Upon arriving in the city, Xiao Yu naturally didn't take Jian Chen to visit a high-class brothel. Instead, they sat in a tavern, drinking together.
"Brother Xiaoyun, do you think I'm a bit of a failure?" Jian Chen said after a few drinks.
"Not at all. Why would you say that?" Xiao Yu didn't see any issue.
"My relationship ended before it even began, my martial arts are not fully mastered, and I barely survived the setbacks I encountered," Jian Chen lamented, still troubled by his emotions.
"Oh, you're talking about that. Matters of the heart are beyond control, but as for martial arts, you can continue practicing. As for being outsmarted this time, it's just a lack of experience. More practice will solve that," Xiao Yu advised.
"Brother Jian Chen, the best way to forget an old love is to find a new one. Want to give it a try?" Xiao Yu teased.
"Brother Xiaoyun, you always have something to say to counter me. I've decided to stay in the martial world and gain experience," Jian Chen declared, before collapsing drunk on the table.
Seeing this, Xiao Yu shook his head and called for a waiter to help Jian Chen back to his room to rest.
Xiao Yu returned to his own room, and without any sleepiness, continued studying the Child Emperor Heart Sutra.
This was a magical technique, cultivating spiritual power and using negative emotions, such as fear, as a means of attack, casting illusions to bewilder opponents' minds.
It could also use spiritual power to control objects for attacks. When mastered, it could even achieve the effect of rejuvenation.
Xiao Yu absorbed the wisdom within, enriching his own application of spiritual mind power.
The next day, Jian Chen and Xiao Yu parted ways, each deciding to gain experience in the martial world.
Through telepathy, Xiao Yu located Xiong Ba.
When Xiao Yu arrived, Bu Jingyun was also there, seeking revenge on Xiong Ba.
"Bu Jingyun, you're here. I've already crippled my martial arts. If you want to kill me, go ahead," Xiong Ba said, looking desolate and ready to face his fate.
"Xiong Ba, for the murder of my father and the destruction of my family, I can't let go of my hatred without killing you," Bu Jingyun's voice was icy. He had endured for decades to avenge his family, and he couldn't easily let go of his hatred.
"No, Brother Yun, please spare my father," Xiong Ba's daughter, You Ruo, pleaded urgently.
Bu Jingyun ignored her and stepped towards Xiong Ba.
"Brother Yun, don't," You Ruo begged, standing in front of Xiong Ba.
Bu Jingyun looked at You Ruo, his heart stirred, but his eyes remained cold.
"Move aside," Bu Jingyun growled softly.
"Brother Yun, I beg you, spare my father! He's lost everything and has already been punished," You Ruo cried, clinging to Xiong Ba and refusing to let go.
At this moment, Xiong Ba spoke, "Bu Jingyun, do it! This is the retribution I deserve."
Bu Jingyun's long-suppressed hatred exploded. He pushed You Ruo aside and thrust his sword at Xiong Ba.
Unexpectedly, You Ruo turned back, standing in front of Xiong Ba.
Seeing his daughter about to fall before him, Xiong Ba was filled with grief and rage.
Just then, an embroidery needle shot out, deflecting the sword that was about to pierce You Ruo.
Bu Jingyun withdrew his sword and searched for the person who intervened.
Xiao Yu stepped forward.
"What is the meaning of this, Brother Xiaoyun?" Bu Jingyun asked coldly, looking at Xiao Yu.
"I merely saved an innocent girl," Xiao Yu replied calmly.
"Thank you, young hero, for saving my daughter," Xiong Ba quickly expressed his gratitude.
"Think nothing of it. Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-tiered pagoda."
"I won't interfere in your affairs," Xiao Yu said, sensing through telepathy that a master was approaching and indicating he wouldn't get involved in their vendetta. This chapter was copied from novelping dot com without permission.
Hearing this, Bu Jingyun quickly moved forward, sealing You Ruo's acupoints, and charged at Xiong Ba with his sword.
Seeing the situation, Xiong Ba knew he couldn't escape death and calmly awaited his fate.
Suddenly, a sword aura attacked, blocking Bu Jingyun once more.
The newcomer was Nameless, who intervened to save Xiong Ba.
"Senior Nameless, why do you stop me?" Bu Jingyun's attempt at revenge was thwarted again, and he was on the verge of breaking down.
Nameless spoke to Bu Jingyun, pleading for Xiong Ba, and because Nameless had a debt of gratitude from Bu Jingyun, Bu Jingyun had to give up killing Xiong Ba.
