Falling Star Arrow

Mid-May.

Yang Martial Hall.

The wooden targets in the shooting range were full of arrows, all of which hit the bullseye.

Liang Qu put down the wooden bow and looked at Hu Qi with eager anticipation.

"How long have you been practicing archery, junior brother?"

"It's been almost a month in total."

"About a month..."

Hu Qi's lips twitched.

Can you master archery in less than a month?

Are you kidding me?

He remembered that when he examined his junior brother's bones, he said that his junior brother was suitable for practicing archery, but he did not expect that the progress would be so fast.

Liang Qu bowed and said, "To be honest, Senior Brother, the reason I came here is to ask Senior Brother Xiang for an archery technique. It would be best if it were of intermediate level, but it would be even better if it were of superior level."

"Archery? Junior brother, can you even learn that? Didn't Senior Brother Xu teach you a spear technique last time?"

"To be honest, I've also just begun to understand the basics of the Azure Dragon Spear."

Before his trip to Feng Bu County, Liang Qu focused more on cultivating his Cultivation Method and increasing his strength as quickly as possible. After all, it was really unreasonable for Eighth Rank River Earl to be merely Martial Artist.

In terms of fighting style, they mostly learned some conventional techniques and had little exposure to martial arts.

But after fighting Liu Jie, Liang Qu realized that martial arts skills were still quite important.

After returning from Feng Bu County, he asked Senior Brother Xu for a copy of the Azure Dragon Seven Kill Spear and practiced it every day in his dreams without fail. Now he has already entered the threshold of mastery.

Hu Qi had nothing to say.

"Junior brother, your talent surpasses that of your senior brother. If you wish to learn, I will teach you the Falling Star Arrow. Once you master it, your arrows will be as swift as shooting stars and as powerful as the wind. It was taught to me by our Master."

"The Falling Star Arrow, is that a superior archery technique?"

"It's a mid-level martial art." Hu Qi shook his head. "Junior brother, don't underestimate it. Although Falling Star Arrow is only a mid-level martial art, once you master this arrow technique, you will have the opportunity to comprehend Chasing Moon Arrow and Sun Piercing Arrow."

The Chasing Moon Arrow is already comparable to a superior martial art, Sun Piercing Arrow firmly ranks among the top-tier martial arts. Placed in an ordinary Hunting Tiger Lineage, it would be a family heirloom, passed down through generations; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that such a Aristocratic Clan could become renowned for its archery skills!

"Senior brother, have you mastered the Chasing Moon Arrow and the Sun Piercing Arrow?"

Hu Qi scratched his head awkwardly. "I've mastered the Falling Star Arrow, but I haven't yet comprehended the Chasing Moon Arrow, Sun Piercing Arrow is still a long way off..."

Martial arts are not so easy to learn. Life and death battles can happen in an instant. Quality is more important than quantity.

For an ordinary Martial Master, mastering one or two intermediate-level martial arts techniques is already enough to serve as their trump card.

Liang Qu was slightly disappointed, but not much.

Intermediate martial arts are much easier to learn than advanced martial arts. Moreover, there are few archery techniques like Falling Star Arrow that allow one to comprehend advanced skills, so it is worth learning.

It's so great to have a Great Martial Master Master; he can just give you the Lineage's martial arts secrets whenever he wants.

"Please teach me, senior brother!"

"That's easy. The way of weapons can also Flesh Refinement. Drawing a bow and nocking an arrow is also a superior Dharma Gate."

"Junior brother, you are exceptionally talented. Learning another skill will not harm you. Watch as I draw my bow and teach you how to cultivate your inner energy!"

Hu Qi drew his dark red bow.

"When you draw the bow correctly, you can nock the arrow with ease, your waist subtly advances, your chest clearly extends, your navel faces the ground, and your mind is at ease..."

The Qi should flow from the back, not the arms; it should be drawn from the ground, rising from the bottom up...

To ensure Liang Qu could see clearly, Hu Qi moved slowly, his breathing rhythmic and unusual.

Unlike ordinary archery, this made Liang Qu's eyes light up.

He listened intently, and the entire morning passed by as he learned archery from Hu Qi.

His archery skills were extremely exquisite, Liang Qu couldn't quite grasp them in a short time; it would take him about three or four days to learn.

"There's no rush. It took me seven days to get started."

Liang Qu nodded. In terms of comprehension ability alone, his talent was not bad.

Bang bang.

A knock came from outside the courtyard.

"Senior Brother Liang, Senior Brother Chen is looking for you."

Chen Jiechang? Shouldn't he be patrolling the river right now?

As spring warms the river, it's not just ducks and fish that are active; a few days ago, Giant Crocodile attacked a person, thankfully averting a major incident.

Liang Qu put down his bow and looked at Hu Qi.

"You go ahead and do your work. I'll go check on the other apprentices."

Liang Qu followed the apprentice out and saw Chen Jiechang, who was wearing a dark blue suit.

