Under Chu Li's two-pronged help, Xue Ling soon broke through the Opening Meridian Realm and entered the Breaking Acupuncture Points Realm. Due to the fact that the Crescent Cryptic was powerful, the power of her Breaking Acupuncture Points Realm was also quite strong. With this, she would be far better than any other rank eight Protectors.
During the day, other than practicing the eight forms of Crescent Cryptic, Xue Ling had chosen a palm technique called Dark Yin Palm, which was also one of the top-notch martial arts.
The power of top-notch martial arts was indeed strong but cultivating it would not be easy as it required a better comprehension. So although Xue Ling only had an average comprehension was just average, she was lucky to have had Chu Li's help. Chu Li would occasionally enlighten her on her cultivation to trigger her comprehension, and that allowed her to train faster as well.
Since she had not achieved the Innate Mastery's Boundary, Xue Ling could not display the power of Dark Yin Palm. Hence, she could only concentrate on surprising her opponent with the poison in her palms. Once she had hit her opponent with her palm, frost will invade her opponent's body and destroy their balance of Yin and Yang.
She would only be able to display the power of Dark Yin Palm once she had achieved the Innate Mastery's Boundary, where she would be able to transfer her inner energy through the help of objects.
The combination of Dark Yin Palm and Crescent Cryptic — the extreme-Yin and extreme-cold — would produce striking power. The power would be so enormous that even someone who was stronger than her would not be able to withstand the power of that combination. Though the only person who could withstand it would be someone who had practiced the exact opposite of her heart technique — the combination of extreme-just and extreme-Yang.
Since Chu Li had set his mind on training her, he did not go easy on her. After breakfast and an hour of free time, he would make her practice Dark Yin Palm with him and Chu Li would use various martial arts to attack her.
As he had a lot of top-notch martial arts stored in his mind, he took them all out by demonstrating each of them. Even though they were much less powerful than the Dark Yin Palm due to his lack of familiarity, Xue Ling still could not withstand it. In the end, she would either be hit by a fist or foot, stabbed by a sword tip or even cut by a blade.
Even if the sword was made out of wood, it still hurt! Nonetheless, Chu Li hardened up and he refused to go easy on her. He was so strict that even a single sword strike would hurt for as long as half a day, and he was convinced that for the sake of triggering her full potential, this was the best way to do it.
Xue Ling gritted her teeth and persevered. She was determined to cultivate until she had successfully attained exceptional martial arts skills; until she could beat the martial arts masters in the martial arts world. She had trained hard since the beginning but the results were insignificant and the progress was minor. When her confidence was shattered, her perseverance kept her going.
Now, Chu Li gave her important pointers without any biased reservation and she knew that this was a rare opportunity. So no matter how great the suffering was or how many troubles she had to go through, she had to seize the opportunity and cultivated hard.
As time passed, her Crescent Cryptic progressed by leaps and bounds; her meridians became increasingly tough, and her inner energy flowed much smoother and faster. Besides, her understanding of Dark Yin Palm gradually deepened. She felt as if she was entirely and physically transformed on a daily basis.
Despite the unbearable pain and agony, she still continued to practice hard every day.
Chu Li was very impressed by her. To be honest, he thought she would only last for a couple of days before she gave up. Instead, she was someone who became braver with every obstacle she met — she was a self-cultivation maniac.
A month soon passed by, and it left Chu Li wondering if the Second Lady would be getting out soon. Although he did not know the exact time, he guessed that it would not be too long.
...
Startling Cloud Association — Cloud State Town.
Dark clouds cast over the Xu family residence.
Guardian Xu Anxia and Zheng Gongming sat in the main hall. No words were exchanged, and a heavy atmosphere hung over the main hall.
"Bang!" The door of the main hall was pulled open and the Clan Leader of Thunder Clan, Hu Hai strode in. His fat yet robust body was agile and swift. As he sank into the armchair, his weight was so heavy that the armchair made a squeaking sound.
"Damn it!" Hu Hai gritted his teeth. "It must be the Equal of Heaven Association!"
"Clan Leader Hu Hai, what's the use of saying this now?" Xu Anxia glanced at him snappily.
Xu Anxia was quite young and he normally would not dare to speak so rude towards Hu Hai. Despite that, he was now agitated and grouchy because rage was burning in him. Even a slight tension could make him burst into flames.
Hu Hai glared at him and scoffed, "If it isn't because of how useless the two of you are!"
Xu Anxia clenched his teeth but he did not refute.
Zheng Gongming's handsome face turned dark as he stroked his beard and sighed. "It was indeed our dereliction — we failed to retain him!"
"There was only one guy?" Hu Hai asked. "Is it true that there was only one guy?"
"Yes, this person's body movement technique was strangely fast, and his palm energy was extremely peculiar!" Zheng Gongming stroked his beard and frowned. "I have never heard of such a palm skill, with an inner energy that resembled fire."
He recalled that particular scene, where a silhouette in blue flashed past and appeared in front of him. When he hastily struck out a palm, the other party's palm energy poured into him like a stream of lava, burning his meridians instantly. Even though he tried to defend himself, his inner energy could not stop it from wreaking havoc in his body. He was badly injured within a second.
Then, in the blink of an eye, the silhouette had broken through the both of their defense and a palm strike landed on the back of the Association Leader. The Association Leader immediately fell unconscious and until now, she had not woken up. Despite all the Spirit Herbs she had been given, it was all to no avail.
The fact that a martial arts master entered the Ascending Cloud Town and no one was able to stop him worried him a lot. Irrespective of which factions, once they get a martial arts master to join them, it would be a great threat to the Startling Cloud Association and their position as the ruler.
