Chapter 55: Chapter 54 Youjian Martial Arts School (Congratulations to the Night Lord for pulling muscles!)_1 Chapter 55: Chapter 54 Youjian Martial Arts School (Congratulations to the Night Lord for pulling muscles!)_1 Linghu Shan’s response truly dumbfounded Fang Xi.
For any martial arts force, sticking to the fundamental techniques is generally a matter of life and death, isn’t it?
Fang Xi had nearly rehearsed his next moves in his head: turning hostile, striking out, then soaring to the heavens and slowly wearing down this Grandmaster in the sky with talismans and magical tools…
But the result… the other party didn’t play by the rules at all!
“Hmm? Why would you give it to me?”
Fang Xi directly voiced his confusion.
“Haha… Actually, even with the techniques, those who can cultivate to become Grandmasters are very few!”
Linghu Shan’s flippant expression turned solemn: “What truly matters is always the person! It’s the martial artist’s talent, temperament, and perseverance! Sadly, even such martial artists, to become Grandmasters… in the end, it still depends on a bit of luck! Right now, Ding State has too few Grandmasters, and the Monster Kings run rampant. If another Grandmaster emerges, it would naturally be a boon for the human race! Since you, young brother, fancy the Yuanhe Mountain Skill, this old man will naturally facilitate it.”
“If that is the case, then I will not decline.” Fang Xi smiled slightly, unabashedly accepting the offer.
“Yuanhe Wulei Hand is, after all, a Grandmaster’s unique skill, the fundamental secret transmission of Yuanhe Mountain… By giving it to you, it should at least be worth a big favor, right?” At this point, Linghu Shan finally showed his hand.
“Hmm, what are your conditions?” Fang Xi felt much calmer, this was the normal rhythm of negotiations.
“If one day you ascended to Grandmaster, I hope you could join me in slaying the Flood Dragon of Old Dragon Pool!”
When Linghu Shan mentioned this Flood Dragon, his face was filled with unrestrained hatred: “This Flood Dragon has ravaged the land, and it has eaten the last blood descendants of my lineage…”
“A Flood Dragon Monster King?”
Fang Xi nodded, “Alright… I promise you.”
After all, if he ascended to the third layer of Body Refining, sooner or later, he would trouble these monster beasts anyway.
Monster beasts with awakened dragon blood at the first stage are considered treasures throughout. It would be a mistake to miss out!
“Haha, how forthright!”
Linghu Shan casually threw a roll of beast skin into Fang Xi’s hands.
This roll of beast skin carried an aura that even made Fang Xi’s heart palpitate somewhat, probably from the hide of a late-stage first-order monster beast.
On the front of the beast skin was a depiction of the magnificent sight of Yuanhe Mountain’s five peaks.
Surrounding Thunder Extreme Peak, there were always cyan-colored thunder and lightning.
‘The Divine Intent Diagram of Yuanhe Wulei Hand?’
With just one glance, Fang Xi confirmed it wasn’t fake.
On the back of the Divine Intent Diagram, there was densely packed text, about the size of ants, recording the ‘Yuanhe Wulei Hand’ cultivation method.
Compared with what Linghu Yang had recited, there was not the slightest discrepancy.
‘This old man, he’s serious…’
Fang Xi originally thought the other party would have tampered with the technique.
After all, with sophisticated cultivation methods, the slightest error could result in problems that might take decades to emerge and would be irreparable.
“The secret manual has been given to you. You are already a Three-step Martial Artist, with muscles like steel and bones like iron, next is the fourth step of God and Strength Fusion… My Yuanhe Mountain has indeed some secret methods to assist in the breakthrough, but they may not be very effective.”
Linghu Shan’s discerning gaze seemed to see through Fang Xi’s current realm at a glance: “As for the Grandmaster’s unity of heaven and man… that still relies on one’s understanding and opportunity! Back in my day, in order to realize the unity of heaven and man, I left the mountain for twenty years, disguised as an ordinary person unaware of martial arts, experiencing life… and finally had a sudden enlightenment one day.”
He went on to share his insights on breaking through, appearing quite sincere.
Fang Xi took note of each and every point, planning to verify them later.
Their conversation was so engaging that Linghu Shan even wanted to make Fang Xi his sworn brother and invite him to be a guest elder of Yuanhe Mountain.
Fang Xi declined several times before finally refusing, and then left Thunder Extreme Peak alone.
Watching the disappearing back of Fang Xi, Linghu Shan stroked his small beard on his chin, and his eyes gradually deepened, “A Three-step Martial Artist who remains so composed before me must surely have a trump card… What’s going on with Blood Sect? Even I can’t ascend Thunder Extreme Peak without startling anyone, could it be that all the disciples below are dead? Or have they all been bribed?”
He found it easier to believe that Yuanhe Mountain had a secret passage than to believe this.
“Anyway, it’s better not to fight if possible, let’s just cultivate a good relationship… The young ones nowadays, each fiercer than the last, and this Sorrowful To A Ghost is obviously planning to rob if not given willingly!”
Linghu Shan walked with his hands behind his back, beginning to ponder over any news of which Tri-element City’s courtesan had taken to the seas lately.
He had always been of such disposition.
Back then, his master who hated evil, his hot-tempered senior brother, his righteous junior brother who upheld justice, all died…
Only he lived to this day, lived to become a Grandmaster.
It was all due to forming good relations, preferring not to act unless necessary.
As for the secret manual of Yuanhe Wulei Hand? Would those descendants who dare to dig up the tombs of their ancestors care about this?
…
‘Not fighting is good too!’
After descending from Thunder Extreme Peak, Fang Xi used his camouflage clothes and easily blended out of Yuanhe Mountain.
