The Ultimate Training Team

At this moment, Old Hu's suspicion and distrust completely dissipated. He patted Huo Xuan's shoulder and said, "You're our only hope. Whether you succeed or not, I thank you." Then he took out a pen and wrote a phone number and Chen Jie's name on Huo Xuan's arm.

The remaining thirty-five men each provided their own piece of information—some gave a name, others an address, and a few simply shared an email. Their methods of safeguarding secrets varied, but all were equally cautious and efficient.

These brief yet earth-shattering details were inscribed densely on Huo Xuan's arm. Slowly, he rolled down his sleeve to conceal the writings, then turned his gaze to the Dragon Head, Chu Cangmang.

Chu Cangmang gave a slight nod and addressed the others, "Disperse now. Go about your business. I have more to discuss with Huo Xuan."

The men cast one last deep look at Huo Xuan before silently filing out of the cell, leaving only Chu Cangmang and Huo Xuan behind. The elder then revealed an address and a string of passwords.

"Beneath the floorboards of that room lies a hidden compartment containing a portable computer and a wooden box. Inside the box are two items: a prosthetic eyeball and a prosthetic hand. Once you open the computer, first use the prosthetic hand to pass the fingerprint scan, then the prosthetic eyeball for the iris scan. After that, input the password to gain access to the network."

Huo Xuan looked astonished. "A computer? Does it hold your secret records?"

The Dragon Head shook his head. "I never saved a single penny, nor did I leave behind any faction. My power stems from a mysterious organization. To inherit my position, you must harness the strength of this organization."

Huo Xuan pondered this. "And then?"

"Through the computer, you can command countless individuals to work for you. At the same time, you can accept tasks within your capability to accumulate merit points. With enough points, you can mobilize even more people to serve you." Chu Cangmang spoke as if narrating a myth, leaving Huo Xuan utterly amazed.

"All the specifics are documented in the computer files. Once you review them, you'll have no further doubts."

Huo Xuan nodded. Though questions lingered in his mind, he said nothing more.

Chu Cangmang continued, "To become a dominant force in the underworld, you must possess the ability to protect yourself—to advance or retreat effortlessly even against insurmountable odds. Therefore, your martial skills still need refinement."

Huo Xuan couldn't help but smile bitterly. He had only been seriously practicing martial arts for about a year—how could he possibly talk about refinement?

In truth, he had been taught by five Dan Jin masters, including Hua Buyi—an opportunity likely unique to him in the entire world. Dan Jin masters stood at the pinnacle of human physical potential, with fewer than fifty such individuals among billions globally, a testament to their extraordinary prowess.

Despite such elite instruction, his training duration remained short. Huo Xuan's skills were far from masterful; he could handle ordinary opponents, but against true experts, he would inevitably be outmatched.

"Your foundation is solid—clearly shaped by exceptional teachers," Chu Cangmang observed, studying Huo Xuan. "The rhythm of your qi and blood isn't something just anyone could cultivate. Surely not Hua Buyi alone?"

Huo Xuan saw no reason to conceal it. "My master has reached the Dan Jin stage—teaching me is no issue. Besides him, I've had four other instructors."

Chu Cangmang's eyes widened. "Excellent! If Hua Buyi has attained Dan Jin, then there's even less to worry about! His medical skills must have advanced tremendously—likely elevating his position on the Underground Rankings."

Then, curiosity piqued, he asked, "Who are these other teachers of yours?"

"Liu Zhenru, Lu Yunxiang, the Jade Void Taoist, and Situ Xing," Huo Xuan replied.

For a moment, Chu Cangmang seemed frozen, murmuring, "Hua Buyi... truly audacious, to enlist these four powerhouses! The True Immortal, the Invincible Lu, the King of Taiji, and the Sword Immortal—any one of them could dominate the world unchallenged."

Huo Xuan felt a flicker of pride, but Chu Cangmang's tone suddenly shifted. "Yet this might not be entirely beneficial for you."

"How so?" Huo Xuan asked, puzzled.

"The saying goes, 'Bite off more than you can chew.' These four, along with your master Hua Buyi, are all grandmasters in their own right, each with unique specialties. Doesn't he fear you'll suffer from overload?" Chu Cangmang questioned.

Huo Xuan shrugged. "My master has said that if I'm to become a grandmaster, this won't be an issue. And if I fail to reach that level, it won't matter anyway—I wouldn't have deserved to be his disciple in the first place."

Chu Cangmang fell silent, finally grasping Hua Buyi's intent. With a sigh, he said, "Your master has gone to extraordinary lengths for you. Do you realize the sheer resources required just to enlist four Dan Jin masters?"

