Chapter 55: A Certain Martial Arts Hall (In celebration of Alliance Master 'Cramped Night'! )
Chapter 55: A Certain Martial Arts Hall (In celebration of Alliance Master 'Cramped Night'! )
Linghu Shan's answer truly stunned Fang Xi.
For any martial arts faction, having their fundamental cultivation method stolen usually meant a life-and-death struggle, right?
Fang Xi had already mentally rehearsed his next moves: a sudden turn of hostility, a confrontation, then soaring into the sky to slowly wear down this Grandmaster with talismans and artifacts. . .
But the outcome. . . the other party wasn't playing by the rules at all!
"Hmm? Why give it?"
Fang Xi directly voiced the doubt in his heart.
"Haha. . . actually, even with the cultivation method, only a very small number can become Grandmasters!"
Linghu Shan's blasé expression turned solemn: "What's truly important will always be the person! It's a martial artist's aptitude, temperament, and perseverance! Unfortunately, even with such martial artists, becoming a Grandmaster. . . still requires a bit of luck in the end! Currently, there are too few Grandmasters in Dingzhou, and demon kings run rampant. If another Grandmaster can emerge, it would naturally be a great boon for humanity! Since you, little brother, think highly of my Yuan He Mountain's cultivation method, this old man naturally wishes to fulfill your desire."
"The Yuan He Five Thunder Hand is, after all, a Grandmaster's ultimate technique, a fundamental secret transmission of Yuan He Mountain. . . Since this old man has given it to you, it's worth a considerable favor, wouldn't you say? " At this point, Linghu Shan finally revealed his true intentions.
"Hmm, what are your demands? " Fang Xi's heart felt much calmer; this was the rhythm of a normal negotiation.
"Should you, one day, advance to the Grandmaster realm, you may join forces with this old man to slay the Flood Dragon King of Old Dragon Pond!"
As Linghu Shan mentioned this Flood Dragon King, his face showed unreserved hatred: "This Flood Dragon King has ravaged the region; its predations even consumed this old man's last direct blood descendant. . ."
"A Flood Dragon Demon King, then?"
Fang Xi nodded: "Very well. . . I agree."
In any case, if he advanced to the third stage of Body Cultivation, he would eventually seek trouble with these demon beasts himself.
A first-order demon beast that has awakened dragon blood is truly a treasure from head to tail; it absolutely cannot be missed!
"Haha, straightforward!"
Linghu Shan casually tossed a scroll of beast hide into Fang Xi's hand.
This beast hide scroll carried an aura that made even Fang Xi's heart tremble slightly, likely the hide of a late-stage first-order demon beast.
On the front of the beast hide, the magnificent scenery of Yuan He Mountain's five peaks was depicted.
On Lei Ji Peak, in particular, azure lightning constantly swirled.
"The Divine Intent Diagram of the Yuan He Five Thunder Hand?"
Fang Xi merely glanced at it and confirmed it was not fake.
On the back of the Divine Intent Diagram, there were dense, ant-sized characters detailing the cultivation method of the "Yuan He Five Thunder Hand."
Comparing it with Linghu Yang's oral narration, there were no discrepancies whatsoever.
"This old man, he's serious. . ."
Fang Xi had originally thought the other party would tamper with the cultivation method in some way.
After all, if a profound cultivation method had even slight errors or omissions, the after-effects might not become apparent for over a decade and would be difficult to reverse.
"I've given you the secret manual. You are already a three-step Martial Master, with steel bones and iron sinews. Next is the fourth step, where spirit and vigor merge. . . Although my Yuan He Mountain has recorded some secret methods to aid in breakthroughs, they might not have a significant effect."
Linghu Shan's insight was astonishing; he seemed to discern Fang Xi's current realm at a glance: "As for a Grandmaster's 'Heaven-Man Unity'. . . that still depends on each individual's comprehension and fortuitous opportunities! Back in the day, to grasp Heaven-Man Unity, this old man once descended the mountain for twenty years, disguised as a mortal ignorant of martial arts, experiencing the mundane world. . . until finally, one morning, I achieved sudden enlightenment."
