```
Meanwhile, after escaping, Yuan Ming first returned to his hiding place, then hurried off to Toad Valley.
He stopped at the entrance of the first stone house in the valley, where the same Registered Disciple was lying on a chair reading a book.
"Zhao Tong, it's time to do business," Yuan Ming called out.
The man on the chair, hearing the voice, slowly moved the scroll away, revealing a pale, clean, round face with a hint of baby fat, somewhat thick eyebrows, and round, bright eyes. He was not exactly handsome, but he had a decent appearance.
Seeing that it was Yuan Ming who had come, a slight smile appeared on his face.
Yuan Ming had dealt with him a few times before. Although they weren't very close, they were at least acquainted.
There were many Registered Disciples in Toad Valley who did business, but all of them carried an arrogant air, looking down their noses at others. Among them, Zhao Tong was somewhat more reasonable, but when it came to bargaining with the Fur Beast Slaves, he was never soft on driving down the price.
Perhaps because they were both originally from the Central Plains, he treated Yuan Ming rather fairly, thus Yuan Ming usually preferred to trade with him when he had something to sell.
"Heh, these Wild Boar Teeth are quite nice. The spiritual power within is restrained, and they've already reached the threshold for refining a Low-level Magical Artifact. What do you want to exchange for this time?" asked Zhao Tong.
"Wood Stabbing Technique," Yuan Ming replied without hesitation.
"You are really persistent... But rules are rules. The price I quoted before can't change. Have you saved up enough?" Zhao Tong inquired.
"I have everything right here," Yuan Ming said with a nod.
As he spoke, he began to remove the pair of Wild Boar Teeth from his body, took down two pouches from his waist, and then pulled out two dark red stones and a withered purple herb from his bosom.
Hearing this, Zhao Tong stood up and started to examine each of the items Yuan Ming had placed on the table.
After a careful inspection, he nodded in satisfaction and said, "Good, everything's accounted for. To tell you the truth, I thought it would take you at least six months to gather all these items. I didn't expect it to take you less than three."
"I was in a hurry for the Wood Stabbing Technique, couldn't wait six months," Yuan Ming said.
His experiences over the past period had made him acutely aware of his own lack of strength.
He might fare somewhat better against Fierce Beasts, but when conflicts with other Fur Beast Slaves arose, Yuan Ming always felt he had too few tricks up his sleeve, which was too dangerous.
Especially now that he had directly offended people from the Green Wolf Gang, his situation was only going to become more perilous.
He had inadvertently learned from Zhao Tong that Qi Refining Stage Cultivators could also learn some spells, and the Wood Stabbing Technique was a primary Lower Stage offensive spell that Qi Refining Stage Cultivators could relatively easily learn; its power depending on mana.
Of course, these spells were only accessible by truly joining the Biluo Cave and becoming a Registered Disciple, but for the sake of profit, naturally, some disciples would secretly copy them and exchange them with Fur Beast Slaves, although the asking price was usually not low.
"Alright, here is the copied manual for the Wood Stabbing Technique. You have two hours to memorize it," Zhao Tong said as he took out a thin white booklet from his bosom and casually tossed it to Yuan Ming.
"I can't take it with me?" Yuan Ming asked, frowning.
"What are you thinking? If the manual for the cultivation technique gets taken by you and after you learn it, you then sell it to someone else, how will I continue doing business?" Zhao Tong replied with a sneer.
"Fair point," Yuan Ming nodded.
After that, he opened the booklet and started to scrutinize it carefully.
While he read, Zhao Tong's voice reached his ears, "If you have any questions during this time, you can ask me at any time."
As the rustling of pages echoed, Yuan Ming showed no reaction to his words, as if he hadn't heard them at all, which slightly irked Zhao Tong.
But before Zhao Tong managed to settle back into his chair, Yuan Ming had already closed the book, stood there with his eyes closed, and began to chant the words silently to himself.
A moment later, he opened his eyes again and looked at Zhao Tong, asking, "The cultivation technique states that when executing this spell, mana must be channeled into the ground to connect with the Earth's Primordial Qi. Is it necessary to touch the ground with one's hands?"
At this, Zhao Tong was momentarily taken aback, then replied:
"Oh... that's correct. There are three stages in executing the Wood Stabbing Technique. Initially, when the mastery of the magic is not sufficient, to shorten the release time, it's best to touch the ground with your hands for the highest efficiency. Once the magic reaches a moderate level of proficiency, there's no need for hands, and you can communicate with the ground just by standing on it."
"Then when it reaches a high level of proficiency, even if someone is in mid-air, they can still execute the Wood Stabbing Technique by sealing and releasing mana?" Yuan Ming pondered briefly before asking further.
"Exactly. But that requires not only sufficient mana but also a mastery of the magic," Zhao Tong nodded.
"I understand, thank you," Yuan Ming said with a fist-and-palm salute.
"If you have more questions, feel free to ask," Zhao Tong said with a self-satisfied smile.
"No more questions," Yuan Ming said indifferently, then returned the "Wood Stabbing Technique" back to him.
Zhao Tong was a bit bewildered by Yuan Ming's action and asked in confusion, "Not going to read more?"
"I've memorized it all. There's nothing I don't understand for now. If there are any doubts, I'll have to find them through practice," Yuan Ming nodded and said.
