Chapter 11: Practical Combat

“Yes… I must get it…” A flash of ruthlessness crossed Lu Ya’s eyes.

“Chen Ping is nothing but a trash at the Qi Refining Stage. Even if Lin Xiaoyu has the Heavenly Dao Divine Physique, she is only at the Qi Refining Stage right now… I have plenty of ways.”

He forced himself to calm down and began to plan.

First, he could not alert the enemy.

No matter how useless Chen Ping was, he was still the master of a peak.

No matter how weak Lin Xiaoyu was, she possessed the Heavenly Dao Divine Physique. Once the sect found out, they would inevitably place great importance on her.

It had to be done in secret.

Second, he needed to find the right opportunity.

Luoxia Peak was remote and rarely visited. This was a disadvantage, but also an opportunity.

“Chen Ping… Lin Xiaoyu…” Lu Ya muttered under his breath.

“If you want to blame someone, blame yourselves for being too weak yet possessing things you shouldn’t have.”

On his chest, the black mark flickered slightly, as if agreeing with his words.

At the same time, on Luoxia Peak.

Chen Ping was already lying in bed, half-asleep and drifting off.

Suddenly, his heart skipped a beat for no reason, and an inexplicable sense of unease welled up inside him.

“Huh?” He opened his eyes and sat up.

Having reached the seventh layer of Qi Refining in the 《Grand Dao Divine Scripture》 and possessing the Grand Dao Divine Physique, his perception of danger far exceeded that of ordinary people.

In that brief instant, he had clearly felt a wave of malice directed at Luoxia Peak.

Though it was faint and obscure, it definitely existed.

“Who is it?” Chen Ping frowned in thought.

Li Xuangang? It was possible.

That old fellow had always disliked Luoxia Peak.

Or was it the Hall of Discipline disciples who came to investigate today?

Or… someone else?

Chen Ping stood up, walked to the window, and looked in the direction of the Hall of Discipline.

The night was deep, and the starlight was dim.

He activated his Grand Dao Divine Eyes, and a faint golden halo shrouded his eyes.

Within his vision, the energy flows of heaven and earth became clearly visible.

Most places were calm, with only a few peaks showing strong fluctuations of spiritual energy, indicating cultivators of the Golden Core stage or higher were training.

As for the direction of the Hall of Discipline…

Chen Ping’s gaze focused.

He saw it: an extremely obscure, cold, and evil black energy was slowly radiating from somewhere within the Hall of Discipline.

The aura was very faint. Had he not possessed the Grand Dao Divine Eyes, he would not have noticed it at all.

“Demonic Qi?” Chen Ping’s heart skipped a beat.

The Qingyun Sect was a righteous sect, so how could there be demonic Qi?

Moreover, the nature of this demonic Qi… he seemed to have seen a similar description in the 《Records of Anomalies in Myriad Realms》 provided by the system.

The Blood Fiend Sect!

“Blood Fiend Demonic Seal… Demon Seeding Technique…” Information flashed through Chen Ping’s mind.

The Blood Fiend Sect possessed a secret technique that could plant a demonic seal inside a cultivator, gradually turning them into a puppet.

When the demonic seal flared up, it caused excruciating pain and would continuously corrode the host’s soul.

“Could there be a spy from the Blood Fiend Sect in the Hall of Discipline?” Chen Ping’s expression grew solemn.

This was no small matter.

If there really was a demonic spy inside the Qingyun Sect, the entire sect could be in danger.

More importantly… this malice was directed at Luoxia Peak.

Was it aimed at him, or… Xiaoyu?

The Heavenly Dao Divine Physique!

Although he had managed to explain away today’s phenomenon, it might not have fooled everyone.

If the people of the Blood Fiend Sect found out that a Heavenly Dao Divine Physique had appeared in the Qingyun Sect…

“This is a big problem,” Chen Ping smiled bitterly.

Originally, he had only wanted to keep a low profile and grow his strength until he was powerful enough to sweep over everything.

Now, it seemed trouble had already found its way to him.

“I must speed up my cultivation,” Chen Ping resolved.

He returned to bed but could no longer sleep.

Taking out the Map of Mountains and Rivers, he willed himself inside, and his entire body entered the world within the painting.

A hundred li of mountains and rivers, rich with spiritual energy.

Chen Ping chose a valley where the spiritual energy was densest, sat down cross-legged, and began to run the 《Grand Dao Divine Scripture》 with all his might.

The purple-gold Grand Dao Source Power surged and flowed through his body, growing stronger with every cycle he completed.

At the same time, he split a portion of his mind to begin contemplating his newly acquired Divine Ability, the 《Grand Dao Evasion Technique》.

