Seeing Qin Yang's amused expression, Lou Mengyu whispered, "Stop scaring him!"
Qin Yang shrugged. "Relax, it's harmless. Go ahead and eat. Yu Shaojie had the heart of a thief but lacked the guts to follow through. The dose was so small that this poison would have no effect whatsoever."
His expression darkened as he added, "But since he harbored malicious intent, we can't let him off lightly! Confinement is already lenient punishment."
Before Qin Yang could finish, Jin Wanshan resumed wolfing down food, muffled words spilling between bites. "Why didn't you say so earlier? You had me worried half to death!"
The panda snorted nearby, thinking, If there had been real consequences, that brat Qin Yang would've already slaughtered Yu Shaojie...
With Qin Yang's reassurance, the students finally relaxed completely. At the same time, they secretly resolved not to provoke him - even a fleeting thought of defiance could lead to dire consequences if discovered!
"Jin Wanshan, while the City-Connecting Art cultivates substantial true qi, it lacks explosive power. Want me to modify it for you?" Qin Yang asked suddenly, taking a sip of wine.
"Pfft!" Jin Wanshan's mouth erupted with a spray of meat fragments. Even with Qin Yang's swift reaction, he barely managed to conjure an ice shield, saving the food before Lou Mengyu.
Witnessing Qin Yang's instinctive action, warmth blossomed in Lou Mengyu's heart.
In the distance, classmates who had been observing the scene sighed in admiration, especially the girls whose eyes sparkled with stars.
Qin Yang's face darkened as he stared at the filth now covering his plate.
"You think you can just change a cultivation method on a whim?" Jin Wanshan scoffed.
"What a waste," Qin Yang shook his head repeatedly. "Solid foundation but no explosive power. You could easily crush opponents at your level or lower, but against anyone slightly stronger..."
Qin Yang held up his pinky finger. "Even a tiny bit stronger, and you'd be utterly defeated."
Jin Wanshan eyed him suspiciously. "How do you know our family's cultivation methods so well?"
Qin Yang laughed heartily. "I know everything and can do anything..."
"Stop!" Jin Wanshan waved his hand, now doubtful. "Can you really modify cultivation methods?"
"Of course I can," Qin Yang said, his face wearing a "you've won the lottery" expression. He continued with his sales pitch, "With the revised cultivation method I've prepared for you, your combat strength will at least double! If I'm in a good mood, I might even give you pointers on your martial techniques..."
Jin Wanshan recalled Qin Yang's combat prowess, and suddenly felt a surge of excitement.
"Why wait then? Let's give it a try!" Jin Wanshan said. "The City-Connecting Art is just a yellow-rank technique anyway. My cultivation is already at the Qi Sea Realm, so once we return to Central Province, I'll be starting advanced black-rank cultivation."
Qin Yang narrowed his eyes. "You don't trust me? You want to test it first?"
Jin Wanshan hesitated. "Are you sure you're not pulling a trick on me?"
"How could I be?" Qin Yang laughed, revealing eight perfect white teeth.
Qin Yang was developing personalized cultivation methods and martial techniques for Lou Mengyu, and Jin Wanshan was his perfect test subject.
Failure wasn't an option; Qin Yang simply wanted to gauge the limits of his creative capabilities.
Qin Yang stepped onto the deck and took a deep breath.
Jin Wanshan and Lou Mengyu followed, along with several curious classmates who had come to watch the spectacle.
Martial Heaven had come along too. Modifying cultivation techniques was no child's play!
"City-Connecting Art!" Qin Yang activated the technique immediately, his aura transforming him into a towering mountain.
Jin Wanshan was dumbfounded. He hadn't even told Qin Yang about his cultivation method—how could Qin Yang already know it?
What Jin Wanshan didn't realize was that Qin Yang had mastered the technique the moment he first attacked him.
Though merely a yellow-grade technique, when activated by Qin Yang, its power rivaled that of an earth-grade technique.
The Yin-Yang All-Embracing Art encompassed all things. As Qin Yang's cultivation realm advanced, the strengths of every technique he absorbed also improved. This City-Connecting Art was no longer the same as when he first obtained it.
By perfectly activating the City-Connecting Art in accordance with his current strength, this was the true heaven-defying aspect of the Yin-Yang All-Embracing Art!
Everyone except Martial Heaven felt an overwhelming pressure. Facing this Qin Yang, they sensed he was an insurmountable mountain they could never overcome.
"Martial techniques have true essence, and cultivation methods possess it as well," Qin Yang said slowly.
Martial Heaven nodded inwardly. While true, comprehending the true essence required reaching the pinnacle of cultivation...
