When Lu Sheng heard this, his eyes lit up.

He hadn't been able to find any complete and powerful martial arts manuals, so since he couldn't find good ones, he could make up for it in quantity.

Anyway, with the modifier, his martial arts learning speed was incredibly fast. He could cultivate a martial art to mastery in just a few tries.

So by learning many martial arts, it should be possible to achieve his goal.

In this world, demons and monsters could appear at any time. If he didn't seize the opportunity to rapidly strengthen himself, what could he use to defend himself when he really encountered danger?

Thinking of this, Lu Sheng's eyes brightened.

He understood what Zhao Bo meant.

In Jiu Lian Cheng, there were also many old guys who practiced martial arts, like the former yamen chief catcher Zhang Xun. His Cracking Heart Palm was extremely fierce. Now that he was old and had no children or grandchildren, he had no heir.

He didn't have much family wealth left, living a hand-to-mouth existence, often needing help from friends like Zhao Bo.

If he could use money and connections to smooth things over, it would probably be easy to obtain Cracking Heart Palm's inheritance from him.

When Zhang Xun was young, he was known as Jiu Lian Cheng's number one master.

Only when he got old did the others catch up. He was much older than Zhao Bo, already 86 this year, and his legs weren't nimble anymore.

When Zhao Bo and the others made names for themselves, he had already retired for many years.

There were quite a few such former masters in Jiu Lian Cheng.

Lu Sheng's mind became active. If he could learn something from each of these people and accumulate it all, even third-rate martial arts cultivated to an extremely high level would still be extremely fierce.

"What do you think, young master? If you're interested, I can contact some suitable old friends for you."

Zhao Bo was also trying to help take care of his old friends, probably unwilling to see his good friends end up in such dire straits in their old age.

Lu Sheng thought about it carefully.

"What Zhao Bo said makes sense, I just don't know which masters you can contact?"

"Don't worry about which masters, more than you can chew. I can guarantee Cracking Heart Palm and Swallow Chasing Blade for you.

These two old friends of mine lost their children to enemies when young and now have no one to rely on, living difficult lives. They wanted to find disciples to pass on their skills long ago.

But practicing martial arts costs money that poor scholars don't have. Even with hard training it shortens the lifespan, so they couldn't bear to pass it on to harm other people's children."

Zhao Bo said regretfully,

"It just so happens that I see you have extraordinary talent and exceptional aptitude. Although we can't obtain top martial arts from major sects, if you can cultivate these two skills to a high level, they would still be formidable."

"This would meet your requirements, young master, and also take care of some old friends. Killing two birds with one stone."

Seeing that he had laid out his idea completely, Lu Sheng's expression also became solemn.

"Since Zhao Bo can vouch for them, then these two seniors will be my masters. Send twenty taels of silver to each of them every month as tuition."

When Zhao Bo heard this, he couldn't help showing a smile.

"Young master is indeed kind-hearted..."

Actually, for average martial arts school masters to teach real skills, the cost would not exceed ten taels of silver.

But Lu Sheng directly gave twenty taels each, clearly giving Zhao Da Hu face.

If word of this got out, Zhao Da Hu would gain prestige in front of many old friends.

"Young master, I will pass on the news to my friends."

Since it was decided, Zhao Bo couldn't wait to go tell Zhang Xun.

Zhang Xun had recently caught a chill again. This iron-bodied man had harmed his body too much when young because he didn't know how to take care of himself. Now his qi and blood were depleted, and without money for nourishment, even hard training would shorten his lifespan.

Zhao Bo had helped pay his medical bills before.

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If not for that, he wouldn't have thought to recommend Zhang Xun to Lu Sheng as a master.

He really...really couldn't bear to see his good friend end up in such dire straits.

"Go ahead, Zhao Bo."

Lu Sheng bowed with his hands clasped.

After seeing Zhao Bo off, Lu Sheng stood alone on the training grounds.

He raised his long saber and practiced another set of Black Tiger Saber Technique whoosh whoosh.

Tiger Death, Tiger Might, and Tiger Howl, the three moves split up into three sets of over ten move combinations.

Although the three big moves were separate independent moves, every move actually contained many independent saber moves.

For example, Tiger Death was split into moves for dealing with frontal attacks, rear attacks, left and right side attacks, surprise projectile attacks, long weapon attacks, heavy weapon attacks...

And so on, with many variations.

It wasn't just that one move that could be practiced.

In the middle of his saber practice, a servant suddenly ran over from the edge of the training grounds and stood there waiting for him to finish, seeming to have something to say.

Lu Sheng's brow furrowed.

He swiftly sheathed his saber and stood still, looking at that servant.

"What is it?"

"Replying to young master, there is a carriage outside. A lady calling herself Miss Duan Mu Wan said she had an appointment to visit you, young master."

The servant respectfully answered.

"Duan Mu Wan... came?"

Lu Sheng was surprised.

He had gotten the Dark Destruction Skill but still hadn't successfully started cultivating it.

This made him somewhat doubtful whether this internal skill was real or not. Duan Mu Wan had previously said she could get internal skill manuals. He didn't know if that was true or false.

"Nevermind, better meet her first before saying anything."

