All the gods began by cultivating the Iron Shirt technique.

In Jiaxing, the eastern part of the city is quiet compared to the western and southern residential areas, and the northern part is bustling and noisy. The southern part of the city is completely lively.

This area is bustling with markets and temples, and the city's prosperity seems to be concentrated in this region.

After passing through the bustling market, Yang Pan stopped at a relatively secluded spot. This place was far from the central market area and also far from the surrounding temples and academies, but it was home to a large martial arts school.

Black Tiger Martial Arts School!

Looking at the martial arts school in front of him, which was more than three times larger than the Tiehe Martial Arts School, Yang Pan couldn't help but marvel at the owner's wealth and power.

It's important to know that housing prices in Jiaxing are not cheap. Even in the northern part of the city, most ordinary people rent their homes, and very few can afford to buy a house in the city center.

The martial arts school in front of him was probably the size of a football field. Even though it was rented, the price was something Yang Pan could never have imagined.

The martial arts school's doors were wide open, and Yang Pan walked straight in with the identity token given to him by Senior Brother Huang. Upon entering, he was greeted by a very spacious training ground. At that moment, many martial arts school disciples stood in clearly defined groups, practicing their skills.

The disciples practicing fist and foot techniques and sword and saber techniques did not interfere with each other; only shouts echoed in the middle of the field.

"This junior brother looks unfamiliar. Which master are you from?" Just as Yang Pan was touring the training ground, a young man walked out from the middle of the training ground and asked Yang Pan.

Yang Pan glanced at the young man in front of him and noticed that the man's hands were slightly larger than average, and his arms were bulging with powerful muscles, clearly indicating that he had practiced hand techniques.

"Greetings, senior brother. I am Yang Pan, and I am new to the martial arts school. I am not under any master's tutelage." Yang Pan said, handing his identity token to the young man for inspection.

The young man took the ID card, glanced at the number "ninety-three" engraved on it, then returned it, a smile appearing on his face.

"So it's Junior Brother Yang. I processed this identity card on your behalf yesterday. Brother Huang already made arrangements with us yesterday. Junior Brother Yang, you practice Iron Shirt Kung Fu, so you should train under Master Zhou. Come on, I'll take you there."

He then invited Yang Pan to walk to another part of the martial arts school. The school was spacious, and the training ground in front of them only occupied a quarter of it. In the middle of the school were the residences of the school owner's family and the various martial arts instructors. There was another similar training ground on the other side of the school.

Along the way, Yang Pan inquired about the situation at the martial arts school, and the young man answered very readily about some of the less important matters concerning the school.

For example, the master of the Black Tiger Martial Arts School was named Wang Tong. He had the strength of a second-rate martial artist and had roamed the martial arts world in his youth. At that time, he was known as the Black Tiger King, a very famous name.

Now in his middle age, he returned to Jiaxing and founded this martial arts school. Because of its reputation in the martial arts world, many disciples have come to learn martial arts since its establishment.

Master Wang had roamed the martial arts world in his early years and acquired many martial arts techniques. Therefore, since the establishment of the martial arts school, it has taught a wide range of martial arts, including fist, foot, sword and saber techniques. He has also invited his former fellow disciples to teach the students.

The young man recounted some events in detail, and Yang Pan listened with great interest, especially the young man's description of the cultivation levels of martial arts practitioners.

Yang Pan had never understood how martial artists' strength was classified in the martial arts world. Even with Senior Brother Huang, Yang Pan only knew that he was a martial artist who had cultivated internal energy, but he didn't know what level Huang was at in the martial arts world.

However, I learned from the young man that martial artists in the martial arts world are generally divided into third-rate, second-rate, first-rate, and top-rate.

This distinction is mainly based on a martial artist's strength and internal energy, but the young man didn't elaborate on what specific strength or internal energy level corresponds to which level. Yang Pan didn't press further, perhaps as it involved the core of some martial arts technique.

The two arrived at the backyard of the martial arts school. The training ground here was basically the same as the front yard, with many martial arts disciples practicing their skills. Yang Pan spotted some disciples practicing hard strike techniques and followed the young man directly towards that area.

"Senior Brother Qi."

"Greetings, Senior Brother Qi!"

As the young man walked along, he was greeted by many disciples from various martial arts schools, leading Yang Pan to guess that the young man must have a high status within the martial arts school.

"Uncle-Master Feng, this is a new disciple. He also practiced Iron Shirt, so he was assigned to you, Uncle-Master Feng."

The young man came to a shady corner and spoke to a middle-aged man with a black beard who was sitting on a stone bench drinking tea.

