Zhong Shenxiu listened intently, his expression becoming extremely solemn.
Martial Arts had three major obstacles—Blood Exchange, Marrow Refining, and Spirit Connecting, each more difficult than the last.
Moreover, the corresponding secret manuals for these techniques were increasingly rare.
For instance, while some medium and small sects still had traditions of Blood Exchange techniques, the Marrow Refining Secret Technique required for breaking into Grandmaster-level was only held by the major powers.
Ordinary Jianghu Martial Artists found it even difficult to get a glimpse of it.
Therefore, there might be unknown newcomers on the People List, but on the Earth List of Masters, most were those cultivated by major powers.
As for the final Spirit Connecting Secret Record? That was a truly rare and unique skill. To obtain it, one not only needed power but also opportunity!
"Yan Wushuang spoke confidently, and rightly so, the current first on the Earth List is the Great Divine Catcher of the Divine Capture Sect."
"However, I heard from Wei Baizhu that although the martial skills of the Divine Capture Sect have advanced rapidly, they face a tough challenge—it’s difficult for them to break through the Spirit Connecting stage. The hardest to deceive and break through is oneself! Even exceptional techniques like the Jialan Fan Hand, which progress rapidly in the early stages and might even break through the Grandmaster level, cannot conquer the Spirit Connecting stage. None of the past practitioners of the Divine Capture Sect’s secret techniques have made it onto the Heavenly List."
"Perhaps this is an unsolvable problem, even for the Great Wu Ancestor... Of course, thinking darkly, could it also be the empire’s shackles on the hunting hounds of the Divine Capture Sect?"
"But I am aiming for the Heavenly List. What use is being first on the Earth List?"
Zhong Shenxiu rolled his eyes internally, but he knew better than to say such things out loud, lest he make a fool of himself.
He could only pose in various ways to make Yan Wushuang think he was nearly persuaded.
After exchanging pleasantries for a while longer, they finally parted with reluctance.
Upon leaving the government office, a slight smile curled on Zhong Shenxiu’s lips: "With four parts of the Five Elements Great Thief Palm acquired, and only one part left requiring Heavenly Show Points, I can completely deduce it... Once my Inner Strength is fully developed and the Blood Exchange is complete, reaching the People List should pose no problem, and then many opportunities will arise."
Knowing how rare the Marrow Refining Secret Technique was, he naturally did not expect to find any inheritance in Anshan City.
The remaining path was to travel across Jianghu and simultaneously seek opportunities.
"Truth be told, these opportunities are not just readily available. Many in Jianghu end up being forced to jump off cliffs each year, and most of them die. Those who last and acquire the secret manuals to achieve great skills are few... It might be more feasible to join a renowned sect. The Shanyao Gang is destroyed, Xun Liuyi is currently a Jianghu Wanderer, and joining another sect wouldn’t be a problem, but Wei Baizhu might spit blood hearing this..."
"Of course, entering a sect with known skills is often unwelcome, and whether one can receive the true inheritance is another issue. If I have to be tested for decades, that truly wouldn’t be worth it..."
Upon returning to Shanyao Hall, the counter was still bustling.
The caretakers, Wei Baizhu and Wei Hongyao among others, were overjoyed to see Zhong Shenxiu return safe and sound.
"How has Shanyao Hall been these past few days?"
Zhong Shenxiu asked with a smile.
"Very busy, especially with Chen Jiu and his group—they come to buy a few pills every now and then... Ha-ha... it is really like a steady stream of gold."
Wei Baizhu stroked his beard, beaming.
The ruffians taught a lesson by Zhong Shenxiu had to buy thirty pills of Five Flavors Rehmannia each, totaling over a hundred silvers.
Even if Chen Jiu had sold his family mansion, he couldn’t gather that large amount all at once.
He had to gather bits by bits and occasionally came to buy a few pills to hang on, which was like a steady stream flowing finely.
This fully proved, regardless of time and place, men are willing to spend money to ensure certain abilities.
