Ancient Strengthening Technique (Portraits of Beauty) Ancient Strengthening Technique Chapter 1351-1352

AST 1351 – Incomplete Alchemy Recipe, Yehuang Duxin, Super Profligate, Encounter

After refining successfully, Qing Shui could not wait to open the Golden Flint Iron Cauldron. At the bottom of the cauldron, there were two snow-white medicinal pills that were each slightly bigger that the pad of one’s thumb. They exuded a strong medicinal scent.

To have two of them in one try was considered to be good. After all, it could only be taken by those who were Peak Martial Emperor or lower. By rights, Qing Shui wasn’t considered Peak Martial Emperor yet, so he could still use it. If it was any later, he would probably not have the chance to eat it.

Qing Shui would be able to truly reach Peak Martial Emperor if he were to take one. However, he had a thought, which was to become a Peak Martial Emperor with a strength of 500,000 sun. If it could reach that, he would have gotten a great deal and could directly use the Origin Returning Pill to raise his power to a terrifying level.

Those who were at Peak Martial Emperor could only take it once, so even if he were to reach Peak Martial Emperor, he could still take it again. This was how it should work out in theory.

Qing Shui didn’t rush to take the pills but continued to refine. One would get a higher level of mastery as the number of attempts increased. From there, Qing Shui’s success rate was excellent. It was a pity that although refining these didn’t take much time, it took a lot of spirit energy, resulting in him having to rest after refining a few times. Most alchemists wouldn’t be able to succeed just because of the spirit energy requirement.

Going on and off, Qing Shui would cultivate to recover his power when he got tired and also take the time to study the other alchemy recipes and take turns refining different medicinal pills. This was what it was like for Yuan Su’s alchemy recipes. They all took a lot of spirit energy in the process of refining.

Origin Essence Pill, Divine Strength Pill…

Qing Shui actually still had another medicinal pill which he hadn’t let any other people try before, the Greencloud Up-step Pellet. The reason was because there was an unstable factor in the pill and it has a 1% chance of causing the person’s meridian channels to break.

Qing Shui had taken the Greencloud Up-step Pellet before. The alchemy recipe he had gotten was an incomplete one. He didn’t know what medicinal herbs it was lacking and thus subst.i.tuted with other medicinal pills. This resulted in the Greencloud Up-step Pellets he created, having a 1% chance of breaking the user’s meridian channels.

Therefore, Qing Shui didn’t continue to refine the pills thereafter. Although a 1% chance wasn’t big, it would be unfortunate if that were to happen.

No matter how powerful Qing Shui’s medical skills were, it was still very hard for him to cure f broken meridian channels…

Therefore, he wanted to see if there were any other solutions. If there really weren’t any, he could only take the risk. 1% chance was still considered quite low. It might even be such that it wouldn’t occur once in every 100 tries.

Yuan Su. Qing Shui thought of Yuan Su. When he entered his room, he could still sense that her gaze was on him. He could let her take a look at the alchemy recipe for the Greencloud Up-step Pellet. She would definitely be able to help him complete the recipe.

Thinking of this solution made Qing Shui very happy. If he could successfully refine the Greencloud Up-step Pellets, then the people around him would be able to gain immense power.

The Greencloud Up-step Pellets were just like its name and could be taken by people of all levels. However, the effect would be different for each person.

Qing Shui spent almost all of his time on refining demons and cultivation. Of course, he would also be tempering his magic treasures. For the past half a year or so, neither the Five Elements Divine Flag nor the other magic treasures he had, had gained an increment in their grades.

After the Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant and his other demonic beasts had leveled up, the Spirit Gathering Lamp, Heaven Shaking Drum and the Coiled Dragon Statue were still effective. This let Qing Shui heave a sigh of relief. The Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant’s attacking power was now close to that of a Peak Martial Emperor under the effect of the Heaven Shaking Drum. Of course, it was still a little away from the weakest of all Peak Martial Emperors.

With the Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant’s rate of progress, it would be able to reach Peak Martial Emperor very soon. When that happened, it would face a barrier from attaining a breakthrough. The Heaven and Earth Battle Beast would face its most crucial barrier.

