Chapter 248 - 246: True Yang Qi
"They are from the Outer Domain," said Song Changming.
"Staying in the Outer Domain for many years doesn’t result in such a complexion..." The man sneered, directly exposing Song Changming’s lie.
"So?" Song Changming asked.
"So unfortunately, it’s five hundred Han Gold per head. Pay up if you want to live, or we can send you to the Corpse Refining Sect. They are quite interested in martial artist materials from the Da Han Dynasty... or perhaps..." The man sneered coldly.
He also hailed from the Da Han Dynasty, though he had fled to the Outer Domain and been there for several years.
Considered one of the Outer Domain people mentioned in his own words.
As a foreign wanderer, although he did not harbor animosity towards martial artists of the Da Han Dynasty, it did not prevent him from wanting to extort money and benefits upon seeing Song Changming and his companions.
However, before he could finish speaking, a beam of crimson sword qi impatiently shot forth, piercing through his body twice in his shocked eyes.
Soon followed by killing the rest of them, including several controlled fog beasts.
These people were merely at the third or fourth layers of Qi Refining, intentionally looking for trouble with Song Changming and his companions, which only led to their self-inflicted suffering.
Having been in the Outer Domain these past days, Song Changming and his group were no longer surprised by such occurrences.
They took the mist gold from their bodies; as for other items, Nan Wuji found them unworthy of attention.
"Was it necessary?" Song Changming looked at the bodies scattered on the ground, shaking his head.
If they had been more astute, none of them would have died.
Leaving Dragon Gate Ridge, the three returned to the nearby outer domain city.
This place hadn’t had a city due to its proximity to the Abyss.
But because of the presence of Dragon Gate Ridge, a city was eventually built.
Simple stone walls, broken gates, and the many Outer Domain people who never used the gates.
Some say the city was built by the Corpse Refining Sect, others claim it was constructed by other Outer Realm Evil Cult members.
No one can say for certain, but regardless of who it was in the past, there is no true owner of the city now.
The city’s order is chaotic, years have passed without supervision or maintenance.
Such ownerless cities are in abundance throughout the Outer Domain.
Perhaps there were once forces that took over these cities, but after repeated destruction and rebuilding, the city’s owners have changed hands numerous times until now, where no one wants to take over.
Disorderly, chaotic, wild, illogical.
That is the world of the Outer Domain, where more focus on individual survival rather than collective development.
Even within the Evil Cults in the Outer Domain, there is an abundance of conspiracy and betrayal, waking up to use the bathroom at night requires caution to avoid being secretly harmed.
When the three entered the city, Su Yaoguang was the most attention-grabbing.
Her graceful posture and ethereal fairy-like temperament made it hard not to notice her.
However, Su Yaoguang herself was indifferent to this, or perhaps she simply did not pay any attention to these Outer Domain underlings.
In contrast, Song Changming emitted a strong aura to prevent a repeat of the previous trouble, causing some who were ready to make a move to immediately turn away.
The city has inns, but the living conditions are not very good, too simple.
Song Changming didn’t mind, as he wasn’t that particular.
But Su Yaoguang and Nan Wuji couldn’t bear it, as they were going to stay for over a month, they couldn’t tolerate a dwelling that was too noisy and full of dirt and decay.
Thus, they chose the best residence in the city as their temporary lodging.
No need to pay money and silver, just chase away the original owner of the residence.
This is one of the rules in Outer Domain cities; he who has the stronger fist makes the rules, simple and brutal.
The houses in the city are mostly occupied in such a manner.
Song Changming and his companions were merely following local customs, conducting affairs according to these rules.
The original owner of the residence was quite strong, with the cultivation of the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, seemingly a boss-level figure of an Outer Domain evil sect.
If not for this, he couldn’t have occupied one of the best residences in the city.
But unfortunately, today he was spotted by three stronger bullies, and he could only flee in panic.
After tidying up the residence a bit, the three each chose a room and entered seclusion for cultivation.
Indifferent to everything else.
A month passed in the blink of an eye.
