"The Qing Shan Shop is located in a small courtyard in the town, covering an area of two or three acres, but it looks extremely old and seems to have been around for some time.
"Let me introduce you, Ma Da, this is Wei Ping. He has already entered the tendons refining realm and has a concise style, which is quite in line with Elder Meng's taste. You should focus on cultivating him in the future," said Fei He, the steward of the estate, warmly introducing the several young people assigned to the Qing Shan Shop.
"As for these three, they are Yu Fei, Liu Qi, and Gu Linhe."
However, the introductions were different for each person due to their different statuses. Wei Ping received a simple introduction, with emphasis placed on his importance for cultivation. In contrast, the other three were only introduced by name.
The head of the Qing Shan Shop was surnamed Ma and named Ma Lixing. He was sitting on a redwood chair with a stern gaze, especially towards Wei Ping, whom he couldn't help but look at a few more times. This was because Fei He had just revealed that Elder Meng Hongzhou seemed to have a very good impression of this Wei Ping.
"Rest assured, Manager Fei. I will definitely cultivate any young man who comes out of the estate" Ma Lixing said, standing up with a smiling face and appearing very friendly.
Once the people were in Ma Lixing's hands, Manager Fei bid his farewell.
"Greetings, Boss Ma!" Wei Ping and the others quickly bowed and showed their respect.
After Manager Fei left, Wei Ping and the others quickly bowed and paid their respects with great deference.
"Mmm!"
Ma Lixing raised his hand, and after sitting back down, he said, "Since you have paid your respects to Ma Lixing's wharf, you are now my brothers. Naturally, I will not treat you unfairly."
"I also know that you have just passed the Praying Mantis Trial and are under a lot of pressure. Since there isn't much business at the Qing Shan Dock, you don't need to rush to work. Well then, I'll give you a month off. Take this time to rest and relax!"
Ma Lixing looked at everyone with a smile and said, "In addition, each of you can go and collect ten taels of silver as a welcome gift from me."
Upon hearing this, Wei Ping and the others were overjoyed.
After spending a year at the manor, their nerves were indeed stretched too tight and in need of relaxation.
Marleying not only gave them a vacation, but also gave them silver, which was truly to their liking!
Ten taels of silver was a huge sum of money for the group of orphans and beggars.
Before, they could only handle copper coins.
Silver?
They didn't even dare to think about it!
"Thank you, Big Boss!"
Although it was only a few short sentences, Wei Ping and the others were grateful to Ma Lixing.
It had to be said that Ma Lixing was indeed a skilled leader who knew how to manage his subordinates well.
"No need to be polite to your own brothers!"
After waving his hand, Ma Lixing then shouted, "Third Brother!"
"Big Boss!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a tall and muscular clan member walked in from outside, giving off an extremely oppressive feeling. He looked like a ruthless character who would dare to kill.
However, Wei Ping and the others were also tough guys who had shed blood before, and with their age of fifteen or sixteen, they were fearless.
Ma Lixing ordered, "Lao San, take these new brothers to the account room to receive ten taels of silver each, and also arrange their rooms."
"Yes, Big Boss!"
Lao San nodded and led Wei Ping and the others out of the hall. They first went to the adjacent account room to collect their silver, and then followed him to a nearby alley.
"There are a few empty rooms here, you can choose one to live in!"
Lao San spoke concisely and to the point.
After everything was settled, he didn't even wait for Wei Ping and the others to thank him before turning and leaving, giving them a feeling of being unwelcome strangers.
"Brother Wei Ping, you go first and choose!"
After Lao San left, Yu Fei quickly suggested that Wei Ping should choose a room first.
Because Wei Ping was a martial artist in the Tendons Refining Realm, while they were all ordinary people, although they were all new sect members, the invisible class difference was already evident.
Liu Qi and Gu Linhe had no objections to this.
"Well then!"
Wei Ping did not refuse, and directly chose the largest room facing south.
After Wei Ping made his choice, Yu Fei and the others began to pick their rooms.
Wei Ping looked around the room.
The room was not large, about thirty square meters, and the furnishings inside were also very simple, practical household items such as beds, tables, chairs, and cabinets.
"Well, let's just hang out here at Qing Shan Shop for now!"
Wei Ping made up his mind in his heart.