This evasion technique was incredibly profound, involving the Grand Dao of Space.

If he could master it, he could attack or retreat at will, vastly increasing his chances of survival.

The night passed in silence.

By the time Chen Ping emerged from the Map of Mountains and Rivers, the sky was already bright.

He felt his own cultivation level; the seventh layer of Qi Refining in the 《Grand Dao Divine Scripture》 was completely stabilized, and he was moving toward the eighth layer.

He had also taken his first steps into the 《Grand Dao Evasion Technique》. Although he could not traverse the void yet, his speed was already far beyond ordinary evasion techniques.

“It’s still not enough,” Chen Ping shook his head.

At his current strength, he could at most wrestle with someone at the Nascent Soul stage.

If he encountered an old monster above the Divine Ability stage, he would have no choice but to run for his life.

Not to mention a demonic sect like the Blood Fiend Sect, whose methods were bizarre and impossible to guard against.

“I have to find a way to increase my strength as quickly as possible,” Chen Ping thought.

“And as for Xiaoyu, I need to strengthen her practical combat skills.”

Just as he was thinking this, Lin Xiaoyu’s voice came from outside the door: “Master, breakfast is ready.”

Chen Ping pushed open the door and went out.

In the courtyard, Lin Xiaoyu had already laid out some light porridge and side dishes.

She looked in high spirits, glowing with vitality, having clearly fully adapted to the power of the Heavenly Dao Divine Physique.

“Master, you don’t look very well today?” Lin Xiaoyu keenly noticed Chen Ping’s unusual state.

“It’s nothing, I just didn’t sleep well last night.” Chen Ping waved his hand and sat down to eat.

He hesitated for a moment but decided not to tell Lin Xiaoyu about the Blood Fiend Sect for the time being.

The girl had just awakened her Heavenly Dao Divine Physique and was full of confidence. Telling her about this might instead affect her state of mind.

“Xiaoyu,” Chen Ping said as he ate.

“Starting today, in addition to practicing your cultivation method, I will also teach you practical combat.”

“Practical combat?” Lin Xiaoyu’s eyes lit up.

“Yes,” Chen Ping nodded.

“Cultivation is not about working behind closed doors; in the end, you must fight others. The grand competition in three months is one hurdle, and when you seek vengeance in the future, fighting will be unavoidable.”

He paused, then added, “So, starting today, I will spar with you every afternoon.”

“Really?” Lin Xiaoyu almost jumped with excitement.

“Thank you, Master!”

Chen Ping smiled and said no more.

He knew in his heart that the real enemy might not wait for the grand competition in three months.

But he would not let anyone hurt his disciple.

Never.

Outside the window, the morning sun rose, filling the sky with rosy light.

On Luoxia Peak, the master and disciple sat opposite each other, sharing a meal in a warm, peaceful atmosphere.

Meanwhile, at the Hall of Discipline, Lu Ya pushed open his door and stepped into the morning light, a sinister smile playing on his lips.

Beneath his robes, the black mark on his chest grew warm.

The hunt had begun.

Luoxia Peak.

Lu Ya had been lurking nearby for three whole days.

Over these three days, he had watched Chen Ping and Lin Xiaoyu, and the master and disciple had not taken a single step off Luoxia Peak.

They rose with the sun and rested at dusk.

During the day, they cultivated and sparred; at night, they retired to their respective rooms.

Their routine was infuriatingly consistent.

“Are these two… in seclusion or something?” Lu Ya muttered, his face dark as he hid behind a boulder.

It had been three days, and he had not found a single opportunity to get close.

Though Luoxia Peak was remote, it was still the territory of the Qingyun Sect.

As an elder of the Hall of Discipline, he could not simply barge in and seize them.

Moreover, he still needed to confirm whether Lin Xiaoyu had truly awakened the Heavenly Dao Divine Physique.

If he had misjudged and caused a scene, the consequences would be disastrous.

“No, I have to find a way…” Lu Ya frowned deeply.

“If I keep waiting like this, someone else might notice something amiss. Or worse, if they report it to the sect themselves, getting my hands on her will be next to impossible.”

The Heavenly Dao Divine Physique was a once-in-an-epoch rarity. Once word got out, the upper evelons of the Qingyun Sect would place the utmost importance on her.

Trying to make a move on Lin Xiaoyu then would be like snatching food from a tiger’s mouth.

He took a deep breath, cast one last look at the faintly visible courtyard on Luoxia Peak, and quietly retreated, vanishing into the forest.

He had to devise a plan as soon as possible.

What Lu Ya did not know, however, was that his every move over the past three days…

…had already been laid bare before Chen Ping’s Grand Dao Divine Eyes.