Eagle Claw Technique Upgrade

Afternoon:

Madam Jin woke up, languidly stretching.

She saw Chu Qing rotating a bowl-sized white jade stone ball in each hand.

The stone balls were white as snow and smooth as jade; ordinary people could not even grip them.

Yet this young man curved his five fingers, flicking them as the white jade balls slowly turned.

At first, they moved very slowly.

But then he steadily increased their speed.

One minute...

Ten minutes...

Half an hour...

Madam Jin watched, entranced. "Those hands are truly nimble."

"Such huge stone balls, and he can make them spin round and round with a few flicks."

"If he were to fiddle with..."

Her chest felt stifled. How she wished a hand would fiddle with it.

"Pah... what am I thinking?"

Madam Jin secretly stretched, wanting to loosen her tight clothes a little.

Unfortunately... she failed; her chest still felt stifled.

His ten fingers danced and flicked; the bowl-sized stone balls spun faster and faster.

You have completed part of the requirements for the Eagle Claw Technique

You have completed part of the requirements for the Eagle Claw Technique

The Profession Slot kept flashing.

The progress of the first requirement rose faster and faster.

"At most two hours, and I'll meet the Eagle Claw Technique's first requirement."

Judging by the precedent of other techniques, once the Eagle Claw Technique reached Great Accomplishment, as long as he had enough secret medicine, he could swiftly break through to Perfection.

"Once the Eagle Claw Technique reaches Perfection, I can cultivate all the Iron Sinews of this technique in one go."

"Even if some overlap, I can still gain at least a dozen more."

"My strength will soar."

There were only a little over twenty days until the Martial Academy's Preliminary Exam, yet his Iron Sinews had not even broken a hundred.

The pressure was a little heavy.

Fortunately, several hall masters had given him secret manuals.

In the short term, he did not lack methods to increase his Iron Sinews; what he lacked was time and secret medicine.

An hour later:

Madam Jin moved close and said:

"Qing'er, you've trained for too long. You should rest."

With the Skilled-level Eagle Claw Technique, his ten fingers were tough and agile. Supported by the Iron Sinews in both arms, he was not tired at all.

But... once Madam Jin spoke, he set down the stone balls and said:

"Alright!"

"I'll go copy calligraphy models."

Madam Jin stared at his hands. "Those stone balls must be quite heavy!"

"Won't your fingers get tired from flicking them?"

"I'll have someone apply medicine for you, to loosen your muscles and bones so they don't ache."

Chu Qing smiled.

He stretched out both hands. His ten fingers danced, flicked, and leaped, faster than the flower-shaking hand tricks from his previous life.

"Look, they're perfectly fine."

Madam Jin's chest felt stifled. Flustered, she said, "Enough."

"Stop showing off your fingers."

"Hurry and go copy!"

"Alright!"

Afternoon:

Chu Qing alternated between spinning the stone balls and copying calligraphy models, spending the day to the fullest.

Until dusk:

You have completed the Eagle Claw Technique's first requirement!

Clatter!

Chu Qing tossed the two stone balls into the flowerbed's soil. Half sank into the dirt, while the other half remained exposed, like steamed buns.

The exposed halves of the white jade stone balls complemented the newly blooming red roses, creating a beauty of their own.

"Godmother, I'm leaving."

Having completed the first requirement, Chu Qing happily bade Madam Jin farewell.

"Mhm!"

After Chu Qing left, Madam Jin crouched beside the flowerbed.

She looked at the red roses, then at the stone balls, gently sliding her fingers over them.

"These stone balls weigh at least seven or eight jin."

"And he can flick them about so easily?"

"Qing'er... has cultivated Iron Sinews. At least two of them."

Though she had never learned martial techniques, she had read widely and knew many things.

"He cultivated Iron Sinews but didn't boast or show them off. Instead, he kept such a low profile."

"No wonder he wanted to try entering the Martial Academy on his own."

"Only... the Martial Academy has reformed. Trying to pass the exam on his own merits is harder than climbing to Heaven."

"I'll first have him enter as Madam Shi's servant. When I return to the prefectural city at year's end, I'll ask Father to pull some strings and transfer his household registration there, letting him soar into the sky in a single leap."

Chu Qing was in high spirits.

The Eagle Claw Technique only lacked one dose of secret medicine before it could advance to Great Completion.

