Ancient Strengthening Technique - Chapter 1616

Chapter 1616

AST 1616 - The showdown between the younger generations of Qing Clan and Nalan Clan(3)

Qing Ming didn’t have any Hidden Weapons in his hand . Every two times he attacked his opponent, he would toss out a Hidden Weapon . It’s just that every time he did it, he was trying to scare his opponent only . Nalan Jian was very cautious . He tried to avoid him almost every time . Qing Ming on the other hand, would take the opportunity when he dodged to try and land two hits . He managed to make his opponent feel nervous, though it was just a little .

“Hidden Weapon!”

Qing Ming constantly tried to annoy him . This time, Nalan Jian seemed to be unaffected by it . Qing Ming retreated and once again took up his hand, “Hidden Weapon!”

This time, Nalan Jian dodged swiftly . But like before, there was nothing . Nalan Jian was furious . Fighting like that was like playing monkey in a circus . Every time his opponent lifted his arm, he would have to dodge it . It’s as if he was trying to run away . But every time he did it, nothing came up . If there was at least once when Qing Ming unleashed it, at least people would think that he was trying to be cautious . But yet, nothing came up, this only came to make people think that he was being played .

Qing Ming’s smile looked cold . He looked as if he was disdained with Nalan Jian . Nalan Jian was enraged . Even if there was really a Hidden Weapon, it’s not that he was not confident he would block it . He was just trying to be cautious . But at the end of the day, he was still young, once blood started rushing through his head, he immediately charged towards Qing Ming .

Qing Ming smiled and took a step backward . Once again, he lifted up his hand, “Hidden Weapon!”

Qing Ming retreated in a skillful way . While retreating, he constantly had his hand lifted up, “ Hidden Weapon!”

Hidden Weapon!

Hidden Weapon! Hidden Weapon…… Hidden Weapon!”

At the moment when Nalan Jian was about a meter away from Qing Ming, he felt numbness across his neck . It felt as if he got bitten by a mosquito . A needle as thin as a bull’s hair could be seen on his neck . Qing Ming took this opportunity to slap Nalan Jian with his dagger out of the arena .

Nalan Jian’s body was feeling numb . He needed time to activate his Light Saber . It wasn’t a technique which he could use whenever he wanted to . Qing Ming aimed for his face with his attack and injured him to the point he spouted out a mouthful of blood . He even lost half of his teeth from the attack .

Qing Shui smiled . Somehow, Qing Ming’s personality was a bit similar to his own . Qing Ming was already holding a grudge ever since he saw Qing Zun getting injured . Regardless of what kind of battle technique the Secret Art of Light Saber was, if you were allowed to use it, I would naturally be allowed to use poisons and Hidden Weapon .

“That’s nicely done! I knew all along that brat from Nalan Clan was a good for nothing . To think that he would temporarily blind his opponents with light . Even I myself almost got blinded by that light . ”

“That brat from Qing Clan is also quite evil . It’s as the saying goes, there is a rock to every scissors . ”

“That’s true . How the two clans are going to fight each other have nothing to do with us . ”

“That being the case, Qing Clan is still quite a friendly clan . Have you ever seen people from Qing Clan oppressing other people and taking unfair advantage of the weak before? Also, I am going to assume that you know that the Imperial Cuisine Hall belongs to Qing Clan . Need I inform you about how Imperial Cuisine Hall is doing?”

“Exactly . I personally know the old man from Qing Clan . He would always have teatime together with my grandfather . He is a really great man . There are a lot of people here who has received blessings from Qing Clan before . There was a granny from my neighbour’s home who was sick but didn’t have any money to see a doctor . When Imperial Cuisine Hall was made aware of that, they cured her without charging any fees . They even managed to find jobs for her children . Now, their whole family is living a great life and don’t have to worry about basic clothes and food . ”

……

This was indeed the case . Though Qing Ming might seem evil, no one had ever seen him bullying others . Even if he was to do it, he would only do it to some of the spoiled brats from aristocratic clan . He only targeted the princes and young masters who bullied others by relying on their clan’s background . Through his actions, external forces started gathering towards Qing Clan without himself noticing .

