Urban Martial Saint

An Shiping must have seen the Devouring Demon Flower before, as he had been inside the Demon Hideout Cave. However, if he were to see the Devouring Demon Flower now, he certainly wouldn’t recognize it.

The Devouring Demon Flowers inside the Demon Hideout Cave had petals larger than door panels. The petals that Ye Qing currently held were fragments of those large petals, already unrecognizable as the previous Devouring Demon Flower. Moreover, once the Devouring Demon Flower was shattered, its color altered, making it difficult for anyone to associate the petals they consumed with the Devouring Demon Flower. Besides, who could possibly imagine that the petals of the Devouring Demon Flower could be shattered into such small pieces?

The resilience of the Devouring Demon Flower is well-known. Ding Lianshun and Yin Xianzi were trapped within the Devouring Demon Flower until Ye Qing and Huangfu Ziyu entered with the Sun Shooting Bow, expending numerous famed instruments just to barely break the flower and rescue them. Given its resilience, besides mythical instruments like the Xuanyuan Sword and Minghong Knife, there aren’t any famed instruments capable of breaking the Devouring Demon Flower. Even wielding the Xuanyuan Sword and Minghong Knife might not guarantee shredding the Devouring Demon Flower into such small fragments.

Add to that, not only was the Devouring Demon Flower torn apart, but its feel was utterly soft to the touch, contrasting the robust texture usually felt in the Demon Hideout Cave. The sensation of melting immediately upon entry makes it impossible for people to associate it with the Devouring Demon Flower. Considering how resilient the Devouring Demon Flower is, with famed instruments unable to cut it, and teeth unable to bite it, how could it melt in one’s mouth? Hence, no one could even dream that the medicinal herb they were consuming was actually from the Devouring Demon Flower within the Demon Hideout Cave!

Ye Qing knew this truth, but he dared not speak of it. He was keenly aware that if the Devouring Demon Flower being a pinnacle medicinal herb was unveiled, chaos would sweep the world, triggering a slaughter beyond the transcendental barriers!

Thus, the more excited and awed the crowd became towards the Devouring Demon Flower, the more Ye Qing refrained from unveiling its secret. He adamantly claimed the herb was left behind by a Demon Pet, and frankly, he didn’t know its exact composition. The audience could only sigh regretfully. Despite their envy of the Devouring Demon Flower, they also knew that if it truly was left by a Demon Pet, they could never acquire it. In the Demon Hideout Cave, Demon Pets are invincible; even a Corpse Ghost Dragon at its peak dares not provoke a Demon Pet, highlighting the Demon Pet’s power!

”Can such a medicinal herb really enhance a peak master’s inner strength?” Ning Qianshu pondered the effects of the Devouring Demon Flower. Having consumed just one small piece, its effects weren’t notably pronounced, leaving him without much sensation.

”It should be,” Ding Lianshun nodded, ”When I was injured before, Ye Qing gave some to me, and I distinctly felt an increase in inner strength; it wasn’t merely an illusion.”

”That means...” Bai Li Xi gazed at Ye Qing, his eyes gleaming, ”The enhancement of Ye Qing’s inner strength over peak masters is indeed related to this medicinal herb?”

”Well...” Ding Lianshun scratched his head, contemplating, ”Although this herb can boost a peak master’s prowess, its effects aren’t that obvious. I consumed twenty or thirty pieces before feeling anything. To significantly elevate a peak master’s prowess would require consuming an unknown quantity of this herb!”

The crowd all turned their gaze to Ye Qing, Bai Li Xi’s eyes wide in astonishment, ”You... how much of this herb did you consume?”

Bai Li Xi had previously pointed out that Ye Qing’s inner strength notably exceeded that of a peak master, implying that his future prowess would eclipse that of peak masters. According to Ding Lianshun’s logic, just how many pieces must Ye Qing have consumed to achieve such an effect?

Xiao Bai the Little White Fox handed Ye Qing an entire Devouring Demon Flower, which has five large petals, each larger than a door panel. Ye Qing and Huangfu Ziyu, during their time within the cave, together consumed three petals, with two petals left which were shredded into over three hundred fragments and carried with them.

Originally, each fragment was quite large, but later Ye Qing discovered the Devouring Demon Flower’s efficacy was exceedingly potent, such that even a piece the size of a fingernail could heal a severely injured person. So he seized another opportunity, along with Huangfu Ziyu, to shred those over three hundred fragments even further, resulting in more than two thousand pieces, now carrying over a hundred with him at all times. Otherwise, how could he have casually grabbed dozens of pieces just now without a twinge of regret?

Now, as Bai Li Xi questioned Ye Qing about the exact amount consumed, how would Ye Qing respond? Two petals fragmented into two to three thousand pieces. Previously, with Huangfu Ziyu, he consumed three petals, and because Huangfu Ziyu has a smaller appetite, she only ate one; he ate two petals by himself. By this calculation, Ye Qing alone consumed two to three thousand such small fragments, didn’t he?

