Mental Martial Arts! (Seeking Collections)

[Qin Zheng]

[Lifespan: 70 (17)]

[Martial Skills: Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill (Third Layer), Black Fiend Palm (Minor Accomplishment), Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell (Perfection), Ghost-head Saber Technique (Perfection)]

[Merit: Seven taels two qian]

[Current Martial Skill · Black Fiend Palm can be upgraded, requires eight qian Merit, do you wish to upgrade?]

[Current Martial Skill · Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill can be upgraded, requires one tael Merit, do you wish to upgrade?]

The Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill was raised to the third layer.

His own Merit had also accumulated to seven taels and two qian.

After deducting the two qian Merit remaining from before leaving, and the four taels and three qian Merit obtained from killing the Golden Cicada Gang remnants.

Then, subtracting the one tael needed to upgrade the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill later.

That meant killing Shi Dian had earned him two taels and seven qian of Merit.

Although this was the most generous Merit Qin Zheng had received in a single instance, it didn't seem to match the difficulty involved.

However, Qin Zheng understood that the Merit awarded by the Merit Scroll was measured by the sins of the person killed, not by their strength.

Therefore, weak but deeply sinful villains were the best targets for reaping Merit.

Qin Zheng thought this, then looked at the leather recording martial skills in his hand.

Great Sun Golden Cicada Skill!

The first thing that met his eyes were these five powerful characters.

Immediately after, Qin Zheng immersed his gaze in the cultivation method below.

A moment later, the Merit Scroll vibrated lightly, and another line of text reappeared.

[Discovered Martial Skill · Great Sun Golden Cicada Skill, can be refined, requires one tael Merit, do you wish to refine?]

Qin Zheng did not hesitate and immediately recited aloud, "Refine!"

It only cost one tael of Merit, and he currently had a full seven taels, so he spent it without hesitation!

Subsequently, one tael of Merit was deducted, and a warm current quickly appeared within his body, continuously flowing into his skin.

After a moment, the upgrade ended, and this martial skill was completely initiated.

Qin Zheng stood up and poked his own skin.

He felt a toughness like cowhide beneath his wheat-colored skin.

But this was not the biggest change.

With a thought from Qin Zheng, his entire skin began to emit a faint golden light.

He could feel that, in this instant, the hardness of his skin had increased by several levels!

This Great Sun Golden Cicada Skill was indeed a body-hardening martial art that enhanced one's defense!

A hint of joy flickered in Qin Zheng's heart.

He couldn't upgrade the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill any further for the time being, and he also needed to exert more than a thousand jin of strength.

Therefore, having a protective divine skill that enhanced defense at this time was the best course of action.

Moreover, with Shi Dian dead, the sharp blade that had hung over his head since his transmigration had also disappeared.

Without danger, he was no longer in a hurry to urgently improve his martial skills.

He would slowly heal his internal body, accumulate Merit, and circulate his blood to temper his physique.

Anyway, the current focus was on slow development and quiet wealth accumulation.

He would also try to see if he could find any internal cultivation methods.

With the Merit Scroll, it wasn't necessarily true that he needed a manual recording martial skills to refine and learn them.

Whether it was the Ghost-head Saber Technique he refined the first time, or the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill, which was his current means of survival.

Both were refined from items.

He could also try to find some objects and experiment one by one to see if he could find martial skills from items.

Thinking of this, Qin Zheng looked at the Merit Scroll again.

As a defensive technique, the Great Sun Golden Cicada Skill had only just been initiated, and it needed to be upgraded further.

However, at this moment, upgrading the Great Sun Golden Cicada Skill on the Merit Scroll required three taels of Merit.

This was the greatest expenditure Qin Zheng had encountered so far.

Even the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill only required one tael of Merit for each upgrade.

Qin Zheng frowned slightly, not quite understanding the issue.

But fortunately, his Merit was abundant at the moment, and after a brief thought, he still chose to upgrade.

This time, an even stronger and more surging warm current emerged, and the strength of his skin also greatly improved.

But the changes were no longer limited to his skin!

Qin Zheng suddenly felt a void in his spirit.

Then, a warm current surged forth from nothingness, continuously nourishing his spirit.

The sense of comfort was so intense that he almost succumbed to it.

After a moment, Qin Zheng withdrew from this state.

However, Qin Zheng found that his five senses had changed.

Or rather, they had improved to varying degrees!

Moreover, Qin Zheng vaguely felt a slight swelling at his brow, as if nurturing something.

And this something could help him foresee danger and perceive the subtlest details!

The Great Sun Golden Cicada Skill was not just a tough martial art for enhancing defense.

It was also a spiritual martial art that improved mental strength!

A sharp glint suddenly flashed in Qin Zheng's eyes.

Spiritual martial arts were extremely rare in the martial arts stories he'd read in his past life.

He figured it wouldn't be an ordinary martial art even in this world!

Especially the ability to help him foresee danger, which was far more powerful than defensive tough training!

The Great Sun Golden Cicada Skill truly lived up to its name!

The cicada senses the autumn wind before it blows.

If he encountered danger in the future, he would be able to sense it in advance and avoid it directly!

And this was just the Great Sun Golden Cicada Skill at the minor completion stage.

He wondered how powerful it would become if it reached major completion or perfection!

Qin Zheng's heart warmed, and he immediately focused his mind on the Merit Scroll, wanting to see if he could continue to improve.

Unfortunately, it would cost five taels of Merit to upgrade the Great Sun Golden Cicada Skill again, and Qin Zheng only had three taels left, which wasn't enough.

"Alas, you can't get fat with one bite. There's plenty of time, no need to rush."

Qin Zheng sighed slightly, comforting himself.

He had even wondered if mastering this martial art to perfection might awaken spiritual abilities, allowing him to manipulate objects with his mind.

Although it was highly unlikely, who could say for sure.

After thinking for a moment, Qin Zheng withdrew his thoughts and calmed his mind.

He then took out the mutton-fat jade bottle he'd found on Shi Dian and opened it to examine the pills inside.

These were probably pills to replenish qi and blood, as Shi Dian had needed to constantly move qi and blood day and night to strengthen his body and speed up his breakthrough.

For himself, they were quite useful.

Qin Zheng smiled slightly, then put away the pills and got up to check on the medicinal soup he was boiling.

His injuries had not yet recovered and would require a considerable amount of time for recuperation.

Fortunately, everything had returned to peace, and he was no longer facing the danger of having his life ended at any moment.

A carrier pigeon took flight from Black Goose City.

Soaring through the sky, it passed over the cities, fields, vegetation, and mountains below.

Finally, after flying a hundred li, it arrived at a mountain stronghold.

The carrier pigeon slowly landed, and a burly man reached out to take it.

He then removed the note from the pigeon's leg.

After a brief glance, he turned and shouted to the bandits within the stronghold, "Brothers! Prepare to descend the mountain!"

Whoa! Roar!

Instantly, the mountain stronghold erupted as if fanned by flames, and the atmosphere exploded.