Starting from Tianlong, Wudu Tianxia

The name Wuliang Mountain is composed of two parts: one is that the mountain is so high that it has no top, and the other is that the distance to it is so far that it is impossible to know. Scholars often say "snow on Cangshan Mountain and sun over Erhai Lake", but few people mention that Wuliang Mountain is so high that it is impossible to climb to the clouds.

Wuliang Mountain faces east to Ailao Mountain, and a tributary of the Lancang River is hidden in the deep valley.

9:00 AM (巳时).

After trekking for more than ten days, Gao Yuan finally arrived at this place. He settled Chang Ying in the inn, washed up briefly, and then rushed out the door.

Kainan Prefecture is located on the southern slope of Wuliang Mountain. Although it is not as strictly regulated as the capital of Dali, all you can see when you look around are the neat houses and the crowds of people wearing all kinds of clothes that seem to stretch as far as the eye can see.

Without Penglai, that persistent nuisance, chasing after him, and with his skills improving, Gao Yuan was at the peak of his spirit and energy.

Asking passersby for directions, Gao Yuan found "Baoyaotang" near the city's government offices.

It was the largest pharmacy in Kainan Prefecture.

With a small amount of silver, the manager of Baoyaotang revealed all the information he needed.

Gao Yuan thanked the shopkeeper and turned to leave the Baoyao Hall.

As the sun rose higher, the market in Kainan Prefecture became even more lively. Several Yi girls, carrying bamboo baskets filled with freshly picked mushrooms, were bargaining with the vendors.

He strolled along slowly, turning through seven or eight alleys before finally arriving at the famous medicine street.

This place is far from the city center, but the area is quite large, and there are many vendors selling medicinal herbs, medicinal wine, mortars and pestles and other medicine-making tools along the way.

As soon as you enter the medicine street, you are greeted by a chaotic cacophony of noise and shouts.

The place was bustling with people: medicine vendors carrying bamboo baskets, buyers, and scattered customers.

Gao Yuan knew nothing about medicinal herbs. At a glance, he immediately spotted a medicine vendor dressed in a short blue cloth jacket with hemp rope tied at the cuffs of his trousers, a copper shovel for gathering herbs hanging from his waist, and speaking with a Lancang River accent.

This man was standing in front of a stall, negotiating a price with someone, his face expressionless. He was a disciple of the Shennong Gang.

In addition to cooperating directly with large herbal medicine shops, members of the Shennong Gang also occasionally sell surplus herbs that the gang doesn't want to supplement their income. If you want to join the Shennong Gang, it's easiest to find them.

He walked straight toward him from a great height.

The person opposite noticed his approach and turned to Gao Yuan with a surprised look.

"Young man, are you looking to buy medicinal herbs?" Duan Feng asked.

Although he sells medicine, it's mostly common medicines like lilies and yams. Gao Yuan is dressed appropriately, not like someone who goes to the medicine market to buy medicine.

"My name is Gao Yuan. I'm new to this place and want to make a living. I'd like to join your gang. Would you be so kind as to introduce me?" Gao Yuan said with a smile, stating his purpose directly.

"Want to join the gang?" Duan Feng was taken aback.

He had been in the gang for many years, and this was the first time he had seen such a handsome young man voluntarily join the gang.

Although his Shennong Gang was considered a decent force in Kainan, they were mainly engaged in the business of collecting, selling, and manufacturing drugs. Compared to the Wuliang Sword Sect and other gangs that dealt in land and gambling, they were not considered respectable.

Confused, Duan Feng looked Gao Yuan up and down.

"Why do you want to join the Shennong Gang?" Duan Feng asked again.

Those who usually want to join the gang are mostly poor herb farmers or small vendors, like himself.

"I was being chased by my enemies and fled to Kainan. I heard that the Shennong Gang is one of the largest gangs in the area, so I joined the gang to seek protection."

Gao Yuan's words were half true and half false, and they could be verified, so he was not afraid of Sikong Xuan's investigation.

"To avoid trouble..." Duan Feng said with relief.

The Shennong Gang is nothing special in the whole of Dali, but in Kainan, they are local bigwigs, and some martial arts figures have come to join them before.

"The warehouse in front where medicinal herbs are stored is one of our properties. Master Miao is inside taking inventory of the items. Please come along with him."

"The daily affairs of the gang are overseen by the four incense masters, and the Miao incense master also takes charge of the matter of disciples joining the gang."

He revealed some information about the Shennong Gang to Gao Yuan.

