Having cultivated a physique resembling a crane [3rd update]

Riverside Academy.

Library.

Zhong Xuan held a book in his hand and sat by the window, reading it carefully. His literary talent was unlikely to improve any further. A person who could become a literary master might not be able to become a successful candidate in the imperial examinations, but he could never spend decades as a student in the lowest level of the imperial examinations.

The review was merely a way to fill in the gaps in knowledge of the four subjects of classics and law before the provincial examination.

Suddenly—

A sparrow flew into the library.

Having received three thousand taels from Zhang Lie, Zhong Xuan couldn't bring himself to pocket all of it. He used a portion to build another layer in the library, leaving the middle section empty.

At this moment, sparrows were circling on the second-floor rooftop, chirping merrily.

It seemed to think that the human beneath it could not fly.

Whoosh!

Zhong Xuan suddenly stood up, leaping a full ten feet into the air with a single step, landing easily on the beam with two crisp cracking sounds. Then, with a somersault, he was already three feet off the ground in the blink of an eye!

"Chirp—"

The gray sparrow probably never imagined that a human could leap so high.

He just made a sound.

It was already in Zhong Xuan's hands.

"My strength has greatly increased, which is of great help in cultivating the Crane Form Void."

Zhong Xuan smiled with satisfaction.

The first step in practicing the Crane Form of Emptiness is to become as light as a crane. This requires not only strengthening the bones but also making them light.

"If I persevere for a few more years, I should have a chance."

Zhong Xuan estimated.

Although he has not yet mastered the basics, his lightness skill is already superior to most of the instructors at the Flying Eagle Martial Arts School.

The reason he made such progress was not only because his crane bones were in harmony with the crane's movement technique, but also because the lightness skill that Old Master Cui gave him was of a very high grade. In the entire Baisha County, there was probably no other lightness skill that could compare with it.

Thinking about this...

Zhong Xuan looked down at the panel in the void.

[Bone structure: Crane-shaped, Dragon-shaped]

[Grade: Human Rank (Eight Taels)]

......

......

Zhong Xuan walked alone on the streets of Baisha County.

You can ride a horse.

But that would be too conspicuous, so Zhong Xuan simply chose to walk into the city. Even so, he knew from the respectful looks he received from the passersby that his identity had been recognized.

"His reputation is growing."

Zhong Xuan smiled and shook his head.

In the past, no one would have known his name, Zhong Xuan.

Today I am invited by Zhang Lie to his residence for a banquet.

Walking.

Suddenly—

"Get out of the way!"

A haughty shout rang out, accompanied by the cracking sound of a whip striking empty air.

I turned my head to look.

Then they saw seven or eight large chestnut horses file in through the city gate.

The most eye-catching figure was the burly man walking at the very front.

"Stone Wind Sand..."

Even those who don't know his identity can sense his extraordinary martial arts skills just by looking at his aura.

He is one of the top three martial arts masters in Baisha County, on par with Dan Yun of Zijintang and Qian Hong of Feiying Martial Arts School. He is one of the most likely martial arts masters in the county to break through to the third level of martial arts.

"Indeed, it's strong enough."

Zhong Xuan felt a slight chill run down his spine.

Even from more than ten feet away, one could still feel the fierce and domineering aura emanating from Shi Fengsha.

There's a saying in Baisha County: "First, a knife; second, a palm strike; third, a grappling move."

The phrase "one cut" refers to Shi Fengsha.

As for the second palm strike, it refers to Dan Yun, the head of the Zijin Hall, while the third grappling technique is that of his senior brother Qian Hong, who has mastered the Great Grappling Hand technique to perfection.

The numbers one, two, and three do not refer to a ranking in martial arts, but rather to the time it took for someone to gain fame.

Shi Fengsha, the most senior of the three, wielded an incredibly powerful and fierce mountain-breaking knife, leaving countless people with nothing but bones beneath its blade.

"Although there is no conclusive evidence, the number of people who died at Shi Fengsha's hands was more than the combined number of Dan Yuan and Qian Hong."

That's why he developed such a fierce aura.

Ordinary people don't even dare to look Shi Fengsha in the eye.

Zhong Xuan silently made way, watching the Sha Gang group enter the city.

"Shi Fengsha rarely comes to the city; what brings him here today?"

According to Zheng Yue, Shi Fengsha, like Qian Hong, has been in seclusion for years trying to break through the three major training levels, so he has been staying in Langzi Bay almost all the time and has rarely shown his face except for some extremely important occasions.

Although he was curious about Shi Fengsha's purpose, there were many people and eyes in the city, and Shi Fengsha's strength was far superior to his own. Following him would be foolish and tantamount to courting death.

Zhong Xuan did not follow, but turned into the alley and headed towards the Zhang family's residence.

......

......

In the most magnificent mansion in the east of Baisha City.

A handsome man with delicate features was wearing a silk robe with its chest exposed, leaning lazily against a tiger-skin chair, drinking alone.

The man's name is Dan Yun.

This is the renowned Zijintang in Baisha County, the wealthiest place in the entire city.

The Zijin Hall is an alliance of dozens of merchant guilds in Baisha City. Each lord is a man with a fortune. What is surprising is that the head of the Zijin Hall, Dan Yun, is not from a merchant family and does not know anything about business.

The reason why it is regarded as the leader by all the merchants is simply because it is very capable.

Even money needs to be protected with fists.

Without sufficient military strength, no matter how much money you have, it will ultimately benefit others.

Before Dan Yun came, although the merchants in Baisha County also employed martial arts instructors, they still had to pay large sums of money to martial arts schools and gangs every year.

After arriving, the status of the merchants in Baisha City rose significantly, and their business flourished.

Just as Dan Yun was humming a little tune and drinking,

A series of footsteps sounded, and Shi Fengsha's towering figure appeared in the magnificent house, his menacing aura standing out from the crowd.

"Brother Shi's visit to my Zijin Hall is truly an honor to my humble abode."

Dan Yun spoke with a smile, without getting up.

Shi Fengsha didn't sit down, but looked down at Dan Yun, who was leaning against the wall, and said coldly, "Brother Dan, have you thought through what I said before?"

Dan Yun looked troubled.

"Brother Shi, as you know, Master Qian and I are bosom friends, like brothers."

"You want me to deal with my own brothers."

"You're trying to put me in an unjust position."

Shi Fengsha snorted coldly: "Since when have the镖客 (bodyguards/escorts) of the Southern Kingdom started to value loyalty and brotherhood?"

Only a very few people in Baisha City know about it.

Before coming to Baisha County, Dan Yun was a well-known镖客 (bodyguard/escort) who traveled among the southern kingdoms.

The term "镖客" (biaoke) does not necessarily refer to a bodyguard from a security company. As long as you pay them, a镖客 can do anything.

Dan Yun chuckled.

Seeing this, Shi Fengsha stopped talking and slowly raised his right palm, a faint red wisp of energy appearing.

"Qi and blood are released outwards!"

Dan Yun stopped grinning and sat up straight.

Somewhat incredulously, it took them a long time to confirm that, of the three of them, it was actually Shi Fengsha who took that step first.

This is something that only the strongest cultivators of the three major training levels can possess.

"Have you taken that step?"

Dan Yun narrowed his eyes and stared intently at Shi Fengsha.

Shi Fengsha's lips curled up slightly: "I've said it before, Baisha County can have more than one of the three major training camps. Brother Dan, you should think carefully before you speak."

Dan Yun's eyes flickered repeatedly, and after a long while, he finally gritted his teeth and uttered a single word:

"good!"