Golden Skin Was Easy to Attain, Jade Bone Hard to Forge; Pulse Connection Manifested, [Pure Yang Body-Forging Technique]

Since he planned to build a following, the more talented people he could gather, the better... No matter how anyone asked, a boss always had to say he was short-staffed.

A GOOGLE search for TWKAN

This was called borrowing strength—drawing on other people's power to nourish his own.

That was currently the top priority in Luo Bin's mind. As for the Chen Family, tying himself too tightly to them would only backfire... Even a cunning rabbit had three burrows, let alone an ambitious schemer like him. How could he not make plans for himself?

Liang Shuisheng got so excited that he began to stammer. "Y-Young Master, you're willing to take me in?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he moved to kneel.

A man would die for someone who understood him. Kneeling was merely an expression of gratitude, not a humiliation, but Luo Bin didn't want to see a future general under his command act that way. If he could, he'd rather have brothers he could trust with his back...

"Get up and speak. There's no need to be so formal."

"Young Master, I..." Men weren't supposed to weep easily, but Liang Shuisheng's tears were already tumbling like large and small pearls falling onto a jade plate. How could he fail to understand that this nobleman was giving him a chance? Otherwise, how would a rickshaw puller sleeping in a shack ever get the opportunity to encounter the legendary "martial path"?

Ping City was neither large nor small. It gathered all manner of people from Huaian Province, a place teeming with fish and dragons. Liang Shuisheng had overheard plenty of street gossip and strange tales... For instance, ever since the fall of Great Li, the previous dynasty, monsters had appeared everywhere.

Newspapers like the Ping City Evening News and the Great New News had reported on monsters outside the city, and even within it. They killed people and slaughtered entire villages. Fortunately, official forces intervened, and after wreaking havoc, many of the monsters were driven away or killed.

Most of those who carried out these dangerous tasks were powerful Martial Masters...

Liang Shuisheng was a very perceptive man. Westerners had been blockading the ports with ironclad ships for a long time, and maritime trade between East and West never ceased. Guns and cannons were also smuggled in endlessly.

Why did Martial Masters' strength play such a dominant role in killing these monsters?

Liang Shuisheng had already formed some guesses of his own.

After paying for the braised stew, Luo Bin said, "Go back and get ready. Come to Chen Residence in two days and ask for me. Just say Luo Bin sent you, and someone will bring you in."

"Good! I'll go back now and take care of the things I haven't finished."

Luo Bin waved, telling Liang Shuisheng he could leave. The latter thanked him sincerely, then pulled his battered rickshaw and vanished around the street corner.

Just then, the braised-stew shop owner, who'd been busy as could be, found a moment to spare. He'd seen Luo Bin talking with the rickshaw puller and noticed his dignified bearing and fine clothes.

He came over with a hearty laugh and greeted him. "Sir, was that rickshaw puller your friend?"

"That's right."

"Then he's a lucky fellow, having a fine young gentleman like you for a friend. It must be a blessing earned over three lifetimes...

"Liang Shuisheng has had a hard life, too. He was originally from Qiao County, next to Ping City. His father was a gambler, his mother often sick, and both of them died during a war. He brought his little sister here to Ping City to beg for food...

"It's probably been a year and a half now. I can't speak for anything else, but he sure likes the braised stew at my stall!"

The owner laughed heartily and thumped his chest.

"It really is good."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with the shopkeeper, Luo Bin headed straight back to Chen Residence, meeting no resistance along the way.

After demonstrating his skill twice and helping the Chen Family, as well as earning Chen Tianren's favor, Luo Bin had taken on the air of a young master at Chen Residence... Nobody dared to make an unnecessary comment. That was the benefit of strength and value.

After practicing Primordial Stance for a while that afternoon,

Luo Bin found Jiang Ling lounging at his ease. He was sitting in the pavilion in the courtyard of Qufang Garden, sipping tea and reading the paper, enjoying himself immensely.

When Luo Bin arrived, Jiang Ling glanced up. A gaze as sharp as an eagle's settled on Luo Bin's face.

"So you've taken up with that girl from Pei Family Manor? Well, it doesn't matter as long as it doesn't interfere with your cultivation. It's common enough for men in this world to take several concubines."

Luo Bin felt a little awkward. He hadn't expected Jiang Ling to see through him before he'd even come close. In an instant, Jiang Ling seemed all the more inscrutable to him. What level had this Great Martial Master, who only intervened when the Chen Family was in mortal danger, reached?

"Uncle Jiang, I can't hide anything from you. But there's something I've always wondered... What lies beyond the Golden Skin and Jade Bone passes? How far does the martial path in this world stretch?

