The Martial Saint rose to power starting as a substitute bridegroom.

"Give."

Without a word, the second grandmother stuffed a small celadon bottle into Li Yuan's hand.

"this......"

"Thanks to you today." Second Madam noticed Li Yuan's suspicion and immediately said, "This is Qi-Nourishing Powder. I heard from Master that it is extremely helpful for Ming Jin martial artists to nourish their Qi and blood."

Nourishing Qi Powder is the only elixir for improving training efficiency in the Ming Jin stage. It is expensive, and even the sons of wealthy families may not be able to afford to take it every day.

Li Yuan wanted to refuse, but seeing the unyielding look in Second Madam's eyes, he could only accept it, "Thank you, Second Madam."

"Practice diligently and don't let your master down!"

......

Li Yuan stepped forward again midway through, offered everyone a cup of tea and wine, said a few polite words, and then prepared to leave quietly.

If he stays here, he'll only be seen as a mountain, making all the exchanges lose their luster. If he doesn't leave now, when will he?

"Junior Brother Li, are you free tonight? Would Senior Brother Rong like to host a small gathering at the Celebration Pavilion?" Qi Xiuyuan asked, catching up as he did so. To avoid seeming abrupt, he added, "There will be no outsiders, just a few talented senior brothers from other martial arts schools, and Junior Sister Chen and I. We can all exchange our experiences..."

"Yes, Junior Brother Li, let's go together!" Chen Ting's eyes were full of anticipation.

Li Yuan glanced at the two of them, his brow furrowing slightly. "I appreciate Senior Brother Qi and Senior Sister Chen's kindness, but I have some matters to attend to today."

"Then let's do it another day."

The two inevitably showed expressions of disappointment.

Li Yuan walked to a secluded corner where no one was paying attention and took out the "Yuan Sha Gong" from his pocket.

Because I had previously judged it to be an extremely sinister and evil cultivation technique, I had never read it.

Looking back now, it's clear that the Black Tiger Gang, which could have remained cautiously in the shadows, actually went to great lengths for this "Yuan Sha Gong" manual. This book must be no ordinary item.

"The Yuan Sha Technique has thirteen levels; these are the first three levels..."

"Damn it, it's just a fragment."

However, each advancement in skill level can improve physical fitness by 20%, which is quite an amazing effect.

But how did such a heaven-defying skill end up in the hands of the Black Tiger Gang?

Li Yuan shook his head, not knowing why.

Turning the book over, I found lines of small writing on the back, clearly annotations made by someone.

Li Yuan let out a long sigh of relief after reading half of it.

This internal energy cultivation method requires months or even years to master each level. Initially, the improvement to the physical body may not be very noticeable, but it becomes increasingly powerful as you progress. With each advancement, the physical body grows almost double.

However, time is merciless and life is finite. The senior who made the annotations, who was so confident in his innate talent, only managed to reach the fifth level after decades of seclusion.

"The effects of the Yuan Sha technique are immense, but unless one possesses exceptional talent, one should not waste one's entire life on it. To prevent future generations from wasting their time, I burned all the subsequent parts of the technique before my death, leaving only the first three levels. If a descendant were to master all three levels, it would be enough to make them a prominent figure..."

Turning back to the previous page, the title is written in bold handwriting: To practice this skill, one must combine it with a clear mind and bright jade; otherwise, if the cold poison enters the body, one will die immediately.

Li Yuan took out the translucent, warm white jade from his pocket; the four small characters "Qingxin Mingyu" (清心明玉) on it were still clearly visible.

It must have been Meng San of the Black Tiger Gang who had a strange encounter and accidentally obtained the Yuan Sha Gong and the Pure Heart Jade from the secluded cave of that senior master. However, before he could cultivate them, Qin Biao stole the Yuan Sha Gong.

Qin Biao lacked the Pure Heart Jade, and Meng San lacked the Yuan Sha Skill...

