Golden Ape Fist of the Ninth Rank True Art

The True Art Scroll slowly unfurled across the low table,

but halfway through, Manager Zhou Chun covered it again.

"Golden Ape Fist"—this was a martial True Art that led directly to Ninth Rank Peak. It was divided into five sections: Qi Circulation, Force Infusion, Inner Tempering, Body Tempering, and Bone Forging.

Naturally, the Brokerage Guild would not hand the apprentices the complete martial art all at once. The half-scroll contained only the first three stages: Qi Circulation, Force Infusion, and Inner Tempering.

Qi Circulation and breath control formed the foundation of the art. Once mastered, one could mobilize Qi-Blood and infuse it with force.

Once Force Infusion reached completion, the physical body would begin Inner Tempering.

These three sections did not involve combat techniques. They were merely foundational methods for tempering Qi-Blood. After entering the first level, one would only be one or two times stronger than an ordinary person.

As for Body Tempering and Bone Forging, those were methods of cultivation after breaking through to become a martial artist. Since they could not see them now, they could only make a few guesses.

Although he possessed the Fate Panel, and it had already recorded the Golden Ape Fist, its proficiency naturally would not increase unless he personally practiced it.

After all, his Fate was "Diligence Makes Up for Dullness," not "Something for Nothing."

Upon seeing the introduction, the newly recruited apprentices immediately began reciting it on the spot.

First came the Qi Circulation chant. This part was relatively easy. Beside them, some youths had already begun humming and chanting softly.

Once one person took the lead, the others followed along. With its musical rhythm, it naturally rolled off the tongue.

What was difficult was linking the movements together and adapting between them. Fortunately, the old gang leader's demonstration remained vivid in their minds.

The nine of them pieced together one move after another. With the lifelike illustrations on the scroll, they barely managed to connect everything smoothly.

Unfortunately, time was limited. By the time Zhou Chun put away the scroll, everyone was still hungry for more.

Su Xinghe secretly sighed to himself.

He had been just a hair away from grasping that thread of force-generating technique within the art. Unfortunately, there had been too many people around, and he had never been able to completely calm his mind.

Now, seeing that the Fate Panel's proficiency had not increased at all, he knew he had yet to enter the first level.

It was not only him. The other eight disciples of the same cohort were even worse. These Brokerage Guild apprentices likely had little exposure to martial arts. Whether in their movements or breathing rhythm, they showed not the slightest coordination.

Still, all these apprentices had excellent memories. They had already memorized the chant inside out.

Su Xinghe also wanted to settle down and ponder it.

But apprentices began coming over to strike up conversations and make connections.

"Brother Su, how long have you been at the Brokerage Guild?"

"Only half a year. May I ask your surname, brother?"

"My name is Sun Jie. I'm also an apprentice from this year's intake. At present, I'm studying natural history under Master Qian. Just call me Little Sun."

"Brother Sun, a pleasure, a pleasure..."

Through chatting with several companions, he learned that there was a dedicated courtyard in the Brokerage Guild's rear compound for practicing martial arts. From now on, he would be qualified to use it.

However, apprentices who had not yet passed the three-month assessment period had one condition placed upon them: they must not let it interfere with their regular duties.

The nine agreed to meet again at the training ground tomorrow.

Then they went their separate ways.

Just as Su Xinghe was lamenting how difficult True Arts were to learn, and how his talent perhaps was not as outstanding as he had imagined.

On the top floor of the Brokerage Guild, inside an elegant room with a broad view.

Zhou Chun carried the True Art Scroll and lightly knocked open the door.

"Gang Leader!"

Zhou Yingjun raised his head, urgency in his eyes.

"How was it?"

Zhou Chun immediately reported respectfully:

"One should be Grade A or above. The rest all have ordinary Grade C talent!"

"Gang Leader, we may have encountered a fine seedling this time."

A smile immediately appeared on Zhou Tianxiong's aged face.

"Is it that Su Xinghe?"

Zhou Chun nodded vigorously.

"Hahaha..."

"Something has been rather off in the city lately. Be careful to keep this confidential..."

After leaving the Brokerage Guild, Su Xinghe deliberately took another look around.

Perhaps because the weather was scorching, the training ground to the east was utterly quiet. However, he could not go in and practice boxing yet. He still had to return and continue guarding the door.

Su Xinghe decided that tomorrow morning, he would come an hour early.

When he returned to the warehouse station, he found that more than two hours had passed without his noticing.

Lu Kui and the others had not returned yet.

After thanking Six for helping guard the door, he continued staring blankly out the window.

The setting sun was like blood, and the entire warehouse hall resembled a steaming cage. Only near the window was there still the faintest breeze.

Suppressing the joy in his heart, he repeatedly simulated the movements of the martial art he had just acquired in his mind. Several times, he could not resist wanting to try again, but each time he quickly forced himself to stop.

