Mighty Bull Fist, Mighty Bull Body, Black Tiger Saber, Great Wind Leg

Elsewhere.

Zhang Ming, who followed his master Fang Hongbo away, was naturally unaware of the schemes hatched by the Niu Family Father and Son of the Mighty Bull Martial Arts School.

Yet toward the Niu Family Father and Son, Zhang Ming never lacked a sense of vigilance.

This had nothing to do with personal preferences, but was rather an established fact.

It was known that aside from the Zhang Family, Yang City contained several major factions: namely the government office, martial arts halls, gangs, and minor families that existed in subordination to the aforementioned three.

The government office among them went without saying, as the Zhang Family had essentially already handled them.

Those minor families also went without saying; the strength of families capable of existing in such a small territory as Yang City could be easily imagined.

They were not worth worrying about.

The only two entities requiring attention were the martial arts halls and the gangs.

Martial arts halls and gangs—one in the light, one in the dark—appeared completely unrelated to each other.

One of them could even take funds from the government office to maintain stability and order.

The other committed every imaginable evil, utilizing various methods to extort the interests of common folk.

The two were mutually hostile.

Yet those within the situation failed to recognize the true face of Mount Lu.

Possessing the past-life mindset of one who had leapt outside the chessboard.

Any modern person would suspect whether the two were merely front and back hands.

In truth, they were all one family, jointly extorting the interests of those above and below.

Gangs needed no elaboration: a pack of ruthless figures who dared to fight and kill, with their heads tied to their waistbands.

Were martial arts halls truly good people?

A martial arts hall held hundreds of martial practitioners, every single one robust in physique and tall in stature.

Above them stood warriors who had comprehended vital energy, possessing physical constitutions twice that of ordinary people.

Wasn't this formidable force precisely the most qualified reserve pool for the gangs?

First join a martial arts hall, then enter a gang, and upon entry start out as a minor leader.

How wonderful, how splendid!

In short.

Zhang Ming deeply suspected that martial arts halls and gangs shared a cooperative relationship, or were even two sides of the same coin.

By day they were martial arts hall disciples, by night gang members.

Toward the martial arts hall, Zhang Ming consistently maintained his vigilance.

"Master, I need to purchase these few cultivation techniques. I wonder how much they cost?"

Handing the purchased booklets over to his master, Zhang Ming asked.

"Let me take a look."

"Mighty Bull Fist, Mighty Bull Body, Black Tiger Saber, Five Poisons Palm, Great Wind Leg, alongside a cultivation technique capable of comprehending vital energy: Primordial Chaos Pillar."

"The core cultivation techniques of the martial arts hall are priced the same as ordinary ones, so the six cultivation techniques total 600 taels. Factoring in the number of family retainers you intend to instruct, pay whatever you deem appropriate."

"Understood, I know."

Zhang Ming nodded, casually drawing out a 1,000-tael silver note.

"600 taels is for purchasing the six cultivation techniques, and 400 taels is for teaching Black Tiger Saber, Great Wind Leg, Five Poisons Palm, and Primordial Chaos Pillar to a hundred people."

The remaining 100 taels required no explanation.

The sum was not large, but Fang Hongbo received gifts during every single holiday and festival.

"You have a heart."

Putting away the silver note, master Fang Hongbo wore a smile and offered a renewed warning.

"Zhang Ming, there is no harm in purchasing cultivation techniques for your own practice, but you must be extremely cautious when imparting them to others."

"Should you impart them to unworthy individuals, I fear that whether it be the martial arts hall or the code of the pugilistic world..."

"I understand, Master. Rest assured, I will not impart them casually."

"After so many years, Master should know my character."

Zhang Ming nodded. Regarding cultivation techniques like Black Tiger Saber, Great Wind Leg, Five Poisons Palm, and Primordial Chaos Pillar.

He had never intended to impart them in the first place.

He merely sought a pretext and reason to purchase them from the martial arts hall.

The reason for purchasing these cultivation techniques was also simple: to see whether, after Ignite Comprehension.

He could fuse and upgrade them, or draw inferences from one instance to gauge whether they held any miraculous effects on Mighty Bull Strength.

At this thought, Zhang Ming suddenly recalled something.

"That's right, Master. I am already a warrior who has comprehended vital energy. Might I know more theoretical knowledge regarding the martial Dao?"

"Ah, I understand. You wish to gain more foundational knowledge concerning the martial Dao and acquire a broader understanding of the present world, correct?"

As he spoke, Fang Hongbo retrieved a booklet from the bookshelf behind him.

"Here, take a look. It contains various basic truths concerning the martial Dao.

I didn't let you read it previously because you had yet to comprehend vital energy; reading these things would have been utterly useless and served only to distract you."

