The delivery was complete, and a great weight lifted from everyone’s shoulders. They all breathed a sigh of relief.

Pan Xiashou immediately settled the payment and announced they would have the next day off.

After getting their money, the men scattered at once, heading off to find some entertainment.

Zhao Lin received five taels of silver. ’This money comes in fast,’ he thought with a sigh. ’No wonder so many people are willing to take the risks of this trade.’

"What, not going to find a place to have some fun?"

Yuan Cheng said, looking at Zhao Lin with a wry smile.

"I’m not going."

Zhao Lin knew what he was implying and answered curtly.

With nothing better to do, the two of them went to the largest apothecary in town and completed the task Zhu Huaishan had given them: they bought two packets of wild cornelian cherry and Purple Orchid Leaf.

Generally, the herbs used for martial arts training were different from those used to treat common illnesses. Their properties were far more potent, and only someone who had mastered the precise formulas knew how to properly prepare them.

In the Liuhe Sect, only Zhu Huaishan knew anything about it.

Zhao Lin had no interest in founding his own sect, but he was curious where Zhu Huaishan had obtained such knowledge. He asked Yuan Cheng, but Yuan Cheng didn’t know either, so Zhao Lin had to let it go.

Perhaps because they had been cooped up for so long, most of the men didn’t return to the inn that night. They only started trickling back the next morning, bleary-eyed.

By noon, Pan Xiashou had gathered everyone for a headcount, and they set off on their journey home.

Unburdened by cargo, their return journey was swift. Everyone was in high spirits, and they made much better time than they had on the way there.

On the afternoon of the third day, a sudden downpour began. With no village ahead and no inn behind, the group took shelter in a ruined temple.

There was an old saying: "Better to sleep in a desolate grave than in an ancient temple." But with their numbers, and all of them being Martial Artists, they weren’t so superstitious.

The rain grew heavier, and it became clear they wouldn’t be traveling any further that day. The men led the horses and carts into the temple, gathered some firewood that wasn’t completely soaked, and started a bonfire.

They took out the wine and meat they had with them and began to eat and chat, the atmosphere gradually growing lively.

Zhao Lin took out a piece of beast meat, washing it down with some water.

The firelight flickered, the wood crackling and popping.

Zhao Lin stared at the dancing flames, silently feeling the white mist released by the Spirit Beast Scroll seep into every part of his body.

According to the memories associated with the Spirit Beast Scroll, the abilities it granted couldn’t be increased indefinitely.

The upper limit he could reach was directly linked to the power of the beast whose essence he had absorbed.

In his case, for example, the upper limits of his strength and speed were that of a bear and a Black-horned Antelope. However, his martial arts training could provide an additional boost.

To break through those limits, he would have to absorb the Essence Soul of an even stronger beast.

Zhao Lin mulled it over. ’I should start planning. I need to find a beast that’s stronger and faster... or should I try to develop a new ability altogether?’

"Nice moves!"

"That was a brilliant punch..."

A sudden cheer drew his attention. Zhao Lin looked up to see that a space had been cleared in the center of the temple’s main hall, where two young men were sparring. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

A crowd of escorts and Martial Artists had formed a circle around them, watching with keen interest.

"Come on, let’s go watch the fun," Yuan Cheng said, walking over.

Zhao Lin was curious about other schools of martial arts, so he got up and went with him.

"Everyone here is a Martial Artist from a different school, and they’ve been itching to size each other up. They held back on the way here because we were guarding the cargo and couldn’t risk any bad blood, but now they can’t resist."

Yuan Cheng explained as they walked, "It’s pretty much a tradition after every escort mission. There’s always some sparring. Fists and feet only, no weapons allowed."

Zhao Lin asked, "Have you ever competed, Senior Brother?"

Yuan Cheng shook his head. "It’s just for fun. It’s always the Power Realm guys sparring. The Qi Realm masters don’t get involved."

The two men sparring had taken off their outer cloaks, revealing their affiliations. One was from the Revitalization Martial Arts Hall, and the other was from a group called the Cross Gate.

They were evenly matched, and the fight was intense.

This was a great opportunity to study other Fist Skills, and Zhao Lin watched with great interest.

The man from the Cross Gate used the Cross-War Fist. Its forms were short and concise, relying on linear footwork and punches that formed a cross shape. His movements were swift and fierce.

Zhao Lin had once considered joining the Cross Gate, but their appalling attitude toward him when he was a common laborer had left a bad taste in his mouth, so he’d chosen otherwise.

The man from the Revitalization Martial Arts Hall used Hong Family Long Fist, characterized by long-reaching strikes, high jumps, far leaps, and a distinct rhythm.

