Turtle-Snake

Something had happened to the Huang Family.

Something huge.

Family Head Huang Xinglong had vanished.

Huang Manor had also been attacked by mysterious people. It was said that even Huang Xinglong's two sons had been attacked and killed.

The Huang Family was now a complete mess. Several clan uncles were scrambling to divide up the lineage's assets, fighting until heaven and earth turned dark.

The news had spread even to the Outer City.

The common people felt not the slightest pity for them. More of them were gloating over their misfortune.

The people of Linjiang City had suffered under the Huang Family for far too long.

Grain prices in the city had remained sky-high, and a large part of that was because the damned Huang Family had been hoarding food.

The Huang Family's several grain shops in the Outer City had originally remained closed today. But after learning that something had happened to the Huang Family, countless starving citizens smashed open the shops' doors and frantically seized grain. The scale kept growing, and there were even faint signs of another riot breaking out.

However, with their previous experience, the County Office and the major Inner City families hurriedly sent people out to suppress it. The many Outer City gangs also had no desire to experience another riot and did their utmost to maintain order. In the end, they managed to suppress the chaos.

Li Mansion.

Li Baling rushed into the main hall in high spirits.

"Father, I heard something huge happened in the Inner City last night."

Li Tong was drinking tea. He glanced at him and said blandly, "What does it have to do with you?"

Li Baling said urgently, "Doesn't the Huang Family sell grain? Now that they've fallen, we should stick a foot into it too."

Li Tong sneered. "Do you know how rough the waters are in this matter? If our little family boat plunges in, the waves will smash it to pieces. It's simply not something we can touch."

"It can't be that serious, can it?" Li Baling frowned.

Li Tong shook his head slightly. "You're too naive. Some businesses cannot be done."

"I'm telling you, this isn't a matter of profit, but of public resentment."

"If you sell grain, then for profit, you'll sell it at high prices. Gradually, you'll accumulate the people's resentment."

"You saw the previous Outer City riot too. Once that resentment erupts completely and even spreads into the Inner City, I dare say the first ones to die will be those selling grain."

"Those rioting citizens will vent all their fury on you."

"How many lives do you have to withstand that?"

Li Tong's words left Li Baling speechless, unable to offer any rebuttal.

"You should learn from your good brother Qin Yang."

"Look at him. He just guards Qin Family's little patch of land and cultivates bitterly in the manor every day."

"Why?"

"It isn't because he lacks ability. It's because he knows that when troubled times arrive, all wealth is but drifting clouds. Only a fist large enough can let you live better."

"That is also why I told you to practice martial arts. Don't think you can sleep soundly just because you're in the Inner City."

Li Tong spoke earnestly.

Li Tong's words seemed to have deeply moved Li Baling. After a long silence, he took a deep breath. "Father, I'll definitely practice martial arts properly."

"Go on."

"Don't just talk without doing."

Li Tong waved his hand.

Li Baling nodded very seriously, then turned and left.

"I hope you truly understand."

Li Tong shook his head slightly.

Then, he thought of something else.

"Could the Huang Family's destruction really have been Qin Yang's doing?"

Li Tong had actually been considering this question all day.

It sounded utterly absurd.

A Blood Moving Martial Artist from the Outer City, someone who could not even rank in the Inner City, had actually been capable of bringing about the Huang Family's destruction.

Yet Li Tong had a feeling that it might not be false.

Recently, Qin Yang had asked him about many matters concerning the Huang Family.

And the Huang Family possessed something Qin Yang was determined to obtain.

That Second-Rate Qi Gathering Method, the Turtle-Snake Art.

"If Qin Yang really made his move, then his desperate desire to obtain the Turtle-Snake Art means he should be about to break through to the Gathering Qi Realm."

"He's the same age as Baling. He should be nineteen this year, right?"

Li Tong sucked in a cold breath.

A Qi Gathering Martial Artist at twenty?!!

He Yongchang, currently known as Linjiang City's number one expert, had been thirty-one when he broke through to the Gathering Qi Realm, if Li Tong remembered correctly.

But these were only guesses. Li Tong could not be certain either.

"Why am I thinking so much? Even if I'm wrong, with Qin Yang's talent, he's still among the very best."

"Besides, Baling has such a deep friendship with him."

"That kid can't do anything else, but his ability to make friends is truly far better than mine."

Li Tong smiled, beginning to consider how to bring the two families closer together.

Qin Yang stayed hidden in his room all day and did not take a single step outside.

Everyone in Qin Manor had long grown accustomed to this and was not surprised in the slightest.

Even his personal maid Xiao Huan noticed nothing unusual, believing that her young master was practicing in his room again.

Inside the room.

"I didn't expect to earn three secret manuals in one night."

Qin Yang looked at the three manuals on the table, grinning from ear to ear.

There was no way he would have any use for the Pure Qi Art.

He did not think much of a third-rate Qi Gathering Cultivation Method at all.

He would see whether he could find an opportunity to sell it later.

Qi Gathering Cultivation Methods could still fetch some money.

The second was the Rushing Thunder Palm.

Qin Yang had already cultivated the Arhat Fist to perfection and happened to lack a martial art for fists and kicks. The Rushing Thunder Palm suited his wishes perfectly.

But that would have to wait until after he broke through to the Gathering Qi Realm.

Next.

Came the final cultivation method.

The Turtle-Snake Art.

"I worked so damn hard to get you back."

"I hope you won't disappoint me."

Qin Yang steadied his emotions and opened the Turtle-Snake Art manual.

The Turtle-Snake Art was an extremely profound Qi Gathering Cultivation Method, concealing the principle of harmonizing heaven and earth, yin and yang.

The turtle represented stillness, the state during cultivation, like a dark turtle lying dormant in the depths of the sea.

It was an extremely terrifying state of cultivation.

The pressure in the deep sea was terrifying. Ordinary sea beasts could not endure it at all.

While cultivating the Turtle-Snake Art, one condensed Turtle-Snake Qi within the body. When it circulated, it simulated this terrifying pressure, constantly tempering the bones, flesh, and skin, making them hard and resilient.

The snake represented motion.

This was a state for battle.

The Turtle-Snake Qi would become cold and gloomy. When it struck an opponent, it would continuously seep into the internal organs, causing their qi and blood to stiffen and their movements to slow.

If cultivated to a deep enough level, it could even freeze the opponent's heart meridians directly, killing them.

After reading through it once, Qin Yang knew this cultivation method was highly suitable for him.

Whether it was its body-tempering effects or the extreme cold effect in battle, this was absolutely one of the finest methods among Second-Rate Qi Gathering Methods.

He had currently reached the Nine Heavens of Canglang Blood Moving. His qi and blood were abundant, and he had long stood at the threshold of a breakthrough, lacking only a Qi Gathering Cultivation Method.

He summoned Xiao Huan and had her brew more tonic medicinal soup for him, adding more rare medicinal ingredients as well.

Breaking through to the Gathering Qi Realm would consume a terrifying amount of qi and blood, so he needed to prepare in advance.

Next, he needed to study the Turtle-Snake Art thoroughly. In particular, he had to memorize how to gather qi and the route through which the meridians circulated.

Otherwise, if his inner qi ran into the wrong meridians, the consequences would be severe.

Naturally, Qin Yang entered a deep state of Zen Meditation.

In this state, his comprehension and memory improved greatly, allowing him to quickly grasp the Turtle-Snake Art.