Inside the Azure Dragon Gang, in the gang leader's manor.
Zheng Tong sat in his grand chair, staring at Ye Li.
Ye Li met Zheng Tong's gaze without either fear or deference.
Otome players, take note and get out your notebooks!
When you're dealing with this sort of iron-blooded character, remember not to pick options that are too submissive.
Someone who fought their way up through blood and steel holds a position of power.
They're used to people obeying them. The weaker you act, the easier they'll think you are to handle.
Only by showing the proud, unyielding spirit of a plum blossom standing tall in the snow, and facing them without either fear or deference, can you make them see you in a new light!
They might even suddenly think, You've caught my attention!
Regular readers, take note too. You can use this trick when meeting a future father-in-law or an elder.
Anyway, the author's just some kind of weirdo. He has no girlfriend, has never been a dragon, and is only an armchair expert.
Everything above was just made up on the spot. I can say whatever I want, but it may not be true. I'm bold enough to say it, but you absolutely, absolutely, absolutely must not try it, bro!
There in the room, Ye Li met Zheng Tong's gaze and suddenly smiled. "This gift is a martial arts manual!"
"A martial arts manual?" Zheng Tong's curiosity, which had just begun to stir, vanished at once.
What kind of manual could a disciple who hadn't even reached the Body Tempering Realm possibly offer?
It was probably just some common manual you could buy for a few dozen taels, which he thought was a treasure.
With that thought, Zheng Tong was about to wave Ye Li off.
But before he could, Ye Li smiled faintly, raised his arms into a ready stance, then turned solemn and began circulating his technique.
"Oh..."
The moment Ye Li made his opening move, Zheng Tong let out a surprised sound.
What the young man was demonstrating wasn't a martial art, but a cultivation technique that could strengthen a martial artist's physique!
Unlike basic martial arts, even the most ordinary cultivation technique could improve one's cultivation and help one break through the Body Tempering Realm when paired with the right breathing and stances.
That was why cultivation techniques were closely guarded secrets of the various sects. They were worth a fortune and weren't circulated on the open market in Guangming.
"If it's a cultivation technique, then it's worth a look," Zheng Tong thought. He lowered the arm he had been about to raise and watched Ye Li's movements patiently.
In the spacious hall, Ye Li moved through one stance after another. Every motion fell into Zheng Tong's eyes.
But the longer he watched, the more unfathomable Ye Li's technique seemed—and the more familiar it felt!
Even without practicing it himself, Zheng Tong could judge it with the insight he had gained from decades of martial arts cultivation.
"What a brilliant technique. This kid's technique is even better than our gang's Azure Dragon Force. It trains more muscle groups and makes cultivation more efficient."
That alone was enough to make Zheng Tong sit up and take notice. It truly deserved to be called a priceless treasure!
A body-tempering technique that improved muscle efficiency directly shortened the time needed to break through. Over time, the difference became enormous—the two were roughly equivalent to having the edge of a white cultivation trait.
"Where on earth did this kid get such a profound technique? Could he have stumbled upon some Cave Abode ruins?" Zheng Tong wondered.
But in truth, Ye Li, a penniless man, didn't have any technique at all. What he was practicing now was simply Azure Dragon Force: Revised Version.
Compared with the perfected Azure Dragon Force, what Ye Li was demonstrating now was probably a version with an experience bar of "Azure Dragon Force (800/100)."
After all, Ye Li knew that only sustainable overfishing could bring in the greatest returns.
If he gave the client the final version right away, there'd be no way to keep the partnership going.
It was more profitable to hold something back and slowly squeeze out updates, bit by bit, like toothpaste.
An incense stick later, Ye Li completed the final move and slowly ended the exercise. Wisps of steam rose from his skin, carried by his surging blood and qi.
He gently exhaled the stale air and opened his eyes. "Are you satisfied with this treasure, Gang Leader?"
"Priceless," Zheng Tong admitted without hesitation. Then he fixed his eyes on Ye Li. "What is this technique called, and where did you get it?"
"What do you mean by that, Gang Leader?"
Confusion appeared in Ye Li's eyes at just the right moment. "Didn't you notice that the technique I demonstrated was derived from Azure Dragon Force?"
Crack—
The armrest of the grand chair in Zheng Tong's hand let out a sharp snapping sound, and a bolt of lightning seemed to race through his mind.
In the next instant, he began comparing the technique Ye Li had just demonstrated with Azure Dragon Force. Every last detail fit.
A violent shock surged through Zheng Tong. "Could this really be Azure Dragon Force?!"
Thinking that the Azure Dragon Force he had practiced for over a decade looked like this in Ye Li's hands filled him with a strange, uncomfortable feeling.
He had cultivated this technique for years in the Body Tempering Realm, and Ye Li had trained it into a form that suited him even better!
Ye Li explained, "As I practiced Azure Dragon Force, I kept feeling that something about it was awkward, so I followed my instincts and made a few suitable changes."
"After modifying the breathing method and all the accompanying moves, my cultivation progressed faster. That's why I've brought this treasure to you."
"For example, in the first move, the shoulder drop and elbow lift are too restrained. I think it should be changed to dropping the shoulder and raising the arm!"
As he spoke, Ye Li demonstrated the opening move.
With every step of cultivation, the World-Shocking Wisdom trait sent the reasons behind each version change into his mind.
So Ye Li understood why every version had been revised and what benefits each change brought.
Now, under Zheng Tong's gaze, Ye Li laid out his reasoning behind the revisions to the first few moves. Zheng Tong, a Half-Step Xiantian Realm expert, nodded again and again.
Just as Zheng Tong's thirst for knowledge was roused, Ye Li suddenly stopped and stood quietly instead of continuing the demonstration.
Having reached the Half-Step Xiantian Realm, Zheng Tong was naturally a martial arts fanatic. Ye Li's move was like letting netizens watch the first ten minutes for free, then telling them they needed a top-tier membership to see the rest.
Discomfort immediately swelled in Zheng Tong's heart, followed by displeasure.
But before he could ask why Ye Li had stopped explaining, Ye Li smiled innocently.
"I was so focused on showing you the technique, Gang Leader, that I completely forgot to congratulate you."
"Congratulate me?" Ye Li's words immediately stirred Zheng Tong's curiosity again.
That's right. If the priceless treasure was this powerful, then how big did the joy Ye Li was talking about have to be?
By now, Zheng Tong had completely overlooked how Ye Li had guided the entire conversation step by step from the moment he entered the room.
What top-tier social skills! The Cannibal Art!
Seeing Zheng Tong's curiosity, Ye Li smiled at just the right moment. "This joy, of course, is that the gang now has a top-tier martial arts genius like me."
Zheng Tong: ...
After a brief daze, Zheng Tong laughed.
Ye Li had laughed him into it.
Damn, was the kid messing with him?
But before Zheng Tong could blow up, Ye Li turned solemn, clasped his hands, and bowed. "Gang Leader, I heard you have no children. I humbly ask you to take me as your disciple and let me care for you in your old age!"
"Care for me in my old age???" Zheng Tong stared in surprise. He hadn't expected this twist!
But after Ye Li had taken him on a roller coaster of hope and frustration, luring him into leaning forward with the promise of another treat, Ye Li's image as a genius had left a deep impression on him.
This kid really was a super-genius!
That naturally made Zheng Tong give the request serious consideration.
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