Chapter 68: To Be Feared |
This phrase "has a successor" was like a spark thrown into boiling oil, instantly igniting the deathly silent Zhou courtyard.
"Transform... transforming strength! Senior Brother Chen has become a transforming strength master!"
Someone, with trembling disbelief, hoarsely shouted out this fact.
Exclamations rose one after another, and the faces of all disciples were filled with extreme shock and disbelief.
The pallor on Sun Shun's face had not yet faded, and his heart was in even greater turmoil. He stared fixedly at Chen Qing as if seeing this junior brother for the first time.
Bai Rui and other new disciples were trembling with excitement, looking at Chen Qing with eyes full of almost fanatical worship.
Luo Qian had put down her hand that was covering her mouth, her eyes wide open as if she were dreaming.
Zheng Ziqiao's eyes were also filled with disbelief, as if he hadn't yet come to his senses.
This Chen Qing, who usually kept his head down practicing diligently with ordinary aptitude, had quietly stepped into the realm of transforming strength!
Liu Nianbo was even more thunderstruck. That Chen Qing could actually withstand two moves from his own father.
And the strength the other had displayed! It was precisely the transforming strength he dreamed of achieving.
This peer who just months ago was merely a third-tier martial scholar had quietly walked ahead of him, even... reaching his father's level?!
"Good, excellent!"
Zhou Liang suddenly stood up, unprecedented brilliance bursting forth from his cloudy eyes, as if he had instantly become ten years younger.
Relief and wild joy intertwined, surging in his eyes.
Zhou Yu looked at Chen Qing, her eyes filled with surprise, excitement, and a kind of relief.
The gloom that had hung over the Zhou courtyard during this period, the heaviness on her father's brow, seemed to be swept away completely by Chen Qing's breakthrough.
Zhou Liang asked, "How did you break through to transforming strength?"
Chen Qing cupped his fists and said, "This disciple practiced diligently at home. Fortunately, with the precious medicine bestowed by Master, I opened the Baihui and Yongquan acupoints and attempted to break through. Unexpectedly, through fortunate circumstances, I managed to break through the shackles and luckily reached transforming strength."
Fortunate circumstances?!
Upon hearing Chen Qing's words, Liu Ze couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his mouth.
Fortunate circumstances might be possible for breaking through to obvious strength, but transforming strength? He didn't believe half of what was said.
"That's somewhat possible."
Zhou Liang walked to Chen Qing's side, actively helping him analyze, his tone carrying barely suppressible joy, "It must be that your daily practice was diligent and unceasing, laying an incomparably solid foundation. With accumulated strength bursting forth, plus that touch of luck..."
The smile at the corner of his mouth was almost impossible to hide.
Chen Qing's breakthrough was like a stabilizing anchor for the entire Zhou courtyard.
A young transforming strength master in his prime sitting in charge was enough to make any coveting party think twice.
Zhou Liang asked with concern, "Now that you've broken through to transforming strength, should we hold a ceremony to celebrate?"
His tone carried a hint of consultation.
Chen Qing cupped his fists and replied, "This disciple's foundation is still shallow, so I'd rather not hold one for now."
Such things brought no benefits and would only attract more attention.
In all matters, moderation was best.
"All as you wish."
Zhou Liang nodded, then solemnly instructed, "You've just broken through to transforming strength, so your control over force must be unfamiliar. You should focus on consolidating your foundation and must not easily engage in deadly fights with others."
"This disciple understands." Chen Qing respectfully agreed.
Zhou Liang nodded, then turned to Liu Ze and said, "Brother Liu, today's sparring ends here. Let's go find Brother Shen now."
He was now eager to share this joyful news with Shen Zhenzhong.
Liu Ze's heart was filled with mixed feelings, envy and sourness intertwined. Though extremely unwilling, he could only nod.
Afterward, the two left the Zhou courtyard together.
"Congratulations, Junior Brother Chen!"
Liu Xiaolou and Qi Wenhan were the first to step forward, cupping their fists in congratulations.
Their relationship with Chen Qing had been superficial while in the courtyard, but now that Chen Qing had broken through to transforming strength, it was good to establish a friendly connection.