Actually, Qing Clan had a considerably good reputation around this area . One of the major reasons for it was due to the existence of Imperial Cuisine Hall . Other than that, Qing Clan would also from time to time, support the old men without sons or daughters . Qing Clan didn’t lack in money, Qing Shui has always strongly believed in the quote “What comes around, goes around” .

The people around the arena was discussing very loudly . Naturally, Nalan Clan was able to hear it . This caused them to feel a bit upset . They were aware that Qing Clan had only been here for a very short while, but now, it seemed like they shared good relationships with the commoners as well as some of the aristocratic clans here . If they were to be here even longer, they would achieve much more .

Qing Ming was calmly standing on the arena . It’s was if he never used any powerful battle techniques . What he was doing was dealing with his opponents the same way as they dealt with him . Furthermore, he made Nalan Clan feel a bit stupid throughout the whole process . After all, it’s similar to when a person was in a situation where they dodged and faced the attacks at appropriate times .

This time, it didn’t take long before another young man from Nalan Clan came up onto the stage . For the time being, everyone was thinking that this might be the end for Nalan Clan . Within such a short period of time, they have already switched a number of junior participants .

This was a young man with a more plain look . He was expressionless and seemed to be wearing ordinary outfits . In his hand, he held a bamboo sword . Overall, he gave the people an impression that he was an extraordinary person .

Qing Shui was stunned upon seeing the young man . He was a warrior with decent talent . Unfortunately, he didn’t learn the right techniques . He was just like an unpolished gem . The only unfortunate thing was that no one from Nalan Clan was capable of carving him .

His name was Nalan Ping . He was the illegitimate son of Nalan Zhenghong who was one of the three brothers of Nalan Clan’s Clan’s head . Though he might not possess any status in Nalan Clan, he lived his life very plain . Since young, he never intended to compete with others in anything . He also wore the most ordinary clothes . Despite that, he possessed decent strength . Maybe it was due to this that he managed to still stay in Nalan Clan .

His name was Nalan Ping . His name represented his desire to live a plain life . His mother was a subordinate . When this kind of things happened, he already got kicked out by Nalan Zhenghong’s eldest wife . Nalan Ping found his mother a shelter outside . Luckily, Nalan Clan didn’t continue to put pressure on them . Nalan Ping was still young, hence, he could only stay in Nalan Clan to ensure that he got his money . His mother would still need them for a living .

He was expressionless, so much so that for some days, he wouldn’t even speak once . He was considered a weird person in Nalan Clan, yet he possessed great strength . Beside, he was Nalan Zhenghong’s only son, no one would want to pick on him . Even an illegitimate son would still be considered as his own child .

Nalan Zhenghong wasn’t the clan’s head . But he had a considerably high status in Nalan Clan .

Qing Shui never expected to receive so much news from merely asking Nalan Ping questions . It seemed that his understanding towards Nalan Clan was quite vague .

The two didn’t say anything . Qing Ming immediately charged his way towards Nalan Ping . The reason being that he knew if he didn’t make any move, Nalan Ping wouldn’t act .

As soon as both sides started fighting, Qing Shui noticed that the brat from Nalan Clan was quite talented . To think that he managed to learn strategy without guidance from a master .

The skill to be on the passive and counter opponents wasn’t an easy thing to learn . Even Qing Shui didn’t teach the younger generations strategy in battle . The reason being that this was related to one’s personality . For now, Qing Yin was the only person who just started learning it .

Qing Shui had only taught them how to leverage the power across their body, the art of energy diversion and also their body motions . These strategies would still be very useful . As for the ability to strike only after the opponent has struck, it required the user to have very high mentality . It would be impossible for an impulsive person to learn it even if they died . In order to learn this, one must cultivate their patience and nature .

Nalan Ping planned his retreating route as his way to advance towards his opponent . He insisted on taking a step back every time his opponent attacked . Though that might be the case, he felt that he was slowly making his way forward . He never clashed the bamboo sword directly with Qing Ming . It seemed he also managed the art of diverting his energy quite well .

Qing Shui was observing Nalan Ping . If this brat was brought up well, he would definitely turn out to be one of the strongest warrior in terms of Taichi from his generation in the future .

This ancestor wasn’t someone who could be compared to the ancestor from his previous incarnation .

