49-7th Rank.
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Blue Dragon Cave Heaven.
Crane Claw Prints in the Sand.
Red Cliff Copper Wall.
Ten Miles of Startling Thunder.
In the courtyard, Zhong Lin assumed a stance and began practicing his punches methodically. There were only four moves in total, but he executed each one with precision, transforming them fluidly—moving like a crane, still like a pine.
The potency of the Bone-Strengthening Pills in his body began to spread with each punch and kick. In sync with his breathing, it slowly seeped into his bones.
Zhong Lin's muscles pulsed continuously, his blood flowing from his heart. Faintly, he could even hear the sound of his blood rushing like waves.
Suddenly, Zhong Lin halted his movements, standing firm. A series of crackling sounds, like beans popping in a pan, erupted from his tendons and bones.
His muscles surged and adjusted once more, his strength increasing by at least thirty percent.
His bone density thickened, becoming as hard as stone.
His weight grew heavier too.
Zhong Lin estimated he now weighed over one hundred kilograms, though outwardly he still looked like a lean, one-meter-seventy-seven teenager.
After a long pause, Zhong Lin slowly opened his eyes and clenched his fist lightly, feeling a tremendous power within.
"So this is the Seventh Rank Bone-Forging Realm?"
With his bones fully tempered, every aspect of his physical ability had seen a massive leap.
Strength, reaction speed, and more.
With a flick of his right hand, a sword shadow flashed under the sunlight, only to vanish instantly, leaving one wondering if it was just an illusion.
"Excellent. The Instant Kill Technique is even stealthier and stronger now—both its speed and power have improved drastically."
Then Zhong Lin pulled up his system panel.
- Host: Zhong Lin
- Skills: Archery (Max Level), Flying Locust Stone (Max Level), Realistic Painting (Max Level), Calligraphy (Max Level), Culinary Arts (Max Level), Iron Mountain Strength Technique (Max Level), Instant Kill Technique (Max Level), Black Tiger Fist (Max Level), Willow Catkin Footwork (Max Level), Wind-Splitting Blade Technique (Max Level), Medicine (Max Level), Pharmacy(Max Level), Iron Sand Palm (Max Level), Rolling Stone Fist (Max Level), Disguise Technique (Max Level), Breath Tracking (Max Level), Mimicry (Max Level), Lockpicking (Max Level), Breath Concealment (Max Level).
Skill Points: ∞
In recent days, besides training, Zhong Lin had sought out various folk skills with Old Xu's help.
Mimicry he learned from a storyteller. At max level, he could imitate the calls of wild beasts, birds, and even men and women.
He'd once used it to summon a flock of birds, so lifelike it was uncanny.
The Disguise Technique came from a wandering performer, introduced by Old Xu for three taels of silver.
Using specially prepared potions, tools, and even acupuncture, Zhong Lin could transform his face into a completely different one—achieving seventy to eighty percent likeness if he mimicked someone specific.
The only flaw was it couldn't alter his body, just his face.
Zhong Lin didn't mind. It was a folk art, after all—no need to expect too much.
What pleased him most was "Breath Tracking," learned from an old hunter. As the name implied, it was a skill for tracking people or things by their scent—essentially turning him into a human bloodhound.
Then there was Lockpicking and Breath Concealment.
Old Xu's family had lived in Heishan County for generations, familiar with every blade of grass, every tree, every person, and every thing.
Without his introductions, even if Zhong Lin had the desire, he might not have found people with these skills—let alone paid to learn them.
…
Though it was autumn, the lingering heat was fierce, cloaking Heishan County in a restless swelter.
"The county's reserve army has been defeated, and the rebels are about to besiege the city"—this earth-shaking news swept through Heishan County like a hurricane, turning the already restless populace into a volcanic eruption of panic.
"Zhong Lin, it's real—the reserve army really lost, and they say it was a total wipeout. The rebels are coming."
Old Xu burst through the door, his face visibly etched with panic.
"The news is out now. The city's in chaos—trouble's breaking out everywhere. Zhong Lin, what do we do?"
Zhong Lin set down the towel he'd been using to wipe his sweat and said casually, "We do what we've got to do. Did you forget what I told you before?"
"But I'm still not at ease! Zhong Lin, why don't you take Little Shi and Xiu'er and leave? Small chaos, hide in the city; big chaos, flee to the countryside. Heishan County isn't safe anymore. Out there, what are the odds you'd run into rebels? Just take the two of them to the countryside to wait out the war, then come back when it's over," Old Xu urged anxiously.
"Come back for what? To collect your corpse?" Zhong Lin snapped irritably. "Put your heart back in your chest. If you're really worried, move in with me right now. With me here, nothing will happen to you."
Old Xu fell silent for a long while before speaking in a low voice, "Zhong Lin, tell me the truth. Why are you staying in Heishan County and refusing to leave? What are you up to?"
Zhong Lin shot the old man a look. Sharp as ever—age had honed his instincts.
"You figured it out?"
"Isn't it obvious? Look at the skills you've had me find people to teach you these past few days—disguise, lockpicking, breath concealment, breath tracking—all thief tricks. With your strength, the only things that'd make you this cautious are the yamen or the two big families, Zhang and Du. Zhong Lin, listen to me—we can't afford to mess with them. If you're short on cash, I'll even give you the recipe for the The Eight-Treasure Blood Nourishing Soup," Old Xu said earnestly.
"Whoa! You're willing to hand over the The Eight-Treasure Blood Nourishing Soup recipe? For real?" Zhong Lin teased with a grin.
"As long as you can keep Xiu'er safe, I'd take the risk—even if the Baicao Hall comes after me for leaking it. At worst, I'll die."
Zhong Lin gave Old Xu a deep look. Say what you will, his love for his grandson shone through completely.
"Forget it, keep it. The The Eight-Treasure Blood Nourishing Soup's useless to me now anyway. After this war's over, I'm heading to Tianyang Prefecture. If I get the chance, I'll check out the Baicao Hall too."
Zhong Lin looked up at the sky, his tone heavy. "The nine ranks of martial arts: the lower three refine the body, the middle three condense the blood, the upper three refine the qi. Condensing blood means refining qi and blood, but ordinary people can't even touch those methods—they're locked up by the noble families. This rebel chaos is an opportunity. It's the only time those families' defenses will be weak."
Now Zhong Lin understood why Yun Ye had looked at him with pity when he'd turned down the recruitment that day.
The nine ranks of martial arts: the lower three were body forging. While body-forging techniques were valuable, they could be found with effort—like at a martial school.
The lower three ranks were, strictly speaking, just physical training—making you faster, higher-jumping, stronger. You could take on ten men, sure, but with enough cunning, even ordinary people could kill you.
Only the middle three ranks truly touched the extraordinary, marking the start of real power. But the methods to train in the middle three ranks were monopolized by these noble families—completely out of reach otherwise.
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