Cultivating for Immorality: I Evolved Martial Arts into the Immortal Path – Chapter 42

Chapter 42: Tiger Demon Descends the Mountain!

“My cultivation technique?”

Chu Liang was lost in thought.

Master Hu’s words had indeed reminded him.

He had not obtained his cultivation technique from the county town, but rather from the belly of a crazed ape while hunting.

Such a cultivation technique with a dubious origin might attract unwanted attention.

“I need another cultivation technique, or I should go directly to the county town’s martial arts hall to become a disciple.”

Chu Liang pondered in his heart and quickly came up with a countermeasure.

As long as he had money, obtaining a cultivation technique was not difficult.

There was a cultivation technique called 《Blood Nourishing Technique》 that was widely circulated in the Great Liang Dynasty. It was the foundation of many small martial arts halls and could be purchased in the black market of Anping County Town.

This technique was very mediocre and unremarkable, with only twelve static stances for tempering Qi and blood, without any moving stances.

On the other hand, Chu Liang’s 《Dragon Tiger Body Refining Manual》 had thirty-three static stances and nine moving stances, making it more effective for tempering.

“If anyone asks, I’ll say I’m practicing the Blood Nourishing Technique.” Chu Liang secretly made up his mind. This was easy to explain, as many martial artists had entered the gate of martial arts through the 《Blood Nourishing Technique》.

This technique was inexpensive and stable, making it the preferred choice for most people.

As for Chu Liang’s fighting style?

It could be explained as a personal characteristic.

As long as one was fierce and domineering, even a gentle cultivation technique could be practiced with a domineering feel.

For example, Wu Neng’s cultivation technique focused on calming the mind and nourishing the spirit, yet he had cultivated an aura of ruthlessness and brutality, making him resemble a vicious wolf.

“Did you come just to tell me this?” Chu Liang asked Master Hu.

“Yes.”

Master Hu nodded while gnawing on a piece of meat. “Actually, even if I didn’t tell you, you could handle it. You are very patient, having endured for so many years until you condensed two strands of Qi and blood before revealing your strength… In terms of patience and cherishing life, I am inferior to you.”

In his opinion, Chu Liang had endured for at least three or four years.

To become a martial artist and not flaunt it, to keep enduring and willingly be an ordinary hunter, and to disguise himself so well without revealing any abnormalities…

Such a temperament was simply unimaginable.

Therefore, he believed that even if Wu Neng and the others came to bully Chu Liang, Chu Liang would be able to endure and pay the price to preserve his life.

Of course, it was always good to give a heads-up.

It could earn him some goodwill from Chu Liang.

“How is your cultivation technique?” Chu Liang suddenly asked. “There are more than ten martial arts halls in the county town. Which one did you learn from?”

“Boulder Martial Arts Hall,” Master Hu answered honestly.

“Oh, not one of the three famous ones.”

“Those three…”

Master Hu smiled wryly and said, “The fees for those three are really high, twenty-five taels of silver a month. I could only choose an ordinary small martial arts hall. As long as there was a cultivation technique and a master to teach, I was satisfied.”

The Boulder Martial Arts Hall he chose was led by a martial artist with four strands of Qi and blood, not as strong as the three halls led by masters with five strands of Qi and blood.

But it was cheap!

Only fifteen taels of silver a month.

As for the cultivation technique, it was called 《Boulder Technique》.

This technique’s stances were also divided into static and moving stances, with thirteen static stances and three moving stances, some of which required the use of stones for assistance in cultivation.

For example, one of the static stances called “Uprooting the Mountain and Lifting the Cauldron” required one to lift a boulder over their head and hold it for a long time.

As for the other movements, Master Hu was unwilling to say more.

“Chu Liang, I signed a contract when I became a disciple. I cannot reveal the actual content of the cultivation technique.” Master Hu looked troubled. He dared not say too much.

“I know, I was just asking casually.”

Chu Liang asked this question just to compare it with other cultivation techniques in the county town, in order to judge the level of his 《Dragon Tiger Body Refining Manual》.

