"Of course, you could refuse me."
At that moment, Ji Changyin continued speaking.
But then he changed tack and said, "Have you considered this? Shi Dian has broken through the fourth great threshold. Even I am no match for him."
"What will you use to keep your life?!"
Ji Changyin's gaze blazed as he stared fixedly at Qin Zheng across from him.
For a moment, the imposing presence of both a superior and a Muscle-Refining Realm martial artist spread forth at once!
Unfortunately, Qin Zheng was no longer the ordinary executioner he had once been.
That pressure could still affect him to some extent, but it could no longer sway his thoughts or judgment.
His mind rapidly analyzed the situation before him.
Whether it was Ji Changyin or Bailiff Xu from the yamen, neither was someone he could afford to offend right now.
Otherwise, with a single offhand remark from Ji Changyin, he would lose his position as an executioner and no longer be able to steadily and peacefully accumulate merit.
So he could not directly refuse and make Ji Changyin displeased enough to strip him of his post.
But serving as bait still carried some risk, so he could not agree too readily either.
Therefore, while agreeing, he had to secure as many benefits for himself as possible!
Then Qin Zheng recalled what he had done over the past two days.
The fact that he knew martial arts had surely already become known to anyone who cared to look.
Ji Changyin in particular had likely investigated his background. Otherwise, he would not have said that Qin Zheng had comprehended the Ghost-head Saber Technique himself.
In Ji Changyin's eyes, Qin Zheng had probably left the impression of a man of humble origins but extraordinary comprehension—a genius.
Otherwise, for a minor figure like him, Ji Changyin would not have come in person. He would have simply sent two of his personal guards to notify him.
With that thought, Qin Zheng came back to himself. He looked at Ji Changyin and said, "I, Qin, accept what you have proposed, sir!"
"However... I have one request. I hope you can grant it, sir!"
Hearing this, Ji Changyin raised an eyebrow slightly, withdrew his aura, and gave a soft laugh. Curious, he asked, "Go on."
Only then did Qin Zheng continue, "From a Ghost-head Saber, I comprehended a few tricks, but I still only have a hazy understanding of the martial path."
"I hope you can sort out the martial path for me, sir—broaden my knowledge and sweep away my confusion!"
That was the condition Qin Zheng wished to put forward!
He had only crossed into this world a few days ago, and the memories of the previous owner of this body contained nothing related to martial arts.
Even his current knowledge of Skin, Flesh, Tendon, Bone and the four great thresholds had come from Wang Er.
There was much about this world's martial path that he did not understand.
Martial arts, strength, realms.
What exactly was the relationship between those three?
Ji Changyin was a military commandant dispatched by the imperial court to Black Goose City, as well as a Muscle-Refining Realm martial artist who had crossed three great thresholds.
He surely understood these matters well enough to answer Qin Zheng's questions.
That was the condition Qin Zheng had proposed. Such basic martial knowledge was not precious to Ji Changyin, so it would not make Qin Zheng seem excessively demanding.
Yet at the same time, it was what Qin Zheng most urgently needed to understand.
After Qin Zheng spoke those words, Ji Changyin immediately laughed twice in satisfaction.
When he looked at Qin Zheng again, there was now a trace of appreciation in his eyes.
"Good! Your comprehension and natural endowment are not bad. By relying solely on the Ghost-head Saber Technique you comprehended from the Ghost-head Saber, you were able to cut off the heads of the Golden Cicada Gang remnants."
"Your future achievements will surely be extraordinary. Today, I shall sort out the martial path for you. In the future, this may well become a fine tale!"
Having said that, Ji Changyin burst into hearty laughter again.
Several breaths later, he stopped. After pondering slightly, he spoke again. "The martial path consists of Skin, Flesh, Tendon, Bone—the four great thresholds."
"This is common knowledge in the martial world. Even ordinary soldiers who have never practiced martial arts can learn of it."
"But how one steps onto the martial path, and where to begin with Skin, Flesh, Tendon, Bone—those are not things ordinary people can know."