Qing Ming’s attacks were sharp like a sinister and fierce snake . Nalan Ping on the other hand, could do nothing but constantly defend against his attacks . The two of them were both being put at two extreme sides . Qing Shui wasn’t worried as he watched the battle . This sort of battle was also quite decent as it could help Qing Ming learn new stuff .

As Qing Ming held up his hand, a needle thin like a bull’s hair shot out . He moved his body and immediately appeared behind Nalan Ping in a mysterious way . Nalan Ping on the other hand, squinted and blocked Qing Ming’s dagger with his hand . He managed to avoid the silver needle by moving his head to the side .

Suddenly, Qing Ming’s dagger began surging with a dark energy .

A surprising scene appeared . Nalan Ping’s bamboo sword seemed like it got corroded right away and disappeared . This shocked Nalan Ping . Though his bamboo sword might not be a divine weapon, it was made of green bamboo that has lived for five thousand years . It was a lot stronger than normal iron . Furthermore, his bamboo sword had a life force, causing him to be able to wield it more easily .

Qing Ming wouldn’t let go of this opportunity . He abruptly got near him with the dagger in his right arm while he performed Solitary Rapid Fist with his left arm . Added on he had the Nine Palace Step, he managed to land a surprise attack at Nalan Ping . After all, Qing Ming’s dagger was very intimidating . After about thirty to fifty exchange of blows, he got blown out of the arena from an elbow strike landed by Qing Ming .

……

Nalan Ping was a bit sad when he returned to Nalan Clan . At this moment, a man with middle-aged look said softly, “You said it yourself that if you lose, you will leave Nalan Clan . ”

“I know that, I will leave today . ” Nalan Ping said calmly .

“Go to the cashier and get yourself five hundred silvers!” The man let out a sigh and said .

“There is no need for that, but thank you . ” Nalan Ping turned around and left . The middle-aged person was Nalan Zhenghong . While watching the lonely figure leaving on his own, his eyes looked really complicated . Following on, he let out yet another sigh .

“Third brother, you are doing this for his own good . Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to live up till now . He is an adult now . Even if he hadn’t left, he wouldn’t stay in the house any longer . Things would only turn out to be more awkward by then . ” A man who looked a lot like Nalan Zhenghong said .

“I know, but I feel sorry for both him and his mom . He wouldn’t have earned anything even if he had stayed in Nalan Clan . It would be better if he left early . ”

Once a person of an aristocratic clan became an adult, they would have to start dealing with some of their careers as well as cultivations . Normally, once they got married, they would leave the main clan . Besides, when they got babies of their own in the future, they would become a new branch of the clan . Only the direct line of descendants of the particular clan would be required to remain in the area of the clan which the base operations mostly took place .

Qing Shui felt really happy looking at Qing Ming . Qing Ming never hesitated to do anything as he had clear goals of what he wanted . He has got a strong sense of the things which he wanted to achieve . He also tended to view things with his own opinion . Qing Shui felt that he must be watched carefully as one flaw in his education might lead to him turning into a devil .

After that, by relying on Underworld King’s Energy and Hidden Weapons and poisons, Qing Ming managed to win three consecutive battles despite the injuries he suffered . Eventually, he got taken over by Qing Yin .

Qing Yin walked a different path compared to the majority of people . She possessed powerful Nine Palace Step . She was also quite well-trained in her Taichi Techniques . The other thing which she cultivated were melodies . This was the reason why Qing Shui agreed to let her go on stage even at this time .

The current representatives of Nalan Clan were totally different from before . The person who went up was a young man . He might seem to be around 13, but his actual age should be a lot older .

The boy was wearing black clothes . He looked really grave and stern . While gazing at Qing Yin, he slightly knitted his brows . Qing Yin was very beautiful . A sweet and fair woman was what a nobleman has always seeked for . Nalan Linfeng found it hard to lay his hands on her . Despite that, he knew that it was of utmost importance for himself to beat her . For all you know, unexpected events might even occur in the middle of the match .

Qing Yin didn’t say anything . She took out the Five-string Zither which Qing Shui gave her .

Her sleeves were swaying, she looked like a fairy walking over ripples . She started floating upwards . As she did so, a kind of Spiritual Energy started spreading out in the surrounding . It was just like water ripples . The Five-string Zither on the other hand, was floating in front of Qing yIN .