Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies
Chapter 322 - 8: Da Xu Technique Breakthrough, A Dark and Windy Night Perfect for Killing

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[Skill: Da Xu Technique (Skillfully)]

[Progress: 195/200 points]

[Status: Cannot be enhanced]

[Note: "A steed's leap cannot cover ten paces; a slow horse's continuous steps achieve the goal." Continuous practice has made you more adept at the Da Xu Technique, mastering its high-speed execution. After this breakthrough, your understanding of the concept of 'Xu' deepens—this martial art allows you to traverse space, appearing and disappearing tracelessly, elusive as the wind.]

"Just a bit more practice with the Da Xu Technique, and it should break through tonight if all goes well."

Shen Qing muttered to himself, a slight smile appearing on his face.

Ever since Huang Furo had fully imparted the Da Xu Technique to him, his cultivation in this martial art had become increasingly smooth.

With the added enhancement of Spirit Essence, in just a few days, this martial art was quietly nearing the conditions needed for a breakthrough.

Shen Qing thought to himself, "Once this martial art breaks through, I can attempt to kill that Xue Yan."

The events of the day came suddenly. Xue Yan's abrupt arrival was unexpected, leaving unknown tactics behind, and in broad daylight at the Guardian Martial Department, who knew how many had seen him.

Had he attacked earlier and killed him, within the Guardian Martial Department, there was no denying responsibility.

In other words, letting this Third Young Master Xue die elsewhere without any connection to himself would be ideal.

With this in mind, there was nothing more to say.

Shen Qing quickly came to a decision and headed into the Cultivation Room, pulling out a piece of Jade Token, fully focused and immersed in cultivation.

He practiced the Da Xu Technique, running continuously within the Cultivation Room, his form transforming into numerous fleeting shadows.

Time passed by little by little, the night deepened, and the moon hung high in the sky.

Shen Qing did not know how long he'd been running when he suddenly sensed something, abruptly stopping in the Cultivation Room, seeing floating ink-black characters appear in his vision.

[Skill: Da Xu Technique (Skillfully)]

[Progress: 201/200 points]

[Status: Can be enhanced]

Without hesitation, Shen Qing said, "Breakthrough!"

Hum.

Shortly after a moment of stillness, a massive influx of memories surged violently into his mind, making him dizzy and pained.

Shen Qing, already prepared, used his strong Divine Sense to maintain his mind, suppressing the discomfort.

Moments later, he had completely absorbed and digested this wave of memories.

In his memory, Shen Qing repeatedly practiced the Da Xu Technique, and after continuous hard training, the technique's essence finally became crystal clear in his heart.

His understanding and insight into the Da Xu Technique became increasingly transparent.

The next moment, a surge of Spiritual Energy erupted within the Cultivation Room.

Shen Qing's heart raced, every pore in his body seemed to open at that moment, greedily absorbing the surrounding nature's spiritual energy that escaped from the Jade Token.

With a dull, yet powerful roar, the force within Shen Qing's body seemed to find a vent, exploding instantly.

At this time, the structure of Spiritual Energy within him became completely consistent with his memories.

After adapting for a bit, Shen Qing exhaled a long breath of turbid air.

[Skill: Da Xu Technique (Small Success)]

[Progress: 1/300 points]

[Status: Cannot be elevated]

[Note: "Heaven rewards diligence." After constant practice, you've broken through to Small Success in the Da Xu Technique, allowing you to touch on the realm of extreme speed. With this martial art, you can traverse space and master the 'Traceless' skill.]

Looking at the reminders appearing in his vision, Shen Qing let out a knowing smile.

"Let's see what extent this Huangfu family martial art reaches after achieving Small Success."

Shen Qing mobilized all his Spiritual Energy, activating the Da Xu Technique.

With a slight flicker, he vanished from the Cultivation Room, leaving only a faint trace of blue light in place, as if marking his passage through the void.

Upon reappearing, he was on the opposite side of the Cultivation Room, his form nearly merging with the air, achieving true teleportation.

Crossing distances, traceless.

"This..."

Shen Qing looked at the scene in shock.

Although the ink-black text reminders had given him some mental preparation for the changes in the Da Xu Technique, the actual realization was still somewhat unbelievable.

He sensed that the Da Xu Technique, upon reaching 'Small Success' realm, vaguely surpassed the realm of 'Martial' and started transitioning into the tier of 'Immortal.'

