Chapter 91: ‘heavenly Demon Disintegration’, Xi Yue Plays The Qin
This ‘Earth Vein Listening Force’ is a fairly advanced Force Dissipation Method.
It can sense through the soles of the feet, guide and align with the fluctuations of the earth’s energy, channeling part of the enemy’s offensive into the earth veins to dissipate it.
But compared to ‘Flowing Cloud Wuding Strength’, it pales in comparison; the latter’s force is not only ever-changing, like a clear breeze or flowing clouds, unpredictable and intangible.
When covering the body’s surface, it can flow and dissipate force as freely as liquid, and can even rebound the opponent’s offensive, making the enemy suffer their own evil consequences.
Hong Yuan read while cross-referencing with ‘Flowing Cloud Wuding Strength’. After finishing all the essentials of this ‘Earth Vein Listening Force’ and pondering a bit, he had already grasped about seventy to eighty percent of it.
Afterward, he only needed one or two days of practice to use it proficiently.
He picked up the booklet on ‘Liver Burst Heart Destruction Force’ again, and just after glancing at the beginning, Hong Yuan’s brows shot up.
The entire text was only about five pages; Hong Yuan read ten lines at a glance, flipping through it swiftly with a ‘swish swish’, then closed his eyes to ponder its secrets.
After a moment, Hong Yuan smiled and shook his head.
“Lao Song is truly no son of a man. I originally thought he had a broad mind, but unexpectedly he’s petty and narrow-minded. From now on, with me, Lao Song can only be Little Song!”
Tao Xiyue said softly: “Lord, is there a problem with this Force Technique?”
“The secrets haven’t been tampered with, but this method… see for yourself!” With that, Hong Yuan casually tossed the booklet over.
Tao Xiyue caught it in a fluster but did not open it immediately.
Microscopic Level Force Techniques were far too precious; even the Tao Family did not have one, and it could completely be regarded as a noble clan’s true Foundation.
With such a piece of Foundation in hand, even if the family fell into ruin for a time, as long as one disciple in a certain generation achieved the Microscopic Level, they could immediately revive the family.
Tao Xiyue’s eyes flowed with charm, her pair of extremely lively eyes looking toward Hong Yuan.
Hong Yuan nodded again, and only then did she solemnly bow in thanks. Her expression turning serious, she opened the booklet.
Hong Yuan took a wine cup in hand; the clear, crisp wine liquid entered his throat, and he slightly narrowed his eyes, savoring its flavor.
As a noble clan rooted in the prefecture city for over a hundred years, the fine wine stored by the Tao Family was of quality surpassing even that of the Grain Transport Gang.
Although the Grain Transport Gang’s forces were much stronger than the Tao Family’s, the Grain Transport Gang was ultimately a gathering of martial artists, and the Head position was not fixed bloodline inheritance, so in terms of enjoyment, it naturally could not compare to a noble clan.
That ‘Liver Burst Heart Destruction Force’ boiled down to damaging one’s own internal organs in exchange for a short-term force Burst surpassing one’s peak.
‘Heavenly Demon Disintegration?’ Hong Yuan grumbled inwardly.
It couldn’t be said that Lao Song wanted to harm him; after all, the method was sent over, and whether to cultivate it was entirely Hong Yuan’s own choice.
Hm, there might also be some element of intimidation.
Lao Song was indicating that although he had fallen to the disadvantage in their previous clash, Hong Yuan shouldn’t press him too aggressively, or else if pushed too far, he wasn’t incapable of using this method.
Hong Yuan drained the wine in his cup in one gulp, and the hand toying with the wine cup suddenly paused.
No, for others ‘Liver Burst Heart Destruction Force’ is ‘Heavenly Demon Disintegration’, but his physique and body were powerful in all aspects.
His body surface was invulnerable to blades and spears; his internal organs naturally couldn’t reach that level, but after repeated enhancements to his Root Bone, their toughness was beyond ordinary imagination.
‘Liver Burst Heart Destruction Force’ for him was like the Seven Injuries Fist for Zhang Wuji after achieving Great Accomplishment of the Nine Yang Divine Skill—he could completely use it as a regular method.
He could perhaps try it out later.
Hong Yuan’s expression was indifferent, without much joy; even if it truly was as he guessed, it was merely one more means of dealing with enemies.
