The First Sage of Military Strategists

Chapter 100 Empty Fist (8k)

"Where did Pang Shanxiong's Empty Fist come from?" Han Qing asked.

"I don't know, and it shouldn't have anything to do with Yuelu Academy."

"Yes, Pang Shanxiong claims to have practiced Kongming Fist diligently for thirty-five years, but we don't know if it's true or not!"

Both of them looked puzzled, shook their heads, and didn't know the answer.

Han Qing didn't press the matter further. Everyone has their own destiny. He pressed the matter because he was worried that there might be other powerful forces behind Pang Shanxiong. Now it seems that it should only be the Luo family.

He then asked, "Was the Luo family behind Pang Shanxiong's attack on me?"

"Yes, it was Luo Heng, the head of the Luo family in Shu County, who instructed him. Pang Shanxiong has given Luo Heng countless benefits over the years, and the Luo family will lend a helping hand when there is a crisis."

Pang Shanxiong said that if they could ambush and kill him, Luo Heng promised to give them enormous benefits. As for what those benefits would entail, we...

I don't know.

Next, Han Qing asked more than a dozen questions in succession, and the information he had gathered in his mind was increasing.

Lin Yueqiu, who was standing to the side, had also finished his questioning. After the two of them worked together, they had a thorough understanding of Iron Sword Manor.

"After passing through the Cangqing Mountain Pass, and traveling a few hundred miles further, we'll reach Iron Sword Manor. There are hardly any experts left in the manor, and its defenses are extremely weak. There should be a large amount of treasure in its treasury. Young master, I suggest we take a trip there and seize all that treasure," Lin Yueqiu said in a low voice.

“That suits me perfectly. Pang Shanxiong’s treasure is ill-gotten, and keeping it will only benefit the Luo family in the end. Besides, it’s on the way, so it won’t waste time. How could I miss this opportunity?” Han Qing nodded slightly.

"What should we do with these four people?" Lin Yueqiu glanced at them, and the four guards immediately knelt on the ground.

Upon hearing Lin Yueqiu's words, the young man in blue at the head of the group hurriedly looked up and shouted, "Young master, we can lead the way. We are most familiar with the layout of Iron Sword Manor. The remaining guards in the manor will stop resisting when they see us. Please spare our lives!"

"Yes, please spare us, young master! We are willing to follow you!"

Han Qing glanced at them and said coldly, "You four are quite sensible. Come with me to Iron Sword Manor first. If you perform well, you can come with me to the North. Otherwise, you might as well die!"

In any case, Han Qing had no intention of giving these four people their freedom.

If these four people were to return and inform Luo Heng of the detailed information about their group, the journey ahead would become extremely dangerous.

Therefore, these four people must either be taken away or killed.

He preferred the former, as these four were quite strong, all at the fourth level, and would be considered powerful figures in Baiyun County.

As for loyalty, as long as he is strong enough to keep people in check, there is no need to consider that.

So Han Qing made up his mind, and the caravan set off again, passing through the Cangqing Mountain Pass and heading straight for Tiejian Manor.

...

Several hours later, Han Qing and the others arrived at the gate of Iron Sword Manor. Ahead was a wide road leading directly into the manor.

At this moment, along both sides of the road, groups of refugees gathered in small groups, but dared not approach the manor.

Han Qing glanced around and saw that the refugees were pale and emaciated, weak and powerless. Many of them were lying on the ground and could not even stand up. Among them were some children and teenagers who were so hungry that they were skin and bones.

He couldn't help but sigh in his heart; the world was not at peace, and it was the common people who suffered.

"Enter the village!"

"Yes!"

The captains of the four guard teams walked at the front and easily opened the manor gate.

Han Qing and his men entered the manor without incident. There were more than thirty warriors left behind in the manor. Under the command of these four men, they all laid down their weapons and gathered in an open area in the manor, waiting for Han Qing's orders.

Han Qing strolled around the estate, carefully examining several key locations.

There were prison cells in the village, and in the deepest part of the cell, more than a dozen young girls were indeed imprisoned.

After asking in detail, he learned that when Pang Shanxiong discovered that a large group of refugees was going to pass through the village, he would use grain or trickery or coercion to imprison these girls in the village. Once a certain number was collected, they would be sent to the Luo family in the county town.

These girls all came from extremely poor backgrounds, and were powerless to resist Pang Shanxiong's schemes.

