Inside the room.
Under Lu Chen's coercion and threats, Yang Tiecheng indeed did not dare play any tricks and recited all the martial arts he had cultivated.
There were two in total.
One was called [Tiger Claw Technique].
The other was called [Swallow Chasing Wind Saber].
Just from their names, one could tell they were two more martial arts unfit for refined company.
According to Yang Tiecheng, martial arts in this world were indeed divided into ranks.
From low to high, they were Unranked, Third-rate, Second-rate, First-rate, Pinnacle, and Divine Arts! Most martial arts circulating outside were Unranked.
Only some long-established martial halls or martial arts families possessed Ranked Martial Skills.
Any Ranked Martial Skill released into the Martial World would stir up a great storm and draw countless people into a scramble for it.
And that did not even include cultivation methods.
Cultivation methods were likewise divided into ranks.
They were Mortal Grade, Fine Grade, Superior Grade, Exquisite Grade, and Heavenly Grade—five levels in all.
The higher the grade of a cultivation method, the more devastating the martial skills it unleashed.
With the same move, Black Tiger Rips Out the Heart, some people could shake heaven and earth with it, while others made it look like a fart.
That was the power determined by cultivation methods.
But unfortunately!
Cultivation methods were even rarer than Ranked Martial Skills! Every cultivation method was the secret inheritance of a sect or family, never passed down to outsiders.
By joining a family or gang, one could obtain their martial skill inheritance as long as one showed loyalty.
But obtaining their cultivation method inheritance was basically a fool's dream.
Unless one could become their true disciple.
"So that's how it was."
Lu Chen pondered.
It seemed his martial path had only just begun.
During this time, he had frantically added points, yet the martial arts he had mastered were all Unranked.
"Do you know where in the city I can find Ranked Martial Skills or cultivation methods?"
Lu Chen asked.
"Well... I heard that Canglang Martial Hall and Rising Sun Martial Hall in the city both have Ranked Martial Skills, as well as their own exclusive cultivation methods..." Yang Tiecheng said tremblingly.
"Canglang Martial Hall?"
"Yes. There are two martial halls in the city. One is Canglang Martial Hall, and the other is Rising Sun Martial Hall. But something happened to Canglang Martial Hall recently. Its hall master died suddenly, leaving only a daughter behind. The people in the martial hall are nearly all gone now. Some time ago, they were even recruiting experts everywhere..."
Yang Tiecheng said.
"Is that so?"
An idea surfaced in Lu Chen's mind.
He had killed the Young Hall Master of Rising Sun Martial Hall. There was absolutely no way he could go there.
So if he wanted to obtain Ranked Martial Skills and cultivation methods, he could only try Canglang Martial Hall.
"Where is Canglang Martial Hall?"
Lu Chen asked. "In an alley off Jia Street in the north of the city."
Yang Tiecheng replied.
"Alright. Thank you for telling me all this."
Lu Chen replied.
Bang!
His fist came crashing down.
It was incomparably fast.
Yang Tiecheng did not even have time to react before his head was blasted apart by the punch.
[You successfully sent Yang Tiecheng to reunite with his subordinates, allowing them to reunite in the underworld. Merit Points +50]
Lu Chen immediately looked at his panel.
Name: Lu Chen Cultivation: Second Rank (4%) Cultivation Method: None Martial Arts: Galloping Horse Fist (Perfected), Crimson Sand Palm (Perfected), Black Tiger Fist Technique (Perfected), Gale Blade Technique (Perfected), Tiger Claw Technique (Beginner), Swallow Chasing Wind Saber (Beginner) Talent: Convince with Virtue, Bronze Skin Iron Bones Merit Points: 360
"Panel, add points to Tiger Claw Technique and Swallow Chasing Wind Saber."
Lu Chen muttered.
Whoosh!
The panel before him blurred once again.
Countless scenes of practicing the saber and claw techniques emerged in Lu Chen's mind. His mind went hazy, as though he had entered an isolated, tranquil space and trained bitterly there for seven or eight years.
In the blink of an eye, all the illusions vanished again.
Tiger Claw Technique (Perfected).
Swallow Chasing Wind Saber (Perfected). Remaining Merit Points: 240.
In an instant, his palms and body both changed.
A wholly unprecedented understanding of saber techniques and tiger claws appeared directly in his mind.
It was as if he had become a great martial arts master proficient with both sabers and claws.
