The half-closed gates previously obstructed Lusheng's line of sight. Now with the carriage moving, he glimpsed another corner of the courtyard from this angle.

That stone bridge and scholar was at the other end within the manor grounds.

The scholar stiffly stood in place staring after the moving carriage without budging an inch.

Lusheng also carefully watched that scholar. His worn and tattered attire seemed aged with accumulated filth. Likely not washed for days judging by the rips. Hair disheveled resembling a pillar rooted in place atop the bridge without any hints of motion.

"This manor saw no entries or exits for many days now. Shouldn't still have occupants right? After all, no outsiders mean what could they be eating if anyone indeed remains inside?" Duan Meng'an failed noticing the scholar and continued explanation on his own.

"But seems there is someone no?" Lusheng tilted his chin at the manor.

Duan Meng'an promptly followed his gaze.

Oddly however, the scholar vanished the instant he looked over.

Lusheng narrowed his eyes. He merely exchanged sentences and glanced away for an instant. Yet never caught when that scholar disappeared.

"Where? Please don't scare me Young Master..." Duan Meng'an felt somewhat fearful from Lusheng's words. Despite careful attempts peeking inside the crack, no traces of anyone could be found.

Lusheng pondered deeply for a time. "Maybe I was seeing things."

The carriage slowly departed. All throughout, Lusheng kept replaying the scholar's image feeling something amiss about him.

They quickly arrived at Iron Mine Village.

Deathly silence pervaded the wooden houses. Some doors opened, some shut. Creaking sounds emitted from swaying doors amidst the winds.

Unease gradually surfaced on the originally burly men while walking between the structures. The atmosphere felt unsuitable.

With nightfall, Lusheng and Duan Meng'an alighted seeking relatively intact wooden houses to reside within.

Some still had leaky roofs making human habitation difficult whenever rains occurred.

The group each found some lodging making do with personal water pouches and rations for the night.

Lusheng's allocated housing was more spacious. After having subordinates move quilts and canopies over from the carriages, he started a bonfire pile within and carried a pot of water from a nearby brook to boil. Tossed in some dried meat and mushrooms then simmered everything, soon yielding a pot of piping hot mushroom meat soup.

The men crowded together with a bowl per person paired with hardtacks. Quite a decent feast all things considered.

Yet Lusheng had no mind joining them. He exited the house gazing towards the vague outline of yesterday's manor amidst ashen moonlight in the distance.

Duan Meng'an walked out slightly tipsy asking, "Young Master, why not drink with everyone inside?"

Lusheng lightly shook his head. "Were people arranged for night watch around the perimeter?"

"No worries Young Master. Already long assigned. Three towards three directions periodically rotating after the meal." As one of Elder Wu's former elites, Duan Meng'an moved with ease conducting such things.

"We'll check the mines first thing tomorrow morning. Then the manor later on." Lusheng slowly retracted his gaze stating calmly.

"Sure. The pit is right next door. If able finding miners, daily hauls of iron ore would still be substantial." Duan Meng'an said this with some regret.

"Right. What cultivation method did you train in the gang?" Lusheng casually asked.

"Bear Wrestling Palm. It's a third layer manual from Martial Glory Tower..." Duan Meng'an grinned.

"Bear Wrestling Palm? Sounds oriented towards strength?" Interested towards martial arts, Lusheng asked further.

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"That's right. I, old Duan have no other merits beyond somewhat greater innate strength than normal. So I chose this as my main practice."

Lusheng laughed. "Yet you're smart for picking what best suits you. That is the optimal path." He also chuckled before inquiring again, "Never saw this art before. It's an external skill?"

"Yeah. Specialized at training brute power and resilience without needing medicinal tempering. Very simple," Duan Meng'an scratched his head.

"Oh? May I see a demonstration?" Lusheng's eyes lit up. He wanted practicing external arts long ago but requirements of medicinal tempering hampered progress everywhere. Never expected Duan Meng'an to cultivate one sans medicines.

Duan Meng'an held no qualms. These were freely permitted gang cultivation so nothing prevented displaying everything before his own leader of superior attainments. He promptly found a withered tree on site and showcased Bear Wrestling Palm's tricks and training methods.

Lusheng meticulously asked about each and every detail, swiftly grasping this Bear Wrestling Palm completely.

Just a single layer with simple training. Merely needing to regulate breath and posture based on mnemonics before visualizing oneself as a bear. Then repeatedly charge trees following fixed rhythms and sequences.

With convenient practice, Lusheng personally gave it a try after learning everything. Without inner force or heavy power, just ordinary tackling until skin ached sufficed.

