Tiger Essentials: Emphasis on Adding Money

Linyuan City isn't large, but it has two martial arts schools, with the Tiger Martial Arts School being the most famous.

The Great Zhou Kingdom was founded on martial arts and revered its martial spirit. Across its sixteen prefectures and seventy-two provinces, among numerous mountains, rivers, and towns, sects flourished, and martial arts schools were too numerous to count.

This phenomenon was naturally due to the frequent disturbances caused by Malevolent Spirits. To protect themselves, everyone valued martial arts. However, Chu Ge hadn't encountered any Malevolent Spirits himself yet.

Even though he hadn't seen any, it was still wise to prepare for the worst.

To enhance his self-protection abilities, Chu Ge had also apprenticed himself to Hu Xuezhi, the master of the Tiger Martial Arts School.

After all, training muscles prevents you from getting beaten!

Thus, at the young age of eighteen, he was already burly and well-built, having developed a physique of solid muscle.

Compared to the protagonists in some novels he'd read in his past life, he was quite satisfied with his family background and origins after transmigrating.

Although he was also orphaned from a young age, he had at least inherited a substantial family fortune, rather than being a penniless nobody or a fisherman.

Furthermore, he had an elder sister he'd never met but who seemed very formidable within a sect, which could deter minor troublemakers.

With this in mind, he used his wealth to pave the way, with Long Zhong's support, and coupled with his own diligence and effort, he had already mastered Hu Xuezhi's Crouching Tiger Fist and Hardened Tiger Skill to the point of perfection.

At this moment, the rising sun hung in the sky like a dazzling shrine, significantly diminishing the chill of the winter morning.

Sounds of vigorous, blood-pumping shouts echoed from within the Tiger Martial Arts School, one after another.

Inside the school, on a rather large training ground, over a dozen robust youths were practicing punches and wielding staffs. Even in the winter, they trained with fiery intensity, sweating profusely as dust billowed into the air.

On both sides of the rammed earth ground, rows of neatly arranged weapon racks exuded an imposing aura.

Sabers, spears, swords, halberds, axes – a dazzling array of weapons, so many that one's eyes couldn't take them all in. The sharp blades glinted in the sunlight, inspiring awe.

Many of these weapons had been sponsored by Chu Ge's own money, which was why his prestige within the Tiger Martial Arts School was naturally quite high.

Seeing his carriage approaching from afar, a junior disciple rushed to the school entrance to help with the horse. He asked with a smile, "Senior Brother Chu, why didn't you arrange for a coachman to drive you today? You had to drive the carriage yourself. Let me handle it!"

"No matter! I just felt like galloping the horse myself for a change! To switch things up!"

Chu Ge casually tossed him a silver bean, offering a perfunctory reply.

Receiving the silver bean, the junior disciple's smile widened.

What mood? As long as Senior Brother Chu was in a good mood, he was in a good mood too. He wouldn't mind being treated like a horse if Senior Brother Chu wished.

These junior disciples who did odd jobs were all from poorer backgrounds but possessed a heart for martial arts. After joining the school, they were willing to do chores to earn their keep, saving money on daily expenses.

Chu Ge, always generous with his spending, was naturally well-loved and respected within the school.

"Senior Brother Chu!"

"Senior Brother is here!"

Seeing Chu Ge, most of the apprentices and disciples training greeted him with smiles.

"Chu Ge, you're here! Do you have any questions regarding your martial arts recently?"

Near the buildings on the training ground, a three-zhang square area had been cleared, furnished with several master chairs and a tea table, giving it a unique ambiance.

Hu Xuezhi, the master of the school, sat in one of the master chairs. His beard and hair were white, but he was full of vigor. Seeing Chu Ge, he smiled, put down his teacup, and beckoned him over.

"Come, sit here."

As soon as he spoke, a servant from the school stepped forward, brushed the dust off Chu Ge's clothes, poured him tea, and offered him a towel, attending to him as he sat down.

The disciples and apprentices were all accustomed to this.

Only a few disciples either wore indifferent expressions or had a flicker of disdain in their eyes.

That stinking rich guy!

However, no matter what they thought, they wouldn't show it too obviously.

Everyone understood that Chu Ge was their god of wealth.

Chu Ge had contributed significantly to the school's daily expenses.

Moreover, his martial arts aptitude was also outstanding. A year ago, he had already reached the Second Realm: Muscle Training, which was why even Master Hu treated him with such kindness.

