Fuyang Saber Technique

Zhang Lin, who had been immersed in the joy of finding a suitable secret manual, suddenly changed his expression upon hearing the name "Meng Hu." He tried to speak several times but ultimately held back.

Xie An noticed Zhang Lin's expression and realized something was amiss.

Could this Meng Hu be some kind of heretic or demon?

Someone who commits all sorts of evil and kills indiscriminately?

Anyone who practices his saber technique will be affected?

Thinking of this, Xie An became unsettled.

However, what Lin Yun said next shocked Xie An even more.

"Meng Hu is one of the two Grand Gate Masters of our Tiger Wolf Gate. It was he who, with his unparalleled Fuyang Saber Technique in cavalry combat, established the Tiger Wolf Gate spanning Qingwu County and beyond. The Fuyang Saber Technique is also the Tiger Wolf Gate's top-tier saber technique. If it weren't for the immense difficulty in practicing it, the Gate Master would never have transcribed his notes and distributed them to the various halls."

Hiss.

Even after living in this world for fifty years, Xie An was still shocked by these words.

Having worked at the Blood Ridge Black Market for a month, although he didn't know Meng Hu's reputation, he had truly felt the power of the Tiger Wolf Gate.

It was a monstrous beast.

Gentry and wealthy merchants brought silver to curry favor, and the county magistrate offered gifts annually.

What kind of formidable power must the founder of such a sect possess?

He never expected that the notes he casually picked up were from this very Gate Master.

But... even if the Fuyang Saber Technique was difficult to practice, Lin Yun wouldn't have stopped him, would he?

As Xie An pondered this, Lin Yun continued, "The Fuyang Saber Technique emphasizes heavy sabers. Wielding sabers weighing over a hundred catties and swinging them in combat naturally makes one incredibly powerful. However, this requires a strong physique and vital energy to support it. Back then, Gate Master Meng Hu himself prepared for thirty years to practice this technique. You are advanced in years and do not have the time for such dedication. It would be better not to aim too high and choose a more practical saber technique. Moreover, practicing the Gate Master's technique would not only be a waste of time but also easily invite criticism."

Facing Lin Yun's rather assertive suggestion, Xie An did not insist and nodded in agreement.

Being new here, there was no need to offend this Grand Deacon over such a minor matter. He estimated that wasting time was a pretense; inviting criticism was the real reason. Wei Dian was currently severely injured, and it was understandable that he wouldn't want his subordinates to stir up any gossip that could be used as grounds for attack.

However, Xie An knew that the Fuyang Saber Technique had already left an indelible mark on his heart, and he would find an opportunity to obtain it sooner or later.

"Thank you, Deacon Lin, for informing me. However, I am not very knowledgeable about saber techniques. I would appreciate it if Deacon Lin could offer some suggestions."

Seeing Xie An's respectful and humble attitude, Lin Yun showed a satisfied expression and meticulously introduced other saber techniques to Xie An.

Depending on the type of saber, saber techniques were also divided into many categories.

Sabers could be long or short. They were also classified into ring-pommel sabers, butterfly twin sabers, nine-ring sabers, horse-chopping sabers, great cleavers, ghost-head sabers, Miao sabers, willow-leaf sabers, two-handed sabers, broadswords, and so on.

The categories were numerous, and the variations in saber techniques were even more so.

However, Xie An's favorite was the broadsword type. These sabers had heavy blades and wide surfaces, making them feel like using an axe when chopping. They could bring out his strength advantage.

Finally, under Lin Yun's recommendation, Xie An chose a saber technique called "Fuyang."

It was also a heavy saber technique that focused on strength, specifically designed for broadswords.

However, it was nowhere near as exaggerated as the Fuyang Saber Technique. It was easy to get started with practicing, which was very suitable for his current situation.

Lin Yun paid out of his own pocket and used his authority to borrow two martial arts manuals for Zhang Lin and himself. As they walked out of the library, Lin Yun did not forget to encourage Xie An, "I heard that during your assessment, you could lift seven hundred catties with one arm. That's very suitable for this Fuyang Saber Technique. If you encounter anything you don't understand, go to the Instruction Hall and watch how the instructor demonstrates it."

Xie An cupped his hands in thanks, "Thank you, Deacon Lin."

"Well, I still need to go take care of the Incense Master, so I won't accompany you further. Zhang Lin, you can take him around the area below." Lin Yun left after saying this.

"Old brother, shall I take you to see the Instruction Hall?"

