Cultivating for Immorality: I Evolved Martial Arts into the Immortal Path – Chapter 68

Chapter 68: The Gap Widens

Autumn Blade Martial Arts Hall, one of the three famous martial arts halls in the county town.

This martial arts hall was also located in the north of the city.

The gate of the martial arts hall was thick and painted with vermilion red paint. Two imposing stone lions were placed on the left and right sides, and a plaque with the words “【Autumn Blade Martial Arts Hall】” was hung above.

It was noon, and the sun was blazing.

Chu Liang led the little donkey to the outside of the martial arts hall and knocked on the gate.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The sound was muffled.

After a while, the gate opened.

An old man in a long robe appeared. His aged eyes swept over Chu Liang a few times and asked, “Here to learn martial arts?”

“Yes.”

“At least twenty-five taels of silver per month, medicine supplements and food supplements are extra, accommodation is extra, individual guidance from the martial arts hall master is extra, and other assistance is also extra. Do you understand?”

“I understand.”

Chu Liang once again took out the one hundred tael silver note from his bosom.

The old man glanced at it, then nodded and said, “Follow me.”

“Alright.”

Chu Liang put away the silver note, let the donkey wait outside, and followed the old man into the martial arts hall.

The layout of the Autumn Blade Martial Arts Hall was similar to that of the Black Sword Martial Arts Hall.

There were several courtyards from front to back. Each courtyard had a group of students practicing martial arts, and there were some side courtyards on the left and right sides.

If the apprentices had enough silver, they could live in the side courtyards. The cost ranged from three to thirty taels.

As the old man said, twenty-five taels was just the minimum fee, a threshold fee.

Of course, for most ordinary people, it was already quite difficult to gather twenty-five taels. As long as they could learn the stance training within a month, they could go back and practice slowly.

The old man led Chu Liang to a side courtyard, saying as he walked, “Including you, there are four new students today. You four should get to know each other well and not argue or fight.”

“I understand.”

In the side courtyard, three people were already waiting.

One of them was dressed in luxurious brocade clothes, holding a jade folding fan, and wearing a hibiscus brocade pouch at his waist. It was obvious that he was the son of a wealthy family in the county town.

The other two were dressed similarly to Chu Liang, in ordinary cloth clothes, and the nervousness on their faces was particularly obvious.

The old man asked Chu Liang to sit down next to the other three.

Then he faced the four of them and introduced himself, “My surname is Wang. I am the manager of this Autumn Blade Martial Arts Hall, with four strands of Qi and blood. You can call me Manager Wang.”

“Greetings, Manager Wang.”

Chu Liang and the others immediately spoke.

Manager Wang nodded slightly and continued, “Among the four of you, two should already have a foundation in martial arts, while the other two have not yet stepped into the martial path, so they will be treated separately.”

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the other three changed.

The two newcomers in cloth clothes were stunned, while the young master in brocade looked surprised and turned to look at Chu Liang.

Manager Wang ignored the changes in the four people’s expressions, turned his head and beckoned to a side hall, and shouted to a martial arts hall disciple inside, “Xiao Liu, bring the registration booklet over.”

“Yes!”

A martial arts hall disciple ran out from the side hall, about thirty years old.

He wore a long saber at his waist and was dressed in the black martial uniform of the martial arts hall. He quickly came to the courtyard and placed a yellowed booklet in front of Chu Liang and the others.

After doing this, he stepped back two steps and stood respectfully behind Manager Wang.

Manager Wang then said, “You will write your names, ages, and other information on the booklet later. Now listen to me.”

He paused and looked at the young master in brocade.

“I know you. Are you the young master Xu Hua of the Xu Clan Cloth Shop in the county?”

“Yes.”

The young master in brocade cupped his hands.

Manager Wang asked again, “You have been learning martial arts at the Mountain Fist Martial Arts Hall for more than three years. Why did you come to my Autumn Blade Martial Arts Hall?”

“I fought with someone and injured a few villagers. I was expelled from the Mountain Fist Martial Arts Hall.” The young master in brocade was very honest and did not dare to hide anything in front of this expert with four strands of Qi and blood.

“You condensed a strand of Qi and blood three months ago?”

“Yes.”

“Did those people you injured condense Qi and blood?”

“No.”

“Hmm… You used your fists against the weak. You really deserve to be punished. With the personality of the hall master of the Mountain Fist Martial Arts Hall, expelling you from the martial arts hall is a light punishment.”

In just a few words, the background of this young master in brocade was clearly explained.

Chu Liang’s mind moved slightly, and he thought of Song Zhong.

Song Zhong also came from the Mountain Fist Martial Arts Hall.

Listening to Manager Wang’s words, the rules of the Mountain Fist Martial Arts Hall seemed to be very strict, prohibiting the strong from using their fists against the innocent weak.

“Growing up in a martial arts hall with such strict rules, it’s no wonder Song Zhong has that kind of personality.”

Chu Liang thought to himself.

Afterward, Manager Wang asked the second and third person a few questions.

