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"Then there’s a proper martial arts school that’s officially open to the public, teaching disciples regularly. The second option is a renowned master from the Central Plains — Soul-Severing Palm, Li Ran."
Lu Sheng had done thorough research on this man. Li Ran was once injured in the meridians by an enemy back in the Central Plains. To escape trouble, he brought his wife and children to Yanshan City, concealed his identity, and stayed away from worldly conflict.
"Even injured, he still managed to make a name for himself here in Yanshan City. His disciples must be exceptional. And his palm techniques… they’re similar to mine. I should check them out."
"Aside from that, there are two others known for their body-tempering techniques — Chen Jia, the Tumbler, and Yang Furui, the Bronze Pillar."8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsB4jY13Xo
Lu Sheng had personally visited the martial arts halls established by the two. Chen Jia, though already in his seventies, only taught basic, traditional martial arts — nothing exceptional. Yang Furui, however, was much more generous. As long as students paid tuition, they could learn basic hard body techniques and iron body tempering methods. Based on performance, there was even a chance to be selected as a personal student to receive direct instruction in the Bronze Pillar techniques.
"Training in a martial arts hall would take too long. I just need the secret manual. If I can get my hands on it and get a foothold..."8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpgpsFD9Oo
With this thought, he decided to visit the city auction house first — perhaps he could find a powerful technique, something like Black Fiend Art.
Thinking of the auction house, Lu Sheng instinctively touched his waist pouch. His fingers brushed against a few thin silver notes and a couple of gold leaves. He let out a sigh.
"I really need to find a way to make money."
If not for the matter with Wang Ziquan... if not for the situation with the Red House Pleasure Boat... he wouldn’t be in such a rush. Nor would he be so desperate to strengthen himself.
After packing up his belongings and tidying his clothes, Lu Sheng dashed back along the mountain path toward the official road, re-entering the city through the main avenue. His goal was clear: to visit the famed Central Plains master, Li Ran — the man known for the Soul-Severing Palm.
He hailed a carriage and rode around the city for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before arriving in a quiet, remote neighborhood.
At the very end of the alley stood an ancient-looking residence with a peach wood plaque hanging above the entrance. This was the Qingmu Dojo — the martial arts school personally opened by Li Ran.
The gate stood ajar. It was visiting hours.
The crowd was lively and bustling. Lu Sheng squeezed his way through the sea of people and followed them into the mansion. Inside, a large square arena stood at the center, framed by tall red pillars.
On the stage stood a middle-aged man with a streak of gray in his beard. He was performing a series of palm techniques, each movement brimming with momentum. Occasionally, the air would echo with a faint whistling — the sound of his strikes tearing through it.
"Good!"
As the performance reached its climax, the audience erupted in cheers and applause.
Lu Sheng fixed his gaze on the man, watching every movement with scrutiny.
"Is this the standard of the so-called famous masters from the Central Plains?"
He couldn’t help but feel skeptical. The man’s palm techniques were refined, his speed and accuracy commendable — but Lu Sheng noticed a slight hesitation in the transitions. More notably, the strikes lacked power. Even the air-piercing sounds seemed like tricks — manufactured by technique rather than sheer force.
Then he overheard someone nearby exclaiming:
"Yesterday, Grandmaster Li set up a public ring and invited all the martial artists of Yanshan City to challenge him! Even the second commander of the Feilian Army came to exchange blows with him — can you believe it?"
"In less than thirty moves, the second commander took a palm to the chest, staggered back several steps, and admitted defeat with a fist salute!"
"Incredible! As expected of a Central Plains master — truly extraordinary!"
"That’s nothing!" another onlooker chimed in proudly. "Grandmaster Li has already defeated the masters of the Tongzhu Dojo, the Kuangshi Dojo, the Yunshui Dojo, and the Jiuqu Qiankun Dojo. I saw it myself! None of them lasted more than fifty moves against him!"
A wave of admiration swept through the crowd.
Lu Sheng could tell this wasn’t mere flattery or empty words — the respect and reverence were genuine.
He turned his eyes back to Li Ran, who was still demonstrating his techniques on stage. At that moment, a new challenger stepped forward. Perhaps it wasn't a true challenge — more of a formal request for guidance.
