According to Wang Sanyang, when cultivating martial arts, it was naturally best to begin with high-level techniques from the start. It was like cultivating a first-rate martial art from one's youth—while achieving success in the art, the technique would subtly adjust one's physique into the body best suited for practicing it. This would greatly reduce both the difficulty of cultivation and the barriers to breaking through realms.
In other words, it would also make it easier to travel farther along the path of the Martial Way, with a higher ceiling.
Of course, there was another possible approach.
That was for disciples whose talent and aptitude were not particularly outstanding. They could first cultivate compatible low-level martial arts, then turn to high-level martial arts after reaching a profound level in the low-level ones.
This made it easier to grasp complicated high-level martial arts. Moreover, since the low-level martial arts were compatible with them, the influence they suffered when cultivating high-level martial arts would be far lower than that of other techniques.
Town Mountain Tower was currently taking this route. Ordinary disciples in the tower began with Raging Bull Fist, and once they achieved some success in it, they could obtain compatible second-rate martial arts.
For instance, Thirty-Six Hand Strikes and Eagle Claw Thousand Jin Strength were both hand techniques. These two second-rate martial arts were fairly compatible with Raging Bull Fist.
As for the final Vajra Twelve Forms Saber Technique, it was an incomparably fierce and domineering saber art. Though it was not as compatible with Raging Bull Fist as the first two, it possessed the strongest killing power of the three.
"The higher the realm, the more obvious the influence between techniques becomes. But where am I supposed to find suitable second-rate martial arts?"
Lin Sheng furrowed his brows, then suddenly seemed to recall something and slapped his forehead.
"Techniques affect one another, so why haven't I felt the slightest abnormality!?"
His eyes shone like torches as he lowered his gaze to the blood-red ring on his chest, hidden beneath his loose robe.
"I've cultivated both the White Ape Leg Technique and Raging Bull Fist to their highest realms. Although they're only third-rate martial arts, logically speaking, I should have felt the conflicting influence between them while cultivating."
"But from last night's cultivation and all the previous times, I haven't felt anything wrong at all."
Lin Sheng clenched his fists, and a bold thought suddenly arose in his heart.
Perhaps it was because of the Mountain Sea Scroll. He was extraordinarily sensitive to and aware of every change in his body; he could even clearly sense the channels, sinews, and veins within himself.
If there were any problem, he should have felt it more vividly than anyone else.
"So the only reason I haven't felt anything wrong with my body is because no conflict has occurred within me!!"
"What sets me apart from others is the Mountain Sea Scroll. The reason for this outcome may be because of the Mountain Sea Scroll."
Thinking of how he always chose a corresponding exotic beast to merge into his body whenever he cultivated, the answer to this question gradually became clear in his mind.
As he thought, he silently switched his body-merging beast to the Iron Yak.
He also carefully sensed the changes occurring within his body during the merger.
As the enormous figure of the Iron Yak slowly condensed within the blood-mist space, the ring-shaped mark on his chest extended vein after vein, forming the pattern of a blood-red Iron Yak.
Under his deliberate perception, he finally discovered that the channels, blood vessels, and various tissues in his body had indeed changed. Though the changes were minute, they truly existed.
At the sight of this, an irrepressible joy finally appeared on Lin Sheng's face.
Sure enough, the reason he had not been affected by the conflicts between martial arts was that after merging an exotic beast into his body, his sinews and bloodlines had already been adjusted into the state most suitable for cultivation. This state was even more pronounced than the effects brought by cultivating high-level martial arts to a profound level.
"For example, after merging with the Iron Yak, when I cultivate Raging Bull Fist, it's as though I already possess the perfected cultivation physique that can only be gained after mastering a compatible, higher-level martial art. That's why my cultivation speed is so freakish."
"And it won't affect my cultivation of other martial arts either. After all, once I cancel the merger, my body will return to its normal state. When cultivating other martial arts, I can choose their corresponding body-merging exotic beasts and obtain another powerful boost."
Lin Sheng suddenly saw the light. For others, cultivating multiple martial arts at once was a thankless task that could even cost them their lives, but for him, it could not have been more suitable.
"In that case, if I can't get my hands on second-rate martial arts for now, I can first collect some other third-rate martial arts."
Lin Sheng quickly made his decision.
Lin'an County City, main district.
Within a lavishly decorated courtyard filled with artificial hills and rockeries.
An elderly man with grizzled whiskers and a brocade robe stood with his hands behind his back. Several meters before him stood a broad iron cage.
Inside the cage, two massive mountain wolves, each the size of a calf, were desperately tearing at each other. Beneath them was a man struggling in agony.
"Master, I was wrong! This lowly one didn't mean to spill the tea! Spare me... spare this lowly one's life..."
The man being torn apart was dressed as a household servant and wailed without end. Yet faced with two mountain wolves that had been hungry for days, he had no chance to resist. Within a few breaths, one of the starving wolves bit into his neck and violently tore away most of his flesh. The light faded from his eyes, and his life was extinguished.
Yet as the old man watched this scene, not the slightest ripple stirred in his eyes. It was as if the one being torn apart by mountain wolves before him was not a person, but merely an ordinary beast.
"Master, Gang Leader Meng has arrived and requests an audience."
A beautiful maid with a seductive figure entered from outside. Turning a blind eye to the sight before her, she bowed respectfully to the old man.
"Let him in."
The old man spoke indifferently.
The maid answered respectfully and immediately withdrew.
Soon, a tall, thin figure entered from outside. It was none other than Meng Hongsheng, the leader of the Tooth Gang.
Upon seeing the old man, Meng Hongsheng immediately dropped to one knee in salute before speaking respectfully.
"Master, the Flying Crane Martial Hall and White Cloud Martial Hall in the city have agreed to our terms. The remaining Sun family and Zhou family have been wavering, constantly making excuses to delay. As for that old fellow from the White Elephant Boxing Gym, he does not know what is good for him. His attitude is extremely forceful, and he has rejected our terms."
"White Elephant Boxing Gym? That old relic Xiang Hong? As expected, his temper is still as violent as ever. Since he cannot tell good from bad, there is no need for the White Elephant Boxing Gym to continue existing. As for the Sun family and Zhou family, they should also be given a little warning so they will behave themselves."
The old man seemed to have expected this already and gave his orders calmly.
"Master, you mean?"
"Leave no one alive in the White Elephant Boxing Gym. The other two families must also pay a price. Have Black Blind Man handle this matter. He has taken so many benefits; it is time for him to put in some effort."
"Understood, Master."
Having heard this, Meng Hongsheng rose and prepared to leave.
"Has Tian Song's Ape Fetus Technique been found?"
The old man's airy voice suddenly drifted over.
"It has not been found yet. It seems that old Tian Feng did not leave behind a secret manual."
"So it has not been found. Forget it. Though it is a second-rate martial art, the Ape Fetus Technique has many restrictions. Its ceiling is high, but its value is far inferior to other second-rate martial arts. Since it is gone, let it be gone. There is no need to waste any more manpower on this..."
"Understood..."
Before you continue