Chapter 5: The Art of Wu Nuo

 The green mass dispersed like a blue-green mist, drifting away.

Xu Ying fell from the air, landing with a solid thud, his feet firmly planted on the ground.

Ding Quan was stunned. Someone with broken bones shouldn’t be able to land on their feet, let alone stand so steadily!

Yet here Xu Ying stood, perfectly balanced!

But… this was Nuo magic!

A Nuo master had unlocked his body’s hidden treasures, comprehending the nature of heaven and earth, and elevating his internal cultivation to unleash the power of Nuo magic!

Just now, a single green vine was enough to snap a large tree in half!

How could Xu Ying possibly survive such a blow?

Even a divine being forged of iron would be crushed to pieces, pounded into dust, by that strike!

"It seems that, even as the Zhou family's lapdog, Magistrate Zhou hasn’t taught you the true Nuo techniques, has he?"

Xu Ying inhaled deeply, the sound of his bones cracking and popping as he lifted his head, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and smiled. "If the Zhou family had taught you real Nuo techniques, I’d be dead by now. Yet here you are, with your hidden treasure unlocked and all, but still unable to kill me."

Ding Quan's pupils contracted. He had sworn loyalty to the Zhou family, who had helped him unlock his hidden treasure and become a Nuo master. But he wasn’t part of the Zhou family, and the methods they taught him were merely the basics, and the Nuo arts he learned were similarly limited!

Although he prided himself on his extraordinary talents, he could never reach advanced levels to truly increase his strength!

Xu Ying's qi and blood surged violently, producing a rolling thunder that grew into the trumpeting of an elephant!

Behind him, his qi and blood condensed into a malevolent aura, forming the ghostly image of a deity with an elephant head and human body.

Xu Ying locked eyes with Ding Quan, who stood on the water’s surface. He suddenly stomped down hard, the earth scattering, and launched forward like an arrow from a bow, reaching Ding Quan in the next instant!

“Whoosh—”

He threw a punch, and the deity behind him mirrored the punch, unleashing the power of an elephant. The water exploded, a wild gust carrying waves towards Ding Quan!

There was a loud splash as countless vines rose from the water, weaving into a massive green shield before Ding Quan!

Xu Ying's punch tore through the vine shield.

At the same moment, Ding Quan also threw a punch, with green vines twisting around his fist, growing larger, countless vines wrapping around his arm like muscles ready to burst with power!

“Boom!”

The clash of Nuo magic and martial power sent waves crashing into the air, as though tugged by fierce winds, swaying unpredictably!

The vine-covered fist shattered upon impact, Ding Quan drifting back, his foot shifting as the vines linking his body to the ground were yanked up by the roots, countless tendrils snapping!

The vines quickly took root again, diffusing the force of Xu Ying’s punch.

Ding Quan swung his left fist, and countless vines whipped towards him, binding to his left hand and forming a giant fist.

Other vines adhered to his body, intertwining around his frame, coiling tightly like taut bowstrings, providing him with immense strength!

Though he did not practice martial arts, his Nuo techniques were so refined that his strength rivaled even someone like Xu Ying, who had cultivated elephant power!

“Boom!”

Their fists clashed once again, forcing Ding Quan to retreat another step as countless vines erupted, only for even more vines to coil around his right fist immediately afterward.

Meanwhile, countless vines surged from all directions, even from beneath Xu Ying's feet, attempting to ensnare him!

Xu Ying stepped onto one of the vines, his fists and feet moving in rapid succession, shattering the vines as his qi and blood surged. He unleashed another powerful punch!

Ding Quan took ten punches in rapid succession, retreating step by step until he was out of the pool, pushed back into the forest.

Xu Ying pursued him relentlessly, wielding the full might of his Elephant Power Bull Demon Fist, his qi and blood surging, a radiant glow emanating from within as though a blazing sun rose from his dantian, transforming into boundless strength that accompanied his blows!

His power only grew stronger, but the trees around him seemed to come alive, attacking him from all sides, even from below!

Xu Ying was confident he could easily defeat a green-robed deity, yet against Ding Quan, a Nuo master, he found that he couldn’t even land a direct hit!

Ding Quan’s Nuo techniques always managed to dissipate his strikes at the last moment!

