Immortal Martial: Pushing Through Both Realms From Reality Section 32

"I just have one thing to report to Elder Qiu first. I'm not from Pingling County. After I was separated from my parents years ago, I came to Pingling County with a group of refugees... If you need to record it in the county office, regarding household registration..."

Jiang Shu lowered his head. This matter was still a bit difficult for him at the moment.

But for Elder Qiu, it was probably just a matter of saying a few words.

Household registration status was extremely important.

With household registration, he could enroll in school within the inner city and quickly master the Great Jing Dynasty's language and writing.

In the future, he could also leave Pingling County.

Head to a larger prefecture city.

And even a provincial city.

The Great Jing Dynasty had extremely strict household registration management.

Even to reside in a county town, one needed household registration.

Not to mention larger prefecture cities and provincial cities.

"A small matter, no trouble at all."

Completely unconcerned with such trivialities, Elder Qiu waved his hand and got up from the bed. He walked around Jiang Shu, observing him, and slowly said, "I recall you coming to my Hungry Tiger Martial Arts School to train for only three months, right?"

"Exactly three months."

Jiang Shu looked up, meeting Elder Qiu's gaze without any evasion.

Many disciples in the martial arts school, even with sufficient training resources, needed a full year or more to reach the Full Body Vital Energy Circulation.

Yet, he had joined the Hungry Tiger Martial Arts School and gone from beginner to master in just three months.

And all three styles were mastered.

What was the reason for this?

Naturally, his exceptional talent!

From the very beginning, he had a clear understanding of the four elements of cultivation: Method, Resources, Companions, and Location.

Method was the most crucial.

Method was the true path to advancement in this world.

And to obtain the Method, he had to strive, he had to be a genius.

This was true in Pingling County, and it was true in Xuan Star as well.

"Mm. Do you know why I would only accept you as a formal disciple after you've mastered the Tiger Form Three Styles?"

"I don't know."

Jiang Shu stood honestly, tilting his ear to listen to Elder Qiu's teachings.

"Because the Hungry Tiger Sitting Cave Stance, the Hungry Tiger Breathing Method, and the Tiger Form Three Styles are themselves derived from the martial art school's core technique, 'Roaring Tiger Mountain Strength.' Mastering all three is the minimum requirement for cultivating that technique."

"Among all beasts, the leopard strengthens the body, the tiger strengthens the bones. Roaring Tiger Mountain Strength embodies the tiger's form, contains killing intent, and cultivates tendons and bones."

Outside, a fine rain fell.

Elder Qiu, his figure slightly stooped, stood before Jiang Shu. With his spine as the core, he moved his limbs and joints, his actions slow. A deep voice emanated from his bones as he spoke, sounding like thunder rumbling in the mountains.

Tiger Leopard Thunder Sound!

"There are countless martial arts in the Great Jing Dynasty. In the category of strength techniques, 'Roaring Tiger Mountain Strength' is truly ranked within the top hundred. A minor accomplishment allows one to enter the Bone Forging Realm and temper the entire body's tendons and bones. If one day it is mastered, one can be like me, with a body like a tiger, and tendons and bones resonating."

"Of course, this step is still too far for you. This demonstration is to let you know how vast the world of Martial Arts is. Mastering the three styles is barely even scratching the surface of entry. Don't think you're invincible just because you have some talent and believe martial arts is an easy matter. Can you read?"

"I can read."

"If you were to come back in a few months, I would have you first practice the three styles to perfection, cultivating your inner strength, and then learn this 'Roaring Tiger Mountain Strength.' The three styles originate from the same source, and practicing them separately reduces the difficulty of entry. But your talent is acceptable, so I will teach you the upper part, Skin Grinding, to help you enter sooner."

"No copying, no sharing with others. Just watch it here. When you've memorized it, you can leave."

Taking out a blue-covered book of a few hundred pages from under his pillow, Elder Qiu tossed it to Jiang Shu and pointed to a table and chairs nearby before walking out of the room with his hands behind his back.

Jiang Shu sat up straight and opened a page.

The very first page depicted an acupuncture meridian chart of the human body, with tiny, incredibly clear annotations indicating where the inner strength should circulate and where it should end.