If it could cross the barrier, it would be able to truly become a Heaven and Earth Battle Beast, entering a whole new realm. If it couldn’t get past it, it wouldn’t be able to really enter the ancient battlefield.

The next morning Qing Shui didn’t wake up too early nor too late. After all, when he came out from the Realm of the Violet Jade Immortal, the sky was already bright. He didn’t even have the time to eat the medicinal pills he had refined. After some hesitation, Qing Shui still felt that it was better for him to head out first and then to decide what to do with them after he was back!

Qing Shui had no idea if Yuan Su slept that night. She was already up and was learning to cook. These were all snacks, side dishes and such from Qing Shui’s Culinary Arts’ repertoire. She was busy but enjoying herself.

When Qing Shui saw this cute side of hers, he could not help but smile. When Yuan Su saw Qing Shui, she felt a little embarra.s.sed and threw him a slightly annoyed glance, “Do you want to eat? I’ll make some for you.”

“Of course!” Qing Shui smiled and replied.

Soulsearch lived at home with Li Ji but would come to the Imperial Cuisine Hall in the late morning. The Imperial Cuisine Hall’s operating hours were neither too early nor too late but the timing at which they come to the Imperial Cuisine Hall could be very flexible.

Very soon, Yuan Su brought out the dishes and placed them on the tea table.

Qing Shui sat there, sniffing the food while Yuan Su took a seat opposite him.

“Qing Shui, have you heard? Yehuang Clan and Shui Clan seemed to be having some kind of disagreement.” Yuan Su picked up a Jade Steamed Bun and took a bite after saying that.

“Disagreement?” Qing Shui hadn’t heard of it.

“It seemed that Shui Clan has s.n.a.t.c.hed Yehuang Clan’s business. Many people said that they did it intentionally as a challenge to the Yehuang Clan,” Yuan Su ate and said slowly.

Qing Shui could still remember the Young Master from the event that had happened the other time. He had no idea what the members of Shui Clan were like.

“Between Yehuang Clan and Shui Clan, which of them do you think is suitable to lead the Yehuang Country?” Qing Shui smiled and asked.

Yuan Su blinked her beautiful eyes and looked at Qing Shui. “Both of them are suitable but both of them aren’t suitable. They are the same. Do you want to know who’s the one who has his eyes set on me?”

Qing Shui was stunned. He hadn’t heard her mentioning this before.

“Yehuang Duxin!”

Qing Shui frowned slightly, “Has he still been bothering you?”

“He has. He came two days ago. He even said that even though I’ve become a physician of the Imperial Cuisine Hall, I can forget about escaping from him.” When Yuan Su said this, she was in a state of self-mockery. In the end, she still had to tell this man and get his help. She was also willing to receive his help.

From the name, Yehuang Duxin seemed to be from the Yehuang Clan’s generation who went by the ‘Du’ name and was one generation senior to Yehuang Guwu. Qing Shui wondered which of them was Yehuang Guwu’s inhumane father.

“Did he say anything else?” Qing Shui felt that he should forget about leaving for the short term.

“He said that he’ll return in another few days and told me to consider becoming his 25th concubine…”

“d.a.m.n it! When he comes, I’ll make sure that he becomes impotent!” Qing Shui could not help but blurting out.

Yuan Su blushed. She was an alchemist and naturally knew what Qing Shui was saying. Qing Shui’s rough choice of words gave her a strange feeling and also made her feel a little happy.

Qing Shui seemed to also have realized that he had said something wrong. He smiled awkwardly, “Don’t worry. Whoever dares to make things hard for a member of our Imperial Cuisine Hall, I’ll make sure that he regrets it.”

“I’m by myself here and can only look to you for help. But if you can’t help me, then don’t take the risk. After all, Yehuang Clan is a top notch power in the country,” Yuan Su said softly.

“You’re my friend. No matter who the other party is, as long as they bully my friend, I’ll have to stand up for my friend. In the worst case scenario, I’ll bring you guys with me and leave directly. I won’t let you be bullied,” Qing Shui said, relaxed.

