The Ancient Strengthening Technique

AST 1782 - Dragon-Capturing Hands, exploded with a pinch

Qing Shui calmly stared at the people surrounding him, before nonchalantly taking a step forward.

With his step, Qing Shui's immense pressure swept through the air and he arrived at an awkward position. Seemingly at the eye of the formation, yet it wasn't the eye of the formation. He stepped on the weak point of the formation.

Qing Shui stood at that spot and looked towards the opponents. He was serenely looking over at Tian Jiu and said, "I'll give you one last chance, bring all of your men with you and leave. You guys are not enough to deal with me, there would just be pointless casualties."

Tian Jiu's face turned colder. He was a prideful person and he would never surrender in front of a youth at Qing Shui's age. He had wanted to battle him years ago.

"Whether we are enough or not, you'll know it when you try." Tian Jiu looked a little crazed.

Heavenly Saber Rise!

Tian Jiu shouted out. At the same time, the entire formation rose like a prehistoric ferocious beast. It had a calm, yet imposing aura.

This made Qing Shui shake his head. It was quite obvious that they could not figure out the mysteries of the position he was standing at. To still launch an attack was simply courting death. If you caught a snake by its soft spot, even the most venomous and powerful snake would be powerless and they could be killed immediately.

Sha!

Tian Jiu led the charge and the entire formation transformed into a large saber, transferring all the momentum into Tian Jiu. He was like the blade of the Heavenly Saber with an unstoppable and sharp momentum.

Qing Shui finally knew that this Tian Jiu was not a moron. He did not want to fight him in a solo combat and was using the combined strength of his allies.

Qing Shui suddenly stomped on the ground and an intense surge of Origin Qi spreading outwards.

Hong!

Qing Shui's step neutralized the threat of the Heavenly Saber Formation. As a result, many of the people were sent flying out of the formation, while spraying blood all over the skies. Without the people, the aura of the Heavenly Saber Killing Formation disappeared in a flash.

Charging towards Qing Shui, Tian Jiu was like a deflated ball. The two dirks in his hands were rushing towards Qing Shui, but his efforts were akin to an arrow at the end of its flight.

Qing Shui phased forwards and outstretched his palms.

Dragon-Capturing Hands!

Pa!

Qing Shui directly gripped Tian Jiu's throat!

Pu!

Qing Shui was speechless, as the minute probability of exploding appeared. It was a pity that Tian Jiu was the first person Qing Shui used the Dragon-Capturing Hands on and exploded.

Qing Shui was not intending on directly killing him, but his character was truly garbage.

With Tian Jiu's death, panic struck the people around. He was treated as their leader and looked up as a direct descendant of the Heavenly Saber Manor, yet he was pinched to death in a single move.

Tian Jiu's strength was far from comparable to Qing Shui, even pinching him to death was not far-fetched. Qing Shui had already held back and did not expect him to be killed, but with the special effect erupting, the lethality multiplied exponentially and so he was killed with a single pinch.

Qing Shui was also slightly shocked, but he shook his head and waved his hands to chase away the remaining rabble, "Leave, convey this message to your Manor Lord, I'll wait here for a day and he can come if he wishes."

"Qing Shui, Tian Jiu is a direct descendant of the Heavenly Saber Manor. This matter is about to become complicated." Soulsearch was still gripped with emotion, but seeing Qing Shui's unfathomable strength, he felt as if the entire Heavenly Saber Manor was inadequate as an opponent for Qing Shui

This was an instinct and it raged through him.

Qing Shui was not worried about killing Tian Jiu, even if he was the direct descendant of the Heavenly Saber Manor's Manor Head. The world prized strength above all, dying in combat was a common occurrence and after reached this level, one needed to be ready to accept death.

His current strength gave him confidence that he could handle anything the Yehuang County had to offer. The Heavenly Saber Manor seemed to specialize in formations, but their strength was far from being comparable to Qing Shui's. Of course, Qing Shui and the ladies' growths were monstrous by any standard.

Qing Shui was planning to stay for a day and he had even more reason to stay, given the circumstances.

Li Yan looked at Qing Shui. The man who single-handedly crippled experts from the Heavenly Saber Manor. This was absolute strength and the confidence associated with it caused her heart to flutter.

She did not deny being attracted to this man, but she was intelligent and despite her arrogance, she had a feeling that she would never be able to keep up with him.

Customers began flooding in, while the Puyang Clan came with Puyang Qing personally arrived.

Puyang Qing was slightly flustered, as the Imperial Cuisine Hall was put under his watch by Qing Shui's order. So he was valuing the relationship he had cultivated with Qing Shui and also the bonds he recently forged with Soulsearch.

When he saw Qing Shui, he was given a shock before he erupted in joy.

"Old Master has returned!" Qing Shui hurriedly rose and smiled as he was considered one generation below Puyang Qing, given that Puyang Zhengming was Puyang Qing's granddaughter and was to be betrothed to Qing Shui's son

"Qing Shui, you've returned. This is great! This old man is truly useless, haiz!" Puyang Qing sighed.

Puyang Qing's strength was not ordinary, but his long sigh was a proof that he had truly faced off against a formidable foe. One that rendered him helpless.

"We're family, let's not be so formal." Qing Shui pulled Puyang Qing along to sit down.

Soulsearch also smiled, "Old Master, if not for your care for all these years, the Imperial Cuisine Hall would've been flattened long ago."

"Family doesn't need to be so courteous. Everything will be fine now as Qing Shui has returned." Puyang Qing was especially happy.

These people held unwavering confidence in Qing Shui, which did not make him feel anything. But the others felt like there was finally a path of life amidst the dangers. If it wasn't for Qing Shui's appearance, there was no telling what would've happened.

"Old Master, what exactly is this Heavenly Saber Manor?" Qing Shui's curiosity towards this Heavenly Saber Manor had begun to arise.

"Heavenly Saber Manor was situated on the Heavenly Saber Mountain Range, southeast from here and a blessed land. It has a long history with more than half of the members using large sabers as weapons. In the past, it was more reclusive, but recently, it had begun to become more active. Not only are they recruiting experts, but even alchemists and doctors, even my Puyang Clan was invited." Puyang Qing thought as he spoke.

"Is the Heavenly Saber Manor also merely a victim?" Qing Shui began to contemplate such thoughts.

A reclusive clan that suddenly sprung into action. Qing Shui was perhaps jumping to conclusions, but it wasn't an impossibility. Since the Heavenly Saber Manor had a clear rule of never interfering with the mortal world.

This was also the reason for Qing Shui's conjecture. Of course, there were also the possibilities that the rules of the Heavenly Saber Manor had changed, or that the Manor Lord had taken up the position through some unique means.

These were all guesses on Qing Shui's part, but he was certain that the winds of change and chaos were about to blow in the Dancing Phoenix Continent.