"Then it would be martial arts schools formally taking in disciples." As Lusheng had carefully investigated, his second option was the famous expert from the central plains, Palm of Severing Soul's Li Ran. This personage was heavily injured in the central plains by enemies, forcing him to come to Yanshan City with his wife and children, essentially hiding away from disputes.

"Even with such heavy injuries, he could still make a name in Yanshan City. His abilities are clearly not ordinary. Moreover, his palm techniques are the same as mine so I can directly observe them."

"Additionally, for external exercises, there are two people - Ever Upright Chen Jiarong and Copper Pillar Yang Furui." Lusheng had personally gone to see the martial arts schools and training grounds opened up by these two. Ever Upright was already over seventy years old. What was taught were just ordinary commonplace skills. As for Copper Pillar Yang Furui, he was far more generous. As long as tuition fees were paid, basic tempering iron body training could be learned. Afterwards, based on performance, there would be opportunities to be selected as personal disciples and to be imparted the Copper Pillar Skill.

"Enrolling into these martial arts schools would be too slow for me. I only need their manuals." Lusheng thought for a bit before deciding to first check out the city's auctions. Perhaps he could find incredible skills like Heishi Skill.

Thinking of auction houses, Lusheng suddenly felt at his own waist pouch, his fingers brushing against the few thin silver notes and gold leaves inside. He let out a long sigh.

"Have to think of a way to earn money."

If not for Wang Ziquan's matter, if not for that mysterious Red Flower Boat, he would not be in such a rush or hurriedly wanting to raise his strength.

After tidying up his belongings and clothes, Lusheng sprinted all the way back to Yanshan City's main street, entering the city along the big road. He decided to first go take a look at that famous central plains expert, Palm Severing Soul's Li Ran.

Hailing a carriage, Lusheng allowed it to madly race through the city for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea before arriving at a remote street district.

At the end of the street was a classically refined compound with a peachwood signboard hanging outside, the famous Qingmu Training Ground. This was the martial arts school opened up by Palm Severing Soul's Li Ran.

Coincidentally, the main gates were wide open as visitors could freely observe the training grounds now during this time every day.

Bustling crowds. Lusheng squeezed amidst them as he entered the residence. Inside, an exceptionally large red column platform was erected with a middle-aged man with grizzled hair on top, currently demonstrating a set of continuous palm techniques, bold and vigorous, occasionally giving off faint piercing sounds of breaking air.

"Excellent!"

Reaching the climatic parts, the densely packed heads below surged as they continuously cried out in acclaim.

Lusheng's gaze focused on the platform.

"This is the level of famous central plains experts?"

He somewhat doubted his own eyes. This man's palm techniques were not bad with decent speed and accuracy. But there was a trace of delay during transitions. Moreover, his strength was clearly deficient and feeble. The piercing air sounds were also just gimmicks made up through ingenious techniques.

Most speechlessly, Lusheng even heard people at his side saying:

"Just yesterday, Grandmaster Li set up this platform and invited all Jianghu fellows in Yanshan City to come exchange moves and contend for victory. He even drew out the second chief of Flying Sharp Battalion to come exchange several moves. You wouldn't know right! In less than thirty moves, that second chief was struck in the chest by one palm which forced him to retreat several steps as he cupped his fists admitting defeat!"

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"So incredible! As expected of central plains famous masters! Truly exceptional!"

"That's nothing much. Previously, Grandmaster Li also successively defeated the head of Copper Pillar Training Ground, Fierce Lion Training Ground, Cloud Water Training Ground, Nine Twists Kunlun Training Ground..." Unable to restrain himself, another person started boasting. "I personally watched every single bout. No one could last more than fifty moves against Grandmaster Li!"

Immediately, sounds of acclaim resounded around them.

Lusheng could tell they were neither perfunctory nor exaggerating, but truly respectful praises.

He carefully looked again at the demonstrated palm techniques of Li Ran on stage. By now, someone had already gone up to challenge him. Though it could not be considered a challenge, more of an attempt.

That youth who went up had a sturdy build but held great respect for Li Ran, humbly asking Grandmaster Li for guidance straight away.