Even though the defenses were strict, to him, it was as easy as walking in his own backyard; if he wanted to enter, he would enter, if he wanted to leave, he would leave.
Obtaining the Yuanhe Wulei Hand cultivation method and guidance from a Grandmaster, this trip was indeed not in vain.
As for the possibility of the other side setting some traps deliberately?
Fang Xi didn’t care at all.
Because he didn’t primarily practice Yuanhe Wulei Hand; instead, his focus was on Mixed Origin True Skill!
The reason he came to steal the secret manual was merely to absorb its essence, to enhance his Mixed Origin True Skill!
Therefore, even if Linghu Shan had some hidden traps in the Grandmaster section, at worst it would lead him on a detour, wasting some time but not affecting his foundation.
But in the future, he was determined to exterminate every individual affiliated with Yuanhe Mountain!
‘This Linghu Mountain seems quite impressive. I should visit and seek advice more often in the future…’
Not only was Fang Xi interested in the martial arts of a Grandmaster, but he was also keen on the various secret techniques accumulated by Yuanhe Mountain over the years, such as the “Demon Seed Implantation” method.
Such methods and experiential heritage were sometimes passed down orally; even after he destroyed Yuanhe Mountain, Fang Xi might not be able to obtain them.
…
Tri-element City.
As the capital of Ding State, the city was quite expansive, divided into the Inner City, Outer City, and the most peripheral Expansion part.
Understandably, the closer to the Inner City, the higher the land prices; those living there were all nobles and high-ranking officials.
In the Outer City, there were merchants big and small, Principals of Martial Arts Schools, and some commercial streets.
In the outermost Expansion part resided the great number of common folk.
On this day.
In an Outer City district, within a courtyard spanning three entrances.
“Young Master, take a look at this courtyard. Not only is it spacious, but the rooms at the back are also brand-new. The red bricks and green tiles were just renovated last year… There’s even a well!”
A trafficker was showing Fang Xi around the property.
Since the Cultivation World on the other side was very dangerous, with battles between various Foundation Establishment forces continuing for some time,
Fang Xi decided to hide out in Great Liang for a while and, by the way, concentrate on improving his martial arts.
Even before he went up Yuanhe Mountain, he had used up all his body refining pills and achieved the state of a Three-step Martial Artist with a body as strong as steel!
Next, he planned to explore the method of God and Strength Fusion and the most mystical insight into the Grandmaster realm of the unity of heaven and man.
Therefore, he intended to buy a house in Tri-element City and learn the world-engaging cultivation that Linghu Shan had mentioned.
‘But I don’t need to disguise myself as an ordinary person like he does… The Mixed Origin True Skill is just getting started, so it’s perfect to recruit some disciples to experiment with… Besides, the process of teaching an ordinary person to become an expert is the perfect way to review the sufficiency of my martial arts.’
Fang Xi looked around and was fairly pleased with the courtyard.
Not only could the front be transformed into a small martial arts school, but the space in the back was also large enough for his own cultivation.
He immediately asked the trafficker, “How much to buy it?”
The trafficker’s eyes lit up, “Only nine hundred taels of silver!”
“It’s a bargain, I’ll take it!”
Fang Xi knew he was probably being overcharged, but he didn’t care and agreed casually.
“The Young Master is decisive. May I know your esteemed name? I’ll go prepare the contract immediately!” The trafficker said, beaming so wide that his teeth were all visible; this truly was a… fat sheep!
“Fang Leng!”
Fang Xi replied with a smile.
After all, the name Fang Xi was somewhat connected to the White Cloud Martial Arts School and he did not plan to use it in Tri-element City.
Even now, he had used True Strength to slightly alter several features on his face, making a disguise.
Moreover, after breaking through in martial arts practice, his physique had become more robust and taller.
Even if he encountered Bai He directly, there was a chance that the latter would not recognize him.
“So it’s Young Master Fang Leng. May I know where you hail from, sir? Do you have any token or letter of reference? The official offices require them for the transfer of property…” The trafficker asked again, still smiling obsequiously.
“Hmm?”
Fang Xi cast a meaningful glance over: “I am asking you to take care of matters for the convenience it affords. Are you saying I can’t transfer the property without a reference letter? If that’s the case, I might as well find other traffickers to deal with!”
The reason he was willing to overpay was exactly for the sake of convenience.
If this trafficker couldn’t solve his problems, why would he allow him to make so much money?
“It’s possible, it can be done without a reference letter. I’ll take care of it right away,” the trafficker said with a start, answering quickly, afraid that Fang Xi would leave.
How much did it cost to grease the palms of the clerks in the yamen?
He had already made far more than that off this fat sheep.
“That’s more like it!”
Fang Xi resumed the demeanor of a carefree young master and said with a smile, “You won’t be left out when serving this Young Master… I’m still in need of a few maids to cook and do laundry. Find them for me, and you’ll get your commission.”
…
Three days later.
A modest ‘Youjian Martial Arts School’ quietly opened its doors.
Fang Xi only came out to greet the neighbors and guests when hanging up the sign and didn’t bother to advertise or network.
In fact, he didn’t even display any advanced martial arts.
As a result, the school opened to a chilly reception with not a single apprentice coming to the door.
Fang Xi didn’t really care; it was all just for fun anyway.
He sat daily on the armchair, holding a book that detailed array prohibitions, studying it arduously.
He even hired some local teachers to teach him the arithmetic of the land.
Fang Xi was determined; now with no condition to study other alchemy, talismans, or weapons, he had plenty of free time every day.
By melding the mathematics knowledge of three worlds, he was sure to break into the essence of Arrays!
Once he made his Array Taoist’s beginner’s entry, even if only a first-order, he could count as an artisan in the Cultivation World, and his status and income would be drastically different!