Chapter 6: No Matter Who You Lose, You Must Never Lose My Second Master's Loyalty!

The next day, after resting well in bed for an entire day, Yang Qingyuan finally regained his vigor. After sensing the bottleneck in the Eight-Nine Profound Skill had loosened in the confinement chamber earlier, he hadn’t dared to rest; instead, he seized every moment to cultivate.

Fortunately, his relentless effort over the day and night was not in vain. He successfully broke through the first stage and stepped into the second stage.

Upon crossing into the second stage, not only did his physical constitution and soul strength increase significantly, but Yang Qingyuan also unexpectedly discovered that the Eight-Nine Profound Skill had automatically awakened a divine technique—the Five Thunder Technique!

The Five Thunder Technique, one of the second master’s divine abilities, is mentioned in the classic "Investiture of the Gods": Yang Jian strikes, using the Five Thunder Technique, accompanied by thunder and lightning, causing the spirit to immediately retreat.

This realization stirred Yang Qingyuan’s imagination. If this trend continued, wouldn’t every breakthrough in the Eight-Nine Profound Skill awaken another divine power of the second master?

Could it be possible that the second master’s signature powers—such as the Samadhi True Fire, the Bean Soldier Manifestation, and the supreme technique “Heaven’s Law and Earth’s Image,” which only the second master and Sun Wukong could wield in "Journey to the West"—might also awaken?

At this thought, Yang Qingyuan could no longer contain the fire burning within his heart. He immediately sprang from his bed, so eager that he didn’t even have time to brush his teeth or wash his face. He rushed to a clearing to test the newly comprehended Five Thunder Technique.

"Five Thunder Technique: manipulating magical power into thunder and lightning to attack and kill enemies. When cultivated to profound mastery, it can summon heavenly punishments to fight foes, possessing infinite power..."

Merely reading the description of the Five Thunder Technique ignited a fiercer flame in Yang Qingyuan’s eyes.

He had not activated his Heavenly Eye and could not, like other members of the Yang family, learn spells by observing the flow of magical power in others’ qi veins.

As for the magical treasures that human Taoist priests rely on, given Yang Qingyuan’s status in the Yang family, it was naturally impossible for anyone to give him such items.

Thus, the only tools Yang Qingyuan could rely on now were his body, honed by the Eight-Nine Profound Skill, and the powerful soul within him.

Could fists count as an attack method?

Now, with the Five Thunder Technique, he could somewhat compensate for the limitations and lack of variety in his offensive moves.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Several hours later, white lightning bolts shot from Yang Qingyuan’s palm, swiftly striking the tree before him.

In the next moment, the tree exploded from the center, creating a large hole out of thin air.

Watching the results of his Five Thunder Technique practice, a satisfied smile crept onto Yang Qingyuan’s lips.

“Very good. Although the palm thunder’s power is barely adequate, its instant release and speed make up for it. No matter how powerful a move is, if it misses, it’s all for nothing.”

After a brief rest to recover the magical power spent training the Five Thunder Technique, Yang Qingyuan returned to his room.

He was preparing to go out, as Yang Yan had promised yesterday to send him some “pocket money,” which had already been delivered to his room.

Upon opening it, Yang Qingyuan was stunned—over a thousand taels of silver notes!

In these harsh times, one tael of silver could cover a common family’s expenses for an entire year.

Truly, the prized jewel of the Taoist Alliance’s top noble family knew how to be generous.

Holding this enormous fortune in his hands, Yang Qingyuan shook his head with a sigh.

“Ah, truly, the rich feast while the poor freeze to death—this kind of injustice is all too common, no matter which world.”

Of course, Yang Qingyuan merely lamented briefly; he had no grand ambitions to emulate Huang Chao’s “When I bloom, all other flowers perish” rebellion.

At his current strength, merely surviving within this ruthless Taoist Alliance was uncertain—he had no leisure to pity the common folk.

After a quick wash and change, Yang Qingyuan took one of the silver notes and, under the curious gazes of many Yang family disciples, stepped out of the Yang family estate.

As he told Yang Yan yesterday, he needed to buy some clothes and daily necessities in town.

Why bother dressing up before going out? Don’t ask—that’s just how it is. No matter how tough life gets, one must maintain dignity; otherwise, what’s the point of having a handsome face?

Besides, what if one day he met a beautiful maiden by chance? If she were dazzlingly dressed and he looked unkempt and grimy, wouldn’t that be embarrassing?

Humans are emotional creatures, and first impressions are crucial.

No matter how wonderful love may be, if the first glance is disappointing, most possibilities will be immediately dismissed.

Yang Qingyuan had always been mindful of this.

In short: no matter whose reputation is lost, it must never be the second master’s!

---

As the premier noble family of the Taoist Alliance, the Yang family’s ancestral home was naturally located in the heartland of the entire alliance’s territory.

Dao City was the largest and most prosperous city within the Taoist Alliance’s domain.

Almost all the prominent noble families of the Taoist Alliance were headquartered here, including the Yang family.

As for the world’s top family, the Wang clan, and the recently rising Shenhuo Manor, they were not located in this city but maintained their own independent estates.

Walking along the bustling streets of Dao City, Yang Qingyuan’s eyes were quickly drawn to the dazzling array of goods displayed by street vendors.

“Come, come, come! Look at this exquisite Fire Spirit Sword, forged from the dragon horn of a fierce fire-element dragon after a grueling thirty-thousand-round battle between my master and the beast! Now on a steep discount—no 998! No 888! Only 88!”

“Heaven’s Net Talisman! Especially effective against brute-force monsters; the perfect companion for home, travel, and demon-slaying!”

“Premium healing medicine! Quickly cures wounds! Made with the most honest ingredients—this batch even contains blood from the leech clan!”

...

Surveying these vendors’ vociferous calls, Yang Qingyuan glanced over casually.

From the items sold at these stalls, one could tell how severe the conflict between humans and demons had become.

Notably, there were almost no everyday goods—almost everything here was a magical tool, talisman, or formation designed to combat demons.

However, these were not what Yang Qingyuan needed at the moment, so after a brief glance, he prepared to push through the crowd toward his destination.

Just as he was about to leave, a familiar voice slowly sounded ahead.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the servant who tried to ambush the Yang family’s son-in-law at the wedding last time.”