All the gods began by cultivating the Iron Shirt technique.

Upon approaching, Yang Pan carefully counted the number of internal energy cultivation manuals; there were a total of eighteen books displayed here.

Picking up a somewhat old cultivation manual with a slightly yellowed cover, Yang Pan opened it to the first page and began to examine it. The sect leader hadn't said that the disciples choosing cultivation manuals couldn't look at them all, but Yang Pan figured that the disciples wouldn't be allowed to treat this place like a library.

Therefore, Yang Pan only focused on the descriptions of the cultivation characteristics of the techniques when he opened the manual. For example, the manual he held, "Returning to Origin Internal Energy," described the internal energy cultivated there as balanced and harmonious, and said to be quite effective in healing injuries and curing diseases. However, the cultivation of internal energy was slow, requiring decades of practice to connect all twelve meridians of the body.

Shaking his head, Yang Pan put down the cultivation manual. With the Longevity Fruit in his body, he was not afraid of any diseases. Even if he was injured, he could always recover as long as he didn't die instantly. Moreover, this cultivation method was slow to develop, and the balanced internal energy meant that its destructive power was insufficient, so it was not among Yang Pan's choices.

Yang Pan picked up the second book, titled "Seventy-Two Perilous Mountain Sword Techniques," and opened it to examine it. He discovered that although it was named after sword techniques, it was actually a mental cultivation method for internal energy.

Swordsmanship is merely an adjunct to this internal cultivation method; the best way to cultivate this internal skill is to use the accompanying swordsmanship to drive the circulation of internal energy.

Reaching the highest level of mastery can also open up all twelve meridians in the body, and the internal energy contains the sharpness of sword energy, making it quite powerful for fighting in the martial world.

"It's a pity I don't practice swordsmanship." With a sigh, Yang Pan put down the technique and continued to choose.

The subsequent cultivation methods were not much different from the second book, basically consisting of mental cultivation techniques with some fist or palm techniques. Yang Pan even saw the cultivation method "Free and Easy Wandering".

The "Free and Easy Wandering" style, as I recall, seems to be a boxing technique that Hong Qigong acquired in his early years, which he then passed on to Mu Nianci and Huang Rong during the time of The Condor Heroes.

Yang Pan also liked boxing, but unfortunately this style of boxing emphasized agility and dodging, which went against the style that Yang Pan preferred, which was more open and powerful.

Besides this boxing style, Yang Pan also saw the "Iron Shirt" technique. As expected, it recorded the method of cultivating internal energy. Unfortunately, it could only open two meridians. This was the most superficial mental cultivation method among the techniques Yang Pan had seen.

"How's it going? Have you finished choosing?" Yang Pan had been choosing for a while, and the helmsman waiting beside him seemed a little impatient, urging him on.

Hearing this, Yang Pan felt reassured and finally reached out and took down a cultivation technique from the bookshelf—"Small Heavenly Circuit Qi Gong".

This technique can also be cultivated to the point of opening up all twelve meridians in the body. Although it does not have any accompanying moves or methods, when cultivated to the great perfection, the internal energy in the body will be as turbulent and powerful as the Yangtze River.

With the support of internal energy, he could easily shatter stone tablets with a single punch or kick, and his internal energy would be much more abundant than that of his peers. Such characteristics were exactly what Yang Pan had in mind.

Seeing that Yang Pan had chosen his cultivation method, the leader glanced at it and said:

"Hmm, you have a good eye, quite a few people in the gang practice this technique. But you've seen the characteristics of this technique. Although the internal energy is very strong after mastering it, it consumes a lot of medicinal herbs during the practice. You should be prepared."

Yang Pan nodded slightly upon hearing this. After developing internal energy, he was certain that the essence of cultivating internal energy was refining essence into qi. The internal energy cultivated by this technique was profound, which inevitably required refining more essence, and this essence was nothing more than various medicinal herbs or pills.

"This technique doesn't come with any combat methods. According to the rules, you can go to the bookshelf on the left and choose another martial art that focuses on techniques."

Seeing that Yang Pan understood the requirements for cultivating this technique, the leader didn't say anything more and just let Yang Pan continue to choose martial arts.

Yang Pan was somewhat surprised by this, but then he was overjoyed. He hadn't expected the Beggars' Sect to be so generous to its disciples, allowing them to choose not only an internal energy cultivation method but also a martial arts technique.

Yang Pan had long been troubled by the martial arts techniques he had learned. After all, neither Taizu Changquan nor Wuhu Duanmen Dao was enough. If he encountered some unorthodox martial artists, Yang Pan could still fight with these two martial arts, but once he encountered some Jianghu people from major sects, the sword and fist techniques that Yang Pan had mastered were not enough.

In the world of martial arts, besides relying on internal strength, the sophistication of one's mastery of techniques often determines one's overall strength.

In the original timeline, Yang Guo and Xiaolongnu were clearly far inferior to Jinlun Fawang in cultivation, but they managed to fight Jinlun Fawang to a standstill by relying on their profound and exquisite combined sword techniques.