Ding Quan, for his part, was inwardly astonished. Every punch he took felt like a giant elephant weighing thousands of pounds was crashing into him, his arms and legs trembling from the impact!

Despite Xu Ying being only fourteen, he wielded an inhuman strength, and that strength continued to grow!

However, with the support of the vines, Ding Quan could withstand even this monstrous elephant power!

"And this is the forest—my battlefield. Here, trees, grass, and plants are all my weapons!"

Ding Quan’s eyes glinted as he withstood Xu Ying’s onslaught, thinking, "I can outlast you!"

He took another punch, shattering more vines, but countless more snaked over, linking with his right hand.

But then, one particular “vine” near him moved in a strangely agile way, not attaching to his fist but instead wrapping around his neck.

Ding Quan froze, suddenly realizing that the “vine” had opened a mouth filled with gleaming venomous fangs, which sank into his neck!

“Xu Ying, I got him!”

The “vine” slid off, joyfully calling out. It was none other than the snake demon, Yuan Qi.

“A snake demon?”

Ding Quan was alarmed, immediately waving his hand as countless vines entangled the snake. But then his head grew dizzy, his vision went dark.

"Such a powerful venom?"

Ding Quan struggled to stay on his feet, frantically channeling his hidden strength to fight the venom and preserve his life!

Yuan Qi narrowly avoided being strangled by the vines, escaping only after Ding Quan lost his grip. He turned back and shouted at Ding Quan, “My poison is fifth in the world—there’s no cure for you!”

Ignoring him, Ding Quan’s neck began to rot, flesh decaying rapidly, and his head seemed ready to fall off. But in the next instant, a mysterious power erupted from within, causing the rotten flesh to shed away as fresh flesh grew back swiftly!

He seemed to be countering Yuan Qi’s world-famous poison!

Yet Yuan Qi’s venom, famed as it was, wasn’t so easily neutralized.

Ding Quan’s neck began to decay once more, the rotting progressing at a rapid pace!

A bright light burst from Ding Quan’s forehead, his face tinged green, and new flesh grew on his neck even as it rotted. It was as if his vitality and the venom were waging a tug-of-war around his throat!

Xu Ying broke through the layers of vines, charging in like a rampaging elephant, landing a punch squarely on Ding Quan's chest!

Ding Quan groaned, spitting out a mouthful of blood as Xu Ying grabbed his rib cage, his fingers darting over Ding Quan’s body, dislocating all his joints!

This was the ultimate skill of a snake-catcher!

Ding Quan fell to the ground, immobilized, engulfed by the frantically growing vines!

Xu Ying struck again and again, breaking through the vines, only to see that they were burrowing into the ground, creating a passage that carried Ding Quan away!

Following the tremors, Xu Ying jumped high and repeatedly hammered down, leaving a trail of craters in the forest floor!

Yuan Qi followed behind him, terrified, watching Xu Ying strike a hundred times, leaving a hundred massive pits in the earth!

“Judicial Assistant Ding Quan!”

An official’s shout came from a distance, “Are you using Nuo magic? Have you located that scoundrel Xu Ying?”

Xu Ying’s expression shifted, and he threw a few more punches, noticing blood trickling from the bottom of the pit.

“Xu Ying, if we don’t leave now, it’ll be too late!” Yuan Qi whispered urgently.

Xu Ying didn’t dare linger, immediately disappearing with Yuan Qi into the forest.

“Get on my back. I can travel without leaving any traces!” Yuan Qi urged.

Xu Ying jumped onto his back, and Yuan Qi sped over mountains and through valleys, avoiding the pursuing officials.

“That Nuo master… he must be dead, right?” Yuan Qi asked, weaving quickly through the forest, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Xu Ying recalled Ding Quan's horrifying regenerative ability, a chill running through him. “With your world-ranked fifth poison, plus the beating I gave him, he’s definitely dead!”

Despite his words, he wasn’t entirely confident.

The sight of Ding Quan’s neck rotting and then regenerating was unlike anything he’d ever seen!

He had always heard that Nuo masters were terrifying, but this was his first time confronting one head-on. And it was even scarier than the rumors!

“Yuan Qi, thank you,” Xu Ying said suddenly.

