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"After cultivating True Qi, not only does it enhance explosive power, but it also enables the use of the Turtle Breath Technique's methods of Concealment and Bone Shrinking!"
Su Changkong was researching the qualitatively transformed Turtle Breath Technique.
The Turtle Breath Technique is not skilled in combat, but it possesses various auxiliary means, such as Concealment, which hides one's own Qi, putting one in a state similar to a turtle hibernating. The blood flow slows down, breathing becomes shallow, and even the body temperature turns ice-cold.
In such a state, one can survive a long time without eating or drinking!
And the method of Bone Shrinking is even more amazing!
"Crack crack crack!"
Su Changkong tried to mobilize the True Qi within his body, making it circle around his bones. His whole body made crisp "crack" sounds, and his originally tall frame shrank by half a foot. Even the muscles on his body seemed to reduce in size.
The tall Su Changkong, in just a few breaths' time, turned into a person of average, ordinary stature—not tall, not short!
"This is truly amazing—is this True Qi? Having just generated True Qi, the total amount of it in me is still sparse. If I were to unleash it with all my might, I estimate it would be exhausted in a few strikes!"
Su Changkong examined his body, feeling the True Qi enveloped in his Dantian like a mist, and he sighed.
For ordinary people to cultivate the Turtle Breath Technique to the point of sensing Qi, a tremendous amount of hard work is required. And for that Qi sensation to undergo a metamorphosis into True Qi, as Su Changkong had done, is even more difficult—it requires one to spend half a lifetime in grueling practice!
What Su Changkong needed to do was to continue cultivating, making the True Qi within his body grow stronger and bring about a metamorphosis in his physique!
Outside the window, the sky was gradually lighting up, signifying the early hours of dawn.
Su Changkong got out of bed and began practicing the Five Animal Frolics—Tiger, Deer, Bear, Monkey, and Bird—each form was vivid and lifelike. The breakthrough of the Five Animal Frolics, he guessed, would come soon!
As usual, after practicing the Five Animal Frolics and finishing his meal, Su Changkong went to the foundry and started a new day's work.
With Su Changkong's current strength and endurance, he alone could forge ten quality swords in a month, an incredibly exaggerated efficiency. There wasn't a second person in Black Iron Manor who could match him!
"Clang clang clang!"
The weather was bitterly cold, and nearing noon, a series of urgent bell tolls rang out in Black Iron Manor, causing everyone busy at work to halt abruptly.
"The Black Cavalry Gang! The Black Cavalry Gang is here! Everyone grab your weapons!"
Shouts rang out throughout the manor.
"The Black Cavalry Gang...here again, right on schedule!"
Su Changkong put down the hammer in his hand, a hint of unusual color fleeting across his face.
The Black Cavalry Gang, a major gang that rose up in the vicinity of Clearwater City a year ago, are essentially a nest of extortionate bandits. They've displayed formidable strength, forcing Black Iron Manor to bow down and pay them.
The people initially harbored hopes that the Yamen would eradicate the Black Cavalry Gang, but such an event never occurred. Quite the opposite, the gang's power has grown day by day, having destroyed several villages that refused to pay protection money, their infamy spreading even wider!
To offend the Yamen, there's still a chance to live, but to offend the Black Cavalry Gang not only spells one's own death but could also implicate friends and family!
Now, within hundreds of miles, there are few who dare to defy the Black Cavalry Gang.
"These damned robbers!"
Yang Chao cursed under his breath. The Black Cavalry Gang relied on plundering and squeezing the common people to sustain themselves, but they could only be angry without daring to speak out.
The people stopped their work and, armed with swords, hammers, and other weapons, stepped out of the workshop.
On the high walls, Manor Lord Mo Tie's face was filled with helplessness and worry.
Outside Black Iron Manor, dozens of well-equipped knights stopped about ten yards away. The leader was the Black Cavalry Gang's third boss, Chen Zhuang, whom they had seen before. He was burly, with a bearded face and thick arms, exuding a sense of oppression that was daunting to look directly at.
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"Villa Owner Mo, another year has passed, have you prepared the annual tribute?"
