Doubts (Part 2)

Zhang Xintai was somewhat stunned as well. To break through to Second Grade, he had trained bitterly since the age of ten, drilling through the coldest days of winter and the hottest days of summer without missing a single day.

He had only reached Second Grade now, at thirty.

And Zhang Rongfang was only seventeen. He was about to catch up to him?

"In that case, it really should be so." Chen Lianqing also looked astonished and nodded in agreement. "But if we make a move, we will inevitably implicate Junior Brother. Even sending him away would be useless."

"..." Zhang Xuan did not answer.

Because he had no way to solve that problem either.

"As long as our identities are not exposed, everything is easy to say," Zhang Xintai said. "Once we act, Junior Brother can leave together with my wife and the others. They can change their names and live under new identities afterward."

His expression darkened.

Had he known from the start that they would need to act so soon, he never would have married Yanzi.

But the ways of the world were impossible to predict.

When they dealt with the Rice Gang's three masters, Tang Sha and the others had noticed something amiss.

Now, Tang Sha had joined forces with Chen Baihu and was investigating step by step, drawing ever closer to the truth.

Once they were discovered, a single hair would move and the whole body would stir—their entire uprising plan might be exposed.

When the Imperial Court's great army descended upon them, their few people would not be nearly enough to kill.

Thus, the ways of the world were impossible to predict. "Sigh... I still do not know why those three from the Rice Gang came to attack me." Zhang Xuan sighed.

At the time, afraid of exposing themselves, they had killed too quickly. In the end, they had not even left a living mouth for interrogation.

"At this point, pursuing that question has no meaning. The key is that all three were among Huaxin County's foremost masters. Too few forces could make all three disappear together.

It is only natural for Tang Sha and Chen Baihu to suspect us," Chen Lianqing said.

"Tang Sha had long suspected me," Zhang Xuan said. "This time, he is merely investigating further."

"Might as well go all the way and secretly get rid of him?" Chen Lianqing frowned, her voice ruthless.

"Difficult. I waited for so many years and never found an opportunity. I thought we could at least see something during the Chen Family incident, but that old fellow still did not reveal the slightest flaw. He never goes alone, and there are always at least four people guarding him." Zhang Xuan shook his head.

"I am worried that if Tang Sha cannot find a flaw, he may secretly move against Yanzi and Junior Brother," Zhang Xintai said with a frown.

"I will send more people to keep watch over Junior Brother and protect him at all times. Xin Tai, keep an eye on the situation in the palace as well. The moment Tang Sha makes any move, send word to me immediately," Chen Lianqing instructed.

"Alright." Zhang Xintai nodded heavily.

"Rest easy," Chen Lianqing said coldly. "With me here, I will never let Yanzi or Junior Brother suffer harm."

...Early morning.

Inside Qinghe Temple.

Zhang Rongfang sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, his eyes closed as he calmed his spirit and adjusted his body and mind. At the same time, he recited scriptures for his morning lesson.

Temple Master Li Heng, Xiao Jiu, and the others were absent. Only two Servant Disciples sat nearby, dozing off.

Summer was hot, and even the mornings made one sleepy.

Several flies buzzed endlessly around the pig's head and fruit before the shrine hall.

"Rong Fang!" A shout suddenly came from outside.

Zhang Xintai strode through the door.

"I found out how to learn the Flame Emperor Talisman and Soul Fixing Talisman!"

Zhang Rongfang opened his eyes and rose to his feet.

"Senior Brother, sit down and have some water first. Tell me slowly."

He had previously asked Zhang Xintai to inquire about how to obtain the Flame Emperor Talisman and Soul Fixing Talisman. He had not expected news so quickly.

He poured Zhang Xintai some water, and the two sat down at a small stone table before the guest room.

"In his early years, the Palace Master took three disciples in total, all direct successors.

One of them, Lin Chaoxin, chose to learn the Flame Emperor Talisman and Soul Fixing Talisman. However, Lin Chaoxin has an eccentric temperament and dislikes socializing. If you want him to teach you those two talismans, I fear it will be difficult."

