; these two were the only ones he currently mastered.

More and even stronger opponents would come knocking tomorrow. Mastering one or two techniques would at least ensure he wasn't completely defenseless.

After all, if he encountered a situation where his True Qi was suppressed while using temporarily copied techniques, he would likely be left with no choice but to endure a beating.

Ling Feng practiced until the dead of night before returning to his bamboo hut. He began to make proper use of the thirty-second duration of his Human Path Eye, feeling the massive influx of Heaven and Earth spiritual energy converging into his body, causing his True Qi to surge once again.

...

As the sun rose in the east.

Ling Feng rose early. In the faint light of dawn, he rushed to a medicinal garden located behind Duanmu Qingshan's bamboo building.

As a physician, Duanmu Qingshan had cultivated his own spiritual herb garden during his decade-long seclusion within Little Bamboo Peak.

Ling Feng took out a bamboo tube and busily gathered herbs for over half an hour, collecting some morning dew, which served as a medicinal catalyst to dissolve the hidden injuries in Duanmu Qingshan's body.

Inside the bamboo building, Duanmu Qingshan leaned against the railing, gazing out and muttering to himself, "This kid..."

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Ling Feng let out a long breath and tucked the bamboo tube into his robe. Just as he was about to return to his room, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching the building.

"Hmph, I want to see exactly who dares to strike a disciple of my Flying Star Peak!"

"Senior Brother Shi, you must avenge us!"

As they spoke, several figures came to a halt outside the bamboo building. Among them was Ren Yifei, who had been chased away the previous day. The leader, however, had changed to a tall, muscular man with a square face.

The square-faced man's brows were furrowed into a deep V. Standing with his hands behind his back outside the building, he commanded arrogantly, "Kid, were you the one who hit Ren Yifei yesterday?"

Ling Feng narrowed his eyes. Without even thinking, he knew the newcomer came with ill intent.

"I hit him, so what? What do you want?" Ling Feng clenched his fists, watching the man warily.

This person's aura was entirely different from Ren Yifei and the others; he carried a faint scent of blood, clearly marking him as a seasoned combatant.

Such a person had experienced too many life-and-death struggles, having honed his True Qi and martial techniques to a state of seamless integration. Dealing with someone like this would be difficult!

"Arrogant brat!" Shi Tailong stared coldly at Ling Feng like a venomous snake. "Arrogance comes with a price!"

Before his voice had even faded, Shi Tailong lunged forward, stepping out like a tiger descending a mountain.

It was also the Cloud Chasing Steps, but Shi Tailong's speed was several times faster than Ren Yifei's!

A gust of wind slammed into Ling Feng's face!

Shi Tailong's muscles bulged, exploding with a heart-palpitating strength.

"Die!"

Shi Tailong's strike was incredibly ruthless. He lashed out with a claw, aiming directly for Ling Feng's throat.

Ling Feng's reaction was not slow. He activated the Cloud Chasing Steps to retreat and activated the Heavenly Eye, attempting to copy Shi Tailong's technique.

"Hmph, Cloud Chasing Steps? Your execution is pathetically slow!"

Shi Tailong let out a strange laugh and tore downward with his claw. A surge of True Qi flowed from his fingertips, making his five fingers instantly resemble five steel blades tearing toward Ling Feng's chest.

Ling Feng's eyelids twitched violently. This form of external True Qi projection was similar to "True Qi Wings"; without profound and condensed True Qi, it would be impossible to reach this level.

"Kneel before me!"

Shi Tailong had already realized that Ling Feng was merely at the third level of Qi Condensation. With his True Qi exploding, he immediately blocked all of Ling Feng's escape routes.

"Damn it!" Ling Feng clenched his fists. He was no match for Shi Tailong—unless he used golden needles to stimulate the Baihui acupoint on his head to activate the Third Vertical Pupil!

However, if he activated the Third Vertical Pupil here, he feared he would no longer have a place in the Wenxian Sect.

Just as Ling Feng was at his wits' end, about to have Shi Tailong's hand seize his throat—

"Get out!"

The command came sudden and sharp!

A startling roar erupted from within the bamboo building, followed by a burst of violent aura.

A green figure flashed; Duanmu Qingshan silently leaped down from the bamboo building, landing beside Ling Feng.

An invisible force erupted from his body. Shi Tailong's body was instantly thrown back uncontrollably, and he spat out a mouthful of blood!

"Incredible!"

Ling Feng's eyes shone with excitement. This master of his was terrifyingly strong!

He had merely stood there without even making a move, yet his mere presence had sent Shi Tailong flying.

Duanmu Qingshan stood with his hands behind his back, staring coldly at the Flying Star Peak disciples outside. He said in a frigid voice, "You... dare to touch my disciple, Duanmu Qingshan's disciple?"

Ren Yifei's legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Duanmu Qingshan's aura was simply too terrifying; it was something that minor Qi Condensation stage martial artists like them could not withstand.

"I haven't made a move in a few days, and what, has that waste Yang Wei forgotten how formidable I am?" Duanmu Qingshan's cold voice drifted out slowly, making Shi Tailong, Ren Yifei, and the others feel as if they had fallen into an ice cellar.

A surge of passion rose in Ling Feng's heart. When would he be strong enough to be like Duanmu Qingshan, able to call a Peak Master of the Wenxian Sect a "waste"?

"Grand-Uncle Duanmu, please... spare my life!" Shi Tailong, spitting blood, scrambled to his knees. All his previous arrogance had vanished as he kowtowed repeatedly. "Spare me! Spare me!"

"Hmph, you aren't even worthy of dying by my hand!" Duanmu Qingshan flicked his wide sleeve and said coldly, "Go back and tell Yang Wei that Ling Feng is now my closed-door disciple. If he dares to touch a single hair on Ling Feng's head, he better consider whether he can withstand my wrath!"

"Yes! Yes!"

Shi Tailong felt as if he had been granted a reprieve. He scrambled out of Little Bamboo Peak, and the other Flying Star Peak disciples, terrified out of their wits, fled even faster than he did.

"Thank you, Master, for your assistance!" Ling Feng turned to look at Duanmu Qingshan. Had Duanmu Qingshan not intervened, Shi Tailong might truly have taken his life.

Ling Feng made a mental note of this grudge.

"Don't celebrate too early. By taking you as my closed-door disciple, I am essentially inviting endless trouble upon you." Duanmu Qingshan patted Ling Feng on the shoulder. "Kid, from this day forward, I shall teach you my life's ultimate expertise!"

"Thank you, Master!" Ling Feng was overjoyed. He had seen Duanmu Qingshan's prowess with his own eyes. If he could learn his skills, in time, even Yang Wei would be someone he wouldn't look up to.

The hope of reclaiming his grandfather's second volume of the *Great Profound Acupuncture Scripture* was finally within reach!