Obtaining Pure Yang, Shocking the Whole Crowd (First Half; Entered the Fourth Round of Recommendations)

During the day, he was free. Now that Li Cunxiao had become an escort leader, he naturally no longer needed to sit idly in the storeroom.

He temporarily put aside the evening's social obligations, but for training, he had to prepare for a rainy day.

After advancing to the Muscle and Tendon Realm, the greatest and most immediate change Li Cunxiao needed to adapt to was the slowing of his training progress.

First Order Demon Meat was far less effective for him now than before.

"Now, I'm afraid it'll take two or three months to fill the Vajra Scepter even once."

On the table before Li Cunxiao lay Demon Jerky obtained through two channels—the black market and the escort agency. After sampling them, he found the results were more or less the same.

If there was any difference, the Demon Meat Zhang Lishi provided contained purer Blood Qi, but less than half the Killing Intent of the black-market jerky.

The black-market jerky, on the other hand, contained more Killing Intent but muddier Blood Qi. After eating it, one needed to relieve oneself frequently.

Eating the two together was the best choice for balancing Blood Qi and Killing Intent.

Li Cunxiao had long been mentally prepared for this, so he was not particularly disappointed.

After all, with the Vajra Scepter's help, his advancement had already been abnormally fast. It was merely returning to normal now.

Even a genius like Ye Chengxiao had taken nearly a year to reach the Blood Qi Realm, had he not?

As for the Muscle and Tendon Realm, Shen He had broken through to the Second Realm at twenty. Now twenty-four, he had only reached the Second Accomplishment of Tempering.

Senior Brother Shi Tie had accumulated strength over time before making his breakthrough. He entered the Second Realm at twenty-one, then spent six years achieving Third Training Completion in Training Tendons, Bones, and Skin. Afterward, he remained stuck before the Viscera Realm for another eight years.

The Third Realm experts in the city, such as the heads of the Ye Family and the Xiao Family, were all middle-aged as well.

That was reality. Li Cunxiao would not rush recklessly. Of course, neither would he let any opportunity worth seizing slip away.

"Master said that among those of the same realm, demons often surpass martial artists. The Firewood Gang also said that a Second Order Demon requires several Muscle and Tendon Realm experts to encircle and kill it."

"If I want to increase charging speed, the best option at present seems to be hunting First Order Completion demons, such as that Blood-Patterned Mountain Spectre. Or else, killing martial artists of the same realm."

"But Muscle and Tendon Realm martial artists in Chuqiu City are all known figures. They are either retainers of this family or guests of that one. A single move affects the whole body, so this can only remain a backup option."

"Besides, since the Vajra Scepter gained a new function after upgrading, I should learn another martial art as well, in case of need."

Li Cunxiao walked to the bedside. His thick forearm squeezed into the gap with some difficulty, and he took out a booklet wrapped in cowhide.

"Pure Yang Sixteen Hands."

His reasoning was simple. He had not learned it before because his energy was limited, and the breakthrough requirements for this martial art were harsh.

Now that all the conditions were in place, he could naturally give it a try. Even if he did not use the Vajra Scepter to push it to the Muscle and Tendon level, he could at least broaden his knowledge.

With that in mind, Li Cunxiao first took out the Secret Diagram.

Having already experienced visualizing the Tiger Demon, Li Cunxiao did not focus on the sixteen erotic illustrations this time. Instead, he tried to visualize the Tiger Demon in its state on the verge of eruption—using a demon to observe a demon.

Sure enough, before his eyes, the boundaries between the sixteen erotic illustrations gradually blurred. They twisted, trembled, fused together, and finally transformed into a fox face that was half human, half demon—strange, yet carrying a touch of seduction.

"So this is how the Visualization Method was hidden."

Li Cunxiao only wanted to confirm whether the most important Visualization Method was present. Since there was no issue, he set down the diagram and turned instead to the Pure Yang Sixteen Hands moves at the front, studying them carefully.

