"Roar!"
Although he knew perfectly well that Black Tiger would not kill him, once that saber strike enveloped him, Wei Sheng's scalp still prickled and his hands and feet turned icy, as though he would die on the spot in the next second.
But he forcibly suppressed the emotions churning in his chest, straining his eyes wide to stare fixedly at the path of that descending saber.
Only by personally feeling the saber's gleam reach his body could he grasp this saber technique's true intention more quickly.
The saber tip skimmed past the edge of Wei Sheng's throat.
"Hmm?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Black Tiger's eyes.
Although his strike would not actually kill Wei Sheng, someone who could remain composed beneath it,
And warriors who wholeheartedly devoted themselves to saber technique were exceedingly rare—not just among the Fourth Refinements, but even among the Six Refinements!
What strength of character!
Black Tiger praised him inwardly, the appreciation on his face deepening.
Along with that, he slowed his execution of the saber technique considerably, trying to let Wei Sheng see more details while explaining its crucial points:
"The Tiger-Howling Saber Technique has four moves. The first, Black Tiger Pounces on Prey, excels at rushing in for a lethal attack, its saber momentum aimed straight at the opponent's throat or heart..."
"The second, Hungry Tiger Turns Back, works much like a returning spear thrust: feign defeat and retreat, then suddenly turn back to slash. It specifically counters pursuing enemies..."
"The third, Tiger-Howling Wind-Rending, is an area slash. A horizontal swing produces a sonic blast, with saber winds covering everything within thirty feet of you. Once trained to perfection, those winds can even manifest black tiger phantoms to tear into enemies..."
"The fourth, Tiger Demon Shatters the Mountain, is this saber technique's ultimate killing move. Gather all your Jin Force into a vertical downward slash, and you can cleave mountains and sever rivers..."
Envy appeared in the eyes of Fire Ox and the other two.
When Tiger Lord had taught them the Black Tiger Saber Technique, he had never been this patient or thorough.
After demonstrating all four moves, Black Tiger had Wei Sheng practice them himself.
Then he pointed out the shortcomings and errors in his saber technique.
A full four hours passed before Wei Sheng had thoroughly memorized all four saber moves, and his execution had already begun to show some power.
His expression was excited.
Although the Tiger-Howling Saber Technique's moves were simple, they were fierce and domineering, with tremendous killing power!
According to Black Tiger, once he reached Minor Accomplishment in this technique and supplemented it with Jin Force, he would rarely find a match at the same level.
After reaching major attainment, he could all but crush anyone at his level, and few below the Ten Refinements could contend with him.
If he cultivated it to perfection, once the tiger demon emerged, he could even slay a top expert of the twelve refinements despite his lower level!
Of course.
The power it would possess at perfection was merely Black Tiger's conjecture; he had never tested it himself.
"I've passed the Tiger-Howling Saber Technique on to you. I know you have outstanding martial talent and once trained the Savage Bull Fist to perfection in just one month...
"But the Tiger-Howling Saber Technique is beyond comparison with the Savage Bull Fist. If you can reach Minor Accomplishment in it within a month, I'll give you a surprise as your hall master."
Black Tiger said with a smile.
"Minor Accomplishment in the Tiger-Howling Saber Technique in one month?!"
Fire Ox and the others were all startled to hear this.
The Tiger-Howling Saber Technique looked simple, but that was the simplicity of the great Way; reaching Minor Accomplishment required over a decade of painstaking cultivation.
Even they, after practicing the saber technique diligently every day for years, were only now approaching the threshold of Minor Accomplishment.
To reach Minor Accomplishment in a month...
It was utterly impossible!
They even felt that Tiger Lord was demanding too much of Wei Sheng!
But Wei Sheng himself was focused on Black Tiger's final sentence.
A surprise?!
Wei Sheng glanced at Fire Ox.
Truly a soldier trained by Black Tiger, he thought.
These two even talk in exactly the same way.
Back when Fire Ox had taught him the Savage Bull Fist, he had said the same thing.