He took out the other six ordinary Force Techniques and went through them one by one, browsing extremely quickly.
What Song Yinglong sent was purely perfunctory, but the three methods from the Tao Family, though not Microscopic Level techniques, were top-tier among Hardness and Softness force methods.
One of them, the ‘Flying Crane Strength’ method, was quite ingenious and could completely be integrated into ‘Flowing Cloud Wuding Strength’.
Hong Yuan’s gaze turned to Tao Xiyue, who was frowning in concentration as she carefully read; he estimated that this woman had cultivated ‘Flying Crane Strength’.
Of course Tao Xiyue had martial arts skills.
At this point, Hong Yuan would no longer be as shallow as before, thinking that women who practiced martial arts would all become burly, turning into big muscle dominatrices.
Men practiced martial arts seeking ferocity and dominance, but there were naturally cultivation methods suited to women.
Like this ‘Flying Crane Strength’: the entry stance was ‘Moon-Gazing Pile’, with slow and rounded movements like a plain maiden weaving clouds, then guiding and Breathing Method; once cultivated, the body became light and flexible, with swift and graceful form.
Of course, in the Biwu Immortal Realm, those robust women under Wei Zhenzhu even more muscular than strong men followed the path of ferocity.
Tao Xiyue noticed Hong Yuan’s gaze, her cheeks flushing, slightly nervous. She set down the booklet, her tone carrying a hint of anger: “This surnamed Song has ill intentions; Lord, this method must absolutely not be cultivated.”
The Tao Family had already attached itself to Hong Yuan, so naturally they did not want anything to happen to him.
Hong Yuan waved his hand noncommittally and changed the subject: “Does Miss Tao play the zither?”
Tao Xiyue was taken aback, then replied: “I know a little, but compared to those masters, it’s hardly proficient…”
Hong Yuan smiled: “Just reading books and drinking wine lacks fun; can Miss Tao play a piece for me?”
“Lord may call me Xiyue.”
Tao Xiyue said: “For Lord to wish to hear Xiyue play the zither is Xiyue’s honor, but my zither skills are crude; if it offends Lord’s ears, please do not blame me.”
While speaking, Tao Xiyue poured another full cup of wine for Hong Yuan, then curtsied gracefully: “Please wait a moment, Lord; Xiyue will go prepare.”
She withdrew from the door, her footsteps quickly fading.
Hong Yuan picked up another booklet but hadn’t read it long when he heard several footsteps approaching.
Tao Xiyue had changed into rainbow brocade clothes; though without makeup, her cloud-like hair and radiant face complemented the shimmering garments, making her appear even more bright and elegant.
Behind Tao Xiyue followed four maidservants, all in their youthful prime, pretty and lovely; the two leading ones carried a zither inlaid with gold thread and mother-of-pearl.
“Lord, Xiyue will make a fool of herself!”
After curtsying, with the door of Hong Yuan’s private room wide open, Tao Xiyue sat on the cushion in the courtyard, slightly adjusted the strings, and soon a clear, uplifting zither melody spread through the garden.
Tao Gongwang, Xie Yansheng, and Song Yinglong’s side progressed quickly on the matter of dividing Linjiang Prefecture City; by noon the next day, they had finalized the results.
Using the city’s main north-south streets, marketplace, and rivers as boundaries, Song Yinglong’s side controlled the east and north areas of the city, while Hong Yuan controlled the west and south territories.
After Tao Gongwang and Xie Yansheng reported to Hong Yuan, he glanced over and nodded.
He himself didn’t care much, but he could imagine Song Yinglong’s frustration.
The reason was simple: the territory Song Yinglong controlled included the core areas of the original Wei Family and Xiang Family forces, concentrated with numerous official offices and nobles.
This was of course very important; even controlling these people would allow Song Yinglong to seize the entire Linjiang Prefecture in one move.
But Hong Yuan was right beside his bed, and Hong Yuan’s territory included several of the prefecture city’s largest wharves, most of the commercial district, and even the crucial South Water Gate for grain transport.
In other words, Song Yinglong had taken ‘power’, while Hong Yuan held most of the wealth and taxes!
To make up for this shortfall in wealth and taxes, Song Yinglong would likely have to target the noble clans in his territory.
Decided at noon, by afternoon the notices were already posted throughout the city.
The winds of change had come!