Han Qing ordered Lin Yueqiu to release these people. As for their future fate, Han Qing had no say in that.

Secondly, there's the warehouse.

Han Qing carried out a large wooden box with a copper lining from deep inside the storeroom. According to Pang Shanxiong's memory, this box contained the most precious treasure in the manor.

Lin Yueqiu reached out and twisted the copper lock on the box. With a forceful lift, the top of the box was filled with gold, radiating a bright light, which caused everyone around to gasp in amazement.

Han Qing stepped forward and counted them; there were about forty gold ingots.

He picked up a piece and weighed it in his hand; it was about fifteen or sixteen taels, adding up to a total of six or seven hundred taels.

Below the gold ingot were many gemstones and beads, most of which Han Qing recognized. Although the quality was not high, the quantity was large.

He carefully estimated that it would add up to seven or eight thousand taels of silver.

Further down, Han Qing rummaged through more than sixty silver notes, each worth one hundred taels of silver, totaling six or seven thousand taels.

These treasures, in total, amounted to more than 20,000 taels of silver.

Iron Sword Manor had accumulated such wealth over two hundred years of operation, plus Pang Shanxiong's extensive plundering, but now it all benefited Han Qing.

"With this large sum of money, we'll have more confidence when we go to the northern camp!" Lin Yueqiu said.

Han Qing nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping across the area and landing on the open ground next to the box, where thirty gleaming, thick-bladed, slightly curved three-foot steel knives were laid out.

This is a cold-forged steel knife, a specialty of Iron Sword Manor, and quite famous throughout the Shu region. It is of better quality than the knives held by Han Qing's guards, which is a great gain.

Han Qing immediately ordered his men to replace the cold-forged steel knives with this batch, and put the remaining few into a wooden box to be replaced later.

At this moment, Lin Yueqiu suddenly led a few people to move a blue square wooden box from a nearby attic to the open space in front of Han Qing.

“Young master, this is what I just found in Pang Shanxiong’s residence. It must contain extremely valuable items!” Lin Yueqiu said.

Han Qing stepped forward and opened the wooden box, where he found a bow and seven arrows.

Han Qing took out the bow first. It felt cool to the touch, and he immediately sensed that it was an extraordinary bow.

The bow's sides are bluish-green, resembling jade but not quite. The arrow is wrapped with crimson silk thread, and in the middle is an orange-yellow bowstring, about the thickness of a finger, with a bright color. When you pull and flick it with your fingers, you feel that the bow has tremendous power, even stronger than the rhinoceros horn and black gold bow.

"What kind of bow is this?" Han Qing glanced at Qiu Da, one of the captains of the guard team, and asked.

"Young master, this is the ancestral treasure bow of Iron Sword Manor, named Piercing Sun! Its range can reach eight or nine hundred paces."

I heard from Pang Shanxiong that the Pang family had once been glorious in Sichuan. One of their ancestors was a renowned blacksmith who was extremely skilled at forging divine weapons.

"This Sun-Piercing Bow was also made by that ancestor and has been passed down through generations to this day!" Qiu Da, also known as the middle-aged man in blue pine, explained.

"A fine bow is meant for a hero. Pang Shanxiong's archery skills are quite ordinary, and he has never used this bow before. It's fate that it has fallen into your hands, young master!" After a pause, Qiu Da flattered him again.

"Eight hundred steps? If it's true, then the ancestor of the Pang family deserves the title of divine craftsman! I'll try it now!" Han Qing was also very interested.

So he gripped the bow tightly, nocked the arrow, and slowly pulled it back. With a series of creaking sounds, the bowstring was pulled to its full length.

"go with!"

With a whoosh, Han Qing released his grip, the bowstring vibrated, and the arrow shot up like a meteor, soaring straight into the sky. In an instant, it transformed into a black shadow and disappeared into the horizon.

Han Qing nodded slightly: "I don't know if it's eight hundred paces or not, but this bow is indeed more powerful than the rhinoceros horn black gold bow. Even I find it a bit difficult to use, and it's not as easy to use as the rhinoceros horn black gold bow."

“Young Master’s intuition is very accurate; this bow is meant for martial arts grandmasters and even martial saints,” Qiu Da said.

"You give it a try!" Han Qing handed the bow to Lin Yueqiu.

The latter also imitated Han Qing, drawing his bow and shooting an arrow at the sky above.

