Chapter 224 - 222: Innate Dao Bone

Chapter 224: Chapter 222: Innate Dao Bone

After hearing Ouyang Mingcheng’s story, Chen Yuan finally understood the origins of the Ouyang Family’s various branches.

Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes. "So, Elder Ouyang, you plan to just endure it? You all share the blood of the Ouyang Family. Your fourth branch’s ancestor made such a great sacrifice, yet you’re content to be oppressed by the first branch like this?"

"What else can I do? Should I break ties and become their enemy?"

Ouyang Mingcheng gave a bitter smile. "The Ouyang Family is still considered a powerful force. If I were to break away from the family, I’d truly become an Independent Martial Artist.

"Ah Yi is still young. His talent isn’t great, but in the Ouyang Family, he at least has resources for his cultivation. Once we leave the Ouyang Family, his future would be truly uncertain."

Although Ouyang Mingcheng was currently very dissatisfied with the Ouyang Family, it was clear he had no intention of rebelling.

He was an honest man, accustomed to being pushed around, to the point where he didn’t even consider resisting.

This made things rather tricky for Chen Yuan.

He knew that the future Ouyang Mingcheng would definitely rebel, which was why he had infiltrated the Ouyang Family to persuade him to open the Valley God Palace’s branch Daoist Palace.

But seeing him like this, Chen Yuan knew that even with a silver tongue, he would have no way of persuading Ouyang Mingcheng.

This man was different from Du Xiaochen of the Flying Shadow Sword Pavilion.

Du Xiaochen was a ruthless man. He endured only for his Sect and for his son’s sake, all while secretly practicing the Sword Concealment Technique. Even without Chen Yuan, he might have struck a vicious blow against Wen Cangyuan at any time.

But this Ouyang Mingcheng was a meek pushover without a single rebellious thought. How was Chen Yuan supposed to persuade him?

’I have no idea what could happen in the future to make a good guy like Ouyang Mingcheng just snap and agree to open the Daoist Palace unconditionally.’

Chen Yuan didn’t dwell on the topic. Instead, he suddenly said, "Elder Ouyang, you said Brother Ouyang’s talent isn’t good, but I can’t agree with that. It seems some of Brother Ouyang’s potential has yet to be discovered."

Ouyang Mingcheng hesitated, a little afraid of hurting Ouyang Yi’s pride, but still said, "Young Friend Chen, there’s no need to praise Ah Yi like that. I know my own son.

"My fourth branch is, after all, an independent branch. Our ancestor left behind some heritage, so Ah Yi didn’t lack cultivation resources when he was young.

"But even so, he is only at the Qi Casting Realm Early Stage, and that was only achieved by piling on Elixirs.

"Never mind comparing him to a prodigy on the Hidden Dragon Rankings like you, Young Friend Chen, he can’t even compare to the other members of the Ouyang Family’s younger generation."

Ouyang Yi also looked a bit embarrassed. "Brother Chen, I know my own limits. My cultivation is truly nothing impressive."

Chen Yuan shook his head. "There’s something very peculiar about you that you probably haven’t even discovered yourself. Brother Ouyang, give me your hand."

Ouyang Yi extended his hand, not understanding why. Chen Yuan then used the power of the Inner Vision God Observation Method to probe Ouyang Yi’s body.

Back at the tavern, Chen Yuan had sensed a wisp of Dao Essence Power on Ouyang Yi—a power that a Martial Artist of his level should not possess.

Moreover, this Dao Essence was extremely pure, as if it were innate.

If Chen Yuan hadn’t cultivated the Inner Vision God Observation Method, he would have never noticed it.

As his power entered Ouyang Yi’s body, Chen Yuan immediately felt an innate Dao Essence circulating within him.

However, this Dao Essence was hidden very deep. Ouyang Yi himself was unaware of it, so he couldn’t use it.

Pushing his power deeper, Chen Yuan finally discovered that Ouyang Yi had an extra, smooth, thumb-sized bone at the base of his neck, attached to his spine.

All the Dao Essence was emanating from this bone.

Chen Yuan took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Innate Dao Bone!"

The three of them were stunned. "What?"

Evidently, none of them had ever heard this name before.

"Brother Ouyang has an extra bone on his spine at the back of his neck. This bone is the Innate Dao Bone. It naturally generates Dao Essence. As long as you have a sufficiently powerful Daoist Cultivation Technique to awaken its potential, his cultivation will advance by leaps and bounds.

"It can be said that anyone with an Innate Dao Bone is an absolute cultivation prodigy of the Daoist Sects."

Ouyang Yi was surprised. "The cultivation technique passed down in my Ouyang Family is also from a Daoist lineage, but my cultivation speed isn’t very fast."

"Forgive my bluntness, but that’s because the cultivation technique your Ouyang Family practices is too weak."

Chen Yuan shook his head. "To activate the Innate Dao Bone, you need a Celestial Level Daoist Cultivation Technique at the very least. Your Ouyang Family’s lineage was broken at some point, and you no longer possess a Celestial Level Technique. Naturally, you can’t activate the Innate Dao Bone."

’The reason I’m so familiar with the Innate Dao Bone is because in the original story, there was a prodigy on the Hidden Dragon Rankings who had come from behind. He was an Independent Martial Artist who went from a nobody to the top ten of the Hidden Dragon Rankings within a few years.

’Moreover, despite clearly possessing an Innate Dao Bone, he didn’t join any of the Four Daoist Courts and instead became their enemy.

’That young prodigy was named Ou Ziyuan. At this moment, I suspect that the Ou Ziyuan from the future—the one with the Innate Dao Bone—is actually the Ouyang Yi right in front of me.’

"Does my son truly possess such talent?"