“Thank you. I have a friend now.” Yuan Su was honestly very thankful. Back when they were in the five continents, she knew that Qing Shui was definitely a man of his word and he would always be confident of backing up to the things he said.

“I won’t be leaving for now. Come, we’ll head upstairs to try the medicinal pills. I also need your help to study something.”

“What is it?”

“An incomplete alchemy recipe. I want to get your help to complete it.”

The Greencloud Up-step Pellet might not be the Greencloud Up-step Pellet which Qing Shui had taken before but was very similar, with similar effects. It didn’t have a name either and thus he wasn’t very concerned what its name was.

As Qing Shui said this, he pa.s.sed the alchemy recipe to Yuan Su.

Qing Shui knew that the reason Yuan Su had told him about the matter earlier, was because there was no way she could run away from it. If there were still a chance of salvaging the situation, Yuan Su would definitely attempt it.

Just then, someone knocked on the door. The person who came in was Yuan Long.

“Sir, Miss Su, Young Master Yehuang wishes to meet Miss Su.”

“So fast? Mm, I’ve got it. Yuan Long, go and tell him that Miss Su will soon be there,” Qing Shui smiled and said.

“Miss Su…”

“It’s better for you to call me by my name. It’s weird to have you calling me by this,” Yuan Su threw a glance at Qing Shui and said.

“Then let’s go down and have a look to see what this Young Master Yehuang wants!” Qing Shui smiled and took the lead to head out.

When Qing Shui first saw Yehuang Duxin, he knew that this must be Yehuang Guwu’s father, the birth father whom Yehuang Guwu didn’t acknowledge to be her father. The two of them shared some similarities in their appearance.

He was definitely a handsome man who appeared to have just reached middle-age, with a hint of maturity but yet also frivolousness. He sat there, exuding an aura and dignified disposition that one in power would have.

He was a profligate son of the Yehuang Clan but was also a genius of the Yehuang Clan. He was a highly intelligent man and was also a super profligate in the Yehuang Country. He had a reputation even amongst the higher society of the few countries nearby. He was frivolous and l.u.s.ty but also extremely vicious. Whenever he were to come across a beautiful lady, he would come up with various ways to get his hands on them. It could be using his ident.i.ty, his looks or his powerful abilities. Before him, many ladies, married ladies and young ladies from wealthy families would be like moths who would fly toward the fire. They knew well what kind of person he was but yet couldn’t control themselves.

Before coming down, Qing Shui had gotten some understanding of Yehuang Duxin. And now that he had seen this man in person, he was even more convinced of the things he had been told earlier. This man was now considered one of the weakest Peak Martial Emperors. At his age, he would definitely be considered a great genius, throwing many people in his generation far behind.

It was when Qing Shui was thinking about all this that he realized he himself was what people would find hard to accept. This man wouldn’t even be able to fend off his Nine Continents Mountain. Right now, the attacks of the Nine Continents Mountain had reached about 290,000 sun and was at grade three. With three times Qing Shui’s speed and that terrifying s.h.i.+eld Attack, Yehuang Duxin could only take a beating when he had a strength of 300,000 sun. The result would still be the same even if Yehuang Duxin’s strength was several tens of thousands more.

Qing Shui was now very happy. He had an indescribable sense of superiority. There were a few other middle-aged men next to Yehuang Duxin but they were weaker in comparison. Qing Shui didn’t even take a look at them and just took a seat with Yuan Su opposite them.

“h.e.l.lo, Mister Yehuang!” Qing Shui smiled and looked at this handsome man.

“h.e.l.lo, Physician Qing, Miss Yuan.” Yehuang Duxin didn’t stand up but his expression was very natural and graceful. It made one feel that he was born to be an aristocrat.

Yuan Su didn’t say anything but just looked at Qing Shui, smiling gently and then occasionally looked toward Yehuang Duxin.

“What’s your reason for looking for Miss Su? She’s very busy.” Seeing that the other party had held it in, Qing Shui decided to just go straight to the point. Even people who were uninvolved could tell what Qing Shui was trying to say.