After all, Gao Yuan was dressed in white and had an extraordinary air about him, so he was likely to be given an important position, unlike them, who could only become the lowest-ranking disciples after joining the gang. It was a good deed for them.

Gao Yuan was naturally familiar with the Shennong Gang. Their organizational structure was relatively simple, with only one gang leader, Sikong Xuan, at the top, and four incense masters below, each managing different gang members.

Duan Feng seemed to want to build a relationship with Gao Yuan, greeting him with a smile all the way and leading him out of the medicine street, turning a corner and entering a small courtyard with white walls.

"Master Miao's full name is Miao Qingyuan. He is in charge of disciples joining the gang and storing medicinal herbs, and also oversees maintaining order in the medicine street."

"Disciples who join the gang are divided into two categories: ordinary disciples and those who join with pre-existing skills. Ordinary disciples who perform well will be taught martial arts by the innkeeper. Those who join with pre-existing skills will be given different levels of important positions after being examined by the innkeeper."

Gao Yuan nodded with a smile.

"Young man, are you already skilled in the craft?"

Duan Feng asked, remembering Gao Yuan saying that he had come here to avoid disaster, so he must have some skill or expertise.

"I know a little, but not very well." Gao Yuan shook his head.

"Among the four incense masters, Master Miao's martial arts are the strongest, second only to the gang leader. If you join the gang with your skills, young brother, you'll be able to see them soon!"

Duan Feng pushed open the courtyard gate and began to praise him enthusiastically.

As soon as I pushed the door open, I heard people talking inside.

"Duan Feng, what brings you here?"

Duan Feng explained with a smile, "Master, a young brother said he wanted to join the sect, and he's skilled in martial arts, so he asked me to guide him, and that's why he's back."

"Joining the gang with prior skills?"

Miao Qingyuan's voice was strong and clear, but tinged with doubt.

Gao Yuan entered the courtyard and saw a man with thick eyebrows, big eyes, a high nose, a wide mouth, and a square face, drinking tea in large gulps.

Then he turned around and looked at me, who was staring at me curiously.

"Master Miao, I pay my respects. May I ask how it is verified that someone has acquired martial arts skills before joining the sect?" Gao Yuan went straight to the core and clasped his hands in greeting.

"It's very simple, young man. Just show me a set of your best moves."

Miao Qingyuan could tell that Gao Yuan had an extraordinary temperament. He forced a smile on his weathered face and spoke very politely.

"I am good at..."

Gao Yuan thought for a moment, then slightly bent his knees, shifted his fists and palms, and moved with light and graceful movements.

"I joined the Shennong Gang for two reasons: first, to avoid trouble, and second, to learn about the various martial arts styles of Dali and improve my own skills. I welcome your guidance."

Although he spoke with a smile, the atmosphere instantly shifted completely from its previous gentle tone.

A faint sense of impending doom began to permeate the courtyard.

Miao Qingyuan's expression turned serious, and he vaguely sensed that something was amiss.

He squinted and looked again. Gao Yuan's posture at this moment was full of aura, which he did not express. He was reserved and accumulated, and his sleeves were slightly moved, floating but not disordered.

Miao Qingyuan immediately looked surprised.

"A sign of abundant internal energy!"

"Internal energy?" Duan Feng, standing to the side, was bewildered. "How old is he?"

It is extremely difficult for ordinary martial arts practitioners to cultivate internal strength. Even if they happen to obtain a mental technique, they will find it difficult to sense the qi if they are not talented, and can only take the path of physical training.

External martial arts training can also involve some internal energy operation methods, but they are usually not refined.

Of course, this doesn't mean that external martial arts training is useless. If one has a unique external martial arts technique and masters it to its peak, it is by no means inferior to internal martial arts, such as the Beggar Clan's Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms.

This is exactly the effect Gao Yuan wanted.

He focused his mind and channeled his inner energy, which flowed from his dantian to his feet and palms.

With a quick movement of his feet, he suddenly rushed towards the thick kapok tree beside Miao Qingyuan, and slowly pushed forward with his right palm.

"Snap!"

The branches of the kapok tree shook violently, and visible cracks spread from the palm print across the trunk.

Then, with a loud crash, the entire tree snapped in half, sap splattering from the break and branches falling to the ground.

call....

Miao Qingyuan and Duan Feng felt a sudden chill run down their spines, and their hearts trembled.

"Such powerful internal energy!"

Miao Qingyuan's teacup fell to the ground with a clatter, and he stared at Gao Yuan in disbelief.

"you...."

His throat tightened, and he couldn't speak for a moment. His face turned red, and he just stomped his feet on the spot.