All Heavens: A Role-Playing System Starting from Tianlong

Chapter 144 "Changchun" for "Changsheng"

Once inside the city, the streets were bustling with people, but there were even more things that seemed amiss.

Surprisingly, quite a few women, clearly from wealthy families, were casually showing themselves on the streets, browsing silk shops in small groups.

She walked past the man in the rouge shop without any attempt to hide it.

Li Qiushui transmitted her voice to the two of them, saying, "The atmosphere here is much more open-minded than I knew about the late Sui Dynasty. Even in Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty, women might not have been able to travel so freely."

Zhang Cheng nodded without saying anything more. He walked to a street vendor's stall and, relying on the goodwill bonus from his [Humble Heroic Name], quickly asked for directions to the Shilong Martial Arts Arena.

"Let's go, let's go check out the Shilong Martial Arts Arena first."

The three used their lightness skills to weave through the crowd, their figures swift and elusive, like fish in water, and soon arrived at the Shilong Martial Arts Arena.

It was a rather large courtyard with two flagpoles at the entrance, bearing the four large characters "Shilong Martial Arts Arena". The place was bustling with activity, with many disciples coming and going, their attire suggesting a diverse mix of people from all walks of life.

Zhang Cheng and his two companions approached the gate, pretending to be there to hire martial arts instructors for protection. Their luxurious attire and distinguished bearing drew the attention of the disciples at the gate, who quickly ushered them inside.

Passing through the front yard, we arrived at a spacious training ground. The ground was paved with blue bricks, and weapon racks were set up all around, displaying a full range of swords, spears, and halberds. There were about twenty or thirty disciples in the ground, sparring in pairs, exchanging punches and kicks, their shouts filling the air.

Upon seeing the arrival of guests, the disciple in charge of the martial arts school gestured towards the center of the arena. The disciples who were sparring immediately stopped their moves, stepped aside, and lined up to demonstrate their martial arts skills to the three people in turn.

After examining the situation, Zhang Cheng concluded that even Shi Long's eldest disciple, who was currently acting as the head of the martial arts school, was only at the upper-middle level among the cave masters and island masters of Lingjiu Palace.

Even in the world of Tianlong, he would be considered a master, but this level of strength wouldn't have posed a threat to the three people from a month ago.

After his eldest disciple finished his set of fist techniques and stood still, Zhang Cheng cupped his hands in greeting and said, "I have long heard that your master is the number one martial artist in Yangzhou. I wonder if the three of us will have the opportunity to meet him today?"

The disciple wiped the sweat from his brow and returned the greeting with clasped hands: "I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you three. My master has rarely come to the venue to manage affairs in the past ten years. All matters have been handled by us disciples. He is now devoted to cultivating the Tao and does not concern himself with worldly affairs."

Zhang Cheng smiled slightly, took out a large piece of silver from his sleeve, and handed it over: "May I ask where your master is currently residing? The three of us have come here because we have heard of him and would like to pay him a visit. This small token is a small token of our appreciation, please accept it as a gift for tea."

The disciple took the silver, weighed it in his hand, and found it to be quite heavy. He hesitated for a moment, but finally spoke, "Judging from your conversation, the three of you must be of noble birth. My master now lives alone in a small manor on the outskirts of the city, in quiet seclusion. As for whether he is willing to see you, that is not up to me."

Zhang Cheng exchanged a few more polite words with the disciple, inquired about the location of Shi Long's residence, and then left the martial arts arena.

Once outside, Wu Xingyun transmitted his voice, saying, "Judging from his disciples alone, Shi Long's skills are probably not that great."

"Senior Sister, that's hard to say. Perhaps it's just that the master is stronger than the disciple." Li Qiushui's tone was somewhat amused. "Besides, since the sect leader values ​​this person so much, he must have some extraordinary qualities."

Zhang Cheng shook his head and explained in a telepathic voice: "That Shi Long is indeed only the best in Yangzhou. Although he is considered a good fighter in the martial arts world, there are many people who can defeat him."

However, this person possesses a treasure, which, if compared to our previous world, is roughly equivalent to the Shaolin's Yi Jin Jing or the Dali's Six Meridian Divine Sword Manual.

Li Qiushui pondered: "So, this person lacks strength but possesses a great treasure—"

Zhang Cheng understood the implication in her words and raised his hand to interrupt: "Let's try negotiating with him first. He seems to only want immortality; we can try to exchange it with him using the Everlasting Spring Technique."

The three moved with incredible speed, and before they knew it, they had left Yangzhou City and arrived at Shi Long's manor.

Despite being the top martial arts master in Yangzhou and incredibly wealthy, Shi Long's manor was remarkably simple, occupying a relatively small area.

The courtyard wall was low, and there wasn't even a plaque on the gate. If it weren't for that disciple pointing the way, I probably wouldn't have given it a second glance.

Zhang Cheng stood outside the door and spoke with his inner strength: "Zhang Cheng, the leader of the Xiaoyao Sect, has come to pay my respects. I wonder if Mr. Shi is at home?"

""

Soon, a rough voice came from inside the manor, also roused by internal force: "Honorable guest, please come in and have a cup of hot tea."

""

Upon hearing this, Zhang Cheng and his two companions pushed open the door and entered the courtyard. In the room directly opposite the gate, someone else opened the door to greet them.

The newcomer was a middle-aged man, burly and much larger than Zhang Cheng. He had a face full of fat and looked quite fierce.

He wore a light blue, wide robe over his body, but underneath he was dressed in scale armor, and on his wrists were a pair of fine iron bracers.

He had hair that was clearly not typical of a man from the Sui Dynasty (most of his hair was shaved off, leaving only a portion), and a blue dragon was tattooed above his left eye, extending all the way to the back of his head.

Upon seeing his bizarre appearance, Zhang Cheng and the other two were stunned for a moment.

Wu Xingyun transmitted his voice to Zhang Cheng and the other man, his tone full of disbelief: "Putting aside the matter of hoarding armor, why does this person look like a Khitan?"

Neither of them responded; they were both utterly stunned by the look.

Shi Long's gaze swept over the three men, and he said, "Forgive my ignorance, but I have never heard of your esteemed sect. May I ask what brings you three distinguished guests here today?"

He clearly hadn't expected to run into three powerful experts as soon as he stepped outside. His body tensed slightly, ready to unleash his power at any moment.

Zhang Cheng didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "The three of us heard that Brother Shi has accidentally obtained a secret treasure called the Longevity Manual."

"As luck would have it, we also have a Taoist cultivation method here, which can also prolong life and grant eternal youth. Brother Shi, would you be willing to make an exchange?"

Upon hearing the words "The Longevity Formula," Shi Long's expression changed slightly, and his eyes immediately became alert.

He remained silent for a moment before slowly saying, "The three of you are indeed very powerful. I have never mentioned to anyone that I obtained this item, and I have kept to myself ever since. Even my closest disciples only thought that I was cultivating in seclusion and knew nothing of the inside story."

"Although the Free and Unfettered Sect is not well-known, it has its own channels." Zhang Cheng said calmly, "But Brother Shi, you can rest assured that we are not here to seize or plunder."

Brother Shi's research into this matter is nothing more than a quest for immortality. Fortunately, our sect possesses a martial art called the "Eternal Youth and Longevity Technique." While learning it won't grant true immortality, it should certainly allow Brother Shi to live another seven or eight hundred years.