Ye Qing replied, ”I didn’t keep an exact count, probably a few thousand pieces.”

”What!?” The breaths of those surrounding hastened. Consuming genuinely thousands of pieces, Ye Qing’s enhancement in inner strength and resilience naturally made sense!

Witnessing the crowd’s reaction, Ye Qing swiftly continued, ”At the time, both Zi Yu and I were trapped in the Devouring Demon Flower for so long, we barely escaped, starved beyond endurance. We lacked any thought of food, even a blade of grass looked appetizing just then. When we encountered these fragments, I didn’t care if they were poisonous; we just snatched them into our mouths till satiated. Imagine how much I consumed!”

”Darn!” Bai Li Xi finally couldn’t hold back, ”You ate that herb to satisfaction? How prodigal can you be?”

Shen Tianjun was pleasantly surprised as he looked at Huangfu Ziyu, ”Zi Yu, did you consume a lot of this herb too?”

”I...I didn’t consume as much as Ye Qing, I took more than a thousand pieces,” Huangfu Ziyu replied.

”Darn!” Bai Li Xi again burst into rough language; he was nearly losing it. Having consumed a few dozen himself, he already felt extravagant. Now, hearing Ye Qing ate two to three thousand pieces and Huangfu Ziyu more than a thousand, he was nearly overwhelmed.

This herb, capable of further increasing a peak master’s inner strength, even able to elevate a peak master’s realm, is extraordinarily exceptional. From antiquity to the present, no peak master has managed to overcome the pinnacle barrier over thousands of years. Now, this herb offers hope of shattering this insurmountable barrier. The herb’s value is practically unquantifiable by monetary standards. Such precious herb was consumed by Ye Qing and Huangfu Ziyu as sustenance; not just Bai Li Xi, everyone else around couldn’t help but curse inwardly.

”Even you consumed more than a thousand pieces?” Helian Tiehua couldn’t contain himself, exclaiming in astonishment. Yet his expression was more excited than anything.

He had earlier witnessed the herb’s effects, undoubtedly capable of enhancing a peak master’s inner strength and even forging a beyond peerless master. This requires excessive quantities of the herb to achieve. Such herb is rarer than rare, unrecognized even by An Shiping. Ye Qing’s consumption of two to three thousand pieces, in Bai Li Xi’s briefing, would lead Ye Qing to progress into a beyond peerless master realm. Though Huangfu Ziyu didn’t consume as much as Ye Qing, the effects naturally are hard-hitting; even if Huangfu Ziyu cannot achieve Ye Qing’s elevation, she certainly could surpass peak masters!

Helian Tiehua’s heart at this moment was undeniably fervent; knowing Huangfu Ziyu is the Patriarch of the Seven Families and Right Envoy of the Seven Steering Committees of Hong Alliance. Huangfu Ziyu’s might indicate the Seven Steering Committees of Hong Alliance’s might as well, a development Helian Tiehua most desired to witness. Moreover, Ye Qing’s relationship with Huangfu Ziyu expresses allegiance to the Seven Steering Committees of Hong Alliance. Hence, soon, two beyond peerless masters might emerge for the Seven Steering Committees of Hong Alliance!

What does it signify to be a beyond peerless master? For thousands of years, none have succeeded in breaking the acme barrier; all believe that beyond peak masters, lies no further realm. Now, a breakthrough in this barrier is imminent; Ye Qing and Huangfu Ziyu possibly evolving into beyond peerless masters, signifies historical transformation!

The gap between a peak master and a top-level master is akin to an insurmountable chasm. Despite being as formidable as Ye Qing presently, he could not contend with a peak master due to the unbreachable boundary between their realms. Then, what about the chasm between beyond peerless masters and peak masters? Though none have witnessed beyond peerless masters or heard of such transitions, the certainty remains that once Ye Qing and Huangfu Ziyu evolve into beyond peerless masters, they possess the absolute prowess to subdue peak masters!

With this progression, should Ye Qing’s prowess fully unfold, the Five Uniques might find themselves overshadowed by Ye Qing!

Everyone was profoundly startled; most present held favorable relations with Ye Qing. Seeing Ye Qing achieve such feats, naturally, they were delighted for him.

Of course, alongside joy, there resided unease, as seen in Ning Qianshu. While the crowd disregarded him, Ning Qianshu’s eyes harbored obvious cold first glance. His rivalry with Ye Qing stemmed from Ye Qing thwarting several plans he orchestrated, sparking enmity between them. Although saving Ye Qing last time, it was merely compulsion, enabling the opening of Medicine King Mountain, and hence had to save Ye Qing; his heart nevertheless held animosity towards Ye Qing.

After saving Ye Qing, Ning Qianshu laid a trap within Ye Qing’s body, aiming to restrain Ye Qing’s growth. Who could predict that his plotted trap inadvertently nurtured Ye Qing, potentially evolving him into the first-ever beyond peerless master since ancient times, leaving Ning Qianshu’s heartsick feelings evident!