"There is no other way?" Zhang Rongfang frowned. Such inheritance techniques of the Great Dao Sect's Qinghe Palace could not possibly be known by the Palace Master alone.

"There are naturally other ways." Zhang Xintai nodded. "Within Qinghe Palace, only those two know the Flame Emperor Talisman and Soul Fixing Talisman. But beyond Huaxin County, there are far more than two people.

Our Great Dao Sect's Dao Palaces and Daoist Temples are spread across the country. Every branch must report and register at Heavenly Treasure Palace in the Great Capital. That is the foundation of our sect."

"In other words, I can obtain these two talisman arts from other Dao Palaces and Daoist Temples, or from Heavenly Treasure Palace headquarters?" Zhang Rongfang understood.

"Precisely."

"Then how do I obtain talisman arts from elsewhere? What qualifications are required?" Zhang Rongfang asked doubtfully.

"That, I do not know. In any case, you will have to go out first." Zhang Xintai shook his head.

Zhang Rongfang fell silent. Obtaining cultivation techniques was even harder than he had imagined. It seemed he would have to bring forward his original plan of advancing in rank in the second year.

Otherwise, remaining here would merely waste time.

"Oh, right. In a while, your sister-in-law plans to go to Tanyang to purchase goods. I am worried about her traveling alone with the merchant group. Since you have channels in Tanyang if you want to learn the Soul Fixing Talisman and Flame Emperor Talisman, Hongdao Dharma Master there possesses both talisman arts. My father can also introduce you. Why not protect your sister-in-law along the way?" Zhang Xintai suggested.

"Tanyang?" Zhang Rongfang always felt that his senior brother wanted to send him far away.

"Tanyang is one of the great cities of our Pingyu Road. It is far more prosperous and much larger than Huaxin County. Its resources are also far richer," Zhang Xintai explained.

Zhang Rongfang's heart stirred. He suddenly recalled that the Wooden Armor Art he had obtained from his master was still missing several medicinal ingredients for its medicine bath.

If he went to Tanyang, perhaps he could gather them all. "How far is Tanyang?"

"You can get there in three days."

"Alright! I'll go." Zhang Rongfang agreed seriously.

Taking a trip would be good. He could broaden his horizons, and if he could complete the Wooden Armor Art prescription or obtain more movement-based Martial Arts, that would be perfect.

Before leaving, however, he intended to first try whether he could easily obtain the talisman arts.

For instance, from that Lin Chaoxin.

After Zhang Xintai left, Zhang Rongfang returned to sit upon the prayer mat.

Closing his eyes, the Attribute Panel appeared before him once more.

Zhang Rongfang—Life 25-26.

Skills: Returning Spring Purifying Time Talisman Classic—Yue Type Talisman (Breaking Limits) (Breaking Limit Skill: Heavy Mountain, five times), Guanxu Skill (First Layer Essence Aperture).

Dragon Snake Movement Technique (Breaking Limits) (Breaking Limit Skill: Ground Shrinking.) Vitality Talisman (Breaking Limits)

Eight Steps Catching Cicadas (Complete) fused Breaking Limit Skill: Shrinking Step Heavy Mountain.

Available Attributes: 5.

He had kept them before to wait for new talisman arts.

Now that he was leaving soon, he naturally had to max out whatever he could and turn it into real combat strength.

This time, without the slightest hesitation, he tapped the Plus Sign after Eight Steps Catching Cicadas.

Hiss.

The Complete within the parentheses vanished, and Breaking Limits soon appeared in its place.

Zhang Rongfang immediately felt the skin across his entire body grow hot, with his legs especially scorching.

The changes did not last long before fading away, as if he had taken a hot bath.

A few minutes later, he stood up and stretched his legs. Returning to his room, he made a slight movement.

At once, his figure flickered. In just two seconds, Zhang Rongfang had circled the entire floor of the bedroom.

My speed is about ten percent faster than before. There are no other major changes.

And this time, no Breaking Limit Skill had appeared with the breakthrough.

That left Zhang Rongfang slightly disappointed.

But Eight Steps Catching Cicadas had never been particularly good lightness skill. Getting an increase was already quite good.

