Zhao Yao trained in the Hammer Fist and Tiger Palm, all night.
With his Master's new improvements, Zhao Yao could use the skills six times before his Qi runs out. It was two times the number of times he was able to use it before.
His Master was amazing with improving skills.
He felt the same Deja Vu when he practiced Tiger Palm. Most of the well-known level 1 skills were made and used widely during the Ancestor's time or the beginning of the Cultivation Era. Because of this, Zhao Yao hoped that as long as he gathers all the skills his Ancestor trained in from the Clan treasury, he could master them in no time.
Zhao Yao loved skills, the more the merrier.
He wanted to sweep clean all the skills from his clan's treasure, and the only way he could do that was with the help of his Master. He tried to ask nicely, but his Master flatly refused.
'I have to get skills from somewhere else. And a faster cultivation manual.'
Zhao Yao rested to recover his Qi, but he didn't want to sleep.
He had to prepare. One of the main problems he had to solve at first was to keep that he wasn't a cripple anymore, a secret.
"Master, is there a way I can keep my cultivation a secret in front of the clan?" Zhao Yao asked his Master, who was floating around the house on the flying carpet with Merry.
Looking at Merry, Zhao Yao felt like her eyes showed sparkles of intelligence.
"You want to keep your recovery a secret?"
"Yes. I don't want anyone to know."
Zhao Yao's initial plan was to awe his clan members by level jumping and beating everyone at the Selection Contest. To declare that he wasn't a cripple, but a heaven-defying genius.
Thanks to the 'Great speedy' cultivation technique, he was stuck with 1st layer of Qi Gathering while his opponents are at the latter levels of Qi Gathering.
So, Zhao Yao chose to keep his cultivation a secret. In all the plots he made, revealing his recovery doesn't bring him any benefits, only problems.
"Come here." Immortal Lu called.
'You are the one flying, isn't it easier the other way.' Zhao Yao got up and walked closer to his Master.
"There are many ways one can hide their cultivation. With your inexperience, you won't be able to utilize them." Immortal Lu touched Zhao Yao's head making his disciple feel like he was electrocuted. "I send you the method to conceal your Qi."
Zhao Yao took a deep breath, calming himself down. By touching his head, his Master sent to his head the method to conceal the Qi, but this new way of teaching numbed him.
"Usually, it's hard for low-level cultivators to hide their cultivation status from higher cultivators. But you could do it since your soul is special." Immortal explained with a smile. "Maybe not now, but after you get more control over your soul, then you can shroud your Qi up to a level."
Zhao Yao inspected the information about the method. His Master called it the 'Qi Shrouding Method,' and it used the soul sense to do it.
"Since you need to conceal your Qi tomorrow, I will leave my soul sense on you. It will prevent anyone else from recognizing you as a cultivator." Immortal Lu grabbed Zhao Yao's hand and said. Zhao Yao didn't feel anything strange. "With my sense, covering your Qi, you can even use that fighting skill of yours without other's knowledge."
"What? For real?" Zhao Yao got excited.
He didn't waste time and executed the Hammer's fist, and his Master was correct.
The skill didn't make the usual 'BAM' sound, but it was as powerful as before.
This is amazing.
'Love you, my cheat Master.'
It was almost morning, and he had a lot of things to do.
Zhao Yao only had one day to complete all his preparations, and he had to do them precisely.
Zhao Yao couldn't wait for tomorrow.
*************
"Let's go, Merry." Zhao Yao pulled his Merp companion as he walked towards the Clan General treasury.
As he went out of his house, it was easier for Zhao Yao to figure out Zhao Ping's spies.
'These idiots have no idea how to spy, standing there like idiots.' Zhao Yao shook his head as he proceeded. They stood out because they didn't blend with the surrounding, and they had no purpose standing doing nothing in front of his house.
The Ancient Zhao clan had 4 treasuries. The one near the Clan Leader's Palace was where they store the valuable skills and treasures, and the access to it was restricted. Zhao Yao wanted his Master to steal it clean, but the Ancestral Palace was much more important.
General treasury is where the Inner clan members go for their salaries. Most of the valuable resources like pills, medicines, weapons, and other materials.
The two outer treasuries were for the lowest standing members of the clan, mainly for Qi Gathering cultivators and non-cultivators who do chores.
Zhao Yao, despite being a non-cultivator, was assigned to the General treasury due to his direct lineage.
The General treasure was crowded like often, and Zhao Yao, with a leashed Merp, stood out like a sore thumb.
"Demon Beasts are not allowed inside." The guard in front blocked him.
"What are you talking about? This Merp is my wife, therefore she is also a clan member." Zhao Yao retorted.
"Wife? Haha. Kid, you are that Merpf***er... Haha." The guards and the bystanders started laughing.
Zhao Yao didn't care as he tried to enter the treasury again.