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AST 1352 – Yehuang Duxin, 300,000 Sun, Sword-in-Shadows Technique, Defeated Easily

Discerning people could all tell what he meant. Yuan Su didn’t say anything. Qing Shui’s meaning was very clear, that Yehuang Duxin should not look for Yuan Su anymore.

“Physician Qing, what is the meaning of this? Is it that I don’t have the rights to look for Miss Su? The one I’m looking for is Miss Su, and the Imperial Cuisine Hall is open for business. What kind of att.i.tude is this? You guys don’t let customers look for you?” Yehuang Duxin continued to smile and say calmly.

Yehuang Duxin liked to see other people’s unwillingness to submit. He was fine with Yuan Su hiding from him. This was normal. If people were to willingly jump into his arms, they would lose that their attractiveness. He liked to have such prideful women avoiding him, being scared of him. Seeing their anxious expressions when they saw him gave him the feeling of a predator.

“Mister Yehuang, I think that you’re mistaken. This isn’t a shop, nor is it a trade a.s.sociation. Not everyone can come and request us to do something. I think that it probably hasn’t been long since you've returned to the capital city.” Qing Shui didn’t put up a strong front, but he was not relenting. There was an arrogance in his tone.

“Haha, this is the first time that I, Yehuang Duxin, have encountered someone saying this to me. When I’ve been going around the capital city, you’ve probably still been wearing split pants [1]!” Yehuang Duxin’s gaze turned very cold.

“I’ll only say one more thing to you. Yuan Su is a physician of our Imperial Cuisine Hall. Don’t come and bother her anymore. You aren’t fit to do that.” Qing Shui calmly stood up, not changing his tone at all.

“B*stard. I’ve only left for a while and now even the cats and dogs are trying to climb up over my head. Do you know where this place is? Do you know that my name is Yehuang Duxin?” Yehuang Duxin was so infuriated that he broke out into laughter and said loudly.

“I feel sad for the Yehuang Clan. How much infamy does the Yehuang Clan have to bear just because of you? Because of you, the Yehuang Clan will be put into danger.” Qing Shui said what he felt. It was because Yehuang Guwu would be coming sooner or later. When the time came, the entire Yehuang Country would be hers.

“Do you think that I won’t dare to kill you now just because your medical skills aren’t bad?” Yehuang Duxin’s eyes now appeared strange as he locked his bright gaze on Qing Shui, as if he was waiting to see a good show.

“Do you know that other people are all calling you a profligate son? Even an outstanding profligate son is still a profligate son. Moreover, you aren’t outstanding and are just a pile of garbage.” Qing Shui’s words were extremely vicious.

“Others all call me a profligate son, but who among my age are my match? Withub 200 years, I’ll definitely attain a breakthrough to become a False G.o.d cultivator.” When Yehuang Duxin was saying this, he was especially proud of himself.

It could be because Qing Shui hadn’t came across that many arrogant people in his previously life. Amongst those who he had came into contact with, there weren’t many who could be arrogant. There were no lack of arrogant people anywhere, but it was just the degree of how arrogant the individual was. Some people had the a.s.sets to feel arrogant, but when they kept it under good control, it would be presented in the form of grace and superiority. At least it wouldn’t appear as abrupt.

This was how Yehuang Duxin was. In Yehuang Country, he had the superiority of a great clan behind him. Furthermore, he had reached Peak Martial Emperor at his age. Even though it was at the weakest strength of 300,000 sun, it could increase. Peak Martial Emperors in his age group were definitely rare.

Abilities, background, looks, disposition… He could be said to be a perfect man. It was impossible for a man like this to not be arrogant. It was a pity that Qing Shui couldn’t stand people like these, especially in the nine continents. It was because amongst people of his age, no one had the right to be arrogant. Yehuang Duxin didn’t have this right either. He wasn’t strong enough, and Qing Shui wouldn’t lose out to him in terms of appearance either. As for his family backrgound… at the very least, Qing Shui felt that the Yehuang Clan was no longer much of a threat to him.

“How about this, let’s have a fight. If you lose, then don’t ever come to hara.s.s Yuan Su anymore.” Qing Shui didn’t want to fall out with the Yehuang Clan yet. He would leave them to Yehuang Guwu. Moreover, this person was one of the main people in question.