Finally, only Chu Liang was left.

The others all turned their gazes to him.

They could all see that although Chu Liang was dressed in ordinary clothes, his aura was extraordinary, and he was full of energy. He was obviously not an ordinary person.

“What’s your name?” Manager Wang asked Chu Liang.

“Chu Liang,” Chu Liang replied.

“Which Chu? Which Liang?”

“Double-wood Chu, Liang as in conscience.”

“Oh? The kid who killed the tiger? No wonder…”

A smile appeared on Manager Wang’s aged face.

He stroked his beard, carefully sized up Chu Liang, his eyes full of satisfaction, and then asked, “You came to my Autumn Blade Martial Arts Hall to learn 《Autumn Blade》?”

“Yes.”

“Haha, good! Outsiders are blind and say that my Autumn Blade Martial Arts Hall’s 《Autumn Blade》 is not as good as the Black Sword Martial Arts Hall’s 《Sinking Water Sword》. I didn’t expect you, kid, to have such a discerning eye and choose my Autumn Blade Martial Arts Hall!”

“Manager Wang…”

“What?”

“Actually, I went to the Black Sword Martial Arts Hall first.”

“…”

Manager Wang was silent for a while.

After a moment, he sighed and said to Chu Liang, “Forget it, I won’t ask any more. You, kid, study hard. If you want to change your cultivation technique, you can tell me in advance.”

“Alright, thank you, Manager Wang.”

Chu Liang cupped his hands in thanks.

After that, the four people wrote their information on the booklet one by one.

Manager Wang gave a few instructions and then left, letting the martial arts hall disciple continue to tell Chu Liang and the others some precautions.

The martial arts hall disciple’s name was Liu Qiao, and he had the strength of two strands of Qi and blood.

He had a smile on his face and was very enthusiastic. He said to the few people, “Everyone, from now on we are fellow disciples. Welcome to my Autumn Blade Martial Arts Hall.”

Of course, his enthusiasm was also divided.
He was particularly enthusiastic towards the young master in brocade, Xu Hua, and Chu Liang, after all, both of them were already martial artists and were wealthy.

◈◈◈

The other two were from ordinary backgrounds, and it was still uncertain whether they could become martial artists.

“Junior Brother Xu, Junior Brother Chu, let’s go this way. The martial arts hall is very big, and there are many rules. I will introduce them to you slowly,” Liu Qiao said with a smile.

“Thank you, Senior Brother Liu.”

“Haha, we are all fellow disciples, it’s what I should do!”

Liu Qiao smiled, put away the registration booklet, and walked in front to lead the way for the few people.

He first took them to see the various courtyards where martial arts were practiced.

Some courtyards were prepared for new students, while others were prepared for those who had sensed Qi and blood, condensed Qi and blood, and other stages. Each stage had corresponding tempering methods.

In addition to tempering Qi and blood through stance training, there were other ways to temper in the martial arts hall.

For example, using various blood-nourishing treasure medicines for medicinal baths to stimulate Qi and blood from the outside.

“There is a lot of knowledge about this medicinal bath. It contains more than ten kinds of treasure medicines, such as blood ginseng, black blood vine, red blood grass, and so on. They are matched together in appropriate proportions. Soaking in it is very beneficial to the human body’s Qi and blood.”

Liu Qiao talked endlessly.

For only fifteen taels of silver, one could enjoy a month of medicinal baths.

In addition to medicinal baths, there were also methods such as golden needle stimulation and Qi and blood massage. These methods worked together to help martial artists maximize the effect of tempering Qi and blood.

“Junior Brother Xu has been learning martial arts at the Mountain Fist Martial Arts Hall for three years. Presumably, there are similar methods in the Mountain Fist Martial Arts Hall,” Liu Qiao asked with a smile.

“Yes, these methods are indeed good. Combined with food supplements of demon beast meat and medicine supplements of blood-activating powder, the effect will be even better.” The young master in brocade, Xu Hua, nodded. He had already experienced it at the Mountain Fist Martial Arts Hall.

Upon hearing this, the other two newcomers were a little tempted.

But these methods added up to at least fifty or sixty taels of silver a month, and they really couldn’t afford so much money.

In addition, demon beast meat was one tael of silver per jin, and blood-activating powder was one tael of silver per small bottle. They couldn’t afford either.

Chu Liang was very calm.

It was recorded in his cultivation technique, 《Dragon Tiger Body Refining Manual》, that these methods were just supplements to Qi and blood. The reason why they were effective was purely because food supplements and medicine supplements were not in place, especially medicine supplements.

As long as the medicine supplements could replenish the required Qi and blood, there was no need to use these methods.

These extra methods would only waste time.

After introducing all the methods, Liu Qiao asked with a smile, “Junior Brother Xu, what do you think? Do you want to use these methods?”

“Let’s try it first. I’ll trouble Senior Brother Liu to arrange three months for me.” The young master in brocade, Xu Hua, nodded.