"And just before, Chen Jiu somehow acquired a sum of silver, wanting to buy thirty pills. It seems he had some windfall, but we didn’t have enough stock and only sold him twenty. You’ll have to combine the rest of the pills!"
Wei Baizhu continued.
This special medicine was specifically for the internal injuries caused by the Renal Water Chapter of the Five Elements Great Thief Palm, a formula only he and Xun Liuyi knew. Even Wei Hongyao was not allowed to pass it on, considering it involved the highest martial arts of the Shanyao Gang.
Wei Baizhu himself hadn’t mastered the Renal Water Chapter and couldn’t grasp some of its subtleties. In using the medicine, a tiny mistake could turn a medicine into poison, so it still had to be overseen by Zhong Shenxiu.
"Chen Jiu... has become wealthy?"
Zhong Shenxiu stroked his chin, thoughtfully.
This guy’s background was quite clear to him, even if his family was well-off, having been swindled so many times, they were still at their wits’ end. It was said that some of his younger brothers had already switched to doing hard labor.
A few days ago, they were even begging at the counter to buy on credit.
And just now, he suddenly became wealthy?
He pondered for a moment, and a mysterious smile formed on the corner of his mouth.
’How could Chen Jiu suddenly have money? His family’s coffers are nearly empty!’
’It’s highly likely he got financial help from someone, and the efficacy of the Five Flavors Rehmannia Pill is very specific; it only treats kidney water injuries caused by the Five Elements Thief Palm...’
’Hehe... Recently, besides Chen Jiu’s group, I only hit that disciple from the Five Poison Sect with one palm...’
’He’s injured then, gathering local support to buy medicine for him? If I follow this lead... I should be able to find him.’
’But my martial arts skills are still a bit weak, if I want to deal with him myself, it wouldn’t hurt to level up before going...’
Shanyao Hall’s backyard.
Zhong Shenxiu accessed his attributes panel:
[Name: Xun Liuyi (Zhong Shenxiu)]
[Medicine Sand Palm: Fifth Level]
[Five Elements Thief Palm: Kidney Water Chapter (Third Level), Heart Fire Chapter (Second Level), Liver Wood Chapter (Entry Level)]
[Heavenly Show Points: 17 (3%)]
[Door of Ten Thousand: To be opened]
[Would you like to spend 20 Heavenly Show Points to complete the Five Elements Thief Palm?]
He glanced at the prompt and casually opened the martial arts manual he had acquired today, memorizing the secret of the Lung Metal Chapter.
The attributes panel flickered, displaying a new message:
[Lung Metal Chapter Recorded, would you spend 10 Heavenly Show Points to complete the Five Elements Thief Palm?]
Instantly, Zhong Shenxiu saw the Heavenly Show Points column flicker and ten points vanished without a trace.
The next moment, he felt a wriggling sensation in his organs.
Starting from the kidneys, followed by the heart, lungs, and liver, and finally the spleen.
A stream of inner strength formed, freely circulating within his five organs.
A new prompt appeared on the attributes panel:
[Five Elements Great Thief Palm Secret completed, merging the experiences from Kidney Water Chapter (Third Level), Heart Fire Chapter (Second Level), Liver Wood Chapter (Entry Level), currently at Second Level—Five Elements Rotation!]
Zhong Shenxiu introspected his body and seemed to see completely different colors.
His body became translucent, and his spirit suddenly transcended the limitations of flesh and blood, allowing him to see his own organs.
At his kidney location, a burst of black emerged, his heart area revealed red, his lungs were white, the spleen was yellow, and the liver was blue...
The intermingling of black, red, white, yellow, and blue colors caused the inner strength to circulate uncontrollably.
’This martial art possesses a demonic property... It’s as if I’m practicing every moment, my inner strength growing rapidly, and soon, I’ll greatly develop my inner strength, break through to the Third Level, and directly achieve Five Elements Unification, challenging the difficult barrier of blood exchange!’