Yuan Qi froze for a moment, then smiled, “Did you think I’d abandon you? I’m not the kind of demon who’d turn his back on loyalty. You risked your life to avenge the villagers, even killing a god on their behalf. It was only fair to help you, you know?”

Xu Ying smiled and said nothing, his thoughts unknowable.

Xu Ying felt a surge of gratitude and reminded Yuan Qi, “I’m human, not a monster.”

"Don’t be so sure. What if you’re not?” The snake demon Yuan Qi chuckled. “I’ve never heard of a human mastering demon arts so quickly.”

Xu Ying suddenly felt a pang of doubt. Could it be that he really wasn’t human?

“No, I’m definitely human! I’m from Xujiaping, and both my parents were Xujiaping people!” he reassured himself silently.

Meanwhile, a group of young officials hurried to the poolside, following the trail until they finally found Ding Quan.

Ding Quan was alive.

Countless broken green vines had protected him, emerging from the ground beneath.

The sight of Ding Quan’s condition left the officials in shock. His limbs were shattered, an unknown number of ribs broken, and his internal organs suffered severe injuries!

His neck was a mass of black, rotting flesh, reeking horribly—it was obvious he’d been poisoned.

Despite all that, he was still alive!

He had unlocked the Numinous Treasure Vault, a hidden bodily reserve that contained boundless vitality, keeping him alive and granting him an almost indestructible body!

However, Ding Quan had only unlocked the first level of the Numinous Treasure Vault. Once the life force from the first level was exhausted, his death would follow.

He was already on the verge of death, his breathing faint and weak, and the life force of the first level was about to run dry!

The officials quickly went to work, removing the decaying flesh and setting his broken bones. A black-and-red-robed official extended a finger to touch the center of Ding Quan's brow, channeling his own life force from his Numinous Vault to suppress the poison.

The other two officials also transferred their life force, assisting with bone healing.

As for his internal organs, their delicate treatment required Ding Quan to tend to them himself once his condition stabilized. Any interference from others could easily lead to complications.

Ding Quan’s breathing gradually steadied, but his joints were all dislocated, rendering him unable to move or speak.

The black-and-red-robed official, experienced and perceptive, quickly noticed that Ding Quan’s joints had been dislocated on purpose. He reconnected them and asked, “Brother Ding, who did this to you?”

Ding Quan exhaled in relief and immediately recounted his encounter with Xu Ying and the sneak attack from the snake demon. He added with embarrassment, “That Xu Ying has been practicing demon arts and had the snake demon’s help in ambushing me. That’s how I ended up in this sorry state…”

The officials exchanged glances, a hint of amusement in their eyes. They had been concerned that Ding Quan would take all the credit, but now that he was so badly injured, he could forget about claiming any accolades.

“Brother Ding, focus on recovering. Leave capturing Xu Ying to us!” The three officials laughed and left.

Ding Quan felt a twinge of displeasure at their words, but there was nothing he could do. He sat cross-legged, preparing to heal himself, when he reached into his robe and his face suddenly changed.

“Damn it!” Cold sweat dripped down his forehead.

In his robe had been a scroll containing the Numinous Vault Concealment Qi Refinement Method, a secret cultivation technique he’d received from the Zhou family in exchange for his loyalty!

The Zhou family’s decree was strict: their cultivation techniques could be learned and practiced but were forbidden to be copied or passed on. Violators would have their entire families exterminated, their souls shattered, and their spirits dispersed!

Any outsider who so much as glimpsed the text would have their eyes gouged out, their minds erased, leaving them as mindless husks!

Out of selfish motives, Ding Quan had secretly recorded the Numinous Vault Concealment Qi Refinement Method for himself. Now, that scroll had vanished!

“Did I drop it during the fight with Xu Ying?”

Cold sweat poured from his forehead as he struggled to his feet, retracing his steps and searching everywhere, but he found nothing.

“Could it be…”

He recalled how Xu Ying had dislocated all his joints, and his heart went cold. “Could he have stolen it from me then?”

His vision darkened, and he nearly fainted.

If the Zhou family’s cultivation technique were to leak, he would face the most severe and merciless punishment they could deliver!

“I have to eliminate Xu Ying and reclaim the Qi Refinement Method!”