The next morning dawned.
The courtyard of Ma Gui's house was filled with members of the Sanhe Gang.
A middle-aged man dressed in a black brocade robe with a small mustache was examining Wang Xiong's corpse.
His hands had knuckles larger than those of an average person.
Yet the skin on the backs of his hands was immaculate and tender, so much so that the blue veins beneath the skin were visible and could make countless women envious.
He was Gao Kaiyuan, the second leader of the Sanhe Gang, known as "Shattering Jade Hand."
"Wang Xiong was killed by a punch that shattered his heavenly spirit cover.
The punch was thick and heavy, opening wide, as if his head had been smashed by a Demon-Subduing Pestle, presumably using the Vajra Fist."
Gao Kaiyuan, with his rich experience in the martial world, briefly examined Wang Xiong's corpse and deduced the circumstances of his death and the martial skill used to kill him.
One of his subordinates approached and said, "Gang leader, the other guy wasn't anything special; his leg was kicked broken, and then he was strangled to death."
"What was his identity?"
"That guy's name was Ma Gui, just a low-level thug who handled a few matters for Wang Xiong but hadn't formally joined our Sanhe Gang yet.
Could it be the work of the Black Tiger Gang or the Sky Eagle Gang? They can't compete with us for territory, so they might have killed Brother Xiong from the shadows."
Gao Kaiyuan squinted his eyes and said, "No, if it was them, they would have already started bragging about it by now.
The man first broke Ma Gui's leg, then killed Wang Xiong, and finally strangled Ma Gui. It's clear that the target was Ma Gui.
Look into Ma Gui further, see if he had any enemies or something."
The subordinate nodded.
"So, should we let this matter rest for now?"
"Let it rest? How could we possibly let it rest!"
Gao Kaiyuan snorted coldly: "Wang Xiong was a leader in my Sanhe Gang; now he's died unclearly, how could we let this go just like that? Where would I, Gao Kaiyuan, put my face?
There are many people who know the Vajra Fist, but in all of Black Stone County, the only place that could master the Vajra Fist to this extent is the Zhenwei Martial Arts Academy!
Go, take some men, and let's confront Li Jingzhong!"
In the Zhenwei Martial Arts Academy, Han Zheng seemed as if nothing had happened, arriving early for class.
During a break, Li Sancheng approached Han Zheng.
He glanced around and whispered, "Did you hear about last night? Ma Gui was killed and even Wang Xiong from the Sanhe Gang! The whole southern part of the city is in uproar!"
Han Zheng was unfazed: "You can't possibly think this has anything to do with me, right?"
"Of course not; Wang Xiong was a leader in the Sanhe Gang, responsible for several lives.
But you need to be careful these days not to get entangled with Ma Gui.
I heard that the Sanhe Gang is investigating everyone related to Ma Gui."
Initially, Li Sancheng didn't think the deaths of Ma Gui and Wang Xiong had anything to do with Han Zheng.
These martial arts school disciples were novices, how could they kill someone like Wang Xiong, a gang leader with blood on his hands?
But it was a bit too coincidental that Han Zheng had just inquired about Ma Gui yesterday, and now Ma Gui was dead.
Han Zheng patted Li Sancheng on the shoulder: "Thanks."
"Why would we brothers need to mention it?"
Even if Han Zheng wasn't the killer of Ma Gui, even if he was, Li Sancheng would only applaud him.
Both Ma Gui and his father were prison chiefs, but Ma Gui's father was greedy and more ruthless, often bullying his father at the County Government.
Ma Gui, older than him, used to bully him as a child and snatch his pocket money.
Therefore, Li Sancheng had called him 'grandson' out of deep-seated hatred.
At that moment, a commotion suddenly stirred at the entrance of the martial arts hall.
Gao Kaiyuan led more than a dozen strong, fierce-looking disciples of the Sanhe Gang and walked briskly into the Zhenwei Martial Arts Academy.
Li Jingzhong, expressionless, parted his disciples and walked up to Gao Kaiyuan, speaking sternly: "Gang Leader Gao, what brings you to our Zhenwei Martial Arts Academy?"
"I just want an explanation from you, Master Li."
Gao Kaiyuan's face was artificially smiling: "My subordinate Wang Xiong was killed last night by someone using the Vajra Fist.
Master Li, you were once a secular disciple of the Vajra Bodhi Temple, and the most famous skill of your academy is the Vajra Fist. Shouldn't you give me an explanation?"
"Absurd!"
Li Jingzhong, infuriated, laughed mockingly: "The Vajra Bodhi Temple agreed to let all secular disciples teach Vajra Fist outside to expand its influence.
There are tens of thousands who know the Vajra Fist!
Moreover, my academy and your Sanhe Gang bear no grudges, why would I kill one of your leaders for no reason?"
Gao Kaiyuan methodically said: "Master Li, don't worry. I'm not saying you killed my man.
But with so many disciples in your academy who know Vajra Fist, how about them?
Let me investigate them one by one, and if I find nothing, I will leave. How about it?"
Li Jingzhong coldly retorted: "These disciples have just joined the academy for half a year, how would they be able to kill?
Investigate whoever you want, Gao Kaiyuan. Aren't you being too overbearing?
If you want to investigate the academy, first get past me!"
"Very well, let me experience Master Li's White Ape Extended Arm Fist!"
As his words fell, Gao Kaiyuan suddenly made his move, and in a flash, he was already in front of Li Jingzhong.
His hands, typically as white as jade and enviable to women, were now bursting with energy and swollen veins.
In an instant, they turned dark bluish-black, and his fingers thickened to the size of carrots, resembling ghost claws.
Shattering Jade Hand!
