Chapter Sixteen: The Nine Forms Dragon Fist

The flickering candlelight illuminated the hall with a brilliant glow, and the Grand Ancestor Ye Yu sat cross-legged on the floor.

Ye Yun, whose body was now fully developed and stronger than ever, sat opposite his master, eating the food served on the table before him.

This was not Yunshui City; in this secluded courtyard, only the master and disciple resided. Every day, their meals were personally prepared by Grand Ancestor Ye Yu.

Ye Yun was very considerate; he had originally intended to take on the task of cooking, but Ye Yu would not allow it. He insisted that Ye Yun focus solely on his cultivation, not neglecting his progress.

“When you were younger, your body was frail and undeveloped, the perfect state for laying a solid foundation and tempering your character. Now that your body has matured, these meals have been carefully prepared by me to greatly benefit your cultivation,” Grand Ancestor Ye Yu explained to Ye Yun. In the days spent guiding his young disciple, this lofty figure of the Ye clan displayed a rare tenderness.

“Master’s cooking smells so good,” Ye Yun said, mouth greasy with delight. Ye Yu watched him, joy swelling in his heart.

After the meal, Ye Yun practiced the Nine Forms of Dragon Fist in the courtyard. Grand Ancestor Ye Yu leaned casually against the threshold, watching from afar, his eyes filled with pride.

“At six, he became my disciple. Two years of study, then began cultivation at eight. In just three short years, he has already succeeded in refining his qi. Yun’s potential may one day surpass mine.”

Ye Yu had witnessed Ye Yun’s growth every step of the way. At this point, Ye Yun’s cultivation needed little more instruction; whether he would achieve greatness depended on his innate talent and comprehension. What Ye Yun lacked most was actual combat experience.

With his body’s growth and the deepening mastery of the Crimson Flame Demon Technique, Ye Yun’s appetite was astonishing—he could eat dozens of pounds of meat in a single meal.

With Grand Ancestor Ye Yu, a legendary figure, tending to his daily needs, Ye Yun’s progress in the Crimson Flame Demon Technique was nothing short of miraculous. Since his battle with Wu Jiang, more than a month had passed, and his internal qi had advanced to the late stage of refining—an extraordinary accomplishment for someone only eleven years old.

At this moment, Ye Yun was immersed in the mysteries of the Nine Forms of Dragon Fist.

His three souls and seven spirits shone brightly—a perfect innate soul, meaning Ye Yun’s natural spiritual power far exceeded that of others.

Because of this, he was smarter than his peers, his mind sharper, his comprehension higher, and he could travel farther on the path of immortality.

The Totem Battle Technique was the exclusive secret art of Grand Ancestor Ye Yu; even the Ye clan’s library did not record such profound skills.

It was not that Ye Yu was selfish and did not wish to pass on this art to his clan, but the Ye clan, though dominant in Yunshui City, was insignificant compared to the entire Sacred Dragon Dynasty.

Over seven hundred years, the Ye clan had prospered through generations, but never produced a genius worthy of inheriting his legacy.

Without formidable strength as a backing, passing on the Totem Battle Technique to the Ye clan could invite disaster and annihilation.

But the emergence of Ye Yun caused Grand Ancestor Ye Yu, who had remained secluded for over seven centuries, to step out of his retreat. The innate perfect soul was a rare talent, more than enough to inherit his legacy, and even a strong possibility that Ye Yun might one day surpass his master.

Ordinarily, the Totem Battle Technique was so profound that training in the Nine Forms of Dragon Fist was no easy task, utterly incomparable to the Seventy-Two Path Void Fist. Yet for Ye Yun, comprehending and cultivating the Nine Forms of Dragon Fist was even easier than his initial studies of the Void Fist!

Ye Yun was clever from childhood; at first, he thought he was making mistakes in his practice, but as his mastery of the fist grew, he gradually understood the reason.

When he first learned the Seventy-Two Path Void Fist, he had no concept of martial arts, so the early days were challenging.

But once he thoroughly understood the Void Fist—each move refined and cohesive—he gained insight and knowledge in martial arts, making the Nine Forms of Dragon Fist much easier to grasp and progress swiftly.

Of course, all this was owed to his exceptional talent and comprehension.