Sensing the numb tingling pains on his skin after practicing the oral instructions for a bit, effects were clearly present. "As expected of Young Master. I practiced for days before barely managing when starting out. Yet instantly grasped on your first go." Duan Meng'an smiled with praises.

Lusheng nodded. "Very simple with decent results. The sole hindrance lies in perseverance. Hoping for grand mastery requires at least twenty years bitter cultivation." He felt traces indicating this was extracted from some external art without retaining completeness. Purely body tempering and power augmentation.

"But there are a few points that should go like this following the mental arts..."

With several arts reaching grand mastery, Lusheng's vision and attainments went beyond Duan Meng'an's abilities. Discerning the core methods after a glance allowed him correcting some mistakes. Leaving Duan Meng'an completely enlightened after slight pointers, sincerely convinced by the guidance.

Promptly testing the adjusted practice per Lusheng's directions showed clear boosts over his regular training. Further venerating Lusheng even more.

The two's external lessons outside quickly attracted remnants from dinner to watch. All trained in the basic Crimson Whale Gang Saber Arts.

After mimicking the saber art once, Lusheng also corrected some of their crux issues.

The night steadily passed teaching and giving pointers. Everyone gradually turned in by the end.

As always, Lusheng stood outside the wooden house watching his subordinates' torchlights constantly sway when patrolling.

He slowly regulated his inner breaths and qi. "Deep Blue."

The Modifier interface promptly surfaced before him. The small boxes inside orderly displayed all the martial arts he cultivated so far.

'Black Tiger Saber Arts: Fourth Layer.

Blood Evil Skill: Fourth Layer. Effects: Fire Poison, Ignition.

Black Tiger Jade Crane Skill: Third Layer. Effects: Rapid Blood Stanching, Strength Recovery, Tiger Howl Crane Wail.

Yin Yang Introduction: Third Layer.

Swallow Chasing Wind Saber Arts: Third Layer.

Precious Eight Steps: Third Layer.

Double Maple Leaf Sabers: Third Layer.

Soul Breaking Palm: Third Layer.'

The fully displayed martial arts perfectly encompassed everything Lusheng learned with all peak attainments.

And currently right below these, two more additional methods surfaced.

'Bear Wrestling Palm: Entry Level.

Crimson Whale Saber Arts: Entry Level.'

Lusheng silently tapped the Modifier's edit button before concentrating onto the Bear Wrestling Palm option. "Raise Bear Wrestling Palm to grand mastery."

The Bear Wrestling Palm column slightly blurred then swiftly clarified once more.

In but an instant, Bear Wrestling Palm shifted from entry level straight to grand mastery.

Lusheng clearly sensed his Black Tiger Jade Crane Skill inner qi rapidly diminishing. Such drastic reduction astonished him.

"How could something on part with Swallow Chasing Wind Saber Arts still consume so vastly??" He felt inner qi swiftly absorbed by his body. From full satisfaction at ten portions, nearly depleted below five portions after just a few breaths. Then three portions. Two portions. One portion...

Concurrently, his skin grew increasingly tougher. Muscles on arms and waist swiftly bulging out.

Lusheng could explicitly feel his strength undergoing drastic changes.

"Just a mere external art..." He felt some surprise. Stillness remained until alterations fully settled. An entire incense stick worth of time(*) before slowly exhaling in relief.

"Looks like external arts impact the body greater than other cultivation paths. Perhaps the fundamental reason for its far higher consumption compared to other arts."

He clenched his fist feeling inflated from within. Like an air-filled balloon. Even inner organs somewhat feverish from the heat.

Sensing inwardly with closed eyes, Lusheng saw his Yin Yang Introduction inner qi also rapidly vanishing. Yet his previously exhausted Black Tiger Jade Crane Skill inner qi concurrently underwent balloon-like swift restoration.

From one portion to fully peak ten portions after a few breaths. By now, merely half of the Yin Yang Introduction inner qi was spent.

"So this is Yin Yang Introduction's true pinnacle utility." Lusheng felt astonishment before elation surged.

"Strength probably increased twenty percent. Skin also tougher now..."

He drew his straight saber and lightly carved his own wrist. Barely any strength used akin to normal meat cutting force.

Snap.

Skin only showed red marks without rupturing. "Just one external art brings such tremendous effects. This is freshly replaced bladeware too." Satisfaction filled Lusheng's heart. "After settling things here, I ought to carefully comb through Martial Glory Tower. Perhaps more freely accessible martial arts useful for me await inside." Anticipation towards Crimson Whale Society's Martial Glory Tower swelled within him.

Glancing up, Lusheng eyed the manor again. He vaguely sensed something hidden inside.

He decided sticking around closely investigating for several days.