He then spoke at length about his insights on breakthroughs, appearing quite sincere.
Fang Xi noted them down one by one, intending to verify them in the future.
The two conversed most pleasantly; Linghu Shan even wished to become sworn brothers with Fang Xi and invite him to be an honored guest elder of Yuan He Mountain.
Fang Xi repeatedly declined several times before finally refusing, then descended Lei Ji Peak alone.
Watching Fang Xi's disappearing figure, Linghu Shan stroked the small beard on his chin, his eyes gradually deepening: "A three-step Martial Master can be so composed in front of this old man; this person must have a trump card. . . What's going on with the Blood Gate? Even this old man couldn't have ascended Lei Ji Peak without causing any alarm. Could it be that all the disciples below are dead? Or have they all been bribed?"
Rather than believing that, he'd sooner believe Yuan He Mountain had another secret passage!
"Forget it, forget it. All in all, it's best not to fight if one can avoid it; let's establish a good connection. . . These young people nowadays are fiercer than the last. That 'Ghost Scourge' clearly intended to seize it if it wasn't given!"
Linghu Shan clasped his hands behind his back and began pondering which courtesan in Three Yuan City had recently 'gone to sea'.
Such was his consistent nature.
Back then, his master, who hated evil like fire, his senior brother, whose temper burned like flames, and his junior brother, who championed justice, all perished. . .
Only he survived to this day, living long enough to become a Grandmaster.
That was all due to forging good connections and avoiding conflict whenever possible.
As for the Yuan He Five Thunder Hand secret manual? Would an unfilial descendant who dared to dig up the graves of his ancestors care about such a thing?
...
"Not having to fight is good too!"
Having descended Lei Ji Peak, Fang Xi used his camouflage clothing and easily slipped out of Yuan He Mountain.
Although the defenses here were strict, to him, it was practically like his own backyard; he could enter and leave as he pleased.
To obtain the cultivation method for the Yuan He Five Thunder Hand and guidance from a Grandmaster, this trip was certainly worthwhile.
As for whether the other party might intentionally set up traps?
Fang Xi didn't care in the slightest.
Because his main cultivation wasn't the Yuan He Five Thunder Hand, but the Hunyuan True Art!
The reason he came to snatch the secret manual was merely to extract its essence and improve his Hunyuan True Art!
Therefore, even if Linghu Shan had some hidden traps in the Grandmaster section, it would at most cause him to take a detour and waste some time, without harming his foundation.
However, if that happened, he would certainly exterminate every single member of Yuan He Mountain!
"This Linghu Shan seems decent; I can definitely go ask for more advice from him in the future. . ."
It wasn't just the Grandmaster martial arts; Fang Xi was still very interested in the various secret techniques Yuan He Mountain had accumulated over the years, such as the method of 'Planting a Demon into the Body'.
Such methods and their experiential heritage were sometimes passed down orally, meaning even if he annihilated Yuan He Mountain, he might not necessarily obtain them.
...
Three Yuan City.
As the capital of Dingzhou, this city was quite vast, divided into an inner city, an outer city, and the outermost expanded area.
Naturally, the closer one was to the inner city, the higher the land prices, and the residents were all high officials and nobles.
The outer city housed merchants of all sizes, martial arts hall masters, and various commercial streets.
The outermost expanded area was home to the largest number of common people.
On this particular day.
In the outer city, within a three-courtyard residence.
"Young Master, look at our courtyard here. Not only is it spacious, but the back rooms are also brand new, with red bricks and green tiles, all just renovated last year. . . And there's even a well!"
An agent was currently showing Fang Xi the house.
Since the cultivation world was quite dangerous, and the chaotic war between various Foundation Establishment forces would continue for some time.