"Master, I've come today because I wish to borrow the techniques from the Fourth Chapter of the Tiger Skill, the Blood Transformation chapter, in advance!"

After sitting down, Chu Ge didn't stand on ceremony with Hu Xuezhi. After taking a sip of tea, he lowered his voice and said.

"This..." Hu Xuezhi's eyes first showed surprise, then a trace of anger.

If it were any other disciple, he would have slapped them by now, scolding them for being too ambitious.

However, since it was Chu Ge making the request, he held back the reprimand that was on the tip of his tongue and said with a frown, trying to persuade him.

"Chu Ge, you only looked at the Third Chapter of the Tiger Skill a year ago, and you haven't broken through yet, have you? Why do you need the techniques from the Fourth Chapter? You shouldn't rush in martial arts. Knowing those contents too early won't do you any good..."

Chu Ge's expression was calm. He had actually broken through to the Third Realm: Bone Training a year ago. However, with Long Zhong's assistance, his cultivation speed was simply too fast, far exceeding that of ordinary people, and he needed to conceal it.

After all, the incident involving the Divine Pavilion in this world had only happened fifty to sixty years ago.

But now, over a year later, he was preparing to break through to the Fourth Realm of martial arts, the Blood Change Realm, and naturally needed the Fourth Chapter of the Tiger Skill.

He also didn't want to expose his situation, so he lowered his voice and chuckled, "Master, I have some family matters to attend to recently, and I might not be able to come to the school for the next six months or so."

"Master, why don't you lend me the fourth chapter of Crouching Tiger Fist in advance? I'll return it in half a month at most."

"This..."

Hu Xuezhi looked troubled. His peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of Chu Ge's two fingers extending from his sleeve and slowly placed them on the table.

His eyelids twitched slightly.

He was familiar with this gesture.

He had refused it once before with the stubbornness of a martial artist, and had felt a hint of regret afterward.

Even now, he hesitated, "Chu Ge, the fourth chapter of Crouching Tiger Fist is, after all, my ultimate treasure. You are not my final disciple..."

"Master! I hope you can feel and fulfill my unwavering determination to pursue martial arts."

The fingers Chu Ge placed on the table turned into three, firm and resolute.

Hu Xuezhi glanced at the fingers, took a sip of tea, and slowly swallowed. "Fine. Your determination to pursue martial arts is indeed firm, and your talent for martial arts is extraordinary. Perhaps in the future, you will also be able to sense spirituality and break through to the realm I've always dreamed of. I must fulfill your wish no matter what!"

With that, he suddenly stood up and said, "Since you won't be coming here for extended periods, I will demonstrate the subsequent ultimate techniques of Crouching Tiger Fist for you again. Follow me into the inner courtyard."

He spoke without reservation. The numerous disciples and apprentices who heard this couldn't help but look at Chu Ge with envy, wanting to say: Can I come in and take a look too? Just at the entrance, it's fine if I don't go in.

Getting one-on-one instruction from the Master is truly awesome. This is the treatment for someone with money and talent.

"Good!"

Chu Ge also showed interest and followed Hu Xuezhi into the inner courtyard.

He had actually mastered the three ultimate techniques of Crouching Tiger Fist through diligent practice.

However, watching Master Hu demonstrate them would allow him to compare and see the gap between them.

The Four Martial Arts Realms: Skin, Muscle, Bone, Blood. Those who could train their Skin were considered martial arts experts who surpassed ordinary people. Those who entered Muscle Training were true masters!

Hu Xuezhi, however, was a genuine expert in the Fourth Martial Arts Realm, the Blood Change Realm. In Linyuan City, only the City Guard Captain Tian Youji was stronger than him.

Although he was old and his Vitality was declining, his realm and experience were still there.

Inside the inner courtyard, Hu Xuezhi walked ahead, with Chu Ge following closely behind.

Hu Xuezhi reached the center of the training ground and suddenly stopped. His surging Vitality caused his hair to move as if in a strong wind, forming streams of powerful, invisible energy that were imperceptible but could be vaguely felt.

"Blood Change Realm: Vitality surges fiercely, permeating the entire body. Invulnerable to a Feather's Touch, Immune to Insects. Robust Vitality, Ordinary Malevolent Energy Cannot Invade."

Chu Ge's expression was solemn.

