Golden Skin Is Easy to Obtain, Jade Bone Is Hard to Forge, Pulse Connection Manifestation, [Pure Yang Body-Forging Technique]

Since he intended to build his own force, naturally the more talent the better... When you're a boss, no matter who asks, you're always short on people.

This was called borrowing momentum—using the momentum of others to nourish yourself.

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

Liang Shuisheng was so excited he stammered, stumbling over his words: "Gong... Gongzi, you're willing to take me in?"

After saying this, he immediately moved to kneel.

A scholar dies for one who appreciates him. Kneeling was merely an expression of gratitude, not humiliation, but Luo Bin didn't want to see a future fierce general under his command act like this. If possible, he would rather have brothers he could trust with his back...

"Stand up and speak. No need for such formality."

"Gongzi, I..." A man's tears don't fall easily, but Liang Shuisheng's tears already streamed down like "big pearls and small pearls falling onto a jade plate." He understood perfectly that this nobleman was giving him a chance. Otherwise, how would a rickshaw puller who slept in a shack ever have the opportunity to touch the legendary "martial arts"?

Ping City was neither too big nor too small, gathering all sorts of characters from Huaian Province—a mixed bag of dragons and snakes. The streets and alleys were filled with gossip and strange tales, and Liang Shuisheng had overheard quite a bit... For instance, since the fall of the previous dynasty, Great Li, demons and monsters had appeared frequently in the world.

Newspapers like the Ping City Evening News and Great New News had reported on monsters outside the city, and even inside it, killing people and slaughtering villages. But fortunately, official forces had intervened, and many monsters were driven away or killed after causing trouble.

The ones carrying out these dangerous tasks were mostly powerful Martial Masters...

Liang Shuisheng was an observant man. Western ironclads had been knocking at the gates for a long time, maritime trade between East and West was constant, and guns and cannons were being endlessly smuggled and sold.

Why did the power of Martial Masters dominate when it came to killing these monsters?

Liang Shuisheng already had some guesses about this.

After Luo Bin paid for the braised offal meal, he said, "Go back and prepare first. Come find me at the Chen Residence in two days. Just say I sent you, and someone will bring you in."

"Alright! I'll go back now and take care of any unfinished business."

Luo Bin waved his hand, signaling Liang Shuisheng to leave. The latter thanked him sincerely, then pulled his battered rickshaw and disappeared around the street corner.

Just then, the busy braised offal shop owner snatched a moment of free time. Seeing Luo Bin, who had been talking to the rickshaw puller, with an imposing bearing and clothes that didn't seem ordinary, he stepped forward with a hearty laugh and greeted him: "Sir, was that rickshaw puller just now a friend of yours?"

"That's right."

"Then he's truly blessed. To have a gentleman as distinguished as you as a friend—it must be a fortune earned over three lifetimes...

This Liang Shuisheng is a pitiful man. He was originally from Qiao County, next to Ping City. His father was a gambler, his mother was often ill, and after a war disaster, both his parents died. He brought his little sister to Ping City to beg for a living...

It's been about a year and a half now. I can't say much else, but the braised offal at my stall is quite to his taste!"

The owner laughed heartily, patting his own chest.

"It really is good."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with the braised offal shop owner, Luo Bin went straight back to the Chen Residence without any obstruction along the way.

After his previous two displays of skill, his help to the Chen Family, and Chen Tianren's regard for him, Luo Bin now carried himself like a young master in the Chen Residence... No one dared to say a word about it. Such were the benefits of strength and value.

After practicing the Primordial Stance for a while in the afternoon, Luo Bin found Jiang Ling, who was leisurely enjoying himself. The latter sat in the pavilion of the large courtyard in Qufang Garden, sipping tea and reading the newspaper, looking utterly carefree.

As Luo Bin approached, Jiang Ling looked up, and a gaze as sharp as a hawk's fell upon Luo Bin's face.

"Did you get together with that girl from the Pei Family Manor? It doesn't matter, as long as it doesn't hinder your cultivation. In this world, it's not uncommon for men to take several concubines."

Luo Bin felt a slight awkwardness. He hadn't expected to be seen through before he even got close. In that instant, Jiang Ling's image in his mind grew even more unfathomable. Just what realm had this Great Martial Master, who only acted when the Chen Family was in mortal danger, reached?

