72: Giant Spirit Body Forging Technique!
Li Qing pushed the banknotes in front of Xiao Chen.
"The children also need extra nutrition and medicinal herbs to temper their bones and muscles. Take this money and manage it as needed."
Xiao Chen looked at the ten thousand-tael gold notes on the table, his fingers trembling.
A massive sum of money.
This amount was enough to completely transform the Iron Bone Martial Arts School!
"Big Brother Li..." Xiao Chen's eyes grew moist, his voice choking up.
"I..."
"Don't be so sentimental," Li Qing interrupted him.
"If the martial arts school grows stronger, it benefits me as well."
He needed a stable cultivation environment and someone to handle mundane affairs for him.
Xiao Chen was undoubtedly the best candidate.
Xiao Chen took a deep breath, nodded heavily, and carefully put the banknotes away.
He didn't say anything more, but that gratitude and loyalty were already etched into his bones.
"Haha, time to Cultivate."
After saying that, he turned and walked outside.
"Big Brother Li, where are you going?" Xiao Chen asked quickly.
"The City Lord's Manor."
Li Qing's answer was crisp and clean, and his figure soon disappeared at the entrance of the alley.
Xiao Chen stood frozen on the spot, tightly clutching the money bag, his heart filled with a mix of emotions... The Jinling City Lord's Manor was located in the most prosperous area of the city center, with high vermilion walls and glazed eaves, exuding a majestic and imposing air.
At the entrance, two giant stone lions glared with wide, angry eyes.
Eight Guards wearing Mysterious Armor with steady auras were lined up on both sides, their gazes like lightning.
Ordinary citizens didn't even dare to approach within ten yards.
When Li Qing's figure appeared at the street corner, a sharp-eyed Guard captain immediately recognized him.
Yesterday, it was this youth who stood as firm as a mountain under the City Lord's pressure and even sent Manager Zhang Long flying with a single palm strike.
The Guard captain's heart shivered, not daring to be even slightly negligent; he quickly hurried forward and stopped three paces away from Li Qing, respectfully cupping his fists in greeting.
"Young Master Li, the City Lord has already instructed that if you come, there is no need for an announcement. Please follow me."
His attitude was completely different from the arrogance shown at the Iron Bone Martial Arts School yesterday, filled now with reverence.
Li Qing nodded slightly and followed the Guard captain through layers of courtyards and past rockery corridors.
Inside the manor were pavilions and terraces with carved beams and painted rafters, even more luxurious than he had imagined.
Finally, the Guard captain led him to a quiet courtyard. Standing at the gate were two Guards with even more restrained and deep auras, clearly Zhuang Bai's trusted confidants.
"My Lord, Young Master Li has arrived," the Guard captain announced in a low voice.
"Let him in," Zhuang Bai's steady voice came from the study.
The Guard captain bowed and withdrew, and Li Qing pushed the door open and entered.
The study was simply furnished with an ancient style, and a faint scent of sandalwood permeated the air.
Zhuang Bai, the City Lord of Jinling, was sitting behind a large desk. Seeing Li Qing enter, his face immediately showed undisguised joy.
"Lord Zhuang!" Li Qing cupped his fists and bowed.
"Li Qing, you're here! Sit!"
He rose to greet him and personally poured a cup of fragrant tea for Li Qing.
His attitude was cordial.
He didn't look at all like a figure who held the power of life and death over an entire city.
Li Qing didn't bother with pleasantries and sat directly.
He showed no restraint whatsoever.
Seeing how direct he was, the look of appreciation in Zhuang Bai's eyes deepened.
On the path of martial arts, the greatest taboos are an unsettled Heart-Nature and indecisiveness.
Li Qing's steady character was exactly the trait someone destined for greatness should have.
"I presume you have considered it clearly," Zhuang Bai said, getting straight to the point.
"Yes," Li Qing responded.
"Good!" Zhuang Bai clapped his hands and laughed.
"I knew you were a smart man!"
He took out an all-black medallion from his robe, engraved with the seal character for "Zhuang," and handed it to Li Qing.
