## AST 2463 - Learning the Mortal Steps, the He Clan Comes to Break Formation

Qing Shui was agitated when he saw the Nine-Mortal Steps. He had the thought of learning it, but didn't expect to be able to obtain its manual. Moreover, this looked like the original version. This meant that He Yining's status in the He Clan was definitely quite significant. At the very least, he must have some high position.

Qing Shui didn't head to read it anxiously but instead looked through some other battle technique manuals.

"Mmm, another one."

Qing Shui smiled happily. This was a book with golden pages. There were only five words on it.

Giant Golden Spiritual Figure!

At first sight, Qing Shui knew that this was the golden giant that He Yining had released earlier. These two should be the most important martial techniques of the Mortal Legacy. How did they end up with He Yining? Moreover, these were the original versions...

Qing Shui couldn't understand even after giving it a lot of thought and thus decided to not think about it. He picked up the Nine-Mortal Steps and started reading it. He immediately sank into it. It was at the absolute paragon and was too domineering. Mortals could rely on this to take on the world. It was one of the most terrifying martial techniques that could cause their strengths to surge. The Nine-Mortal Steps should be ranked amongst the top few even across the entire Nine Continents.

Qing Shui had no idea if there were other Mortal Legacies elsewhere. However, he felt that the mortal who had left the place shouldn't have just left just one thing behind.

Time passed by slowly and Qing Shui kept on cultivating the Nine-Mortal Steps. True to its name, there were nine steps. With each step taken, one's strength would increase by 50%. In principle, after taking the nine steps, one's strength would increase by four and a half times.

However, the manual stated that if one were to cultivate the Nine-Mortal Steps to the highest realm, this wouldn't be all one would receive.

The footwork had a lot of minor and complicated details. Most importantly, with each step forward, the energy depletion would increase by 50%. It was on the same level as the strength increment. Moreover, the stronger one's body was, the greater the unleashed prowess and the longer the duration lasted. The one unique trait of the Nine-Mortal Steps was that no matter how many steps a person took or how much strength increase they received, the person would only be able to unleash one attack. After the one attack, they would have to start all over again. During this process, the Origin Qi depletion would be especially fast.

One step, two steps...

With Qing Shui's current realm, in addition to him having his Heavenly Vision Technique, it wouldn't be hard for him to first analyze this technique and then subsequently learn it from the previous battle.

The Realm of the Violet Jade Immortal provided him with plenty of time and by the time it was time for him to leave, Qing Shui could already take three steps.

After exiting the Realm of the Violet Jade Immortal, Qing Shui made multiple copies of the Nine-Mortal Steps and gave everyone a copy. This thing was very good.

Everyone was astonished at the sight of the Nine-Mortal Steps. This was something that one might not even be able to get his hands on even if he were to wipe out the entire He Clan. To think that they managed to get it. Everyone looked at Qing Shui agitatedly. They couldn't understand what was going on.

"This was found in He Yining's Interspatial Bangle. When the He Clan finds out that He Yining is dead, they'll definitely come to take back this Nine-Mortal Steps. This is the basis for their foundation, what they relied on to become a unique and extraordinary existence. If everyone were to get their hands on the Nine-Mortal Steps, then the He Clan would naturally fall into decline." Qing Shui smiled.

"Could it be that you're going to disseminate the Nine-Mortal Steps?" Nuo Lan looked at Qing Shui, puzzled.

"We don't have any feuds with the He Clan, but we've killed He Yining and He Fan. To the He Clan, the Nine-Mortal Steps is a lot more important compared to the two of them. I think that they'll be willing to have a talk with us." Qing Shui gave it some thought before saying.

"You want to settle this peacefully?" Hao Tian asked.

"I'm still hesitating." Qing Shui shook his head.

"Even if the He Clan agrees to have a talk with you, they'll definitely come after us after you've given them the Nine-Mortal Steps. If the Nine-Mortal Steps were to spread out, they'd probably go all out, even if it they have to wipe out the entire city." Ling Chen frowned and said.

"Then for the sake of other people's safety, don't spread it out. But we mustn't return this Nine-Mortal Steps to them. If we just return it to them, they'll definitely not let us off. They should have some reservations now." Qing Shui smiled and said.

"Hehe, let's just let them feel anxious and not return it to them. The He Clan aren't good people anyway." Tang Xi smiled.

"Then go ahead and learn it. We have formations set up so it's basically impossible for them to attack their way in here. Everyone should take this time and work hard to cultivate." Qing Shui gave everyone some Spirit Gathering Pills to increase the effects of their cultivation.

At noon, quite a number of people arrived. This time around, there were more people compared to before, and most of them were important characters in the He Clan. The ones in the lead were ten or so old men. The matter had become too big this time around and the problem of He Clan's legacy was involved. Therefore, they surrounded the manor that Qing Shui was in, leaving no room for escape.

"Old Ancestors, there are formations around this place. Shall we inform them to come out to have a talk first?" A middle-aged man said respectfully to the few elders.

"Break this formation and give them a piece of our mind first. This will make the negotiations smoother." A prestigious-looking old man said in a deep voice.

The old man wore plain clothes and looked very normal. However, he emitted a violent aura and his eyes were deep and cold. There was a hint of killing intent amidst his elderly vibe, making others feel extremely uncomfortable. He had a pair of emotionless eyes.

"Yes, Old Ancestor!"

"Break the formation!" the middle-aged man waved his hand.

Some Formation Masters came out and started moving and probing around. The moment they got close, they would be reflected away. The powerful aura made it hard for them to get close. It didn't take long for these Formation Masters to be all battered. There were even two of them whose arms had been fractured and were spurting blood...

"Useless things. Scram back here!" The old man bellowed angrily.

He had wanted to teach Qing Shui a lesson, but wasn't expecting that the Formation Masters who had been using the clan's resources lavishly all this while were so useless. The more he thought about it, the angrier he felt. He slapped out his palm toward one of the Formation Masters.

"Boom!"

A rain of blood came falling down. The old man's brutal means left all the remaining Formation Masters shivering incessantly. They didn't even dare to breathe too loudly and their clothes were drenched in cold sweat.

"Old Ancestor, don't be angry. I'll lead some people and attempt to break the formation," the middle-aged man said carefully.

"Alright, Yilong. You go and give it a try." the old man's voice became a little softer.

The middle-aged man was called He Yilong and he was considered to be quite strong in the He Clan. He was from the same generation as He Yining. Although his status wasn't as high as this generation's clan's head and He Yining, He Yilong was still considered to enjoy a good status in the clan.

50 people stood orderly and stepped forward together. The positions they took were very strange and then they started to advance uniformly.

Mortal Steps!

He Yilong stood at the very front while the others followed behind him. A wave of violent power gathered together and flowed between them, forming a circulating Origin Qi chain.

Second step, third step!

These people were all He Clan's pillars and they had already cultivated the Nine-Mortal Steps to the seventh step.

Fourth step, fifth step!

The several tens of people in the surroundings had formed something like mystical clouds, blurring everyone's vision.

Sixth step!

Seventh step!

With the seventh step, violent power went smashing out like a hammer through the men.

A stream of violent and unrivalled colorful Qi like a huge sword, yet also like a small river, pierced out toward the formation.

"Break!"

He Yilong let out an enraged bellow and sent his attacks smashing fiercely onto the formation with an overwhelming prowess.

"Boom!"

A loud and terrifying voice rang out, creating explosions that sent up colorful clouds. Several tens of people were sent flying back. Most of them suffered internal injuries, with a few of them being severely injured. He Yilong, who had stood at the very front, was one who had been seriously injured.