Lin Chang'sheng locked the door and took out that copy of the Moonlight Breathing Technique, flipping through it.
"Requires absorbing moonlight, and it works best when cultivating on nights with moonlight?"
Lin Chang'sheng finished reading the Moonlight Breathing Technique manual, roughly over 3,000 words, with added illustrations showing simple training postures.
This is a cultivation technique that can harness the power of moonlight to strengthen and purify the body, and also develop inner qi!
At its peak, the resulting energy is surging and immensely powerful!
At the same time—
This is also one of the Gao Family's techniques in Cyan Yang City.
"Guess the Sun-Bathing Breathing Technique can wait; let's get entry level on the Moonlight Breathing Technique first!"
Lin Chang'sheng looked at the register in his hand, thinking to himself.
With that in mind—
He poured himself into studying the Breathing Technique, mimicking the postures shown in the illustrations, getting ready to give it a shot later that night.
..........
Time passed.
In the blink of an eye, it was the 29th day of the lunar month.
"Discovered Cultivation Technique: Moonlight Breathing Technique. Spend 2 taels of silver to simplify?"
Lin Chang'sheng sat on the bed, glancing at the panel at the corner of his vision, where a red prompt had popped up.
"Simplify!"
Lin Chang'sheng reached out and tapped the "Yes" button.
Right now, not counting the 32 taels from Gao Yang, plus the leftover 5 taels from selling jewelry, and the simplification only costs 2 taels—he's got enough.
[Moonlight Breathing Technique is being simplified... Simplifying... Simplification successful. Moonlight Breathing Technique === Bathe in Moon]
The panel popped up this message.
"Huh? Bathe in Moon?"
"So it means bathing in moonlight?"
Seeing the result, Lin's eyes lit up. He noticed that the panel had changed.
[Great Dao is Simple: Level 1]
[Lin Chang'sheng: 16/55]
[Cultivation: Third-class (439/500)]
[Cultivation Technique: Moonlight Breathing Technique (Entry Level 0/100)]
[Martial Arts: Archery (Great Perfection), Iron Sand Palm (Great Perfection)]
[Spend a certain amount of silver taels to simplify techniques, martial arts, etc.]
[Status: Yin Qi Invasion]
"No moon in the sky right now. Don't know if it'll work?"
Lin Chang'sheng, feeling experimental, opened the door, stepped outside, looked up at the sky, keeping an eye on the panel in the corner of his vision.
"Eh? Can't see the moon, but the experience points are still rising!"
Lin checked his panel and found that the [Cultivation Technique: Moonlight Breathing Technique (Entry Level 3/100)] had ticked upward; according to his estimate, about every sixty breaths, he gained one point of experience!
"Not sleeping tonight—let's grind this Moonlight Breathing Technique all night!"
"Just wonder, once I reach Great Perfection on the Moonlight Breathing Technique, can I break through to Second-class Expert?"
A look of expectation flashed in Lin's eyes.
From what he knew—
The master of Iron Hand Martial Arts Hall, He Tieshou, was a Second-class Expert!
Iron Hand's He Tieshou, Golden Bell's Liao Jinzhong, Liuyun Hall's Ji Liuyun, and Cyan Snake Gang's Gang Leader—these four were all top experts at the same level.
Rustle, rustle, rustle!
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps. Lin turned his head to see a woman, about twenty-three or twenty-four years old, slender and graceful, approaching slowly.
"Sister Zhen, what brings you here?"
Lin looked at the woman approaching, slightly surprised.
Lately, the noodle shop hadn't opened, Sister Zhen had buried her mother-in-law, and Lin had gone to help out a few times.
"Chang'sheng, tomorrow's Lunar New Year's Eve... Come over to my place for New Year's dinner!"
Yan Zhen looked at Lin, genuine in her invitation.
"Uh... well, okay!"
Lin thought for a moment but agreed.
Her late mother-in-law used to make veiled insults, but now she was gone—he might as well go just this once.
"Then don't forget, come early tomorrow."
Yan Zhen nodded, reminded him, and then left.
........
The next day.
Morning.
The eastern sky began to brighten.