"Anyone practicing in public shall receive one hundred cane strokes!"

No wonder martial artists had been so rarely seen during his more than half a year since transmigrating. Other households probably had similar rules.

Gradually, several vendors appeared at the mouth of the alley, along with hurried passersby.

The sultry air also carried the lingering ash of burned firewood.

Only when the kitchen's food fragrance filled the air did the members who had gone out to collect peace taxes return in triumph, their faces glowing red. Laughing and chatting, they filed inside and headed straight for the kitchen.

Su Xinghe called out a greeting to the minor leader, Zhang Whiskers.

This minor leader was probably in his early thirties. He was steady, sparing with words, rigid and methodical in his actions, and carried the temperament of a lone wolf.

He usually did not put on airs. So long as the members did not break the rules, he would simply stand aside and pretend not to see.

Hearing someone greet him, Zhang Whiskers looked over without expression. Then his lips moved, and three words popped out.

"Go eat."

That was exactly what Su Xinghe had been waiting for.

It meant that today's door-guarding duty was over.

Although the kitchen's side dishes were nothing special, they were free, and no one ordinarily missed out on such a benefit.

Coming back for a meal also counted as clocking out. The deeper meaning was probably to confirm that everyone had made it through the day safely.

But that was something the higher-ups considered. Ordinary disciples returned just for a bite to eat.

"Old Cripple, do you have duck butts today?"

Lu Kui's deep voice echoed through the kitchen. It seemed he wanted to indulge in some meat today.

"I've got a donkey dick. Want it?"

"Yes!"

"Pay first. Eight copper coins."

Lu Kui glanced behind him and discovered that his teammates had already lowered their heads over their meals in the corner.

He could only fumble in his robes, pull out a ten-cash coin, and slap it onto the counter.

"No need to give me the change. Bring me a jug of wine too!"

"Scram!"

"At most, I'll give you one cup!"

"Brother Kui, why is there a red mark on your face?"

At the dining table, Su Xinghe deliberately made conversation as he stared at Lu Kui beside him, who was bent over gnawing on the dick.

"Hahaha..."

Hu Shuo, also a young man, immediately could not help clutching his stomach and bursting into laughter.

This instantly drew snickers from the others at the same table.

Soon, members began egging them on, and the conversation at the table shifted to amusing incidents after collecting peace taxes that afternoon.

It turned out that the fat man had tried to avoid paying a tip that afternoon, and Miss Ruyan had given him a savage pinch.

But it had been worth it. Wasn't he having an extra meal right now?

Lu Kui's fat face tightened, and his neck swelled.

"A donkey bit me!"

That was exactly what Su Xinghe had been waiting for. He immediately shouted in an exaggerated voice:

"Brother Kui, you struck it rich this afternoon!"

Minor leader Zhang Whiskers wore a stern face and tapped the tabletop three times with his chopsticks.

Only then did Lu Kui put down his chopsticks with a pained expression. He rummaged around in his robes for a long while before finally pulling out three copper coins and reluctantly passing them over beneath the table.

"Thanks, boss!"

"Brother Kui sure has good romantic luck today."

Su Xinghe stretched out his hand and accepted them without changing expression. Only after lightly tossing them did he put them into his own pocket.

"Want to play a round with the brothers before you leave tonight?"

Lu Kui's voice was somewhat low, and his eyes reluctantly watched the slightly bulging pocket of his underling.

Su Xinghe pretended to support his waist, his tone sincere and apologetic.

"Brother Kui, the doctor told me to go change my medicine early. Otherwise, the heat makes infection easy. Once my injury heals in a few days, I'll definitely keep the brothers company to your hearts' content."

Another thirty cash had arrived. Back at the docks, he would have had to work at least three days to earn that much.

In truth, he understood it as clearly as a mirror.

Collecting peace taxes was the most leisurely work, with plenty of oil and water to skim. It also let them avoid the tedium and scorching heat of guarding the warehouse.

Su Xinghe guessed that because he had not participated in the group activity last night, he had been assigned to remain behind alone and guard the door.

But he could choose not to go, while the share due to the same squad absolutely could not be any less.

If he did not understand or bring it up, Lu Kui would most likely have pocketed the money. But since he had said it aloud in front of everyone, Zhang Whiskers would not stand by and ignore it for the sake of maintaining the so-called rules.

His gaze swiftly swept over Zhang Whiskers.

A strange thought rose in his heart.

He had never noticed it before...

This captain of his squad was most likely the sort who had failed the three-month assessment. He had signed a twenty-year "contract of sale," yet was still at the Inner Tempering stage.

Otherwise, he would have become the Great River Gang's third major leader.

Back when they divided up silver, Su Xinghe had even been rather envious!

But now...

His aptitude was mediocre; he was unworthy of cultivation.

Still, Su Xinghe secretly warned himself that if he did not work hard enough, he would one day become like this minor leader.