He calmed his mind and focused, examining every detail in the diagram with great care.

Half an hour passed in an instant.

The sound of the fine rain was clearly audible to Jiang Shu. He muttered softly, "I wonder if this interface isn't smart, or if my martial arts talent isn't enough."

The content for the Skin Grinding Realm in 'Roaring Tiger Mountain Strength' was not extensive. It was the meridian aspect that completely touched upon his blind spots of knowledge, taking him considerable time to memorize it all. Even so, the interface still hadn't recorded the martial art, which left him somewhat disappointed.

"It seems it's not as I guessed; it's not enough to just remember the cultivation method after obtaining it for it to be recorded on the interface. The interface seems more like a talent for hard work and diligence. Only when one truly enters the path can they have the right to strive and gain rewards."

"Let's set aside three to five days. I'll try to comprehend the inner strength myself first. If it doesn't work, I'll honestly practice the three styles to perfection, cultivate my inner strength, and then learn this 'Roaring Tiger Mountain Strength.' It's a bit more troublesome. But for me, with this interface, this approach is actually the safest."

Closing the blue-covered book, Jiang Shu stood up, leaving the table and chairs. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and the meridian chart reappeared in his mind.

Not rushing to leave, he stood in a tiger-like stance, breathed like a tiger, and attempted to circulate his vital energy and blood according to the method of inner strength circulation.

In the large courtyard.

The scene of Jiang Shu entering Elder Qiu's room had already been noticed by over a dozen apprentices. However, all the apprentices only communicated privately; no one dared to secretly ask the maid for details.

After Elder Qiu walked out of the room, the apprentices avoided looking sideways, either practicing grappling or standing meditation and breathing, hoping to leave a good impression on Elder Qiu. They hoped to become formal disciples soon. If not, they at least wanted to be gifted one or two doses of the Hungry Tiger Secret Medicine.

Only Luo Yongcheng's heart was in turmoil, filled with unease. He stood in meditation and breathed, but his eyes kept glancing towards Elder Qiu's room. Why hasn't Jiang Shu come out yet? If he had something to report, wouldn't he come out with Elder Qiu? If he's still inside, could he have already become a formal disciple? When we sparred, wasn't he at the same level as me? How could he have broken through to the Full Body Vital Energy Circulation in just a few days?

While Luo Yongcheng was lost in thought, Jiang Shu walked out of the room and whispered a few words to Elder Qiu. Elder Qiu nodded repeatedly and then said, "Since you have officially taken me as your master, you may address me as Master Qiu from now on."

Under the eaves, Qiu Hai stood up from his reclining chair and looked at the apprentices below. "Jiang Shu has been taken in by me as a formal disciple." He continued, "In three days, I will hold a disciple induction ceremony at the Hungry Tiger Martial Arts School. You few are responsible for notifying the other apprentices. Make sure everyone attends."

Although he had already guessed as much, Elder Qiu's solemn announcement struck Luo Yongcheng's chest like a giant hammer. A hundred thoughts surged through his mind. If I hadn't fallen out with Jiang Shu, then now, with Jiang Shu's status as a formal disciple, even if it couldn't revive my family's pharmacy, at least I would have had more time to breathe. Moreover, given our past relationship, it shouldn't have been difficult for me to purchase some Hungry Tiger Secret Medicine from him. How did things turn out like this?

Luo Yongcheng stood frozen on the spot. The rain in Pingling County city intensified. He watched Jiang Shu respectfully escort Elder Qiu back to his room. When Jiang Shu came out again, he stood quietly, meditating and breathing. The distance between them was no more than ten paces, yet it felt like they were separated by thousands of miles.

Outer City.

The situation between the Green Snake Gang and the Black Water Gang over territory grew increasingly severe. In the entire Coiling Snake Alley, about half of the refugees and common people had moved out. Most of them fled to alleys under the jurisdiction of other gangs. Although they had to pay more copper coins initially, their lives were at least guaranteed. They no longer had to fear encountering Black Water Gang members when going out, as they had in the past two months, and suffering beatings.

"Knock, knock, knock."

Returning to Coiling Snake Alley, seeing that Old Man Li's window still had light, Jiang Shu did not rush home but knocked on the door first. It had been six months since he arrived in Pingling County.