Book 7 Chapter 11 – Penetrating Deep Into the Tiger Cave

Xu Ziling woke up the next day. Declining the offer to get together with Xiang Yushan and the others on the lower deck, he sat in meditation alone in his room.

Every time he finished training, he always felt some kind of contentment and satisfaction, a sense of self-sufficiency that did not come artificially from the outside.

Strange thing was that he used to be like Kou Zhong, who loved to eat. But as his inner cultivation grew deeper, his appetite progressively decreased. He was especially sick of meat and fish, instead, wild fruits and green vegetables became more and more to his liking. So much so that for two, three days went by without eating and he still had no problem.

The reason he wanted to stay alone in his room today was that he left a fantastic development all over his body. Unexpectedly he has shed an entire layer of his skin, just like a snake shed its skin.

The new layer of skin was smooth and tender, almost like a baby’s skin, so that his complexion looked different to ordinary men.

Xu Ziling did not care about such changes too much. Lifting both hands up, he struck various poses, while at the same time sending his true qi up to his hands. He started to have more and more confidence to his pair of beautiful, more and more sparkling and translucent, hands. When he concentrated his true qi, even blocking any divine weapon head-on, he was not afraid that he would suffer the slightest injury. Besides, there is no divine weapon that was more flexible and follow his heart desires.

When he had confrontation with Yang Xuyan the previous day, he clearly felt his progress in the martial art study. Yang Xuyan’s sword-play, in which he moved like an immortal, no longer that hard to pin down anymore. It was due to his grasp of Yang Xuyan’s fantastic sword technique that he was able to save Xiang Yushan’s little life.

Although Xu Ziling was not aggressive at all, he was fully aware of the Jianghu’s truth that the strong would rule: if you don’t kill, you will get killed; especially in this turbulent era, where justice practically did not exist.

This moment, Kou Zhong walked in in high spirits; after a quick glance, he exclaimed, “Huh? How come you look so much different than before? Your entire body seemed to be glowing.”

Xu Ziling replied indifferently, “Haven’t you also changed? Look at your smug appearance. But please, don’t tell me what happened last night.”

Kou Zhong was well-aware that he could not conceal anything from Xu Ziling. Awkwardly he sat down by the bed and said hoarsely, “Some things are bound to happen sooner or later.”

After glancing surreptitiously to the left and to the right, he went on, “I heard that Xiang kid said that Ren Shaoming’s martial art differs very little to the Ol’ Die, at most he is only one or half a notch inferior. Seems like this matter is extremely thorny.”

“Do you think Ba Fenghan is formidable?” Xu Ziling asked, “Compared to Ol’ Die, isn’t he a bit more formidable?”

Kou Zhong knitted his brows and said, “That is really hard to say. My guess is that Ba Fenghan is slightly more formidable, because he is still very young, he is still making progress on a daily basis.”

Xu Ziling said, “If we join hands against Ba Fenghan, what do you think our odds of success?”

Kou Zhong pondered silently for half a day; finally he said with a bitter laugh, “Although we have a higher chance of winning, he will surely drag one of us along to accompany him to the nether world. This kid is really difficult to deal with. That day, were it not for us attacking him while he was unprepared, I am afraid we, two brothers, will have to lie flat in that jungle forever.”

Xu Ziling smiled and said, “Forgive me, but this time I beg to differ. I disagree with your, Zhong Shao’s judgement. If we fight against Ba Fenghan again, he will undoubtedly lose, because I have figured out the Yijian Technique; better yet, I have figured out a way to chop Ren Shaoming’s stinky head.”

Greatly delighted, Kou Zhong said, “This is the first time that I am very excited that you have a different idea. Tell me, quick!”

Xu Ziling turned his gaze out of the window, at the continuously changing scenery of the river bank. With a wistful look on his face he said, “It started when we beat back Li Zitong that time, I discovered that mine and your martial art can comple