Moving from simplicity to complexity, progressing step by step, Grand Ancestor Ye Yu, with the vision of a grandmaster, guided Ye Yun onto the path of cultivation in the most proper way.

“Divine Dragon’s Claw, the first form!”

Crimson Flame internal qi surged through the eight extraordinary meridians; Ye Yun’s body moved like a swimming dragon, bones and sinews resonating in unison. He thrust out a single hand, fingers curled into a claw, and the air before him whistled sharply.

“Heavenly Dragon’s Tail, the second form!”

The dragon claw had barely withdrawn when Ye Yun’s body spun rapidly, both legs sweeping across with overwhelming force.

“Dragon’s Transformations, the third form!”

The moment he landed, his footsteps moved swiftly, his body dragon-like, fast as thunder, crushing earth and stone beneath him. This form incorporated intricate movement skills, complementing the first, making him even faster and more powerful.

Because of his cultivation limits, Ye Yun could not perform all nine forms, but even just the first few were formidable, striking the air with explosive force, each move varied and fierce.

The Nine Forms of Dragon Fist were not only exquisite in technique but renowned for their overwhelming power. Combined with the Crimson Flame internal qi’s natural offensive might, Ye Yun’s strength multiplied manifold.

Ye Yun’s cultivation method was an ancient demon art, fully showcasing the Dragon Fist’s ferocity and dominance. It was nearly all offense, none defense, charging forward like a dragon emerging from the abyss, its aura towering, its momentum terrifying.

He could manage at most the first four forms; after performing the fourth, his internal qi would be exhausted. He would then stand at attention, feeling the slight tremors in his flesh and sinews. In the instant all 108,000 pores opened, vast amounts of vital energy flooded his body, replenishing his depleted qi.

Opening all 108,000 pores and absorbing the forces of heaven and earth to refine essence into qi was a feat only foundation-stage masters could achieve.

But Ye Yun could leverage the subtleties of the Nine Forms of Dragon Fist; even if he could only open his pores for an instant, it was enough to reveal the profound mysteries of this martial art.

Though only four forms, two hours of training and practice could seem dull and monotonous, Ye Yun enjoyed it thoroughly. Young as he was, he understood the wisdom of the books: “Only those who endure the hardest hardships rise above the rest!”

If there was resistance in the heart, even forcing oneself to train for two hours would yield little result. But if one found joy in it, savoring the mysteries of the martial art, progress would be swift and efficiency doubled.

The courtyard was too small for archery practice. After completing the Nine Forms of Dragon Fist, and once lunch was finished, Ye Yun began training in the Roc Soaring Movement Technique, never wasting a moment.

At sunset, Ye Yun relished the feast his master prepared for him. After a day of training, his physical and internal energy were greatly depleted, and his appetite was even more astonishing.

“Yun, you have now succeeded in refining your qi and reached the late stage. One step further and you will be complete. There is a wild mountain area on the border between Flying Dragon City and Yunshui City, called Sunset Mountain,” Ye Yu suddenly spoke as Ye Yun ate.

Ye Yun, gulping down his food, did not forget to ask, “Master, do you want me to train there?”

Grand Ancestor Ye Yu smiled and nodded, “Your battle with Wu Jiang was days ago. You no longer lack in technique; what you need most is combat experience.”

“Sunset Mountain is very different from the forest where I previously took you for training. It is home to many demon beasts. There, you can battle with them and accumulate real combat experience. When time allows, I will arrange for you to spar with masters of the Wu clan until you reach the level I deem satisfactory.”

“Combat is the finest tempering. A year of methodical practice is not as valuable as a single brush with death. To become strong, you must undergo the baptism of blood!”

Listening to his master’s patient guidance, Ye Yun’s expression turned solemn. He nodded, “I understand, Master!”

“Demons are not the same as humans, especially the lesser demon beasts. Once the fight begins, they are fearless and ferocious. You must not be careless.”

Ye Yu continued, “When you have endured this trial, you will be ready to graduate. If you cannot persevere…”

Before Ye Yu could finish, Ye Yun declared, “Rest assured, Master. I will not disappoint you.”

A look of approval appeared in Ye Yu’s eyes. He laughed, “Well said! You have indeed never let me down all these years. To have a disciple like you is my greatest fortune.”

The young Ye Yun smiled, “To become your disciple is the greatest blessing of my life!”