Chen Qing returned the courtesy, "Thank you."
Zheng Ziqiao, who had come to his senses, also hurriedly approached, repeatedly saying, "Congratulations, Junior Brother Chen!"
In his heart, he was already rapidly calculating what kind of generous gift he should prepare.
A transforming strength master was a first-class expert even in Gaolin County.
Since his great-grandfather's passing, the Zheng family had many hidden strength masters, but not a single one with transforming strength.
In Gaolin County, except for the five major families, transforming strength masters in other families were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns.
Having just one transforming strength master in charge was enough to join the first tier below the five major families.
His father had always placed his hopes on him, but only he knew how slim that hope was.
Luo Qian's heart was now churning with regret.
If she had been able to put aside her airs back then and actively befriend Chen Qing... a thread of possibility might have been grasped in her hands.
She understood the weight of a transforming strength master better than most people present. Once breaking through to transforming strength, the five major families would spare no effort to win him over, even at great cost.
Those small wealthy merchants would stop at nothing to curry favor with a transforming strength master's support.
Winning over a transforming strength master, especially a young one, would be enough for her to stand out in the Luo family and gain considerable influence.
But now... it was too late to say anything! Both coming from humble origins, Qin Lie had gone mad while Chen Qing had become a great transforming strength master!
She had prided herself on having good judgment of character.
The more Luo Qian thought about it, the more regretful she became, her intestines seeming ready to twist apart.
She instinctively looked around, afraid others would see her embarrassment, only to find that no one was paying attention to her at all.
The composure on Liu Nianbo's face had long since vanished completely, strong feelings of loss washing over his entire body.
If they had really fought earlier, he would likely have made a fool of himself in public.
He forced out a smile, walked to Chen Qing's side to say "congratulations," then hurriedly left with the Liu courtyard disciples.
The hearts of all present disciples were shaken.
The previously hidden resentment and jealousy had now completely disappeared.
The realm of transforming strength was simply too distant for these ordinary disciples.
Hadn't even a genius like Gao Sheng been bloodied by crashing against the high wall of transforming strength?
Its difficulty could well be imagined.
"Congratulations, congratulations!"
Sun Shun stepped forward, genuinely happy for Chen Qing while feeling deeply moved.
He still remembered the day Chen Qing first arrived at the Zhou courtyard. In the depths of winter, the young man had practiced boxing until he fainted from hunger, and Master had him bring over two steamed buns... Who could have thought that the shivering youth would now become a transforming strength master.
Zhou Yu then called out clearly, "Alright, everyone continue practicing!"
Only then did the disciples wake up as if from a dream, busily packing up their equipment, but whispered conversations still lingered endlessly throughout the courtyard.
Before long, the sun's shadow slanted westward, and the martial hall disciples gradually dispersed.
Chen Qing wiped the sweat from his forehead and was about to leave.
Zhou Yu walked to his side and said in a low voice, "Junior Brother Chen, come with me for a moment."
Chen Qing followed Zhou Yu to the back courtyard.
"Wait a moment."
Zhou Yu said this, turned and went into the house, soon coming out carrying two brocade boxes, "This is three years' worth of Three Yang Grass precious medicine, which has the effect of nourishing the five internal organs and can stabilize qi and blood. Please keep it safe."
Chen Qing was slightly stunned, "This..."
Three years' worth of precious medicine should be worth even more than that 'Silver Shuttle'.
Zhou Yu smiled lightly, "This is what my father instructed me to give you. I don't have such financial means."
Chen Qing understood. Such precious medicine, if given publicly, would indeed unnecessarily invite trouble.
Chen Qing solemnly cupped his fists, "Thank you, Senior Sister."
Zhou Yu instructed, "Junior Brother's foundation is newly established, so you must not leave hidden dangers due to impatience or momentary carelessness. For this medicine's usage, it can be ground into powder and boiled for half an hour, once every seven days. Only in this way can the medicinal power slowly dissolve and provide gentle nourishment, which is most appropriate."
Chen Qing nodded, "Yes, I've noted it down."
