Steam-powered martial arts: My virginity cultivation technique has been broken.

Song Chuxiong did not pursue the martial arts issue further. Professionals should do professional things. The Imperial Guards were skilled at interrogation and questioning. From Song Yuanzhi's answers, tone, and micro-expressions, it was clear that he was lying.

Although the Swift Wind Kick is a low-level martial art, it is included in many schools and is considered a common leg technique. The difference lies in the number of forms. The fewer the forms, the more difficult it is to master. There are 72 forms, 64 forms, 42 forms, 34 forms, and 12 forms. Among them, the 12-form version is the most terrifying, with each move containing hidden meaning. It is comparable to high-level martial arts.

If that powerful individual has mastered the Twelve Styles of Deadly Gale Kick, then it would be easy to pinpoint their location; someone with such a background must be a disciple of a prestigious sect.

"How did you get involved with him? Or rather, why did you seek him out?" Song Chuxiong asked.

Cai Xu was also very curious. Song Yuanzhi's previous explanation was that the person knew their secret, so they wanted to silence him, but their attempt backfired. The secret was rather vague, as if he had to fill in the blanks himself. If Ku Ning knew, he would definitely cry foul. He knew nothing about secrets, didn't even understand what Xuanhuang Qi was, and only considered it a gift from heaven. His subsequent misfortune was also an undeserved disaster.

The old man's words were too biased, and his words were all veiled, which aroused Cai Xu's suspicion.

Song Yuanzhi understood that he would have to reveal some shocking information to get through this, so he said, "I thought he had discovered our forging of imperial weapons! But it turned out to be a misunderstanding. During the fight, he acted as if he knew nothing."

Cai Xu knew that Song Yuanzhi wanted to forge an imperial weapon as a pledge of loyalty. Others might not believe in such things, but he longed for it, just as he believed that Song Yuanzhi possessed the so-called Ziwei Qi.

As members of the Empress's family, the Cai family had some knowledge of the secrets surrounding the founding of the dynasty by Emperor Taizu. He glanced sideways at Song Chuxiong; this was not something the man, with his status, could know. Instead of reflecting on his own suspicions, he blamed Song Yuanzhi for being too quick to speak. This was exactly the effect Song Yuanzhi wanted—to stop this pointless questioning.

"Imperial weapon? How did he make you think he discovered it?" Song Chuxiong was like a wildcat that had smelled fish; he was determined to get to the bottom of it.

"Perhaps it was a misunderstanding caused by the fluctuations in his spiritual sense resulting from his breakthrough in martial arts," Song Yuanzhi casually made up an excuse.

Each breakthrough for a first-grade martial artist involves the condensation of divine sense; reaching the Martial King realm is considered equivalent to having a primordial spirit. His explanation was reasonable. However, Song Chuxiong still felt that he was concealing important information.

Cai Xu, however, disagreed. The Xuanzhu was an extraordinary treasure; one could never be too careful. "Alright, let bygones be bygones. Commander Song, the matter is urgent; you should go and handle it properly."

Seeing that he was being asked to leave, Song Chuxiong wisely kept quiet. Too much talk leads to mistakes, and sometimes the more you know, the more dangerous it is. The mere mention of "Imperial Army" had already displeased Cai Xu. It seemed he wasn't considered one of their own yet.

"Young Master, rest assured, I will not divulge a single word of today's conversation. I'll take my leave now."

Cai Xu stood up, hands behind his back, facing the window, feigning profundity: "Martial God Song, even with the mountainous terrain of Fengcheng, it's still not enough to absorb the primordial energy of the earth's veins. You possess the Mysterious Pearl; it's not advisable for you to venture into dangerous places again. My Cai family can find a new location for you to help the Imperial Weapon take shape."

Song Yuanzhi disagreed, thinking to himself, "You're just after my Xuanzhu. Once I'm in your circle, I'll be at your mercy." So he declined, saying, "Young master, you don't need to worry about me. Fengcheng is a dragon's pool and a treasure trove, where Xuanhuang Qi gathers most easily. I'll sneak back after this matter is resolved. Taolin hates me, but he won't kill me outright. After all, a night of marriage is worth a hundred days of kindness. Besides, the Qi in the world is complex, and rashly changing locations would affect the quality of the imperial weapon."

Cai Xu remained silent, changing the subject: "How's the refining of your Heart-Devouring Elixir coming along?"

The imperial weapon couldn't be rushed; what he urgently needed was that secret medicine that could control people's minds. Song Yuanzhi took out a small porcelain bottle from his pocket and handed it to him, saying, "This tastes the same as the elixir of immortality. The user will follow the voice of the first person they hear after taking the medicine, and the effect can last for half an incense stick's time."

Cai Xu asked discontentedly, "What can you do in fifteen minutes?"

Song Zhiyuan explained, "The spirit of a martial artist is always the most difficult thing to understand. Even a Martial King in the early stages of spiritual development could be affected by this medicine. Do you still think it's useless, young master?"

Cai Xu immediately opened it like a precious treasure. A smell of eggs wafted out, and the pill was as white as snow, exceptionally beautiful. Fifteen minutes was enough for a Martial King to wipe out an army of ten thousand. This was a deadly weapon.

"With a talent like Song Wushen in my grasp, my great undertaking is bound to succeed!"

Two days later, at the foot of a small mountain ten miles away from the city of Bitter People.

Ku Ning finally encountered fellow bandits.

Tian Biao, the leader, with a hideous scar running from his forehead to the corner of his eye, led a dozen or so vicious henchmen and blocked the three's path.

Tian Biao blocked the road: "This mountain is mine, these trees are mine. If you want to pass, leave your toll. If you utter even a single word of dissent, I'll kill you and leave you no one to bury you!"

Ku Ning didn't dismount, and said directly, "So you're a brother seeking wealth. I'm a bodyguard from Taizhou, please state your name."

Seeing that Ku Ning understood the slang, Tian Biao knew he had met someone knowledgeable. Mountain bandits and river pirates, no matter their profession, have rules. The phrase "This mountain is mine" wasn't meant to be a test, but rather to demonstrate his adherence to ethical standards.

Clearing mountains and planting trees proves they are bandits with connections, only collecting tolls and not robbing goods. Clearing mountains without planting trees, on the other hand, indicates they are murderous and thieving robbers.

"Four mouths eat from all directions, evil winds dazzle the eyes, flowers fall and bear abundant fruit, preferring sour to sweet."

"So it's Brother Tian Biao. I'm not familiar with your situation here, and I don't know the local Li family. Please just tell me the rules."

"Three people, three thousand silver dollars!" Tian Biao's eyes darted over them greedily, his gaze lingering on A Luo with greed in them.

"So expensive? That's a bit against the rules." Ku Ning and his men only collected tolls for a caravan of a few dozen silver dollars, less than a hundred. For this impoverished village to charge over a thousand was a violation of the rules, showing no intention of letting people survive. The local bandits were truly impolite.

"I'm the rule! If I can give, I will; if I can't, I'll offer goods as payment; if I have no goods, I'll offer women!"

Ku Ning didn't even dismount, proving he wasn't planning to settle things with money; the conversation was merely a ploy to probe his background. After all, Da Chen was too vast, and not every place could operate under the same rules as Taizhou. This group of bandits was supported by local wealthy merchants and had no official backing, so they weren't afraid.

He patted Hongyun: "Charge forward, leave no one alive."

Red Cloud galloped out with its hooves blazing, and in just a few breaths, it had trampled the mountain bandits into a bloody pulp.

"Keep going, we'll be nearing the City of the Bitter Ones soon. After entering the city, we'll buy what we need, and without stopping, we'll head north immediately."