Chapter 75: Spinning Silk and Peeling Cocoons, Following the Vine to Find the Melon!

That night.

Although one batch of materials was wasted, Lu Yuan's subsequent refining went quite smoothly.

Before dawn, he successfully refined another Bait Stone Pill.

Having no time to consume it, he returned to Boxiyuan silently after finishing, without alerting anyone.

In reality.

Constantly living in this crowded and bustling garden, combined with the many secrets he carried, Lu Yuan felt it becoming increasingly inconvenient and began to consider moving out to live alone.

It was just that, up to this point, he had not found a suitable excuse or reason.

Take Xu Dahu, for instance; because he advanced to the Bone Forging realm, he had now become a Hall Master of the North Hall of the Qinglong Gang, and when handling daily chores at the hall, Li Junxian would not even ask if he didn't return.

But if he, the youngest, were nowhere to be seen from morning till night, Li Junxian would certainly inquire.

Of course, Lu Yuan had another option, which was to abandon everything he currently had and distance himself from the mortal world, finding some deep mountain forest to quietly cultivate without being disturbed.

However, that would lack a large supply of resources, and he didn't know how many years it would take to achieve Refining Essence into Qi, so naturally, it was not a suitable choice.

After returning and resting briefly, the sky was already bright.

Benefiting from his cultivation, Lu Yuan did not feel much fatigue; after completing his morning lessons as usual, Li Junxian, who had not tested his cultivation for a long time, called him alone into the courtyard.

With the refinement of his cultivation, his entire temperament had become increasingly ethereal and elusive, looking different from ordinary people at a glance.

And as he scrutinized this disciple who could not be measured by conventional logic, Li Junxian's eyes were probing as he asked:

"It has been two months since I last tested you; to what stage has your Martial Arts reached? Has your Bone Forging reached perfection?"

Lu Yuan did not know how to answer this question, so he spoke vaguely:

"I suppose so?"

"What is this 'suppose' or 'not suppose'? If you have, you have; if you haven't, you haven't."

Although Li Junxian had a sharp eye, he found it difficult to discern anything from his disciple now, so he immediately said:

"Strike me with a punch at full strength, and I will judge."

"Yes."

Lu Yuan had no choice; he immediately took a step back, then suddenly stomped his foot and struck a punch directly at Li Junxian.

Crack!

In an instant, it was as if a thunderbolt had struck the sky; as he threw the punch, the airflow around him exploded, the air where his fist pointed surged violently, whipping up a fierce fist wind like a giant wave crashing through the air, with air explosions and sonic booms sounding at the same time, as if the air were a mirror being shattered by this punch!

The air in front of him was torn apart as if it had turned into substance; seeing this power, Li Junxian's eyebrows twitched violently, and he suddenly stepped forward and pressed out a palm.

His palm strike appeared light and powerless, but in reality, it gave one a contradictory feeling of mercury pouring down and time being slowed.

Until the moment the fist and palm met—

Boom!

Suddenly, the roar of Qi energy exploded!

Air ripples and explosive sounds erupted outward; the robes on both of them fluttered simultaneously, and the air around them was struck until it popped like a string of firecrackers.

Beneath Li Junxian and Lu Yuan, the flat and hard ground seemed unable to withstand the impact of some wild force, trembling violently; many fine sand and stones within a radius of several feet were instantly ejected and scattered in all directions!

"You brat..."

In such a shocking scene, Lu Yuan took a step back, while Li Junxian's face twitched as he slowly withdrew his hand:

"More than just Bone Forging perfection; this strength and explosive power are basically no different from the Thunder Sound Realm!"

Although he had not used his full strength, Li Junxian's ability to deflect his punch so casually also showed extraordinary Martial Arts, and Lu Yuan felt admiration, pretending not to know:

"So that's how it is; this disciple really wasn't sure."

Li Junxian hid his numb and stinging hand behind his back, shook it twice nonchalantly, and then sighed with a hint of sorrow:

"Unexpected, truly unexpected. When you entered my sect, you hadn't even practiced strength, and in just one year, you have reached the Four Realms Thunder Sound. This speed is simply unheard of; I, as your master, haven't even spent much effort teaching you, and I am truly ashamed..."

Lu Yuan smiled:

"Master, what are you saying? Without your guidance, I would at most have some brute strength; how could I have the skills I have today? Please do not say such things again."

Li Junxian said helplessly: "I was just afraid that having nothing left to teach would delay your future, kid."

As he spoke, he took a booklet from his bosom and said solemnly:

"Take this. This is the *Mi Cang Breathing Method*, the cultivation method for the Four Realms stage of the Shenquan Sect. This method is a breathing and meditation technique specifically for tempering the lungs and viscera in coordination with medicinal soups. The saying goes: Dragon Tendons and Tiger Bones, Iron Viscera; when practicing martial arts to the later stages, one needs to cultivate both internally and externally. Only when the tendons, bones, skin, membranes, and even the viscera are strong, tough, and condensed into one, unafraid of dark energy strikes, can one be called a Lei Yin Great Martial Master.

