Innate Dragon Elephant Art

"Since that was the case, quite a few people should have obtained this Xiantian martial art, right?"

Xu Mingwei said, "Even if we spend a little more silver to acquire it and add it to our collection, it would still strengthen our Lineage's foundation."

"Elder Brother, you are mistaken." Xu Mingyuan let out a long sigh. "No one has obtained this martial art."

"From what Little Brother heard, no one has yet offered a price that moved his heart. Even an astronomical sum of fifty thousand taels was refused."

"Fifty thousand taels?!" Xu Mingxuan knocked over his teacup in shock. Tea splashed across his clothes, yet he did not notice. "The Heavenly Dragon Secret Codex only costs seven or eight thousand taels."

"Unless this martial art has been passed down through a single line, with only one copy in the world."

"But if it is truly so precious, why put it up for sale at all? Would it not be better to take in a disciple and pass down the Inheritance?"

Xu Mingyuan said, "The vast majority of martial arts manuals are not one of a kind. Copying one out and selling it brings profit."

"In Qingjiang County, someone with broad connections only needs a few hundred taels to purchase an Inner Strength Manual. It is the country folk who spread rumors upon rumors and believe it costs one or two thousand taels.

"As for Xiantian martial arts, they are more expensive, but a handwritten copy is worth at most four or five thousand taels."

"The Heavenly Dragon Secret Codex rarely circulates. Things are precious when scarce, and it can cultivate one to the early stage of Grandmaster, so naturally it costs more."

"Yet the seller of the Innate Dragon Elephant Art..."

Xu Mingwei pondered for a moment, then looked up. "Perhaps he has plans of his own."

"That is what I thought as well. What he wants is likely more than mere silver, so in two days, I plan to make a trip to Liuyun County."

Xu Mingxuan's eyes spun. "Second Brother, take me with you."

"You do not need to return to the Martial Arts Hall?"

"I am already a Second-rate Martial Artist and could have graduated long ago. The others only remain at the Martial Arts Hall because they cannot find better prospects, while our family does not lack one more mouth to feed."

"What about Li Zhi?" Xu Mingwei asked.

"He believes he can receive better tempering at the Martial Arts Hall. He plans to work for our Xu Family after becoming a First-class Martial Artist."

"That is very good." Xu Mingwei nodded. "Li Zhi is quite talented. If he devotes himself fully to the Martial Dao, he will likely become a First-class Martial Artist in three or four years.

"That will be of even greater help to our family."

"By the way, where is Father?"

Only then did Xu Mingyuan recall that he had not seen Xu Chuan since returning, and he finally asked.

Xu Mingshu laughed loudly. "Brother, you only just remembered Father? I truly feel sorry for him."

"I was concerned about my eldest nephew and forgot, that is all. So where is Father?"

Xu Mingxian said, "He is staying in the Bamboo House by Jade Cold Pond."

"What is he doing there?" Xu Mingyuan was somewhat surprised.

"Closed-door cultivation."

Xu Mingxian was succinct and rarely wasted words, but then he added, "Father said not to disturb him unless there is something important."

Xu Mingyuan stroked his chin, a sharp gleam bursting from his eyes. "Speaking of which, Father also cultivates the Lesser Dragon Elephant Technique. What realm has he reached now?"

"He only began martial arts practice when he was nearly twenty-six, and it has been twelve or thirteen years now. He should have reached Second-rate Martial Artist by now, right?"

What Second-rate Martial Artist?

He had already begun attempting to break into Xiantian!

Xu Mingwei laughed and scolded, "Why are you asking so much? Do you want to spar with Father?"

"Hehe, I would not dare. The moment his face darkens, I tremble all over."

Xu Mingyuan grinned mischievously, making Bai Jing and the others burst into laughter.

"Tremble? Out of all of you, you were the most attached to your Father when you were little. Whenever the big rooster knocked you down, you would bawl your eyes out."

Bai Jing revealed an embarrassing story from Xu Mingyuan's childhood.

Once again, everyone was caught between laughter and tears.

"Mother, I need to save face too." Xu Mingyuan felt rather embarrassed as well.

"Fine, fine, I will stop talking, all right?"

Two days later.

Xu Mingyuan took Xu Mingxuan, Chen Daniu, and two Second-rate Martial Artist guards to Liuyun County.

Liuyun County was only a two-hour carriage ride from Qingjiang, yet its streets were far more chaotic. Amid the flying dust, the occasional drunkard slept soundly against an earthen wall.

