"Suzhang!"
Zhong Shenxiu had been severely tornted by the life-hounding ghost last night. Although he had neutralized most of it with his Innate True Qi, he could not spit out the essence that had been swallowed initially and was in need of nourishnt from food.
He allowed himself to eat a good amount and had just wolfed down three large bowls of rice when he heard soone's voice.
Looking up, he saw another red-faced man dressed in a Squad Leader's uniform, who said with a laugh, "I didn't expect you to be such a big eater, but I wonder why you don't get fat. You're a bit too thin... My na is Han Sui. I'm under the sa squad as you are. We should look after each other in the future."
"Of course, of course."
Zhong Shenxiu replied casually and, quick as a flash, grabbed the last piece of braised at, causing a few other Squad Leaders sitting nearby to instantly feel depressed.
Soone whispered, "Being able to eat doesn't necessarily an being able to fight. There will be a good show to watch when the selection for squad leader takes place in a few days."
"A good show, what good show?" Zhong Shenxiu's ears twitched, and he clearly heard the comnt. Being a person from Jianghu, it was essential to be observant and all-hearing. He inquired about it with Han Sui.
Han Sui's expression changed slightly before he smiled again and replied, "It's about that Tian Bufen. No one knows if he's dead or has fled, but in any case, he has already been dismissed from his position. The camp commander is now looking to choose one from among the ten Squad Leaders of our squad to temporary fill the role of squad leader..."
Although it was a temporary position, and notifications had to be sent to the Great Protector's Mansion, since Xu Wenling, the highest commander in Black Mountain Castle, would be reporting this, the higher-ups would surely approve, essentially making it a promotion.
Even though the position of squad leader had no rank and still wasn't high-class, it was indeed the peak among military officers, hence there were quite so undercurrents of rivalry.
"Is that so..."
Zhong Shenxiu laughed, but said nothing more.
After finishing his al, he bid farewell to Han Sui and headed to the logistics departnt to complete the procedures for taking on his new role as Squad Leader.
First, he switched his soldier's tag, the knife he carried on him, and collected a set of fine leather armor along with wristguards, knee pads, and the like, as well as a small booklet.
The logistics officer didn't give him a hard ti. On the contrary, he instructed him in detail, "In three days, the camp commander will be inspecting your squad. Even though you've just been promoted to Squad Leader, you still need to practice your martial arts and can't lose face..."
Zhong Shenxiu offered a wry smile, thanked him with a fist salute, and returned to his cabin.
Tossing the other items aside casually, he focused on the small booklet in his hand.
It was simple and to the point, actually outlining a martial art called—Azure Dragon Cloud-Exploring Hand!
The military had its own martial arts teachings, but unlike the common swordplay and boxing practiced by ordinary soldiers, as a Squad Leader, one naturally ca into possession of new martial arts.
This Azure Dragon Cloud-Exploring Hand, Zhong Shenxiu looked at it, and was rather moved, "This Cultivation Technique, although lacking Qi Refinent thods, is perfect in every other aspect. It's been refined over many trials. In my previous life, it would have been a unique martial art that could cause bloodshed and strife in the Jianghu for its possession!"
"Yet in this world, it's available for any Squad Leader with a slight reputation in the army. The disparity is simply... unbelievable."
Recalling Su Daoshi's mories, he knew that the Azure Dragon Cloud-Exploring Hand was widely spread within the Fufeng Protectorate.
This martial art specialized in grappling, able to dislocate an enemy's muscles and bones with ease, and was a top-level technique for overpowering foes.
Besides the Azure Dragon Cloud-Exploring Hand, there were also White Tiger Seven Killings Fist, Xuanwu Hundred Refinent Armor, Vermilion Bird Burning Sky Palm...collectively known as the 'Four Phases Battle Technique'!
'Unfortunately, although the techniques reach the limit, they do not include Qi Refinent thods; they can at most reach the peak of Acquired levels. Even if all Four Phases Battle Techniques are mastered, it only makes for impressive combat strength but amounts to nothing without Qi cultivation,' he thought.
This distinction was like the difference between true inheritance techniques from Taoist sects and ordinary Taoist arts.
"Thinking about it... if it had been before, when I hadn't yet controlled the resentful spirits and cultivated to the Innate level, confronting Tian Bufen wouldn't have been so straightforward..."
Zhong Shenxiu stroked his chin: "Fortunate for that he was unlucky... Although I released the resentful spirits unintentionally, I still had so control over them, and facing him, who bore the greatest hostility, they naturally targeted him first..."
As Su Daoshi knew, above the Four Phases Battle Technique, there was a lineage of even higher realm martial arts, such as Spirit Turtle Breathing Skill, Giant Elephant Strength Technique, Python Swallowing Pill Skill, and so on, which could lead directly to the Innate level. Only those above the rank of camp commander in the military were entitled to receive these teachings.
These techniques, a total of ten, were known as the 'Ten Directions Beast Skill,' the most widely spread cultivation thods in the military of the Second Yan Han Empire.
"These Ten Directions Beast Skills might not be the limit... Advancing in martial arts to enter the Tao and break through the shackles of Innateness might be possible."
Zhong Shenxiu montarily indulged in wild speculations but then refocused and began to practice the Azure Dragon Cloud-Exploring Hand.
The other Squad Leaders, as well as the logistics, all thought it would be quite an achievent if he could just slightly familiarize himself with the Cultivation Technique within a few days.
However, they were unaware that Zhong Shenxiu was earnestly contending for the position of squad leader.
This wasn't solely for elevation in status, but also for... excellence!
With the martial arts knowledge from his previous life, mastering an external Cultivation Technique wouldn't take much ti.
With this in mind, Zhong Shenxiu flipped open the secret manual of the Azure Dragon Cloud-Exploring Hand and began to closely study it.
The Cloud-Exploring Hand consisted of nine major forms, naly: Azure Dragon Erging from Water, Cloud Dragon Probe Claw, Earth Dragon Flipping, Fire Dragon Striking the Ground, Water Dragon Overturning Waves, Golden Dragon Ascending, Black Dragon Rising Wind, White Dragon Carrying Corpse, and Dragon Serpent Frenzied Dance!
Among these, the Cloud Dragon Probe Claw, White Dragon Carrying Corpse, and Dragon Serpent Frenzied Dance were particularly sharp, serving as killing moves.
Cultivating this grappling hand required the refinent of the whole body's bones to achieve incredible movents, exerting force where the enemy would least expect.
Mistakes could result in disability.
The intricacies and secrets of these techniques were not described in the manual, kept instead as the closely guarded knowledge of certain military families and factions, so naturally, no one would teach Zhong Shenxiu.
But he was able to break through the barriers one by one, relying on his own vision and knowledge.
Especially since, Zhong Shenxiu was of a different level!
He was no longer an Acquired Martial Artist, but soone who had successfully refined Qi and beco an Innate Expert!
Using Innate True Qi to wield the martial arts of the Acquired, he mastered them with ease, and within just three hours he had already learned all nine forms; he was only a hair away from integrating them into his own martial prowess for practical use.
'For the next contest for the position of squad leader, I can't rely on the martial arts from my previous life. This Azure Dragon Cloud-Exploring Hand arrived just in ti...'
'As for the Innate True Qi? Leaving aside whether the camp commander has the insight to see through it, since True Qi only circulates within the body and he's no immortal...even if he does see through it, Su Daoshi is from the Su Family, having one or two Innate teachings is only to be expected.'
After running through these calculations, Zhong Shenxiu concluded his practice and stood up, genuinely looking forward to the impending competition.
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