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Knowing Zheng Xuan's resolute nature, Song Jin'ao didn't say much. He simply demonstrated the basic form of Bajiquan to Zheng Xuan and then let him try it out while he provided guidance.

"Who's this kid?"

Seeing that Song Jin'ao was abandoning his own disciples to teach an unknown guy, Zhang Mingde put his hands on his hips and frowned as he asked.

Chunping, her face covered in sweat, was focused on practicing her boxing when she heard this and said, "Water Ghost Li's disciple."

"Water Ghost Li? What is he doing at our Bajiquan Sect, a disciple of the River God Sect? And why is he trying to learn the Grand Form right away? That's something only a direct disciple can learn."

Upon hearing this, Chunping said, "The basic form doesn't count; what can't be passed on are the fighting techniques and killing moves. Master hasn't broken any rules."

"Why are all the people outside practicing small-scale fighting, but this person comes in and learns large-scale fighting? Is that fair?"

As Zhang Mingde spoke, his eyes showed resentment. You see, when he first became a disciple, he also learned the small frame first. Later, he performed well and was valued, so he was transferred to learn the large frame. This new guy did not follow the rules, which made Zhang Mingde very dissatisfied.

Chunping stopped what she was doing and looked at Zhang Mingde, saying, "Second Senior Brother, he has a very good relationship with Master. As disciples, we shouldn't criticize Master. Instead of using our skills, we should practice our fists and feet more."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Mingde said, "The most important thing in transitioning from Ming Jin to An Jin is to accumulate Qi and blood. Practicing ten rounds of boxing is not as effective as taking a Qi and blood pill."

"External supplements are important, but self-cultivation is also very important, Second Brother. Master has high hopes for you."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Mingde waved his hand and said, "I know, I know."

As he spoke, he continued practicing his boxing, but his eyes were always fixed on Zheng Xuan. Seeing his elder brother's reaction, Zhang Mingliang said, "Should we teach this kid a lesson?"

Zhang Mingde said, "Water Ghost Li's apprentice. Since Master and Water Ghost Li have such a good relationship, let's just forget about it and avoid trouble."

And so, the morning passed. Song Jin'ao guided Zheng Xuan through the movements from beginning to end. After Zheng Xuan had mastered the basic movements, Song Jin'ao instructed him to just practice diligently.

Zheng Xuan agreed, and then Song Jin'ao led him to the ancestral hall, where he offered incense to the head master of the Bajiquan sect, thus formally becoming an initiator.

Actually, when Zheng Xuan was in Shandong, he wanted Song Jin'ao to teach him boxing, but Song Jin'ao was injured in the arm and needed to recuperate. In addition, his master needed various medicines for treatment, and Zheng Xuan was busy with other things and didn't have time until today when he officially started learning Bajiquan.

The founder of Bajiquan was Wu Zhong, who was born during the reign of Emperor Yongzheng. He learned martial arts from a young age and later met a master. He eventually integrated all his martial arts skills and summarized them into a unique boxing principle: "Eight intentions within, eight directions without, and power released from all eight directions."

As for weapons, the main weapon was the Six Harmonies Spear, which had astonishing destructive power.

Back then, he even made a name for himself: "From Nanjing to Beijing, Wu Zhong is the best gunman."

Zheng Xuan offered incense to the founder, which was considered as gaining the Bajiquan sect's recognition. However, he could not kowtow to the founder, because only direct disciples were qualified to kowtow to the founder. Song Jin'ao also told him to continue calling him his uncle, saying that when he opened his martial arts school in the future, he could take in direct disciples and Zheng Xuan as his direct disciple.

In this era, the title of "direct successor" was still highly valued, but Zheng Xuan valued practical benefits more.

Zheng Xuan practiced martial arts all afternoon. Song Jin'ao went out in the afternoon and didn't return until evening. After returning, he called all his personal disciples over.