With a whoosh, the arrow soared into the sky and vanished in an instant, faster than Han Qing's arrow and seemingly with a greater range.

“Excellent, this bow is perfect for me. I wonder what material it is made of,” Lin Yueqiu said, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes.

"I know a little about it. The bow is made of thousand-layer steel. It is a high-quality steel made by the Pang family's ancestor by mixing pig iron with more than ten kinds of rare minerals and forging, folding, and tempering it thousands of times, going through dozens of complex processes. It is extremely precious and is specially used to make weapons and armor suitable for Grandmasters."

"The bowstring is made from the sinew of a sea beast called the Snow Dragon Serpent from the depths of the South China Sea. It takes more than ten years of complicated processing to form. Otherwise, it would not be able to withstand the arm strength of a Grandmaster."

"As for the other details of the craftsmanship and materials, I have no idea," Qiu Da added.

"In that case, this precious bow is truly the culmination of a master craftsman's efforts," Han Qing exclaimed.

Lin Yueqiu handed over the bow, but Han Qing did not take it.

"I'm still a ways from reaching the Grandmaster level, so I'll give you this bow!"

"Thank you, young master!" Lin Yueqiu's eyes lit up, his words filled with gratitude.

"You are loyal and devoted to me, so I cannot treat you unfairly! However, Brother Lin must promise me that once this precious bow falls into your hands, you will only kill those who deserve to die, and you must not target ordinary people or kill innocent people indiscriminately!" Han Qing instructed.

He came from a poor family. Although he briefly experienced the life of a wealthy family in Sichuan at the Qi family, deep down he still felt that he was a poor man and was determined to stand with the poor people of the world.

"Young master is truly a benevolent man. I will keep these words in mind and only kill those who deserve to die!" Lin Yueqiu nodded solemnly.

"I recognize the remaining seven arrows here; they are the Blood Soul Arrows unique to Sky Wolf Fortress!"

Han Qing glanced around again and took out an arrow from the box. He saw that the arrow was covered with blood-red patterns. Under his divine eyes, he could see wisps of evil energy emanating from it, but they did not completely dissipate. They just enveloped the arrow, like a black mist.

"Young master is truly knowledgeable. This is indeed the Blood Soul Arrow of Tianlang Fortress. It was not forged by the Pang family's ancestor, but was stolen by Pang Shanxiong from the Yuelu Academy's treasury."

"I've heard that these arrows contain the essence of a hundred beasts, brimming with murderous aura, and are specifically designed to counter those who refine their spirit!" Qiu Da said.

Han Qing nodded slightly; Qiu Da's statement was consistent with what he had read in the book.

Once this arrow enters the body of a cultivator, the essence of a hundred beasts locked within will immediately release a torrent of malevolent energy, spreading throughout their limbs and bones, suppressing their magical powers and greatly reducing their combat strength.

"This trip has been truly fruitful, it was definitely worth the trip to the village!" Lin Yueqiu exclaimed.

"Now that we have the treasure, there's no need to stay in the manor any longer. Let's set off immediately. I suspect that news of Pang Shanxiong's death will soon reach Luo Heng's ears, and members of the Luo family will arrive here soon!" Han Qing pondered.

"What should we do with these four? Should we kill them?" Lin Yueqiu's sharp gaze swept over them.

Qiu Da and the other three were all startled and broke out in a cold sweat, their eyes turning to Han Qing.

Qiu Da cupped his hands and said, "Young master, you just promised us that if we behave well after entering the manor, you would let us go!"
I have spoken frankly and openly, and have considered your needs in every way. I hope you will keep your promise.

"Not bad, I'm very satisfied with your performance just now. I keep my word and I won't kill you. From now on, the four of you will follow me. Do whatever I tell you to do. If you have any disloyalty, you will be severely punished!"

Qiu Da was overjoyed and knelt down first, saying loudly, "Young master, rest assured, you are so young yet you have such strength, and your future is limitless. You also act with great discretion. In terms of potential, strength, and character, Pang Shanxiong is inferior to you in every way. We are sincerely convinced and will be loyal to you in the future!"

The other three also knelt down, saying in unison, "We will be loyal to our young master and have no disloyal intentions!"

"Get up! Set off immediately and leave Iron Sword Manor as soon as possible!" Han Qing said calmly.

He didn't take what Qiu Da and the other three said to heart at all.