Yang Pan also looked at the middle-aged man surnamed Feng. Judging from his appearance, the man should be around forty years old. He had a tall and strong physique, which was a hallmark of someone who practiced external martial arts. The weather was quite hot at the time, and the man was wearing a sleeveless short jacket. The muscles on his arms were bulging and looked even more muscular and ferocious than those of a young man.

"Okay, I understand. I'll take care of this kid."

Feng Cheng'an's deep voice rang out. Seeing this, the young man nodded slightly, then gave Yang Pan some instructions before turning and leaving.

"Kid, how far have you progressed in your Iron Shirt technique?" Feng Cheng'an asked Yang Pan.

"I am currently at the Body Tempering level," Yang Pan said.

"Oh? The skin smoothing is finished? Well, then we can't let ordinary disciples help you. Cao Bing, come here." Feng Cheng'an beckoned a young man in the training ground over.

"Master, what is it?" the young man asked as he jogged over.

"This is a new disciple named Yang Pan. You will be assisting him in cultivating the second level of Iron Shirt."

Feng Cheng'an gestured to Cao Bing. Feng Cheng'an was the junior brother of the martial arts school master, and his cultivation level was also at the third-rate level in the martial arts world. Moreover, he was about to break through to the second-rate level, so he was naturally not needed for the Iron Shirt technique's support.

Faced with the task assigned by his master, Cao Bing nodded and then led Yang Pan to the training ground.

"I wonder which gang Junior Brother Yang belongs to?" On the training ground, Cao Bing couldn't help but ask, looking at the many knife wounds revealed when Yang Pan took off his shirt.

"He escaped from Anqing Prefecture and just joined the Beggars' Sect." Yang Pan didn't try to hide anything, after all, these weren't any important secrets.

Upon hearing Yang Pan say that he had escaped from Anqing Prefecture, Cao Bing immediately stopped asking questions. After all, it was already common knowledge that Anqing Prefecture had been captured by the Mongol army. The fact that Yang Pan was able to come here alive was probably due to a narrow escape from death, so it was not surprising that he had these scars.

"Junior Brother Yang, you've already started forging your muscles, so I probably don't need to go into the details. Also, the external medicines used for cultivation are sold in our martial arts school for two ounces a bottle, and one bottle lasts for a month." Cao Bing briefly reminded Yang Pan of the price of the external medicines for cultivation.

Yang Pan nodded, noting that it was not much different from when he was in Tongjiang County.

After explaining everything, Yang Pan began his cultivation. As the stick struck his body, that long-lost numbness returned.

Although he felt pain in his body, Yang Pan felt a surge of joy. His Iron Shirt cultivation progress had finally returned to normal, which meant his strength could continue to steadily improve. In the martial world, strength was paramount; only with great power could Yang Pan feel truly secure.

For the next few days, Yang Pan stayed at the Black Tiger Martial Arts Hall to cultivate, and during that time he finally saw Senior Brother Shi come over.

After becoming a bodyguard, the other party could no longer leave at will as they had in Tongjiang County, and could only come to train for a period of time each month. Faced with this situation, the two were at a loss, after all, cultivating Iron Shirt also required money, and if Shi Yingfeng quit this job, he would probably not be able to continue his cultivation.

It is conceivable that Yang Pan's strength will likely surpass that of his opponent in the future.

In addition to practicing Iron Shirt, Yang Pan also began to practice the martial arts techniques he brought back from the Beggars' Sect.

If Iron Shirt is a skill that grants Yang Pan immense strength, speed, and defensive capabilities after mastering it, then the martial arts within the Beggars' Sect are techniques—methods for fighting to the death against enemies.

If Yang Pan only possesses skill but lacks strategy, he is at best a brute with great strength or a human shield. Only by learning the methods of fighting will Yang Pan avoid being at a disadvantage in future battles.

Fortunately, the three martial arts techniques he brought back weren't too difficult, especially the Five Tigers Severing the Gate Saber. Since Yang Pan already had a foundation in saber techniques, he was able to master them faster than the other two.

However, because Yang Pan preferred the feeling of punches landing with flesh, he spent the most time practicing Taizu Long Fist.

Furthermore, as his Iron Shirt technique has become increasingly refined, even a casual punch from him is now beyond the reach of ordinary people. It is likely that once he develops internal energy, the Taizu Long Fist will also be able to unleash some of its power.

However, although Yang Pan wanted to immerse himself in cultivation, he had joined the Beggars' Sect after all, and he could not refuse some of the sect's tasks.

After seven days of peaceful cultivation, Ma Wu came to inform him that the branch hall master had returned, which meant that Yang Pan would begin to take over the tasks assigned by the Beggars' Sect.

However, this is for the best. After all, cultivation requires money. Yang Pan only brought a dozen or so taels of silver from Tongjiang County. Without an income source, he would eventually run out of money.

After accepting a mission from the Beggars' Sect, at least you can get some money.