This notebook contains my personal insights and realizations; take it back to study first, and after you are familiar with the contents, I will come to teach you personally. Even the Thunder Sound Realm should not be able to stop you for long; once this realm is about complete, I will pass on to you the true ultimate art of the Shenquan Sect, the Broken Gang Divine Fist."

Although the Broken Gang Divine Fist was incomplete, it was still the secret ultimate art of the Shenquan Sect.

Even though the path of Martial Arts was only a cover for Lu Yuan now, he still felt Li Junxian's sincere care and his hope for his disciple to succeed, so he respectfully took the booklet:

"This disciple thanks Master for passing on the technique!"

Li Junxian did not say much and waved his hand: "Less sentimentality, go."

Lu Yuan left the courtyard, returned to his room, and began to flip through the *Mi Cang Breathing Method*.

This breathing method seemed to combine some Buddhist concepts, requiring the combination of hand seals, blood Qi, breathing, and medicinal soups to achieve success.

Especially the medicinal soup called 【Mi Cang Yuan Qi Soup】 as an aid, which was the most critical part of the practice; without this link, it was almost impossible to reach this Fourth Realm.

"Interesting... Although the so-called Martial Arts practice blood Qi, tendons, bones, viscera, and marrow, some concepts actually correspond to the Guiding Technique."

"In other words, if I use the Guiding Technique as a reference, I might be able to modify and improve the Martial Arts manuals, perhaps expanding the upper limit of Martial Arts development?"

Cultivating an Earthly Fiend Immortal Art like 【Guiding】, Lu Yuan's vision was naturally far beyond what the martial artists of this world could compare to, and he immediately came up with such an interesting idea.

If he wanted to obtain a massive amount of Qi Luck to light up the Heavenly Gang Method, overthrowing the Jin Dynasty and rebuilding the nation was certainly one way, but establishing a sect and spreading the Dao to the world to expand the upper limit of the martial path was also a method.

Of course, these two major tasks could only be left for later; with his current amount of Dharma Power, it was clearly not enough.

Lu Yuan stopped thinking about it and immediately began to comprehend and try to practice this breathing method to use for future reports.

With the high-level perspective of an immortal Dao Qi Refining and breathing method like 【Guiding】, although the *Mi Cang Breathing Method* was considered complex, it was not difficult in his hands; in less than half an hour, he easily entered the door and mastered the basics.

And just as he was immersed in his practice.

Outside the courtyard, there suddenly came bursts of clamor, along with faint, sorrowful wailing and crying.

Lu Yuan opened his eyes, frowned, and went out to the main courtyard.

He saw everyone gathered in the courtyard, with a middle-aged woman of weathered appearance wailing and pleading about something; beside her, Xu Erhu was personally supporting her, trying to console her.

Lu Yuan recognized the woman; she was Lian Shen, the laundress of Boxiyuan, who specifically washed clothes for everyone in Boxiyuan. She was hardworking, honest, and dutiful, and had good relationships with everyone.

At this moment, Li Junxian also heard the commotion and walked out from his small courtyard. He looked over and asked with a frown:

"What are you all arguing about?"

Xu Erhu said in a low voice, "Master, Lian Shen's family has encountered some difficulties and wants you to help them."

Seeing Li Junxian appear, Lian Shen's voice became even more sorrowful. She knelt and kowtowed to him: "Master Li, I truly have no other way. I beg you to show mercy and help my family!"

Li Junxian, not understanding the situation, stepped forward and signaled for Xu Erhu to pull her up:

"What is it? What has happened to your family?"

Lian Shen's eyes were red and swollen, and she choked out:

"My son, Wang Zhu, has been missing for three whole days. He hasn't returned since he went out to pull his rickshaw the morning of the day before yesterday. His father and I have searched the entire East City these past few days but haven't found him. I don't know what kind of accident he met with; we haven't even found his body."

Wang Zhu, the son of Lian Shen, often came to Boxiyuan with Lian Shen to collect and deliver laundry when he was young, and he was familiar with many of the elders in the courtyard.

Just in the last two years, after he grew up, Lian Shen scrimped and saved to buy him a brand-new rickshaw, which he registered under the Qinglong Gang's transport agency to pull for a living; his life was going quite well.

Having watched Wang Zhu grow up, Li Junxian's brows immediately knit together, and he said gravely:

"He has been missing for three days; have you gone to the transport agency to ask?"

Lian Shen wiped her tears:

"I already went to the transport agency. Out of respect for you, they gathered all the rickshaw pullers who knew Zhu to ask them, but none of them had seen him that day, and even his rickshaw is nowhere to be found.

