The Ancient One's Contingency, an Invitation from the Li Family!

Wencuo, outside Zhaojiang City.

A square-faced young man with a simple appearance was staying temporarily at Wencuo. Having practiced martial arts for years and traveled the world with his master, his skin had darkened from constant exposure to the elements, making him indistinguishable from the local farmers of Wencuo.

At this moment, he was waiting under an old willow tree in Wencuo for the arrival of a carrier pigeon.

Unfortunately, he waited and waited until dusk, the sun dipping low, yet there was still no sign of the pigeon.

"Something is wrong, something has happened!"

The square-faced young man's expression shifted, and he muttered to himself, "Master once said that his trip into the city to acquire the technique might be a one-way journey."

"That is why he told me to stay outside the city and send a pigeon every seven days to signal that I am safe; if the communication is interrupted, it means he has met with misfortune."

"I must head to Songling immediately and find the Three Friends of Songling!"

"The Three Friends of Songling are all experts in the Bone Refining Realm. They have a decent relationship with Master and once invited him to join their Songling Garden to cultivate together and become the fourth friend of Songling..."

Recalling his master's instructions, the square-faced young man gritted his teeth, packed his bags overnight, and headed toward Songling.

"Thunderclap Blade Technique, Great Success!"

Inside the Black Dragon Gang, Liu Chu stopped his blade practice, a faint smile appearing on his face.

He opened his attribute panel:

Host: Liu Chu

Comprehension multiplier: 4x (Can be sacrificed: 30 Treasure Fish / 300 taels of silver, 10 years of lifespan)

Dragon-Tiger Nourishing Practice (Consummated)

Dragon-Tiger Combat Technique (Consummated)

Dragon-Tiger Blade-Breaking Technique (Consummated)

Thunderclap Blade Technique (Great Success 1%)

Rolling Thunder Nourishing Practice (Minor Success 12%)

Jintao Blade Technique (Minor Success 33%)

"The Thunderclap Blade Technique broke through to Great Success earlier than expected. My blade technique cultivation speed is getting faster and faster, especially when practicing new techniques—it can truly be called godlike speed!"

Liu Chu looked at the progress bars for his techniques on the attribute panel, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.

Now that he was proficient in practicing blade techniques, he simply practiced two at once, allowing him to draw parallels between them!

In fact, he discovered that this cultivation speed was even slightly faster than practicing a single technique alone.

"Perhaps it is because my comprehension is too strong, and comprehension is inherently about drawing parallels and understanding things at a glance. Having a few similar techniques to reference actually allows my comprehension to be better utilized!"

Liu Chu analyzed in his heart.

The fourfold comprehension multiplier made it easier for him to draw parallels and infer other things from one instance; practicing two blade techniques simultaneously gave him profound inspiration.

Of course, the reason he achieved such results was that he had already brought one blade technique to consummation.

With a consummated blade technique as a foundation, he naturally stood high and saw far; otherwise, he would still have to honestly focus on practicing one technique at a time.

"However, while practicing two blade techniques at once, I can only attend to one Nourishing Practice."

Liu Chu had already begun practicing the Nourishing Practice.

Only with the foundation of a consummated blade technique and a consummated Nourishing Practice could he cultivate several techniques at once.

But currently, cultivating three at the same time was his limit.

In particular, the Nourishing Practice was not as easy to cultivate as blade techniques. Blade techniques were martial skills; sometimes, a small realization could lead to a huge improvement.

The Nourishing Practice was different. As a fundamental method, it was closely related to the power of qi and blood and required the intake of sufficient qi and blood tonics, improving slowly over time.

Fortunately, he had searched six hundred taels of silver from Gu Hualong and his companion, and received another two hundred taels from Yang Wenhuai.

Even after accounting for the deficit of thirty Treasure Fish, he still had six hundred taels of silver available for use.

Without hesitation, Liu Chu consumed two Treasure Fish to cultivate his second Nourishing Practice.

"Master was right; consummating one Nourishing Practice and possessing eight strands of qi and blood power is the limit of the human body."

"And to break through this limit, one needs more than ten times the resources!"

Liu Chu sighed with emotion in his heart.

Consuming two Treasure Fish had only barely allowed his second Nourishing Practice to break through to Minor Success.

He had not yet broken his qi and blood limit!

