Chapter Ninety-One: Mastery Achieved—Yue Buqun's Supreme Skill

This was the special advantage Yang Xin had prepared for Yue Buqun and the other members of Huashan—a miraculous power that, without sufficient internal energy, would be useless no matter how great the martial art.
The curtain had already risen on the grand stage of "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer." Even if the disciples of Huashan devoted themselves tirelessly to cultivation without rest, it was impossible for them to achieve any significant improvement in strength.
Objectively speaking, in this world, the only martial arts that could rapidly increase power were the "Evil Resisting Sword Manual" and the "Star Absorption Technique." Yet, the former required self-mutilation, and the latter had serious flaws such as the risk of internal energy backlash. Yang Xin had neither the time nor the patience to let Yue Buqun and the others progress step by step, so he simply used the Blood Bodhi to forcibly elevate their strength.
"The Blood Bodhi—a legendary, peerless fruit born from the blood of a Fire Qilin dripping onto the earth, thriving in lands of extreme flame. It is said to heal grievous wounds, and, if uninjured, grant immense power," Yang Xin explained calmly.
Quick as lightning, Yue Buqun reached out and tossed a Blood Bodhi into his mouth. This was his pledge of allegiance. As a man of ambition, Yue Buqun was acutely aware that the Huashan Sect possessed nothing that could catch Yang Xin’s eye; only absolute trust would win Yang Xin’s favor. Thus, without hesitation, he swallowed the Blood Bodhi, demonstrating his faith.
"Master!" The crowd was taken aback.
"The Grand Elder would not harm us," Yue Buqun said with a smile. No sooner had he spoken than his expression changed dramatically. He hastily sat cross-legged, his face suffused with a purple aura, and soon, misty vapors rose from his entire body. After a long while, Yue Buqun opened his mouth and expelled a stream of fiery-red refined energy.
"Incredible! At last, I have mastered peerless martial arts!" Yue Buqun shouted. With a move called "Chasing Shadows," he appeared in a flash at the martial arts arena outside the Hall of Righteousness and began to display the "Heaven Frost Fist," the "Cloud-Dispelling Palm," and the "Wind God Kick" in quick succession.
"Bring me a blade!" Yue Buqun bellowed.
Lin Pingzhi hurled the Blood-Soaked Frenzy Blade toward him.
With a glance as cold as ice, Yue Buqun unleashed the Six Techniques of Proud Chill: "Freezing Gaze," "Three Feet of Frost," "Red Apricot Amid the Snow," "Peach Blossom in Spring," "Seeking Plum Blossoms on Snow," and finally, "Icy Blade, Cold Heart." In particular, the final technique sent a forty-meter arc of blade energy slicing through everything in its path, cleaving all obstacles in two.
"Shadow Clone Technique!" Yue Buqun formed hand seals and unleashed multiple shadow clones.
The Blood Bodhi had not only given Yue Buqun a tremendous boost in internal energy, but also greatly increased his chakra. In the past, he could manage at most six shadow clones; now, he could summon thirty or forty at once.