Fang Xi therefore prepared to hide away in Da Liang, taking the opportunity to focus on improving his martial arts.
Even before ascending Yuan He Mountain, he had already consumed all of his Body Cultivation pills, achieving the three-step Martial Master realm of steel bones and iron sinews!
Next, he needed to explore the method of spirit and vigor merging, as well as the most mystical realm of 'Heaven-Man Unity' of the Grandmaster stage.
Thus, he planned to buy a house in Three Yuan City as well, and then try out the "red dust cultivation" Linghu Shan had spoken of.
"But I don't need to imitate his disguise as a mortal. . . The Hunyuan True Art was rudimentary to begin with, so it's a good opportunity to recruit some disciples as guinea pigs. . . Besides, the process of teaching a common person to become a master can serve to inspect whether my own martial arts have any shortcomings."
Fang Xi looked around and was fairly satisfied with the courtyard.
Not only could the front be converted into a small martial arts hall, but the back space was also quite large, enough for his own cultivation.
He immediately said to the agent: "How much to buy it?"
The agent's eyes lit up: "Only nine hundred taels of silver!"
"Cheap, I'll take it!"
Fang Xi knew he was probably being ripped off, but he didn't care in the slightest, agreeing casually.
"Young Master is straightforward, may I ask your esteemed name? This humble one will immediately go prepare the contract! " The agent smiled so wide his teeth were barely visible; this was truly a. . . fat sheep!
"Fang Leng!"
Fang Xi replied with a smile.
After all, the name Fang Xi had some connection to the White Cloud Martial Arts Hall, and he didn't plan to use it in Three Yuan City.
Furthermore, he had even used his True Vigor to slightly alter certain features of his face, creating a disguise.
Coupled with his physical transformation from martial arts breakthroughs, his physique had become even more robust and he had grown taller.
Even if he met Bai He face-to-face, she might not recognize him.
"So it's Young Master Fang Leng. May I ask where you are from, Young Master, and do you have a travel permit or credentials? The yamen will need them for the transfer of ownership. . . " The agent asked with another ingratiating smile.
"Hmm?"
Fang Xi cast a glance over: "This young master wants you to handle this precisely for convenience. If I can't transfer ownership without a permit, then this young master will just find another agent to deal with!"
The reason he was willing to spend more and be ripped off was precisely for convenience, wasn't it?
If this agent couldn't solve his problem, why would he let them earn so much money?
"Yes, you can. Even without a travel permit, this humble one will go handle it right away," the agent said.
The agent instantly perked up and hastily replied, afraid Fang Xi would leave.
How much did it cost to bribe the scribes in the yamen?
What he had already earned from this fat sheep far exceeded that amount.
"That's more like it!"
Fang Xi resumed his persona as a dissolute young master, smiling as he said: "Help this young master out, and you won't miss out on benefits. . . This young master also needs a few servant women for cooking and laundry; go find some, and your commission won't be little."
...
Three days later.
A small "A Certain Martial Arts Hall" quietly opened its doors.
Fang Xi only appeared when the signboard was hung to greet his neighbors and any visitors, and afterward, he didn't do much in terms of promotion or networking.
He didn't even display any profound martial arts.
Consequently, the martial arts hall was deserted from the moment it opened, not a single apprentice showing up.
Fang Xi didn't care much, as it was merely a temporary diversion for him.
Every day, he would sit in his grand armchair, holding a copied book on array formations and restrictions, painstakingly trying to comprehend it.
He even found some local teachers to instruct him in the native methods of calculation.
Fang Xi was determined; with no conditions currently suitable for studying other alchemy, talismans, or artifacts, he had plenty of free time each day.
By merging the arithmetic knowledge from three worlds, he was bound to grasp the intricacies of array formations!
As long as he entered the path of array mastery, even if only at the first-order, he could be considered a skilled artisan in the cultivation world, and his status and income would be entirely different in the future!
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