Wolf Step, a step technique inspired by the hunting and killing of wild wolves, characterized by swift, accurate, and fierce movements, able to hold onto the opponent without letting go.
Shen Wang opened the thin booklet and looked at the introduction of this step technique, pondering over it.
Wolf Step is divided into three techniques: Wolf Kill, Wolf Chasing, and Wolf Walk.
Wolf Kill is akin to how wild wolves encircle and kill their prey, involving dodging and locking the opponent within a confined space, focusing on short-distance maneuvers.
Wolf Chasing is the step technique used in the rapid pursuit of prey, characterized by speed, precision, and ferocity.
Wolf Walk is a long-distance ambush technique, allowing one to travel a thousand miles like a wolf devouring meat, maintaining energy for long distances without fatigue.
Shen Wang summed it up, finding that this step technique involves straightforward long-distance travel and agile short-distance movement, quite decent overall.
From his perspective, it was just acceptable. After all, the technique promises a thousand-mile journey, but with his current physical condition, he could manage such distances even without it.
However, step techniques focus on efficiency, capable of fully coordinating the body and spiritual power, maximizing the saving of energy and stamina. The higher the level of the step technique, the more it saves, even using the external Power of Heaven and Earth to enable flight.
He studied the Qi Circulation Technique of the step technique.
Although it is marked for Martial Arts True Qi, spiritual power works too, and is even purer, yielding better effects.
Wolf Step is merely a common Martial Arts Body Technique, with the Qi circulation route focused below the Dantian, emphasizing explosive speed in the legs.
Having noted the operational routes, Shen Wang looked at the other two martial arts books.
Blood-Transforming Palm, a special palm technique, employs a soft palm force to attack the enemy’s blood vessels, capable of dissolving blood and severing veins, leading to cardiac failure and death.
At the same time, this palm technique can strengthen one’s own blood vessels and enhance Blood Qi.
Simply put, this palm technique is quite insidious, attacking a person’s blood vessels, where hitting a vital vessel results in injury or death.
He discovered that the route of Blood-Transforming Palm can be reversed, only covering the upper body and complementing with Wolf Step.
"These common martial arts are undoubtedly lower level than Qi Cultivation Techniques, operating only on Minor Circulation, unlike even the simplest Qi Cultivation Technique which involves Grand Circulation. Such incomplete cultivation techniques lead most Martial Artists to have less potential than Cultivators."
Shen Wang contemplated, finding that martial arts capable of operating on Grand Circulation are all advanced, but difficult to cultivate successfully, and not a high success rate.
"Let’s cultivate both techniques, to maximize the advantage of the physical body,"
Shen Wang continued to study Blood-Transforming Palm, finding the Minor Circulation routes too simple for him, easily grasped.
Finally, he looked at the last book, which introduced various hidden weapons, including methods of crafting, using, and countering them.
Frankly, Cultivators only need a defensive rune to block most hidden weapons, usually not caring much about them, as did Shen Wang.
However, upon seeing several extremely threatening hidden weapons like Heavy Rain Pear Blossoms and Buddha’s Wrath Golden Lotus, his expression changed.
With the power of these top-level hidden weapons, not only him but even a Golden Core Zhenren might get injured. If these are made into magical artifacts, their power would be immense.
"Indeed, every path has its uniqueness and should not be underestimated."
He carefully read through it, thinking that even if he had no interest in studying them, it was good to be aware for future encounters and know how to respond.
After finishing Blood Wolf’s three booklets, Shen Wang tossed them to Paper Kite: "See if there’s anything you need."
She looked through them and shook her head: "Husband, I have my own cultivation techniques, and these don’t suit me."
"From your perspective, how do you find these techniques?"
Shen Wang, not being a Martial Artist, felt these techniques were average, possibly inaccurately.
"Martial arts that can be cultivated to the level of an Innate Grandmaster are top-level, but cannot yet be called Divine Skills; these two techniques wouldn’t cultivate martial arts divine techniques either."
Paper Kite gave her assessment.
"Martial Arts Divine Techniques..."
Shen Wang nodded: "Indeed, it’s not mentioned."
Martial Arts Divine Techniques are powerful methods mastered by Martial Artists, similar in principle to magic, both involve using one’s strength to invoke the Power of Heaven and Earth, unleashing greater power.
The difference is that magic is unleashed through incantations and spells, while divine techniques are based on the martial artist’s meridians and physical body. The former demands mental strength, while the latter requires physical quality, with power being roughly equivalent; however, it’s said that the power of divine techniques increases as one progresses, as the physical body can leverage greater forces.
"Husband was very focused earlier. Are you perhaps planning to learn these two techniques?"
Paper Kite observed keenly and guessed Shen Wang’s intent but still wanted certainty.
"Since there’s nothing much to do, learning them would add to my repertoire."
Shen Wang didn’t conceal his intentions, as Paper Kite would see it during cultivation anyway.
"These two techniques probably have advanced stages, or Divine Skills; Husband might need to inquire and spend effort finding the subsequent techniques."
Paper Kite speculated from her perspective.
She assumed Shen Wang, having made little progress in Qi Cultivation, turned to martial arts to boost his strength and compensate for deficiencies.
This is also a tactic many cultivators choose; if they cannot break through realms, they strive to learn as much within the same realm, which isn’t a waste of time.
"Thanks for your good wishes, I hope there are, so I won’t learn in half slices."
Shen Wang nodded, acknowledging that a systematic martial arts technique is certainly preferable to piecemeal learning, saving time and effort in the long run.
"Husband, I feel much better now. Are we heading home?"
Paper Kite asked bashfully.
"Let’s wait another day; this thing is still too large, hindering travel."
Shen Wang’s gaze fell on the transparent crystal. In reality, carrying it wasn’t troublesome for him, but he wanted to wait another day to observe the situation.
"Alright, I will listen to Husband." Paper Kite complied, husband leading and wife following.
Shen Wang thought of something and said, "After you follow me, what about your matters on the commerce association side?"
"I can report back and no longer need to manage it, just aiding Husband with home and children henceforth."
Paper Kite blushed as she spoke.
Shen Wang shook his head: "For now, keep it. I need to sell various talismans, and you in the commerce association can help me understand the market."
He didn’t want Paper Kite to abandon her work; a woman should have her own career rather than just staying at the ancestral home with him.
"I will follow Husband’s arrangements."
Paper Kite smiled brightly, following Shen Wang back. She was actually quite afraid of becoming a secluded grievance wife; continuing work at the commerce association allowed her and her husband’s resources to be best utilized.
"Do you want to inform the steward?" Shen Wang inquired.
"I already did before coming. The steward is an uncle from my clan; he knows what I’m doing and encourages me to interact more with talisman masters like Husband."
Mentioning interaction, Paper Kite blushed, inadvertently revealing her purpose of bringing Shen Wang to find the Crystal Fish Tank.
"This can naturally proceed smoothly." Shen Wang didn’t blame her, knowing that with his abilities, it was common for Celestial Commerce Association to engage women to win him over, a technique used by many forces.