This ancient martial art handed down from Ancient Times was unique.

Shen Qing restrained his thoughts and did not delve further.

He opened the door, looking up to see a bright moon hanging like a pearl in the ink-black sky.

The silver glow poured down, casting a layer of faint, cold blue-white over the still Yongzhou City.

"The night of a dark moon and high winds is the perfect time for killing."

Shen Qing hesitated no longer, saying, "Third Young Master Xue, it's just your bad luck to cross me."

He left the Cultivation Room, summoned Chen Guang to find out Xue Yan's whereabouts, and then silently departed the Guardian Martial Department Office.

Once in a solitary place, he took a deep breath, Spiritual Energy surging wildly within him.

Instantly, his figure blurred completely in the night, abruptly vanishing in place, leaving only a faint shadow perfectly merging with the surrounding darkness.

...

In a room of a certain inn in Yongzhou City, candlelight flickered, casting mottled light and shadows.

Xue Yan sat by the table, his figure elongated by the candlelight.

After a series of blows today, his emotions were turbulent like a storm-swept sea, difficult to calm.

His fists clenched tightly, teeth grinding, constantly recalling Shen Qing's disdainful expression, stirring his anger.

Suddenly, Xue Yan slammed his fist on the table, shattering it instantly into pieces.

After venting his emotion, Xue Yan stood up and paced back and forth, pondering strategies.

Given Shen Qing's actions today, it's evident he's a ruthless person, intolerant of imperfection, and focused solely on the present.

So using vague backgrounds to pressure him is pointless, making his schemes fall completely short.

If things continued this way, he would return to Yongzhou empty-handed and would have no way to explain to his father.

The hard-earned opportunity to prove himself was about to be wasted, leaving him extremely indignant.

The best solution was still to find someone slightly stronger than Shen Qing to suppress him face-to-face, offering a glimmer of hope.

Xue Yan immediately thought of the Imperial Envoy Shi Wenbo, who had also come to Yongzhou.

This person was close to his Xue family and had cultivation superior to Shen Qing—an innate ally.

However, the matter of Spirit Essence was not easy to articulate.

Xue Yan fell into deep thought, considering how to convince Shi Wenbo to press and act against Shen Qing.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

Xue Yan paused and asked, "Who is it?"

"It's me," came Shi Wenbo's voice from outside the door, continuing, "Nephew, what happened in your room just now? Are you in any trouble?"

Xue Yan was taken aback, then laughed silently.

Glancing at the shattered remnants of the table, he said, "Nothing serious, just broke some furniture in a foul mood. Sorry for troubling you, Sir."

"Alright, if there's anything you need, feel free to let me know."

Xue Yan said respectfully, "Thank you, sir."

Listening to the receding footsteps outside, Xue Yan felt reassured by Shi Wenbo's attention and care.

A glint of vicious determination flashed in his eyes, "Indeed, heaven helps me. Shen Qing, everything you did to me today will cost you dearly someday. My Xue family will not suffer humiliation in silence!"

As night deepened and the candlelight dimmed, the flames of Xue Yan's resolve burned even stronger, his eyes gleaming with firm determination.

Seeing it was getting late, Xue Yan, without the habit of night training, prepared to sleep and rest.

At that moment, the candle in the room wavered slightly.

Xue Yan was puzzled, adrenaline surging as his body tensed with heightened vigilance.

But before he could react, a gleaming light of extreme coldness silently sliced through the air.

In the blink of an eye, it left a silvery mark on his neck.

Xue Yan's expression drastically changed, barely registering the attack before the cold gleam vanished without a trace, leaving only a whisper of chill and a faint pain on his neck.

Horrified, he immediately realized a master was ambushing him in the shadows!

Instinctively, Xue Yan's Spirit powered up violently, Protective Gang Qi enveloping him like armor, while clutching his neck to channel Spirit Energy, hastily healing the wound.

Having trained intensively since youth, regularly hardened by various Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, his flesh was far stronger than common folk, making such injury not fatal to him.

Urging his Spirit, signs of flesh mending could be discerned.

"Killing me isn't so easy! Only sneaky cowards must be weaker than me."

Xue Yan thought maliciously, his face growing vicious.

"Shi Wenbo surely hasn't wandered far; I have to rally him to unearth this scoundrel, leaving them no burial place."

