Among the five second-rank martial arts, the one Wangchuan favored most was actually 《Qingcheng Heart thod》.
It was a breathing and qi-circulation inner thod that could heal injuries and rapidly restore Stamina. He had never cultivated such a technique before. It was, in fact, his greatest weakness.
Moreover, the most important aspect of 《Qingcheng Heart thod》 was its ability to heal.
In the perilous world of 《spirit realm》, this inner thod would undoubtedly increase his chances of survival.
His first choice.
Wangchuan flipped through the book, and images swiftly surfaced in his mind.
A man sat cross-legged. His chest and breath rose and fell in a specific rhythm as he inhaled and exhaled, producing heavy currents of air. Wisps of steam curled upward from the crown of his head.
At the sa ti, Wangchuan felt a stream of Qi guiding him. The Qi sank to his dantian. He circulated it to regulate his breathing. It traveled along his ridians, opening every channel before returning to its point of origin. The sensation was remarkably comfortable.
He did not know how much ti had passed before the manual vanished from his palm. A new entry appeared on his Status Panel:
《Qingcheng Heart thod》, Entry-Level;
Wangchuan opened his eyes and murmured to himself:
“Captain Bai was right. This inner thod is indeed easy to enter. As long as three complete cycles of Qi circulation are executed without error, it counts as initiation. However, if I want to truly gain experience points, I need tangible results… I can cultivate other martial arts while expending Stamina, then run 《Qingcheng Heart thod》 to restore it and accumulate experience.”
“I will choose 《Qilian Mountain-Sundering Axe》.”
“Captain Bai’s choice of axe technique should not be wrong.”
“I will let Wang Yuehui cultivate 《Breaking Army Hamr Art》. It will count as a small reward for him and conveniently raise his strength.”
Wangchuan walked into the Weapon Room and instructed Qian Sihai to forge a Hundredfold Steel axe. The latter cast him a sidelong glance.
“Hall Master, if it is a Hundredfold Steel axe, it would be best to make the entire weapon out of Hundredfold Steel. Otherwise, a Martial Artist might sever the handle. But forging it entirely from Hundredfold Steel will require a large amount of material, and the weapon will be extrely heavy…”
His aning was clear—he doubted that Wangchuan was suited to such a weapon.
Wangchuan waved his hand.
“Just forge it. The amount of Hundredfold Steel is not an issue.”
“Very well. It will take roughly five days to complete,” Qian Sihai replied.
Wangchuan nodded.
For the ti being, he would have to make do with an ordinary axe.
An axe was a heavy weapon. Even the most common battle axe weighed more than twenty jin. One swing was enough to cleave through a wooden stake with ease.
There was no helping it…
Axe techniques were inherently violent.
Fortunately, the training grounds had Iron Dummy Stakes.
Their exteriors were wrapped in thick iron plates. Even if they were smashed apart, the Weapon Room could quickly repair them.
Wangchuan looked at the battle axe in his hand. The blade was as large as a washbasin. He gripped it with both hands but did not begin practicing imdiately.
He was waiting.
He was waiting for a copy of 《Basic Axe Technique》 to be sent from the Water Stronghold.
Although he had already cultivated a similar foundational martial art, 《Basic Spear Technique》, and knew that 《Basic Axe Technique》 would likely not grant attribute points, there was always the possibility that at higher levels it might reward one or two points.
Especially once his rank increased and he mastered more advanced martial arts. Foundational techniques were trained alongside higher-rank arts and might be the first to break through to higher realms, thus granting attribute bonuses earlier.
It had to be cultivated.
All foundational techniques had to be cultivated.
After all, it would not waste any ti.
Before long, Fei Zai arrived.
“Hall Master!”
“I have brought what you requested.”
He carried a wooden case, which contained 《Basic Axe Technique》.
Fei Zai said:
“The Gang Leader asked
to pass along a ssage. There are only six foundational martial arts: 《Basic Fist Technique》, 《Basic Archery》, 《Basic Saber Technique》, 《Basic Sword Technique》, 《Basic Spear Technique》, and 《Basic Axe Technique》. The more niche categories do not have foundational versions. Hall Master has cultivated five of the six. Only 《Basic Axe Technique》 was missing.”
“I see.”
Wangchuan suddenly understood.
“Thank you. You have worked hard, Fei Zai.”
“I should be thanking you, Hall Master. If you had not sent brothers to look after
back then, I would have been sunk into the river by the Green Bamboo Gang and fed to the fish, or bitten to death by poisonous snakes along with those brothers! I will never forget your great kindness!”
Without warning, Fei Zai dropped to his knees and knocked his head heavily against the ground, startling Wangchuan.
Wangchuan hurriedly helped him up.
“What are you doing?”
“We are brothers of the sa family.”
Wangchuan understood Fei Zai’s feelings.
Although Fei Zai had many flaws, he was indeed a man who valued loyalty.
“Co. Sit.”
“Let us talk properly.”
“Yes!”
Fei Zai sat down.
Wangchuan asked about the situation at the Water Stronghold.
“A few days ago, Hall Master He said he would bring reinforcents to make up for the manpower shortages at the Water Stronghold and Rong County. Have those gaps been filled?”
“In the end, Hall Master He brought back twenty Inner Disciples from Heilong County. He also recruited a batch of Quasi-Martial Artists from the Outer Disciples and various docks, filling part of the gap. However, both the Water Stronghold and Rong County are still sowhat short-handed.”
Fei Zai continued frankly:
“At Rong County, there are currently only a little over thirty Inner Disciples. Many people there still resist us, so the task of clearing the sunken ships is progressing slowly. At the Water Stronghold, we only have about sixty people stationed. I have heard that in the villages outside the major counties, unidentified bandits have recently begun abducting people again. The major families are also recruiting, so manpower shortages will likely remain difficult to resolve in the short term.”
“… ”
Wangchuan’s eyes grew thoughtful.
Villagers outside multiple counties were being abducted.
It had to be the Five Poison Sect.
To rebuild Blackwind Stronghold, they had expanded their capture range—because miners and villagers in places like Blackstone Village had already withdrawn into hiding and no longer dared to leave their villages lightly.
“Hall Master,” Fei Zai continued, “from what I heard in your conversation with the Gang Leader, these bandits are ultimately gathering in the mountains. It is likely soone has retaken the territory of Blackwind Stronghold. The Five Poison Sect is probably behind it. The Gang Leader is very troubled, worried that they will continue targeting us and disrupt shipping operations, affecting the gang’s inco.”
“… ”
Wangchuan nodded slowly.
Recently, there had first been the Green Bamboo Gang’s sunken-ship assassination incident, followed by the Five Poison Sect’s snake massacre, and then the snake incident at the Huishui County hall. Revenue from the waterways in this region had dropped significantly. Daily inco was bleak. That ant many people, having heard the rumors, had shifted to overland routes.
The Yulong Gang could not afford to sit idly by.
The Five Poison Sect was not only the foremost problem the Yulong Gang needed to resolve, but also the primary threat facing the Warring States Ga Studio and the other studios.
However…
The Yulong Gang still did not possess the strength to openly challenge the Five Poison Sect.
Just as Wangchuan himself had not yet freed himself from the Warring States Ga Studio, nor from 《spirit realm》.
Such was Jianghu.
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