After the Yan family was destroyed and the Righteous Gang took power, the situation in Obsidian City quickly stabilized.
Li Qing, having become a Guest Elder of the Righteous Gang's martial artists, did not distract himself with the gang's internal affairs. He focused solely on the path of martial arts.
The Yan family's former martial arts repository was naturally claimed by the Righteous Gang. Quite a few martial arts manuals inside had already gathered a thick layer of dust.
As one of the greatest contributors to the Yan family's downfall, Li Qing was naturally granted access to this repository, where he could choose from any of its martial arts inheritances.
Few of the martial arts inheritances in the repository used words as their medium. Most were images inscribed by the martial arts powerhouses who had created those techniques, blending their own martial aura and will into them.
This method of inheritance was relatively difficult to grasp in the early stages. To beginners, martial arts containing true intent were exceedingly obscure and difficult to comprehend.
However, once one reached the later stages, progress would instead begin to accelerate. Studying images containing true martial intent every day was almost equivalent to having a master personally teach by word and example at one's side.
Li Qing entered the Yan family's former martial arts repository. Many martial arts manuals lay scattered across the floor, and judging from the dust piled on the shelves, these things had not been looked through in a long time.
"Now that I possess four martial arts techniques, if I get greedy and learn too many, I simply won't be able to keep up. Still, I can browse through the Yan family's collection to broaden my horizons. If there truly is a technique that suits me particularly well, I can practice it."
Saying this, Li Qing picked up an old animal-hide scroll. He dusted it off, then spread it open.
It bore the image of a palm. Merely observing it, Li Qing could sense the martial intent within.
"Stone Shattering Palm. Once mastered to great completion, one can shatter stubborn rocks barehanded."
From its name alone, he could tell this was a palm technique. Its described power was also quite impressive, but Li Qing was not particularly interested.
He already possessed four martial arts techniques. Practicing another palm technique would not greatly improve his strength, so he merely glanced at it briefly before putting it back in its original place.
After that, Li Qing rapidly flipped through the martial arts techniques in the repository one after another.
"Taiyi Sword Scripture," "Eight Desolations Fist," "Black Tiger Saber Technique," "Thunderous Finger."
It had to be said that the Yan family's collection of martial arts was quite formidable. There were many superior techniques among them, and Li Qing's heart even stirred. He wanted to abandon the techniques he currently practiced and switch to cultivating these superior martial arts.
But he discarded that thought as soon as it arose. Superior martial arts were highly tempting, but they also placed considerable demands on one's comprehension and aptitude.
Take the "Taiyi Sword Scripture," for example. Its sword techniques were incomparably intricate. Someone like Li Qing, who had barely touched a sword from childhood to adulthood, would find it difficult even to get started.
Compared with flashy and complicated sword techniques, the broad, forceful style of hammer techniques suited him better. Thus, quite a few of his current martial arts followed the path of fierce strength.
After browsing for a while, Li Qing sighed softly. He put down the martial arts manual in his hands and prepared to leave.
But soon, he noticed a dark-gold book slip lying half-open beneath the bottom of a shelf, used to prop up one of its feet.
At first, Li Qing thought it was a piece of gold. Taking it to the Feng Kingdom would make it worth no small sum.
But after he pulled out the dark-gold book slip, he finally saw the written information on it clearly. It was actually a martial arts technique recorded using words as its medium.
"Golden Body Technique"!
"I never expected the Yan family to actually use a martial arts inheritance to prop up a table leg. Just how despised was this technique?" Li Qing laughed speechlessly, then curiously began reading the written information.
However, the very first sentence made Li Qing's expression change.
"Once this technique is cultivated to great completion, blades and spears cannot pierce the body, sharp weapons struggle to draw near, and the entire body becomes as though cast from gold and forged from iron."
The opening description was enough to make one's heart race. Li Qing was somewhat puzzled. Why would the Yan family look down on such a powerful martial art and use it to prop up a table leg?
After reading the rest, Li Qing could not help but smile bitterly himself.
This "Golden Body Technique" was extremely difficult to master. It was absurdly divided into seven levels!
Generally speaking, martial arts were basically divided into three levels, corresponding respectively to Outer Strength experts, Internal Energy experts, and Transforming Energy Grandmasters!
Yet for this "Golden Body Technique," the first level was merely beginner level, the third level counted as minor completion, and only the sixth level counted as great completion. As for the seventh level, even the person who created this martial art had failed to cultivate it, because his lifespan was insufficient!
Yes, his lifespan had been insufficient.
Because practicing this technique consumed an enormous amount of time. It took three years merely to enter the gate, and then another ten years to endure until minor completion.
As for the great completion realm, it required thirty years. Li Qing strongly suspected that only the creator of this martial art had ever managed to cultivate it successfully.
Furthermore, the end of this "Golden Body Technique" contained a specially noted sentence. It was likely this very sentence that had caused the Yan family to completely abandon the technique.
