Turbid World: Martial Arts Master of the Republic of China Era, I Cultivate Immortality!

Tianjin, Anping County, near the foreign concessions

East Street, East of the city.

Due to the differences in the world, the concessions in Anping County also underwent some changes, firstly in their location, and secondly in the merger of the concessions.

Yes, the concessions were merged. Unlike the independent concessions of the previous world, the concessions in this world were merged together.

Therefore, it looks very big!

A light autumn rain was falling, and Zhao Zheng, inside the carriage, looked expressionlessly through the curtain at the bustling East Street in front of him.

The main street was bustling because of its proximity to the concession.

Shops lined both sides of the street, their gilded signs swaying gently in the light breeze and drizzle. The silk shops, foreign goods stores, and restaurants were all grand and well-organized.

Men and women dressed in fine clothes, looking quite respectable, strolled slowly in the drizzle under oil-paper umbrellas, their laughter mingling with the rain and mist, creating a lively and bustling scene.

But beneath the glitz and glamour, the rickshaw pullers' coarse cloth shirts were soaked by the continuous autumn rain.

But they dared not stop, continuing to walk briskly with their heads down, barely daring to breathe, for fear of disturbing the distinguished guests behind them.

The empty spaces along the roadside were crowded with vendors who had set up stalls, their faces displaying smiles that Zhao Zheng found both hypocritical and understandable.

Despite the drizzling autumn rain, the shopkeepers and their assistants stood on the steps, beaming with smiles as they greeted their distinguished guests.

The wealthy businessmen in suits and the gentlemen in long gowns on the side exchanged pleasantries with each other, and behind them followed servants or burly men with bowed heads. The scars on the servants could be vaguely seen from their sleeves or collars that were blown up by the wind.

There were no more beggars in the corner; only stiffened corpses, which the Chinese police had ordered their laborers to load onto carts.

Zhao Zheng frowned slightly, but ultimately, being too kind-hearted, he chose to look away and instead focus on the clues about possible demons and monsters that Su Ming had gathered for him within Anping County.

Wait a few minutes!

As Su Ming announced, "We've entered the concession," Zhao Zheng slowly raised his head and looked out of the carriage at the concession through the curtain.

What comes into view is a street that is far more prosperous and luxurious than East Street, with towering Western-style buildings standing side by side, and the neon lights on the signs appearing particularly bright under the gloomy sky.

Even with the continuous autumn rain, horse-drawn carriages, rickshaws, and the much more respectable-looking rickshaws still lined the streets.

The aroma of wine and Western sweetness wafted from the nearby Western restaurant, and at the entrance, well-dressed waiters bowed and greeted guests in English.

The glass windows of the department store next door displayed dazzling imported goods such as foreign liquor, gold watches, Western silks, and perfumes.

Along the roadside, blond-haired, blue-eyed foreigners strolled leisurely with their female companions, while a boy in a suit disdainfully remarked to his classmate, "This is a Paloma suit," and slapped his classmate's hand away.

The warm glow of the streetlights spilled in all directions, reflecting off the wet pavement, exuding an air of ostentatious wealth. The mere five-minute walk seemed to divide the world into two distinct appearances.

The streets of the concession now bear none of the straits, shabby conditions, and poverty that existed outside the concession.

All that exists is undisguised extravagance and luxury!

Looking at the bustling traffic outside, with its decadent atmosphere and people everywhere, Zhao Zheng felt no emotion whatsoever.

"I seem to have died a more complete death..."

Zhao Zheng thought about how the corpse was so ornately decorated, yet he had still killed it. He also thought about how calm he was when he killed the few opium-smoking servants. His brows furrowed and his eyes showed deep thought.

"Junior brother, what are you thinking about?"

Sitting opposite Zhao Zheng, who seemed to be thinking about something again, Su Ming asked him curiously.

"I'm wondering why people live and what their reasons are for becoming stronger..." Zhao Zheng said, turning his gaze away as he listened to the exclamations coming from the carriage behind him.

"..."

Honestly, I don't like the way you spout off all those life philosophies! Su Ming thought to himself, but still thought for a moment and replied.

