Chapter 18

Three days later.

Clang! Clang, clang, clang!

At the drill ground, Le Xaan and Elder Zaner, each wielding a blade, were engaged in combat.

The two blades streaked through the air and crossed with each other from time to time.

Glaring light was reflected off the weapons.

Elder Zaner made a dodge away from Le Xaan's attack.

Then, his face grew solemn, his hair and beard floating midair and his eyes bulging.

"Tiger Anger!"

Whoosh!

Tiger roaring sounds drifted over as Elder Zaner slashed his blade swiftly at Le Xaan's wrist with great momentum.

"Tiger Anger!"

Almost at the same moment, Le Xaan barked in a muffled voice, unleashing the same move as Elder Zaner.

Le Xaan appeared to be reacting 'barely in time', which hinted at his lack of fighting experience.

Clang!

The two weapons collided with a deafening noise.

Then, the two of them both stepped backward and gasped for air, staring at one another.

Le Xaan lowered his head and noticed that part of his sleeve was shredded and falling apart. He immediately displayed an awestruck expression.

"As expected of you, Elder Zaner!"

Le Xaan sheathed his blade and straightened his back while saying with a laugh.

"You are already quite accomplished... indeed accomplished.. in such a short period of time, you managed to unleash Tiger Anger. Even if you have practiced other martial arts before. But you reached out to me and obtained the set of blade techniques only over ten days ago.

... it will only be a matter of days before Young Master surpasses me and ranks among the top five experts in Gourian City."

Elder Zaner sighed.

"Ridiculously, I thought before that Young Master had given up the set of blade techniques. I was too ignorant..."

Le Xaan said with a smile, "Elder Zaner, you must be joking. You are one of the top four experts in Gourian City. How could I surpass you?"

"No, no. I was getting old. My strength is no longer what it used to be in my early days."

Elder Zaner waved his hand.

"Young Master, your talent truly shines through, mastering the first maneuver of the Black Tiger Blade Style so swiftly. I would encourage you to consider learning a few more sets of martial arts. "

"A few more sets? You mean...?"

Le Xaan was surprised beyond words.

Elder Zaner said with a smile.

"I wouldn't boast, but my name, Zaner Hueo, and your family name, Le, both carry a lot of weight across Gourian City. With our combined reputations, I am confident that I can persuade several of the old guys to impart their cherished martial arts to you.

By the way, these martial arts would not fall short of the Black Tiger Blade Style. All of them are third-rate martial arts.

Young Master, should you agree, I'd be delighted to make the introductions to these masters."

Upon hearing this, Le Xaan felt elated.

For now, he had no access to top-level martial arts. But he could take an alternative route of learning as many third-rate martial arts as he could.

Since he had a cheat tool, he would be able to train in these martial arts at a terrific speed to their ultimate pinnacles.

If he grasped enough sets of martial arts, his goal wouldn't seem that far off.

In this world, demons, spirits, ghosts, and monsters might emerge anytime, anywhere. If he didn't make the most of his time to become stronger, he would definitely regret when he found himself in a treacherous situation.

Then, Le Xaan turned over Elder Zaner's words in his mind.

Many martial arts masters' names popped up before him, such as Cyam Suin. Cyam Suin was a former Justice of Peace, mastering the Crashing Heart Palm that won him considerable fame. But now he was in his twilight years, with no offspring.

He was struggling financially in a wanted situation, sometimes in need of the helping hands from his old friends like Elder Zaner.

If Le Xaan were to provide Cyam Suin with some financial resources and have Elder Zaner persuade him, it would not be difficult to make Cyam Suin impart the Crashing Heart Palm to him.

Cyam Suin was once the first-ranked martial arts expert across Gourian City, but with age, the other experts at his heel surpassed him. Until now, he had been into his retirement for a lengthy period of time.

Much older than Elder Zaner, Cyam Suin aged at eighty-six this year.

Former top experts like Cyam Suin were not few in Gourian City.

Le Xaan was pondering seriously. If he could obtain these masters' martial arts all and modify them to the peak level, his strength would definitely soar to a formidable level, even though they were just third-rate ones.

"What do you think? Young Master, should you agree, I am glad to reach out to a few old friends of mine."

Le Xaan figured that Elder Zaner was probably of a mind to provide some relief to his old friends.

Le Xaan replied after a moment of thought.

"Good suggestion, Elder Zaner. But could you tell me how many masters you can reach out to?"

"I can at least guarantee you the Crashing Heart Palm, and the Swallow Chasing Wind Blade Style.

The owners of the two sets of martial arts, my old friends, had no offspring and were now living with great difficulty. They had long before decided to find a disciple to inherit their martial arts, but unsuccessfully. As you know, a martial arts practitioner needs a huge number of tonics, which, in turn, calls for his own family fortune. If one persists in training without enough nutrition, one's body will be riddled with injuries. That's why they have no inheritor by now."

Elder Zaner sighed.

"Young Master, your talent is outstanding. Even though I can't fetch first-rate martial arts for you, your strength will be greatly elevated after mastering the two sets of martial arts. By this way, I take care of both your and my friend's needs. It's quite a win-win, isn't it?"

Le Xaan nodded agreeingly after Elder Zaner poured out his heart to him.

"Elder Zaner, since you make this guarantee to me, then these two seniors should be considered as my masters from today onwards. The Le family will grant each of them a monthly stipend of twenty silver coins."

Upon hearing this, Elder Zaner displayed a wholehearted smile.

"Young Master, you're as kind-hearted as ever."

In fact, in ordinary dojos, a set of martial arts typically only cost less than ten silver coins in one go.

However, Le Xaan allowed each of his two old friends twenty silver coins almost without hesitation, which showed Le Xaan's trust and respect towards him, Zaner Hueo.

When this news circulated around, Elder Zaner would also earn his friends' respect.

"Young Master, practice on by yourself, and I'll inform my friends about this news."