"Water Bro, Lord Ran from the River Conservancy Office asked me to tell you that the reward for the last Great Merit has been issued. Go there as soon as you have time."

The reward has arrived? Liang Qu was overjoyed.

"Let's go to the dock."

"I'm not going. Li LiBo and I are out chasing the Giant Crocodile."

"Alright, you two be careful and try not to go into the water. If you encounter any, just use your spears to stab them from the boat."

Giant Crocodile range in length from three to four or five meters, possessing a significant natural advantage that should not be underestimated.

Chen Jiechang and Li LiBo only managed to break through the Skin Barrier and fall into the water where they were bitten by Giant Crocodile. They might not actually be able to win.

"Don't worry, I've been fishing since I was fifteen, for six or seven years now. I know a thing or two about this. It's not like we just discovered Giant Crocodile today."

"Um."

Upon reaching the dock, Liang Qu bid farewell to Chen Jiechang and boarded the multi-story ship.

Ran Zhongshi stood on the deck, having waited for him there since early morning, and bowed with a smile.

"The thoughts of a gentleman are as clear Sky Azure and as bright as the sun; they should not be kept secret from others. The talents of a gentleman are like jade hidden in the chest and pearls concealed; they should not be easily known to others."

I was in a hurry when I left Feng Bu County and didn't have a chance to talk to Brother Liang in detail. After that, I traveled to several other counties, Ploughing the Courtyard and Sweeping the Lair, and only now am I finally getting some results.

Looking at the Liang brothers, they truly are unassuming yet astounding talents; even in Imperial Capital capital, few possess such reserved brilliance.

"Big Brother Ran, you flatter me. My writing is nothing special. I know my own limitations, which is why I dare not show off in front of others."

Liang Qu guessed that the reward would be more generous than originally expected, otherwise Ran Zhongshi would not have praised him so highly.

"Haha, I wonder how many people will lose face with these words. The River Conservancy Office has only been in Ping Yang County for three months, and I haven't seen anyone get promoted like Brother Liang. Come on, I'll take Brother Liang to get his new official robes."

Ran Zhongshi didn't keep them in suspense and grabbed Liang Qu's forearm as they walked towards the Records Room.

"News came today that Brother Liang not only received two Great Merit for the annihilation of the Whale Gang, but was also promoted one rank."

Now he is the River Earl, Principal Eighth Rank; one more step and he will be the Dushui Official, a seventh grade—just one step away from becoming a true official!

Two Great Merit, a promotion! It finally came to fruition.

Liang Qu felt incredibly at ease.

Great Merit lending money out and not knowing when you'll get it back.

"Then the Two Lives Flower I wanted to exchange earlier..."

"Don't worry, the Two Lives Flower were brought along with the message, so there's no need to wait."

Records Room, Liang Qu received his new official robes and Waist Token from the Record Keeper.

The official robes of the Eighth Rank River Earl are slightly different from those of the Subordinate Eighth Rank.

The auspicious cloud pattern on the original dark blue clothing was on the right half, but now it is on the left half.

Even the waist Waist Token are different. It's not that they have an extra "Principal Eighth Rank on them, that would be too tasteless and make them look like nouveau riche. The difference is in the patterns.

The patterns on the Waist Token used to be engraved in intaglio, but now they are engraved in relief.

One has to admire human ingenuity; by changing just one or two details, one can easily distinguish the differences in grade.

As for the treatment of the two, apart from salary, there is not much difference.

Ran Zhongshi then led Liang Qu to the Treasure Vault and took a beautifully crafted, palm-sized White Wood Box from a separate shelf.

"The Two Lives Flower that Brother Liang requested are in this box. Let's open it and examine them."

Liang Qu took the wooden box and felt nothing unusual in it. He opened the box slightly, and a wave of heat gushed out, forcing him to take it away.

Open the lid completely.

A huge, fiery red lotus flower comes into view, its petals layered upon each other, like a ball of flame.

The most peculiar feature is the lotus flower's stamen, with its fine, deep blue threads swaying gently, and you can vaguely see scattered blue light spots.

Two Lives Flower.

A strange bouquet of flowers that grows in an underwater volcano contains a strong Life Essence. Consuming it can enhance one's power, increase resistance to toxins, eliminate illness and disaster, and can also be used to forge Spirit Artifact.

"The Spiritual Items must be carefully stored after it is picked. The wooden box in Brother Liang's hand is made of Jadeite Wood, which can effectively preserve the medicinal properties. If you are not in a hurry to take it, it is best not to let the Spiritual Items be exposed to the outside for a long time."

Liang Qu immediately closed the wooden box.

"After I finish consuming the Two Lives Flower, do I need to return the wooden box?"

Ran Zhongshi laughed heartily.

"Logically, it should be returned, but no one will ask you for it."

I understand.

"Thank you so much, Big Brother Ran!"

"No need to thank me, but there is something I wonder if Brother Liang would be interested in."

"What is it you're talking about Big Brother Ran?"

"We have a small gathering at the end of May. If you're interested, Brother Liang, you can come with me."