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"Qin Fang..."

Although he didn't quite understand what the Tianchi Secret Technique was, Cai Qing, after all, had been practicing martial arts for many years. Just by looking at the proud expression on Lei Peng's face, and the changes on Qin Fang's arm, she immediately paled, exclaimed, and stepped quickly to Qin Fang's side, grabbing his arm.

"So cold!"

But this touch only made things worse. At least before, he had just felt something wrong with Qin Fang's arm. However, the moment she touched it, it was as if she hadn't grabbed a human arm but an ice pick frozen in the fridge for days, utterly cold to the bone...

"I'm fine..."

Qin Fang cracked a smile, and compared to Cai Qing, his resistance to this cold was extremely strong. He himself didn't feel it as intensely as Cai Qing did.

You must know, every time Qin Fang leveled up, all his attributes would increase by +5, and these attributes weren't just limited to Strength, Agility, Stamina, etc., they also included various resistances.

Now that Qin Fang had reached Level 4, all his attributes had increased by more than +20, including a 20% resistance to freezing, which could automatically reduce the damage low temperatures did to his body.

However, this was something only Qin Fang himself knew; no one else was aware of it. As Qin Fang comforted Cai Qing, it only made her more worried, her beautiful eyebrows nearly completely furrowed.

Qin Fang saw the expressions changing on Lei Peng and Shangguan Tianling's faces, noting the barely concealed triumph in their eyes.

The Lei family members also slightly furrowed their brows, clearly not expecting things to turn out this way, or perhaps they didn't expect Shangguan Tianling to invest so much in Lei Peng, even passing on the Tianchi Secret Technique to him...

This was a technique secretly passed down within the Heavenly Pool Sect for hundreds of years; even disciples of the sect might not be able to learn it, yet Lei Peng had not only practiced it but seemed to have reached a considerable level as well...

Lei Peng had practiced the Heavenly Pool Sect's Changbai Ice Palm, something the Lei family knew all too well. Many had even experienced its power, which indeed was superior to ordinary cultivation techniques—not outrageously so—but Lei Peng's Bear Fist was known for its raw power, while the Changbai Ice Palm was more subtle and yin. The combination of the two had put Lei Peng at the forefront among his brothers in the Lei Family...

But now, with Lei Peng harboring the Tianchi Sect's secret Tianchi Secret Technique, it was like adding wings to a tiger. Just as Lei Peng and his uncle Shangguan Tianling were so proud, even Grandmaster-level Experts would be considerably wary of the Tianchi Secret Technique, let alone those below Grandmaster level... essentially, they would be instantaneously overwhelmed.

Level 5 Experts had almost no chance of expelling this penetrating icy Inner Breath from their bodies and could only watch helplessly as they were taken down.

The more the Lei family understood this, the more they felt it was a pity for Qin Fang... Qin Fang was several years younger than Lei Peng, but in a one-on-one fight, the two were almost evenly matched. Such talent was a rarity in the Martial World, a genius Martial Artist, no wonder Cai Pingyuan decided to take such a disciple when he was old...

Such a disciple was what many Grandmaster-level Experts dreamt of taking as their successor, and even the elder men of the Lei Family were truly moved by Qin Fang.

However, it was unfortunate that Qin Fang faced Lei Peng, and on top of that, was outmatched in skill. His strength wasn't weaker in solo combat, but he had not expected Lei Peng to know the Tianchi Secret Technique, which is why he suffered a mishap.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Just when everyone was deep in thought, Old Master Lei, who seemed to have been napping all along, suddenly coughed a few times but didn't open his eyes, as if he just wanted to turn over and continue napping.

Yet, such a change lit up the eyes of the Lei Family members. They knew Old Master Lei very well; such a change definitely did not arise from nothing.

Old Master Lei's cultivation had reached the terrifying Level 8, and in today's Martial World, aside from those old monsters who lived in seclusion and rarely showed themselves, there were very few Grandmasters who could stand shoulder to shoulder with Old Master Lei.

If he was unhappy about something, no one could stop him. Not even Shangguan Tianling with the backing of the Heavenly Pool Sect...

Naturally, Lei Peng was his direct grandson, and a member of the Lei Family, so no one dared go against Old Master Lei's wishes... Even with this marriage issue, Lei Peng appeared to be coercing Old Master Lei.

Although Old Master Lei hadn't spoken, he had basically made his opinion known. They could pick on Qin Fang, but crippling Qin Fang's cultivation was going too far...

Martial Artists had endured years of hard training to achieve such cultivation. Many experts spent a great deal of time and effort looking for a suitable disciple, only to see their cultivation so simply crippled; it was indeed too cruel, not to mention that Old Master Lei and Master Cai had been friends for so many years...