"There are many reasons why people live: some live for themselves, some for their families, some for their goals, and as for reasons to become stronger... there are many such reasons as well..."

"Yes, I know!"

"...You already know, why are you asking!"

Su Ming paused for a moment, then rolled his eyes. Zhao Zheng replied expressionlessly, "Just because I ask a question doesn't mean I don't know the answer!"

"..."

Well-reasoned and irrefutable!

Su Ming fell silent, looking speechless and angry, and stopped paying attention to Zhao Zheng. However, Zhao Zheng knew that Su Ming was not angry.

The reason is... because in his eyes, there is a line of numbers above Su Ming's head, a line of numbers representing his level of favorability towards him.

Favorability rating: 85 (Good teacher and helpful friend)

(Su_Ming)

Why are you looking at me like that?

Feeling vaguely that he had been seen through, Su Ming frowned slightly as he looked at Zhao Zheng, who was up to some strange stunt.

"I've noticed you've become more handsome, senior!"

Zhao Zheng said, "Zhao Zheng cannot lie against his conscience, but Zhao Zheng can, and he can lie without thinking."

"Really? Junior brother, you must have misjudged."

Su Ming touched his stubble and denied it, but the upturned corners of his mouth betrayed his true thoughts. Unfortunately, Zhao Zheng ignored him, which made him feel that Zhao Zheng was playing a trick on him, and his face darkened.

Zhao Zheng ignored Su Ming because he was currently looking at the panel of his "Life's Many Faces" chart, which was also the favorability system after he modified his Maoshan Summoning Technique.

Yes, he successfully made the changes!

Through his hard work, Zhao Zheng successfully modified the Maoshan Divine Invocation Technique into his favorability system the night before last.

After all, the theories and everything else are there.

He has no reason not to succeed!

[Technique: Bone Drawing Scroll (Breaking Limits)]

[Introduction: This method is derived from the unrestricted version of the Maoshan Invocation Technique. After your re-deduction, modification and integration, it is no longer limited to the so-called upper, middle and lower invocations, but can achieve a fourth invocation, that is, to listen to the hearts of others...]

[Note: It's easy to draw the skin and bones of a tiger, but difficult to draw its heart; you can know a person's face, but not their heart. Since one's true character is revealed, let the clouds drift by; let others laugh and scold as they will.]

After Zhao Zheng cultivated the Maoshan Divine Invocation Technique to perfection, he spent some skill points to break through its limits.

It was only by combining the ability to perceive others' emotions from the Limitless Version of the Changming Guanyin Mind Method with the methods of divination and celestial secrets that it was successfully researched.

Although the process of combining them made Zhao Zheng feel a bit like typing a mountain of code, it wasn't a big problem as long as it ran.

And so, Zhao Zheng finally succeeded in developing the metaphysical version of the Favorability System, the Bone Scroll, the night before last.

Zhao Zheng opened the Bone Painting Scroll (favorability system), and the constantly refreshing status first caught his eye. The topmost three favorability ratings, described by the Bone Painting Scroll as "blood relatives, without reservation," were at maximum.

[Zhao's mother's favorability towards you: 100; Zhao's father's favorability towards you: 100; Daoist Tianyi's favorability towards you: 100.]

Following that are what the Painting Bone Scroll describes as the second tier of entrusting each other with life and death (sharing weal and woe), the third tier of heartfelt friendship (good teacher and helpful friend), and the fourth tier of close friendship (like-minded people).

[Xiang Yu's favorability towards you: 95, Su Ming's favorability towards you: 85, Shi Lianlian's favorability towards you: 85, Cheng Qingqing's favorability towards you: 80, Li Feng's favorability towards you: 80, Shi Bingbing's favorability towards you: 80...]

To be honest,

He felt this thing wasn't very accurate!

Zhao Zheng didn't quite understand why Shi Lianlian, who had been beaten the most by him, had a higher level of affection for him than Shi Bingbing.

Of course, what he couldn't understand the most was that some strangers could develop hostility towards him on the very first meeting.

