Chapter 339: Higher Tier – Qi Mai Chang Liu (88)
Li Xuelian: Any Civil Engineering Department jobs you’re considering? Might run into someone you know.
Yu Xinghan: I’ll take them.
Li Xuelian: You don’t want classmates finding out you’re doing underground massage, right?
Yu Xinghan: Got it. I’ll keep my identity hidden.
Staring at Li Xuelian’s message, Yu Xinghan thought to himself: The Civil Engineering Department holds massive potential in the massage market. How could I possibly pass this up?
Recalling the time in the First Layer when he’d trained in Form Transformation under Xinghuo Immortal’s guidance alongside Zhang Yu, he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: Even the Master foresaw this—knew we’d eventually have to do shady work up here.
He mused: Maybe he started out doing massage too.
Then, as he scanned the job address she’d sent, his body twitched—shifting instantly into a completely different appearance, an unfamiliar face.
Ah… too bad Senior Sister doesn’t like massage.
Back when he’d apprenticed at a massage parlor, he’d spent every day daydreaming about Senior Sister giving him a massage. Now, having become an underground masseur himself, all he wanted was to give her one—just to repay her kindness.
Maybe this is what it means to grow up, as a man.
He arrived at the destination, clocked in, got to work, and finished the session.
Finally, smirking, he said to his client: “Bro, if you’re satisfied, call me again.”
After wrapping up the side gig, Yu Xinghan dashed straight to the underground burial site—back to his day job on the construction site.
This time, he was paired with Zhang Yu. From afar, he spotted a Human-Form Qi Aura moving back and forth, diligently working.
Zhang Yu’s control over his spiritual aura is getting sharper every day.
Just as Yu Xinghan admired the sight, the aura suddenly surged toward him at full speed.
Zhang Yu called out: “Nice chance meeting. Let’s spar a bit, brother.”
Yu Xinghan chuckled. “You really think just a single qi aura is enough to fight me? That’s overconfidence.”
In recent days, Yu Xinghan had grown significantly. His side job had boosted his income, his Third Eye Ability had dramatically improved his cultivation efficiency, and working in the Spirit Vein at the burial site allowed him to practice his Breathing Technique for extended periods.
Now, facing Zhang Yu’s charging Human-Form Qi Aura, he let out a low growl, his right palm surging with fierce spiritual energy, then struck.
Boom!
The aura exploded into fragments.
But just as Yu Xinghan thought he’d shattered it, a skeletal figure burst forth from the wreckage, its bones radiating chilling cold. The skeleton struck back with a palm aimed straight at his chest.
Huh?
Yu Xinghan’s eyes narrowed in surprise.
In his memory, Zhang Yu’s Human-Form Qi Aura was flexible—able to redirect force—but fragile, easily broken. It required constant replenishment of martial energy to sustain.
But this skeleton… it was different. Unusually solid. And the cold radiating from it was bone-chilling.
Crackling and crackling—the two clashed repeatedly. The skeleton was not only impossibly hard, but its icy aura seeped into Yu Xinghan’s limbs, making his muscles stiffen.
After several exchanges, Zhang Yu poured more spiritual energy into the skeleton, re-filling it with qi until it once again took the shape of a Human-Form Qi Aura.
Yu Xinghan now understood.
Zhang Yu’s freezing the qi to form a “skeleton” structure—making the aura much more durable. Then, he layers ordinary qi on the outside, like flesh and skin. Ordinary attacks shatter the outer layer… but can’t penetrate the inner frame. Once the outer layer breaks, he just recharges it with fresh qi. Instant recovery.
His strategy’s getting more refined all the time…
Yu Xinghan realized: To break Zhang Yu’s aura, I’d have to destroy both the outer layer and the inner skeleton in one strike—no room for second chances.
“Hey, let me show you my latest upgrade—Martial Arts level 15.”
He suddenly channeled his energy, unleashing a technique descended from the Dragon-Elephant Crushing Mountain Palm: the Dragon-Elephant Golden Strength Palm.
Unlike the raw, brute-force version, this one used explosive spiritual energy to amplify physical strength. The qi didn’t burst outward—it was contained within his body, enhancing his physical power directly. A pure close-combat martial art, and one of Xinghuo Immortal’s tailored cultivation techniques for Yu Xinghan.
Yu Xinghan roared, and his right arm blazed with golden qi—every muscle fiber flooded with energy, turning the limb into a radiant golden column.
Then, with a single strike, he slammed forward.
The air ripped apart. The atmosphere seemed to vanish from the space before him.
The Human-Form Qi Aura struck back, its palm channeling the force of Yu Xinghan’s previous blow.
Boom!
The two palms collided.
Yu Xinghan’s strike shattered the aura’s outer layer—flesh-like qi exploded outward in splinters. The entire form erupted.
