"Zhou Feng, what is it?"
The old man set down his teacup and turned his head.
Lu Changfeng looked up.
He saw that the old man had white hair but a youthful complexion. Despite his age, his gaze was incredibly sharp, and when it landed on someone, it made them feel a sense of urgency.
This old man must be the master of the Changle Martial Arts Hall—Zhang Desheng.
Name: Zhang Desheng
Root Bone: Lower A Class
Talent: Low-Grade Palm Technique Talent
’As expected of the master. He really does have an A-Class Root Bone.’
This was the first A-Class Root Bone Lu Changfeng had seen in the Changle Martial Arts Hall.
"Master, this young man’s Root Bone is extraordinary. I brought him to see you!" Zhou Feng bowed and said respectfully.
"Oh?"
Zhang Desheng stood up and walked over to Lu Changfeng.
Only then did Lu Changfeng realize the old man was at least two meters tall.
This was normal. The first step in practicing Martial Arts was Blood Forging.
Once one’s Blood Energy became abundant, their body and weight would expand.
Martial Arts experts were often minor giants.
Unless they cultivated to an extremely high Realm, where they could control their body shape and condense their essence.
This Master Zhang Desheng was an expert in the Tendon Transformation Realm. Although he seemed a bit stooped due to his old age, he was still about 2.2 meters tall, no different from a minor giant when standing.
"Don’t be afraid. Let me take a look."
Zhang Desheng spoke gently to Lu Changfeng and placed a hand on his chest.
Lu Changfeng felt a warm current emanating from the old hand on his chest.
After two breaths, the light in Zhang Desheng’s eyes flared. "What is your name?"
"Senior, my name is Lu Changfeng!" Lu Changfeng replied. ’Seeing the old man’s reaction, he must have discovered my Root Bone.’
Ordinary people had no way of detecting Talent with one hundred percent accuracy.
But upon reaching the Tendon Transformation Realm and giving birth to Inner Strength, one could use the feedback from their Inner Strength to get a relatively clear reading of a person’s Root Bone.
As for Talent, that was something far more intangible. There was no way to detect it other than what a Martial Artist displayed while practicing Martial Arts.
"Ah, Changfeng, I am Zhang Desheng, the master of the Changle Martial Arts Hall. Are you willing to become my fourth Direct Disciple?"
Zhang Desheng was truly getting anxious, wanting to take him as a disciple right then and there!
Zhang Desheng knew his age was high and his Blood Energy was declining. His Inner Strength was even regressing day by day along with his failing Blood Energy.
His three disciples and his one son all had insufficient Talent.
If he couldn’t find a disciple to inherit his legacy, the Changle Martial Arts Hall would truly disappear.
He, Zhang Desheng, had drifted through the Jianghu for half his life, and his only attachment was this Martial Arts Hall.
Within this Martial Arts Hall were the memories of his late wife and the joy that filled the courtyard when his children were born.
He could still hold on for a few more years.
He just needed a disciple who could inherit his legacy.
"I am willing." Faced with Zhang Desheng’s eager gaze, Lu Changfeng decisively agreed.
’I’m penniless. If I don’t join the Changle Martial Arts Hall, I won’t be able to use my talent!’
Besides, the atmosphere at the Changle Martial Arts Hall seemed pretty good.
Although it was somewhat weakened due to its decline, the disciples were more low-key as a result and rarely caused trouble outside.
"Good! Changfeng, where are you from?"
"I’m a native of Feng City."
"How old are you?"
"Fifteen this year!"
"..."
After a simple round of questions, Zhang Desheng sent a disciple to verify Lu Changfeng’s background.
After all, he was accepting a Direct Disciple. No matter how urgent it was, the basic checks still had to be done.
When the disciple confirmed Lu Changfeng’s clean background—finding out that not only was he a local with an unblemished history, but he also came from a scholarly family—Zhang Desheng was even more delighted. He started arranging for the apprenticeship ceremony to be held that very afternoon.
Ultimately, the official apprenticeship ceremony was scheduled for three days later.
...
"Changfeng, come with me. There’s no time to lose. I will personally teach you Martial Arts."
After the disciples sent back their report, Zhang Desheng pulled Lu Changfeng to a quiet little courtyard in the back.
Zhang Desheng couldn’t wait to see Lu Changfeng grow stronger.
"At my Changle Martial Arts Hall, ordinary disciples practice the Changle Palm Method."