"Uncle Jiang, I can't hide it from you. But I've always had a question in my heart... What exactly lies beyond the Golden Skin and Jade Bone Passes? How long is the path of martial arts in this world?

I once read a line in the Baopuzi: 'Shallow people, upon learning one thing, claim it is enough.' I want to know more about martial arts. I don't want to be a frog at the bottom of a well. Please teach me, Uncle Jiang."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ling set down his teacup, slowly folded the newspaper, and straightened up.

"Martial arts... Golden Skin is easy to obtain, but Jade Bone is hard to achieve. Pulse Connection, Manifestation. Above that are the three realms of Profound Mastery: Condensing Gang, True Origin, and Great Evolution. Among them, the Great Evolution realm evolves the inner landscape and can produce a Great Master... And what is a Great Master?

Simple. A Great Master is a martial arts Grandmaster.

There are also distinctions among Great Masters: Limit Breaking, Luan Sect, Long Abyss, and even the ethereal True Monarch and Sage above them—they are already godlike figures. For mortals like us, we could spend our entire lives and never see them..."

Luo Bin's pupils contracted sharply, and his breathing instantly quickened. So it was "the road ahead is long and arduous"...

So the path of martial arts was this long. When Jiang Ling had taught him the Primordial Stance before, he hadn't gone into detail about the grand direction of martial arts. Luo Bin, who only knew about the Golden Skin and Jade Bone Passes, had grown somewhat lax after advancing to the late Golden Skin stage...

Now, looking at it, he had been like a frog at the bottom of a well. He wasn't even an ant yet, and he was already indulging in women... Truly "playthings sap the will."

He mentally punished himself: whip himself a few more times with a little leather strap...

Seeing Luo Bin's slightly stunned expression, Jiang Ling smiled. "Train hard. You're not even at the starting gate yet. Although this vast Chen Residence doesn't have many Jade Bone Pass Martial Masters, there are still a few.

Now that you've broken into the late Golden Skin stage, remember to guard against arrogance and impatience. The road is long... The world's heroes are as numerous as carp crossing the river. Many talented people end up collapsing on the martial path, while some with mediocre talent surge ahead."

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

For the next hour, Luo Bin transformed into a student thirsting for knowledge, attending a lesson dense with information.

In the evening, Hu Junzhi ran in from outside and told Luo Bin that the Water Mountain Ghoul Soft Armor he had sent to the Qunyu Garden dan actor Su Yunong had been completed, and he should find time to pick it up.

[Luo Bin] [Realm: Late Golden Skin Pass]

[Skill: 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]

Luo Bin understood and called up the panel to check. Spirit Charm had increased by one point since he last emerged from seclusion—likely thanks to the decent meals the Chen Family had been providing lately.

When he killed the Water Mountain Ghoul last time, Luo Bin had already accumulated a fair amount of Modification Value, a full twelve points.

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

Behind the entire Primordial Stance entry, a faint plus sign had appeared. But Luo Bin hadn't known what consequences modifying this technique would bring—after all, it was a prerequisite for the [Yellow Court Inner Landscape Origin-Returning Technique]...

What if modifying it meant he could never cultivate that extraordinary art later?

Yet the essential enhancement that came with modifying martial techniques, along with that oppressive sense of power and raised limits, tempted Luo Bin like a devil whispering in his ear:

Think of that auntie who shared your bed for a night? In this chaotic world, don't you need strong power to protect her?

Think of your promise to bring Wen Xue back—isn't the Pei Family formidable?

Think of Chen Manqing's contemptuous gaze, believing you'll never shed your lowborn roots—doesn't that rankle?

And the boundless path of martial arts—how else will you defeat every enemy with an ordinary technique?

Luo Bin's thoughts churned. At some point, he willed his consciousness to slam down hard on that plus sign...

"To hell with it! How can hesitation ever accomplish anything?!"

[Consume 10 Modification Value to upgrade the quality of "Primordial Stance"? After modification and upgrade, the essential nature of Primordial Stance will be preserved, and compatibility with subsequent techniques will not be affected.]

Luo Bin's eyes lit up instantly. Heaven and earth moved in unison with his will—exactly what he wanted!

"Modify!"

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