That was the gap between low-grade Martial Arts and higher-grade ones. The difference was simply too great.

The increase was small, there was no Breaking Limit Skill, and the rank ceiling was low.

This breakthrough had also cost two Attribute points.

Zhang Rongfang looked at his remaining three Attribute points, his heart aching a little.

For his movement technique to rise by only a tenth, it was too wasteful.

Still, my previous speed was already about equal to Zhuang Dali, the Fifth Grade master of the Black Fist Gate. Now that it has risen another ten percent, I should be able to edge him out slightly.

It seems that as long as I want to leave, even a Fifth Grade Master cannot keep me.

Zhang Rongfang estimated inwardly.

This improvement did not seem like much, but in truth, it let him roughly gauge his own standing.

His primary movement technique speed should be around Fourth Grade.

I'll save the last three Attribute points. I'll be entering the ranks in another talisman art soon, and I can add them all at once then.

By now, Zhang Rongfang could clearly feel that as rank increased, its enhancement to speed and strength truly became weaker and weaker.

For no reason, his gaze suddenly fell upon the Life Attribute at the very front.

The Life Attribute had not moved for some time. It seemed to have completely reached its limit.

A limit of 26 was indeed formidable. Of everyone Zhang Rongfang had seen, only his master Zhang Xuan had surpassed that number when his Attributes were later estimated through sparring, reaching a maximum limit of 31.

Now, looking at the Life Attribute and feeling the increasingly slow pace of his body's improvement and strengthening,

Zhang Rongfang once again recalled his earlier speculation about life.

If life determines a person's lifespan, and practicing martial arts obtains compensatory martial power through damaging life...

Then when the human body reaches a certain limit, is it because life itself cannot support the corresponding martial power, thus creating the limit of martial power?

Looking at the Life Attribute, Zhang Rongfang sank into thought.

If life were raised to a certain extent, what would happen? Could it break the limit of martial power?

..."Zhang Xintai is about to flee."

At the summit of a peak on Qinghe Palace's Back Mountain.

Supervisor Tang Sha sat cross-legged on the ground, gripping a twig as he continuously wrote and drew upon the earth.

Hearing the report, his hand paused.

"How could you tell?"

"Zhang Xintai's wife and junior brother have both joined the Bai Family Merchant Group, which is about to depart for Tanyang.

Also, Yang Hongyan's parents have disappeared without a trace. There has been no movement from them since last night. It is very likely that they fled long ago." Behind him, a tall and burly Daoist reported with cupped hands.

It was none other than Qi Shan of the Dao Palace.

Compared to several months ago, he was far more exhausted now, as though he often stayed up through the night.

"Zhang Xuan has always appeared dutiful and law-abiding, but once he acts, he is swift and fierce. So, his son arranging for the weak and burdensome to leave first likely means they are about to make a move," Qi Shan said in a low voice.

"I had always suspected that Zhang Xuan was hiding some trouble. We finally destroyed the Chen Family, and now another one has emerged." Tang Sha spoke blandly.

"Since we can confirm that Zhang Xuan and his son are making unusual moves, why not secretly take control of Yang Hongyan first? Perhaps we can obtain clues and evidence from her," Qi Shan suggested.

"You are confident?" Tang Sha was surprised. Under the present circumstances, he had no idea how many accomplices Zhang Xuan had outside.

"As long as we change our identities and dress, and do not wear Daoist robes, there will be no problem." Qi Shan nodded.

Qinghe Palace was short-handed now, so he could only use his family connections to gather some people and act personally.

With his current strength, on the verge of entering Third Grade, along with the men he brought, capturing an ordinary woman and a Daoist Priest who had not yet Entered the Ranks would naturally be as easy as turning over his hand.

"Then try it." Tang Sha frowned. "The movements of Zhang Xuan's group are growing greater and greater. I fear they are planning some major action. Hurry."

"Understood." Qi Shan lowered his head.

He understood Tang Sha's intentions. Only by clearing every parasite from Qinghe Palace could they truly restore and expand this Dao Palace.

Whether it was the Chen Family or Zhang Xuan, did they truly think no one could calculate how many resources they skimmed from the Dao Palace every year?