Chapter 9: Transforming Qi into Ice-Fire Wine!

In fact, even Ling Feng was somewhat surprised. Even though it was his first time using the Heavenly Eye to replicate an opponent's martial technique, he had somehow managed to perform it even better than the original user.

What he didn't know was that his continuous activation of the Eye of the Son of Heaven due to his previous rage had greatly strengthened his physique, making him far more powerful than those martial artists who had painstakingly cultivated from the Body Tempering realm.

Whether in terms of strength or speed, his level was higher than that of Ren Yifei and his companions. Therefore, when performing the same Black Wind Claw and Cloud Chasing Steps, the level he displayed was superior to theirs.

As Ren Yifei fell, how could the other lackeys have any strength left to fight?

In just another moment, Ling Feng's golden needles darted out, sealing the acupoints of the others.

Although acupuncture was different from martial techniques, sealing an opponent's acupoints was quite effective in actual combat.

Looking at the several "dead dogs" on the ground, Ling Feng was certain: it was clearly because his cheap master had some grievances with the high-level members of the Immortal Questioning Sect that he had been dragged into this.

The reason Duanmu Qingshan had not stood up for him was perhaps because he did not want to implicate him.

However, thinking it would be easy to make Ling Feng leave obediently was a mistake.

Setting aside the difference in treatment between the inner and outer sects, the spiritual energy in the inner sect was more than three times as dense as in the outer sect, meaning the cultivation speeds were worlds apart.

Furthermore, only inner sect disciples were qualified to enter the Library Pavilion to select cultivation methods and martial techniques; once in the outer sect, one was left with nothing but heavy daily chores.

With such conditions, how could he rapidly increase his strength to go to the Yan family in the Eastern Capital and reclaim the second volume of the *Great Profound Acupuncture Scripture*?

He had worked so hard to join the inner sect; even if there was only a sliver of hope, he would never give up!

Strength—he needed even greater strength!

"Remember, don't provoke me again!"

Ling Feng gave a light snort, withdrew the golden needles from Ren Yifei and his men, and turned to walk toward the bamboo house.

Once the acupoints were released, Ren Yifei and the others could finally move. They scrambled backward in panic before struggling to their feet, glaring at Ling Feng with fury. "Just you wait! Don't think you can rest easy just because you defeated me. Tomorrow, even more powerful senior brothers will come. Your end will be incredibly miserable!"

Ling Feng's brow furrowed. He clenched his fist, which let out a sound like cracking beans, and whipped his head around to glare fiercely at Ren Yifei.

Ren Yifei shuddered at the look and didn't dare linger, immediately fleeing as if flying.

"A bunch of cowards!"

Ling Feng snorted coldly and turned to enter Duanmu Qingshan's bamboo house.

When Ling Feng returned to the courtyard, he found his cheap master sitting on a bamboo chair in the yard, looking at him with some surprise.

"Master!" Ling Feng stepped forward and bowed.

Duanmu Qingshan pursed his lips, not bothering to argue about Ling Feng calling him master, and simply said indifferently, "I didn't expect you to actually have some skill."

"Skill is forced out of people," Ling Feng said in a low voice, clenching his fists.

"Interesting!" Duanmu Qingshan took a sip from his wine gourd, beckoned Ling Feng with a finger, and said calmly, "You, come here!"

Hearing this, Ling Feng took a few steps forward and stood before Duanmu Qingshan.

"Third level of Qi Condensation?" Duanmu Qingshan was slightly taken aback. "You've advanced to the third level of Qi Condensation overnight?"

"Perhaps it was a buildup of long-term accumulation," Ling Feng said nonchalantly.

"Is that so?" Duanmu Qingshan had no intention of prying. His gaze swept toward a nearby bamboo chair as he said calmly, "Sit."

Ling Feng nodded and sat beside Duanmu Qingshan as instructed, listening quietly without saying much.

"Seeing how young you are, you possess a calmness and composure that is hard for ordinary people to achieve." Duanmu Qingshan turned to look at Ling Feng. "It seems you have been through quite a lot."

"A little bit," Ling Feng nodded slightly. "On the other hand, Master, you are clearly of the rank of an uncle to those Peak Masters and Elders, yet you seem to have little status in the sect and are instead isolated by everyone from top to bottom. There must be some reason for this."

"Indeed, the reason is quite significant."

Duanmu Qingshan took another sip of wine and said indifferently, "However, do not think that because you survived this first time, you can stay here peacefully. I have said before: I am not your master, and I will not teach you anything. Leave quietly and do not harbor any wishful thinking."

"I also said that I will definitely become your disciple!"

Ling Feng raised an eyebrow and smiled. His gaze suddenly fixed on the wine gourd in Duanmu Qingshan's hand, and he said with a curl of his lip, "Master, what is in that gourd of yours... is likely medicinal wine, isn't it?"

"Oh?" A flash of surprise crossed Duanmu Qingshan's eyes. "Go on."

"Deficiency in both Qi and blood, strong on the outside but weak on the inside. Master, you must have suffered extremely severe internal injuries in the past, right?"

"Sharp eyes." Duanmu Qingshan nodded. "For one so young, your medical skills are not bad."

"I know a little bit of the basics," Ling Feng said slowly, meeting Duanmu Qingshan's gaze. "It's just that, Master, the composition of your wine is incorrect."

"Hmm?" Duanmu Qingshan's expression finally changed slightly. "Boy, even if I, Duanmu Qingshan, wouldn't dare say my medical skills are unrivaled under heaven, I did earn the reputation of the Divine Physician Duanmu decades ago. In all the world, the number of Taoist physicians who can surpass me in medicine can be counted on one hand. You actually dare to say my Qi-Transforming Ice-Fire Wine is incorrectly composed?"

"If it's wrong, it's wrong!"

Ling Feng gritted his teeth. In other matters, he might not argue with Duanmu Qingshan, but he possessed a particular obsession regarding medicine.

This was also why he had achieved such profound medical attainments at such a young age.

Duanmu Qingshan stared into Ling Feng's eyes for a long time before finally bursting into laughter. "You are right! My wine is incorrectly composed!"

Duanmu Qingshan stood up slowly. "If the composition were correct, how could my cultivation have decreased and continuously leaked away over the past ten-plus years instead of increasing? To think that I, Duanmu Qingshan, thought my medical skills were superb, only to be lectured by a junior."

"Actually, Master, I might be able to try and improve this medicinal wine," Ling Feng said calmly.

"What did you say?" Duanmu Qingshan looked at Ling Feng in disbelief. "Boy, isn't your tone a bit too arrogant? I have spent ten years and still cannot improve the formula for this Qi-Transforming Ice-Fire Wine, and now you are telling me you have a way?"

Duanmu Qingshan sized Ling Feng up from head to toe. "How old are you?"

"What's wrong with giving it a try?"

Ling Feng held out his palm and said calmly, "Master, could you lend me this Qi-Transforming Ice-Fire Wine to examine?"

Duanmu Qingshan casually tossed the wine gourd into Ling Feng's hand. "Take it. I want to see what you can actually figure out."