Understanding dawned upon Zhang Ming as he accepted the booklet and carefully tucked it away.

"Understood. Many thanks, Master."

"Very well, you have your cultivation techniques and booklet. How many portions of Mighty Bull Great Medicine do you need?"

"Hm..."

"How much does Mighty Bull Great Medicine cost?"

"Ten taels per portion. Using a single portion theoretically saves you several days of arduous effort."

"Then I'll take ten portions first."

As he spoke, another 100 taels in silver notes were produced.

"Very well, follow me."

Fang Hongbo rose to his feet, with Zhang Ming following closely behind.

The two walked briskly all the way to the side of the martial arts hall, stopping outside a seemingly unremarkable room.

"Wait here, I shall return shortly."

Before long, ten portions of great medicine were placed into Zhang Ming's hands.

"Return and cultivate diligently. Although the great medicine possesses formidable efficacy, if it is not thoroughly absorbed, it will bring more harm than good to the body. It is best to use it once every few days; do not use it continuously multiple times in succession."

Zhang Ming cupped his fists in thanks.

"Thank you for the reminder, Master. This disciple will keep it firmly in mind."

"Very well, depart. Remember to frequently visit the martial arts hall when you have nothing to do hereafter."

"Understood."

Bidding farewell to his master, Zhang Ming took the fruits of his trip and departed the martial arts hall swiftly.

Outside the martial arts hall.

Inside the carriage.

Examining the spoils of his journey, Zhang Ming was in an exceptionally fine mood.

"Mighty Bull Fist, Mighty Bull Body, Black Tiger Saber, Five Poisons Palm, Great Wind Leg, Primordial Chaos Pillar."

"Alongside ten portions of great medicine, and the foundational records concerning the current world and the martial Dao."

"Not bad."

Zhang Ming nodded in satisfaction; the objective of his trip had been fully accomplished.

He called out to the coachman.

"Set off, return to the manor."

Zhang Family.

Study.

Zhang Ming sat upright before the desk, intently reading the booklet in his hands.

He was eagerly desirous of knowing what form the current martial Dao of the world took in the eyes of the martial arts hall.

As the records within the booklet were gradually absorbed by Zhang Ming, coupled with his own contemplation and past understanding, the pugilistic martial world of Great Zhou unfolded step by step before him.

"One temple, two daos, four sects?"

Zhang Ming narrowed his eyes slightly.

"These are the strongest martial Dao factions beneath the Great Zhou Imperial Clan in the present world?"

"According to the records, each of these one temple, two daos, and four sects possesses a living Martial Saint, making them the strongest factions across the Great Zhou realm."

"The records state that only a single Martial Saint is alive...

Does that imply there may be even more living Martial Saints?"

"By the same logic, the Great Zhou Imperial Clan might possess even more?"

"Furthermore, the text records that these are the strongest factions of Great Zhou, specifically delimiting Great Zhou, which means that beyond Great Zhou, there might exist even stronger factions?"

Zhang Ming did not know, but he recorded these conjectures within the depths of his mind.

He could only sigh with emotion.

"The world is vast indeed."

"One temple: Glazed Temple."

"Two daos: Divine Firmament Daoist Gate, Dragon Tiger Mountain."

"Four sects: Soaring Cloud Sect, Heaven and Earth Sect, Imperial Pole Sect, Blood Demon Sect."

"My younger sister must be apprenticed to the Soaring Cloud Sect."

Zhang Ming's younger brother and sister each possessed astonishing natural talent and exceptional martial Dao aptitude.

They had long since been sent by the Zhang Family to apprentice within major sects.

The younger sister possessed superior aptitude, thereby successfully entering the Soaring Cloud Sect, one of the four sects.

The younger brother possessed slightly inferior aptitude, merely entering the premier major faction of Jiangnan Province: the Ten Absolute Sect.

Although the Ten Absolute Sect was inferior to the four sects, the gap between it and the four sects essentially lay solely in lacking a Martial Saint!

Should they successfully give birth to a Martial Saint, it was not impossible for the four sects to become five sects.

Naturally, that was merely a possibility.

"Hm, I wonder how they are faring in their sects? At present, their cultivation and strength could probably crush me with a single hand, right?"

Chuckling softly and shaking his head, Zhang Ming reined in his straying thoughts and continued reading further down.

Following the introduction to the Great Zhou pugilistic world, the subsequent sections provided a more meticulous and detailed introduction concerning the martial Dao.

A long while passed.

Having finished reading everything and committing all key points to memory, Zhang Ming benefited immensely.

"So that's how it is, so that's how it is. To think the martial Dao held so many hidden secrets, and that such vast differences existed between cultivation techniques and martial skills."