Ouyang Mingcheng’s face was filled with disbelief, as was Madam Ouyang’s.

Ouyang Yi was their only son. Although he wasn’t outstanding, they cherished him greatly.

They didn’t mind his mediocrity, but if his talent was astonishing, they would naturally be even more delighted.

Chen Yuan said nothing, merely placing his hand on the back of Ouyang Yi’s neck.

The power of his Inner Vision God Observation Method stimulated the Innate Dao Bone, causing a dense Dao Essence to burst forth.

Ouyang Mingcheng and his wife both had cultivation at the Condensing Truth Realm, so they could naturally sense the power of this Dao Essence.

The two were overjoyed. They never expected their own son to be so uniquely talented!

Ouyang Mingcheng raised a cup of wine to Chen Yuan, his face full of gratitude. "If it weren’t for Young Friend Chen, we might have gone our whole lives without knowing Ah Yi possessed the Innate Dao Bone. We almost ruined his future. I am eternally grateful!"

"You’re too kind, Elder Ouyang. The fact that Brother Ouyang has this good fortune is actually thanks to you.

"Because the Innate Dao Bone isn’t something that just appears. It’s inherited."

"Inherited? But my wife and I are both quite mediocre," Ouyang Mingcheng said with a confused expression.

"Both of you, give me your hands."

Ouyang Mingcheng extended his hand, and Chen Yuan once again sent the power of his Inner Vision God Observation Method into his meridians.

Ouyang Mingcheng, of course, did not have an Innate Dao Bone, but the Dao Essence Power in his body was also very dense. He simply lacked a good enough cultivation technique to bring it out.

Chen Yuan then took Madam Ouyang’s hand. ’Her son is already grown, but her skin is still as smooth and delicate as a young girl’s. I wonder how she maintains it.’

After a moment, Chen Yuan released her hand and asked Madam Ouyang, "Madam, were you born into a Daoist Noble Family, or were any of your ancestors from an orthodox Daoist Sect?"

Madam Ouyang nodded. "That’s right. My ancestors were said to be from a direct Daoist lineage, part of a prominent Major Sect. But by my generation, the family has declined, and there are very few of us left."

"That explains it. The Ouyang Family’s ancestors came from a Major Sect, as did yours, Madam Ouyang. In fact, the latent Dao Essence Power within your body is even purer and denser.

"This kind of Dao Essence Power accumulates over generations. If both of you had practiced a Celestial Level Technique, you would have been able to absorb this Dao Essence Power yourselves, and Brother Ouyang would not have an Innate Dao Bone.

"But the techniques you practice are insufficient to absorb this Dao Essence. Now, your union has resulted in Brother Ouyang possessing the Innate Dao Bone. You could call it an inheritance from your ancestors."

’Ji Province was the location of the Valley God Palace in the Ancient Era,’ Chen Yuan mused. ’I even suspect that Madam Ouyang’s ancestors might have come from the Valley God Palace as well.’

Of course, none of that was important now. The Ouyang family of three was overjoyed, and Chen Yuan didn’t say anything more.

He was merely considering whether he could use this discovery to convince Ouyang Mingcheng to open the Daoist Palace.

「The next morning.」 The Ouyang Family began preparing for the Ancestor Worship Ceremony. The most important part was selecting the members of the younger generation for the martial exhibition.

Ouyang Mingcheng’s fourth branch only had Ouyang Yi, but the other branches still had to hold a public competition.

Naturally, Chen Yuan went along to watch the excitement.

Upon entering the Ouyang Family’s main hall, Chen Yuan found it was quite crowded.

Only the fourth branch had few members; the family’s total population was actually over a thousand people.

Although the Elder Ouyang, Ouyang Xun, was called "Elder," he wasn’t actually that old—just over eighty this year. He had white hair but a youthful face, and his features were lean and sharp.

Perhaps it was because the Ouyang Family’s lineage was from a Daoist sect, but all the clan members were quite good-looking.

Besides the Ouyang Family, there were also many representatives from surrounding Jianghu Forces who had come to observe the ceremony, arriving early to wait for the ancestor worship to begin.

"Elder, this is a young prodigy from the Hidden Dragon Rankings, Zhenwu Hall Inspector Chen Jiutian, Master Chen."

Ouyang Mingcheng hurriedly introduced Chen Yuan to Ouyang Xun.

Hearing this, some of the Martial Artists from other factions in attendance also turned to look at Chen Yuan, seemingly surprised that the Ouyang Family could invite such a young prodigy.

"Master Chen’s presence brings great honor to our Ouyang Family."

Ouyang Xun was quite enthusiastic toward Chen Yuan; one couldn’t see any trace of the greedy and unscrupulous person he was supposed to be.

’And I wonder if he knows that I slighted Ouyang Mingli yesterday,’ Chen Yuan thought. ’He probably does.’

"Elder Ouyang, you are too kind. I only hope my uninvited arrival doesn’t disturb the Ouyang Family."

"Of course it’s no disturbance. Mingcheng, make sure you entertain Master Chen well."

Ouyang Mingcheng nodded repeatedly and led Chen Yuan to a seat in the viewing gallery.

Most of the time, the Elder was arrogant and bossy toward him, scolding him at the slightest provocation.

Today, because Chen Yuan was present, he was basking in reflected glory, and the Elder was being quite amicable to him.

Just then, five Daoists walked in from outside.

The man in the lead looked to be under forty. He was tall and thin, and while not bad-looking, he had a fleshy growth on his forehead that gave him a strange appearance.

Such a peculiar appearance belonged to none other than the Palace Master of the Profound City Palace under the Heaven-Encompassing Daoist Sect, Kou Anzhi, the ’Unicorn Immortal.’