The Mountain Guest gave Chen Tang another piece of advice and then said, "Since you've already cultivated to the Eighth Grade, I'll teach you a new cultivation technique to better temper your bones."

"This technique is both a cultivation method and a powerful combat skill, called 'Great Strength Vajra Hand.'

"Bone cultivation is most challenging at the extremities of the bones, namely the hands and feet. Only when the strength is cultivated to the fingertips can the Bone Transformation Realm be considered fully accomplished."

The Mountain Guest taught the cultivation method of 'Great Strength Vajra Hand' to Chen Tang, word by word.

Including various cultivation details and precautions.

While Chen Tang cultivated, the Mountain Guest provided guidance on the side.

"Many techniques exist for tempering the bones of the hands, famous ones like Eagle Claw Technique, Profound Yin Finger, One Finger Zen, and the Cyan Dragon Claw you've mentioned before, all belong to this category."

"'Great Strength Vajra Hand' pursues a path of vigorous strength, and once fully mastered, increases the power of fist and palm greatly. With a grab of the hand, you could even crush the opponent's sinew and bones!"

Chen Tang cultivated while also comprehending.

'Great Strength Vajra Hand' can perfectly integrate into Tiger Subduing Fist, greatly enhancing its power.

If 'Great Strength Vajra Hand' is mastered, techniques like Stealing Food from a Tiger's Mouth, with one move of the tiger claw, Chen Tang could tear the opponent's throat apart!

As Chen Tang practiced, he felt his hands slightly swelling, and especially each finger bone was subtly heating up!

Seeing Chen Tang had already mastered the cultivation method of 'Great Strength Vajra Hand,' the Mountain Guest told him to stop and said, "In the coming period, you may not have the chance to climb the Snow Mountain again, so I'll pass on the technique of Yijin to you."

"There are many techniques for Yijin, the most famous being the Buddhist 'Yijinjing'. The technique I'm going to teach you is called 'Dragon Capturing Technique,' and it consists of two parts."

"The upper part is the inner cultivation heart method of Yijin, and the lower part is the 'Nine Paths of Sinew and Bone Separation' grapple hand. Only by cultivating both internal and external aspects can Yijin be fully accomplished."

"To cultivate Yijin's technique, you must familiarize yourself with the position of each major tendon and the location of the fascia."

The Mountain Guest's eyes seemed to ignite like two flames, falling on Chen Tang.

Each time the gaze landed, Chen Tang could feel a major tendon inside his body becoming agitated, lightly vibrating like a bowstring, emitting a slight trembling sound.

Chen Tang closed his eyes to carefully experience this wondrous sensation.

"The person who injured you earlier struck precisely at your fascia with each cut, because he has cultivated to the Seventh Grade, familiar with the position of every major tendon and fascia piece."

The voice of the Mountain Guest continued.

"You are not at the realm to practice the inner cultivation heart method of 'Dragon Capturing Technique' yet. You can find time to practice the 'Nine Ways of Capturing' grapple hand from the lower part, but you cannot rush to achieve it."

"Your Yijin is not accomplished, and if you forcibly perform the grapple hand, you might easily cause damage to your own fascia. Also, if someone recognizes this 'Nine Ways of Capturing,' do not reveal its real name."

Chen Tang asked, "Shall I give this grapple hand a fake name?"

"Yes."

The Mountain Guest nodded.

"Let's call it 'Celestial Mountain Plum-Breaking Hand.'" Chen Tang said.

The Mountain Guest was silent for a moment, then said, "I have to say, this name you came up with is better than mine."

"That's natural." Chen Tang muttered in his heart, after all, it's the secret skill of the Xiaoyao Sect.

"The human body has eight major joints: shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle, cervical vertebrae, and lumbar vertebrae. The 'Nine Paths... hmm, 'Nine Paths of Celestial Mountain Plum-Breaking Hand' includes a path of empty-handed blade seizing. The other eight paths target the eight major joints for sinew and bone separation."

"For example, the cervical and lumbar vertebrae, once seized and sinew and bone separated, the opponent will immediately collapse, losing combat capability."

'Celestial Mountain Plum-Breaking Hand' emphasizes a method of grab, grasp, conversion, strike, entangle, and lock...

The Mountain Guest demonstrated the eight paths of the grapple hand on Chen Tang several times.

While it seems like only eight paths, each path has many variations.

Depending on the opponent's moves, different countermeasures will be developed.

Practicing this grapple hand technique simultaneously familiarizes oneself with the tendons, bones, and fascia in their own body.

Chen Tang asked, "Senior, you've said before that the Extreme Realm of the Eighth Grade is cultivating a 'Jade Bone,' what marks the Extreme Realm of the Seventh Grade Yijin?"

"Regarding the Extreme Realm, there's a phrase."

The Mountain Guest said, "Ice Skin Jade Bone, tendon like strings, Frost Marrow Mercury Blood, Glazed Body."

"For ordinary martial arts talents, achieving cultivation to where the major tendons are like steel is already rare, hence the saying 'steel tendons and iron bones.' But in fact, this does not achieve the true purpose of Yijin."

"Bones, when cultivated to the extreme are vigorous, while Yijin, when cultivated to the extreme is flexible."

"Too rigid breaks, too soft is weak, only with both rigidity and flexibility can one capture dragons and subdue tigers!"

"The Extreme Realm of the Seventh Grade is the tendon like strings, where the major tendons within tremble like bowstrings, even producing thunderous sounds!"

Chen Tang blurted out, "Bow like thunderclap string startling."

"Indeed, that's the meaning."

The Mountain Guest nodded.

Soon, nightfall arrived.

From the Cyan Dragon Bureau, they had requested leave, so there was no hurry to return.