"Although the 'Wood Stabbing Technique' is only three thousand words, you've memorized it all in less than the time for one cup of tea?" Zhao Tong asked incredulously.
"I've memorized it," Yuan Ming affirmed.
The "Wood Stabbing Technique" is, after all, just a Lower Stage Wood Attribute secret technique, much simpler than the "Nine Elements Technique".
"Could it be that you have a photographic memory?" Zhao Tong inquired doubtfully.
"I suppose my memory has always been quite good," Yuan Ming said with a bow, then took his leave.
Zhao Tong watched his retreating back with increased interest. Photographic memory wasn't something extraordinary for cultivators, but those who didn't have it, just didn't have it. It might as well be considered a divine skill given by the heavens.
```
"Brother Yuan."
Yuan Ming had just walked out of the valley entrance when someone called out to him.
Not far from him, a man jumped down from a large rock and approached.
"Wulu, what do you need me for?" Yuan Ming recognized the person and couldn't help but be a little surprised.
Their interactions were usually infrequent, and Yuan Ming couldn't think of any reason why he would come looking for him at this time.
"Did you kill someone from the Green Wolf Gang?" Wulu got straight to the point.
"There was a conflict, and I injured one. What... Did that guy die?" Yuan Ming frowned upon hearing this, puzzled.
"He's dead. They mentioned someone from the Central Plains, so I guessed it was you," Wulu said, grinning without any concern for the man's death.
"They?" Yuan Ming asked in confusion.
"I've joined the Green Wolf Gang," Wulu admitted openly.
"So, you're here to capture me?" Yuan Ming's gaze sharpened as he asked.
"I'm here to persuade you." Wulu shook his head.
"To persuade me?"
"I told them I'd come to persuade you to surrender and join the Green Wolf Gang. But I know your character; you definitely won't agree. So I'm here to give you an early warning, to be more vigilant," Wulu said with a smile.
Yuan Ming felt slightly taken aback upon hearing this.
"Surprised, are you? This is also a way to repay you for your past kindness," Wulu asked, then answered his own question.
"Then I owe you one." Yuan Ming also showed a hint of a smile and said.
"After I go back this time, they will probably issue an order to hunt you down and offer a reward for your capture. Based on their usual methods, as long as someone reports your whereabouts, that person will not be harassed by the Green Wolf Gang and might even receive their protection. So, your situation won't be good," Wulu continued.
"I figured as much," Yuan Ming nodded, unsurprised.
"If I'm not mistaken, the person sent after you will be Ba Yin, a bald man with a fierce face who has recently broken through to the Qi Refining third level. He can be considered as one of the top experts among the Fur Beast Slaves in the Ten Thousand Mountains. Don't take him lightly if you come across him," Wulu added.
"Understood, thanks," Yuan Ming nodded and expressed his gratitude.
Seeing this, Wulu's smile gradually faded to a serious expression, "Brother Yuan, that's all the help I can provide for now. If we meet again, we might be enemies, though I hope we won't be."
Yuan Ming paused for a moment before nodding again.
After that, Wulu left first, and Yuan Ming also exited Toad Valley, returning to his hiding place.
Once back in the cave, Yuan Ming immediately started practicing the Wood Stabbing Technique.
...
Half a month later, in a sparse woodland area.
Yuan Ming crouched down, one hand supporting himself on the ground, the other hand forming seals. A strand of mana flowed into the ground from his palm.
A flicker of light passed through his eyes as he shouted in a low voice, "Rise!"
At the sound of his voice, a green light flashed five zhang away from him, and a sharp green wooden thorn, similar to a spear, stabbed up from the ground.
The wooden thorn, as thick as a child's arm and no more than a foot long, had a tip that shone with a metallic sheen, evidently very sturdy and sharp.
Seeing this, Yuan Ming wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, a smile flickering in his eyes.
After this period of practice, the distance at which he could execute his Wood Stabbing Technique had extended several times from the initial mere zhang, and both the sharpness and the sturdiness had improved significantly, to his great satisfaction.
"This Wood Stabbing Technique isn't too difficult to cultivate, but it consumes quite a bit of mana. Continuous use could drain my mana too quickly. I need to improve my cultivation," Yuan Ming mumbled to himself.
Just then, his ears twitched, and he suddenly turned his head towards one direction, shouting, "Who's there?"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than rustling sounds erupted around him, and five figures emerged, surrounding him in the center.
"Good job, you're quite hard to find," one of them stepped forward and said.
With a bald head and a broad face radiating a fierce aura, Yuan Ming immediately realized this person was Ba Yin, the one Wulu had mentioned.
His brow furrowed as he immediately wore the Ape Skin and performed the Fur Cloak Technique, transforming into the likeness of a White Ape.
"I'd advise you not to resort to violence. I don't want to kill," Yuan Ming spoke out.
Unintimidated, Ba Yin laughed in response, "Just because you killed that trash Zaha, do you really think you're something special? If I don't twist your head off today and bring it back, I don't deserve to be the Vice Gang Leader of the Green Wolf Gang."
With that, he too put on a Beast Skin and executed the Fur Cloak Technique.
His body slightly swelled as thick, long fur grew all over him, his forehead became broader, his eyes smaller and rounder, his nose flatted and blunt, and his hands and feet sprouted sharp and hard claws.
But the most conspicuous feature was the two-foot-wide strip of white fur that ran from the top of his head to his back, making it seem as if he had donned a silver-white cloak.