But beneath, the skeleton cracked—cracks spreading like spiderwebs across its bones, groaning under the strain, as if on the verge of collapse.
Yu Xinghan was ready to deliver a finishing blow—when, to his shock, the broken skeleton raised its right arm and launched the same Dragon-Elephant Golden Strength Palm back at him.
Sensing the explosive power in that strike—recognizing it as his own technique—Yu Xinghan leapt back, shouting:
“Stop! Stop! Stop!”
“This is too dangerous. No more. I’m not risking getting hit by my own palm!”
He couldn’t afford even a scratch. The moment he took that strike, his recovery would be painful, expensive, and slow.
“You already had that Jiuxiao Yun Kongjin—ridiculously overpowered as it is.”
“Now with this Human-Form Qi Aura tactic? You can fight to the death, rebound off attacks, and still stay safe in the background.”
“You’d be perfect as a security guard.”
And Yu Xinghan could already picture it—some fool charging in, thinking they’d beaten Zhang Yu by breaking or bypassing the aura… only to realize the guy was incredibly tough. They’d learn the hard way that facing the qi head-on was the only real option.
The only weakness?
This tactic drains a ton of martial energy to maintain the aura. Constantly.
So the real strategy…
Don’t fight the body. Fight the aura.
But don’t go too hard—otherwise, you’ll get bounced back, injured.
So the best way… is to wear him down slowly.
Any reckless assault just adds to your medical bills… and spirit armor repair costs.
But…
It’s slow.
He’s burning energy. I’m burning my body.
So I have to fight with qi too—meaning my own energy drains fast.
And then there’s…
That damn cold. Where did he even get that?
Did he strike some shady deal with Le Mulan?
Now their attacks both carry that icy aura…
If I keep fighting him, I’ll end up poisoning myself with cold energy inside.
Disgusting.
The more Yu Xinghan thought about it, the more his head ached. His brow furrowed, his mind flooded with red numbers—costs, fees, losses. Just thinking about fighting Zhang Yu made him nauseous. He lost all desire to spar.
Thank god he’s the guy I’ve already bled for, borrowed from.
Next time I want someone to suffer? Let him fight Zhang Yu.
Zhang Yu, satisfied with the test, smiled to himself: Not bad. After freezing the qi to form a skeleton, my Human-Form Aura can now withstand Yu Xinghan’s full strike.
From the early days—just a qi-arm, to a full Human-Form Qi Aura, now to this frozen, skeletal framework—each evolution had boosted efficiency. All results of Zhang Yu’s recent experiments.
Since his foundation was Wuxiang Yun'gang, he called the basic form Wuxiang Force.
With the help of the Deep Cold Mana Vein, the skeleton-structured version became Shenhan Force.
- Wuxiang Force: Faster movement, instant creation, but weak in strength and qi conduction, easily shattered.
- Shenhan Force: Superior qi conduction, incredible durability, but slow, energy-intensive, and takes at least five seconds to form.
Zhang Yu mentally calculated: With my current martial energy, I can produce six Wuxiang Forces… or two Shenhan Forces.
But that’s just for show. For actual combat, I can only sustain one Shenhan Force… or three Wuxiang Forces at most.
Once Qi Mai Chang Liu improves further, that number will rise.
As he spoke, Zhang Yu smiled at Yu Xinghan: “You’re afraid of getting hurt? Let’s try something else.”
“I’ll help you stimulate your Spirit Root. You’re still far from 100% fusion, aren’t you?”
With that, he expelled a burst of qi—forming a Wuxiang Force—and once again, the two clashed—this time not to fight, but to train.
For the next few days, Zhang Yu used their shared work shift to subtly boost Yu Xinghan’s Spirit Root Fusion Degree.
Then, one day—Yu Xinghan let out a thunderous roar. His third eye trembled violently, his entire body trembling as every muscle quivered.
“My Spirit Root Fusion Degree… reached 100%!”
He felt the change—his control over every cell in his body was sharper than ever. Whether moving his flesh or channeling martial energy, everything was now one-tenth faster than before.
Zhang Yu nodded in approval. Third Eye Ability at Level 2. Only need 500+ martial energy to complete the next step.
By the end of the semester, Yu Xinghan will make it.
The only regret?
Martial energy accumulation still relied entirely on Yu Xinghan himself. Zhang Yu could only help by feeding him blood.
As for money?
No way.
He didn’t have enough for himself—let alone hand it over.
Then, as June drew to a close…
The burial site project concluded.
Zhang Yu’s Qi Mai Chang Liu finally reached Level 8.
Higher Tier – Qi Mai Chang Liu (8/8):
The more Breathing Technique methods mastered, the lower the additional energy loss when martial energy and its derivatives flow through the body.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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