Chapter Fifteen: The Half-Step Inch Force

Stepping through the entrance of the Martial Canon Pavilion, the light grew dim, with a gentle radiance spilling from luminous pearls set into the surrounding walls, casting the entire building into an air of mysterious tranquility.

On the first floor, hundreds of bookshelves stood arranged in neat rows, the vast space leaving only narrow pathways for passage. The entire first floor was open without restriction to members of the Ye Clan. As a clansman, Ye Cheng, like all present, was intimately familiar with the layout. But today, his goal lay ahead: the second floor, where the true object of their desires awaited.

Entering the pavilion, Ye Cheng, like the others, wound his way through the labyrinthine rows of shelves. His eyes idly swept over the labels marking various martial arts techniques as he passed.

After a short walk, Ye Cheng arrived before the pitch-black entrance that led to the next level. Standing at the threshold, he peered inside, where he could faintly make out some familiar figures.

He paused for a moment, then, without hesitation, stepped into the darkness.

Within the corridor, all was black, but as a martial artist at the Blood Qi stage, this presented no difficulty. Unlike ordinary people who would see nothing, he could still vaguely discern the rosewood floor beneath his feet.

Following the passage, Ye Cheng sensed that it spiraled upward—clearly a winding stair to the second floor. Normally, a guard would be stationed here, and entry would not be granted so lightly.

Soon, a glow appeared ahead—the end of the passage. Ye Cheng quickened his pace and stepped out, emerging into a different world, distinct from the first floor. Expensive Fire Spirit pearls adorned the ceiling, bathing the space in a soft, warm light that revealed the scene before him.

At the entrance, there were no dense rows of bookshelves; instead, a snail-shell-like passage coiled inward, hemmed in by sturdy stone walls. In the walls, numerous niches had been carved, and within each niche rested an ancient tome. Many clansmen paced the corridor, their gazes burning with desire as they studied the martial arts scrolls. Ye Cheng understood immediately: these were the mid-tier techniques over which ordinary martial artists would go mad.

Each tome was shrouded by a layer of pale blue light—a protective barrier against theft. While most martial artists above the Blood Qi stage could break such a shield, it served as an alarm: any attack would trigger a sound, impossible for the guardians to miss.

Anyone able to shatter the barrier without a sound was no ordinary fighter; such people would hardly value these techniques.

Many Ye Clan youths roamed back and forth, their eyes feverishly scanning the niches. Some, having chosen their target, flushed red with effort as they struck the blue screens, eager to claim their prize. Those who succeeded wore faces of joy, while the unsuccessful looked on enviously. Others, finding the barrier too strong, could only sigh and continue their search.

Ye Cheng felt no urgency. He had but one chance to take a technique with him; he must choose the one best suited to himself. He walked along, carefully reading the descriptions beside each niche.

Half an hour later, Ye Cheng shook his head—none of these techniques fit him. Most were low mid-tier, at best mid mid-tier, and of little use to him.

Rounding a corner, Ye Cheng's brows furrowed as he stopped in his tracks. Not far ahead, a crowd had gathered—Ye Wei and Ye Ming among them. Their eyes were fixed upon a particular niche. The blue screen covering it was noticeably thicker than the others, its defense far superior. Clearly, the technique within was extraordinary.

One by one, people stepped from the crowd to try their strength against the barrier, but all failed. Before long, Ye Wei emerged from the group, attempting to break through himself—clearly, the technique was highly attractive to him.

From the flush in his face, it was obvious he was using all his strength. In the end, he could only send a ripple across the blue screen; it did not break.

Ye Cheng stepped forward, curious what sort of technique could draw the attention of Ye Wei and Ye Ming alike. Reading the inscription above the niche, he saw the introduction clearly:

"High mid-tier martial technique: Half-Step Inch Force. Half-step to store momentum, strikes with the swiftness of a leopard, hidden internal force, attacks when least expected."

"It's rather similar to the Thunder Rush my teacher gave me," Ye Cheng mused inwardly, comparing it to the Thunder Rush gifted by Elder Mu.

After a moment, Ye Cheng shook his head in disappointment. The technique was impressive and understandably coveted, but it still fell short of his needs. Compared to Thunder Rush, it was lacking—hardly a trump card for him.

His presence near the crowd drew immediate attention, sparking murmurs among the onlookers, all eyes turning to him with envy. In their minds, if even Ye Ming and Ye Wei could not break the shield, then only the youth before them might stand a chance of claiming the coveted tome.

Within the crowd, Ye Ming quickly spotted Ye Cheng, slinging an arm over his shoulder, while Ye Wei, standing nearby, regarded Ye Cheng with a complex expression, his thoughts inscrutable.

"This shield is tough as a turtle's shell," Ye Ming grumbled, scowling at the blue barrier.

"Well, it's a high-tier technique," Ye Cheng replied with a laugh. "Of course the defense is strong. The things that tempt us are always just out of reach, aren't they?"

Ye Ming turned away, sulking, but a sudden gleam lit his eyes as he glanced at the crowd's attention on Ye Cheng. He grinned slyly and faced Ye Cheng. "More than tempting! But given our relationship, I think I could get it with your help."

"What do you mean?" Ye Cheng was baffled by his sudden words.

Ye Ming clapped Ye Cheng's shoulder and pointed to the blue shield. "I can't break this barrier, but with your strength, you should be able to. So, how about helping me out?"

Ye Ming's words drew a wry smile from Ye Cheng. So that was his plan. Ye Cheng spread his hands helplessly. "I can't promise I'll succeed."

Ye Ming nodded—he wasn't sure of Ye Cheng's true power, and whether he could break the shield was uncertain.

Sorry for the late update today; something came up.

Devouring Saint 15—Free Full Text Reading—Chapter 15: Half-Step Inch Force, update complete!