Although The Golden Praying Mantis sect was not a good thing, it was one of the three major gangs in Baiyun County and still had some influence.
Although Wei Ping had just entered the Tendons Refining Realm, he was still at the beginning stage and was not even considered a top player in the whole of Baiyun County.
The key is that chaos has erupted in the State of Jin, and many places are suffering, with the people struggling to make a living.
For Wei Ping, having the support of The Golden Praying Mantis sect, well even if they call it a sect it's more like a gang, is beneficial, as there's a saying that goes "it's good to be in the shade of a big tree."
Most importantly, the Golden Praying Mantis sect possesses martial arts and cultivation techniques!
And these things are usually only available to local powers or prestigious families, with ordinary people not having the qualifications to practice.
Without the pressure of life and death, Wei Ping didn't practice that day, but instead slept well.
In the evening, Yu Fei and others approached Wei Ping, saying that they wanted to invite him to dinner and hoped that he would take care of them in the future.
Although Wei Ping was at the bottom of the ranks among the core members of this group, in the eyes of Yu Fei and other ordinary people with average talent, Wei Ping had become someone they needed to look up to and flatter.
Wei Ping didn't refuse this.
They were all brothers who had passed the mantis trial at the manor and had been assigned to the same shop, so there was a bond and fate between them.
The key is that being flattered and buttered up like this felt pretty good!!!
That night, the four-and-a-half* kids drank a bit of alcohol and got very drunk!
(*(Expression used to describe young people who haven't yet matured))
...
The next morning, when Wei Ping woke up, the mantis avatar was already practicing.
This is the benefit of having an avatar. Although Wei Ping passed out from drinking and didn't know anything, it didn't affect the mantis avatar's practice.
It's awesome!!!
After drinking a cup of tea to cure his hangover, Wei Ping took out the "Shadowless Blade Technique" and began to read it.
After Wei Ping had finished reading the entire secret manual, he suddenly realized that the data in the panel had already been updated.
Name: Wei Ping
Realm: Tendons Refining Realm
Martial Arts:
Gold Mantis Body Refining Technique (Compatibility: 19%. Progress: First Layer 3%)
Shadowless Blade Technique (Compatibility: 8%. Progress: Learning 1%)
"8% compatibility? Not bad!" Wei Ping raised his eyebrows and curiously opened the data of the praying mantis avatar.
Avatar: Praying Mantis
Realm: None
Martial Arts: Gold Mantis Body Refining Technique (Compatibility: 47%. Progress: First Layer 5%)
Shadowless Knife Technique (Compatibility: 48%. Progress: Learning 1%)
"Wow, 48%?" When he saw the compatibility of the praying mantis avatar with the Shadowless Blade Technique, Wei Ping couldn't help but gasp.
The compatibility of the praying mantis avatar with the blade technique was actually higher than his two months of practicing the Gold Mantis Body Refining Technique!
"Is this a racial talent? It's really worthy of being the insect tribe's master of blade techniques!" Wei Ping could only marvel.
Because the arms of the praying mantis are naturally like knives, it is understandable that they have higher compatibility with blade techniques, right?
Hmm, very beaver-like!
"However, for now, the praying mantis avatar should focus on practicing the Gold Mantis Body Refining Technique, and put the blade technique aside for the time being!" Wei Ping's eyes sharpened, and he made a decision.
Because the balde technique is a martial art that can quickly increase combat power but cannot increase cultivation level.
And the Gold Mantis Body Refining Technique is a martial art that can both increase cultivation level and combat power, but the downside is that it is slow.
The key is that the praying mantis avatar is not yet an adult, and it is now the golden time for its body to rapidly grow. It should focus on exercising and stimulating its body's potential.
Otherwise, there won't be a chance like this again!
Looking at the praying mantis avatar's time interval of shedding its skin every seven days, it will only take a few more days for it to become an adult.
Wei Ping can wait!
...
Time flies, and more than half a month has passed in a blink of an eye.
Perhaps because it was the last shedding of skin, the time interval for this time was much longer than before, and Wei Ping was extremely anxious.
On this day, the praying mantis avatar once again transmitted a feeling of drowsiness.
"The praying mantis avatar is finally about to molt!" Wei Ping's face showed a look of excitement.