Huo Xuan's expression turned solemn. "I'm fully aware, and I've always been deeply grateful for my master's guidance and dedication."

Chu Cangmang chuckled. "Excellent. I'm truly curious—what kind of disciple can five Dan Jin masters forge?" He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "I, too, possess a martial art. Would you care to learn?"

Huo Xuan's interest was piqued. "Oh? What style?"

With a knowing smile, Chu Cangmang explained, "In my prime, I achieved the fourth-grade Dan—neither exceptional nor mediocre. My foundation was Xingyi Quan, but I merged the dragon and tiger forms to create the Dragon-Tiger Stance. The dragon embodies yang, the tiger yin—a harmony of opposites, interplay of solid and void."

Huo Xuan blinked. "I've practiced the Taiji Stance, True Martial Stance, Dragon-Riding Stance, and Hunyuan Stance. I'm familiar with Xingyi—your Dragon-Tiger fusion intrigues me. My teachers said mastering any one of Xingyi's twelve animal forms could make one a grandmaster. Combining two must be extraordinary."

"I'll demonstrate three times," Chu Cangmang said. "Grasp it if you can." He settled into the stance.

Instantly, the room seemed charged with swirling energy—clouds gathering for the dragon, winds howling for the tiger. The stance perfectly blended the dragon's celestial majesty with the tiger's mountain-shaking roar, creating an awe-inspiring presence.

Through the Buddha's Eye, Huo Xuan saw ethereal projections of a divine dragon and fierce tiger behind Chu Cangmang—proof the elder had completely internalized their essences. "Remarkable!" he exclaimed.

The Buddha's Eye revealed everything: Chu Cangmang's qi-blood circulation, skeletal-muscular adjustments, and energy mobilization. One viewing sufficed for memorization—though mastery would require time.

After three precise demonstrations, Chu Cangmang concluded, "You'll remain here awhile. Use this time to cultivate your jin energy."

Huo Xuan smiled wryly. "Easier said than done. I've yet to fully comprehend jin."

"Simple—with proper sparring partners," Chu Cangmang said. "Among those thirty-six, twenty-four have reached Hua Jin's peak. The rest are either Dark Jin masters or mid-level Hua Jin practitioners. All can train you."

Huo Xuan murmured, "No wonder they eliminated ninety-nine so effortlessly."

On his second day in Prison No. 4, Huo Xuan began jin training. His first partners were two Dark Jin experts—one in his thirties, lean and wiry; the other a towering two-meter giant who'd initially blocked his path.

They attacked without warning, their controlled strikes never injuring but always sending Huo Xuan stumbling back with impeccably released jin.

Frustration mounted—his most refined techniques failed to land, while their movements remained inscrutable. Each encounter highlighted the gulf between them.

Huo Xuan felt like a student staring at an incomprehensible math problem—clueless about both the question and the formulas, utterly lost. Yet, blessed with the Buddha's Eye, he gradually began to discern patterns after half a day of grueling practice.

Meanwhile, a high-ranking official from the State Security Ministry in the capital made a direct call to Prison No. 4. The warden immediately straightened his posture upon hearing the caller's identity, repeatedly acknowledging the orders.

After hanging up, his expression shifted uneasily as he muttered, "What the hell is this kid's background?"

Without delay, he announced over the loudspeakers: "Prisoner 4137, report to the exit immediately! Prisoner 4137, report to the exit immediately!"

But Huo Xuan was wholly absorbed in his training—how could he abandon such a rare opportunity? Thirty-plus Hua Jin masters and six Dark Jin experts as sparring partners—a lineup even Hua Buyi couldn't have assembled with three Dan Jin masters. These thirty-six individuals, any one of whom could dominate a region, would never again gather to train a single youth.

After a dozen ignored announcements, the warden prepared to fetch Huo Xuan personally, only to be stopped by a subordinate. "Warden, this is suspicious. If 4137 has such connections, why was he sent here in the first place? As the saying goes, 'Inviting a god is easier than sending one away.' He likely won't leave willingly."

Frowning, the warden asked, "What do you suggest?"

"This isn't Prison No. 4's mess," the subordinate said. "Let those responsible handle it."

Understanding, the warden dialed a number. When connected, he coldly stated, "State Security is demanding Huo Xuan's release."

The recipient—a middle-aged obese man—turned pale upon hearing details. "Release him at once! I'll manage the fallout."

"Release him?" The warden scoffed. "He refuses to leave. You deal with it." He hung up abruptly.

Sweating profusely, the obese man then called Ji Gang, erupting: "Ji Gang, you goddamn moron! You swore Huo Xuan had no connections! Why is State Security's top brass intervening personally?"