Martial Saint: Starting with Accumulating Experience

The next day, early in the morning.

Chen Feng left the inn early and wandered around the city, observing as he went, intending to buy real estate.

The docks were too noisy and chaotic; the prices in the inner city were too high, and Chen Feng didn't want to waste too much money; only the riverside area on the outskirts of the city was the most suitable, as it was far from the bustling city but not too remote.

"My lord, look at this house. Once you enter the courtyard, there's even a small patio. It's so secluded and elegant; it's definitely the best place in the west of the city."

Fang Ya's face was beaming with a smile.

Chen Feng nodded slightly, quite satisfied, and said:

"Could the price be lowered further? If so, I can complete the transaction today."

Fang Ya looked troubled after hearing this.

After several rounds of bargaining, the broker, eager to close the deal, finally relented and allowed Chen Feng to buy it for two hundred taels of silver.

Chen Feng also experienced the advantages of being a martial artist at this moment.

Normally, purchasing a house requires a travel permit or household registration certificate to prove one's identity, but in order to attract martial artists to stay, the government would choose to turn a blind eye.

When Fang Ya learned that Chen Feng didn't even have identification, his face turned ashen.

But upon hearing that Chen Feng was a martial artist, his attitude immediately changed drastically, almost to the point of saying, "I was just joking around."

In less than half an hour, the small courtyard was officially registered under Chen Feng's name.

After the transaction was completed, Chen Feng called out to Fang Ya, who was about to leave, "Wait a minute."

"Sir, what is it?"

"Do you know what other major forces are here besides the Canglang Gang? I'm new here and want to learn more about them."

Chen Feng slipped a small piece of silver into Fang Ya's hand.

Fang Ya accepted the money with a smile, in a great mood, as he could earn some extra money after selling the house.

"Besides the Canglang Gang, there are the city defense army, Cihang Temple, and the martial arts alliance in the east of the city, but their strength is far inferior to that of the Canglang Gang."

Fang Ya revealed all the forces he knew in one go, and even thoughtfully gave Chen Feng some advice:

"If you're considering joining a faction, I'd still recommend that you join the Canglang Gang."

"If you join the army now, you'll probably be transferred to the north to fight. Cihang Temple is a place for monks, and as for the martial arts school... you're already a martial artist, so you probably won't consider it, right?"

Chen Feng looked thoughtful.

In the evening, the door was tightly closed.

Chen Feng stood in the courtyard and summoned the system panel:

[Experience]: 21892

[Five Elements Skill]: Slightly successful (300/2000)

Holding Qi Gathering Pills and other martial arts master-level pills in his hand, he was always ready. These pills were all obtained from killing the old woman of the Li family, and he had kept them without using them.

"Add some points!"

The moment the thought arose, the panel changed, 1,700 experience points disappeared, and the Five Elements Technique entered the "Mastering the Inner Chamber" stage.

The Qi Sea expanded once again, and at the same time, the meridians throughout the body became thicker, and even the muscles became more robust.

Chen Feng estimated the amount of true qi he had in his dantian and, instead of taking any pills, chose to continue his breakthrough.

The text on the panel jumped around, and after consuming two thousand experience points, it changed to "Masterful Skill".

Behind Chen Feng's leap in strength was the frantic consumption of his vital energy and true qi.

The once abundant Qi Sea was emptied in the blink of an eye.

Chen Feng decisively swallowed the Qi Gathering Pill, and its powerful medicinal force erupted within his body, being absorbed freely by the Tai Chi Profound Origin Skill and transformed into pure energy.

As his blood and qi were restored, they were rapidly transformed into true qi. Enveloped by the gentle medicinal power, Chen Feng's meridians were not damaged, and his dantian was gradually replenished.

Add points to achieve perfection.

[Experience]: 14192

The insights into the cultivation techniques flooded into Chen Feng's mind like a tidal wave, and he mastered all three elements of true energy: water, earth, and fire.

"This..." Chen Feng's expression was strange.

Because although my strength increased after I perfected the Five Elements Technique, it wasn't as great as I had expected.

He could clearly sense that he was only halfway through the Qi Condensation Realm, and he hadn't used many of the pills he had. He had originally thought that once the cultivation technique was perfected, he would reach the perfect realm.