Xu Mingyuan tossed several copper coins to children at the street corner and learned that the seller was staying at White Poplar Inn.

The inn's frontage was mottled and weathered, with a faded wine banner hanging beneath the eaves and snapping fiercely in the wind.

The four sat idly in the inn's teahouse for half a day. Only when dusk gathered on all sides did they see a burly bearded man stride back, crushing the last light of sunset beneath his feet.

He wore a black cloak, a ring-pommel saber with a bronze-rusted guard hanging at his waist. Dark-red mud clung to the soles of his boots.

"Are you here seeking the Innate Dragon Elephant Art?" The burly man led them to a guest room on the second floor. The furnishings inside were sparse, with only a damaged painting of a fierce tiger descending the mountain hanging on the wall, its brushwork vigorous and powerful.

"Indeed. My family happened to obtain the Lesser Dragon Elephant Technique. My elder brother has already cultivated to Houtian Peak and is only one step away from Xiantian, so we have been desperately searching for the subsequent technique."

The middle-aged man had a face full of beard and a burly build, looking fierce and menacing.

Upon hearing this, he raised his brows. After a moment of silence, he asked, "What price are you willing to offer?"

"May I ask whether what you possess is the original or a handwritten copy?"

"What if it is the original? What if it is a handwritten copy?" The burly man's tone abruptly turned cold, his knuckles rapping the wooden table with heavy thuds.

Xu Mingyuan rose and pushed open the carved wooden window. Gazing at the bustling crowd below, he said calmly, "Original copies are precious and generally hold special significance. We will not force the matter. A handwritten copy will suffice."

"What I have is the original," the bearded man said.

"The original? Did you obtain it by chance, or were you one of the Dragon Elephant Sect's scattered disciples back then?"

The bearded man's pupils contracted, and a chill seeped into his voice. "What does that have to do with you?"

"Of course it has something to do with us."

A flash of insight struck Xu Mingyuan, and he guessed the other party's identity. "If I am not mistaken, you should have been from the Dragon Elephant Sect back then."

"And the reason you refused even fifty thousand taels is likely because you intend to establish the Dragon Elephant Sect anew."

"I advise you to abandon that thought."

"Even after more than ten years, who knows whether the Dragon Elephant Sect's enemies still remember that name? Once you show yourselves, if someone with ulterior motives reports you, it may bring another calamity."

"You are so certain?"

Xu Mingyuan turned around and replied with a smile, "My instincts have always been accurate."

"If I am, then what will you do?"

"Our Xu Family came solely for a handwritten copy."

The bearded man pondered briefly before asking, "What price is the Xu Family willing to offer?"

In the end, they had returned to the original question.

Yet from their exchange just now, Xu Mingyuan had already roughly determined what the other party wanted.

"We will help you establish a Dragon Elephant Martial Arts School and carry on the Dragon Elephant Sect's Inheritance."

The bearded man's heart jolted. Surprise appeared on his face, and several flickers of his heart moving shone in his eyes.

"Of course, a Martial Arts Hall alone cannot sustain itself. It must become self-sufficient."

"How will it become self-sufficient?"

Without realizing it, the bearded man had already fallen into Xu Mingyuan's rhythm.

He was smooth and polished in every direction, and his ability to read people's hearts left Xu Mingxuan and Chen Daniu staring dumbfounded.

This was their first time meeting the man, and he had been extremely guarded. Who knew how many people had returned from his hands with feathers scattered and wings broken?

As expected of my Second Brother. Xu Mingxuan secretly felt proud.

Sure enough, talent is something that cannot be made up for.

Chen Daniu sighed inwardly as well.

Over the past few months, he had learned quite a bit while working at Xu Mingyuan's side.

As for his father, Chen Ergou, he had been assigned as the shopkeeper of a fruit shop in the county town.

Xu Mingyuan smiled lightly. "This cannot be explained clearly in just a few words. It will also require considerable manpower, material resources, and funds, as well as the approval of our Xu Family Patriarch."

"So, if you are willing, why not come stay at my Xu Family's residence for a few days and discuss this matter?"

The bearded man naturally knew that opening a Martial Arts Hall was no simple matter. After considering it, he asked, "Xu Family? Which Xu Family?"

"The Xu Family of Qingjiang County," Xu Mingyuan said.

Chen Daniu was quick to read the situation and immediately introduced them. "This is the Second Young Master of our Xu Family, Xu Mingyuan. This is the Third Young Master, Xu Mingxuan."