Chapter 712 - 284: Dragon’s Roar

’It won’t be long now before I reach the True Essence Realm.’

Chen Qing took a deep breath, then got up and went into the courtyard, where he saw Qing Dai and Su Wen sparring.

Qing Dai wielded a Willow Leaf Long Saber, its gleam like a bolt of white silk, while Su Wen used a Cyan Blade Sword, its shadow a flurry of movement.

Both women were at the Early-stage Embrace Pill Power of Cultivation. As their saber and sword clashed, their techniques, though exquisite, lacked the ferocity and decisiveness that could only be honed through real combat. In Chen Qing’s eyes, they seemed rather green.

Seeing Chen Qing emerge, the two women immediately stopped and bowed respectfully.

Chen Qing nodded slightly.

Seeing this, Qing Dai immediately took a few steps forward and asked sweetly, "Brother Chen, your timing is perfect! I was just practicing my Saber Technique and felt that whenever I transition during the ’Returning Wind Brushing Willow’ move, the flow of my Power isn’t smooth. My Saber Momentum becomes sluggish, making it difficult to link into the next move, ’Startled Swan Appearance.’ Do you know what the problem might be?"

She gestured with her hands as she spoke, her brow furrowed in confusion.

Although Su Wen didn’t speak, she listened with rapt attention.

Chen Qing’s gaze swept over her. Though he hadn’t specialized in the Saber Path, his Martial Arts Realm was so profound that his insight was naturally extraordinary.

He saw at a glance that the key issue wasn’t the move itself, but that her method of channeling Power was too rigid.

"The problem isn’t in linking the moves."

Chen Qing explained slowly, "It’s that you’re too focused on the form of the move without grasping its spirit. For ’Returning Wind Brushing Willow,’ the emphasis is on the ’brushing.’ Your Power should be like a gentle wind, coiling and concealing a resilient force, not a forced turn. Your Power is too fierce and direct; it lacks the subtleness of a needle hidden in cotton. Naturally, you can’t smoothly lead into the explosive burst of ’Startled Swan Appearance.’"

He paused, then casually broke off a nearby branch. Using it as a saber, he made a light slash.

The movement seemed slow and gentle, yet the tip of the branch let out a faint whistle as it cut through the air. An unending stream of force intent emanated from it, as if an invisible current of air was truly flowing in its wake.

"Where the intent goes, the power follows. Don’t let the form of the move restrict your Power."

Qing Dai stared intently at Chen Qing’s movement. The confusion in her beautiful eyes gradually gave way to a bright light, as if a thick fog had been lifted.

"Thank you for your guidance, Brother Chen! I think I understand a little now!"

Su Wen watched quietly from the side. Although she hadn’t asked anything, a thoughtful look flashed in her eyes. She had clearly gained some insight as well.

With Chen Qing’s current Martial Arts Cultivation and broad insight, guiding the two of them was naturally an effortless task.

Seeing that they had both gained something, he said no more.

In the afternoon, just as Chen Qing finished his meal and was preparing to visit Shen Xiuyong, a disciple from Prison Peak arrived in a hurry.

"Brother Chen, the Evil Qi in the Black Water Abyss Prison has become dense and restless again. Master of the Seven Sufferings specifically sent me to ask you to make a trip there."

"Alright, I understand."

Hearing this, Chen Qing’s expression remained unchanged. He immediately altered his plans and set off for Prison Peak.

Upon re-entering the Black Water Abyss Prison, he found the familiar, chilling Evil Qi was indeed several times denser than it had been in previous days.

From within the first level, he could faintly hear the pained curses and groans of prisoners suffering from the invasion of Evil Qi.

Master of the Seven Sufferings was standing in the center of the circular area, the Buddha’s Light around his body just beginning to recede. He had clearly just finished a round of purifying chants.

"Master of the Seven Sufferings," Chen Qing said, stepping forward to offer a greeting.

"Donor Chen."

The master pressed his palms together, his voice as serene as ever. "The source of the Evil Qi deep underground has been growing more unstable lately, and its leakage is intensifying. The purification process is incredibly draining. I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you more during this period."

"It is my duty. You’ve worked hard, Master," Chen Qing replied, cupping his fist.

Master of the Seven Sufferings nodded slightly and said no more, his figure quietly departing. He was obviously going to rest and recover.

Chen Qing then took over the duties of the Defender, patrolling between the first and second levels. At the same time, he circulated the Dragon Elephant Wisdom Vajra Body technique, drawing in the surging Evil Qi to temper his body. Under the erosion of the chilling cold, his qi and blood surged ever more fiercely.

「Two days passed in a flash.」

On this day, Chen Qing was sitting cross-legged and cultivating near the entrance to the second level when a somewhat weak voice drifted out from a cell deeper inside.

"..."

Chen Qing opened his eyes, slowly walked over, and stopped a few paces from the stone door.

This was the cell holding Fang Hui, the man who had been used as a Medicine Man by Danxia Peak.

"What is it?" Chen Qing’s tone was level. "Do you need something?"

There was a moment of silence from the cell before Fang Hui’s voice, tinged with hoarseness, sounded again. "I... I want to eat... ’Desert Dates’..."

’Desert Dates?’

A thought stirred in Chen Qing’s mind as he recalled the atlases and records he had read.

Between the Golden Court and the Buddha’s Pure Land, there were indeed nineteen small kingdoms, most of which were deserts or Gobi. The Desert Date was a specialty of that region, a common fruit in those borderlands.

Fang Hui hailed from one of those small kingdoms. After being imprisoned for so long, it was no surprise he was feeling homesick.

"I can give you a reward," Fang Hui said slowly.

"A reward?"

Chen Qing asked, "You’re a prisoner. What kind of reward could you possibly give me?"

"In my early years of travel... I happened to come across a spear technique."

Fang Hui’s voice was halting. "It’s called the Dragon Roar Breaking Army Spear... It’s a genuine Unparalleled Martial Arts. Unfortunately... I am a man of the saber and had no talent for that path. I only learned its form, not its spirit. But the moves, the Diagrams, the secrets of its Power circulation... I remember them all."

’The Dragon Roar Breaking Army Spear!?’

A thought sparked in Chen Qing’s mind. Just from the name, he knew it was a technique that followed a fierce and explosive path, completely different from the grand Righteous Path of his True Martial Demon-Vibrating Spear or the style of the Biluo Jinghong Spear. If he could comprehend it, it might complement his own skills and allow him to condense a new Spear Intent.

He mulled it over for a long moment before speaking slowly, "Write down the spear technique first. I want all of it. If I can verify that it’s authentic, getting you those Desert Dates will be a trivial matter."

Fang Hui took a deep breath and said, "I’ll write down the first half for you. You’ll know if it’s real once you see it..."

"You are in no position to bargain with me."