"This is the Guest Elder Token of the City Lord's Manor. Seeing this token is like seeing me in person."
"Within Jinling City, except for a few Forbidden Grounds, you may pass unimpeded."
"If any blind fool dares to provoke you, show this token directly, and the City Lord's Manor will settle everything for you."
Li Qing took the token; it felt slightly heavy in his hand with an extraordinary texture.
This item was not to be underestimated; it was not just a token, but a protective talisman.
Without pausing, Zhuang Bai took out a brocade box and a book from under the desk.
"I observed your moves yesterday; you defeated the enemy purely with physical strength. It's clear you possess Innate Divine Strength and a solid Foundation."
"Ordinary internal Mind-Cultivation Techniques would instead restrict your development."
He pushed the slightly worn book toward Li Qing.
"This 'Giant Spirit Body Tempering Art' was something I obtained by chance during my early travels. It is a high-tier technique specifically for cultivating physical strength."
"It does not Cultivate Internal Energy, but only tempers the bones, skin, membranes, and internal organs. Once practiced to Major Achievement, one can have a body like a Giant Spirit with the strength to uproot mountains, perfectly complementing your talent."
"Thank you, Lord Zhuang!"
Li Qing's gaze focused as he flipped open the book.
The first few lines of the general outline shook his heart; the philosophy of this technique was somewhat similar to his [Mysterious Armor] talent, both pursuing the ultimate power of the Physical Body.
"Thank you, Lord Zhuang," Li Qing thanked him again, this time with more sincerity.
Zhuang Bai nodded with satisfaction and opened the brocade box.
Inside the box, five crystal-clear Spirit Stones lay quietly, alongside ten round, white Medicinal Pills the size of longans.
"These are five Low-Grade Spirit Stones and ten qi nurturing pills."
Zhuang Bai explained, "I assume you already know the wonderful uses of Spirit Stones."
"As for these qi nurturing pills, they are refined from various Spirit Medicines. They can quickly replenish and purify a Martial Artist's Internal Energy, and are most effective for those in the Body Refining Realm and Condensing Essence Realm."
"Although you focus on the Physical Body, cultivating some Internal Energy appropriately can also yield miraculous effects at critical moments."
He looked at Li Qing, his tone becoming solemn.
"These are merely meeting gifts."
"As long as you can stand out in the Great Xia Martial Selection and enter the top one hundred of the heavenly prodigy rankings."
"I promise that the City Lord's Manor will provide you with three Mid-Grade Spirit Stones and an Earth Rank martial art!"
A Profound Rank High Grade martial art!
Li Qing's heart stirred slightly.
He was no longer a complete novice to cultivation.
Xiao Chen had told him a lot about the martial world.
Among those things were the classifications of Cultivation Techniques.
Martial Cultivation Techniques are divided into four ranks: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. Each rank is further divided into Low, Medium, High, and Peak Grades.
The Iron Bone Martial Arts School's 'Iron Body Art' was only a Yellow Rank High Grade technique.
And this 'Giant Spirit Body Tempering Art' should be Yellow Rank Peak Grade.
A Yellow Rank Peak Grade martial art, in a place like Jinling City, was enough to be a sect-protecting treasure that countless experts would fight over.
"Of course, if you have any difficulties in your cultivation, you can come to me at any time."
Zhuang Bai added, explicitly stating his intention to personally guide him.
Li Qing took the items, already making plans in his mind.
"Now, let me take you somewhere."
Zhuang Bai stood up with a trace of a smile on his face and personally led the way.
He felt that Li Qing entering the heavenly prodigy rankings should not be a problem.
In the Great Xia Martial Competition, the top three hundred who enter the finals will be recorded on the Great Xia heavenly prodigy rankings.
It only happens once every three years, and its prestige is extraordinary.
The two passed through a secret door in the study and walked down a set of stone steps for a long time until they reached a heavy, refined iron gate.
On both sides of the gate, four fierce-looking Guards stood watch; their strength was actually all in the Meridian Opening Realm!
Zhuang Bai took out a key and, coordinating with a complex mechanism, the heavy iron door slowly opened.