During this time, many came coveting the residence, but all were cut down by Song Changming and thrown out of the premises.
Aside from that, there were no other incidents.
On this day, a rough voice was heard outside the residence.
"This residence is good and matches my status."
With these words, someone kicked open the gate, and a crowd of people barged in.
The leader carried a wolf-toothed hammer, with a bare upper body, chest and back covered with strange tattoo patterns.
He was about to speak, ready to challenge the owner of the residence as per custom, just like Song Changming and his group did when they chased away the original owner.
However, as the words reached his mouth, he suddenly choked, unable to speak, only staring wide-eyed at the spectacle before him.
In the courtyard, a person enveloped in golden flames slowly turned to look at him.
In an instant, he felt waves of heat, feeling as though his whole body was about to be set ablaze.
The rest who rushed in all felt a suffocating sensation enveloping them.
"What do you want?" the golden flame-clad person said.
"I, uh, just passing by for a visit..." the leader’s forehead was continuously sweating.
In the next moment, a golden flame pillar blasted them out of the residence.
The group, burnt of all their body hair, fled while coughing up blood.
In the courtyard, the golden flames dissipated, revealing Song Changming.
The golden flames hadn’t harmed him in the slightest, even his clothes were untouched.
"Indeed, it’s the True Yang Qi transformed by the Chu Family’s True Yang Technique," Nan Wuji saw this clearly from the side, speaking.
"I truly didn’t expect you not to be a Chu Family member, without the Chu bloodline, yet you are able to master this technique so quickly!" Su Yaoguang also exclaimed beside him.
"Perhaps it’s because my Fire Element Talent is high, aligning perfectly with this core legacy martial technique of the Chu Family," Nan Wuji surmised.
"It seems so," Su Yaoguang nodded, taking a step forward to congratulate Song Changming, "Congratulations, mastering this True Yang Technique will further enhance your strength."
Song Changming also showed a smile, saying, "I only grasped the basics, it’s still early days."
Though he spoke this way, he was quite pleased.
In less than half a year, he had reached the basic level of this Third Grade True Yang Technique faster than he initially expected.
The golden flames burning around him were the result of executing the True Yang Technique, converted through his inner qi.
These were not real flames, but a special inner qi in the form of flames, referred to by Nan Wuji earlier as True Yang Qi.
Upright and powerful, golden divine fire that burns all without exception!
The Fire God Saber Technique he had previously mastered was also a fire attribute martial technique, derived from this True Yang Technique.
In terms of power alone, the True Yang Technique vastly surpassed the Fire God Saber Technique he had mastered.
The Fire God Saber Technique resembles a simplified version of the True Yang Technique, missing many elements, resulting in a sword technique that is somewhat insubstantial.
Only after Song Changming truly mastered the True Yang Technique did he truly comprehend the vast differences between the two martial techniques.
He completely understood why the True Yang Technique was respected as a Third Grade, while the Fire God Saber Technique was merely a Seventh Grade.
Song Changming opened his palm upwards, with a single thought, a blazing golden flame appeared in his palm.
Just this golden fire alone was enough to overpower all the martial techniques he had learned!
"If you manage to reach Minor Achievement with the True Yang Technique, I must admit, in a duel against you, I wouldn’t be assured of victory," Nan Wuji looked at the golden fire in Song Changming’s hand, contemplated, and said.
Nan Wuji’s statement sufficiently illustrated the strength of the True Yang Technique and its potential impact on Song Changming’s improvement.
Once Song Changming achieves something with the True Yang Technique, the advantage Nan Wuji holds in martial techniques wouldn’t be as significant.
At that time, his inner qi cultivation would give him an edge, while Song Changming would excel in body refinement, making the outcome of their duel uncertain.
Su Yaoguang was deeply convinced of this too.
Song Changming’s path to strength had never stalled, and though they had not been together for long, she could feel this.
The sense of urgency from constantly being chased and the gap being closed.
Perhaps it won’t be many years before Song Changming surpasses her and Nan Wuji on a power level!