Leading a band of little hooligans and spending twenty unremarkable years in the Great River Gang.

Doing work that could cost him his head, for only three taels of silver a month.

That was not the life he wanted.

Night fell.

At the mouth of the alley, Su Xinghe listened to the news brought by the youth.

Finding that there was nothing particularly urgent to deal with, he instructed him:

"Your suggestion is very good, but it is a little too aggressive."

"Tonight's operation is canceled. Continue keeping a close watch on the target."

"Okay..."

Little Beggar nodded instinctively, then immediately realized something was wrong.

"But Boss, didn't we agree that tonight we would go see..."

Who did not have a martial artist's dream?

Little Beggar had once only been able to dream that dream while lying in a heap of rubbish at a street corner, basking in the sun. In his dream, he roamed the martial world with sword in hand, punished evil and upheld justice, wore fine clothes and ate exquisite food, and became famous throughout the land.

But as soon as there was the slightest stirring of wind and grass, that beautiful dream would shatter.

But now, things were different.

His hand had already touched the gate leading into that dream.

Ever since he began following the boss before him, there had been no shortage of operating funds. Using silver to open doors, they had connected with targets from every walk of life.

Through these informants, martial arts were no longer the regret he felt after waking from dreams at midnight. Instead, they were gathering bit by bit into a tangible form, as though they lay right before his eyes, within reach.

Every request from his boss was a step on the staircase toward realizing his dream. So long as he followed closely in his boss's footsteps, it was the same as boarding the carriage toward dreams coming true.

Su Xinghe did not let the youth before him continue. He cut him off directly:

"No buts. It is not as though he is about to die immediately."

The plan had changed.

Originally, approaching Old Madman had been for the sake of seeking a martial True Art, and it had been full of uncertainties. Now that he had obtained the Great River Gang's True Art, he needed to quickly enter the first level of Golden Ape Fist first.

For the next few days, nothing would be more important than that.

Seeing that his boss had already made a decision, the stubbornness in Little Beggar's eyes gradually faded. He felt that he had overstepped himself just now, and hurriedly nodded to obey the arrangement.

"Alright. I'll definitely keep a close eye on him."

Seeing that he was about to leave, Su Xinghe hurriedly grabbed him.

Leaning close, he whispered several words into the other's ear.

"There seem to be snakes in my home lately. Help me leave the city and buy three jin of sulfur from Luhua Village."

"Doesn't Huichun Hall sell sulfur..."

Little Beggar was initially confused, but then his face changed in shock.

"No, what kind of snake needs three jin of sulfur to drive it away!"

"Don't ask so many questions. Just do as I say!"

As he spoke, he stuffed three large coins into the youth's arms.

Little Beggar's body trembled slightly, and he quickly lowered his head.

"Mm, I'll bring them in as soon as I can."

With that, his figure vanished into the darkness.

After standing still for a moment in the alley's shadows, Su Xinghe too melted into the depths of the dark lane.

Returning to the small courtyard, he first drew water and washed up.

The cool well water gradually dispelled the impulse and excitement in his mind, while also washing away the inexplicable pride and restlessness brought by learning true martial arts.

After chatting with his mother for a while and finishing dinner, he locked himself in his room and began his first solo practice.

He cast aside stray thoughts and calmed his mind.

Silently reciting the verse formula, he adjusted his breathing.

The benefits of practicing alone immediately became apparent. With no one else to disturb him, he could focus more deeply on what he had comprehended.

He also lost track of time, feeling again and again the Qi-Blood feedback brought by the fist art.

Using the rising and falling rhythm of the verse formula to stir his breath, he coordinated it with the force of his movements to sense the circulation of Qi-Blood. Together with the profound and mysterious Golden Ape Artistic Conception Realm, his body was slowly and imperceptibly transformed within this internal environment, reaching the requirements for entry into the technique.

Qi Circulation, Force Infusion, Inner Tempering.

These were the foundational steps every martial artist had to complete before breaking through to Ninth Rank.

The reason Inner Tempering was set as the threshold condition in the contract was that only once Inner Tempering began could a person truly transform.

An ordinary person's speed and strength were roughly one or two hundred jin. That was the strength needed to support daily work and life. After Force Infusion, vigorous Qi-Blood would provide the body with ample energy, allowing the fleshly body to break through its limits step by step.

But Force Infusion alone was not enough. It could not completely crush ordinary people, since everyone's foundation differed.

Only Inner Tempering could widen the gap in strength between martial artists and ordinary people.

A martial apprentice who had just entered the Inner Tempering stage could throw a punch or swing a blade with four hundred jin of force. At the peak, they could even wield five or six hundred jin of enormous strength.

In a fight, they could directly crush ordinary people. Even their speed and neural reactions were beyond the reach of normal people.

And five hundred jin of single-arm punching force was precisely the entry standard for Inner Tempering Qi-Blood.