His father and I went to report it to the authorities early the next morning, but as soon as those people heard that Zhu was a rickshaw puller, they told us to go back and wait for news. I waited another day, and I truly had no other way, so I came to beg you to help me inquire. Whether Zhu is dead or alive, let us parents at least have some certainty."

By the end, she was sobbing uncontrollably, and everyone in Boxiyuan present showed expressions of sympathy.

In this day and age, three days without a trace was not a good sign. While young children or teenagers might be abducted by human traffickers, someone like Wang Zhu, who was an adult, was very likely to have met with an accident and be lying dead somewhere.

"Lian Shen, do not be anxious."

Li Junxian's gaze was steady, and he immediately ordered:

"A Yuan, go find your senior fellow apprentice. Borrow a few well-informed people from him and go everywhere to inquire, see if you can find out anything!"

Since Xu Erhu was responsible for managing the chores of Boxiyuan and could hardly leave, Lu Yuan immediately stepped out and replied:

"Yes, Master. Lian Shen, come with me."

Ignoring the obstruction, Lian Shen kowtowed to Li Junxian once more in deep gratitude, then wiped her tears and followed Lu Yuan out of Boxiyuan, heading to the Qinglong Gang's hall to find Xu Dahu.

On the way, Lu Yuan asked for the details:

"Lian Shen, Zhu shouldn't have offended anyone, right?"

Lian Shen shook her head repeatedly: "No, no. He is honest and simple; he wouldn't even dare to argue with anyone, let alone offend anyone."

Lu Yuan asked again: "Then, before he went missing, was there anything unusual?"

"Unusual..."

Lian Shen tried hard to recall, saying sorrowfully:

"It seems not. If I had to say, it would be that the day before he went missing, he was pulling his rickshaw to the North City and saw a Daoist on the street offering free fortune-telling in exchange for one's Birth Date and Time, so he went over to join the crowd.

After the Daoist finished, he said that in two years he would meet a noble person, his luck would turn around, and he would become prosperous. Zhu was very happy when he came back and told us. But the next day, he..."

Free fortune-telling?

Lu Yuan's eyes narrowed, and he immediately sensed something unusual.

There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Whether it is a swindler or a master who truly knows how to read palms and faces, they always want something.

If it were the latter, why would this fortune-teller give a free reading to a poor man, and what could he possibly want?

Harboring faint doubts, he soon brought Lian Shen to the North Hall.

The so-called hall was actually a teahouse where members of the Qinglong Gang rested and gathered.

As soon as Lu Yuan arrived, he was recognized by the Qinglong Gang members, who then diligently went to notify Xu Dahu, who was out, to return.

And upon returning and learning of Lian Shen's situation.

Xu Dahu naturally felt sympathy and did not hesitate to call over two small leaders who looked quite shrewd and clever, each bringing a few lackeys for Lu Yuan to command.

The two leaders were named Chai Jiu and Hu Feng, both of whom were well-versed in the ways of the underworld.

Lu Yuan did not stand on ceremony and immediately issued orders. First, he had Chai Jiu find a skilled painter to draw and print multiple vivid portraits of Wang Zhu based on Lian Shen's description.

At the same time, he wrote a missing person notice under the portrait with a reward of ten Silver Yuan, and arranged for several lackeys to go to the Caishikou of the East City and other districts to post them.

Besides this, he also had Hu Feng take people to the place in the North City that Lian Shen mentioned to look for the so-called fortune-teller.

After half a day, Hu Feng, whom he had sent out, brought back news that the fortune-teller used to appear frequently in busy markets to tell fortunes for free, and had appeared in the North, West, and South Cities, but no one had seen him in the last few days.

North, West, South—the only place he had never appeared was the East City.

Lu Yuan felt more and more that something was wrong. He personally led people to the North City to inquire in detail and learned that this so-called fortune-teller had been offering free fortune-telling in the other three districts for two or three months!

This situation was undoubtedly very strange. He immediately paid out of his own pocket, using Silver Yuan to pave the way, and had Chai Jiu and Hu Feng find ways to inquire for information at the government offices of the North, South, and West Cities.

The result was:

The number of missing person cases reported in these three districts over the past two or three months had increased significantly, with more than ten extra cases every month compared to the past!

Under Lu Yuan's request, Chai Jiu and the others bribed the yamen clerks and obtained the case files of several people who had reported missing persons.

From the information, the missing persons included poor commoners, local ruffians, scholars from noble families... men, women, old, and young; there was no pattern at all.

However.

When Lu Yuan chose several families who had reported the cases and visited them personally to inquire, he discovered that at least half of the relatives mentioned that the missing person had also joined the crowd before they went missing and had their fortune told for free by that so-called fortune-teller using their Birth Date and Time!

(End of chapter)