Chapter 8: Chapter Eight: Looks Like a Proper Book at First Glance

Butler Dong Fu led Jiang Yunzhou to an inconspicuous warehouse in the rear courtyard, then lifted his hand to turn the incense burner on the Multitude Treasure Cabinet.

Creak—

The Multitude Treasure Cabinet slowly opened, revealing a neat row of shelves behind it.

On it, according to weapon and attribute, they were divided into several categories—fist, palm, leg, spear, sword, staff, hammer, …—and placed in separate categories.

Jiang Yunzhou found this a bit troublesome; he really hadn't expected such generous treatment beforehand.

So he hadn't decided what to practice earlier, and now, faced with this dazzling array of techniques, he felt a bit of choice paralysis.

"Young Master Jiang, do you have a technique you like here?"

"Is there one for breaking one's virginity?"

Jiang Yunzhou gave an embarrassed laugh and replied:

"I don't mind if Mr. Dong laughs, but aside from my family's internal cultivation, I really haven't practiced any specific technique before, so I don't know what to pick right now."

Dong Fu turned, stood firm, and said:

"This is easy; Young Master Jiang only needs to strike my chest with all his strength, and I can judge the strength and attribute of his internal cultivation, then recommend a suitable technique for him."

"Hit you directly? Is that really okay?"

"No problem."

Jiang Yunzhou thought, "You masters really have a lot of tricks, and you're putting on airs."

It seems the rank of this butler, Dong Fu, is surely far above my own.

While circulating his Pure Yang Child Technique, Jiang Yunzhou asked:

"I don't know what rank Mr. Dong is."

The burly Dong Fu still wore a polite smile on his face:

"I'm merely the butler of Master Dong's residence; in cultivation I'm only fifth rank."

Jiang Yunzhou nearly spat a mouthful of old blood onto the butler's face.

"Fifth rank?! And that's all?! You really can pretend more than a Durex condom."

According to what I learned from the seventh-rank Zou Zhen, even in Shangyang City, a fifth rank could hold the position of thousand household or envoy of the Zhenning Office.

And yet this fifth-rank expert before me is actually serving as a butler in Master Dong's residence.

Going by the common saying that one ordinary person can beat five, Mr. Dong Fu here should easily be able to take on several hundred of me.

Thinking this, Jiang Yunzhou no longer held back, stepped back two paces, and gathered his internal energy more fully.

"Mr. Dong, be careful!"

Saying this, Jiang Yunzhou's right palm came crashing forth.

Originally Dong Fu hadn't paid it any mind, after all the gap between ninth rank and himself was huge, and letting the opponent strike was already giving him face.

An ordinary ninth rank merely has a slight sense of qi; even with some family-internal cultivation as a base, several years of accumulation wouldn't produce deep internal force.

Moreover, he hasn't learned any technique, so the way he emits his internal force might not be correct.

So Dong Fu simply let Jiang Yunzhou strike him, which would also let him better gauge the strength and attribute of this Young Master Jiang's internal force.

At the same time he worried that using force might rebound and injure this young master, so he also didn't employ defensive force.

However, as Jiang Yunzhou's palm wind arrived first, Dong Fu felt a strong, pure yang internal force howling toward him.

The feeling of pure, robust strength was in no way like something a ninth-rank person could emit!

Dong Fu, surprised, wanted to use force but feared injuring Jiang Yunzhou, so he instinctively extended his right palm to receive it.

Boom!

Jiang Yunzhou channeled most of his internal force and slammed a palm into Dong Fu's right palm.

Dong Fu, who had thought he could easily dispel it without gathering power, was blasted so that his feet slid back a step before he steadied himself.

As Dong Fu's heels steadied, a wave of qi burst from behind him, knocking over several boxes of scrolls placed at his rear and blowing open the rear window as well.

The qi wave spread, stirring up dust inside the room.

Seeing Dong Fu suddenly move to defend, Jiang Yunzhou thought he hadn't followed the instructions and exclaimed:

"Mr. Dong truly possesses extraordinary strength; my charged strike is like an ant trying to shake a tree. Did you act because I didn't follow your request, or because my internal force is insufficient?"

"So you blocked this move to let me try again? In that case I can gather power anew and guarantee that my next strike will have even greater internal force hitting you."

Dong Fu's expression grew slightly complex; he thought, "This kid really is a bit outrageous."

Fortunately, his strike just now had no technique, being pure internal force.

Yet its actual might was not inferior to a full-force palm from a seventh-rank expert.

And when he exerted force, the surrounding airflow showed no change, meaning he lacked the ability of a third-rank to mobilize heaven and earth's qi, drawing purely from his own qi sea...

The fact is clear: his qi sea far exceeds that of ordinary people.

Rank divisions merely set cultivation standards, determining the minimum of training, not implying that those of the same rank are equal.

For those of the lower three ranks who can only use their own qi sea, the qi sea is the foundation of strength.

This kid's qi sea is so robust that I've never seen its like; if he learns techniques, his strength could easily surpass seventh rank.

I don't know about his medical skill, but this pure internal force and exaggerated qi sea are absolutely excellent material for cultivation.