Chen Zhuang looked at Mo Tie on the high wall, let out a hearty laugh, his voice deep and resonant.
Mo Tie sighed, giving Director Liu a meaningful glance.
"Here is this year's tribute, Chen Zhuang, please count it."
Understanding the signal, Director Liu nodded, stepping outside Black Iron Manor with five hundred taels of silver notes in hand, and approached the Black Cavalry Gang's troops with respectful outstretched arms, offering it to them.
Last year, when the Black Cavalry Gang first came to collect their tribute, Chen Zhuang's displayed might was frightening; not even the stout gates could stop him. Now that the Black Cavalry Gang had come again to collect the tribute, Black Iron Manor had no choice but to obediently pay, or else face the same retaliation as other powers who had refused them!
Accepting the silver notes, Chen Zhuang casually counted them before tucking them into his bosom. Having done it once before, the second time was much easier, requiring none of the previous exertions!
Chen Zhuang's face revealed a genial smile, "I wish Black Iron Manor a happy New Year, and I won't disturb you any further!"
"Brothers! Let's go!"
Having received the tribute, Chen Zhuang didn't linger. He barked an order, leading his dozens of riders away. The sound of horse hooves faded into the distance.
Chen Zhuang seemed quite agreeable on the surface, but everyone knew it was because Black Iron Manor had complied with the payment. Should they dare to defy him, Chen Zhuang would certainly turn hostile on the spot, causing severe casualties to Black Iron Manor!
"The Black Cavalry Gang's power is growing larger; doesn't the government eradicate them?"
"Heh... Those officials care only about the hats on their heads, who'd have the courage to fight bandits? We, earnest and diligent as we are, simply don't live as freely as those bandits!"
With the departure of the Black Cavalry Gang, a collective sigh of relief was breathed in Black Iron Manor, some filled with righteous indignation, others with cold sneers.
Suppressing bandits was easier said than done; the Black Cavalry Gang's three leaders were martial arts experts, with strong soldiers and horses under their command. The officials at Clearwater City's Yamen might not have the courage to confront the Black Cavalry Gang. Success might be good, but more often than not, it would come with heavy losses.
And in the event of failure, someone had to take responsibility. At the very least, they would not be able to hold onto their caps, not to mention the risk of retaliation from the Black Cavalry Gang and potentially even losing their lives!
"We cannot rely on others; the fundamental solution is to strengthen ourselves!"
Su Changkong witnessed this scene, silently vowing to himself that he must grasp his own destiny! This required formidable strength!
The arrival of the Black Cavalry Gang had little impact other than affecting the mood slightly, as the protection fee was borne by Villa Owner Mo Tie.
Life continued peacefully, Su Changkong practiced the Five Animal Frolics every morning and evening. Having reached a bottleneck with the Five Animal Frolics, he finally broke through after a week!
"Huff, huff, huff!"
In the snowstorm, Su Changkong's towering form, like a dancing brown bear, was filled with a sense of solid power. As he breathed in and out, with True Qi coursing through him, his muscles undulated in tandem, honing each other against the frigid cold.
"Roar!"
Then, the cumbersome bear-like demeanor of Su Changkong changed, taking on the ferocity of the king of beasts, resembling a charging tiger, as faint tiger roars seemed to echo through the air.
Tiger and bear sparring, this too was a high-level Mutual Restraint Practice from the Five Animal Frolics, but it was so exhausting that ordinary people could not practice it.
Though Su Changkong was alone, as he practiced the Five Animal Frolics, it was as if he split into two, transforming into a tiger and a bear, fighting and vying with each other, neither yielding an inch, lifelike and captivating.
Such accomplishment in the Five Animal Frolics, even Dr. Huashan who taught Su Changkong the form, would be astounded, finding it hard to believe that what was meant for health improvement could reach such a level!
"Crack! Snap!"
As Su Changkong reached his peak state, fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, his insides burning hot, a warm current in his body traveling throughout his limbs, as if breaking free from some shackles, with a harmonious symphony from his sinews and bones!
"Refreshing!"
Unable to contain himself, Su Changkong sighed in satisfaction, understanding that his Five Animal Frolics had finally broken through the bottleneck to reach a higher level!