Thinking too much is pointless. Now that I have the Pure Heart Jade in hand, the Yuan Sha Technique is worth a try.

After all, each level of cultivation increases one's power by 20%, which is simply too tempting.

This is no less than breaking through a small realm.

Li Yuan placed the Qingxin Mingyu (a type of jade pendant) against his chest and practiced the first level of the exercise in the booklet.

[Yuan Sha Gong Level 1 (Beginner): 0/100]

Is this all there is to it?

......

Standing by the window in the inner hall, Lin Chong gazed at the figure outside and sighed for no apparent reason.

It is a pity.

Diligent, hardworking, and down-to-earth.

If only the aptitude were just a little bit better...

But, no if.

Without the support of a high level of skill and cultivation, martial arts techniques are just empty "showy moves." Even if you master those "showy moves," it's still nothing special.

For Li Yuan, whose innate talent was mediocre, it was absolutely impossible to break through the barrier of internal strength by luck alone. Even if he used all the best resources, there was no guarantee of success.

Lin Zhong's only hope now rests on Lu Qing, who is bedridden.

Although his foundation was damaged by his opponent's Heavenly Dragon Fist, which might seem hopeless to ordinary people, Lin Chong did not see it that way.

He has a way.

Although the cost was quite high.

Tianlong Martial Arts School clearly came prepared, with the aim of destroying the foundation of Qingniu Martial Arts Society.

He did not intend to reveal that Lu Qing was able to recover, lest it arouse the covetousness of others again and bring trouble upon Lu Qing.

"Lu Qing, it's time to take your medicine." Second Madam had someone bring in the prepared herbal soup.

She was kind to all her disciples.

The herbal decoction has a translucent amber color and a rich medicinal aroma. It is made by simmering several precious herbs that are over a hundred years old.

"Thank you so much, Second Madam!"

......

The moonlight, as white as frost, poured in through the window, spreading a pale, chilly layer on the blue brick floor.

Deep inside the side room, the chirping of insects in the corner had quietly fallen silent.

Li Yuan sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, the Qingxin Mingyu jade pressed against his chest, its warmth tinged with a hint of coolness.

Following the instructions in the "Yuan Sha Gong", he guided a wisp of energy from the Yongquan acupoint on the sole of his foot, slowly flowing into the Dantian in his lower abdomen, and then dispersing it to his limbs and bones.

This is the first level of the technique.

The formula is simple, but it requires exceptional skill.

According to the manual, it takes an average person several months to a year to develop a sense of Qi from beginner to advanced level.

But Li Yuan was different.

【Yuan Sha Gong (Beginner): 0/100】

For him, effort is reward, and there are no bottlenecks in his cultivation.

As the cultivation technique circulated, a strange sensation of energy finally emerged—

In stark contrast to the gentle and mild nature of the "White Tiger Bone Forging Technique," this aura was domineering, swift, and sharp, like the cold wind of the north carrying ice shards that poured into the lungs, chilling to the bone.

The aura grew increasingly violent, rampaging through the body, causing excruciating pain wherever it passed, like being cut by knives or pricked by needles.

Li Yuan gritted his teeth and forced himself to continue circulating his visualization techniques.

Half an hour...

One hour.

Suddenly,

My internal organs suddenly contracted, as if they were being gripped tightly by an invisible, icy hand!

A powerful cold current suddenly exploded out of nowhere, brutally tearing open more than ten meridians. It felt like ice flames burning the body, and the blood almost froze wherever it passed.

He sat cross-legged on the spot, his face turning deathly pale at a visible speed, his skin quickly covered with a thin layer of frost, and even his breath turned into white mist, cold and piercing.

however.

The cold wave came fiercely but left quickly.

Within a few breaths, the icy flames had circulated within the body for several weeks, forcibly widening the meridians wherever they passed, and gradually strengthening the internal organs after the violent tremors.

Li Yuan's internal energy and blood spontaneously accelerated, gushing out like a hot spring, transforming into countless threads that soothed the muscles ravaged by the cold.