“What about Junior Brother Chu?” Liu Qiao looked at Chu Liang again.

“I don’t need it.”

“Oh? Junior Brother Chu, you should think carefully. Combined with these methods, you can speed up the tempering of your Qi and blood.” Liu Qiao was surprised.

“I think these blood-supplementing methods are a waste of time. I have my own methods,” Chu Liang said.

“Your own?”

Liu Qiao was surprised and immediately advised, “Junior Brother Chu, how can the methods you figured out yourself compare to the methods of the martial arts hall? Do you know that the combination of these methods in the martial arts hall is almost as effective as taking blood-replenishing ointment!”

“That’s right.”

The young master in brocade, Xu Hua, added, “A dose of blood-replenishing ointment costs ten taels of silver and will be used up in one or two days. If you keep using blood-replenishing ointment to supplement Qi and blood, it will cost at least two or three hundred taels of silver a month!”

The other two were secretly shocked when they heard this. They didn’t even dare to think about such a number.

Not to mention them, even Xu Hua, whose family owned a cloth shop, didn’t dare to consume like this.

“Junior Brother Chu, calculate it. These blood-supplementing methods add up to only fifty or sixty taels a month,” Liu Qiao advised.

“Senior Brother, there’s no need to say more. I know what I’m doing.” Chu Liang answered calmly. He was using blood-nourishing pills that were stronger than blood-replenishing ointment, so there was no need to waste time on extra methods.

“Sigh, alright. Junior Brother Chu, think about it carefully. I’m only doing this for your own good!”

Liu Qiao sighed and shook his head, looking very regretful.

He turned to look at Xu Hua and immediately changed to an enthusiastic expression. He made a gesture of invitation to Xu Hua and said with a smile, “Junior Brother Xu, please come in. The blood-supplementing methods of my Autumn Blade Martial Arts Hall are slightly different from those of the Mountain Fist Martial Arts Hall. Let me introduce them to you in detail.”

“Good!”

Xu Hua smiled slightly, glanced at Chu Liang, and followed Liu Qiao into the courtyard.

Chu Liang and the other two were left outside.

They could only wait for the two of them to come out before proceeding to the next step.

The other two were a little cramped. They looked around and didn’t know what to do.

After a while, one of them carefully approached Chu Liang. With admiration and awe on his face, he whispered, “Chu… Big Brother Chu, are you really the hero who killed the tiger?”

Chu Liang smiled and said, “I’m not a hero. There are many martial artists in the county town who have killed demon beasts. I’m just one of them.”

“You’re amazing. I heard that the tiger demon was very powerful.”

“It wasn’t that powerful, just one strand of Qi and blood.”

“One strand of Qi and blood is also very powerful.”

He looked expectant, his eyes full of longing.

The path of martial arts was very long, and he was just an ordinary person who hadn’t even crossed the threshold of martial arts.

Chu Liang asked him with a smile, “Your name is Tie Niu?”

He looked excited and immediately replied, “Yes, yes… Big Brother Chu, my family runs a noodle shop in the south of the city. If you have time, you must come to my house and try it!”

“Alright, I’ll come when I have time.”

Chu Liang had nothing to do, so he chatted with this kid.

Time passed, and a quarter of an hour slipped away.

The two of them were still inside, leaving Chu Liang and the other two outside. They didn’t know how long they would have to wait.

Tie Niu asked puzzledly, “Big Brother Chu, Senior Brother Liu was very enthusiastic towards you before. Why did he leave you out here for so long?”

“Because of money,” Chu Liang said calmly.

“Money?”

Tie Niu was puzzled.

He originally thought that Senior Brother Liu was enthusiastic towards Young Master Xu and Chu Liang because they were both martial artists.

Now it seemed that this was not the reason.

Chu Liang said, “If I’m not mistaken, Senior Brother Liu can get a portion of the silver for every new student he introduces.”

“Introduce? Introduce new students to spend money?”

Tie Niu scratched his head and immediately understood.

Although he looked simple and honest, his family ran a noodle shop business, and he had met many people, so he was quite smart.

After a while, the two of them finally came out of the courtyard.

“Let’s go over there. There are many weapons hidden in that courtyard. I’ll take you to see them.”

Liu Qiao was still enthusiastic towards Xu Hua, but he was a little cold towards Chu Liang.

He knew that the tiger demon was worth more than a thousand taels, so he had been enthusiastic before, wanting to squeeze some silver out of Chu Liang.

But Chu Liang was unwilling to spend a single cent.

After that, he spent most of his time introducing things to Xu Hua.

He would occasionally turn to Chu Liang and sigh, “Junior Brother Chu, you can’t be stingy with silver in the early stages of martial arts training. You and Junior Brother Xu both have one strand of Qi and blood now, and you should be about the same. But Junior Brother Xu is willing to spend money on himself… In the long run, the gap between you two will become bigger and bigger.”

Song Zhong had said similar things to Chu Liang before.

Martial artists didn’t need to save money. When they had money, they should immediately spend it on themselves.