This is also why he felt that this thing was not very accurate. After modifying the technique again, Zhao Zheng erased the evaluations that made him feel emotional, and only kept the numerical values.

"Just take it as a reference..."

Zhao Zheng thought to himself, and then continued to use the method of drawing bone scrolls to steal the energy of the surrounding passersby in order to improve the database of his favorability system.

This is another drawback of his favorability system besides its accuracy; he can only see the other person's favorability towards him after collecting their aura.

However, given that collecting Qi is quite easy,

This drawback can be ignored!

Oh, right, there's another advantage I haven't mentioned, which is that after he collects the other party's energy using his technique to draw bone scrolls.

He can learn the other party's name by drawing bone scrolls using cultivation techniques. Unless the other party has a way to hide their real name so that he can't see it, no one can hide their real name in front of him!

In other words, from now on, virtually no one can assassinate him by disguising their identity, which Zhao Zheng found very impressive!

Jing Ke: …………

…………

Time flies,

It's almost 10 o'clock.

We arrived at the Xinmin Martial Arts School, located in the southwest of the concession, right next to the Ping'an River, which is over 200 meters wide.

Li Feng and the others were stunned as soon as they got off the carriage. It wasn't because the rain was too heavy, but because the Xinmin Martial Arts School in front of them was too big!

Where's the martial arts school we were promised?!

Wei and He quickly came to their senses, their eyes widening slightly as they stared at the Xinmin Martial Arts Hall, which covered at least 500 acres of land.

A martial arts school built against the mountains and beside the water!

Is this a martial arts gym? This looks more like a martial arts academy!

Everyone was shocked, their minds racing. Some even exclaimed in astonishment, "This is the concession! How was this land approved?!"

No one paid any attention to his words. Su Ming, who had just gotten off the carriage, wanted to say that it was shot down, but he didn't say anything.

He simply stared at the words "Anping County Public Xinmin Martial Arts School" written in gilded lettering above the school's gate.

"Tsk tsk tsk, these words are really grand. It must have been written by that person..." Su Ming exclaimed, then looked at Zhao Zheng getting off the bus.

He was stunned when he saw Zhao Zheng, who was standing in the drizzle just like him, but was being avoided by the rain. He stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

"Not a feather can be added, not even a fly can land, your inner energy condenses to reach the profound realm... You... you... you've reached the fifth rank in martial arts?"

As he spoke, he quickly shook his head in denial, saying, "Impossible! How could you possibly have suddenly reached the fifth rank of martial arts!"

"I'd like to directly reach the fifth rank of martial arts!"

"But... how did you do that?"

Su Ming looked at the drizzle that was deliberately avoiding Zhao Zheng with surprise and confusion. Zhao Zheng looked surprised when he heard this.

"What's wrong, senior brother? You can't do it?"

"..."

Su Ming didn't say anything and rolled his eyes at Zhao Zheng. He wasn't in the mood to dwell on how Zhao Zheng managed to stay dry in the rain.

He simply turned around and addressed Lü Ran and the others, who were staring blankly at Xinmin Martial Arts School, unaware of his conversation with Zhao Zheng.

"Walk!"

"Okay, okay!"

Everyone instinctively responded and followed suit. Su Ming looked at Feng Xin and the others, who looked nervous, and gently comforted them.

"Don't be nervous, this time we'll get through..."

"Don't worry, I calculated it for you on the way, you'll make it!" Zhao Zheng said, interrupting Su Ming, who was completely incapable of comforting anyone.

Su Ming glanced at his junior brother, who was increasingly irritating him, speechless. However, after seeing that the tension on Feng Xin and the others' faces had truly disappeared, he immediately urged them on.

"Come on, hurry up, follow me!"

As he spoke, he led the way, with Zhao Zheng following behind. The two of them led a group of students toward the gate of Xinmin Martial Arts School, which seemed a bit too quiet.

Before long, everyone entered the gate. Zhao Zheng then realized why the martial arts school was so quiet—because everyone was being held at gunpoint.

Just kidding. There's no such thing as pointing guns at people in the martial arts school. There are just squads of Xinmin soldiers standing guard and patrolling with rifles that Zhao Zheng has never seen before.

