9: Kind-hearted mentor

"Boom!"

Another charred corpse fell from mid-air. Yan Feng drew back his fist and stood tall, the crimson Fighting Qi surrounding his body slowly receding.

This was already the seventh careless Dou Master in eight days.

At this moment, this unfortunate fellow was embedded in the rock wall, impossible to pry out.

Inside the carriage, nine students peered out the windows, their eyes wide and round.

"T-the seventh one..."

Liu Yuting counted on her fingers, her voice trembling.

"That one seemed to be an Eight-Star Dou Master, right?"

Liu Mingyu swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

"Just one punch..."

As for Dou Practitioners, it seemed he had killed at least a hundred, if not three hundred, over the past few days.

Jiang Donghua leaned against the carriage shaft, arms crossed, his mouth twitching.

If he hadn't been giving Instructor Yan shoulder massages and leg rubs every day, he wouldn't have known that the masked man in black yesterday was a genuine Four-Star Great Dou Shi!

Yet, Old Yan blasted him with a "Fire Python Devouring Heart" until not even dust remained.

"Everyone, sit tight!"

Yan Feng shook his wrist; his imposing figure completely blocked the sunlight.

He glanced at the "artwork" in the rock wall and suddenly sighed.

"What a pity..."

The students immediately looked on with respect. Was the instructor lamenting the difficulty of cultivation?

Or mourning the downfall of his opponent?

"In two more days, we'll meet up with the main group, and there will be over a dozen Great Dou Masters gathered together..."

Yan Feng stroked the stubble on his chin, gazing wistfully at the sky.

"How am I supposed to act cool... *ahem*, how am I supposed to demonstrate practical combat lessons for you then?"

"..."

The carriage fell into a deathly silence.

Yan Feng frowned, his rough fingers tapping incessantly on the carriage window frame, making a *da-da* sound.

He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Jiang Donghua, who was sitting cross-legged in the corner, feeling that something was amiss.

"This kid..."

It had been nearly four months.

Ever since Jiang Donghua broke through to become a Dou Practitioner, Yan Feng had noticed a strange phenomenon.

This student clearly meditated and cultivated every day, yet he had never been seen practicing any Dou Technique.

This defied common sense.

In a place like the Fighting Qi Continent, a Dou Practitioner without a Dou Technique to rely on was like a wolf without claws and teeth—they simply wouldn't survive.

Yet, Jiang Donghua was doing perfectly fine, and even managed to burst out with astonishing combat power every time they encountered danger.

"Jiang Donghua."

Yan Feng finally couldn't help but speak, his voice deep and serious.

Jiang Donghua slowly opened his eyes, a trace of confusion flashing in his dark pupils.

"Instructor?"

"Up until now, what Dou Techniques have you cultivated?"

Yan Feng asked straightforwardly.

The other students in the carriage immediately pricked up their ears upon hearing this.

Liu Yuting blinked her large eyes and looked over curiously; Liu Mingyu thoughtfully stroked his chin; and although Zhou Yan pretended not to care, his ears were clearly pricked high.

Jiang Donghua's heart tightened.

Damn, was he found out?

He subconsciously glanced at the system panel that only he could see.

[Idling cultivation in progress...]

[Current Realm: One-Star Dou Zhe (876/1000)]

[Clone 1: Cultivating (Fighting Qi Condensation)]

[Clone 2: Cultivating (Fighting Qi Condensation)]

This system was his biggest secret; it absolutely could not be exposed!

"Uh..."

Jiang Donghua scratched his head, displaying an embarrassed expression.

"Actually... I haven't learned a Dou Technique yet."

"What?!"

Yan Feng suddenly slapped his thigh, causing the entire carriage to shake.

"You're already a Dou Practitioner, and you haven't even learned a Yellow-rank Combat Skill?!"

Jiang Donghua shrank his neck and muttered softly.

"It's just... I'm poor..."

Yan Feng's eyes widened, looking at him as if he were a monster.

"Poor? What about the spoils you confiscated from suppressing bandits along the way?"

"They're all... saved up..."

Donghua gave two dry laughs, his gaze flickering.

