Crane Claw Print Sand.
Red Cliff Copper Wall.
Thunder Strike over Ten Miles.
In the courtyard, Zhong Lin assumed a stance, practicing his punches meticulously. There were only four moves in total, but Zhong Lin performed each move with transformations, swift like a crane, still like a pine.
The medicinal power of the Bone Strengthening Pill in his body began to diffuse with each punch and kick, gradually merging into his bones with the rhythm of his breathing.
The muscles throughout Zhong Lin’s body kept burgeoning, his blood circulating from the heart. Vaguely, Zhong Lin could even hear the sound of his blood flowing like waves.
Suddenly, Zhong Lin abruptly stopped, standing still, and a sound like beans popping came from his muscles and bones.
His muscles adjusted and surged again, his power increased by at least thirty percent.
His bone density increased, as hard as stone.
His body weight also became heavier.
Zhong Lin estimated that he weighed at least over two hundred pounds at the moment, but his appearance was still that of a lean youth standing five feet seven.
After a while, Zhong Lin slowly opened his eyes, gently clenching his hand, feeling a great force within him.
"So this is the Seventh Grade Bone Forging Realm?"
With the completion of bone forging, his physical qualities in all aspects had greatly improved.
Like power and reaction speed, for instance.
With a wave of his right hand, a sword shadow flashed in the sunlight but then disappeared, making it seem only like an illusion to anyone watching.
"Good, the Instant Kill Skill has become more covert and stronger, whether in speed or power, there’s been a significant enhancement."
Then Zhong Lin pulled up the system panel.
Skills: Bow Technique (Full Level), Flying Locust Stone (Full Level), Stereoscopic Painting (Full Level), Calligraphy (Full Level), Culinary Skill (Full Level), Iron Mountain Skill (Full Level), Instant Kill Skill (Full Level), Black Tiger Fist (Full Level), Willow Catkins (Full Level), Wind-breaking Saber Technique (Full Level), Medical Skill (Full Level), Pharmaceutical Technology (Full Level), Iron Sand Palm (Full Level), Rolling Stone Fist (Full Level), Disguise Skill (Full Level), Seeking Breath Skill (Full Level), Oral Skill (Full Level), Lock Opening (Full Level), Concealing Breath Skill (Full Level)
In recent days, besides practicing, Zhong Lin had been finding these folk skills with the help of Old Man Xu.
Oral skill was learned from a storyteller; once at full level, he could mimic various wild animals, birds, male or female voices.
Zhong Lin had used it once before to summon a large flock of birds, an incredibly lifelike performance.
Disguise Skill was learned from a street performer, and through Old Man Xu’s introduction, it cost him three taels of silver.
With adjusted medicines, some special tools, and even acupuncture, Zhong Lin could transform his face into another look. If he was specifically mimicking someone, he could achieve a resemblance of seventy or eighty percent.
The only drawback was that it could only change the face, not the body.
Zhong Lin didn’t mind; after all, this was just a folk skill, so there’s no need to set the bar too high.
What satisfied Zhong Lin most was the "Seeking Breath Skill," learned from an old hunter; as the name suggests, it’s a skill to find people or objects through scents. Simply put, it trained his nose to be as sensitive as a "dog’s nose."
There was also Lock Opening and Concealing Breath Skill.
Old Man Xu’s family had been living in Black Mountain County for generations, familiar with every grass and tree, every person and object here.
Because of his introduction, if not for that, even if Zhong Lin had the intention, he wouldn’t necessarily find people who mastered these skills, let alone spend silver to learn them.
Although it was already autumn, the late summer heat was still oppressive, enveloping the whole Black Mountain County in a sweltering atmosphere.
"The county’s reserve army has been defeated, and the chaotic army is about to besiege the city," this shocking news spread across Black Mountain County like a hurricane, causing the already agitated people to become as volatile as a volcano.
"Zhong Lin, it’s true, the county’s reserve army has really been defeated, and it’s said the whole army was wiped out, the chaotic army is coming."
Old Man Xu pushed open the door, visibly panicked.
"Now the news has spread, the whole city is in chaos, incidents are happening everywhere, Zhong Lin, what should we do?"
Zhong Lin put down the towel in his hand, casually saying, "Do what needs to be done, forget what I told you earlier?"
"But I still can’t be at ease! Zhong Lin, why don’t you take Little Stone and Brother Xiu and leave? In small chaos, avoid the city; in big chaos, avoid the countryside. It’s not safe in Black Mountain County, and what are the chances you’ll run into the chaotic army? Why don’t you take the two of them to the countryside and wait for the war to end before coming back?" Old Man Xu anxiously said.
"Come back for what? To pick up your corpse?" Zhong Lin said irritably. "Rest easy, if you’re really worried, move in with me. While I’m here, I won’t let anything happen to you."
Xu was silent for a long time, then finally spoke softly, "Zhong Lin, tell me the truth, why are you staying and not leaving Black Mountain County?"
Zhong Lin glanced at this old fox, indeed an old-wise man!
"Isn’t it obvious? Look at what you’ve been wanting me to introduce over the past few days, disguise, lock opening, breath concealing, seeking breath, all those skills of rooftop robbers. The only places that would make someone as cautious with your strength are the County Government and the Zhang and Du families. Zhong Lin, listen to my advice, we can’t afford to provoke them. If you’re really short of money, I can give you the Qi Blood Pill recipe." Old Man Xu said sincerely.
"Oh! Willing to give me the Qi Blood Pill recipe? Really?"
Zhong Lin teased with a smile.
"As long as you can protect Brother Xiu, even if I’m hunted down by the people of Hundred Herbs Hall for leaking the recipe, I accept it, even at the cost of my life."
Zhong Lin gave Old Man Xu a deep look, one had to admit, his love for his grandson was thoroughly moving.
"Forget it, keep it! Qi Blood Pill is no longer useful to me, and after this chaos, I’ll head to Tianyang County. If there’s a chance, I’ll also visit the Hundred Herbs Hall."
Zhong Lin looked up at the sky, speaking solemnly, "Martial Arts Ninth Grade, Lower Third Grades Body Refining, Middle Third Grades Blood Coagulation, Upper Third Grades Qi Cultivation. What is called Blood Coagulation is the consolidation of Qi-blood, and the method for consolidating Qi-blood is something ordinary people cannot access. Only these family clans possess it. This chaotic army is an opportunity, and only at this time will the defenses of the family clans be weak."
Zhong Lin finally understood why Yun Ye looked at him with pity when he refused his offer that day.
Martial Arts Ninth Grade, Lower Third Grades for Body Refining. Although the Martial Arts Skills for Body Refining are precious, with determination, they can be found, like in the Martial Arts School.
In strict terms, Lower Third Grades only focus on physical training, allowing one to run faster, jump higher, and become stronger. Although capable of taking on ten people at once, with determination, ordinary people could still kill them.
Only the Middle Third Grades truly begin to touch upon the Transcendent, the real beginning of power, but the Martial Arts Cultivation Method for the Middle Third Grades has already been monopolized by these family clans, inaccessible from outside.