Xinmin soldiers with live ammunition.

"Why is nobody here?"

Following closely behind Zhao Zheng, Cheng Qingqing asked in a low voice. Surprisingly, Su Ming didn't glare at Cheng Qingqing, who was also quite talkative at this moment. Instead, he pointed towards the school's playground.

"There's a queue!"

"queue?"

Cheng Qingqing asked in surprise. After a while, as she walked into the playground, which covered at least a hundred acres, she began to understand what queuing meant.

What came into view were long, neat rows of men and women dressed in all sorts of different styles.

The children ranged in age from thirteen or fourteen to thirty or forty, prompting Cheng Qingqing to cover her mouth in surprise.

"So many martial artists!"

"What are you thinking? You think these people are martial artists? They're just hoping to seize this opportunity to change their fate!"

Su Ming pointed to some people who were dressed like beggars and were queuing up not far away, and said to Cheng Qingqing.

The reason so many people are here is because Xinmin Martial Arts School announced that those with outstanding martial arts talent can learn martial arts for free.

After all, who wouldn't want to be a martial arts master!

After saying that, Su Ming called out to the people who were greeting him from a distance and said he would come over, then turned to Zhao Zhengdao.

"Junior brother, you lead them to line up. I'll go check with my friend to see how many people the martial arts school is actually accepting this time and if there are any other requirements!"

"OK!"

Zhao Zheng nodded and began to lead Cheng Qingqing and the others to the front of the line to start queuing. At first, the new civilian soldiers maintaining order looked at him with hostility.

However, after he showed his credentials for Xinmin Martial Arts School, or rather, Xinmin Martial Arts Academy, the soldiers' attitude immediately became friendly.

"You guys choose a team yourselves."

Looking at the large number of students, Zhao Zheng thought for a moment and then said that, apart from Cheng Qingqing and the others who chose to start queuing up near him.

The other students of Su's Martial Arts School immediately began to form groups and line up in different queues, while Zhao Zheng's gaze fell on the more than fifty long queues in front of him.

"At least ten thousand people... and that's just the current number. It seems like there are quite a few people being recruited this time..."

Zhao Zheng muttered to himself, while his gaze swept over the various people in the group. To put it simply, there were all sorts of people, a gathering of all walks of life.

There were wealthy young men dressed in brocade mandarin jackets adorned with pocket watch chains. There were also compradors from foreign firms, wearing suits with stiff collars and gleaming leather shoes.

And school students wearing long blue robes and round-framed glasses. Those in short outfits with towels tied around their waists were gang thugs…

"Young master, comprador, student, thug, peddler, coachman, teacher, maid, beggar, servant, butcher, um, why are there Taoists too? If you do this, won't your sect... Alright, I almost forgot that martial arts are flourishing in this world..."

Zhao Zheng muttered to himself, and thinking about the flourishing of martial arts in this world, he immediately felt that this situation was not surprising.

Especially with the exaggerated claims of extremely low tuition fees and becoming a martial artist in just one year, deliberately spread by Xinmin Martial Arts School, how could the people of the world not go crazy for it?

after all,

This is a chance to defy fate!

Well, let me put it this way: if someone could enter a martial arts school and become a martial artist, for the son of a poor farmer whose family had three acres of meager land and who went hungry for half the year, entering a martial arts school would mean becoming an officer, instructor, or official bodyguard.

This is a life-or-death exchange.

For dockworkers who toiled all day carrying cargo to earn a little money, entering a martial arts school and becoming a martial artist meant they would never have to carry cargo again—that was a life-changing experience.

For those children from impoverished families—no, for 99 percent of ordinary people in the world—entering a martial arts school meant having a chance to defy fate.

However, Zhao Zheng was a little curious about the admission method. Thinking about it, he looked up at the end of those lines, which was more than 300 meters away, at the fifty or so temporary tents that had been set up.

With the blessing of his innate Yin-Yang Five Elements Dao Body Holy Embryo, which has reached 25% of its progress bar, distance is no longer an issue.

Three hundred meters is not his limit.

It's the maximum length of this playground!