One style was long-range, the other short; one was fast, the other methodical. Both fighters played to their Fist Skill’s strengths, making for an excellent-looking match.

After more than twenty rounds, the man from the Cross Gate finally won by a narrow margin.

"Thank you for the match," the man from the Cross Gate said, cupping his fist.

The man from the Revitalization Martial Arts Hall stepped down, and he was immediately replaced by a challenger from the Flying Tiger Martial Arts Hall.

The man from the Cross Gate fought again and won a second time.

After two consecutive victories, a smug look appeared on his face. "I am Huang Sheng of the Cross Gate. Who else wishes to offer me some pointers?"

"You want to give it a try?"

Yuan Cheng said to Zhao Lin with a grin. "Last time I brought Sun Xiaofan out, he got completely crushed. You should go up there and show them what you’ve got. Win back a little face for our sect."

Zhao Lin wanted the combat experience too. But just as he was about to agree, another figure leaped into the ring ahead of him.

"I’ll be your opponent."

The speaker was a young man of about twenty with a slightly arrogant tone. He took off his outer robe, revealing the word "Lingshan" embroidered on his clothes.

"That’s Li Wei of the Lingshan Sect," Yuan Cheng explained in a low voice. "He’s got a bit of a name for himself among the younger generation. I hear he’s at the Third Layer of the Power Realm."

A Martial Artist’s realm was strongly correlated with their actual strength. A Power Realm practitioner had almost no chance against someone in the Qi Realm. But within the Power Realm itself, someone at the Third Layer wasn’t guaranteed to beat someone at the First Layer.

It all came down to practical combat skill, strategy, and other various factors.

"Li Wei of the Lingshan Sect."

Li Wei announced his name and adopted a strange opening stance: one leg extended forward in an empty step, hands shaped like hooks—one high, one low—and his body swaying slightly.

The stance looked familiar to Zhao Lin, and he blurted out, "Is that Mantis Fist?"

Yuan Cheng said with approval, "Good eye. You even know what it’s called."

As they spoke, the two in the center of the ring engaged.

Li Wei was lean, but his Mantis Fist was incredibly ferocious. He opened with a vicious assault, forcing the man from the Cross Gate out of the circle in less than ten rounds.

"The Lingshan Sect really is a major sect. Their members are extraordinary."

"Among all the sects and martial arts halls in our Qinghe County, I’m afraid none can match the Lingshan Sect’s strength."

Whether intentionally or not, the spectators’ comments seemed designed to stir up trouble.

"Zhao Lin of the Liuhe Sect."

Li Wei was clearly a cut above the rest, and for a moment, no one else dared to step forward. Then, Zhao Lin walked into the ring.

Li Wei saw that although his opponent was tall and powerfully built, his face was still boyish. He gave a dismissive nod. "Go ahead, make your move."

Zhao Lin said, "Then I won’t hold back," and threw a punch straight down the middle.

Seeing the speed of Zhao Lin’s punch, Li Wei took a step back and brought the edge of his hand down in a vicious chop toward Zhao Lin’s wrist.

Midway through the punch, Zhao Lin suddenly twisted his wrist, his fingers splaying open to grab at Li Wei’s hand.

The Six Harmonies Fist emphasized a "one part strike, two parts grapple" philosophy. This was the "grapple" part of the technique.

Li Wei was startled. He hadn’t expected Zhao Lin to be able to alter his attack mid-strike. He quickly pulled his fingers back, reforming his hand into a fist to hastily block the blow.

As fist met hand, Zhao Lin paused for a fraction of a second before throwing another punch.

Li Wei steadied himself and raised his arm to block.

They fought faster and faster, exchanging seven or eight moves in the blink of an eye.

Zhao Lin wasn’t using his full strength. Instead, he focused on his opponent’s footwork as they fought.

His goal wasn’t a quick victory. He wanted to familiarize himself with his opponent’s Fist Skill, countering move for move and luring the other man into revealing his entire arsenal.

Li Wei’s footwork was a mix of feints and real steps. From a distance, he used powerful strikes—slashing, hitting, chopping, and hacking. Up close, he switched to hooking, trapping, tangling, and intercepting. It was a style that fluidly combined long and short-range attacks, completely different from the Six Harmonies Fist.

Zhao Lin kept pressing Li Wei, baiting him into running through his Mantis Fist techniques twice over. Once he was sure Li Wei had nothing new to show, he unleashed a Reverse Palm Skyward Cannon.

Midway to the target, his palm twisted at an impossible angle and struck his opponent’s shoulder.

Li Wei stumbled back several steps, a look of utter disbelief on his face.