Pulling back his hand, reddened by the palm strike, Dong Fu turned it over and coughed lightly twice, then explained:

"No need, Young Master Jiang's internal force is pure yang and rigid, his qi sea far exceeds ordinary people; if we're talking about the most suitable type of technique......"

Dong Fu said, then directly took two books from the shelf and handed them to Jiang Yunzhou in turn.

The first book looked aged, its four characters mottled: "Breaking Heaven Spear Technique".

What a fellow, the name is so chuunibyou.

"Mr. Dong, do you think I'm suited to practice spear technique?"

Dong Fu explained:

For the utmost yang and utmost rigid internal force, the most suitable weapons to employ are the saber and spear.

Actually, saber techniques would also work, but this set of the Breaking Heaven Spear Art also includes a fist method formed after discarding the spear; overall, it is the first choice.

Young Master Jiang's internal force is extremely yang and rigidly mighty, yet in its deployment and condensation it still lacks refinement; this spear set can help you.

Spear techniques are good, after all, beyond seven steps the spear is fast.

One might not actually always carry a Dragon Yang Great Spear, but one can indeed rely on this set of techniques to practice mastery of one's internal force.

Having said that, Dong Fu passed over the second book as well.

This book is older than the previous one, its title somewhat illegible; Jiang Yunzhou held it farther away before recognizing it as called 'Yin Yang Cloud Rain'.

Yin Yang? Cloud Rain? Witch Mountain Cloud Rain? Turning clouds and covering rain?

Just from the title you can tell it's a quite proper book.

Uh...... Mr. Dong, what does this book teach?

Seeing the expression on Jiang Yunzhou's face, Dong Fu naturally knew what he was thinking, and he waved his hand to explain:.

Don't think too much, this book mainly covers sword techniques.

Sword techniques? You didn't say I'm suited for saber and spear? Why is there also a set of sword techniques?

This one is different; this book's content is rather complicated, mainly discussing the theory of yin-yang transformation, mutual generation and overcoming of attributes, such as how to let your pure yang internal force not be restrained and exert maximum power, which is explained inside; to make it more accessible, it records several sword techniques and body methods of different yin-yang attributes, explaining the attribute characteristics in depth yet in a simple manner in actual combat.

In-depth yet accessible...... in actual combat...... and they still call this a proper book.

So it's a yin-yang attribute theory book; indeed it should be studied.

However, the last two chapters indeed contain some introduction to dual cultivation; you...... just take a critical look at them.

Jiang Yunzhou chuckled and said:.

I understand, I understand.

Focus on studying the last two chapters.

These two books are enough for you to study for now; if you can master them, you can also be promoted to eighth rank, and with your foundation you might even directly break through to seventh rank; keep these technique manuals safe.

Dong Fu thought to himself, this kid is already this strong at ninth rank; if he breaks through to seventh rank, I really would have some anticipation.

Jiang Yunzhou flipped through the ancient pages and said:.

That's certain, but these two technique manuals seem too old, not like from the current dynasty.

Not bad, these two are from the previous dynasty; they were seized by Lord Dong when he cracked the previous dynasty's rebel case, so hardly anyone in the jianghu knows how to use them, and they are not easily countered.

Thank you, Mr. Dong, you are still thoughtful.

After selecting suitable technique manuals, Jiang Yunzhou returned to the study with Dong Fu.

Dong Yun was reading a book, and Jiang Yunzhou noticed that the plate holding seasonal fruits was already half gone.

Yunzhou, how is it, any gains?

Thank you for your great kindness, sir; Mr. Dong has already selected suitable techniques for me.

That's good, it's almost lunchtime; let's go together.

Jiang Yunzhou hesitated and then refused:.

I still won't disturb the sir's meal; since the sir lending out techniques is risky, I'd better go back and practice as soon as possible.

Jiang Yunzhou isn't actually that distant from this portly Dong.

but rather knowing that their such close attitude toward me is entirely because of my master's connection.

Not helping but receiving too many favors will only wear out my master's goodwill; when I truly need help later, it would be awkward to ask.

Hearing the meaning in Jiang Yunzhou's words, Dong Yun also didn't insist, and he untied a jade pendant from his waist and threw it to Jiang Yunzhou from a distance, saying:.

If you come to find me in the future, holding this jade pendant you can directly enter the Dong Manor and the Ministry of Justice, but if you break the law, I also cannot help you.

Jiang Yunzhou again gave thanks and said:.

Thank you, sir.

Only after Jiang Yunzhou left did Dong Yun close his book and ask:.

Dong Fu, what do you think of this child?

This Young Master Jiang has excellent aptitude and foundation; I can't believe he's only ninth rank, but what interests me most is his uniqueness.

How so?

Others wouldn't even dare to eat with the old master, just being able to come for a visit makes them grateful, yet he refuses to practice; yet he doesn't seem aloof in personality.

Heh, he, like Ji Min, dislikes owing favors for no reason.

However, old master, among the six name cards delivered today, one is obviously a pretense from the Second Prince's Manor; you pretended not to notice and avoided it, solely to see Young Master Jiang; aren't you afraid he'll attract attention?

Dong Yun turned his head to look out the window.

Isn't that just fine? Spreading news about this child is also a form of protection; he will eventually come into contact with those people.