"I'll start cultivating in the morning and reach Great Completion by night."

"This efficiency is truly fast."

"With this kind of efficiency, I'll definitely grow stronger and stronger."

He passed through streets and alleys, heading straight for the yamen.

This time, no one had summoned him. Even though he had come several times before, he was not allowed inside.

Chu Qing did not mind. He took out one qian of silver and handed it to the gatekeeper.

"I want to see Chief Constable Shi."

The gatekeeper glanced at it and said disdainfully, "Without Chief Constable Shi's orders, no entry."

Chu Qing frowned.

Just then, Constable Li happened to come out.

"Eh... Chu Qing, why are you here?"

Chu Qing cupped his fist. "Constable Li, I wish to see Chief Constable Shi and buy several doses of secret medicine for the Eagle Claw Technique."

He still had over two thousand taels of silver earned from the fake medicine peddler, enough to buy secret medicine.

Constable Li asked curiously, "You just started learning the Eagle Claw Technique, and you already want secret medicine? Aren't you afraid of wasting it?"

Chu Qing's heart stirred. He took out several taels of loose silver and handed them over.

"I borrowed usurious loans from the gang. I want to use secret medicine to cultivate Iron Sinews as soon as possible, so I can take the Martial Academy exam."

Constable Li was disappointed. He had thought Chu Qing had hidden away a great deal of money.

Who would have thought it was usury?

"Fine. Wait here. I'll ask Chief Constable Shi."

More than ten minutes later:

Constable Li came out and shook his head.

"Chief Constable Shi says there's no secret medicine."

"You'll have to think of something yourself."

Chu Qing... did not believe him.

Constable Li lowered his voice.

"Chief Constable Shi... has long forgotten about you. If you need anything in the future, come directly to me."

Chu Qing was speechless.

Fine. A Great Figure was indeed a Great Figure.

"One day, sooner or later, I'll make you remember me."

After bidding Constable Li farewell, Chu Qing decided to go to the Black Market for secret medicine that night.

"Though there's a risk in killing the fake medicine peddler, no one would imagine the killer would dare return. As long as I change clothes and cover my face, no one will recognize me."

After Chu Qing left, a yamen runner guarding the gate sent word to Hall Master Liu.

Very soon, everyone in the Head-Slicing Hall learned that Chief Constable Shi had refused to see Chu Qing.

"Has Master Qing fallen from favor?"

"Don't call him Master Qing anymore. At most, call him Brother Qing."

The Minor Leader who had tipped them off last night could neither sit nor lie still. "Find an opportunity to cut ties with Chu Qing."

"So Hall Master Liu doesn't misunderstand."

When Hall Master Liu received the news, his face twisted into a savage grin.

"Hehe... without Chief Constable Shi watching over you, let's see how you dare swagger about now."

"When you take the Martial Academy Preliminary Exam, that will be the day I demand three thousand taels of silver."

"Then, before everyone's eyes, I'll seize you and shatter your hopes of entering the Martial Academy."

"And then... I'll deal with you ruthlessly."

He bitterly hated Chu Qing.

Night fell, and lanterns began to glow:

Chu Qing changed into newly bought cloth clothes and cloth shoes, covered his face, left the city, and headed straight for the Black Market.

As Grass on Wings unfolded, his legs swung forward. The grass bent beneath his feet, and before he landed, Chu Qing had already taken the next step.

This speed was much faster than last time.

The first time he went to the Clear River Black Market, he had run for four hours.

This time:

In barely over an hour, he saw the Black Market.

Only:

The Black Market now had merely scattered lights.

Clearly, most people had not arrived yet.

Chu Qing did not rashly enter. Instead, he stopped far away to observe and wait.

Frogs croaked noisily all around him.

Bored with nothing to do, he began cultivating the Toad Technique.

Croak!

Croak!

The secret Toad Technique circulated, rapidly restoring the physical strength he had just expended.

His Spirit and Energy also slowly improved.

At the same time, he felt currents of heat moving through his body.

Most of those currents flowed into the fingers of both hands, as though repairing something.

Chu Qing seemed to understand.

"The secret Toad Technique can not only build up my foundation, but also seems able to repair hidden injuries and depletion?"

"Are all secret techniques this wondrous?"

"Tomorrow... the Toad Secret Medicine will be refined."

"I wonder whether advancing it will bring any new traits."