"Because... to step onto the martial path, one needs martial arts!"
As he said this, he suddenly extended a hand. It shot out like an arrow, and in the blink of an eye, he had seized Qin Zheng's left arm.
Qin Zheng suppressed his instinctive reaction, wanting to see what the other man intended to do.
Ji Changyin merely kneaded Qin Zheng's skin before withdrawing his hand.
"Not bad. You have already entered the Skin-Refining Realm."
He nodded.
Then he continued, "Martial arts are divided into internal and external arts. External arts are methods of combat and slaughter, allowing one to swiftly possess strength beyond that of ordinary men!"
"Internal arts, meanwhile, are methods of nourishing life. They can strengthen the body's Skin, Flesh, Tendon, Bone, the five viscera and six bowels, and extend one's lifespan."
"The so-called four great thresholds—Skin, Flesh, Tendon, Bone—are the cultivation order of internal arts: from the outside inward, from skin to bone!"
"However, internal arts are far too precious. Most are controlled by the imperial court, aristocratic clans, and great sects. Ordinary martial artists have no chance to encounter them."
Qin Zheng frowned slightly at this. Since realms could only be distinguished by cultivation progress after one practiced internal arts—
What about martial artists without internal arts, those who only knew external arts?
Ji Changyin seemed to understand his confusion. He smiled lightly and continued, "Internal arts are precious because they can help martial artists temper the human body perfectly."
"But that does not mean those without internal arts cannot temper their bodies!"
"You must understand that although external arts focus on killing and battle, they also require a strong physique to support them!"
"Otherwise, no matter how powerful the external art, if the physique cannot support it, it is like a child swinging a great hammer—useless and harmful to oneself."
"And martial artists like us, who know only external arts and do not understand internal arts, can repeatedly practice our martial arts, stir our qi and blood, and nourish our bodies."
"We can likewise temper our bodies, strengthen our Skin, Flesh, Tendon, Bone, and our five viscera and six bowels!"
"The drawback, however, is an enormous appetite. Eating three oxen a day is no empty boast, and the body's tempering will not be perfect."
After hearing this, Qin Zheng nodded in understanding.
In that case, the Ghost-head Saber Technique and Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell that he currently cultivated were both external arts.
Although the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill cultivated both internally and externally—
Unfortunately, the essence of the version he had obtained was incomplete.
Although he had forcibly refined it to the entry level through the Merit Scroll, it had only increased his strength and had not strengthened his physique.
No wonder he already possessed the strength of a thousand jin, yet still remained in the Skin-Refining Realm.
However, at that thought, Qin Zheng became confused once more.
If that was the case, then it seemed that realm classifications could not determine how strong a person truly was?
He voiced this doubt, only to see Ji Changyin shake his head.
"External arts are nothing more than techniques. They can only increase one's power in battle and slaughter; they cannot change the person himself."
"Tempering the human body, on the other hand, can directly alter how strong or weak a person is."
"You need only know this: a Skin-Refining Realm martial artist can strike with the force to break two hundred jin!"
"A Flesh-Refining Realm martial artist can strike with the force to break five hundred jin!"
"A Muscle-Refining Realm martial artist can strike with the force to break a thousand jin!"
"As for Bone-Refining Realm martial artists, a single punch can break three thousand jin!"
"Tell me, then—no matter how formidable one's martial arts, how could a Skin-Refining Realm martial artist defeat a Bone-Refining Realm martial artist?"
At those words, Qin Zheng was suddenly enlightened.
But considering the uniqueness of his Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill—
After thinking for a moment, he still asked, "Then are there martial arts that can increase a person's strength?"
Ji Changyin nodded. "Naturally there are. But every such martial art is an exceedingly rare divine skill, scarcely seen in this world."
"Moreover, such martial arts place an extremely severe burden on the body. Using a frail physique to support immense strength excessively drains the body's source, and there is a great chance that those who cultivate them will age prematurely and die!"
Before you continue