Li Jingzhong's hips twisted, and his arms suddenly extended a notch, resembling a white ape in the mountains.
His arms swung out like two iron whips, filling the air with a loud explosive sound.
"Boom!"
The White Ape Extended Arm Fist collided with the Shattering Jade Hand, the explosive sound causing pain in the ears of everyone present.
The tiles under their feet shattered by inches, and both of them stepped back simultaneously.
Gao Kaiyuan dispersed the Shattering Jade Hand and laughed loudly, "Master Li, your White Ape Extended Arm Fist is indeed as formidable as its reputation suggests. I will not investigate Zhenwei Martial Arts Academy today.
However, if I find out that the person who killed my subordinate was indeed from Zhenwei Martial Arts Academy, next time it won't be just me coming."
After speaking, Gao Kaiyuan turned and walked away.
He was merely suspicious of Zhenwei Martial Arts Academy, but he had no evidence.
Thus, Gao Kaiyuan had only two purposes for his visit today.
One was to strike the mountain to scare the tiger, hoping that the real murderer would reveal themselves after hearing the news.
The other was to show off his power. If his subordinate was killed and he did nothing, they would really think he could be easily bullied?
No matter if Wang Xiong's death had anything to do with Li Jingzhong or not, he had to make this visit.
In terms of strength, the two were actually on par.
Currently, without sufficient evidence, a single exchange of blows for face-saving was enough before departure.
Had he indeed had evidence, Li Jingzhong would have faced not just one, but three leaders from the Sanhe Gang today.
"Close the door! Continue training!"
Li Jingzhong returned to the martial arts hall with a darkened face.
He felt he was really unfortunate.
Why did the damned murderer have to use the Vajra Fist?
Furthermore, the Sanhe Gang was simply too domineering, daring to barge in without any proof.
In the training ground, Li Sancheng looked at the footprints created by their single exchange, which had penetrated half a foot deep into the stone tiles, and couldn't help but gasp.
"My goodness! Is this the power of a warrior in the Innate Transcendent Realm? If they had fought with full force, wouldn't they have demolished the building?"
"Don't forget what the master said, Postnatal to Innate is just the beginning of Martial Arts, there are more realms to conquer beyond that."
Li Sancheng shook his head and said, "Forget it, reaching the Innate Realm in our lifetime would be good enough.
Just achieving Innate in Black Stone County would make us top-tier figures, even the County Magistrate would have to treat us with respect."
Han Zheng didn't respond, but his eyes were filled with a desire for power.
Li Sancheng thought that Innate was the limit, but having seen the power of the Innate Transcendent Realm today, Han Zheng became even more curious about what the Martial Arts path beyond Innate might look like.
But now was not the time to aim too high.
That Gao Kaiyuan could track them down through Wang Xiong's corpse was something Han Zheng had not anticipated.
The warriors who had mingled in the Martial World for decades were no simple characters.
He would have to be extra cautious in everything he did in the future.
Over the following half-month, perhaps due to Gao Kaiyuan's domineering behaviour having infuriated him, Li Jingzhong's temper remained bad, and he was much harsher than usual.
The disciples in the Martial Arts Hall were as silent as cicadas in winter, fearing that one mistake would result in a severe scolding from Li Jingzhong.
Han Zheng, however, did not care; he never made mistakes.
During this half-month period, Han Zheng had opened up another ten acupoints, making a total of eighty.
With the skill level of Iron Elephant Skill improving more and more, his cultivation speed was increasing as well, even outside of special environments.
The biggest benefit of cultivating in the Taotie Furnace wasn't actually the time saved, but the opportunity to observe the true intent of Martial Arts.
Grasping the true intent of a cultivation technique allows faster accumulation of skill level.
For Martial Skills, a higher skill level means stronger power during combat.
For Internal Cultivation Methods, a higher skill level allows one to accelerate their cultivation pace.
During the morning lesson, Li Jingzhong did not continue with fist training but led everyone to the weapons rack.
"Today, I am going to teach you about weapons!"
Li Jingzhong held a heavy iron whip in his hand and suddenly smashed it into the air, causing a harsh screeching sound.
"For a Martial Artist, weapons are an extension of fists and feet.
Learning to fight with fists is fundamental; weapons can allow you to exert more deadly force in combat.
However, I do not know how to use swords or other similar weapons; I will only teach you the basic usage of weapons.
The weapon paired with our Li Family's ancestral 'White Ape Extended Arm Fist' is the iron whip. This weapon is rather uncommon, and I wouldn't recommend you choose it.
The sword, being the king of all weapons, is versatile and comes in many forms. Those who wish to travel the Martial World might choose the sword.
The blade is heavy and overbearing, perfect for those who pursue the ultimate in killing power.
The spear is the weapon of warfare, perfect for breaking through fronts and unstoppable. Those who aspire to join the military might choose the spear.
Now, you can go choose your weapon from the rack."
Despite the high tuition, the treatment at Zhenwei Martial Arts Academy was indeed excellent.
In these chaotic times, even weapons' prices had increased; a top-quality steel sword could cost over ten pieces of silver.
"Han Zheng, what will you choose?" Li Sancheng asked.
"I'll choose the blade."
Han Zheng didn't hesitate much.
In times of chaos, one certainly had to pursue the ultimate in killing power.
With that, Han Zheng directly chose a blade, slender and straight like a goose feather—the Yanling Blade.
Li Sancheng scratched his head and also chose a blade, but he went for a heavier Golden Ring Saber.
His build wasn't suited for a sword.
Choosing a spear didn't seem right either; he had no plans to join the military.
With the world in such chaos going to the military could mean being sent to fight rebels and that would be disastrous.
So, the blade was the most suitable choice for him.