Chapter Five: The Fragmented Soaring Dragon Steps

Qin Lang gasped, his expression one of profound shock. He had not expected that his "Five-Fold Wave" technique, once perfected by his black eye-wheel martial soul, would erupt with eight levels of inner force!

Each additional level of inner force increased the technique's power several times over. With eight levels of inner force, Qin Lang’s "Five-Fold Wave" was over ten times more powerful than the Ye family’s version, rivaling the strength of a low-grade Profound-rank technique!

"Haha, if Ye Keqing knew the version of the 'Five-Fold Wave' I’ve mastered is even more perfect than hers, I wonder if she’d be so frustrated she’d cough up blood!"

A gleam of excitement sparkled in Qin Lang’s eyes. With the black eye-wheel martial soul to refine his techniques, he didn't need to waste time practicing; he could achieve the most flawless execution of any skill instantly!

He knew that time was his most precious resource. By bypassing the need to spend hours honing techniques, he could dedicate all his energy to raising his cultivation level.

Given how heaven-defying his black eye-wheel martial soul was, he wondered what star-grade it held. He would have to find a way to test it when he had the chance.

"Young Master, please freshen up. It’s time to eat!"

Seeing that Qin Lang had stopped his cultivation, Yun'er brought over a basin of hot water she had prepared. On the nearby table, a spread of steaming dishes filled the room with a tantalizing aroma.

"Yun'er, not only is your cooking getting better, but you’re becoming more beautiful every day!"

Qin Lang laughed, reaching out to ruffle Yun'er’s hair. Over the past twenty days, thanks to their improved diet, Yun'er’s complexion had become increasingly delicate. Her previously dry, yellowed hair had regained a dark sheen, and she had grown taller; her figure was starting to blossom, much like a budding flower, a sight that was truly eye-catching.

"Young Master... you’re teasing me again!"

A charming, girlish blush flooded Yun'er’s face. She lowered her head, burying her face in her rice bowl, afraid to look him in the eye, acting every bit the shy young woman.

Qin Lang laughed heartily and began to devour his meal. After finishing, he left his room and headed straight for the family’s Martial Arts Pavilion.

He had two goals for his visit. First, to select a suitable movement technique. Second, to perfect a technique he could then sell in order to purchase the first-grade Spirit-Condensing Pill.

He had only six Spirit-Condensing Pills left. Without them, his cultivation speed would plummet, and the dream of being strong enough to face Ye Keqing in four months would be nothing more than a fantasy.

Qin Lang soon arrived at the Qin family’s Martial Arts Pavilion. Two guards stood at the entrance. Upon seeing him, they both sneered, blocking his path. "The family Martial Arts Pavilion is only for those at the third level of Martial Apprentice or higher. You’re a waste of space, Qin Lang; you have no right to enter!"

"No right?"

Qin Lang’s expression darkened. He couldn't be bothered to waste words with them and unleashed the aura of a fourth-level Martial Apprentice!

"What!"

"Fourth-level Martial Apprentice!"

The two guards stared, their eyes wide with disbelief. Hadn't Qin Lang’s strength been stuck at the first level for ages? How had he suddenly reached the fourth?

Under their stunned gaze, Qin Lang strode into the pavilion.

Inside the main hall, he saw an old man with a white beard dozing in a recliner—the person in charge of the pavilion.

While most ordinary family members were unaware of his true identity, Qin Lang, having once been the young patriarch, knew better. The man was a Supreme Elder of the Qin family, their most powerful expert, with a cultivation at the peak of the Martial Warrior realm.

Behind the elder were rows of shelves neatly packed with various techniques, where several other family members were busy browsing.

The Qin family, as one of the four great clans of Qingfeng Town, possessed a solid foundation. There were over a hundred techniques on display, mostly low-grade Yellow-rank, making Qin Lang’s eyes blur.

Possessing a technique even more powerful than the Ye family’s "Five-Fold Wave," he had no interest in the offensive techniques here. He was focused solely on finding a movement technique.

Movement techniques were invaluable, whether for combat or for making a quick escape.

His gaze swept over several movement techniques, but he shook his head at each one. Suddenly, his eyes lit up as he spotted a nondescript manual in the corner of the shelf. He picked it up without hesitation.

"Dragon-Roaming Steps," a mid-grade Yellow-rank movement technique, incomplete copy!

Qin Lang’s eyes brightened. Even as an incomplete copy, it was rated at the mid-grade Yellow-rank. If he used his black eye-wheel martial soul to perfect it, how high would its potential reach?

"That 'Dragon-Roaming Steps' is a mid-grade Yellow-rank technique, but it’s incomplete. Its effects are far inferior to other mid-grade Yellow-rank movement techniques. I suggest you choose another one!"

Just then, a girl’s voice sounded behind him. Qin Lang turned to see a girl in yellow standing there. She was about sixteen or seventeen, tall, with a long ponytail, a graceful figure, and a vibrant, youthful air.

"Sister Yue!"

From his memories, Qin Lang recognized her as Qin Yue, the daughter of his uncle Qin Zhantian, who was a seventh-level Martial Apprentice.

"Qin Lang, it’s good that your strength has improved, but this 'Dragon-Roaming Steps' is really a waste of time. I suggest you pick something else!" Qin Yue kindly warned.

"Thank you for your concern, Sister Yue, but I’ve made up my mind. I’ll take this one!"

To others, it might be useless, but to Qin Lang and his black eye-wheel martial soul, it was the perfect choice!

"You really won't change your mind until you hit a wall! Fine, but once you start practicing 'Dragon-Roaming Steps,' you’ll realize you’re just wasting your time."

Seeing his stubbornness, Qin Yue shook her head in silence and walked away to find her own techniques.

Qin Lang picked up the "Dragon-Roaming Steps" and grabbed a mid-grade Yellow-rank technique called "Diamond Palm" as well. After registering them with the Supreme Elder, he left the pavilion.

"Hmm? Qin Lang?"

Seeing the record left by Qin Lang, the dozing Supreme Elder’s eyes flickered with interest. After all, Qin Lang had once been the young patriarch and had awakened the six-star Fire Dragon martial soul; the Elder still had a deep impression of him.

"I never expected this little guy to finally start improving his strength. Interesting."

Watching Qin Lang depart, the Supreme Elder fell into deep thought.

As Qin Lang walked toward his courtyard, two figures suddenly jumped out, blocking his path. One was thin and gaunt—Qin Jiang, whom Qin Lang had thrashed earlier. The other was a sturdy youth named Qin Lie, the grandson of the family’s second elder, who was sixteen and a fifth-level Martial Apprentice.

After recovering from his injuries, Qin Jiang had told Qin Lie about the bottle of Spirit-Condensing Pills. At first, Qin Lie hadn't believed that a "waste" like Qin Lang could possess such precious pills, but seeing him enter the Martial Arts Pavilion had changed his mind.

To him, there was no other way the talentless Qin Lang could have reached the fourth level of Martial Apprentice so quickly without the help of those pills.

"Qin Lang, hand over the Spirit-Condensing Pills!"

Qin Lie looked at him with contempt. It was a waste of resources for a piece of trash like him to use such precious pills for cultivation.