Xie An also wanted to take a look, so he agreed.

The Instruction Hall was a separate courtyard where different instructors lectured daily. The martial arts covered included saber techniques, sword techniques, fist techniques, and more.

Disciples could come and learn by spending a small amount of silver, while deacons... got it for free.

From this aspect, the Tiger Wolf Gate indeed offered many attractive preferential conditions to attract talent.

Xie An watched for a good part of the morning but didn't see any instructor demonstrating the Fuyang Saber Technique, so he left disappointed. He followed Zhang Lin to the medicine dispensing room to collect his free medicinal supplements.

Xie An only knew that after becoming a deacon, he could regularly receive medicinal supplements. However, he didn't know what these supplements were or their specific value.

He saw that the shopkeeper of the medicine dispensing room was very stingy with the medicinal supplements. After repeatedly verifying Xie An's token, he finally handed over a package of medicinal herbs wrapped in mulberry paper to Xie An, "According to the rules, ordinary deacons can only receive one set of Tiger Hide Elixir every three months."

After speaking, the shopkeeper didn't offer any further explanation and went back to his work, seemingly not very welcoming towards Xie An.

As they left the hall, Xie An curiously asked for the reason.

Zhang Lin smiled and explained, "Old brother, you wouldn't know this, would you? This is the Tiger Hide Elixir, a breakthrough medicinal supplement specifically used to temper the skin and membranes. If you want to cultivate to the Bronze Skin Realm, the Tiger Hide Elixir is indispensable. Buying a set of Tiger Hide Elixir on the market costs at least twenty taels of silver to start. It loses its medicinal effect after only three uses."

Xie An finally understood.

One set of medicine for three uses, costing twenty taels.

Each medicinal bath cost seven taels!

It was outrageously expensive.

No wonder the shopkeeper wasn't very welcoming; he was probably heartbroken.

No wonder they say "poverty breeds scholars, wealth breeds warriors." With such expenses, how could ordinary families afford it?

Upon returning to the Blood Ridge Black Market, Xie An did not rush to take the medicinal bath. Instead, he found Zhang Lin and carefully inquired about the details of Skin Tempering, ensuring he had a clear understanding.

In general, skin tempering has two key components: cultivation techniques and medicinal aids.

Saber techniques are also cultivation techniques, and with the Fuyang Saber Technique, Xie An had met one of the requirements.

Next up were the medicinal aids, specifically the Tiger Hide Elixir. Generally, after one's cultivation technique reaches the standard for skin tempering, five to six doses of Tiger Hide Elixir are needed. After a month of continuous medicinal baths, the skin and membranes would finally become as firm as cowhide, impervious to cold and heat, and ordinary scrapes wouldn't break the skin.

This would be considered entering the Bronze Skin Realm.

After entering the Bronze Skin Realm, one still needed to continuously use the Tiger Hide Elixir, progressing through the stages of Bronze Skin entry-level, minor success, and major success. Only then could one take higher-grade tiger meat elixirs and begin to aim for the Muscle Realm.

Without corresponding medicinal aids, the difficulty of advancement would increase by more than tenfold. Therefore, medicinal aids were an indispensable part of martial arts training.

"Expensive, too expensive!"

Just thinking about it made Xie An gasp.

Entering the entry-level of the Bronze Skin Realm alone required five to six doses of Tiger Hide Elixir. And he would need to continue taking it afterward...

Xie An roughly estimated that to reach the Muscle Realm, it would cost at least a thousand taels of silver.

"I'll try the Fuyang Saber Technique."

Having gathered enough information, Xie An began to practice.

After practicing for a little over half a day, Xie An immediately felt the difference between martial arts and health cultivation techniques.

Health cultivation techniques focused on slow growth, nourishing the body, and enriching blood and qi; it was a very gentle process that emphasized internal strengthening. Martial arts, on the other hand, were the opposite, frantically squeezing the body's potential to transform it into killing techniques, as if trying to wring out every last bit of strength from the body.

The sheer power and dominance were frightening.

"No wonder everyone practices martial arts; this kind of fierce style is indeed suitable for combat."

"However, I've realized that martial arts and health cultivation techniques can complement each other. Health cultivation techniques strengthen the body internally, continuously raising the body's upper limit, and then releasing that power through martial arts, turning it into killing techniques. Isn't that internal and external unity? Doubling the power..."

At this thought, Xie An became very excited, as if he had discovered a new continent.