“Defeat me? With the likes of you?” Yehuang Duxin smiled and looked at Qing Shui.

“Why? You don’t dare to take me on?” Qing Shui smiled.

“How about this, if I lose, I won’t come to harra.s.s her. But if you lose, then let me have Miss Su. What do you think?” Yehuang Duxin looked at Qing Shui and said seriously.

Qing Shui shook his head. “It isn’t a matter of whether I can give her up to you. Men must be aboveboard and pursue the ladies they like with their own abilities, and not be like animals.”

Qing Shui’s words were definitely vicious. There were quite a number of people on the fourth story, but everyone was busy with his own stuff. However, there were still people who were unafraid of the people from Yehuang Clan and were smiling, looking at Yehuang Duxin.

“Alright, alright. If you lose, then you can just be my subordinate. I won’t ill-treat you.” Yehuang Duxin’s countenance was very grim. A b*stard who scolded people like this was even vicious than a person who scolded directly.

“I’ll add one more thing. If you lose, then you won’t bother here anymore. As long as the people who bothers her have any sort of relation with you, I’ll put the blame on you. Come, let’s go out and have a fight. The winner will be determined in a single round.” With that, Qing Shui headed out directly.

The others headed out as well, including some other people who were on the fourth story. In this world, such spars and battles would occur many times in a day, but in this place, battles like this were rare. It was a pity that they had decided to fight immediately. Otherwise, the spectators would fill up the entire street.

However, there were still a number of people, and the crowd was still increasing at a very rapid speed. The news had traveled very quickly.

“The Yehuang Clan’s Yehuang Duxin and the Imperial Cuisine Hall’s mysterious physician are going to have a fight.”

“Who do you think will win?”

“A few decades ago, Yehuang Duxin was already the top amongst people of his age, and he’s said to have already reached Peak Martial Emperor. He’s only one final step away from becoming a legendary G.o.d in the mortal world.”

“I really hope that the Imperial Cuisine Hall’s Physician Qing can win. Physician Qing’s medical skills is very powerful. I wonder how his cultivation level is.”

“Someone might just stand up for Physician Qing. After all, many people hope that he could owe them a favor.”

“This profligate from the Yehuang Clan is really something else. He’s a true blue profligate, and is much stronger than those who rely only their families. Yehuang Duxin doesn’t need his clan to stand up for him.”

“Femme fatale… Yehuang Duxin’s greatest weakness would be beautiful ladies. As long as he took a fancy to the lady, he would stoop to any means to get his hands on the lady. There are very few ladies who can resist Yehuang Duxin.”

“Few doesn’t mean that there aren’t any.”

“You’re referring to the Demon Lord? That’s a thorn in Yehuang Duxin’s heart. He didn’t even dare to express his feelings for her. Only a few people knew about this. One thing is that he’s scared that he’d be killed by that lady, and another reason is in consideration of his clan. To be pitted against so many people and having to give up his powerful clan. Even the Yehuang Clan wouldn’t be able to take this.”

…

Within a short period of time, an uproar had broken out with people saying all sorts of things.

Qing Shui stood in the air and Yehuang Duxin wasn’t far away. They were both very relaxed. Qing Shui didn’t take out any weapons. The Big Dipper Sword had already become a Seven Stars and was in his Dantian.

As for why Yehuang Duxin didn’t bring out his weapon, Qing Shui didn’t know.

“Let’s start!” Qing Shui smiled and said.

“Come. Let me see what other skills you have other than your medical skills.” Yehuang Duxin put out his hand and put up an elegant and unrestrained pose.

Qing Shui rubbed his nose. “Since that’s the case, I hope you won’t regret it.”

Go!

With a move of his consciousness, the Nine Continents Mountain appeared directly. Then, with a flash, it struck out toward Yehuang Duxin.

Fast. It was much too fast. With three times Qing Shui’s speed…

Boom!

Yehuang Duxin was sently flying off in a pathetic state, but he wasn’t injured. In that moment, Qing Shui saw a flash appear on Yehuang Duxin. That was the Demonic Beast Armor Manifestation or some other technique.