The young man who entered the ring was tall and well-built. Despite his size, he bowed respectfully and addressed the elder:
"Master Li, I humbly request your instruction."
With a nod from Li Ran, the match began — and the two quickly engaged in a flurry of attacks.
After observing their exchanges for a short while, Lu Sheng finally understood why Li Ran commanded such deep respect.
"So, Li Ran’s strength and speed are indeed impressive… for ordinary people."
Watching the posture and movements of the young challenger, Lu Sheng finally understood. He had been practicing in solitude, never crossing hands with other skilled fighters. Without comparison, he had no real grasp of his own level.
Because he’d been hiding his strength and training quietly, his only reference had been his own assumptions.
"Now that I’ve seen him… I’m sure I could defeat Li Ran within three moves."
Shaking his head slightly, Lu Sheng turned and began squeezing his way out of the crowd, losing all interest in watching further.
"The Soul-Severing Palm is only marginally stronger than my Heart-Rending Palm. Without internal energy behind it, he might be able to trade a few moves with me. But once I use internal force..."
He paused, rethinking.
"...Three moves might actually be overestimating him."
With a single strike, Lu Sheng believed he could kill Li Ran on the spot. The gap between his powered and unpowered state was immense — a difference of severalfold in strength.
"This so-called master isn’t what I’m looking for."
With that thought, Lu Sheng left Qingmu Dojo and walked off. He had originally intended to visit the Tongzhu Dojo next, but as the sky began to dim, he decided to head home and rest instead.
The next day, Lu Sheng visited the Tongzhu Dojo, along with several others.
There, he watched demonstrations of so-called “body-tempering techniques.” The famed Bronze Pillar could reportedly bend a spear with his throat — an impressive sight at first glance. But to Lu Sheng, it was merely a form of hard internal Qi — something he’d seen before.
The training methods were simple: endure pain and persevere.
However, the Tongzhu techniques required extensive use of medicinal herbs to reinforce the body. Without these, they could lead to severe hidden injuries over time.
While the dojos were quite generous in showcasing their training methods, none of them openly shared the herbal formulas required for safe cultivation.
Upon further inquiry, Lu Sheng discovered that only official members of the dojo were granted access to the medicinal purification techniques.
He was disappointed. Without the cleansing prescriptions, anyone practicing those methods risked damaging their body.
Even though his modifier’s training path might differ from the norm, Lu Sheng wasn’t about to take unnecessary risks. Breaking through the third level of Black Fiend Art had once left him with internal injuries that took half a year to heal.
"If that happened again… I might be crippled for years."
By the time he left the last dojo, half the day had already passed.
Lu Sheng didn’t find much of value, and with growing disappointment, he headed toward the famous Ghost Market Street in Yanshan City.
The ghost market was known for its shady dealings — a place that sold burial goods, resold antiques, and peddled stolen or suspicious wares. Strange and rare items occasionally surfaced here, making it a haven for treasure hunters and risk-takers.
Lu Sheng took stock of his finances. He had silver notes and gold leaves worth around two thousand taels in total. The monthly profits from the stationery shop he owned — which specialized in selling the Four Treasures of the Study — brought in only a few dozen taels, barely enough to cover expenses.
"Let’s take one last look. Maybe I’ll get lucky and find something worthwhile."
The reason he came here, after all, was because he’d often heard Zheng Xiangui mention that many of the valuable items they auctioned had originally come from the ghost market.
Ever since, Lu Sheng had made a habit of visiting the market regularly, trying his luck.
This particular afternoon, the ghost market was quiet. Just over a dozen stalls were set up along a cramped alleyway.
Lu Sheng wandered slowly, crouching from time to time to examine various items with his hands — wood carvings, rusty blades, faded scrolls — but nothing stood out.
After a while, with still no harvest, he was just about to turn back and resume practicing his internal energy when a hesitant male voice called out from the far end of the alley.
"Are you... Lu Sheng... Lu Yuesheng?"
Lu Sheng looked up. A young man stood opposite him, dressed in a yellow robe, with a piece of yellow jade hanging from his waist. His posture was straight, and though unfamiliar, Lu Sheng recognized him instantly.