According to his observation, Qiu Da and his three companions were all cowards who feared death. He could rely on their strength to intimidate others and get things done.

If faced with a life-or-death situation, these four people would probably run away immediately.

However, life-or-death situations are rare, and he is currently short of manpower, so these four people can be used to some extent.

An hour later, Han Qing and his group set off again, heading north along the mountain path at high speed.

Half a day later, news of what happened at Iron Sword Manor reached Luo Heng's ears.

Dusk.

Wanbo City North.

The Luo family's private estate boasts beautiful scenery and picturesque landscapes.

A river flows from west to east through the manor, its surface shimmering in the setting sun.

The riverbanks are lined with pine forests, where colorful birds fly up and down, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere.

Scattered throughout the pine forest are more than a dozen pavilions and dozens of courtyards, which together create a magnificent garden.

In one of the courtyards, Luo Heng lay on a rattan chair, with a large, spotted snake swimming around him. The snake, as thick as an adult's arm, flicked its scarlet tongue.

A group of maids stood nearby, showing no surprise whatsoever at the sight, for Luo Heng's fondness for raising snakes was common knowledge in the manor. These snakes were both his pets and tools he used to punish his servants.

Normally, if a servant committed a capital crime, their fate was often to be swallowed whole by a giant python.

Just then, a dark shadow descended from the sky. Luo Heng opened his eyes and stretched out an arm. The shadow landed on it. It was an unusually large white carrier pigeon with a secret letter tied to its leg.

Luo Heng tore open the secret letter, his eyes scanning it up and down, and he frowned: "Pang Shanxiong is dead? It seems things are more complicated than I thought!"

"Go, call Luo Lie over!" Luo Heng turned his head and instructed a maid beside him.

"Yes." The maid replied and quickly left. A short while later, Luo Lie's figure appeared at the courtyard gate.

"Father, I have some good news to tell you. Yesterday, Abbot Huangfeng of Longshan Dao intercepted a caravan traveling from Hengshan City to the North. One of the top-tier bodyguards that Qi Wufeng had been training was captured and killed by Abbot Huangfeng. Hmph, that Qi fellow is taking revenge on us by destroying several manors. This time, I finally got my revenge." Luo Lie sneered.

Qi Wufeng sent several top-ranking guards to the Northern Camp for training. These guards left Shu along different routes, while Luo Lie sent men to ambush several key mountain passes. Yesterday, they succeeded for the first time.

“Indeed, this Huangfeng Temple Master claims to be a Taoist priest, but in reality he is a notorious bandit from Chu who offended a local powerful family and had no choice but to flee to Shu to hide his identity and avoid trouble. He is extremely powerful, so it was within my expectations that he would succeed in his attack,” Luo Heng said slowly.

"A notorious bandit from Chu? I see. Father, I see you have a furrowed brow. Has something happened?" Luo Lie asked.

“Pang Shanxiong is dead. I have sent people to Iron Sword Manor to investigate. Just now, a scout sent a message by carrier pigeon, suggesting that he may have died at the hands of that young man named Han Qing,” Luo Lie said.

“Oh? Pang Shanxiong is a grandmaster of martial arts, how could he be no match for a teenager? I guess he has a powerful protector by his side,” Luo Lie said.

"Indeed, he has a bodyguard who is a martial arts grandmaster. Among the many forces in Shu that have pledged allegiance to my Luo family, Iron Sword Manor is considered one of the most powerful. Pang Shanxiong's death is a significant loss to my Luo family."

Han Qing passed through the Cangqing Mountain Pass a day ago, and his next route is not hard to predict. If we act quickly enough, we still have a chance to stop him before he leaves Shu! Luo Heng stroked the head of the spotted snake in his arms and said slowly.

“Father, let’s forget about it. This young man might have other powerful protectors by his side. Even Pang Shanxiong couldn’t get him. Who should we send? A Martial Saint? Or a high-level Divine Refiner? Although our Luo family has high-level Divine Refiners, we would have to offer a lot of treasures to ask them to help. It’s not worth it!” Luo Lie shook his head.

“The Supreme Spirit Refining Method! The reason why your father has not become a high-level Spirit Refiner of the Legalist School is because I do not have a suitable visualization diagram. I do not want to miss this opportunity. However, you are right, who should we ask to help is a problem!” Luo Heng frowned and pondered.

