Gou Zai Wu Dao Chao Shi Xing Nian Da Gong

Late at night, in a desolate area.

A figure moved nimbly here, practicing a leg technique. With each lift and stomp of his leg, deep footprints appeared on the hard ground. But strangely, such great power made almost no sound.

This is all due to his strong control over his own power.

Zhou Fugan quickly finished his work, a satisfied look on his face.

Today, he finally finished learning the Mountain-Stepping Leg technique and reached the Perfect Realm. He couldn't resist trying it out, and its power was indeed formidable.

Moreover, he incorporated the power and techniques of Tai Chi Chuan into the Mountain-Treading Leg, enabling him to control the power of his leg strikes flawlessly. Just like before, he concentrated all the power in the soles of his feet, which doubled the power of his leg techniques without making much noise, making them more concealed and agile.

However, this method of performing the "Mountain-Stepping Leg" technique loses its effect of vibrating the entire body's muscles and bones, thus aiding in the tempering of the muscles and bones.

Zhou Fugan was prepared for this. He only needed to change the flow of Tai Chi energy, no longer absolutely controlling the leg strength, to generate the original vibrational force. Furthermore, he used Tai Chi techniques to transmit this vibrational force within his body, further enhancing its tempering effect on the body's muscles and bones.

He thus forcibly divided a powerful leg technique into two modes: one that greatly increases its power in combat, and the other that has amazing effects in assisting cultivation.

And these are all benefits of Tai Chi. The value of this martial art is still increasing.

Boom boom boom~~

Then, a series of muffled thunder-like sounds echoed across the wasteland.

Zhou Fugan began to use his leg techniques to vibrate his entire body. Sure enough, he felt all his bones vibrating and cracking, and a tingling sensation emanated from between his bones.

"It really works!"

After practicing the Mountain-Stepping Leg technique several times, he immediately took the Fiery Pill and then practiced the Hammering Cloud Stance technique.

By alternating between these practices, his cultivation progress improved significantly. After completing one night of cultivation, his progress was more than two points higher than the previous day. Don't underestimate these two points; in ten days, that's twenty points, and in a hundred days, it's two hundred points. Over time, the accumulation is quite substantial.

"It'll be soon. If this continues, I'll be able to break through the muscle and bone barrier in a few days."

...

The most bustling area in the southern part of the city is undoubtedly the several blocks near Yingzi Street.

Many prominent people live here, and even some big shots in the inner city have set up villas here, so the price of courtyards here is quite high.

Near Yingzi Street is a grain storage alley. Deep in the alley is a large, secluded courtyard with white walls and black tiles. The walls are mottled, the vermilion gate is slightly dilapidated, and the plaque on the gate is cracked, with the words "Hu Mansion" still faintly visible.

Several figures stood in front of the gate, looking around.

"Grandpa, Junior Brother Zhou, look at this house. It used to be the ancestral home of the Hu family, a prominent family in the county. Twenty years ago, the Hu family's fleet controlled the shipping business on the Blackwater River. Unfortunately, later, the head of the Hu family, Hu Dahai, led the fleet on a big business trip, but they never returned and were never heard from again. From then on, the Hu family declined."

Wang Teng pointed to the house and introduced it with great interest.

He would glance at Zhou Fugan every now and then, his heart pounding. He'd heard that this old man was just an old tailor, and he seemed quite healthy, but he was just an ordinary person. Yet, for some reason, the moment he first saw this old man, he felt a strange sense of awe and dared not show the slightest disrespect.

"Perhaps it's because of Junior Brother Zhou, I've come to regard him as an elder in my heart. Of course, one should respect elders," Wang Teng offered himself as an excuse.

"The Hu family, I know them. Hu Dahai was a very famous person in Qingshan County back then. It's just a pity that things have changed."

Zhou Fugan was filled with emotion.

A broker from the brokerage firm chimed in, "The house we're looking at was originally part of the Hu family estate. It was separated out and has a three-courtyard layout, now being sold separately."

The group then followed the broker further into the alley. At the very back, there was a newly opened door. Judging from the surrounding marks, the door had only recently been carved out of the wall, with fresh patches of plaster peeling off on either side.

"This is the place. Gentlemen, please come in."

The broker pointed to the new door, stepped forward, took out the key, opened the door, and led the group inside.

Zhou Fugan looked around and found that the courtyard was really big. The front courtyard just inside the main gate was larger than his current residence, and the two courtyards behind it were about the same size.

The house and its facilities are somewhat dilapidated, but all are in good condition. There is a small garden in the backyard, and once leveled, the backyard will be large enough to serve as a training ground.

What's even more remarkable is that this courtyard is relatively secluded, and the moon gate that originally connected it to the Hu residence on the wall has been sealed off with bricks and stones. Zhou Fugan climbed up the wall and looked around; the Hu residence next door was overgrown with weeds and looked like it was uninhabited.

The other side of the residence bordered the moat, and there were no other houses there. This meant they could practice martial arts at home without any problem.

"Grandpa, Junior Brother Zhou, what do you think of this courtyard?"

After looking around, Wang Teng asked.

"Okay, this is fine."

Zhou Fugan didn't hesitate and immediately decided on the location. Anyway, with Wang Teng, an acquaintance, as a guarantor, the broker wouldn't ask for too much.

"Very well, with Young Master Wang's influence, I'll give you the lowest price for this house, one hundred and ten taels of silver," the broker said immediately.

"This price is fair. Okay." Zhou Fugan nodded in agreement.

"Alright, I'll go call the homeowner now, let's go transfer the property today," the broker said with a beaming smile.

"Um."

Afterwards, the group arrived at the gate of the Hu family mansion next door, and the broker went up and knocked on the door.

After knocking for a while, an elderly servant with gray hair and beard finally opened the door. The servant was dressed in tattered clothes, even worse off than the poorest people on Xingcang Street. He looked at the group warily and asked in a deep voice, "Who are you looking for?"

"I'm looking for your young master, Hu Yong. He listed the house next door with our brokerage, and someone has bought it. Quickly call him out so we can complete the transfer of ownership," the broker said rudely.

"What? You're not selling? Get out of here, get out of here!" The old servant's face changed upon hearing this, and he waved his hand to drive the crowd away.

"Hey. You old man, your word doesn't count. It was Hu Yong who signed the contract in black and white at our brokerage. If you dare to go back on your word, we're not afraid to take you to the authorities," the broker arrogantly warned.

The old servant was about to speak again when he saw a sleepy-eyed young man walk up behind him. The man had puffy eyes, disheveled hair, and wore a tattered long gown.

"What's going on? It's so noisy," Hu Yong asked impatiently.

"Young Master Hu, it's me. Someone wants the house you wanted to sell," the broker said hurriedly.

"What? Someone bought it? Great! Give me the money quickly!" Hu Yong immediately perked up upon hearing this, rushed out the door, and asked with delight.

"It was this martial arts master Zhou who bought it," the broker said, pointing to Zhou Sheng.

"Okay, hurry up and transfer the property, pay up," Hu Yong urged impatiently. His expression was just like that of a gambler who had just seen the money.

"What a terrible thing! Master, I'm so sorry!" The old servant knelt down and wept bitterly inside the gate.

Zhou Fugan watched coldly, showing no sympathy. This Hu Yong was clearly a gambling addict, and he was probably going to squander his entire fortune.