Even his cultivation rose again from Second Rank (4%) to Second Rank (60%).
"The progress only increased by 56%, and I didn't break through again. It seems these Unranked martial arts were ultimately limited in power. Even if I perfected them all, they still couldn't greatly increase my strength..."
Lu Chen muttered.
Cultivation methods, Ranked Martial Skills!
These two things were now the utmost priority!
He had to get them as soon as possible!
He did not linger any longer. Instead, he darted out of the room, grabbed a torch, and immediately set a room ablaze. Blazing flames soon burned in the darkness of the night.
The people of the slums were all greatly alarmed.
Sister-in-law Zhang Rong, Zhao Dezhu, and dozens of other impoverished people had gathered together, craning their necks as they saw the Iron Scale Gang engulfed in flames from afar. Their hearts shook violently.
"It's on fire, it's on fire! The time our benefactor spoke of has come!"
Sister-in-law Zhang Rong hurriedly said.
"Don't rush yet. Wait a little longer, in case this is a trap..."
Someone beside her advised.
"The Iron Scale Gang has been destroyed! Anyone who wants to recover their unpaid wages can go inside and look for them now, hahaha..."
Suddenly, a thunderous laugh rang out from the darkness, swiftly echoing in every direction.
After shouting once, Lu Chen immediately darted away, speeding off in another direction. He had already done everything he needed to do.
Now it depended on whether those impoverished people dared to act.
If they did not dare act, it would not mean any loss to him.
But if they dared act, it would definitely mean another huge haul of Merit Points for him.
"That was our benefactor's voice! The Iron Scale Gang has been destroyed?"
"Everyone, charge!"
"It's time to get back our wages! Hurry!"
Zhao Dezhu, Sister-in-law Zhang Rong, and the others shouted, immediately calling on their neighbors as they rushed over.
Humans were social creatures.
They had an immense herd mentality.
Once someone took the lead, the rest would no longer have any reservations.
That was exactly what happened now. With Zhao Dezhu, Sister-in-law Zhang Rong, and dozens of others taking action first, more and more impoverished people began charging over from every direction.
Those grabbing rice grabbed rice.
Those hauling away valuables hauled away valuables.
Others carried bolts of silk and moved cabinets.
Still more led away pigs, cattle, and sheep...
They swarmed in like a hive, wishing they could dig the Iron Scale Gang three feet into the ground.
"Hahaha, I found so much money!"
"Money! This is all our hard-earned money..."
"Don't fight over it, Lord Lu Chen gave this to us..."
"Thank you, Lord Lu Chen..."
[You provided relief to countless impoverished people, allowing them to reclaim the compensation they deserved. Merit Points +300]
As Lu Chen fled, a line of text suddenly appeared. Joy surged in his heart.
Just as expected!
This good deed had not been done in vain!
"What are you doing? Stop at once!"
"You're courting death, trespassing into private property!"
"Seize them! Seize every last one!"
At that moment, a large group of constables in the distance was alerted and charged over, shouting fiercely.
But there were simply too many impoverished people.
The Iron Scale Gang occupied a huge area as well, and these constables could not stop everyone at all.
Moreover, as all sorts of wealth were uncovered, the constables soon could no longer restrain themselves. Their eyes flashed brightly as they rushed in one after another, taking advantage of the chaos to plunder.
The entire Iron Scale Gang fell into utter chaos.
The crowd was like a school of fish crossing a river. Even the Giant Shark Gang members who had been searching for Lu Chen's whereabouts charged in and began looting frantically.
At a time like this, anyone who did not grab money was a fool.
As for searching for Lu Chen?
What a joke?
They only earned a few hundred bucks a month—why risk their lives?
Making a show of it was enough.
"Everyone, stop!"
Rumble!
Suddenly, a thunderous roar erupted.
It rolled like thunder, shaking the area for three or four li around.
The people who had been chaotically snatching things had their eardrums numbed and their hearts seized by terror. In an instant, all of them stopped, their hairs standing on end as though a ferocious tiger had suddenly fixed its gaze upon them.
Constable Chief Guo Feng appeared at last, his face filled with fury. Seeing three impoverished people still carrying a redwood bed outside, cold light flashed in his eyes. His waist saber left its sheath, slicing across their necks in an instant. Blood gushed out like fountains, thick and reeking.
Everyone else was horrified.
Before you continue