"Where are you going?" The guards blocked him again.
"What's the commotion?"
A voice rang from inside.
"Nothing to worry about, Elder Zhao Luo. This kid tried to enter the treasury with his demon beast."
"Zhao Yao? Let him in." Elder ordered.
Zhao Yao smirked at the guards and entered the treasury with his head high. Zhao Luo was a minor elder who managed the general operations of the treasury. And he used to be in good terms with Zhao Yao's late father.
Even though this elder wasn't fond of him after his father's death, Zhao Yao knew that he would be curious about the Merp situation he was in.
Zhao Yao went to the counter and stated his purpose. "Goodmorning. I came to receive my monthly allowance."
Each clan member got their salaries at the beginning of every month. Zhao Yao didn't have an assigned job, but he got a measly allowance due to his heritage.
Due to the Merry incident and three days of cultivation, he was late to collect his allowance.
"Here is your 2 silvers." The counter attendant was someone Zhao Yao was familiar with, a well dressed and good looking lady.
"It shouldn't be 2 silvers anymore. If you don't know yet, I got married." Zhao said with a smile while pointing towards Merry. "Can I get the family allowance?"
It was not the extra silver Zhao Yao was after, this was just the tip of his counter trap.
The counter attendant looked stunned, and she tried hard to maintain her smile, but awkwardly.
"I am not sure whether you can receive a family allowance for a beast."
"Come on, I got married publicly. Conducted personally by Elder Zhao Jiang." Zhao Yao tried to convince her. "Can you believe it? An elder conducted my wedding in person and you are denying that I am not eligible to get the family allowance."
"Little Hua, he is right." Elder Zhao Luo walked from the side. He was a man of short stature and his thick mustache made him look serious all the time.
"Greetings, Elder Zhao Luo." Zhao Yao bowed.
"Can you also update my clan details to married." He put his clan identification on the counter.
"Sure. Wait a second." Little Hua replied as she processed his request.
"Thank You, Elder. Can I trouble you with some matters?"
"What is it?" Elder was observing him and Merry with amusement.
"I would like to take a money loan from the treasury by using my house as a guarantee." Zhao Yao placed his house deed on the counter.
"Zhao Yao, are you serious?"
"Yes, Elder. How much can I get as a loan? The house must be worth a loan of 15 gold coins." Zhao Yao knew from a real estate point of view that his house was worth much more than that.
It's proximity to North Mansion increases its value. If someone rebuilt a better house on the plot, the value will skyrocket.
"We can't give you a loan of more than 5 Gold coins." Elder Zhao Luo said stoically.
"5 Gold coins, huh. I will take it." Zhao Yao was disappointed because he wanted the maximum he could get. It will be suspicious to sell his house directly, so he opted for using it to get a loan. "Elder, can I trouble you to summon the North Mansion manager. I owe them silvers to get the complete ownership of my Merp wife."
"Cough..." Elder Zhao Luo choked when he heard Zhao Yao call the Merp his wife. "Wait here."
Zhao Yao let out a deep breath as he started to wait.
"Look who it is? If it isn't the infamous Yao young Master."
He heard someone speak. Zhao Yao didn't have to turn to know that it was another cannon fodder who was asking for a beating.
"I heard you got married. Congratulations."
Looking at the speaker, he was quite a famous cannon fodder called Zhao Fang. He was someone who could give Zhao Ping a competition in the Selection contest.
"Thank you very much." Zhao Yao replied.
"Haha." This only made Zhao Fang and his accomplices laugh harder.
"If your wife ever bore a child, then Zhao Yao, you can be sure that some Merp cucked you. Haha."
Zhao Yao grinned. He was trying to avoid any confrontation and complete his preparations. Since this cannon fodder asked for a beating, he will give him exactly that.
"Yes. You are correct. I will be extra careful to not let that happen." Zhao Yao cupped his hands and thanked Zhao Fang. Then, slowly with a grin, he continued.
"Zhao Fang, you are an exception. You are indeed a Miracle child. Looking at your face, it's amazing how your mother managed to create you with your Dog father."
"You bastard."
"It shouldn't be possible at all. Human mother and Dog father, huh. You are a 'Miracle child.' Zhao Yao continued, ignoring the threats.
"You...I will destroy you."
"Scram, you ugly little dog."
"ENOUGH." Elder Zhao Luo yelled in anger. "This is the Clan treasury, not your house to engage in your silly fights."
Zhao Fang left after giving Zhao Yao a threatening glare.
'Great. One more idiot to kill.' Zhao Yao thought.
Little Hua came back and handed Zhao Yao his clan identification back.
"Congratulations, your status is updated to 'married.' She struggled to smile. "Here is the extra silver you will get as the Family allowance."
Receiving the 'Family allowance,' Zhao Yao smiled.
The first part of his plan was completed, and the rest is in his Master's hands.