Zheng Xuan was about to leave, but Song Jin'ao called him over. In Song Jin'ao's view, Zheng Xuan had saved his life at the church, so he was no different from his own disciple, except that he lacked the title.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Song Jin'ao said, "A few days ago, I asked someone to order a few bottles of Qi and Blood Pills from Herbalist Wu. There are still eleven months until the martial arts examination, so we absolutely cannot neglect these tonics."

"There's a saying in martial arts: 'Three parts training, seven parts supplementation.' While that's an exaggeration, there's some truth to it."

After saying that, Song Jin'ao took out seven bottles of pills and gave one bottle to Chen Shouyi, two bottles to Zhang Mingde, one bottle to Zhang Mingliang, one bottle to Chunping, and one bottle to Li Ziping. Finally, he even took out a bottle and handed it to Zheng Xuan.

"Give this bottle to Zheng Xuan."

Zheng Xuan was taken aback by these words. Was this appropriate? He wasn't a direct disciple.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Mingliang couldn't sit still any longer and stood up, saying, "Master, Zheng Xuan isn't a direct disciple, so why does he get a bottle too?"

Seeing that his younger brother had spoken, Zhang Mingde also said to Song Jin'ao, "Master, I am at a critical stage in my breakthrough to internal strength. Could you ask Brother Zheng Xuan to give me this bottle of medicine so I can break through my current level first? Once we win the martial arts exam and are able to establish our own sect, we can give this Qi and Blood Pill to Brother Zheng Xuan."

"Yes, Master, right now all resources should be prioritized for my brother."

As Zhang Mingliang spoke, he stared at Zheng Xuan with hostility. Zheng Xuan paused for a moment when he saw Zhang Mingliang's gaze, because just a instant ago, he saw a blue exclamation mark appear above Zhang Mingliang's head.

What's going on? How come an opportunity suddenly appeared?

Zheng Xuan thought to himself that the Zhang brothers' protests were understandable, since without Zheng Xuan, the extra bottle of Qi and Blood Pills would likely have ended up in their hands.

Now that a bottle of Qi and Blood Pills has suddenly disappeared, they are not about to give up.

Seeing that Song Jin'ao was struggling to cope with the pressure from the Zhang brothers, Chen Shouyi said, "Second Junior Brother, don't make things difficult for Master. It's just a bottle of Qi and Blood Pills. I don't need this one for now, so I'll give it to Junior Brother Zhang first."

As soon as Chen Shouyi spoke, Chunping looked at Zhang Mingde and said, "Since Second Senior Brother is at a critical time, I can give this bottle to him first."

As soon as the two started talking, Zhang Mingde felt instantly awkward. He couldn't really take Chen Shouyi and Chunping's Qi and Blood Pills, otherwise what kind of person would he be? He said he was at a critical time, but that was just a platitude. If they really investigated, he wouldn't stand up to scrutiny.

After all, he's still quite a distance from reaching the eighth level of Dark Force.

Now that Chen Shouyi and Chunping had outmaneuvered him, he didn't know how to respond. Song Jin'ao noticed his embarrassment and said, "Alright, I'll figure out a way to get the Qi and Blood Pills that Mingde needs. That's how the Qi and Blood Pills will be distributed today. Go back now."

Hearing this, Zhang Mingde breathed a sigh of relief, but he felt dissatisfied with Song Jin'ao. In the end, his master was still biased; he hadn't even gotten the Qi and Blood Pill back from Zheng Xuan.

However, Song Jin'ao made the final decision, and he didn't dare to say anything more. He could only leave sullenly. Zhang Mingde and Zhang Mingliang had their own homes outside and did not live with Song Jin'ao.

Seeing the two about to leave, Zheng Xuan quickly went up and patted Zhang Mingliang on the shoulder.

Zhang Mingliang immediately flew into a rage, glaring at Zheng Xuan and demanding, "What are you doing?"

Zheng Xuan said, "I just saw a mosquito, please don't be offended, senior brother."

"Who's your senior brother? You haven't even formally become a disciple. You have no manners."

After saying that, he left with Zhang Mingde, and at that moment, Zheng Xuan's lips curled up, the opportunity had come to him.