"I once read a line in the Baopuzi: 'Those with shallow understanding learn one thing by chance, then declare that they know enough.' I want to learn more about the martial path. I don't want to be a frog at the bottom of a well. Please enlighten me, Uncle Jiang."

At that, Jiang Ling set down his teacup, slowly folded the newspaper, and straightened up.

"The martial path... Golden Skin is easy to attain, Jade Bone hard to forge, and Pulse Connection manifests. Beyond that lie the three realms of Profound Mastery: Condensing Gang, True Origin, and Great Evolution. In the Great Evolution realm, one evolves an Inner Landscape and can become a grandmaster... And what is a grandmaster?

"It's simple. A grandmaster is a martial arts master.

"Grandmasters have their own distinctions: Limit Breaking, Luan Sect, Long Abyss, and even the ethereal True Lord and Sage above them. They're already beings like celestial gods. Ordinary people like us can scarcely hope to see them, even if we spend our whole lives trying..."

Luo Bin's pupils contracted, and his breathing turned ragged. So the road truly stretched on and on...

He'd had no idea the martial path was so long. When Jiang Ling first taught him Primordial Stance, he hadn't explained the broader landscape of martial cultivation. Luo Bin had known only of the Golden Skin and Jade Bone passes, and after advancing to the late Golden Skin stage, he'd begun to slack off...

Now that he thought about it, he'd been like a frog at the bottom of a well. He wasn't even an ant yet, and he'd already dared to indulge in women... Truly, pleasure distracts from one's purpose.

He punished himself in his thoughts: I'll give myself a few extra lashes with the little whip...

Seeing Luo Bin's dazed expression, Jiang Ling smiled. "Cultivate well. You haven't even entered the path yet. There aren't many Jade Bone Martial Masters in the enormous Chen Family, but there are still a few.

"Though you've broken through to the late Golden Skin stage, remember to stay humble and patient. The road ahead is long... And heroes under heaven are as numerous as carp crossing a river. Many talented people ultimately falter on the martial path, while some with only average aptitude surge ahead."

Luo Bin bowed. "Thank you for your guidance, Uncle Jiang."

For the next hour, Luo Bin became a student thirsting for knowledge and took a densely packed lesson.

That evening, Hu Junzhi ran in from outside and told Luo Bin that the Water Mountain Ghoul Soft Armor he'd previously sent to Su Yunong, the opera singer at Qunyu Garden, was ready. He should go pick it up when he had time.

[Luo Bin]

[Realm: Late Golden Skin Pass]

[Techniques: White Ape Through-Arm Fist (Second Layer, 2/6), Primordial Stance (Third Layer, 5/20)]

[Essence Soul: Water Ghoul · Phantom]

[Modification Value: 12]

[Spirit Charm: 4]

After hearing this, Luo Bin brought up the panel and saw that his Spirit Charm had increased by one since he'd last emerged from seclusion. It was probably because the Chen Family had been feeding him well lately.

When he killed the Water Mountain Ghoul last time, Luo Bin had already accumulated quite a few Modification Points—twelve in all.

[Primordial Stance (Third Layer, 5/20)+]

A faint plus sign had appeared beside Primordial Stance, but Luo Bin still didn't know what would happen if he modified the technique. After all, it was a prerequisite for the Yellow Court Inner Landscape Origin-Returning Technique...

What if modifying it meant he could no longer practice that miraculous technique later?

But the fundamental improvement and the pressure and potential ceiling that came with modifying martial arts techniques tempted him like a devil whispering in his ear:

Think of the lovely woman you spent the night with. Doesn't this chaotic world call for powerful strength to protect her?

Think of the promise you made when you brought Wen Xue back. Isn't the Pei Family powerful?

Think of the way Chen Manqing looked down on you, convinced you'd never escape the nature of a lowly peasant. Doesn't that make your blood boil?

And what about the boundless martial path? What makes you think an ordinary technique can carry you through every enemy?

Luo Bin's thoughts churned. At a certain point, he seized control of his will and pressed down hard on that "+"...

"Damn it! How can I accomplish anything if I keep hesitating?"

[Spend 10 Modification Points to improve the quality of "Primordial Stance"? After modification, Primordial Stance's fundamental traits will remain intact, and it will remain compatible with subsequent techniques.]

Luo Bin's eyes instantly lit up. When fortune arrived, heaven and earth lent their strength. This was exactly what he wanted!

"Modify!"

["Primordial Stance" → "Pure Yang Body-Forging Technique"]