“Father, I’ve heard that Han Qing’s martial arts talent is exceptional, a martial arts genius that comes along only once every few centuries. You’re right, we should kill him if we can. If we send someone to ambush and kill him, he will surely hold a grudge and seek revenge in secret when he becomes powerful. We might not be able to handle that.” Luo Lie nodded, thinking that they should give it another try.

Just then, a boy's clear voice came from outside the courtyard.

"Oh? Who is this martial arts genius, one in a hundred years? What I enjoy most is suppressing geniuses!"

Luo Lie turned around and saw a red-browed youth stepping into the courtyard. A bloody smell wafted in on the wind, causing a hint of fear to appear in his eyes.

This person was Luo Ding. There were many talented young people in the new generation of the Luo family, but they were all overshadowed by him.

Luo Ding is widely recognized as the number one among the younger generation of the Luo family, but he is too cruel, brave and bloodthirsty.

Two days ago, this man returned from the deep mountains of Sichuan. He found twelve martial artists to spar with him, but Luo Ding was extremely ruthless and showed no regard for his dignity. Half of them were seriously injured, and two even lost their lives.

He disliked Luo Ding intensely, but since Luo Ding was highly regarded by his family in the capital, he dared not show it and had to be respectful on the surface.

Upon hearing his words, Luo Heng glanced at him and had an idea in mind.

"So it's Young Master Luo Ding. Have you been enjoying your stay with me these past few days?" Luo Heng said with a smile.

“Not bad, the scenery here is nice, and there are quite a few beauties. It’s a pity that the opponents you found are too weak. They couldn’t even withstand three of my moves. You just mentioned a genius young man named Han Qing. I wonder how strong he is? If he has some ability, I will go and wipe out this trouble for my Luo family!” Luo Ding acted extremely casually. When he saw Luo Heng stand up from the rattan chair, he walked over and lay down. He then casually pulled over a maid and reached into her clothes to grope her. The maid did not dare to resist.

Luo Heng's face twitched when he saw this, but he didn't dare to say anything.

Although he controlled the Luo family's branch in Shu, he had little control over this young man because his master's background was terrifyingly powerful. He was none other than Han Yi, the number one Legalist in the world. Who would dare to provoke him?

"Han Qing is a personal guard recently recruited by Qi Wufeng. I have inquired from various sources and learned that he has only been practicing martial arts for a year, but he has already entered the fourth realm of the Body Dao, and may even have entered the Dao of Dharma Mind. His talent is outstanding. I haven't heard of such a person in Shu for many years."

"Oh? Four transformations in a year? His growth rate is indeed not slow. Even in the capital, there are very few martial artists who can make such progress. However, in other words, this person is only at the fourth level of the Body Dao Realm? Too weak. It would be easy for me to kill him!" Luo Ding said with a look of disdain.

“With your strength, young master, killing him would be a piece of cake. However, he has a martial arts grandmaster as his bodyguard, and there may be other experts secretly helping him. Killing him will not be an easy task!” Luo Heng said.

"Oh? Interesting! Now that you mention it, I'm actually thinking of making a trip. Where is he?" Luo Ding stood up from his chair, his red eyebrows raised, his gaze fixed intently on Luo Heng.

“This person passed through the Cangqing Pass a day ago, and then briefly appeared at the Iron Sword Manor. I don’t know where he is now!” Luo Heng pondered.

“Iron Sword Manor? This is easy to handle. There are only two roads leading out of Shu from Iron Sword Manor. I know a place that can definitely stop him!” Luo Ding said.

“Young Master, if you make a move, this boy will surely die. However, you must act quickly. Starting from Wanbo City, trying to get around to Han Qing’s front to ambush him is not an easy task!” Luo Lie interjected from the side.

"There's no need to worry about that. I have a divine steed named Crimson Dragon, a purebred beast that can travel three to five thousand miles a day without any problem. As long as your information is accurate, I am fully confident that I can catch up with him. I also want to see what kind of prodigy this young man from Shu is capable of. I hope he won't disappoint me!" After Luo Ding finished speaking, he didn't bother to listen to Luo Heng and his son's opinions anymore and strode out of the courtyard.

Luo Lie watched his retreating figure, a hint of jealousy flashing in his eyes.

Although he came from an extraordinary background, Luo Ding was unmatched in the clan. His food, clothing and daily necessities were all top-notch, and even the horses he rode were first-class and rare in the world. How could he not be jealous?