As the rate of increase in Qi and blood within his body gradually slowed down, Chen Feng realized that he could no longer rely on improving his cultivation techniques to drive his realm advancement.

After reaching perfection, Chen Feng knew that the upper limit of the Five Elements Technique was the second level of Martial Master.

Those with poor talent will remain at the Qi Condensation Realm, while those with good talent can reach the Acupuncture Realm.

At most, he can only reach the level of his master Zhou Bingzhong. As for wanting to reach a higher realm... that depends on individual destiny.

Next, Chen Feng practiced boxing in his own yard, gradually consolidating his cultivation level.

The rest is nothing more than a slow and steady process, gradually filling the Qi Sea with true Qi, and then exhausting the true Qi to impact the Qi Sea and make it expand.

This cycle repeats itself.

January flew by.

After exhausting all his medicinal resources, Chen Feng's cultivation level stabilized at the late stage of the Qi Condensation Realm.

His true energy was already enough to envelop his entire body. If it were all transformed into earth-elemental true energy, it would be an invisible armor, impervious to water and fire, and invulnerable to swords and spears.

Water-based True Qi can improve endurance, making it a superior alternative to Xuan Yuan Jin.

The fiery true energy was extremely violent, giving Chen Feng's moves a burning effect, and when it entered the opponent's body, it could powerfully destroy their meridians.

The Five Elements True Qi can be described as having both offensive and defensive capabilities.

"Phew... I should think about the next step." Chen Feng pondered, realizing that relying solely on his own training was progressing too slowly.

Although there are still martial arts skills that can be upgraded, such as the Dragon Subduing Staff, the benefits are minimal.

Mastering another staff technique doesn't significantly increase actual combat strength; it only boosts one's qi and blood.

It feels like a waste of my experience.

He needs two things now:

First, there are cultivation resources. Even if you have money, you can't buy Qi Gathering Pills, which are pills for the Qi Condensation Realm. Second, there are high-end cultivation techniques, at least at the Five Elements Technique level.

After much consideration, only one force in Yongning Bay could meet the above requirements.

"Canglang Gang".

......

......

The headquarters of the Canglang Gang was located not far from Yongning Bay Wharf, which was the place where the Canglang Gang started.

Leader Wang Lan, at the Enlightenment Realm.

He was a big shot in Jiangzhou, not because of his strength, but because he was the only one in the entire city who dared to openly oppose the Canal Gang and still remain unscathed.

As Chen Feng rode his carriage, the area around the Canglang Gang was bustling with activity, filled with all sorts of people coming and going.

The most common sights on the road were carriages laden with jewels and merchants with beaming faces.

Besides these, there were members of the Canglang Gang, who patrolled the streets carrying knives, spears, and clubs.

"My lord, we've arrived."

The coachman directed the horses to stop and spoke to Chen Feng.

Chen Feng got out of the car and paid the fare.

Looking closely at the imposing and dignified gate not far away, a dark blue stone plaque hangs above the lintel, with the two characters "Canglang" neatly engraved on it.

There were also guards on both sides of the gate.

They were all dressed in uniform gray-blue outfits, with short swords at their waists, and their sharp eyes scanned the passersby.

As Chen Feng approached, the gang members guarding the gate immediately stepped forward, sizing him up with scrutinizing eyes: "What are you doing here? If it's nothing important, please take a detour."

Chen Feng cupped his hands and said, "My name is Chen Lang. I wish to join the Canglang Gang. Could you please introduce me to some ways to join?"

As they spoke, Chen Feng calmly took out two silver coins from his sleeve and gave one to each of the two gatekeepers.

Surprisingly, this tried-and-true tactic failed this time.

"Take it away, take it away. We, the Canglang Gang, don't do this kind of thing." The gatekeeper pushed Chen Feng's hand back and then asked:

"Did someone recommend you?"

Chen Feng recalled the blue-eyed powerhouse he had encountered a few days ago. He wondered if the man's words still held true, and so he spoke:

"I think... there probably is."

"Let me see the letter of introduction."

Chen Feng: "...That's all."

Upon hearing this, the gatekeepers looked Chen Feng up and down suspiciously:

"If it exists, it exists; if it doesn't exist, it doesn't exist. You keep saying it should and it doesn't exist. Why do you seem like a bad person?"

Chen Feng: "..."