Yan Feng was so angry that his beard bristled.

He suddenly stood up, his imposing figure nearly hitting the carriage roof, and pointed at Jiang Donghua's nose, cursing.

"Bullshit! I clearly saw you secretly hide a bag of gold coins yesterday!"

Donghua's heart skipped a beat.

He was finished; he had been seen!

Thinking quickly, he immediately put on a wronged, pitiful expression.

"Instructor, I was saving those to buy powerful Dou Techniques... You know, without a higher-grade Dou Technique, practicing any Dou Technique would be a waste of effort..."

Yan Feng was stunned for a moment, then realized.

"You don't even own a single Dou Technique?!"

Donghua lowered his head, feigning shame, while frantically figuring out how to cover up his lie.

Yan Feng took a deep breath, trying hard to calm his rapidly exploding emotions.

He rubbed his temples, suddenly feeling that his dream of being a Yellow Rank Class instructor might be ruined.

"You..."

He pointed at Donghua, his finger trembling.

"Do you know what happens to a Dou Practitioner without a Dou Technique during the Jia Nan Academy selection trials?"

Donghua blinked.

"They'll be beaten up badly?"

Yan Feng roared.

"They'll be beaten into a pig's head!"

"And then drag me down and make me lose face too!"

The carriage was silent.

Donghua sighed, speaking in a theatrical manner.

"Instructor, I really want to learn a Dou Technique, but truly..."

"Shut up!"

Yan Feng interrupted him, pulled a scroll glowing crimson from his bosom, and said fiercely.

"This is the Blazing Flame Palm, a Yellow Rank High-Tier Dou Technique. I'm lending it to you! You must master it before the selection trials, otherwise..."

He gave a sinister laugh.

"My fist will show you what the power of a Great Dou Master is like!"

Jiang Donghua.

"..."

This instructor, why is he acting like a bandit!

He helplessly accepted the scroll, but his heart was secretly blooming with joy.

Getting a Dou Technique for free—a huge profit!

At the same time, a line of text quietly appeared on the system panel.

[New skill detected: Blazing Flame Palm (yellow rank high grade). Initiate idling cultivation?]

The corner of Jiang Donghua's mouth curled up slightly.

Of course, initiate!

On the desolate plains of the Black-Corner Region at night, only the wind wailed.

Jiang Donghua and Yan Feng stood side-by-side outside the carriage relieving themselves, two streams arcing silver under the moonlight.

"Splash—"

Yan Feng shook himself, then suddenly pulled out another scroll glowing faintly blue from his bosom and unceremoniously shoved it into Donghua's hand.

"Take it!"

Jiang Donghua looked down and saw it was a movement Dou Technique, Roaming Cloud Steps, a yellow rank high grade skill!

"Instructor, this..."

"Shut up and listen!"

Yan Feng fastened his trousers, his voice extremely low.

"Before the selection trials, cultivate the Blazing Flame Palm to minor success, and the Roaming Cloud Steps must at least reach the initial stage."

His rough finger poked Jiang Donghua's chest.

"If you embarrass me..."

Under the moonlight, Jiang Donghua clearly saw what flickered in the eyes of this bear-like man: it wasn't calculation, but a kind of almost clumsy expectation.

"Instructor..."

Jiang Donghua suddenly felt the scroll in his hand was heavy.

"Aren't you afraid I won't be able to master it?"

Yan Feng scoffed, turning to walk towards the carriage.

"Going from Eighth Stage to Dou Practitioner in three months—if you still can't master it..."

He glared back.

"I'll just cultivate that trash Zhou Yan into a genius instead!"

Inside the carriage, the sleeping Zhou Yan suddenly sneezed.

Jiang Donghua looked at Yan Feng's imposing back and suddenly smiled.

He rubbed the two scrolls, and the system prompt appeared at the right time.

[New skills detected]

1. Blazing Flame Palm (yellow rank high grade) -> Available for idling

2. Roaming Cloud Steps (yellow rank high grade) -> Available for idling

"First, rush to Two-Star Dou Zhe..."

He whispered softly towards the moon.

"Then, I'll give the old bear a surprise."