"You are... Chen Yunxi’s brother? Chen Jiaorong?"
Chen Jiaorong’s handsome face showed a brief flicker of surprise, then relaxed into a smile.
"Brother Lu really has a sharp eye."
"It’s not that I’m sharp," Lu Sheng replied, shaking his head, "you just look far too much like your sister."
The resemblance was uncanny. Chen Jiaorong had a slightly more masculine jawline, but the facial features were nearly identical to Chen Yunxi’s.
"Since we’ve run into each other, why don’t we sit down for a drink? Zhenguo often speaks of you." Chen Jiaorong smiled warmly as he extended the invitation.
Lu Sheng quickly composed himself and gave a nod.
The two left the ghost market and found a small wine shop nearby. They took a seat at a corner table and ordered drinks.
The lobby was bustling with movement — waiters weaving between tables, laughter and chatter filling the air — but the two men remained unaffected, quietly sipping their wine in thoughtful silence.
"I heard from Yunxi that Brother Lu has a noble character. I must admit, I underestimated you before."
After a brief silence, Chen Jiaorong was the first to speak, his tone respectful and sincere.
He paused, then added,8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTecoVi9As
"The government has now stepped in regarding Wang Ziquan's case. It wasn’t Zhenguo who reported it, but his cousin and family."
Lu Sheng held his wine cup and took a slow sip, letting the light, slightly spicy liquor swirl in his mouth before swallowing.
"Let’s not talk about Yunxi for now. What did the government say?"
Chen Jiaorong shook his head.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0SaZeTzrh
"Zhenguo asked me to inquire as well. The official verdict is that Wang Ziquan fell into the river and went missing. The investigation reached the same conclusion. It’s said someone saw him fall into the Songbai River — there are witnesses and even recorded evidence."
Lu Sheng said nothing. He simply raised his cup and downed the wine in a single gulp.
"So... that’s it? The case is closed?"
"Yes, what else can we do?" Chen Jiaorong replied helplessly.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCCJsw7DRV
"People disappear in the Songbai River every year. Cases like Wang Ziquan’s are not rare. The government settles it like this and forbids any rumors. If anyone spreads it further, they’ll be charged and imprisoned."
Lu Sheng now understood how Yanshan City had earned its reputation for “good public order.” It wasn’t clean — it was simply silenced.
Chen Jiaorong then changed the subject, his voice softer.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSZW8tMOqT
"My sister said the reason you declined was because you didn’t know each other well enough."
Lu Sheng didn’t respond to that. Instead, he pressed on with his previous thought.
"Then... is Wang Ziquan’s case truly over?"
"Yes. Just let it go." Chen Jiaorong nodded.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuGBQQfHB3
"The Songbai River is huge. Do you expect people to dive down one by one to find a body that might’ve already been eaten by fish?"
Lu Sheng exhaled slowly and sat up straighter, feeling a dull frustration rise in his chest. Whether it was the Jiulian City authorities or the Yanshan City officials, they all seemed to share the same indifference.
"Then what’s the point of having a government?" he muttered under his breath.
Chen Jiaorong froze slightly, his hand instinctively reaching for the yellow jade pendant at his waist.
"...Yes. What’s the use of this government?"
For a moment, both men fell silent. The mood grew heavy, and each became lost in their own thoughts.
After a long pause, Lu Sheng’s gaze shifted to the topaz Chen Jiaorong was holding. His eyes narrowed slightly with curiosity.
"Brother Chen, may I take a look at that jade?"
Chen Jiaorong nodded and handed it over without hesitation.
"A close friend gave it to me not long ago. It’s top-grade Jiuyuan jade."
Lu Sheng took the jade into his hand, and the moment his fingers touched it, a cold breath surged through his palm and rushed into his body.
It was the exact same sensation he had felt when absorbing that mysterious powder before.
"Such strong Yin Qi!" Lu Sheng was inwardly shocked.
He had given this strange energy the name Yin Qi, and the amount stored within this piece of jade was far greater than what he had previously encountered. It was so potent that he could absorb it directly through skin contact—without even needing to draw blood.
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