"The Changle Palm Method is not difficult to cultivate and is easy to start with. Of course, this also means it provides less stimulation for one’s Blood Energy, so it’s suitable for disciples with ordinary Talent."
"Changfeng, your natural aptitude is extremely high, probably no worse than my own. Naturally, you don’t need to waste your time and talent on the Changle Palm Method."
"I will now impart to you the Martial Art, Le Mountain Angry Vajra!"
Zhang Desheng slowly explained that this Le Mountain Angry Vajra was a superior-grade Cultivation Technique for the Blood Forging Realm.
Besides the stances for tempering Blood Energy, it also had three Ultimate Techniques: the Changle Divine Palm, the Vajra Great Buddha Fist, and the Angry-eyed Great Vajra Buddha!
Among them, the Changle Divine Palm was the Ultimate Technique one could master after cultivating the Changle Palm Method to its limit. It could only be performed around the Blood Forging Third Layer.
"Come, I will demonstrate Le Mountain Angry Vajra for you. Follow my movements and match my breathing rhythm."
Zhang Desheng removed his outer robe, revealing a muscular physique that didn’t match his age.
Paired with his 2.2-meter height, the intimidating presence was enough to scare a child to death.
If he didn’t know this was his master, Lu Changfeng, who currently didn’t even have the strength to truss a chicken, would have turned and fled!
Even though Lu Changfeng had yet to formally begin his Martial Arts training, he could feel the vigorous Blood Energy within Zhang Desheng’s muscles.
’If that powerful Blood Energy were to erupt, he could definitely kill a bull with a single punch!’
’Not to mention the even stronger Inner Strength that a Tendon Transformation Powerhouse possessed!’
Lu Changfeng composed himself and began practicing the tempering stances of Le Mountain Angry Vajra, following Zhang Desheng’s movements and verbal cues.
Strange ways of exerting force, peculiar breathing patterns.
An hour later, Lu Changfeng finished the practice, collapsed directly onto the ground, and was drenched in sweat.
"Not bad. For your first time just following along, you’ve already got the form down. It’s not much different from my own performance back then."
"It’s just that your body is a bit weak. You must have been eating poorly."
"From now on, move into the Martial Arts Hall. You’ll eat three meals a day in the hall’s dining area. I’ll have the head cook prepare corresponding medicinal supplements to enhance your Blood Energy. It won’t take long for you to get your body in shape."
Lu Changfeng nodded in grateful agreement. He thought for a moment and said, "Master, I also have a maidservant at home..."
Zhang Desheng said, "Bring her over as well. However, the hall doesn’t support idlers. It shouldn’t be a problem for her to help out around the hall for half a day, right? We’ll arrange for her to live next to your quarters."
"Of course not, thank you, Master!" Lu Changfeng said gratefully.
"Mm, I’ll send a disciple to bring her here. No need for thanks. Have you rested enough? Come, practice with me one more time!"
Lu Changfeng opened his mouth, but still mustered his energy and began to practice with Zhang Desheng again.
An hour later, after practicing Le Mountain Angry Vajra one more time, Lu Changfeng was completely exhausted.
Zhang Desheng reached out, grabbed Lu Changfeng by the scruff of his neck like a little chick, and carried him to the Martial Arts Hall’s dining area.
Stimulated by the fragrant aroma of the dishes in the dining area, Lu Changfeng’s spirits were restored.
The food in the dining area was also simple: rice, steamed buns, vegetables, and some meat. There were no rare delicacies.
But the most important thing was that you could eat your fill. In these chaotic times, such a provision was already a rare blessing.
Lu Changfeng ate five large bowls of rice before he finally stopped eating. Cultivation in the Blood Forging Realm was the most food-intensive.
Even Zhang Desheng, the master, was eating in the dining area with the disciples.
Seeing Lu Changfeng finish his meal, he signaled for the head cook to bring over a large bowl of medicinal soup.
Zhang Desheng said, "Drink it. It replenishes Blood Energy. Although it’s made from the simplest medicinal herbs, it’s enough for you to build your foundation for now."
Lu Changfeng could clearly feel the envious gazes of the surrounding disciples. Apparently, the value of these "simple" medicinal herbs was not insignificant.
Words of thanks were unnecessary. Lu Changfeng tilted his head back and drank the entire bowl of medicinal soup. The speed of his blood circulation noticeably quickened, and his fatigue rapidly faded away.