[Cultivation: Third-class (471/500)]
[Cultivation Technique: Moonlight Breathing Technique (Mastered 137/2500)]
"Awesome—after a night of hard training, I managed to generate some Inner Strength!"
Lin Chang'sheng looked lively as he stared at his panel; both Cultivation and Technique had changed.
Plus—
He sensed a quail-egg-sized swirl of energy stirring in his Dantian!
This was Inner Strength!
Even more, in his mind, countless insights and tips about the Moonlight Breathing Technique appeared magically!
It felt like his consciousness had fused with these insights, as if he'd trained this technique for seven or eight years—uncanny!
"It's worth the name—you really have to bathe in moonlight for this to work!"
As day broke—
Lin discovered—
Experience gain slowed down drastically; even after fifteen minutes, not a single point more.
.......
East Street.
In Ma Zhankui's estate.
Ma Zhankui, draped in a brocade robe, held scented tea in his hand, gently blowing at the froth; two pretty maids stood by his side.
"Master!"
Just then, an elderly man in black walked in, respectfully cupping his hands to Ma Zhankui.
Ma Zhankui waved gently, and the two maids bowed and left.
"What is it?"
Ma Zhankui looked over at Old Li and asked.
"Master, Tie Yang and Li San are dead. Their bodies were dumped into the Grand Canal and found at a bend by fishermen. Both had their skulls shattered, seems... they died from Great Success Iron Sand Palm!"
Old Li spoke in a grim tone.
"Great Success Iron Sand Palm! Could it have been Iron Hand Martial Arts Hall people?"
Ma Zhankui's eyes narrowed and his face darkened.
From what he knew—
Iron Hand Hall owner He Tieshou had Iron Sand Palm at Great Perfection, but there were also several with Great Success Iron Sand Palm!
"Master, not clear for now, but Tie Yang may have provoked someone from Iron Hand Martial Arts Hall."
Old Li looked thoughtful.
"I'll make time to visit Iron Hand Martial Arts Hall about this. Anything else?"
Ma Zhankui saw Old Li had more to say and asked right away.
"Master, you asked me to watch Yan Zhen. After burying her mother-in-law, she hasn't interacted with anyone, but that noodle shop apprentice Lin Chang'sheng went to her house on Lunar New Year's Eve for dinner, then left after."
"Also, I told Yan Zhen about your generosity and asked how she'd repay you. She said she'd earn money and pay you back slowly."
Old Li bowed as he spoke.
"Hm, got it. Keep watching her."
Ma Zhankui nodded.
"Understood, Master!"
Old Li bowed, stepped back several paces, then turned and left.
"Earn money at her noodle shop to pay me back? That'll take until the Year of the Monkey!"
"Now that her mother-in-law's buried, I'll give her half a month more. If she still won't cooperate, I won't be so patient."
Ma Zhankui raised his teacup to his eyes, muttering.
A look of anticipation flashed in his eyes.
........
Ninth day of the lunar new year.
Late night.
East Street.
Lin Chang'sheng sat in the courtyard, focusing his awareness and pulling up the panel in the corner of his vision.
[Great Dao is Simple: Level 1]
[Lin Chang'sheng: 16/55]
[Cultivation: Third-class (499/500)]
[Cultivation Technique: Moonlight Breathing Technique (Great Success 7809/12500)]
[Martial Arts: Archery (Great Perfection), Iron Sand Palm (Great Perfection)]
[Spend a certain amount of silver taels to simplify techniques, martial arts, etc.]
[Status: Yin Qi Invasion]
"My cultivation is stuck at the Peak of Third-class. Wonder if, once the Moonlight Breathing Technique hits Great Perfection, I'll break through to Second-class?"
Lin stared at his panel, thinking to himself.
The Moonlight Breathing Technique really lives up to its name.
As long as it's nighttime and he's outdoors, he can gain experience; with moonlight, it goes up fast, without it, slowly.
Daytime is like watching snails crawl.
From the 29th to the ninth, he's been sitting outdoors, soaking in the moonlight, accumulating experience, growing stronger—and his appetite has also grown hugely!
Even though the Yin Qi Invasion status still shows up, he feels his body has gotten way stronger than before.
...............
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