Little Spring Technique

Every one of Su Changlin's people held a pivotal position in Qingfeng County; every word and deed of theirs could affect the county.

And yet—

They had all been killed by Zhao Zhi.

Zhao Zhi alone had nearly wiped out Qingfeng County's top martial artists.

Fan Youlin was exceedingly glad for the choice he had made back then.

He had not allowed the Fan Family to move against Zhao Zhi. Instead, he had followed Zhao Zhi's orders and presented ten thousand taels of silver along with a Xiantian martial art. Otherwise, the Fan Family might have followed in the footsteps of the Su Family and Tao Family.

Father could no longer remain the Fan Family head. No matter what, Second Uncle had to become the Fan Family head.

Fan Zhenyu directly passed judgment on his own father in his heart, stripping him of his position as the Fan Family head.

Fan Youlin clenched and unclenched his hands, calming his emotions before softly asking, "Lord Zhao, what does the Fan Family need to do?"

"The worship of the Mysterious Maiden was announced long ago. It cannot simply be called off. Lu Guangyi and the others' corpses are at the Mysterious Maiden Temple. Arrange for people to dispose of them. Tomorrow's grand ceremony to worship the Mysterious Maiden will also be entirely hosted by your Fan Family. Are you willing?"

Fan Youlin immediately said, "Since it is your order, my lord, the Fan Family naturally agrees. I will have someone handle it at once."

"Good."

Zhao Zhi nodded and looked at Fan Zhenyu.

Fan Youlin understood at once. He rose and departed.

Only Zhao Zhi and Fan Zhenyu remained within the hexagonal pavilion.

Fan Zhenyu withdrew his gaze from his second uncle's retreating figure and looked toward Zhao Zhi, understanding dawning in his heart. "Lord Zhao, do you wish to ask about the Profound Nether Platform?"

"Yes."

Zhao Zhi did not conceal it.

Fan Zhenyu glanced at his body, which was wrapped all over in bandages, and gave a bitter smile. "Lord Zhao, I fear this matter will require some time. My injuries have not healed, and it is inconvenient for me to move. I cannot make the long journey to the Profound Nether Platform in Jing Prefecture. If you are anxious to go, my lord, you can only travel there alone first."

So that was it?

Since the Fan Family had delivered the Brief Guide to the Profound Nether Platform, there had been no further news. Zhao Zhi did not know the Profound Nether Platform's attitude.

It turned out only that Fan Zhenyu could not move about conveniently and was unable to lead him to the Profound Nether Platform in Jing Prefecture.

That made sense.

Fan Zhenyu's injuries were far too severe.

Ordinary injuries to muscles and bones took a hundred days to heal. Fan Zhenyu's injuries would not recover without at least half a year. Even regaining a certain ability to walk would require three months.

Three months was too long.

It had only been a little over a month since Zhao Zhi awakened his memories of a past life.

With the Merit Panel, he could have kept a low profile and developed slowly, steadily accumulating Merit and improving his martial arts.

But he lacked martial arts manuals.

Among the many counties throughout Jing Prefecture, Qingfeng County ranked near the bottom. Even Xiantian-level martial arts were scarce here, and obtaining a Meridian Opening Realm martial art was extremely difficult.

Unless he went through the yamen.

But Lu Guangyi, the county magistrate, had now been killed by him, cutting off that possibility. Even if he had not killed Lu Guangyi, Lu Guangyi presumably would not have applied for a Meridian Opening Realm martial art on his behalf.

"Go alone first?"

Zhao Zhi began considering traveling ahead by himself.

Fan Zhenyu's lips curved slightly, forcing out a faint smile. "Lord Yan gave you the Brief Guide to the Profound Nether Platform because he intended to recruit you as a member of the Profound Nether Platform. You need only go to the Profound Nether Platform in Jing Prefecture, and you can become one of its members."

"Good. Where is the Profound Nether Platform?"

After learning the Profound Nether Platform's location in Jing Prefecture from Fan Zhenyu, Zhao Zhi had resolved all the matters for which he had come to the Fan Family. He took his leave.

Inside a simple mud-brick house.

With a thought from Zhao Zhi, the Merit Panel appeared.

[Martial Arts: Incomplete True Martial Mountain-Suppressing Technique (Perfected), Incomplete Little Netherworld Sword (Minor Mastery), Innate Unity Qi Technique (Perfected), Iron Horse Grounding Stance (Perfected), Wind-Riding Technique (Perfected), Flowing River Formula (Perfected)...]

[Merit: 2238]

The malevolent entity had provided Zhao Zhi with 1,235 Merit, Lu Guangyi with 355, and Su Changlin and the others had contributed further Merit, bringing Zhao Zhi's Merit to 2,238 in one stroke—an unprecedented amount.