Although the other party was a formidable character, he wasn't some clueless young master in the city who could be seduced. With her level of scheming, no amount of skill would work.

"Have her wait in the guest hall. I'll be right over."

"Yes."

The servant left.

Lu Sheng had a servant bring a basin of water for him to quickly wipe away some sweat, then he changed into white robes and headed to the guest hall.

Walking through the training grounds, past the small garden, and through a corridor, he arrived at the specialized guest hall.

The doors of the guest hall were open. Inside to the right was seated a lady in purple dress and skirt, fair as snow and wearing pearl crescent moon earrings, with a graceful and elegant demeanor.

It was none other than Duan Mu Wan whom he'd met before.

Also in the guest hall was his third younger brother Lu Chen Xin, enthusiastically chatting up Duan Mu Wan. His eyes were fixed on her chest, staring at the faint ravine showing through her white top. His eyes seemed to want to sink right in, unable to look away.

Cough cough.

Lu Sheng lightly coughed twice.

The two immediately noticed and turned to look.

"Big brother..."

Lu Chen Xin's face turned red, rather embarrassed as he stood up.

"Since big brother is here... this Miss Duan Mu came specifically looking for you..."

He spoke haltingly.

"Little brother, go ask the kitchen to bring sour plum soup over. I'll entertain the guests here."

Lu Sheng had good judgment at home and had experienced many things before, showing capability, so he had prestige among his siblings. He was not frivolous like other young masters.

He had one sister and one younger brother. His second sister Lu Qing Qing was out learning martial arts. His third brother Lu Chen Xin was still home studying the sages' teachings, hoping to pass the civil service exams in the future.

As for Lu Sheng, he had previously managed part of the family business, showing talent, so his father had long decided that he would take over the family business in the future.

Because Lu Sheng would control the family finances in the future, his siblings and the rest of the family would depend on him to live. So everyone was rather respectful and flattering toward the future head of house.

"Big brother, I happened to bring over a pot of chilled sour plum soup just now. I'll leave it for you first. The chilled flavor is quite good."

Outside the guest hall, the family's Fifth Madam Lu walked in smiling, carrying a pot of sour plum soup in hand.

The Fifth Madam was Lord Lu Quan An's fifth concubine, not an official wife.

Unlike the first three madams, the Fifth Madam still had her niece Lu Ying Ying who was born to her. In the future when Lord Lu passed away, they would still depend on Lu Sheng to live.

So even though she was nominally Lu Sheng's fifth aunt, she and niece Lu Ying Ying often flattered Lu Sheng. After all, with Lord Lu gone in the future, Lu Sheng had no obligation to continue housing them. Currying favor early with the future head of house was a must.

"Fifth Aunt, you are too polite." Lu Sheng quickly took over the soup pot and set it down. "I'll take care of entertaining the guests here, you go back first."

"Yes yes, big brother you go ahead." The Fifth Madam hastily smiled and left.

As she left, she couldn't help shooting a jealous glance at Duan Mu Wan. Although the Fifth Madam had preserved herself well at just over thirty and was very attractive, compared to Duan Mu Wan she was lacking.

"I'll also take my leave first."

Lu Chen Xin hastily took the chance to slip away as well.

Soon there were only Lu Sheng and Duan Mu Wan left in the guest hall.

"Does the gentleman still want the manuals?"

Seeing no one else around, Duan Mu Wan smiled gently and asked softly.

"Miss Duan is formidable indeed to have tracked me down even though I hid my identity and looks."

Lu Sheng's expression didn't change as he replied.

"Young Master Lu jests. In all of Jiu Lian Cheng, close friends with Young Master Zheng Xian Guai, from a prominent family with tens of thousands in wealth. With some probing of height and build, recognizing young master was not difficult."

Duan Mu Wan smiled gently.

"But that's difficult for anyone other than Miss Duan. Enough nonsense, may I ask what manuals Miss Duan has brought for me today? To clarify upfront, I'm only looking for internal skills."

Lu Sheng said neither slowly nor hurriedly, sounding calm and composed. He didn't lose his cool from having his identity exposed.

"Naturally they are all internal skills."

Duan Mu Wan extended a slender hand out from her sleeve, taking out three small booklets and gently placing them separately on the tea table.

The three light green booklets were neatly stitched together with thread. The covers clearly bore the titles:

"Green Pine One Mind Decision"

"Jade Crane Skill"

"Yin Yang Leading"

Lu Sheng swept his gaze over them. His expression was still unchanged.

"Miss Duan is quite bold, but how can I verify if these manuals are real or fake..."

"That's simple," Duan Mu Wan said lightly with a laugh.

"These three internal skills are extremely easy to start cultivating. You can feel qi energy after practicing them for one day. All three are the type that's easy to start but hard to master. Authenticity is very easy to verify."

Her tone changed as she continued,

"As for whether there are any mistakes or missing parts, that depends on whether Young Master believes in Wan'er. Otherwise even if they were real manuals placed in front of Young Master, you would still have suspicions."

"Miss Wan makes sense." Lu Sheng was delighted inside. If it was really as she said, that all three manuals were extremely easy to start, compared to Dark Destruction Skill these three skills suited him far better.