Soaring Dragon Palm

In the small courtyard, Lu Ming and Old Man Zhao ate and chatted.

"It seems your trip into the mountains this time was very fruitful. Not only has your saber technique become sharper and more concise, but you've also realized your own shortcomings."

Old Man Zhao took a hearty drink of wine with his fresh venison, then patted his clothes and stood up, saying:

"Since I've eaten your meat, I can't just offer nothing in return. I'll teach you a palm technique to supplement your hand skills."

"Old man, you don't have to..."

Although Lu Ming knew Old Man Zhao was no ordinary person and surely knew many cultivation methods and martial skills, he had never asked to learn.

The old man had already helped him too much, teaching him to read and giving him access to his library.

He worried he wouldn't be able to repay him in the future.

However, Old Man Zhao said, "It's just a Human-grade Mid-tier palm technique. Watch closely."

Without giving Lu Ming another chance to speak, Old Man Zhao leaped to the center of the courtyard and began demonstrating the palm technique.

Perhaps to test Lu Ming's eyesight, Old Man Zhao performed the palm technique at an extremely fast speed, coordinating it with his movement techniques. His palms moved with his body, like a soaring dragon.

In an instant, the entire small courtyard was filled with palm shadows.

Lu Ming could tell that this palm technique was both flexible and varied, yet also possessed a powerful and domineering nature.

It was an extremely profound palm technique.

After finishing one set, Old Man Zhao retracted his stance and stood still. "This palm technique is called [Soaring Dragon Palm]. It has three killing moves and thirty-six variations. How much did you remember?"

As soon as Old Man Zhao finished, Lu Ming's Jade Pendant had already recorded everything. After one practice run, it was transmitted to his mind.

So, the moment Old Man Zhao asked, Lu Ming stood up and said, "I remembered it all."

"Good. Then show me."

Old Man Zhao wasn't too surprised.

Lu Ming then performed the palm technique. Although he wasn't as fast as Old Man Zhao, he was very fluid, proving he had indeed memorized it.

"Excellent, excellent. You've remembered the moves. Now, I'll teach you the circulation routes."

Old Man Zhao stroked his beard with satisfaction, then imparted the circulation routes for [Soaring Dragon Palm] one by one. Lu Ming quickly remembered them.

The Jade Pendant transmitted again.

This time, there was much more content, but Lu Ming didn't have time to look at it yet.

"Although this [Soaring Dragon Palm] is only a Human-grade Mid-tier palm technique, it's still extraordinary."

As he spoke, he walked over to a large rock in the courtyard and struck it three times in rapid succession.

Lu Ming recognized these three palm strikes. They were the three killing moves from [Soaring Dragon Palm]: Heartbreak Strike, Crown Strike, and Dragon Emerges from Sea.

He just didn't understand what profound principle Old Man Zhao was demonstrating by striking the rock.

But he soon found out. After being struck three times, the rock emitted three explosive sounds a moment later, then shattered into pieces.

"Hidden Strength!"

The words suddenly popped into Lu Ming's mind.

"Correct. It is indeed Hidden Strength."

"You also know that in the Inner Qi Realm, one cannot project inner energy outwards to unleash palm energy from a distance. However, [Soaring Dragon Palm] is exceptional. While it cannot project palm energy from afar, it can unleash three distinct forces upon contact."

"Thank you for teaching me, Old Zhao."

After hearing this, Lu Ming realized how extraordinary this palm technique was and quickly expressed his gratitude.

"Why be so formal between us?"

Old Man Zhao waved his hand dismissively. "I'm just fond of you, kid, so I'm teaching you this palm technique. I don't require anything from you."

"Also, calling me 'old man' is more intimate from now on."

Hearing this, Lu Ming had nothing more to say. He silently noted this kindness, intending to repay it when he had the chance.

Afterward, they returned to the dining table and continued eating and chatting for another half an hour before concluding.

In the days that followed, Lu Ming returned to his regular routine. Besides cultivation, he would go to the Shuofeng Mountain Range for training.

By this time, more than two months had passed since his first return from the Shuofeng Mountain Range.

During this period, his cultivation speed had slowed down. He had only broken through two layers, reaching the eighth level of the Inner Qi Realm.

In terms of martial skills, his saber technique, palm technique, and movement technique had all made significant progress. The newly learned [Soaring Dragon Palm] was already completely mastered.

As for speed, he could now leap up to forty meters in a single step.

Besides these advancements, it was worth mentioning that just over half a month after his first return from the Shuofeng Mountain Range, Dugu Mingri, whom he had met by chance, found him again.

At that time, Dugu Mingri had already successfully broken through and become a True Qi Realm martial artist.

In his own words: "Thank heavens, I finally managed to break through before turning sixteen."

His visit that time was not only to share the joy of his breakthrough but also to bid farewell. Having successfully reached the True Qi Realm, he was going to join the Jade Luo Sect. A grand-uncle of the Dugu family served as an outer sect elder there.

Within the Zhao Kingdom, there were quite a few ranked forces, but only three of them reached the seventh rank.

The Jade Luo Sect was one of them.

With Dugu Mingri's talent, and having an outer sect elder as an uncle, it shouldn't be difficult for him to join.

Lu Ming naturally congratulated him profusely. Then, thinking of the Qi Replenishing Pills the other party had gifted him, he pulled him to a restaurant to celebrate his breakthrough and bid him farewell at the same time.

The next day, he left Shuofeng City and headed for the Jade Luo Sect.

Returning from the Shuofeng Mountain Range laden with goods once again, the gazes of passersby on the road held a trace more reverence.

During this period, Lu Ming had become somewhat famous. After all, not everyone had his kind of harvest every time.

Lu Ming wanted to keep a low profile, but there was no choice. Without a storage ring, he could only carry his goods on his back and parade through the city.

He knew that trouble would eventually find him. As expected, not long after entering the city this time, his path was blocked.

"Little brother, your skills are impressive. Are you interested in joining our Black Tiger Gang?"

The one who stopped Lu Ming was a lean old man wearing a cap and fanning himself with a folding fan. He was very old, but his cultivation wasn't high, only Inner Qi ninth layer.

However, he was followed by a group of people, each of them burly and strong, with the lowest cultivation being Inner Qi fourth layer.

If Lu Ming had gone near Old Man Heavenly Saber's tomb last time, he would have encountered this group earlier. However, he didn't recognize them now.

The surrounding people, on the other hand, were very aware of this group's background. Seeing this scene, they began to whisper:

"It's Master Liu from the Black Tiger Gang. I didn't expect him to target this young brother."

"This is probably an order from the Black Tiger Gang leader. This is troublesome; the Black Tiger Gang is not to be trifled with."

"Sorry, I'm not interested."

Lu Ming had sharp ears and keen eyes and naturally heard the surrounding discussions. He wasn't afraid and directly refused.

After speaking, he prepared to step around the group and leave.

But the old man blocked him again with his folding fan. "Wait a moment, little brother. Our leader greatly admires you and has heard that you live quite frugally."

"So, to show our sincerity, we've specially arranged a luxurious courtyard for you in the west of the city."

"As long as you agree to join the Black Tiger Gang and work for our leader, you can move in immediately."

Lu Ming could naturally tell that there was a threat in his words, especially the part about finding out where he lived. Thus, his voice turned cold as he said:

"Sorry, I'm still not interested."

Master Liu frowned upon hearing this. Immediately, a burly man with Inner Qi eighth layer cultivation, holding a tiger-headed iron staff, stepped forward from behind him. "I think you're refusing a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. Take this staff!"