Chapter 23: I Will Only Use One Finger . . .
In truth, there were certain advantages to Ye Hang sending Ye Yuan to the Dan Wu Academy. The young man, at the very least, would attend a few classes and acquire some knowledge. While these things might not hold much significance for the current Ye Yuan, it provided a decent cover for his true capabilities.
Given Ye Yuan's present strength, Instant Flash proved to be a practical martial technique, discreet yet effective. Despite its subtle incorporation of Heavenly Dao, it merely grazed the surface and fell short of true mastery.
Over the past few days, Ye Yuan had meticulously organized his predecessor's memories. Drawing upon the vague impressions from these recollections, he managed to decipher several basic martial techniques, with Instant Flash being among them.
In practice, Ye Yuan's execution of Instant Flash differed slightly from its conventional form. However, his understanding and application made it not only comparable but even superior to those demonstrated by academy teachers.
"No wonder you dared not bring followers. Your Instant Flash has already reached an impressive level. Very commendable! It seems the report's assessment of you was somewhat misleading," Chou Ying remarked. While he recognized that Instant Flash was not an exclusive martial technique, he hadn't delved into it extensively as its limited range made it less useful for assassination.
Mastery of a martial technique could be categorized into several stages: entry, small success, large success, great circle, and the legendary breaking illusion stage. Chou Ying knew that, to leave behind an afterimage with Instant Flash, it had to reach at least the great circle stage. This level of mastery granted him the ability to safeguard himself against opponents at the Essence Qi Realm and below, provided they didn't specialize in movement techniques.
This revelation explained Ye Yuan's audacity. He indeed possessed remarkable capabilities.
As an assassin, Chou Ying specialized in a movement technique, but it had only reached the large success stage. The gap between this and the great circle stage was significant, representing a considerable disparity in mastery.
The breaking illusion stage, even more elusive, required transcending the great circle stage, constituting an evolution of the original technique. Achieving this legendary stage demanded exceptional comprehension and stringent conditions, making it rare.
Chou Ying, confident in his movements, refused to concede to someone he considered a pampered individual.
"You flatter me. But flattery won't earn you any bonus points. You still have to die," Ye Yuan retorted casually.
"Hahaha!" Chou Ying laughed uproariously. "To not know the immensity of heaven and earth! I admit my movements are inferior to yours, but I doubt those two beside you have movement techniques at the great circle stage. I'd like to see how a weak silkpants at the Third Level Essence Qi Realm like you will withstand my blow directly!"
A seasoned warrior, Chou Ying quickly adapted after missing his initial strike, identifying the two individuals beside Ye Yuan as his prime targets. While Tang Yu posed some threat, Lu-er, in Chou Ying's eyes, was an easy target.
However, the triumphant grin on his face turned into bewilderment. In this moment, Ye Yuan's aura surged dramatically, surpassing everyone's perception.
Peak Third Level Essence Qi Realm!
Fourth Level Essence Qi Realm!
Fifth Level Essence Qi Realm!
Sixth Level Essence Qi Realm!
Ye Yuan's cultivation broke through, ascending from the Third Level Essence Qi Realm to the Fourth, continuing its ascent until it surpassed the Sixth Level Essence Qi Realm.
Chou Ying, dumbfounded, momentarily forgot to make his move.
"H-how is this possible?" Chou Ying gasped.
Recalling the moment Ye Yuan ingested the medicinal pill, he wondered if this drastic increase was a result of its effects. While he'd heard of pills temporarily boosting strength, witnessing a pill elevate someone by three small cultivation realms was unprecedented.
Chou Ying couldn't help but ponder the ease with which missions could be accomplished if he possessed a medicinal pill like the one Ye Yuan had ingested. However, the stark reality unfolded as the rookie, with a mere four small cultivation realm difference, swiftly closed the gap, leaving Chou Ying trailing by only a single realm.
While the Sixth Level Essence Qi Realm and the Seventh Level Essence Qi Realm differed significantly, Ye Yuan's newfound prowess endowed him with the capability to engage in combat. Enhanced by his Instant Flash technique at the great circle stage, Ye Yuan emerged as a formidable opponent, shattering Chou Ying's initial perception of a simple mission.
Today, Chou Ying found himself in an unusual situation. The young individual before him had defied expectations, presenting a series of surprises. What started as a complaint about the mission's simplicity now transformed into a sense of regret for taking it on.
Despite the unexpected turn of events, Chou Ying understood the importance of completing the mission to maintain the hard-earned status in Mosha.
Chou Ying's decision to proceed with the mission stemmed from the realization that, even after Ye Yuan consumed the Five Elements Spirit Link Pill, his cultivation had plateaued at the Sixth Level Essence Qi Realm—a level Chou Ying believed he could handle.
With narrowed eyes, Chou Ying focused his killing intent on Lu-er, unleashing his most potent technique, "One Word Kill." Simple yet domineering, this move had sealed the fates of numerous adversaries in the past.
Lu-er stood defenseless, facing imminent danger as Chou Ying's sword closed in. A malicious smile played on Chou Ying's lips, anticipating the impending demise of the vulnerable Lu-er and the anguish it would inflict on Ye Yuan.
However, just as Chou Ying's sword was on the verge of reaching Lu-er's throat, a resounding "Ding!" reverberated through the air. Chou Ying's hand went numb, and his sword was sent flying.
Ye Yuan, who had reached Lu-er with Instant Flash, demonstrated a surprising strength. Using his Absolute Yang Finger, Ye Yuan deftly intercepted Chou Ying's attack, sending him reeling backward. The Absolute Yang Finger, even in its entry stage, proved formidable, surpassing Chou Ying's capacity to withstand.
Chou Ying, now battered and bloodied, rolled on the ground, releasing a mouthful of blood. Ye Yuan, with a cold demeanor, declared, "I will only use one finger. Whether you can escape or not is up to your abilities."
Despite the chaos within him, Chou Ying recognized the gravity of his actions. Feigning weakness, Ye Yuan had transformed into a formidable opponent. In a desperate attempt to flee, Chou Ying exerted every ounce of strength, sensing a newfound speed that hinted at the threshold of the great circle stage. As he endeavored to escape, his consciousness gradually blurred.