The city was grand and imposing, with a bustling flow of people at the city gates.
After paying the entrance fee, the members of the Shanyao Gang entered the city and were immediately attracted by the lively streets and the dazzling array of various goods.
"This Anshan City is much larger than Little Mountain City. Compared to it, Little Mountain City can only be considered a large town."
Zhong Shenxiu silently compared this city with the hometown in Xun Liuyi’s memory and couldn’t help but shake his head.
"Alright, Anshan City is under the influence of the Nine Elements Sect, so the San Shan Sect wouldn’t dare to cause trouble within the city..." Wei Baizhu seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, "Let’s first find an inn to rest, then discuss and plan our future path."
They looked around several places and finally found an established inn named Qingsong Inn. They didn’t ask for individual rooms but instead directly rented a small courtyard.
This place was specially designed for large families traveling, capable of accommodating dozens of people. It also had quarters for servants and a separate kitchen, where the seven members of the Shanyao Gang could live very comfortably.
Zhong Shenxiu was sitting cross-legged, with a small lamp on the desk before him casting a warm glow.
Suddenly, there was a knocking sound.
"As expected, it’s time."
This was within Zhong Shenxiu’s expectations; he smiled gently and stood up to open the door.
Wei Baizhu stood at the doorway, forcing a smile, "Liu Yi, I hope I’m not disturbing you?"
Zhong Shenxiu stepped aside, letting Wei Baizhu enter. The two sat facing each other.
Wei Baizhu stared at him for a long while before asking, "I don’t care if you were previously hiding your skills intentionally or not, Xun Liuyi, do you still consider yourself a member of the Shanyao Gang?"
Zhong Shenxiu answered seriously, "Initially... If it weren’t for the gang taking me in, the little beggar Liu Yi would have starved to death long ago."
Wei Baizhu’s expression relaxed.
He thought it over and felt that Xun Liuyi was not a spy from another gang. After all, Xun Liuyi had been begging in Little Mountain City for several years—an organization like the Shanyao Gang wasn’t worth such an effort.
Furthermore, the martial skill he possesses was only the Medicine Sand Palm!
This also eliminated the suspicion of him joining to steal techniques; he truly had a talent for martial arts.
Honestly, such a promising talent, if placed in the San Shan Sect, would likely be taken in as a Sect Leader’s disciple and carefully nurtured. How could they allow him to leave?
"That’s good, I have some matters to discuss with you. Our gang has been destroyed, and in our haste, we didn’t bring much... just over fifty gold coins and some loose silver... I think we can’t just sit here and eat away our resources, nor can we go out alone to take on jobs, as that would disperse our unity. How about we open a pharmacy together? I would manage the pharmacy, and I remember several proven prescriptions. As long as we find a channel to buy medicinal materials, we can make a living," said Wei Baizhu, revealing his plan.
It wasn’t that he didn’t think about opening a martial arts school or something similar, but such a venture was too risky and would inevitably lead to conflicts with the competition, possibly even drawing the attention of the Nine Elements Sect.
The remnants of the Shanyao Gang could not afford any disturbances now.
"Deacon’s consideration is meticulous; I have nothing to add."
Zhong Shenxiu nodded.
Although they had announced a discussion, the one with the highest martial arts skills and the highest position had already agreed, so there was nothing left for the others to decide.
"That’s good," Wei Baizhu sighed with relief, then smiled and said, "Rest assured, once we earn money, we will fully support your cultivation!"
He was genuinely afraid that this only great expert who could hold the fort might leave, so he quickly added, "Aside from the Medicine Sand Palm, our Shanyao Gang also possesses a unique art called ’Five Elements Thief Palm.’ Once mastered, it ranks among the top in Jianghu, and it may even ascend to the Human List. It’s a pity that only the Chapters on Heart Fire and Kidney Water are left..."
’Can’t you speak without gasping for air?’
Zhong Shenxiu secretly rolled his eyes, but excitement surfaced on his face, "What do you mean, sir?"
Wei Baizhu’s face turned serious, "Since the Gang Leader and elders have passed away, I, Wei Baizhu, as of today, will act as the Gang Leader and appoint you as the Gang Leader’s disciple, passing on to you the ’Five Elements Thief Palm.’ I hope you can inherit his will and avenge our gang!"
"Please rest assured, Elder Wei, I, Xun Liuyi, swear that once my martial arts skills are achieved, I will surely annihilate the San Shan Sect."
Zhong Shenxiu bent his thumb and little finger and raised the other three fingers, swearing to the heavens solemnly.
Wei Baizhu looked somewhat relieved yet hesitant, but eventually, he took out a manuscript from his bosom, "This is the manuscript I transcribed of the Five Elements Thief Palm; take good care of it. This martial art is only partial, and there are many annotations from predecessors within. Some methods we don’t know whether they are right or wrong. When breaking through, you may need special Elixir Pills to assist you. You must be cautious..."
After giving his advice, he walked slowly out of the bedroom with his hands behind his back.
Only leaving Zhong Shenxiu behind, his eyes slightly glowing as he opened the thread-bound book to the first page: "Heaven has five elements, humans have five organs, to steal them is to prosper... Such grand ambitions."
As he continued to read, his expression turned from dazed to puzzled and finally, to a complex joy.
After a long while, Zhong Shenxiu put down the manuscript and closed the book, sighing.
With his martial arts insight, he quickly understood the ’Five Elements Thief Palm,’ which fundamentally used various methods to disturb the enemy’s balance of the five elements within the body, causing ailments in the five organs, which seemed outwardly righteous but was actually an extremely sinister hand technique.
Once mastered, its power would far surpass that of Medicine Sand Palm.
However, it was a pity that the Shanyao Gang only had the Chapters on Kidney Water and Heart Fire and lacked the Spleen Earth, Lung Metal, and Liver Wood Chapters.
"If truly all five elements were complete, only then would the true potential of this palm technique be fully unleashed. It would have been the Shanyao Gang annihilating the San Shan Sect and not the other way around..."
Yet, what drew Zhong Shenxiu’s attention even more than the martial art itself was the numerous annotations from the predecessors as well various martial arts experiences and insights gathered from hearsay.
"So, in this realm, once a Martial Artist’s Inner Strength matured, one had to undergo the transformation of blood replacement, marrow refining, and divine communion. Each threshold crossed would fundamentally transform one’s physique... Of course, this pertains purely to the realm of martial arts, although it does relate to combat prowess. While every Heavenly List Martial Artist has passed the divine communion threshold, there have been cases where those Martial Artists were killed by Marrow Refining Martial Artists."
After all, in the martial contests, not only timing, location, and harmony mattered but also personal experience and the quality of the martial arts learned.
Therefore, Jianghu’s acknowledged division of power was not merely through realms but through the three listings of Heaven, Earth, and Man!
The most straightforward way to rank was to directly challenge and defeat a ranked individual under certified conditions, which would allow one to take over their position and gain widespread renown.
And each Heavenly List Martial Artist possessed divine skills that could smash mountains, sever rivers, and reverse life and death, none of which were mere fabrications but reality!
"Now I understand, the martial arts of this world..."
Recalling a few real cases, Zhong Shenxiu’s eyes brightened, "It seems to have bypassed the step of ’Cultivator’s Fierce Spirits’ directly to condense Divine Skills!"