Hu Xuezhi spoke slowly, "Crouching Tiger Fist emphasizes momentum. The mind is the commander, and the eyes are the vanguard."

As he spoke, he lunged forward with a single step. His movements were like a dragon's walk, and his ascent was like a fierce tiger's. In the blink of an eye, he reached a stone cauldron weighing thousands of pounds in the center of the training ground and struck out with a palm like a tiger's claw.

"Lively Steps Like a Tiger Descending the Mountain, Strikes Like a Tiger King Ripping Out a Heart!!"

With a dull thud!

The ground trembled slightly!

The stone cauldron was suddenly struck and tilted, flipping over.

The moment the stone cauldron flipped, Hu Xuezhi suddenly swept out a leg, like a tiger's tail whipping out a steel whip.

In a flash, three moves passed.

Hu Xuezhi lunged forward with an elbow strike, his energy erupting.

With a "clang" that echoed, a gust of wind swept across the ground, scattering stone powder. The stone cauldron directly cracked, a hole exploding outward. With a "thump," it heavily landed on the ground, shaking it.

"Three Tiger Ultimate Techniques! This stone cauldron weighing thousands of pounds was shattered and sent flying. Master, if you were to hit someone, their corpse would probably explode into fireworks."

Chu Ge exclaimed, clapping his hands. Seeing that Hu Xuezhi's face was not flushed and he was not out of breath, he couldn't help but admire him.

The old master was indeed experienced. This Crouching Tiger Fist was truly demonstrated with the momentum of a fierce tiger descending the mountain.

He secretly compared himself. He suspected that even with his Vitality declining, if he were to fight using martial arts without employing techniques like the Shadow Puppet or Paper Man, he might not be a match for him.

His Vitality was fierce. The moment of contact, his energy would leave his body and enter his opponent's, instantly shattering their steel bones and iron muscles, and tearing their five viscera and six bowels apart.

Although the Third Martial Arts Realm, Bone Training Realm, was powerful, it hadn't yet reached the Five Viscera and Six Bowels.

The gap between it and the Blood Change Realm seemed to be quite large.

"I must break through to the Blood Change Realm! Only then can my Vitality form true protective energy to guard my Five Viscera and Six Bowels. Even if my Heart Meridian is damaged, I can still cling to life."

Chu Ge's eyes gleamed, intensely desiring to enter the new martial arts realm and improve his physique.

Hu Xuezhi finished his movements and turned to look at Chu Ge. He seemed to sense the fighting spirit in his expression and praised him inwardly. He still reminded him, "Don't just bury yourself in cultivation. You should also pay more attention to outside news. The world has been restless lately, with many bandits on the roads."

"Bandits?"

Chu Ge was taken aback.

"Yes!"

Hu Xuezhi nodded with a solemn expression. "Some wealthy merchants in other towns have already been robbed. Even our Linyuan City might not be safe. Their strength is considerable."

You are also a wealthy merchant yourself. In short, as long as you don't leave the city, you should be fine. Just be careful."

"This disciple understands."

Chu Ge's expression turned serious as he clasped his hands in acknowledgment.

He realized Hu Xuezhi might have heard some news and was kindly reminding him.

After living safely in Linyuan City for a few more years without encountering any danger, and with his own martial arts strength improving, his vigilance had indeed been weakening.

Soon, Chu Ge borrowed the essential secret manual of the fourth volume of the Crouching Tiger Technique from Hu Xuezhi.

To show filial piety for his master's nurturing grace, he left behind three thousand taels of silver notes.

His heart ached at the cost, as even a landlord didn't have much grain left.

But this essential secret manual was the core visualization diagram of the Crouching Tiger Technique, containing the principles of Internal and External Strength from Hardened Training. It was said that each visualization would cause a portion of the infused extraordinary power and spirit to be lost, making it very precious.

Furthermore, Hu Xuezhi's hands-on guidance over the past few years had saved him from taking many detours.

After all, reality wasn't a game where you could just snap your fingers and learn a martial arts manual.

"Poverty breeds scholarship, wealth breeds martial arts; the ancients truly did not deceive me."

As he left, Chu Ge counted his fingers and did some calculations, sighing inwardly that he would have to be a bit more frugal in the future.

If he continued to squander his money like this, he feared his family fortune would be depleted long before he could even reach the legendary Force Condensation Realm.

If any bandits were to appear, he sincerely hoped they wouldn't try to rob him again.