"Xiong Ba will live in seclusion in the valley and will not return to the martial world," Nameless promised Bu Jingyun.
"I will retire to Wuchen Residence and no longer concern myself with the affairs of the martial world," Xiong Ba agreed, grateful for his life.
Bu Jingyun suddenly tore off Xiong Ba's robe and slashed it to pieces with his sword.
"Consider this robe worn," he said, then left the place.
"Young friend, is Jian Chen not with you?" Nameless asked Xiao Yu, inquiring about his disciple's whereabouts.
"A lot has happened recently. Brother Jian Chen felt his experience in the martial world was too shallow and decided to travel and gain experience," Xiao Yu briefly explained Jian Chen's situation.
"Hmm, that's good," Nameless didn't ask further, knowing that Jian Chen was safe was enough.
"Young friend, now that things are settled, I'll take my leave. Visit me when you have time," Nameless said before departing.
Seeing You Ruo still standing aside, Xiao Yu waved his hand to release her acupoints.
"Thank you, young hero, for saving my life," You Ruo immediately expressed her gratitude.
"Yes, thank you, young hero, for your help in saving my daughter," Xiong Ba sincerely thanked him. Despite his faults, he deeply cared for his daughter.
"As long as everyone is okay," Xiao Yu replied politely.
"Please, young hero, come inside," Xiong Ba invited him into the hut.
"I wonder if the young hero has any business with me," Xiong Ba asked. This was his secluded place, very hidden and deserted, so Xiao Yu's presence was not by chance.
You Ruo looked at Xiao Yu nervously, hoping he wasn't here to cause trouble.
"I do have a purpose for coming here. I've heard that Leader Xiong's Three Supremes Divine Art was created by the ancient military god, Li Jing," Xiao Yu said, pausing afterward.
"Oh, the martial arts I practiced, I didn't know they had such origins. So it was created by the military god Li Jing," Xiong Ba feigned surprise, secretly observing Xiao Yu's expression.
"Does the young hero want the Three Supremes Divine Art?" Seeing Xiao Yu's gaze, Xiong Ba knew he couldn't avoid it.
"That's right, but I won't take it for free. I'll exchange it for an equally divine art," Xiao Yu stated openly.
"I've already crippled my martial arts. The divine art is of no use to me now. I can give it to you, but I need you to agree to one condition," Xiong Ba seemed indifferent to the divine art Xiao Yu mentioned and proposed a condition.
"What condition?" Xiao Yu was curious about what Xiong Ba would ask for in his current state.
"You can see my situation, young hero. My greatest concern is my daughter. My condition is for you to protect her and ensure her safety," Xiong Ba was deeply protective of his daughter and couldn't let go.
"Given my situation, traveling with me would be more dangerous. Leader Xiong and your beloved daughter living in seclusion would be safer," Xiao Yu, having secrets of his own, couldn't always be in the Fengyun World and didn't want to bring someone along, even if she was a beauty.
"Besides, Leader Xiong can't stay like this forever, right?" Xiao Yu looked at Xiong Ba, his eyes filled with amusement.
"What do you mean by that, young hero?" Xiong Ba was startled, but his face remained unchanged.
He thought to himself, although he had crippled his martial arts, he had the family martial art, Returning Blood Hand, which could absorb others' power and quickly restore his martial arts. It shouldn't have been noticed.
"Even if martial arts are crippled, they can be retrained. Some martial arts require crippling and retraining to break through barriers," Xiao Yu continued to talk without revealing Xiong Ba's secrets.
"Such martial arts exist? It seems I'm ignorant. Since it's inconvenient for the young hero to protect my daughter, we'll follow the young hero's method," Xiong Ba, unable to hide his intentions, agreed to the exchange.
"Father, you never intended to retire from the martial world," You Ruo realized her father had never let go of his ambitions.
"You Ruo, no one understands the martial world better than your father. Even seclusion requires strength. Otherwise, when enemies come knocking, we can only await our fate," Xiong Ba comforted his daughter, revealing the essence of the martial world.
"Why don't we both write it down?" Xiao Yu suggested.
"Alright, You Ruo, prepare paper and pen," Xiong Ba instructed his daughter.
You Ruo brought paper and pen, and Xiao Yu wrote down the Metal Fusion Finger, handing it to Xiong Ba for review.
"Indeed, it's a divine art. Not bad, but the young hero is exchanging one art for my three supreme arts. I feel a bit shortchanged," Xiong Ba, after confirming its authenticity, knew it had great potential for merging the Three-Part Union Qi, but he still feigned concern over the quantity.