Another half a day passed.

The deathly pallor slowly faded from his extremities, and his skin returned to normal, only with a more austere and cold quality than before.

"call--"

A breath of cold air was exhaled, condensing into a white ribbon in the air like an arrow.

He slowly opened his eyes.

Every part of my body ached, as if every muscle and every bone was being meticulously crushed by ice needles.

But deep within the pain lies strength.

[Yuan Sha Gong Level 1 (Beginner): 0/100] —> [Yuan Sha Gong Level 1 (Beginner): 10/100]

But must every step forward involve such excruciating torment?

Li Yuan's teeth chattered, and his fingertips were so cold he could barely hold the cup.

He forced himself to pour himself a cup of warm tea, drank it all in one gulp, then grabbed some ginger slices he had prepared beforehand and stuffed them haphazardly into his mouth, chewing them vigorously.

The spiciness and warmth exploded in my mouth, and only then did the frozen chill in my stomach begin to thaw.

He looked down at the Qingxin Mingyu pressed against his chest.

Deep within the warm, translucent white jade, a thin black line, as fine as a hair, appeared, flowing slowly like smoke or mist.

Li Yuan gasped.

The manual repeatedly emphasized the need to cultivate in conjunction with this jade. He originally thought it was just to help calm his mind, but unexpectedly, the jade blocked most of the coldness for him! If he had rashly started cultivating back then, he would probably have been attacked by the cold poison and his meridians would be ruined by now.

Despite the relief, cold sweat broke out on my back.

Dark as ink.

Li Yuan stepped out of the courtyard and found a secluded old forest. The newly generated power within him was restless, like a trapped beast growling, eager to be tested.

Deep in the forest, the light was dim.

He closed his eyes and focused his mind, guiding that faint sense of energy to rise from his dantian, travel along the meridians, down to his lower abdomen, right shoulder, arm, wrist, and finally to his fist.

Wherever it passed, there was a faint sound of ice freezing, like frost flowers bursting open.

The fist was icy cold, and an uncontrollable violent impulse surged into Li Yuan's heart. He suddenly opened his eyes and threw a punch!

"A tiger splits the mountain!"

Bang-!

The withered tree, as thick as a man's embrace, trembled violently, and withered leaves rained down. The fist had already penetrated halfway into the trunk, and a thin layer of white frost had formed around the wound, gleaming coldly in the darkness.

Li Yuan paused, then withdrew his fist.

The strength has indeed increased.

He looked around, then suddenly ducked into the bushes. When he stood up again, he was holding a snow-white wild rabbit in his hand.

"If it's really as I think..."

He returned to the tree and carefully scraped off the frost from the wound with his fingernail. The white powder fell into his palm, which he then fed to the rabbit.

At first, the rabbit kicked wildly, but after a while it became listless. Li Yuan fed it another pinch, and after being released, the rabbit staggered a few steps and then collapsed, trembling like a leaf, its body temperature icy cold, and only weak breathing remained.

Cold poison!

Li Yuan's pupils suddenly contracted.

He hurriedly pulled out the manual and carefully read the annotations by the moonlight.

"...The primordial energy is fierce and insidious; those afflicted by it will experience a cold, stiff body and slowed movements..."

The records are few, but every word is startling.

Li Yuan closed the book and looked at his right fist, which was slightly chilled.

If that punch lands on flesh and blood...

He looked inward at his dantian, estimating the remaining amount of his primordial energy. The previous punch had consumed about ten percent of his energy; at most, he would be exhausted after seven or eight punches.

"What if I could elevate this technique to its peak, or even the second or third level?"

Seventy or eighty punches? Or even more?

The night wind blew through the woods, causing his clothes to flutter.

Li Yuan stood beneath a withered tree, the moonlight reflecting in his eyes, a cluster of cold flame burning within them.

......

The following day, leaden clouds hung low, and the sky was gloomy.

As soon as Li Yuanfu appeared in the training ground in the backyard, he attracted everyone's attention.