Although Yehuang Duxin wasn’t hurt, he seemed to be in a pathetic state. The force from the s.h.i.+eld Attack had directly sent him flying.

Qing Shui had long circulated his Demonic Beast Armor Manifestation. Regardless of what kind of battle he was on, Qing Shui would ensure that he was fully equipped. Otherwise, if he were to get caught off guard and lose his life, he wouldn’t be able to accept it.

Sword!

Yehuang Duxin drew out a three-foot Xuan-colored sword [2]. Compared to an ordinary three-feet Greenedge Sword, it was thicker and wider, but only by a little. Right now, Yehuang Duxin was glaring at Qing Shui. That hit from earlier had put him in a daze.

Qing Shui didn’t push on tightly. Qing Shui had absolute confidence in dealing with Yehuang Duxin. If he had defeated Yehuang Duxi with that attack earlier, the latter wouldn’t be able to accept his defeat and would have felt that Qing Shui had dealt him a sneak attack and didn’t win in a fair way.

“To think that you have a treasure like this.” Yehuang Duxin became serious and lifted his longsword slightly.

“Come at me with your full power. Don’t throwing your life away so quickly. Otherwise, you won’t even have the chance to cry.”

“Don’t be smug. Take my sword!”

With a movement of his body and a swing of his hand, Yehuang Duxin sent out a sword shadow launching out toward Qing Shui. As he swung his hand, that sword figure also lunged towards Qing Shui with a flash.

Sword-in-Shadows Technique！

Qing Shui clicked his tongue. The Yehuang Clan was still a powerful clan after all. This Sword-in-Shadows Technique was one of their strongest battle techniques. Wherever the sword shadow reaches, the user would also be able to reach. It was a very terrifying move.

Yehuang Duxin felt that Qing Shui’s power was because of that treasure which was like a terrifying little mountain. As long as he could avoid that, he would have a chance of defeating Qing Shui. He might even be able to get his hands on that treasure.

Humans were greedy by nature. To Yehuang Duxin, women and power were his greatest love. While women were his greatest love, he would need power for a.s.surance.

His speed was very fast, but Qing Shui was even faster. Rather, it wasn’t that Qing Shui was faster, but that the Nine Palace Steps was very amazing.

Nine Palace Laws！

Gravity Laws！

Yehuang Duxin, who had dashed over, suddenly felt that his body had became much heavier. In that instant, the plunging feeling made him feel very uncomfortable and with a flash, Qing Shui’s silhouette appeared somewhere else in the Nine Palace.

Devouring Laws！

Nine Continents Mountain!

Boom…

Qing Shui didn’t hold back anymore and started his attacks. Each time he did, he would send Yehuang Duxin flying. However, the Nine Continents Mountain would follow closely behind, just like a shadow.

Yehuang Duxin had to use his full power to fend off Qing Shui’s Nine Continents Mountain each time. However, he felt very bad after each attack, and defending so much depleted a lot of his energy. The Devouring Laws increased the targeted person’s energy depletion.

Pfft!

Yehuang Duxin puked out a mouthful of blood, but the Nine Continents Mountain showed no signs of stopping.

“Physician Qing, please show mercy!”

Just then, an aged voice rang out from the distance.

The corner of Qing Shui’s lips curled up into a smile. The Yehuang Clan would definitely owe him a favor now. In the future, there wouldn’t be anyone from the clan to not know any better.

Yehuang Duxin was still in a daze. He couldn’t accept this. As one of the strongest of his generation, he was a representative even across the entire capital city. Most of the Yehuang Clan’s hope had also been placed on him. However, to think that he was now beaten up so badly by a man who was so much younger than himself and had no ability to fight back. At this moment, the sense of superiority he had in the past all became non-existent. Only humiliation remained.

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[1] Worn by toddlers and are often made of thick fabric, designed with either an unsewn seam over the b.u.t.tocks and crotch or a hole over the central b.u.t.tocks. Both allow children to urinate and defecate without the pants being lowered.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-crotch_pants#cite_note-NYT_2003_story-1

[2] Xuan colored is black with a hint of red in it.

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