Although there was quite a gap in their strengths, it was no reason to stand by idly and disregard a friend's chosen disciple being crippled.

Shangguan Tianling was the first to catch on and immediately shot a glance at Lei Peng...

"Qin Fang, you've traveled far to visit the Lei Family, so you are a guest. However, this is about my wedding with Sister Cai. You'd best not interfere too hastily, or perhaps I might consider releasing you from the Heavenly Pool Sect's secret technique… Otherwise, hmph… I fear that in no time at all, all your cultivation might just go down the drain…"

This turn of events was also within the expectations of Lei Peng and Shangguan Tianling. The Lei Family could give Qin Fang a hard time, but they couldn't go too far; otherwise, it would reflect poorly on their reputation.

"Are you threatening me?"

But Qin Fang didn't get angry—in fact, he laughed. The uncle-nephew duo of Lei Peng and Shangguan Tianling had an interesting idea. Others might practice courtesy before using force, but they did the opposite: they set a trap for Qin Fang and then used it to negotiate, effectively coercing Qin Fang into submission without giving anything in return.

Could such great fortune actually exist in this world?

Perhaps!

But it definitely wasn't falling into Qin Fang's lap!

"If you insist on interpreting it that way, I won't deny it…"

Lei Peng was unapologetic; everyone present understood his motives, so he saw no need to gild his own face. He casually agreed.

"Hahaha… Then I'm afraid you'll be disappointed…"

To their surprise, as soon as Lei Peng finished speaking, Qin Fang burst into booming laughter, seemingly utterly unconcerned about the Heavenly Pool Sect's secret technique.

"The Heavenly Pool Sect's secret technique may indeed be quite formidable, but you, Lei Peng… daring to show your face before mastering the skill, have truly shamed the Heavenly Pool Sect! Today, I will show you that there's always someone stronger, always a higher heaven… Break for me!!!"

Qin Fang's arrogant words echoed as he suddenly emitted a bizarre red glow, and the temperature of his body rapidly rose, transforming him instantly into a human-shaped furnace…

As the temperature soared, the icy Inner Breath of the Heavenly Pool Sect's secret technique lurking within Qin Fang behaved like a mouse that had encountered a cat, rapidly being suppressed and retreating…

In merely about ten seconds, the blush on Qin Fang's skin gradually subsided, and the chill seeping from his arms was also gradually forced out, forming a light mist that coalesced and lingered for a long time!

"This... this… this isn't possible!"

Seeing this mist, Lei Peng's eyes nearly popped out of his sockets, filled with disbelief, his voice trembling so much he could hardly speak, simply unable to believe the sight before him was real.

Not only Lei Peng, but Shangguan Tianling was also stunned. Perhaps Qin Fang was right; Lei Peng's mastery of the Heavenly Pool Sect's secret technique was indeed lacking, but even so, it should have been impossible for Qin Fang to break it.

But the reality was right in front of them, leaving no room for denial…

The old men of the Lei Family were dumbfounded as well. The Heavenly Pool Sect's secret technique was long renowned in the Martial World as a top-notch formidable technique. Even they would have been exceedingly wary of it, opting to evade it rather than heal after being afflicted…

The Heavenly Pool Sect naturally had ways to deal with it, but it was much less likely for outsiders, unless their strength far exceeded that of the practitioner, and by a large margin at that. For example, if Lei Peng and Shangguan Tianling attempted to use the Heavenly Pool Sect's secret technique against Elder Lei, that would be practically suicidal…

But was Qin Fang's strength two whole levels above Lei Peng's?

Clearly not!

If we were to talk about levels, Qin Fang was even one level below Lei Peng… By such comparison, Qin Fang should've been doomed after falling into the trap, yet he forcefully broke Lei Peng's Heavenly Pool Sect secret technique.

"Nothing is impossible…"

Lei Peng was completely dumbfounded, while Qin Fang appeared quite composed, having expelled all the icy Inner Breath of the Heavenly Pool Sect's secret technique from his body. His complexion was somewhat pale, but in just over ten seconds, Qin Fang's color returned to its previous healthy glow, seeming even ruddier than before.

Cai Qing, who had been very worried all this time, now switched from sorrow to joy. Even when she saw Lei Peng dumbstruck, she couldn't help but wave her delicate fists triumphantly, venting some of her repressed frustration.

Of course, she wasn't naive. After calming down for a moment, she became doubtful again and scrutinized Qin Fang closely, trying to see if he was merely putting on a brave face, or if he had sustained any internal injuries.

But at least on the surface, nothing seemed amiss; Qin Fang still looked as healthy as ever, showing no signs of injury…

In fact, to Cai Qing, it seemed as though Qin Fang had not been subjected to Lei Peng's scheme; instead, it was as if he had taken an elixir, emerging even stronger than before! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation.)

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