"The true essence of the City-Connecting Art lies in immovable stability like a mountain, with power as vast as the earth itself—unshakable and unyielding," Qin Yang continued.
Jin Wanshan's eyes widened. This teaching mirrored his father's instruction to him exactly.
Yet Qin Yang's next words sent a thrill through Jin Wanshan's veins.
"Without anger, it remains dormant. With anger, mountains crumble and earth splits!"
Qin Yang's eyes sharpened as he activated the Anger Blood Art, merging it seamlessly with the City-Connecting Art as if they were one technique.
In an instant, everyone felt the ground tremble violently, as if standing on the brink of doomsday.
Qin Yang's aura had once been deep and heavy, but now it erupted with terrifying force!
He glanced at Jin Wanshan and said calmly, "The technique has been perfected."
Jin Wanshan stared in astonishment. That... that was it?
Martial Heaven's expression froze. Was this some kind of joke? If not for the successive transformations in Qin Yang's aura, he might have thought Qin Yang was merely playing around.
Qin Yang had simply activated both the Anger Blood Art and the City-Connecting Art simultaneously, recording the true qi circulation patterns. As for modifying the technique, the Yin-Yang All-Embracing Art had already completed everything.
"I'll start with two palm strikes. Feel the difference," Qin Yang said.
To test the modified technique, he needed an opponent. His gaze settled on Martial Heaven.
Martial Heaven immediately agreed. "Modifying a technique requires caution. Attack me and let me assess its effectiveness."
"You'd better prepare well. Don't underestimate me," Qin Yang warned with a grin.
Martial Heaven snorted. Did he think the boy's capabilities were a mystery to him?
"First strike!" Qin Yang slowly unleashed a palm strike.
The force carried the weight of ten thousand mountains, unending and relentless.
"Is this still a yellow-grade technique?" Jin Wanshan gasped.
"Second strike!" Qin Yang followed with another palm strike. "This one contains the explosive power I've added."
The second strike erupted with savage intensity.
What's the sensation when an immovable mountain suddenly fractures? Despair!
This strike could crush an opponent's spirit!
Of course, Martial Heaven felt no despair.
Yet facing Qin Yang's second strike, he still stumbled back half a step!
"Enough talk! I'll learn it!" Jin Wanshan's eyes gleamed. "I'll master this!"
To think a modified technique could force a Stellar Realm expert back half a step!
Jin Wanshan asked, "What's the new name for this modified technique?"
Qin Yang casually replied, "The Angry Blood Linked City Art."
"Excellent! I love it!" Jin Wanshan exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement. Little did he know that Qin Yang had just made up the name on the spot.
"What rank is it? Profound Rank?" Jin Wanshan asked.
"It has no fixed rank," Qin Yang shrugged. "The stronger your cultivation, the more powerful the technique becomes. Once you grasp its true essence, does the rank even matter? What's important is that it can unleash your full potential."
Everyone gasped in unison, while Martial Heaven frowned deeply.
A cultivation technique that could advance infinitely? This surpassed the step-by-step methods of powerful clans by leaps and bounds!
With such a technique, cultivators wouldn't need to switch to new methods as they progressed! This single development erased one of the key advantages of the great clans!
The students exchanged glances, their hearts racing with envy. If only Qin Yang could modify their techniques too!
"Very well, let's try it now." Qin Yang beckoned, and Jin Wanshan eagerly scurried over.
"First, I'll guide your true qi through several cycles using mine. There are also some precautions and key points you need to focus on..."
Qin Yang began teaching on the spot.
The Angry Blood Linked City Art itself was an enhancement of the City-Connecting Art, incorporating the strengths of the Anger Blood Art while the latter's weaknesses were perfectly counterbalanced by the former's capabilities.
Jin Wanshan, with his solid foundation, mastered it within two hours.
Such rapid progress left everyone speechless.
Jin Wanshan was overwhelmed with excitement. Qin Yang's instruction was simple and direct. While true mastery would require sustained cultivation, he could already envision his future path!
He unleashed a series of palm strikes, each bearing unprecedented power compared to his previous efforts.
Martial Heaven stood speechless. Was this prodigy determined to turn everyone around him into monsters as well?
His classmates watched with envy and jealousy, wanting to seek guidance but too embarrassed to ask. All eyes turned toward Martial Heaven.
Martial Heaven felt deeply awkward. Even he, let alone any other cultivator, could never hope to match Qin Yang's teaching prowess.
Suddenly, a thunderous crash shook the magical flying boat as it collided with something massive.
A colossal warship-like vessel had materialized beside them, its pitch-black hull adorned with a crimson skull flag.