Skin, Flesh, Tendon, Bone: The Four Great Passages! (Seeking Collections)

"The path of martial arts progresses from the outside in, divided into four major thresholds: Skin, Flesh, Tendons, and Bone!"

"In other words, to master martial arts, one must sequentially complete the four major steps: Skin-Refining, Flesh-Refining, Tendon-Refining, and Bone-Refining!"

"However, for ordinary people, completing these four steps is as difficult as ascending to heaven!"

"Firstly, acquiring martial arts is exceptionally challenging. this knowledge is controlled by noble families and sects; only disciples within the sect can cultivate it."

"Secondly, each of the four steps—Skin, Flesh, Tendons, and Bone—requires immense resources to be successfully refined."

"This is why it's said 'poverty for literature, wealth for martial arts.' Without a substantial family background, one simply cannot afford to practice martial arts."

"Therefore, in the martial world, those who reach the Skin-Refining Realm can be considered skilled fighters, those in the Flesh-Refining Realm can roam the jianghu freely and at ease, and those in the Tendon-Refining Realm can establish their own influence."

"As for the Bone-Refining Realm, it not only demands abundant resources but also requires the martial artist to possess exceptional natural talent to reach that level."

"In this Black Goose City, the strongest is likely Captain Ji, and he is merely in the Tendon-Refining Realm."

In the simple earthen hut, the dark-skinned man spoke slowly to the young man before him.

Finally, he gave a wry smile and mockingly said, "So, how could we common folk ever learn martial arts?"

Qin Zheng heard this and felt a slight disappointment, but he still cupped his fists and thanked Wang Er, "Regardless, thank you for clearing things up, Brother Wang."

Wang Er waved his hand and then said with some curiosity, "Yesterday, I saw you wielding the ghost-head saber with such power that even Sect Leader Shi couldn't block you."

"I thought you knew martial arts."

Qin Zheng shook his head and replied, "My family has been executioners for generations, so we've passed down some techniques, but they can hardly be called martial arts."

After he improved the Ghost-head Saber Technique to perfection, a warm current flowed through his body, nourishing his entire being and making his skin tougher.

Considering the four major thresholds Wang Er had just mentioned, he should have entered the Skin-Refining Realm.

But the perfected Ghost-head Saber Technique had only allowed him to step into the first major threshold.

And that old bastard was in the Tendon-Refining Realm, at the third major threshold.

The gap between them was too vast; it was no wonder he couldn't even block a single move from the other party.

This also indicated that the quality of the Ghost-head Saber Technique was indeed rather low and couldn't be considered true martial arts.

"I see."

Wang Er nodded and then fell silent, seemingly lost in thought.

Qin Zheng also lowered his head, contemplating his next move to break free from his predicament.

First, he confirmed his advantageous condition: possessing the Golden Finger Merit scroll, which allowed him to directly consume Merit to enhance martial arts.

Second, his job as an executioner would serve as a good way to accumulate Merit.

Therefore, what he lacked now was martial arts!

As long as he obtained a decent martial art, he could quickly improve it using the Merit scroll and thus break free from his current situation.

Thus, the current difficulty lay in how to obtain martial arts.

But upon thinking of this, he was once again faced with an insurmountable problem.

That is, given Qin Zheng's current identity and status, he had no way to access other martial arts.

If the path of improving his own strength proved impossible, then he would have to seek a powerful backer for protection.

As this thought surfaced in Qin Zheng's mind, the image of a cold-faced man wielding a long saber appeared in his mind.

Captain Ji Changyin, the garrison captain of Black Goose City!

In Black Goose City, he was the only one Qin Zheng knew who could protect him.

Why would other gang forces, with whom he had no connection, agree to protect him?

After all, that was a martial artist who had broken through three major thresholds, reaching the Tendon-Refining Realm!

With the destructive power of a human-shaped beast, stopping him would likely incur considerable losses.

But similarly, he was just an executioner at the execution ground.

He wasn't even a soldier under Captain Ji. How could the captain agree to protect him?

He didn't have anything valuable in his possession either.

The only thing of value, perhaps, was the Merit scroll in his sea of consciousness, but he couldn't control it.

Furthermore, Qin Zheng absolutely would not use it for trade.

His only gamble was to make the other party believe in his potential value!

Qin Zheng was confident that once he overcame this current tribulation and obtained martial arts, he would definitely not be limited to the four major thresholds in the future!

With the ability of the Merit scroll, given enough time, he would surely break through the four major thresholds and reach even higher realms!

Qin Zheng acted on his thoughts, immediately standing up and preparing to return with Wang Er to the military camp near the execution ground.

The garrison at the execution ground was responsible for the city's prisons and punishments, but their camp was located not within Black Goose City, but beside it.

The military did not interfere with politics, and politics did not meddle with the military; they were separate yet mutually supervised.

This was the situation in Black Goose City.

Just as Qin Zheng was about to speak, Wang Er frowned and said hesitantly, "Little Qin, if you really need martial arts, I might know a way."

Upon hearing this, Qin Zheng's spirit instantly lifted.

He repeatedly asked, "What way?"

Seeking protection was ultimately not as good as being strong oneself!

Even if Captain Ji agreed to protect him, he couldn't possibly stay by his side at all times.

And that old geezer was at the same level as Captain Ji, capable of fighting him back and forth.

There was no guarantee that the other party wouldn't dare to take a risk and make a move under Captain Ji's nose.

Therefore, this wasn't safe either; it was only a last resort.

Wang Er looked up at Qin Zheng and said, "The Golden Cicada Gang was wiped out, and all their assets were confiscated."

"But the Golden Cicada Gang had been established in Black Goose City for so many years, with deep foundations. Even after confiscation, some things might have been missed."

"So, during this period, some people will appear selling items from the Golden Cicada Gang."

"If you can afford the price, you should have a chance to buy the Golden Cicada Gang's martial arts."

"Of course, the Golden Cicada Gang's signature ultimate techniques are definitely out of the question, but some other less remarkable martial arts should be obtainable."

Listening to Wang Er's words, Qin Zheng gradually understood.

This was the doing of the garrison captain!

Confiscating and confiscating assets meant they belonged to the entire military camp, to the imperial court.

But if something was missed and someone else picked it up and sold it, then it belonged to them.

And this 'someone else' was clearly Captain Ji!

Although, by rights, these missed items still belonged to the imperial court.

But the imperial court wouldn't actually send people down to investigate, would they?

The Great Jin Dynasty had a vast territory. If every force that was wiped out required a thorough investigation, then the officials of the Great Jin would have nothing else to do.

Therefore, whatever was missed from the forces that were annihilated and confiscated, and how much was missed, was up to the military officers responsible for the suppression.

However, these things were of little relevance to Qin Zheng at the moment.

He quickly continued to ask, "Brother Wang, how can I contact them?"

Wang Er thought for a moment and then said, "This afternoon, at the hour of the Rooster, there will be a small exchange meeting on a flower boat by the riverbank on the west side of the city."

"If you want martial arts, you can inform the manager then, and you'll get a response regarding whether it's possible and at what price."