Xue Yan opened his mouth to shout loudly.

However, the moment he gathered strength to call out, he found his vocal cords suddenly, invisibly constricted, releasing only hoarse "Ha ha" sounds, incapable of forming words.

Xue Yan's eyes widened.

His vocal cords had been severed.

A nameless fear spread like ice through his heart—he must flee immediately.

Xue Yan urgently scanned the surroundings, seeking the hidden enemy, trying to deduce an escape path.

However, the room was so small and empty, apart from the swinging candlelight and his own shadow, there was no trace of a second person's presence.

In his panic, a resplendent golden seal, like a meteor from the sky, crashed down with overwhelming might, enveloping his entire body.

Xue Yan felt an indescribable force bearing down on him, ripping through his Protective Gang Qi as if mere parchment, instantly shredded.

"Boom!" With a deafening crash, Xue Yan's entire body crumbled like clay under a sledgehammer, reduced to a mass of formless pulp, leaving not a hint of struggle.

Under this force, the entire room quivered slightly.

Moments passed, and everything settled.

Candlelight flickered still, but the room's atmosphere turned cold and deathly silent.

Not far away, Shi Wenbo, noticing the commotion, shook his head in silence, feeling that, awfully late at night, Xue Yan's actions were a bit excessive.

Seeing no response from Xue Yan, he thought nothing of it and refrained from checking further.

In a dark alley behind the inn, a flickering shadow revealed itself.

As the shadow receded, Shen Qing's figure emerged from hiding.

Looking back toward the inn, a delighted smile spread across Shen Qing's face.

He hadn't expected such smooth success tonight.

After the Da Xu Technique's breakthrough, he managed to infiltrate Xue Yan's room unnoticed, killing him in just two moves, resolving a significant worry.

This time, he'd done it discreetly, leaving no trace to lead back to him.

Not lingering in the alley for long, Shen Qing continued to propel his Spirit, deploying the Da Xu Technique, vanishing from sight.

Returning to his courtyard, he resumed calm and focused cultivation.

The night passed without incident.

Early the next morning, a Military Department officer rushed to his home, shouting anxiously, "Lord Shen, Lord Shen! Something's wrong!"

Shen Qing extricated himself from his meditative state.

The abrupt interruption of his training left him somewhat displeased.

With a flicker of his form, Shen Qing appeared behind the courtyard gate, swinging it open, disgruntledly asking, "What has happened that makes you so frantic?"

The Military Officer swallowed nervously, saying, "Xue Yan, Young Master Xue, is dead! This is no small matter, our Lord Huangfu has summoned all the other lords."

"What? Something like that happened?" Shen Qing feigned disbelief, saying, "Quick, take me there!"

"Follow me this way, my lord."

Leading the way, the Military Department officer moved swiftly, his pace brisk.

After roughly an incense stick's worth of time, Shen Qing was led before an inn.

"Lord Shen, it's inside here."

Without hesitation, Shen Qing crossed the threshold, striding swiftly inside.

Once inside, he saw the innkeeper kneeling before Shi Wenbo, crying out his innocence, "Sir, I'm innocent, I really don't know who the killer is, this has nothing to do with me. Please see clearly, Sir!"

"Humph, just because you say it doesn't concern you doesn't mean it doesn't. The person died here, you can't escape involvement."

With that, Shi Wenbo casually swiped, delivering a blow to the innkeeper's face.

The innkeeper's head burst like a watermelon, scattering its contents everywhere.

Shi Wenbo casually flexed his wrist, unfazed.

In the main hall, Huang Furo, Dou Wenxi, Yan Xushou, Ji He, and others were all present, each wearing deeply displeased expressions.

Shen Qing tactfully stepped forward, cupping his fists and asking, "Sir, what exactly happened?"

"Sigh...Lord Shen, see for yourself upstairs." Dou Wenxi sighed deeply.

Shen Qing cupped his fists again, entering Xue Yan's room to witness the scene of chaos.

Xue Yan's mangled remains were stuck to the floor.

Shen Qing was taken aback.

Perhaps he had gone too far last night.

Third Young Master Xue died a horrific death.

Regaining his composure, Shen Qing returned quietly to the hall, standing silently beside Huang Furo.

Shi Wenbo scanned the room, sternly stating, "In Yongzhou, for someone to attack our imperial envoy, what do you all make of this?"

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