Hu Hai frowned. "This is weird. Where did such a martial arts master come from?"
Xu Anxia replied, "A master like this can't be anonymous. He must be a famous martial artist."
Hu Hai sighed. "We don't know if the Association Leader can overcome this ordeal. Our Startling Cloud Association must really be low on our luck!"
"Sigh..." Zheng Gongming stroked his beard and shook his head. His face was grim.
The few of them took turns to heal the Association Leader by using their inner energy to suppress the raging inner energy in the Association Leader's body. However, they could only suppress it and not dispel it. Her injuries were increasingly severe, and if this goes on, the Association Leader might die.
Xu Anxia frowned. "It's a shame that we could not find Master Chen Li!"
"Only the Association Leader knows how to contact Master Chen Li!" Zheng Gongming shook his head.
"The most urgent task now is to find a way to wake the Association Leader up, even if it's just for a while!" Hu Hai frowned. "Otherwise, our Startling Cloud Association is doomed!"
He had a feeling that only Master Chen Li was the only one who would be able to stop that guy. Otherwise, even if the Association Leader was cured, they still would not be able to escape from that vicious guy's hand!
"I have an idea," Zheng Gongming muttered under his breath. "But not only is this idea useless in helping Lady Chen Siyu's injuries, it will worsen it. I fear…"
"We'll use your idea! Look at what time it is now, Elder Zheng Gongming, and you're still dilly-dallying. We'll just settle for that!" Hu Hai interrupted him. "Lady Chen Siyu is still struggling to survive, you should hurry up!"
Xu Anxia glared at Zheng Gongming. "Guardian Zheng Gongming, could it be…?"
"I can't guarantee." Zheng Gongming sighed.
"I will bear whatever responsibilities there is!" Hu Hai exclaimed. "Don't be so wishy-washy! If the Association Leader is awake right now, she would agree with my decision. Hurry up, Elder Zheng Gongming!"
"… Very well." Zheng Gongming nodded slowly.
When the three of them entered the bedroom, Yue Er was sitting in front of the bed while Chen Siyu peacefully laid on the bed quietly, with her face facing upwards. Her face looked drunken-red; her breath was short yet fast, along with the movement of her chest that moved up and down vigorously.
Yue Er stared at her anxiously and worriedly. From time to time, she dipped the warm towel into the water to cool it before she placed it on Chen Siyu's forehead again.
Though Chen Siyu's breaths were rather hot as well.
Hu Hai said, "Miss Yue Er, we'll find a way to wake the Association Leader up!"
"Alright." Yue Er stood up to move out of the way.
Hu Hai looked at Zheng Gongming. "Elder Zheng Gongming!"
Zheng Gongming hesitated and said slowly, "Under the circumstances, we have no choice but to go with this unwise decision!"
So, he went and stood by the bedside. He regulated his breath for a while, and then pressed his index finger gently onto Chen Siyu's forehead.
Everyone in the room stared at them with wide eyes as they breathed softly. They dared not make any noise.
Ten minutes later, Zheng Gongming released his hand with an ashen face and staggered backward. Xu Anxia quickly went over to support him.
Hu Hai asked hurriedly, "How is it, Elder Zheng Gongming? Was it successful?"
"The Association Leader will wake up soon." Zheng Gongming managed a weary smile. "But she won't be awake for too long. Her injuries will drastically worsen, so she won't be able to hold out for too long."
"We understand," Hu Hai quickly said. "The Association Leader will know what to do!"
Suddenly, a soft moan escaped Chen Siyu's mouth. She slowly opened her eyes and looked at the crowd blankly.
They quickly gathered on both sides of the bed and stared nervously at her.
"My Lady, you're finally awake!" Yue Er was so happy that she wept.
Chen Siyu's eyelashes trembled while she glanced at Yue Er and the three of them by her bedside. "Clan Leader Hu Hai, Guardian Zheng Gongming, and Guardian Xu Anxia, I was injured?"
"Association Leader, your injuries are severe. Would Master Chen Li be able to heal you?"
"…Who's that person?"
"We still haven't identified that person." Hu Hai shook his head, ashamed. "It seems like that guy appeared out of a stone — he can't be traced! There's no news about him at all, in the event that he comes again, we won't be able to stop him!"
He smiled bitterly. "We can only ask Master Chen Li to help!"
"Very well." Chen Siyu nodded her head slightly. "Yue Er."
"My Lady!" Yue Er wiped her tears.
"My jewelry box." Chen Siyu's breath was weak but her words could be heard clearly.
"Yes, My Lady." Yue Er quickly stood up and took out a rosewood box carved with flower patterns. It was simple yet beautiful.
"Guardian Xu Anxia!"
Xu Anxia answered in a rush, "Here! Yes, Association Leader?"
Chen Siyu said, "There's a silver bracelet in the jewelry box that is engraved with the address of Master Chen Li. Take the silver bracelet and go see Master Chen Li. Let Master Chen Li take care of the rest of the matter."
"Yes, Association Leader!" Xu Anxia nodded quickly and looked towards Yue Er.
Yue Er then opened the jewelry box. She took out a pair of silver bracelets and gave it to him.
Chen Siyu looked at Hu Hai and Zheng Gongming. "Clan Leader Hu Hai, listen to Master Chen Li's instruction after he comes back."
"Yes, Association Leader," the two said gravely.
Chen Siyu gave a faint smile before she, once again, closed her eyes and fell into unconscious.
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