Hearing those words now, he really wanted Black Tiger to spell out exactly what he meant by a surprise.
But after weighing the difference in their strength, Wei Sheng suddenly felt that life did need a few surprises after all.
As for Minor Accomplishment in the saber technique within a month...
Couldn't anyone with hands do that?
"Brother Fire Ox, have you broken through to the Seven Refinements?"
After leaving Weiyuan Hall, Wei Sheng glanced at Fire Ox beside him and asked curiously.
It was difficult to judge a martial artist who had developed Jin Force by appearance alone. Only after actually exchanging blows could one gauge an opponent's strength through the quantity and power of his Jin Force.
"Not yet. Going from flesh refinement to tendon refinement is a dividing line. It isn't that easy to cross...
"I've studied that Sinew Refinement Method for a month, and I've only just started practicing it. It'll still be a long time before I reach Entry in tendon refinement and enter the Seven Refinements..."
Fire Ox shook his head.
Then, seemingly remembering something, he spoke to Wei Sheng with a grave expression:
"Tiger Lord has appointed you to take full control of Changyou's territory. That's a hot potato."
"Brother Fire Ox, you're experienced, and I was just about to ask your advice. What should I do after taking over East Prosperity Street?"
Wei Sheng asked.
Fire Ox considered for a while, then said slowly:
"East Prosperity Street sits in the middle of Black River Ward. All trades flourish there, gangs abound, and fish and dragons mingle...
"With the Fish-Dragon Gang behind you, the other small factions won't dare provoke you lightly!
"Once you're there, the ones you need to be most wary of are Gu Diao of Wind and Cloud Hall and Chu Dongjiao of Azure Dragon Hall.
"Back then, although Changyou rushed ahead in pursuit of merit, with his strength, he should've been able to escape even if he couldn't win. Yet he still died in the end. I suspect those two had a hand in it...
"After you arrive, don't rush to reclaim the lost territory. Just hold on to your core holdings...
"In short, put patience first in everything, and preserving yourself first. Whatever you do, don't clash with Chu Dongjiao, Gu Diao, or their people..."
In truth, Fire Ox also knew that having Wei Sheng take over Changyou's territory now was asking rather too much of him.
However capable he was in a fight at the Fourth Refinements, could he beat Chu Dongjiao and Gu Diao at the Six Refinements?
But there was no choice. That street was the throat of the Outer City's transport routes, critically important, and absolutely could not be lost.
Listening to Fire Ox's sincere warnings, Wei Sheng bowed in salute. "Thank you for the advice, Brother Fire Ox. I've remembered all of it."
"When do you plan to go?"
"Tomorrow."
Early the next morning.
After breakfast, Wei Sheng gave Wei He a few reminders, then left the courtyard carrying the long-handled saber he had helped himself to from Black Tiger.
He had not gone far before he saw that familiar figure standing at the mouth of the alley.
"Old Wei!"
The man waved at Wei Sheng.
Then he strode over.
It was Che Zhenzhong.
"What are you doing here?" Wei Sheng asked.
"Do you know East Prosperity Street? How many gangs there are, how many shops, how much is collected each month? Do you know? Well, I do."
Che Zhenzhong said with a smile:
"After Brother Fire Ox brought this up yesterday afternoon, I told him I wanted to be your guide, and he agreed."
Wei Sheng fell silent for a moment. "Do you know what situation I'm in right now?"
"I do. Honestly, I'm not optimistic about your chances. If we really run into danger, I'll leave you behind and run."
Che Zhenzhong said half-jokingly.
"If we really run into danger, never mind you running-I'll run too, and faster than you."
"I don't believe it. Running away is my specialty."
"..."
After the two joked around for a while.
Wei Sheng looked at him seriously. "This trip will be dangerous. It's not too late to change your mind."
"What nonsense are you talking? Come on, let's go. It's quite a way from here to East Prosperity Street."
Che Zhenzhong urged him on "impatiently."
Wei Sheng could not help laughing. "All right, then let's take up the post at East Prosperity Street together!"
Before you continue