This shows that exquisite martial arts techniques can indeed compensate for differences in cultivation level to a certain extent.

Arriving at the left-hand bookshelf, Yang Pan quickly began selecting items. As expected, while the bookshelf contained many martial arts techniques, their quality varied considerably.

Yang Pan spotted the Five Tigers Severing the Gate Saber and the Taizu Long Fist, assuming these martial arts techniques were just there for show. He skipped over those, finding the more advanced techniques on the second shelf, and focused his search there.

"The Wave-Breaking Sword Technique is straightforward and simple, aiming to kill the enemy with a single strike, which is too extreme."

The Gale Blade Technique is quite good; its moves are as violent as a storm, expansive yet intricate and precise.

Looking at the description of the Gale Blade Technique, Yang Pan suddenly recalled the blade technique he had witnessed in Tongjiang County, where Instructor Zhao fought his way out of an encirclement.

It is as fierce as a storm, and as delicate as a gazelle hanging its horns.

Besides this sword technique, Yang Pan also saw techniques such as the Tendon-Splitting and Bone-Dislocating Hand, the Great Capturing Hand, and the Thirty-Six Styles of Mountain-Opening Fist. Yang Pan was not at all surprised that there were no Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms or Dog-Beating Stick Technique among them.

The former can be considered the Beggars' Sect's top palm technique. It's impossible for it to just be displayed here. Even if you wanted to learn it, you would probably have to be taught by an elder in the sect.

The latter is a martial art that only the leader of the Beggars' Sect can practice. Even with Yang Guo's talent, Hong Qigong only taught him the moves, but not the essence of them.

After considering all the options, Yang Pan ultimately chose the Gale Blade Technique. Until his cultivation reached the top ranks of the martial arts world, his blade technique would undoubtedly remain his greatest asset.

After Yang Pan selected his martial arts techniques, the leader led him away from the Transmission Hall and back to the council hall.

"Each branch of the gang has its own dedicated disciples. If you need to stay in Xiangyang for a while longer, you can ask them for guidance at your local branch. Or you can return to the Jiaxing branch, where the same applies."

The leader explained the cultivation techniques to Yang Pan, which was not much different from what he had done in Jiaxing, so Yang Pan naturally did not refuse.

After choosing his cultivation method, Yang Pan immediately left the branch headquarters and returned to his guest room. He sat cross-legged on the bed and began to study the "Small Heavenly Circuit Qigong".

The method of circulating qi in this technique is much more sophisticated and complex than that of Iron Shirt. Iron Shirt accumulates internal energy by matching breathing with the operation of the mental technique, but it can only open up the two main meridians in the body.

The Small Heavenly Circuit Qigong, however, can connect all twelve meridians. In addition to a unique breathing rhythm, it also requires specific cultivation hand seals during its practice.

The so-called cultivation hand seals are finger seals. As the saying goes, the ten fingers are connected to the heart. In fact, the ten fingers are connected to more than just the heart meridian. No matter how the twelve regular meridians and the eight extraordinary meridians are distributed in the body, they will eventually be connected to the ten fingers of both hands to some extent.

Besides the unique breathing techniques, the most crucial aspect of advanced internal energy cultivation methods is the use of special finger gestures to stimulate the flow of energy through the body's meridians, thereby aiding in the cultivation of internal strength.

"It's true what they say: the layman sees the spectacle, while the expert sees the details."

After reading the key points of cultivation in the opening chapter of the Small Heavenly Circuit Qigong, Yang Pan let out a long breath.

Before transmigrating, I watched a lot of martial arts movies and TV shows. It seemed that the protagonists could cultivate internal energy as long as they obtained a secret manual and then sat cross-legged in meditation.

However, after Yang Panzhen began cultivating his internal energy, he discovered how difficult it was to condense internal energy, and how tedious it was to cultivate profound internal energy techniques.

Finger gestures, breathing exercises, and mental manipulation techniques—these three must be performed simultaneously in cultivation. It is undoubtedly difficult, and one cannot become immersed in them immediately upon starting. No wonder it is said that cultivation begins with cultivating the mind.

If one's mind is not firm and focused enough, one may forget the changes in hand gestures when transferring the mental techniques.

Fortunately, Yang Pan already had the Iron Shirt third level mental technique as a foundation, so now that he was practicing the Small Heavenly Circuit Qi Gong, it was just a matter of adding another finger technique.

The internal energy cultivated through the Small Heavenly Cycle Qigong is vigorous and profound, quite similar to the internal energy of Iron Shirt Qigong. Therefore, Yang Pan has no need to completely abandon the internal energy he has already cultivated and start over.

Even as mentioned at the beginning, this Small Heavenly Circuit Qigong begins its circulation with the Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian, and then flows through the twelve regular meridians of the body according to the mental method. Yang Pan's cultivation method only requires him to follow this method, which is incredibly good news for him.

Without hesitation, he immediately changed his breathing method, forming hand seals and beginning to practice according to the new method.