Such an amount of Merit could allow Zhao Zhi to do quite a few things and raise several Xiantian martial arts.

Zhao Zhi did not rush to improve his Xiantian martial arts.

The True Martial Mountain-Suppressing Technique and the Little Netherworld Sword were already enough for him to sweep across all of Qingfeng County.

Improving his Xiantian martial arts would help him very little. It would be better to set it aside for now and use it all after obtaining suitable Xiantian martial arts—or even Meridian Opening Realm martial arts.

Then Zhao Zhi took out the three items he had obtained from Lu Guangyi.

The black wood had already been inspected. He had memorized all the words written upon it, but it was not a martial art, and he did not know their precise meaning.

Zhao Zhi gave it another cursory look before placing the black wood to one side.

Next came the medicine bottle.

He opened it, and a faint fragrance of medicinal pills rushed into his nose. It refreshed the heart and spirit, making his entire body feel comfortable. It was clearly an excellent pill.

Zhao Zhi knew next to nothing about medicinal pills. Moreover, knowing that County Magistrate Lu Guangyi had refined and consumed Human Elixirs, he had no interest in it. He would wait until someone determined the pill's effects before deciding whether to take it.

After sealing the stopper, Zhao Zhi looked at the final item.

Beast hide.

The beast hide was covered in a great many words. Every character gave off a faint, strange pale-green glow, inexplicably stirring longing in those who saw them, making them wish to engrave every word upon their own bodies.

It truly was bizarre.

Suddenly—

Zhao Zhi looked at the Merit Panel.

[Martial Arts: Incomplete Little Spring Technique (Not Initiated)]

Another incomplete martial art.

From the information obtained through the Merit Panel, he could tell that this Little Spring Technique ranked slightly below the True Martial Mountain-Suppressing Technique and the Little Netherworld Sword, though not by much.

The Little Spring Technique was likewise a method for cultivating inner qi. The inner qi it cultivated possessed the wondrous effects of prolonging life and consolidating one's foundation while nourishing one's vital essence.

Put simply, the Little Spring Technique was a martial art for preserving health.

It was rather good.

After giving it some thought, Zhao Zhi realized that the Little Spring Technique was precisely a suitable martial art, so he poured a large amount of Merit into it.

[300 Merit consumed. Incomplete Little Spring Technique has been initiated.]

[300 Merit consumed. Incomplete Little Spring Technique has reached Minor Mastery.]

[600 Merit consumed. Incomplete Little Spring Technique has reached Major Mastery.]

[600 Merit consumed. Incomplete Little Spring Technique has reached Perfection.]

It consumed the same amount of Merit as the Incomplete True Martial Mountain-Suppressing Technique.

In an instant—

As Zhao Zhi received memories of himself tirelessly and painstakingly cultivating the incomplete portion of the Little Spring Technique, a vast and majestic mysterious power surged forth from some unknown place within his body.

Following the circulation route of the incomplete Little Spring Technique, this mysterious power completed one Greater Celestial Circuit after another, gradually transforming into Little Spring Technique inner qi.

Though the Little Spring Technique's inner qi could not compare to the vast and mighty inner qi of the True Martial Mountain-Suppressing Technique, it surpassed the other inner qi by far. Its effects of prolonging life and consolidating the foundation slowly permeated every meridian, every scrap of flesh in his body.

Under Zhao Zhi's deliberate control, the Little Spring Technique's inner qi was not entirely suppressed by the True Martial Mountain-Suppressing Technique's inner qi. It was able to circulate slowly but steadfastly.

Zhao Zhi sensed the state of the inner qi within his body.

The True Martial Mountain-Suppressing Technique's inner qi was like the eldest brother, while the Little Spring Technique's inner qi was like the second brother. As they circulated, they continuously strengthened his physique and nourished his fleshly body. The remaining inner qi from the Innate Unity Qi Technique, Iron Horse Grounding Stance, and the others followed quietly behind, meek and submissive, not daring to harbor the slightest thought of resistance.

Yet the inner qi did not seem entirely harmonious. There were faint signs of disorder and turbulence.

Or rather—

The True Martial Mountain-Suppressing Technique had originally forcefully suppressed the other Xiantian martial arts. With the addition of the Little Spring Technique, the other martial arts gradually attached themselves to the Little Spring Technique in an attempt to resist the True Martial Mountain-Suppressing Technique.

Once another inner qi comparable to—or even merely slightly weaker than—the True Martial Mountain-Suppressing Technique was added, it would be enough to create chaos within Zhao Zhi's body.

It would be wonderful if he could unify all this inner qi.

At that thought, Zhao Zhi's pupils suddenly lit up, blazing with brilliant radiance.