The two swiftly started a fierce bout.

After watching for a bit, Lusheng finally understood why Li Ran received such high accolades.

"So for ordinary people, Li Ran's strength and speed are already quite incredible..." Seeing that latter youth's bearing, Lusheng awakened to this now. Due to lacking benchmarks and not contending against other top experts, he had always concealed his strength and silently cultivated. To the point he could not even ascertain his own level through estimations.

"Looking at it now... This Li Ran, I would be able to deal with him in three moves." Lusheng lightly shook his head and turned to squeeze out from the crowds without watching any further.

"His Palm Severing Soul should only be slightly stronger than my Broken Heart Palm grand achievement level. Without inner energy stimulation, perhaps he could exchange moves evenly with me. But the instant I utilize inner energy..." Lusheng pondered, three moves was likely overestimating his opponent already.

One move and he could instantly kill this person.

The disparity between him using inner energy and not was an exponential difference in might.

"What I'm looking for isn't this kind of so-called expert." All the way from Qingmu Training Ground, Lusheng had originally wanted to visit Copper Pillar Training Ground too but the skies had already darkened so he returned home to rest first.

On the second day, Lusheng went again to Copper Pillar Training Ground and several other training grounds.

He did witness those external skill demonstrations. The rumored Copper Pillar could straighten a bent spear with just the throat. It certainly looked remarkable. But Lusheng had seen such body tempering skills previously. They simply trained sturdy inner energy. The practice method was very simple, merely requiring endurance and perseverance.

Moreover, cultivating the Copper Pillar's external skill required massive amounts of medicinal washing and conditioning. Otherwise, much hidden injuries and lifelong afflictions would be left behind. These body tempering training grounds were rather generous about publicizing their techniques but not a single word was mentioned of the medicinal formulae used for washing and conditioning.

After Lusheng carefully investigated, only upon joining the training ground would one enjoy access to medicinal conditioning.

Disappointed, he left. Without the medicinal formulae, even if he trained, his body would be left completely wrecked. Although the Modifier's training methods differed from ordinary people, he did not wish to waste time trying. Just a single breakthrough into third stage Heishi Skill left him nursing internal injuries for half a year. If something like that happened again, wouldn't he be crippled and unable to act for several more years?

Leaving the training ground, another day had swiftly passed.

Lusheng was without gains, dejectedly making his way to Yanshan City's famed Ghost Market street.

Yanshan City's Ghost Market specially peddled all kinds of tomb and funeral items, smuggled goods, stolen treasures, or some contraband and troublesome objects.

Lusheng took stock of all his current family fortune, amounting to a total worth of two thousand silver taels in banknotes and gold leaves. Meanwhile, the monthly dividends from the stationary store under his name only amounted to a few dozen taels. For him, it was a mere drop in a bucket.

"I'll take a final stroll and see if there's any treasures." His reason for coming here was from constantly hearing Zheng Xiangui say many good auctioned objects were unearthed from Ghost Market.

Afterwards, he would frequently visit Yanshan City's Ghost Market, hoping to stumble across some luck.

There were barely over a dozen vendors crammed together in the narrow lane of Ghost Market without many visitors.

Lusheng slowly walked past stalls, occasionally squatting down to reach out and touch the wares.

After strolling for a period without gains and just about to leave and return to cultivate inner energy, a somewhat hesitant male voice called out from the other end of the lane right as Lusheng passed the final stall.

"Are you... Lu Sheng... Lu Yuesheng?"

Lusheng raised his head for a look. The other party was a young master dressed in yellow robes with a yellow jade belt, tall and straight. Although Lusheng did not recognize him, with a single glance, he instantly knew this person's identity.

"You are... Elder sister Chen Yunxi's brother? Chen Jiaorong?"

Chen Jiaorong's handsome face froze before swiftly breaking out in laughter.

"Brother Lu's discernment is truly astute."

"It's not that I'm astute. It's just that you and your younger sister resemble each other far too much..." Lusheng shook his head.

In comparison, Chen Jiaorong's features merely appeared more masculine than Chen Yunxi's. The two's resemblance was clear.