Soaring Dragon Palm

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

"Looks like you gained a great deal from this trip into the mountains. Not only has your saber technique become sharper and more concise, but you've also realized your own shortcomings."

Old Man Zhao enjoyed a mouthful of fresh venison with his wine, then patted his clothes and rose to his feet.

"After eating your meat, I can't give you nothing in return. I'll teach you a palm technique to make up for your lack of hand-to-hand skills."

"Old Man, there's no need..."

Although Lu Ming knew Old Man Zhao was no simple person and surely knew many cultivation techniques and martial skills, he had never opened his mouth to ask to learn from him.

The other party had already helped him far too much, teaching him writing and even letting him read his collection of books.

He was afraid he would be unable to repay him in the future.

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

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

Perhaps he wanted to test Lu Ming's eyesight. Old Man Zhao moved with astonishing speed. His movements flowed with his body, his palms following wherever he went, as graceful as a swimming dragon.

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

Lu Ming could tell that this palm technique was both flexible and unpredictable, while also possessing fierce and domineering power.

It was an exceptionally profound palm technique.

After completing the set, Old Man Zhao withdrew his stance and stood upright. "This palm technique is called Soaring Dragon Palm. It has three killing moves and thirty-six variations. How much did you memorize?"

The moment Old Man Zhao finished, the Jade Pendant inside Lu Ming had already recorded everything. After running through the technique once, it transmitted the contents into his mind.

Thus, as soon as Old Man Zhao asked, Lu Ming stood and said, "I remember it all."

"Hmm. Then perform it once."

Old Man Zhao was not particularly surprised.

Lu Ming then performed the technique once. Although he was not as fast as Old Man Zhao, his movements were smooth, proving that he had indeed memorized it.

"Not bad, not bad. You've memorized the moves. Next, I'll teach you the qi-circulation route."

Old Man Zhao happily stroked his beard, then taught Lu Ming the qi-circulation route of Soaring Dragon Palm step by step. Lu Ming quickly memorized it.

The Jade Pendant transmitted it once again.

There was much more information this time, but Lu Ming had not yet had the time to examine it.

Because Old Man Zhao continued speaking.

"Although this Soaring Dragon Palm is only a Human-tier Mid-grade palm technique, it is far from simple."

As he spoke, he came to a huge stone in the courtyard and instantly struck it three times.

Lu Ming recognized the three strikes. They were precisely the three killing moves of Soaring Dragon Palm: Heartbreak Strike, Head Smash Strike, and Dragon Emerges From Sea Strike.

He simply did not know what profound secret Old Man Zhao intended to demonstrate by striking the stone three times.

He soon found out. After the stone received the three strikes, three explosive booms erupted from it a moment later, and then it shattered with a thunderous crash.

"Hidden Strength!"

Those two words suddenly surfaced in Lu Ming's mind.

"Correct. It is Hidden Strength."

Old Man Zhao clapped his hands and explained.

"You also know that those in the Nei Qi Realm cannot release their qi outside the body and strike with palm force from a distance. However, Soaring Dragon Palm is extraordinary. Although it cannot produce palm force from a distance either, when it makes contact, it can still unleash three streams of force."

"Thank you, Old Man Zhao, for teaching me."

Only after hearing this did Lu Ming realize how extraordinary the palm technique was, and he hurriedly expressed his thanks.

"Why be so formal between us?"

Old Man Zhao waved his hand, looking unconcerned. "This old man taught you this palm technique because I like the look of you, kid. I don't ask you to do anything in return."

"Also, you should keep calling me Old Man. It sounds more familiar."

Hearing this, Lu Ming found it difficult to say anything more. He silently remembered this debt of gratitude, planning to repay it when he had the chance.

Afterward, the two returned to the dining table. They ate and chatted for more than half an hour before finally finishing.

In the days that followed, Lu Ming returned to his regular life. Aside from cultivating, he went to the Shuofeng Mountain Range to gain experience.

By then, more than two months had passed since he first returned from the Shuofeng Mountain Range.

During this period, his cultivation speed had also slowed down. He had advanced only two levels, reaching the eighth layer of the Nei Qi Realm.

As for martial skills, his saber technique, palm technique, and lightness skill had all improved greatly. The newly learned Soaring Dragon Palm had long since been completely mastered.

As for his speed, he could now leap forty meters in a single step at most.

Aside from these matters, one thing worth mentioning was that, only half a month after Lu Ming first returned from the Shuofeng Mountain Range, Dugu Mingri, whom he had met by chance, found him again.

By then, he had already successfully broken through and become a Zhen Qi Realm Martial Artist.

As he put it, "Thank heaven and earth. I finally managed to break through before turning sixteen."

His visit was not only to share the joy of breaking through, but also to say farewell. After successfully reaching the Zhen Qi Realm, he was going to join the Jade Luo Sect. An uncle-grandfather of the Dugu Family was serving there as an outer sect elder.

Within Zhao, there were quite a few forces that had reached a ranked grade, but only three had reached seventh grade.

The Jade Luo Sect was one of them.

With Dugu Mingri's talent, along with an uncle-grandfather who was an outer sect elder, joining the sect should not be difficult.

Lu Ming naturally congratulated him. Then, remembering the Qi Replenishing Pill Dugu Mingri had given him, he dragged him to a restaurant to celebrate his breakthrough and see him off at the same time.

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

Once again, Lu Ming returned from the Shuofeng Mountain Range laden with spoils, and the gazes of the pedestrians along the way held a trace more awe.

During this period, Lu Ming had become somewhat famous. After all, not everyone had harvests like his every time.

Lu Ming would have preferred to keep a low profile, but he had no choice. Without a Storage Ring, he could only carry his belongings on his back and parade them through the streets.

He knew that sooner or later this would bring trouble. Sure enough, not long after entering the city this time, someone blocked his path.

"Little brother, your strength is pretty good. Are you interested in joining our Black Tiger Gang?"

The person blocking Lu Ming was a thin old man wearing a melon-shaped cap and waving a folding fan. He was very old, but his cultivation was not high, only at the ninth layer of the Nei Qi Realm.

However, a group of people followed behind him. Every one of them was sturdy, and even the weakest had reached the fourth layer of the Nei Qi Realm.

If Lu Ming had gone near Old Man Heavenly Saber's tomb the last time, he would have encountered this group ahead of schedule. As it was, he did not know them yet.

The surrounding people, however, knew the group's background very well. Seeing this scene, they began whispering among themselves.

"That's Advisor Liu of the Black Tiger Gang. I didn't expect him to set his sights on this little brother."

"It's probably an order from the Black Tiger Gang's Sect Leader. This is troublesome. The Black Tiger Gang isn't easy to deal with."

"Sorry, I'm not interested."

With his sharp ears and keen eyes, Lu Ming naturally heard the surrounding discussions. He was not afraid, either, and directly refused.

After saying this, he lifted his foot and prepared to walk around the group and leave.

However, the old man blocked him again with his folding fan. "Wait, little brother. Our Sect Leader admires you, and we've also heard that your living conditions are rather shabby."

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

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

As for the claim that they had merely heard where he lived, Lu Ming could naturally tell that the words carried an obvious threat. His voice therefore turned cold.

"Sorry, I'm still not interested."

Advisor Liu frowned upon hearing this. Immediately, a burly man holding a tiger-headed iron staff stepped out from behind him. He was at the eighth layer of the Nei Qi Realm.

"I say you refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. Take this!"