This time, with his experience of cultivating the Tiger Demon Fist to the Muscle and Tendon Realm, the manual no longer seemed as obscure as it had before.

Especially its coded phrases and veiled language—thanks to his extensive reading lately, particularly old martial world tales and miscellaneous discussions of martial artists, Li Cunxiao might not understand everything at a glance, but he could grasp seventy or eighty percent of it.

Anything he still did not understand could be organized and brought to Cui Yao for guidance when he had the time.

Now that they were nominally both instructors, bringing along some wine and meat to ask a few questions would be easy enough.

He read in one breath until the You hour in the afternoon. In late autumn, the sky had already turned dusky and dark.

Li Cunxiao closed the manual and walked out through the gate. Gazing into the vast heavens, he felt unusually exhilarated.

The combat strength of the Muscle and Tendon Realm already counted as backbone strength in Chuqiu County, enough to ensure his safety.

He had become Zhang Lishi's formal disciple, and his younger brother was no longer a bookboy dependent on others.

Even without taking escort missions, he could easily earn fifty taels of silver each month. He no longer had to worry about food or clothing, and he could afford black-market Demon Meat.

In martial arts, he had experts such as Zhang Lishi and the Cui brothers to guide him. He no longer had to grope about blindly in the dark.

Everything was getting better.

"The future will be even better."

Li Cunxiao smiled faintly, straightened his appearance, and strode out of the courtyard.

Tonight was the moment to make his appearance.

"Junior Disciple Ye, you haven't met Senior Brother yet, have you? Senior Brother is bold and generous by nature. He will surely appreciate an outstanding talent like Junior Disciple Ye."

As the lanterns began to glow, Shen He, Jiang Qi, and several other scions of great families rode together toward the Zhang residence.

Senior Brother Shi Tie normally remained at the manor on Zhang Lishi's behalf. He had returned early specifically for the Autumn Hunt.

Tonight, Zhang Lishi had specially prepared a welcome banquet for this eldest disciple. Naturally, junior disciples like Shen He could not miss it.

"I heard that Senior Brother is one of only two people among Chu Hill's younger generation to break through to the Viscera Realm. The other is the eldest son of County Governor Murong, who is equally mysterious and rarely seen. Tonight, I must properly witness Senior Brother's bearing."

Expectation and nervousness showed on Ye Chengxiao's face. In truth, the others in the carriage felt the same way.

There was no other reason. On the surface, Shi Tie was practically the Flying Tiger Escort Agency's heir beyond all doubt.

Though they had come to learn martial arts, building a good relationship with the future Chief Escort was likewise an important task for their lineages.

With uneasy hearts, the four arrived at the escort agency. After having their servants present the gift lists and gifts, they headed straight for the training grounds without lingering.

The place usually used for drills was now lavishly set for a banquet, and many escorts had already arrived.

Such grand fanfare from Zhang Lishi undoubtedly conveyed the importance he placed on his eldest disciple, Shi Tie.

The four grew even more excited and quickly walked toward the central raised platform. Yet as they approached, they unexpectedly discovered a stranger beside Zhang Lishi and Shi Tie.

The man was tall and broad-built, chatting and laughing freely with the other two. Though his manner was respectful, his face naturally carried immense authority, and he did not look timid in the slightest.

Shen He found the man inexplicably familiar, yet could not remember where he had seen him. The other three were even more bewildered, until Zhang Lishi noticed them and beckoned them forward.

Before the four could ask anything, they heard their master speak in a lighthearted tone:

"Sanlang, hurry and greet your senior brothers and sisters."

The young man nodded. Neither servile nor overbearing, he cupped his hands and said in a clear voice:

"Li Cunxiao greets Senior Brother Shen, Senior Sister Jiang, Senior Sister Xiao, and—"

When his gaze shifted to Ye Chengxiao, it paused slightly, as though he was uncertain.

"Junior Disciple Ye?"