To break the qi and blood limit, he needed to reach Great Success; roughly estimated, he would need another five or six Treasure Fish!

Of course, he could go buy medicinal meals, but the silver required was about the same, and medicinal meals required careful consumption every single day.

Consuming Treasure Fish was much more convenient.

"Although this consumed a significant amount of the time accumulated from the Treasure Fish, the increase in strength is solid; it is merely a matter of waiting a little longer."

Liu Chu did not mind.

From his battle with Gu Hualong, he felt that his advantage in strength was gradually narrowing when facing Bone Refining Realm experts.

This was because many Bone Refining martial artists had also cultivated at least one technique to the Great Success stage.

In fact, some top-tier Bone Refining experts had already cultivated a technique to the Perfection stage!

If I were to face a Bone Refining martial artist who has cultivated a technique to Perfection, my chances of winning would not be high!

Liu Chu secretly estimated in his heart.

"Now that I have cultivated the Thunderclap Blade Technique to Great Success, combined with the Small Success of the Jintao Blade Technique, if I were to face Gu Hualong again, I could kill him even more easily!"

"However, against a Bone Refining expert with a perfected technique, I fear I would only be able to fight to a draw!"

"And according to rumors, there are some Bone Refining experts who have already achieved success in Neizhuang Realm techniques, condensing the blood energy within their bodies into true qi, making their strength even greater than that of an average expert with a perfected technique!"

Liu Chu knew that there were distinctions of strength among Bone Refining Realm martial artists, and the basis for this division was their techniques!

Just like himself, relying on having several techniques at the Perfection stage, he was enough to look down upon the Tendon Refining Realm and challenge Bone Refining experts!

But if I can cultivate the Thunderclap Blade Technique and Jintao Blade Technique to Perfection, or cultivate the Rolling Thunder Nourishing Practice to Great Success, I would be able to suppress ordinary Bone Refining experts with perfected techniques...

Liu Chu thought to himself, and continued his cultivation.

However, before even a few days had passed, an uninvited guest arrived at the Black Dragon Gang.

"Gang Leader, the Li Family has sent someone to invite you to their estate for a discussion."

Feng Sheng reported respectfully.

"The Li Family?"

Liu Chu looked at Feng Sheng with confusion.

Feng Sheng immediately explained: "The Li Family is a major family in our Zhaojiang City, existing just below the three great families of Zhaojiang City. The current head of the family is a Bone Refining expert, and furthermore, there is a Bone Refining elder in the family!"

"I see."

Upon hearing this, Liu Chu gained some understanding of the Li Family.

But he immediately frowned and looked at Feng Sheng, asking doubtfully: "Why would the Li Family invite me? Could it be that the affairs of the Black Dragon Gang have some conflict with their business?"

Feng Sheng shook his head: "The Li Family conducts legitimate business and operates long-term trades; they have no business entanglements with our Black Dragon Gang."

"Then why are they inviting me?"

Liu Chu asked curiously.

"This..."

Feng Sheng looked ashamed: "Your subordinate does not know either, I will go and ask clearly right now."

"Wait, have they sent someone here?"

Liu Chu called out to Feng Sheng, who was about to leave, and asked.

"The Li Family's head steward is waiting, wanting to see you and speak with you privately."

Feng Sheng said immediately.

"Since they have come, then I shall meet them. I am quite curious as to what the Li Family wants with me."

Curiosity rose in Liu Chu's heart, and he decided to meet this Li Family steward.

Logically speaking, he should have had no connection with the Li Family at all; he hadn't even known what the Li Family did before this.

Soon, the Li Family steward was led into the hall by Feng Sheng.

Liu Chu glanced at the steward, and was secretly startled in his heart: His aura is restrained and steady; the Li Family steward is actually a Tendon Refining martial artist!

"This must be the leader of the Black Dragon Gang; I have long admired your name!"

The Li Family steward cupped his hands and spoke with flattering pleasantries, though his expression carried a faint hint of contempt.

"Speak, what is your business with me?"

Liu Chu frowned, feeling a sense of displeasure at the Li steward's expression, and spoke with an impolite attitude.

"My Li Family inviting the Gang Leader is naturally to bestow a good opportunity upon you; the Gang Leader only needs to accompany me!"

The Li Family steward chuckled, as if being invited by the Li Family was a tremendous favor.