"Junior Brother Li!"

"Junior Brother Li is here early."

Those disciples who were merely nodding acquaintances before now all had smiles on their faces.

Li Yuan knew perfectly well that after the Mingjin meeting, his treatment within the sect would ultimately be different.

He nodded in return, walked to his usual spot for practice, calmed his mind, and began to practice the "White Tiger Bone Forging Technique".

He barely finished a set of techniques.

Yang Cheng strode over, his face beaming with undisguised joy: "Junior Brother Li, there's been progress on the temporary assignment!"

Li Yuan's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly took the list handed to him and looked at it carefully.

First line: Qian's guard, monthly salary of ten taels.

However, they must be on duty for four hours each day.

Li Yuan shook his head inwardly.

Being tied up in the mansion for four hours is no different from being a cow or horse trapped in a cubicle in your previous life.

All the time spent practicing martial arts has been squeezed out, which is not worth it.

Second line: Escorts from Weiyuan Escort Agency, flexible hours, paid per trip, the more you work, the more you earn.

He silently drew an X in his mind.

In today's turbulent world, the risks of risky, dangerous business ventures are too high.

With his meager cultivation level, if he were to run into a tough opponent, he might lose his life before he even gets to spend his money.

The third line: Patrolmen of the Patrol Battalion. The job is easy, requiring only one patrol of the jurisdiction in the morning and evening. However, the monthly salary is the lowest, only five taels of silver.

All three jobs require applicants to be at least Ming Jin martial artists.

"Junior Brother Li, the martial arts examination is just around the corner. All martial artists under the age of thirty-five in Linjiang City are eligible to take the exam. It will be a fierce and dangerous competition."

Yang Cheng lowered his voice and spoke earnestly.

"Although you possess exceptional aptitude for martial arts, against a master of internal strength, you are ultimately like an ant trying to shake a tree. Only by advancing to the level of internal strength will you have a chance to win a ranking..."

"So, I choose... the third one."

Although the patrol battalion had an official title, the street patrol officers were not officially employed; they were more like those red armband-wearing officers on the streets of my previous life—maintaining order and mediating disputes, wielding a tiny amount of power.

The pay may be meager, but the job security is a plus.

More importantly, there is plenty of free time to spare.

"Junior Brother Li, why don't you reconsider?"

Yang Cheng sighed, sounding rather disappointed.

This junior brother has mediocre talent to begin with, how come he doesn't even have the slightest ambition?

What benefit can a meager patrolling officer provide to the path of martial arts?

If this continues, he will likely fail to achieve great things and waste his special talent in martial arts.

"No need," Li Yuan said, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect, his expression resolute. "Thank you for your trouble, Senior Brother Yang!"

After seeing Yang Cheng off, he resumed his stance, and the White Tiger Bone Forging Technique's fist techniques unfolded like flowing water.

……

Half an hour later.

【White Tiger Bone Forging Technique (Minor Success): 20/100 (Practice ten times daily; mastery can be achieved in ten days)】

Li Yuan wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked down at himself.

The changes in the muscles are visible to the naked eye. Beneath the bronze skin, the muscle lines become increasingly smooth and compact, like a leopard brimming with explosive power.

However, the energy expenditure from the practice also increased significantly.

After just one hour of practice, a feeling of exhaustion rose within him, and his limbs and bones were screaming with hunger.

This was to be expected.

Li Yuan accepted it calmly.

Everything in the world is nothing more than an exchange of equal value—rapid growth inevitably comes with huge consumption.

Moreover, as one's cultivation deepens, such deficits will only become more astonishing.

Nowadays, the nutritional benefits of ordinary beef are far from sufficient, and dried silver sea bass are also sold out.

He looked up at the half-hidden sun in the sky, then strolled to the shade of the old locust tree and stretched his limbs on the recliner.

Martial arts is a long-term battle; excessive training can be harmful, and too much of a good thing can be bad.