Chapter Twelve: The Stakes

“How dare you force your way into the clan’s Martial Arts Pavilion? You’re asking for death!”

Struck back by Qin Lang’s palm, the clan disciple’s face darkened with shame. He pressed closely behind Qin Lang and charged into the Martial Arts Pavilion as well.

“Elder Supreme, please save Yun’er!”

Rushing to the side of a white-haired old man dozing in a recliner, Qin Lang’s expression was filled with urgency. He felt as if he were clutching a block of ice—Yun’er in his arms was barely clinging to life.

The Elder Supreme slowly opened his eyes. His once cloudy old eyes flashed with shock as they landed on Qin Lang, then flicked to Yun’er in his arms. His deeply wrinkled face twitched violently.

This little girl’s martial soul aura was astonishingly powerful!

Soul power is most sensitive to alchemists, and even from a distance, the Elder Supreme could sense the mighty martial soul within Yun’er stirring to awaken.

“This little girl is merely a servant of the Qin household, not one of the Qin clan. Why should I save her? And even if I intervene, her condition may be beyond saving,” the Elder Supreme murmured, stroking his graying beard.

“I possess the clan’s most perfect and strongest martial art, the ‘Invisible Fist,’ with power rivaling that of low-level Profound Techniques! If Elder Supreme saves Yun’er, I am willing to offer this entire martial technique with both hands!”

Each passing second made Yun’er’s condition more perilous. Qin Lang laid down his highest stake without hesitation.

“What! The perfect ‘Invisible Fist’ comparable to low-level Profound Techniques?”

The Elder Supreme was startled, nearly dropping his chin to the floor.

“Nonsense! The Invisible Fist is our Qin clan’s strongest, most perfect martial art. For you to claim it’s incomplete before me is like showing off your skills before a master—it’s laughable!”

The Qin disciple who had followed Qin Lang in burst into loud laughter. This brat had first barged into the Martial Arts Pavilion, and now was mocking the Elder Supreme. With two offenses to answer, death was certain today!

Yet to his surprise, the Elder Supreme showed no sign of punishing Qin Lang. Instead, he glared coldly at him and barked, “Go back and guard your gate!”

“Uh… what’s happening? Could it be that what Qin Lang said is true? How can that be?”

The disciple’s face turned pale with fear. He hastily shut his mouth and slunk out of the Martial Arts Pavilion.

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As the clan’s Elder Supreme, aside from Qin Lang’s father Qin Zhanhai, no one knew better that the Qin clan’s strongest Yellow-Rank Advanced Martial Art, the Invisible Fist, was incomplete.

Over the past ten years, the Elder Supreme had devoted immense effort to perfecting the Invisible Fist, managing only to improve it slightly. It was still far from perfect.

Hearing Qin Lang claim he held the most perfect version stirred even the usually composed Elder Supreme.

If the Qin clan truly possessed an Invisible Fist comparable to a low-level Profound Technique, their strength in Qingfeng Town would soar far beyond the other three great clans!

“Come with me,” the Elder Supreme said, leading Qin Lang into a secret chamber. Pointing to a stone bed, he instructed, “Place the little girl here.”

Qin Lang, knowing the Elder Supreme had agreed to treat Yun’er, was overjoyed. He carefully laid her on the stone bed.

The Elder Supreme stepped forward to examine her, his brows knitting deeply with concern.

Producing a translucent spirit pill, he fed it to Yun’er. Turning his palm, a blazing spiritual fire flared forth—the same alchemical flame he used in refining pills.

With a low shout, the Elder Supreme infused soul power into the flame, enveloping Yun’er’s body. The spirit pill in her mouth dissolved into a gentle flux of spiritual energy, flowing through her limbs and bones.

The frost that had coated Yun’er’s body began to dissipate bit by bit, and a faint flush returned to her cheeks.

“Thank you, Elder Supreme!” Qin Lang exclaimed in relief.

Retracting the flame and soul power, the Elder Supreme wiped sweat from his brow and shook his head gravely.

“Don’t celebrate too soon. Her body is too weak to bear the powerful martial soul. I have merely suppressed her awakening with soul power, the spirit pill, and the alchemical flame—only temporarily, for one month. Within that month, you must find the third-grade spiritual herb ‘Heavenly Ice Flower’ to help her refine her body and withstand the icy breath of the awakening martial soul. Otherwise, she will surely die!”

“Heavenly Ice Flower? Where can such a third-grade herb be found?” Qin Lang asked, willing to brave any danger to save Yun’er.

“The Heavenly Ice Flower only grows on the Heavenly Mountain, at the boundary between the outer and inner regions of Tianfeng Mountain. Its growing conditions are extremely harsh. Moreover, as a herb that refines the body, it is almost immediately devoured by nearby beasts once it matures. It is exceedingly rare and difficult to obtain,” the Elder Supreme explained.

“I will set out immediately to Tianfeng Mountain to find the Heavenly Ice Flower. Please tell me everything you know about its appearance and details!” Qin Lang declared firmly.

---

Without hesitation, Qin Lang resolved that no matter the difficulties, he must find the Heavenly Ice Flower to save Yun’er.

Seeing Qin Lang’s determination, the Elder Supreme shook his head but disclosed all the information he possessed about the Heavenly Ice Flower.

“Please perform the ‘Invisible Fist’ here once more. I will correct and refine it on the spot!” Qin Lang said, preparing to fulfill his promise before leaving to search for the herb, calm and unflustered.

Although Qin Lang’s father Qin Zhanhai knew the Invisible Fist, Qin Lang himself had never awakened his martial soul ten years ago and did not truly know the technique. He could only use his Black Eye Wheel martial soul invisibly to guide the Elder Supreme while he performed the fist.

The Black Eye Wheel martial soul does not manifest outwardly; only Qin Lang himself could sense it, so he was not worried about being discovered.

If the Elder Supreme knew Qin Lang had never truly seen the Invisible Fist and had been deceiving him, he would be so frustrated he might vomit blood.

Any third party witnessing this would burst out laughing—the Elder Supreme was a peak warrior, yet Qin Lang, a mere seventh-rank martial apprentice, brazenly claimed he could instruct him!

Upon hearing this, the Elder Supreme’s heart burned with fervor, and his aged hands trembled uncontrollably.

The perfect Invisible Fist!

It was the lifelong dream of this old man!

And today, it would be realized!

Suppressing his excitement, the Elder Supreme nodded. Spiritual energy surged through his body as he unleashed a powerful punch. Though seemingly simple and invisible, it transformed into multiple phantom strikes, real and illusionary blending indistinguishably—truly the Qin clan’s strongest martial art, the Invisible Fist.

As the Elder Supreme executed the technique, Qin Lang swiftly activated his Black Eye Wheel martial soul, pouring all his soul power into it and concentrating to observe every detail.

To the eyes of all in the Qin clan, the Elder Supreme’s Invisible Fist was already extraordinarily complete. Yet under Qin Lang’s Black Eye Wheel, dozens of subtle flaws and areas for improvement were still evident.