"This is... the Three Pure Ones in One Breath!" Feng Qingyang stared in astonishment as Yue Buqun once again shattered his understanding of the world.
Earlier, when he saw Yue Buqun display the Heaven Frost Fist, Wind God Kick, and Cloud-Dispelling Palm, Feng Qingyang had already frowned, pondering how he could contend with Yue Buqun if they were ever to clash again. He had hoped to rely on the Dugu Nine Swords, but upon witnessing that forty-meter blade of energy from the final Proud Chill technique, his face turned green.
"Damn it, this is cheating, this is breaking all the rules! How is anyone supposed to counter a forty-meter blade?"
When he saw Yue Buqun divide into multiple shadow clones, Feng Qingyang’s face went from green to white. "Damn, the blade energy could still be explained as a martial arts miracle, but how do you explain this?"
Not only Feng Qingyang, but everyone else in Huashan was equally astonished, their eyes wide and mouths agape.
Yang Xin nodded repeatedly. In a world of low-level martial arts, the Blood Bodhi was nothing short of an immortal elixir, instantly raising Yue Buqun to the top echelon—among the very first tier of masters in the world of "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer."
In Yang Xin’s view, the top tier in this world consisted of Dongfang Bubai and Feng Qingyang;
The second tier included Ren Woxing, Fang Zheng, Fang Sheng, Priest Chongxu, and Zuo Lengchan;
The third tier comprised the demon cult elders like Xiang Wentian and the heads of the major sects such as Yue Buqun.
Now, with just one Blood Bodhi and the addition of martial arts from the world of "Storm Riders," Yue Buqun had been catapulted into the first tier. Still, Yue Buqun was not without cunning—he had yet to reveal his ultimate move, the Threefold Origin Qi, evidently keeping something in reserve even from his disciples.
However, Yang Xin was unconcerned. No matter how formidable Yue Buqun became, he would never escape the palm of his hand.
"Thank you, Grand-Uncle, for bestowing me with this miraculous elixir," Yue Buqun said respectfully, choosing to address Yang Xin as Grand-Uncle since he had now assumed the position of Huashan’s Grand Elder.
"The martial world is in tumult, and the Evil Resisting Sword Manual is a shortcut to power. Only by this means can your strength be raised quickly—no need for thanks. Each of you, take one and consume it at once."
"Thank you, Grand Elder!" Everyone’s eyes lit up. Without waiting for Yue Buqun’s approval, they each took a Blood Bodhi, ignoring Yue Buqun’s darkened face, swallowed it, and sat down cross-legged.

Ning Zhongze, unwilling to compete with the younger generation, had not intended to eat a Blood Bodhi. But Yue Lingshan, the most aggressive, snatched two—one for herself and one she forced upon her mother. Unable to resist, Ning Zhongze finally swallowed it. At once, she felt her internal energy surge and promptly sat down cross-legged, etiquette forgotten.
For Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze, already accomplished masters, the improvement was modest. But for the likes of Yue Lingshan and Lin Pingzhi, the boost was astonishing. In Yang Xin’s eyes, once they mastered the basic and advanced forms of Heaven Frost Fist, Wind God Kick, Cloud-Dispelling Palm, and the Six Techniques of Proud Chill, they would be able to contend with the second tier of experts. Compared to figures like Ren Woxing, what Lin Pingzhi and the others now lacked was only worldly experience.
"Grand Elder, our eldest brother has not yet received a Blood Bodhi," Lu Dayou, the "Sixth Monkey," said to Yang Xin.
"It’s a small matter—ask your headmaster," Yang Xin replied indifferently. In truth, Lu Dayou was the closest to Linghu Chong, loyal and upright, humorous and principled, but was ultimately doomed by Linghu Chong’s actions in the original story, resulting in his tragic death.
"Your eldest brother is currently in closed-door cultivation, focusing on the Purple Mist Divine Skill. Everything else can wait until he emerges," replied Yue Buqun, discreetly gathering up the remaining Blood Bodhi from the table.
With a quick count, he realized that Yang Xin had never intended any for Linghu Chong—or for Feng Qingyang, for that matter. Yang Xin had given a total of twenty Blood Bodhi: enough for himself, Ning Zhongze, Lao Denuo, Liang Fa, Shi Daizi, Gao Genming, Lu Dayou, Ying Bailuo, Yue Lingshan, and Lin Pingzhi—ten people, each with two. One to boost their power, the other reserved for healing.
Feng Qingyang watched coldly, realizing that neither Yang Xin nor Yue Buqun had any intention of giving one to him or Linghu Chong. All he could do was return their cold gaze with one of his own.
"The waves of the Yangtze River drive the former ones forward..." Feng Qingyang suddenly felt like an old wave dashed upon the shore, a sense of alienation growing within him. With a long sigh, he said, "Do as you will," and returned to the Cliff of Reflection.
"Brother, are we perhaps being too harsh with Grand-Uncle?" Ning Zhongze asked softly.