After Luo Ding left, Luo Heng said coldly, "This boy showed extraordinary martial arts talent in the clan from a young age. He was taken in as a disciple by Han Yi and grew up being praised by everyone, which fostered his arrogant and disdainful personality."

Such people are inherently extremely confident, but once they suffer a crushing defeat, they may never be able to recover.

"Father, what is this kid's strength?" Luo Lie couldn't help but ask.

"I don't know, but it seems that he has entered the Soul Gathering Realm in the Path of Dharma Thought. Yesterday I watched a battle between him and the warriors in the manor. This boy condensed the Five Punishments Soul-Binding Image, and his combat power is extremely formidable!" Luo Heng said.

"The Five Punishments Soul-Binding Image? I've heard that it's the pinnacle of my Legalist school, extremely difficult to learn, and once it's complete, its power is immense. No wonder it's the number one among the younger generation of my Luo family." Luo Lie couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.

Half an hour later.

Da da da!
Luo Ding rode out of the north gate of Wanbo City alone. He was riding a tall, red warhorse covered in scales. It was extremely fast and, from a distance, looked like a red arrow flying close to the ground.

……

Starting from Iron Sword Manor, Han Qing and his companions traveled north, traversing the continuous mountain ranges. Two days later, they came across a large river, named White Wave River.

This is a river that runs from east to west through the Shu region. There are fish in the river, so you can see people fishing in boats on the river.

Han Qing and his group chose to settle in a small town beside the Bailang River.

There was an official post station in the town, and Han Qing successfully checked into one of the courtyards with the documents given to him by Qi Wufeng.

The courtyard, or rather the whole town, has a very nice environment.

This area was spared from the ravages of war and was located right next to the Bailang River. The townspeople could make a living by fishing, so the people in the town lived a prosperous, peaceful and harmonious life.

Ever since their ambush by Pang Shanxiong, Han Qing and the others had been on edge. Only now, influenced by the atmosphere of the town, had their minds calmed down a little.

early morning.

Han Qing woke up from her sleep and looked out the window to see a lush ginkgo tree in the courtyard.

A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, creating a soft, echoing sound. Han Qing didn't find it noisy; instead, she felt a sense of tranquility that cleansed her soul.

Han Qing got up, ate a quick breakfast of water and sesame seed cakes, and began to plan his next move.

"Two members of our team are seriously injured. They got into this state while protecting me. If I were to abandon them, it would be too heartless and unjust, and it would also discourage the others. It would be better to wait in this town for five or six days until their injuries have healed before setting off again!"

"I just happened to kill Pang Shanxiong and his men, and accumulated a batch of soul light points that I need to absorb and digest."

"The road ahead is fraught with danger. The Luo family's influence is widespread throughout the world, even more powerful than the Qi family. Although I managed to avert one attack, there's no guarantee there won't be a second or third. If I want to survive, I need to seize the time to improve my strength."

"Sister Qi is right. The upper limit of individual combat power in this world is very high. If one day I can have combat power comparable to the leader of the Mo family, why should I fear the Luo family?"

"Practice martial arts!"

As many thoughts flashed through his mind, Han Qing conjured up the Seven Killings Stele, and a wealth of information appeared before his eyes, all of which were Pang Shanxiong's martial arts skills throughout his life.

He had previously absorbed Pang Shanxiong's soul light points, but only glimpsed a portion of his memories. He was not in a hurry to choose to inherit the martial arts. After all, the mountain path was rugged and the future was dangerous. No one knew when a battle would break out. In the process of inheriting martial arts, the brain would be constantly distracted. If a powerful enemy attacked, the combat power could not be adjusted to the best state, and he might lose his life as a result.

Now that Han Qing has arrived in this peaceful town, he feels much more at ease and is finally able to choose his martial arts style.

Please inherit a martial arts skill.

1. Empty Fist (100% Perfect)

The Great Vajra Temple's Kongming Tianwang created a first-grade fist technique based on thirteen sets of second-grade fist techniques. It is said to manifest Vajra externally and contain Kongming internally, combining hardness and softness, and is extremely powerful. Practicing this fist technique can greatly improve one's abilities!
2. Black Rock Kung Fu (100% Perfect)

The Pang family of Shu has a four-realm body-forging training method that can unleash the Black Rock Force. This force envelops the entire body, making it so strong that it can turn the ground into rock and become impervious to weapons.