Chen Tang thus spent a night on the Snow Mountain.

With the many teachings from the Mountain Guest the previous day, Chen Tang rose early to practice them again, memorize them thoroughly, before preparing to descend the mountain.

At this moment, Little White Ape climbed up from the base of the mountain.

Upon seeing Chen Tang, it was very joyful.

Chen Tang smilingly asked, "Do you practice swordsmanship here every day?"

Little White Ape nodded.

Every day, it comes to the mountain top to learn swordsmanship from the Mountain Guest.

By noon, it will return to the cave.

When Chen Tang arrived yesterday, Little White Ape had already left.

Little White Ape's eyes, midnight black, swirled mischievously, its hands gesturing towards Chen Tang.

"What do you mean?"

Chen Tang was puzzled.

The hand gestures Little White Ape made this time were somewhat complex.

Mountain Guest spent every day with it and understood, saying, "It means that once it achieves great success in its divine skill, it will come down the mountain to help you."

"Haha!"

Chen Tang laughed heartily, patted Little White Ape on the head, and said, "That's thoughtful of you, grow up quickly."

Chen Tang played with Xue Tuan'Er and Little White Ape for a while longer before bidding farewell to Mountain Guest and Mountain Lord and heading down the mountain.

This time, Mountain Guest actually left the cave and stood at the edge of a cliff, watching him leave.

"Elder, don't be like this, you make it seem like I won't return..."

Chen Tang turned back and waved.

Chen Tang did not return to Wu'an County; instead, he headed towards Changze County.

According to the plan, he needed to lure the Young Leader of the Black Water Gang to Wu'an County.

Shortly after noon, Chen Tang arrived at Changze County.

He did not go directly to the sub-branch of the Black Water Gang but headed to the Plum Blossom Martial Arts Hall.

In the coming period, he might not have the chance to come to Changze County.

So, he decided to visit Plum Blossom Martial Arts Hall to see Mei Yingxue.

Soon, Chen Tang passed by his residence in Changze County.

He paused slightly, pushed the door open, and entered.

The courtyard was empty, covered in snow, with no traces of life.

Recalling the scene when he first came down the mountain, it seemed as if everything happened just yesterday.

Chen Tang looked around the house and then turned to leave for the Plum Blossom Martial Arts Hall.

As soon as he reached the entrance of the martial arts hall, Chen Tang frowned.

Unlike usual, there was no guard at the entrance of the Plum Blossom Martial Arts Hall, and the plaque hanging above was only half remaining.

The people passing by the martial arts hall hurriedly left with their heads down.

Chen Tang frowned slightly and walked slowly into the Plum Blossom Martial Arts Hall.

Mei Yingxue had brought him here once before.

However, compared to last time, the martial arts hall now seemed dreary and lifeless, and no one was practicing martial arts.

Chen Tang's ears moved slightly as intermittent sobbing could be heard from deep within the inner courtyard.

Following the sound, Chen Tang moved forward, not far turn into a courtyard, he saw a young girl in red crouching at the foot of a wall, her face buried in her knees, sobbing quietly.

The red dress was stained with dirt, its luster gone.

"Miss Mei?"

Chen Tang tried to call out softly.

The girl in red trembled and slowly lifted her head; it was Mei Yingxue.

Upon seeing Chen Tang, tears burst from Mei Yingxue's eyes, and she cried even more intensely.

Chen Tang approached, squatted down, and asked, "What happened, have the people from the Black Water Gang come?"

In Changze County, only the Black Water Gang could put Plum Blossom Martial Arts Hall in such dire straits.

Moreover, Chen Tang could approximately guess why the Black Water Gang valued Changze County so.

Coming from Black Water Country, passing through the Three Thousand Snow Ridges, the nearest county was here.

Mei Yingxue nodded with tears and said, "A few days ago, people from the Black Water Gang suddenly came, claiming they wanted to spar with my father. My father refused, and that person split the plaque of the Plum Blossom Martial Arts Hall in half."

"My brother couldn't stand it and went up to argue with that person, only to be slapped unconscious."

"All the disciples of the martial arts hall were watching, and father had no choice but to stand up and spar with that person, resulting in severe injuries that left him unconscious."

Sparring matches were a common strategy, but indeed effective.

For something like this, the government office would not say anything.

"What happened afterward?"

Chen Tang asked.

Mei Yingxue said, "Afterward, all the disciples of the martial arts hall left, and some relatives of the family also scattered, unwilling to have any ties with us. Now, there are only the three of us left at home."

Chen Tang went into the house to check on Mei Nianzhi.

His injuries were internal; with proper care, there was still a chance to save his life.

However, at Mei Nianzhi's age, suffering such injuries would make it challenging to fight in the future.

"I'll call for a carriage, and you can come with me to Wu'an County."

Chen Tang said and then turned to leave.

He had once advised Mei Nianzhi to leave Changze County.

But Mei Nianzhi was unwilling to abandon this martial arts hall or the property in Changze County. Now, after this disaster, there's no need to stay in Changze County anymore.

Mei Yingxue, who once lived a life of luxury, was devastated by such a blow and was at a loss during these days.

With her father in a coma and her brother in daily disillusion, she had been holding on all by herself these days.

Now seeing Chen Tang, Mei Yingxue's mind was in chaos.

Whatever Chen Tang said, she would do.

Before long, Chen Tang brought a carriage.

After placing Mei Nianzhi onto the carriage,

Mei Yingxue then helped the drunken Mei Jixian onto the carriage.

Only after Mei Yingxue got on did Chen Tang drive the carriage away.

After traveling for a while, the carriage suddenly stopped.

Mei Yingxue lifted the curtain and took a glance outside, her face changing dramatically!

This is the sub-branch of the Black Water Gang!

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