"Note: This martial art may only be cultivated after one reaches the age of sixteen. Otherwise, the body's bones will become fixed in shape and will never grow another inch!"
Seeing these words, the corners of Li Qing's mouth could not help twitching.
"This is truly screwing people over. You can only begin practicing at sixteen, which means you'll already be nineteen after entering the gate. To reach great completion... fifty-nine years old!"
At fifty-nine, with the Golden Body Technique at great completion, one could indeed run rampant among Internal Energy experts. But at that age, one's qi and blood would be declining. Trying to fight others again would put one at a tremendous disadvantage.
"No wonder the Yan family used it to prop up a table leg. It's simply too much of a chicken rib."
Li Qing complained several times in a row, but he still decided to take this technique for himself.
This turtle-like technique was, when all was said and done, rather suitable for him. Martial arts that could take every part of the body into account were not commonly seen.
As for time—
Li Qing, who still had more than a hundred years left to live, feared nothing more than the passage of time. Slowly grinding away at it was no problem.
If he could truly cultivate this technique to great completion, then below the realm of Grandmasters, there would probably be very few people capable of threatening his life.
Over the next few days, Li Qing began packing up his belongings.
He tightly wrapped up some jade he had bought at the marketplace, as well as gold, silver, and other valuables looted from the Yan family. He slung them over his back and went to find Tian Long.
"Heavenly Dragon Gang Leader, as expected, I still cannot forget those two wine recipes. So I plan to travel far away for a time, though I do not know when I will return," Li Qing said with cupped fists.
Tian Long, who had been run ragged these past few days, froze at once. He hurriedly said, "Brother Li Qing, things are going so well in Obsidian City. Why are you leaving so suddenly? If you want brewing ingredients, I can have the gang's people search for them. There's no need for you to leave personally!"
After all, they had fought together to win their territory. With Li Qing suddenly planning to leave, Tian Long naturally found it hard to part with him.
Of course, the most crucial reason was Guest Elder Mo Nan in the gang. Tian Long feared that after Li Qing left, he would not be able to keep that old man who practiced internal martial arts in check.
"Hahaha, Gang Leader, don't try to keep me any longer. It's not as though I'm leaving never to return. I will come back eventually," Li Qing said with a hearty laugh.
Tian Long sighed repeatedly at this. After thinking for a long while, he truly did not know what terms he could offer to make Li Qing stay. After all, Li Qing did not even care for the position of second-in-command of the Righteous Gang.
"Since your mind is made up, I cannot say anything more," Tian Long said regretfully.
Li Qing smiled, then continued, "Before I leave, though, there is one matter I must trouble the Gang Leader with."
"Go ahead. So long as I can do it, I will certainly give it everything I have!" Tian Long declared, thumping his chest.
"It is not anything difficult. The An family living across from where I used to reside on Zhengming Street treated me quite well. After I leave, I hope the Heavenly Dragon Gang Leader can help me look after the old man and his granddaughter. Consider it my way of repaying that kindness."
Upon hearing Li Qing's words, Tian Long immediately recalled the little girl and old man who had dared to stand before him that day and plead for Li Qing.
"Hahahaha, that's a trivial matter. Don't worry. So long as the Righteous Gang exists for even one day, no one in Obsidian City will be able to bully them!" Tian Long agreed without hesitation.
"Then Li Qing will thank the Gang Leader in advance!" Li Qing said sincerely. Before turning to leave, he added, "Gang Leader, before I go, I still wish to say one more thing. Do not blame me for meddling."
"When we destroyed the Yan family, the people of the Seven Kill Squad rendered great service. Now that it is the Righteous Gang's turn to rule Obsidian City, I hope the Gang Leader will not forget where those people of the Seven Kill Squad came from!"
Since they had fought side by side, Li Qing did not wish for Tian Long to walk the Yan family's old path. He offered the advice in his heart, hoping Tian Long would treat Obsidian City's people well.
Once these words were spoken, Tian Long understood Li Qing's meaning. In that instant, he also understood that Li Qing truly regarded him as one of his own. Otherwise, Li Qing would not have offered such advice.
Tian Long said solemnly, "Good brother, I will remember your words. I too fought my way out of the grasslands and marshes, and no one understands the suffering of common folk better than I do. Rest assured."
Only then did Li Qing nod and turn around.
"No need to see me off. Farewell!"
Before the luxurious and imposing residence, Li Qing walked onto the pitch-black street with his bundle on his back. Under the blood-colored moonlight, his figure gradually receded into the distance.
Tian Long stood beneath the Righteous Gang's plaque, staring fixedly at Li Qing's departing back.
After Li Qing's figure could no longer be seen, Tian Long roared in a deep voice, "Bring me a skilled painter! Paint my brother Li's face and enshrine it in the gang! Even if I'm gone someday, should brother Li return to the Righteous Gang, everyone in the gang must follow his lead!"
"And on Zhengming Street, there is an An family. Bring both the old man and his granddaughter into the gang, and treat them well from now on!"