3 Yanhui Dao (Dacheng 83.5%)

The Three-Rank Sword Technique, which originated in Sichuan, is characterized by its swift and decisive style, aiming to defeat the enemy quickly!
4. Pang's Art of Forging Soldiers (Mastery 89.5%)

The Pang family's ancestral forging technique in Shu is a combination of the quenching method of the Holy Desert Empire and the mining techniques of Shu. It is said that one forging can remove the mortal and nine forgings can lead to the divine!

...

In an instant, a total of twenty-five martial arts techniques appeared before his eyes. Han Qing didn't need to think too much; the Empty Fist and Black Rock Skill were the best choices.

He couldn't miss out on the first-class fist technique, and the Black Rock Technique, which could be used to enhance the Black Jade Technique, was also something he desperately needed at the moment, so he couldn't let it go either.

As for other fighting techniques and skills, they might be useful, but they are not what he needs most right now, so he naturally wouldn't choose them.

"Inheritance, Empty Fist!"

hum!
Han Qing's brain jolted as a massive amount of information surfaced, as if it were about to explode. He felt a sharp pain, and his vision went black, as if he were about to faint.

Fortunately, this feeling only lasted a short time. He quickly regained his balance and began to process the information in his mind in order to learn this boxing style.

He came to the courtyard, closed his eyes slightly, and seemed to see a figure with an indistinct face demonstrating the basic postures of this boxing style to him, while also explaining the details that needed to be paid attention to in each posture.

Han Qing listened attentively, constantly comparing it with the fist techniques he had previously mastered, and could truly feel that the Empty Fist was indeed more profound.

Even a simple punch requires numerous requirements in Kongmingquan, from external stance to internal energy flow, breathing rhythm, power generation techniques, and even mindset. Only by perfecting every aspect and thoroughly understanding every technique can one truly master this punch.

"The more profound the martial arts skill, the more details it encompasses," Han Qingxin said.

He glanced at the panel; his proficiency in the Empty Fist technique was slowly increasing.

For a first-class boxing style like this, there is so much to learn that even if one directly inherits it, it would be difficult to finish in just one or two days.

"I'll focus on learning this boxing style these next few days, and try to master it before we set off. That way, my combat strength will be greatly enhanced!"

Han Qing pondered, then began to move according to the illusory little figure in his mind, sometimes gentle and soothing, sometimes domineering and fierce, and sometimes switching between the two.

Han Qing quickly became immersed in the activity, feeling the gradual improvement in his boxing skills, and felt extremely satisfied and joyful.

Five whole days.

Han eliminated some necessary physiological activities and spent the rest of his time diligently practicing this boxing style.

On the panel, the proficiency of the Empty Fist was also constantly improving, progressing from beginner to expert, from minor to major, and finally reaching perfection on the afternoon of the fifth day.

At this moment, Han Qing felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.

"As expected of a first-class boxing style, it takes five days to inherit it."

"It is said that Pang Shanxiong spent thirty-five years to achieve such results, but I plucked the fruits of his hard work in just five days."

"The Seven Killings Stele is truly heaven-defying!"

"Every powerful person who dies by my hand will elevate my strength to a new level!"

...

Han Qing pondered for a moment, then suddenly took a step forward and threw a punch. It seemed like an ordinary move, but in fact, it contained many techniques of the Kongming Fist.

Bang!
A thunderous roar echoed through the courtyard, and a surge of air rushed out from the fist, transforming into a gust of wind that whipped up a flurry of fallen leaves.

"This punch was at least twice as fast and powerful as it was five days ago, and its lethality was more than five or six times greater."

"This is just a casual punch. If I were to connect all the basic moves of the Empty Fist to fight an enemy, I don't know how much more lethal my fists would become."

"This boxing style is very powerful, far surpassing the Vajra Fist of Mountain Opening, therefore it is a first-class style."

The division of combat into first-rank, second-rank, and third-rank has no theoretical basis; it relies on just two words: actual combat!

If you are simple and unpretentious, strong in actual combat, and able to suppress other first-grade fist techniques, then you are a first-grade.

"If someone could be my sparring partner and we could have a few high-quality matches, I would have a clearer understanding of how to improve my combat strength," Han Qing thought to himself.

Lin Yueqiu was a good sparring partner. At this moment, he heard the sound of a bowstring being plucked coming from the next courtyard. Clearly, Lin Yueqiu was practicing archery.

(End of this chapter)