Now it seemed that the 《Dragon Tiger Body Refining Manual》 was not some unranked trash technique. It should not be weaker than those of the three major martial arts halls in the county town.

Of course, having more stance movements was not necessarily better.

As long as it could temper Qi and blood, it was fine.

Some movements had different names but actually tempered similar areas, making them redundant and a waste of time. It was best if the various tempering movements could complement each other.◈◈◈

There was once a cultivation technique called 《Hundred Refinements Ascending to Heaven》, which contained over a hundred stance movements. It seemed quite impressive, but those who practiced it invariably crippled themselves because the movements were repetitive and their coordination was chaotic… causing many to practice themselves to death.

This technique was very famous, just like the 《Blood Nourishing Technique》, but it was infamous.

“Chu Liang, it’s getting late. I should take my leave.”

Master Hu stood up, looking at the basin of blood and flesh with reluctance.

Chu Liang nodded and said, “Yes. What do you think of this demon beast meat?”

“It’s good stuff. I felt heat throughout my body after eating just one piece.” Master Hu shared his direct experience. If he could have eaten this every day when he was practicing martial arts, he wouldn’t have suffered from those lingering ailments.

“In that case, take this basin of blood and flesh with you.”

“Ah?”

Master Hu was shocked. The basin contained at least twenty catties of cooked meat. Could he take it all?

That would be thirty to forty catties of raw meat, which would cost the same amount in silver!

That much silver was enough for him to train at the martial arts hall for more than two months.

The biggest advantage of training at a martial arts hall was having a master’s guidance. As long as the master put in a little effort, the disciple’s chances of crippling themselves would be much lower.

If one paid more silver, the master would be even more attentive.

But Master Hu didn’t have that much silver. He had only managed to learn the stances for two months and received a few corrections before returning to the village to practice on his own.

The lack of a master’s guidance was one of the reasons he had suffered hidden injuries.

Although he later saved up enough silver to seek further guidance at the martial arts hall, the hidden injuries never fully healed and became chronic ailments.

“You don’t want it?” Chu Liang asked calmly. “If you don’t want it, then just leave.”

“I…”

Master Hu smiled awkwardly and quickly picked up the entire basin, then thanked Chu Liang.

“Thank you, I’ll be on my way then!”

He knew very well that this was Chu Liang’s reward to him.

If he hadn’t come to inform Chu Liang, he wouldn’t have gotten this basin of meat.

“Moreover, for Chu Liang to casually give away such precious demon beast meat, it means he doesn’t lack silver and has no interest in the meager profits of Qing Shi Village.” Master Hu thought to himself.

As long as he maintained the status quo, he would continue to be the master of the village.

Master Hu was a smart man. He knew what to do.

Time flowed, and another few days passed.

During this time, Chu Liang went to the county town and spent ten taels of silver to buy a copy of the 《Blood Nourishing Technique》 in the black market.

“This Blood Nourishing Technique is indeed as ordinary as the rumors say, with no highlights and only twelve static stance movements.”

Chu Liang casually flipped through it and lost interest, tossing it into a corner.

This technique’s tempering efficiency was far inferior to the 《Dragon Tiger Body Refining Manual》. If he had practiced this technique, he probably wouldn’t have even sensed Qi and blood yet.

The evening breeze blew gently as dusk approached.

Smoke rose from the chimneys of every household in Qing Shi Village.

As usual, Chu Liang was in the courtyard, gnawing on demon beast meat and teasing the three small dog demons.

At this moment, a terrifying roar suddenly shook the mountains and forests, startling the birds into a chaotic flight.

“Roar——”

The roar was deafening, piercing through clouds and splitting rocks, chilling those who heard it to the bone.

The villagers were all terrified.

The sound was very close, coming from the mountains behind the village.

Before they could react, a large, blue-black tiger leaped out of the forest.

Its mouth was wide open, revealing terrifying fangs. Its four claws were bigger than human heads. It leaped several zhang with each bound, like a black hurricane, approaching the village in the blink of an eye!