Cloud Ascending Ladder, Treading Air and Sweeping

"Junior Brother Lin, are you sure you don't want to reconsider? Senior Brother Wang personally invited you..."

Chen Qing still wanted to persuade him, but Lin Mo remained calm, studying the 'Cloud Ascending Ladder' in his hand. Xu Changfeng had already sneered a few times.

He waved his hand, showing disdain for Wang Zhongtian's chief disciple. "If Senior Disciple Brother wasn't busy in Prefecture City, would he even have a chance to invite someone here? You can tell your Senior Brother Wang exactly what I said when you go back!"

After sending Chen Qing away, Lin Mo discussed the property deeds and assets with the remaining merchants. He simply rented them out with a profit-sharing model and a base sum, which was also the Prefecture City Inspector's intention.

All this took more than half an hour. With Xu Changfeng's participation, Lin Mo found the remaining matters much easier.

"Senior Brother Xu, I'll have to trouble you to go to Prefecture City to hand over these assets to the treasury. As for the remaining silver, it should come to me, around seven thousand taels..."

Lin Mo chose two cultivation techniques, let Xu Changfeng pick a treasure, and also selected a precious medicine of seven or eight years for Master Yang Yun. The silver he would receive was roughly this amount.

Halfway through his sentence, Xu Changfeng, who had also contributed and was his senior brother, was about to discuss the money.

Unexpectedly, Xu Changfeng waved his hand first. "Alright, Junior Brother. I know you're kind-hearted, but it's already great that I can pick a suitable longsword. How could I let you share the silver with me? This merit was earned with your life..."

He continued, "Back to the main topic. Regarding the Prefecture City competition, since the Inspector favors you now, many people will want to step on you. This is unavoidable... but more importantly, the reward this time. An A-grade evaluation comes with a Human-grade Minor Merit, and you can also get a glimpse of the Prefecture City Treasury..."

"Time is tight, and the task is heavy. I heard this Prefecture City competition will be held a month from now, when winter arrives."

"It was held around this time back then, but unfortunately, your senior brother's luck was a bit poor. Participating at the age of twenty, among over a thousand people, I could only get a mere B-grade. Keep in mind, there were seventeen A-grade evaluations and fifty-two B-grades..."

Listening to Xu Changfeng ramble on and boast, Lin Mo smiled and chimed in with a few supportive words.

With everything arranged, the Zhao Family Grain Store and the Qianjin Escort Agency's defecting Martial Artists were being hunted down by the Changhe Martial Arts School and even martial artists from other counties. The overall situation was settled.

"According to what Senior Brother said, if I can get an A-grade evaluation, I can also receive a Human-grade Minor Merit. Even if I don't, I can take this opportunity to see the Prefecture City Treasury and use my previous Minor Merit..."

"'Great Jade Ape Breathing Technique' was discovered in Changhe County, after all. In such a vast Prefecture City Treasury, perhaps there are fragmented scrolls remaining."

Lin Mo sighed deeply. After gaining experience and insights into the breathing technique from copying the household yesterday, he had reviewed it overnight and benefited greatly.

By practicing the Great Jade Ape Breathing Technique step by step, he would be able to perfectly integrate it with his combat skills within three to five days, and his combat power would soar.

As a direct disciple of a Martial Master, Yang Yun would naturally not be stingy about teaching the breathing technique, but that would have to wait until he reached the Second Level. Otherwise, if the breathing technique had low compatibility, it could cause damage.

Although Lin Mo didn't know it before, he thought he could try it based on his [Bee Waist Ape Back] physique. Unexpectedly, his Destiny traits, [Bee Waist Ape Back] and [White Ape Momentum], were extremely compatible with this breathing technique.

His compatibility had greatly increased, and coupled with his moderate practice, there had been no problems.

"As for the Prefecture City competition, there's still a month left. I have enough Luck, and in a few days, once the breathing technique is fully mastered, I can start upgrading my Destiny!"

"For now, let's focus on studying this movement technique!"

Lin Mo flipped through and studied the Cloud Ascending Ladder. Without demonstrations, figuring it out on his own would inevitably be slow.

The Cloud Ascending Ladder in front of him was Human-grade Mid-tier. In terms of flexibility and endurance, it should not be inferior to some Human-grade High-tier movement techniques.

The Zhao Family Grain Store and the Qianjin Escort Agency combined had quite a few Human-grade High-tier techniques, although none were Mysterious Grade.

There were more than ten books, including two movement techniques.

However, one required burning Blood Essence for escape. Lin Mo needed a movement technique to increase his speed, but he didn't need to risk his life.

The other was for short-distance bursts. When mastered, it could achieve effects similar to instantaneous movement within tens or even hundreds of meters, but it was ultimately unsuitable for long-distance travel or escape.

After careful consideration, Lin Mo settled for the next best option, prioritizing his needs, and chose the 'Cloud Ascending Ladder'.

The Cloud Ascending Ladder was divided into three layers.

The first layer was Treading Air and Sweeping. Simply put, it gave Lin Mo opportunities to maneuver in the air, using the air to gain assistance or change direction.

Combined with Lin Mo's favored fist techniques, his assassination skills would reach a new level.

Even if the assassination failed, with the ability of the first layer, Treading Air and Sweeping, scaling walls and leaping over roofs would be a piece of cake.

As for the latter two layers, they were still a bit far off for him at the moment.

"To cultivate this layer, I'll need some training props..."

Lin Mo found a few smaller sandbags and tied them to his legs. He tested the weight by shaking and flicking his legs. Each leg had an additional load of over twenty catties.

"This certainly wouldn't have a significant impact on a Martial Artist's daily walk, but for practicing stances, especially footwork and movement techniques, it's just right!"

He followed the instructions in the Cloud Ascending Ladder, took a deep breath, and lightly leaped onto a high stake with his toes. The wooden stake swayed slightly.

With both feet on the high stake, Lin Mo quickly stabilized himself, cleared his mind, and began to move on the stake.

At first, every step he took caused the sandbags to sway, and consequently, the entire wooden stake swayed. It wasn't difficult to stand firm, but it was still a far cry from the technique's requirement of stepping as if light as a feather.

After getting a little used to the rhythm, he deliberately circulated Blood Essence in his legs. The speed increased significantly with the burst of strength, but as soon as he found a stable rhythm, it vanished completely.

After a short while, Lin Mo could still move freely on the stake. Even though he was unsteady with the sandbags tied on, he could adjust in time with his Martial Artist physique.

After two short periods, Lin Mo began to feel a little breathless. His legs felt numb and stiff from circulating Blood Essence for a long time, and his steps gradually went awry.

By the time three short periods had passed, he had completely lost his strength, sweating profusely. The prolonged low-intensity infusion of Blood Essence also made his mind a bit tired.

Crrk...

Lin Mo lost his footing and immediately slid off the stake. Leaning against the wooden stake, his legs trembled uncontrollably.

"Just the part in the movement technique about maintaining low-intensity Blood Essence infusion for a long time is difficult. It sounds easy, but it's hard to maintain!"

Lin Mo sighed inwardly.

He had been practicing the White Ape Eight Section Fist for a long time and was accustomed to the grand, sweeping movements of Blood Essence. Adjusting to this naturally took some time and effort.

After catching his breath and wiping the sweat from his face, he turned and jumped back up, continuing to practice the Cloud Ascending Ladder on the stake.