"Leader Xiong, from what I understand, the Three Supremes require the Three Elements into One to be considered equivalent to the Metal Fusion Finger," Xiao Yu chose to offer the Metal Fusion Finger because it could aid in merging the Three Elements into One, knowing Xiong Ba would be tempted.
"Alright, let's exchange with this art," Xiong Ba, already tempted, agreed once he realized Xiao Yu knew the details of the Three Supremes.
Xiong Ba began writing the Three Supremes Divine Art.
Xiao Yu knew Xiong Ba wouldn't be entirely honest, so he used his soul force to subtly correct any tampered parts in Xiong Ba's mind.
Xiao Yu obtained the Three Supremes Divine Art, and Xiong Ba acquired the Metal Fusion Finger, leaving both satisfied.
"The Three Supremes are now yours, young hero. I hope you achieve great success with them," Xiong Ba pretended to be passing on a legacy.
"Haha, Leader Xiong, the same to you. May you quickly regain your power. As you said, even seclusion requires strength. Leader Xiong understands the martial world," Xiao Yu agreed with Xiong Ba's earlier statement.
"You're joking, young hero. I'm old now, and even if I retrain, it's hard to reach my peak again. I just want to train my daughter to protect herself," Xiong Ba continued to hide his intentions, using his daughter as a cover.
"I'm not joking. Leader Xiong, quickly restore your power. With the World Society in disarray and the Central Plains martial world leaderless, it will surely attract foreign invasion.
Absolute God from the East has long coveted the Central Plains. Seeing this opportunity, he won't let it pass.
When the martial world of Shenzhou is defeated, Leader Xiong can rally the people against foreign invaders, gaining followers and a good reputation," Xiao Yu incited Xiong Ba, not wanting him to hide in the shadows and take advantage of the situation like in the original plot.
"If Absolute God dares to invade our land of Shenzhou, I won't stand by," Xiong Ba, hearing Xiao Yu's persuasion, found it highly feasible and worth pursuing.
"I enjoyed our conversation, Leader Xiong, but I have other matters to attend to and must leave," Xiao Yu bid farewell to Xiong Ba.
"Very well, young hero, take care. Visit when you have time," Xiong Ba stood to see him off.
Xiao Yu left, satisfied with his gains.
Watching Xiao Yu depart, Xiong Ba pondered his words, thinking to himself that if the East invaded Shenzhou, it would indeed be a great opportunity. He needed to secretly regroup the World Society and wait for the right moment.
"You Ruo, from today, you must train diligently. I'll teach you the Three Supremes, and once I understand the Metal Fusion Finger, I'll teach you that as well," Xiong Ba instructed his daughter carefully.
"Father, will it really be as he said?" You Ruo was skeptical of Xiao Yu's words.
"The martial world has never been peaceful," Xiong Ba said, looking into the distance, his voice echoing softly.
...
Xiao Yu found a secluded place to begin practicing the Three Supremes Divine Art. Previously, he had obtained the Ten Martial Supremes Xuanwu True Art, but he feared being discovered by Di Shitian, who had been active recently, so he didn't dare use it.
Years ago, Di Shitian was nearly killed by Invincible Martial's Ten Martial Supremes. If he discovered the reappearance of Invincible Martial's techniques, he would surely investigate, and being caught would be disastrous.
As for giving Xiong Ba the Metal Fusion Finger, with Xiong Ba's pride and talent, he would likely integrate it into his Three-Part Union Qi and Three Elements into One, rather than directly practicing the Metal Fusion Finger.
Even if Di Shitian discovered him, it wouldn't matter to Xiao Yu.
The Three Supremes: Sky Frost Fist, Cloud Parting Palm, and Wind God Kick, each had their own deadly winter, cloud, and wind intents.
Each took one energy to merge, forming the Three-Part Union Qi, then refined into Three Elements into One, with the three energies cycling endlessly.
Xiao Yu thought he could continue adding other energies to return to the source, Myriad Qi Return to Source, and All Things Return to Source.
Realizing this, Xiao Yu immediately entered his Inner World to comprehend and cultivate in the First Heavenly Layer. As his understanding deepened, his true qi and spiritual power merged.
He then added the newly comprehended frost energy, cloud energy, and wind power. Various energies were refined and returned to their origin, forming an attribute-less energy in Xiao Yu's dantian sea of qi.
Meanwhile, changes occurred in the Inner World, with water vapor rising to form clouds, a gentle breeze blowing with no fixed pattern, and a slight white frost forming on the mountain peak, embodying the evolution of the world's natural order.