Chapter 12

“At our Iron Cloth Martial Art Academy, we teach extremely practical Martial Arts such as Iron Fist Skill, Iron Leg Skill, Iron Shirt, and so on. With diligent and hard practice, it only takes several years, up to a decade, to step into the Strength Refinement Realm. With bare hands, dealing with several strong men won’t be a problem, and joining the army, you could make a name for yourself! For instance, the current Deputy Commander of the Clearwater Guard in Clearwater City, he used to study Martial Arts at our Iron Cloth Martial Art Academy!”

Mai Mingjie introduced the Iron Cloth Martial Art Academy’s Martial Arts and heritage with great confidence.

Su Changkong coughed and said, “Vice Principal Mai, actually… I’m not quite cut out for enduring physical hardships. I want to learn Inner Strength.”

Iron Cloth Martial Art Academy excelled in various ‘external’ hard techniques. These techniques, when combined with certain medicines, allowed for rapid progress and practical application. However, they did come with a degree of physical strain, even potentially causing injuries or ailments.

It might be fine when younger, but as one aged, these latent injuries could flare up, potentially shortening lifespan and leading to frequent pains and illnesses!

Su Changkong’s purpose in coming was to learn Inner Strength!

“Inner Strength?” Mai Mingjie frowned slightly at the words.

“The path of Martial Arts involves Body Refinement, Qi Manipulation, and the cultivation of Inner Strength, which requires years of continuous effort to achieve success. It’s not like External Strength’s fast progress. Our Iron Cloth Martial Art Academy specializes in the practice of External Strength and hard techniques, but we haven’t delved much into Inner Strength.”

Mai Mingjie was honest in his explanation.

External Strength is, to put it simply, tempering the Physical and refining skills, which can lead to significant progress in a matter of years or even months.

Inner Strength, on the other hand, involves tempering internal organs, nourishing Qi and Blood, and extracting True Qi, which often takes many years or even decades to initially succeed.

Of course, true top experts cultivate both Internal and External Strength, but ordinary people lack the energy, conditions, and resources!

“I see…” Su Changkong was somewhat disappointed, but Clearwater City had more than one Martial Art Academy. If Iron Cloth Martial Art Academy didn’t have the right techniques for Inner Strength, he could look at other academies!

Seemingly perceiving Su Changkong’s intention, Mai Mingjie spoke up, “Inner Strength techniques are precious. Many of them belong to Martial Artist Sects and Martial Arts families. Even if a regular Martial Art Academy has Inner Strength techniques, it won’t be easy to learn. You have to become a core member before you can be taught.”

Mai Mingjie’s words made Su Changkong realize he had been a bit naive in his thinking.

Inner Strength techniques are incredibly precious. In a small place like Clearwater City, even if the Martial Art Academies possess them, they are closely guarded secrets. Joining an academy and hoping to learn them for just a few taels or ten taels of silver? That would be a fool’s dream!

Suddenly, Mai Mingjie smiled, “However, I do know of a place where you could obtain Inner Strength techniques, provided you have the money.”

Upon hearing this, Su Changkong’s eyes lit up, though he did not show it. He clasped his hands together and bowed slightly, “Please enlighten me, Vice Principal Mai.”

Mai Mingjie did not hide anything as he said, “Have you heard of the Zhao Family from Dongling Town?”

Su Changkong shook his head. He had heard of Dongling Town near Clearwater City, but he had indeed never heard of the Zhao Family from Dongling Town.

Mai Mingjie continued, “The Zhao Family is a significant local Wealthy Family in Dongling Town, very rich, and an ancestor in their lineage was a martial artist of no small skill. The Zhao Family is planning to relocate and develop in a bigger city, and they need a substantial amount of money to smooth the way. As a result, they have decided to auction off some land deeds and valuable treasures, including Inner Strength manuals in the family’s possession.”

The Zhao Family from Dongling Town had taken root locally and owned Inner Strength manuals. They were organizing an auction to convert some family assets into silver and silver notes, uprooting to leave Dongling Town!

This auction might very well include the sale of Inner Strength manuals!

“If you want an Inner Strength manual, you could try your luck in Dongling Town, but I’m afraid they won’t come cheap!”

Mai Mingjie chuckled, he was merely sharing the news he had heard without any loss to himself.

“Thank you, Vice Principal Mai!” Su Changkong expressed his gratitude.

Su Changkong did not continue to disturb him any further and took his leave.

“I only have a total of 150 taels of silver… Is that enough to buy a manual for Inner Strength?”

Su Changkong felt uncertain.

Previously, Su Changkong had obtained over a hundred taels of silver from several robbers and an unlucky fellow. He earned six or seven taels of silver every month from forging weapons. After deducting the expenses for the Body Strengthening Soup, the wealth he had accumulated over a year was fifty taels of silver, which added up to one hundred and fifty taels.

This amount of money would be considered a fortune for an ordinary family, but whether it would be sufficient to purchase a precious Inner Strength manual was another matter!

Regardless, it would still be good to go and see the situation at the auction held by the Zhao Family in Dongling Town.

Having left Clearwater City, Su Changkong first made a trip to Dongling Town. In Dongling Town, after making some discreet inquiries, Su Changkong learned that Mai Mingjie had indeed not deceived him—the auction held by the Zhao Family would take place in three days. The local wealthy families were almost all going to attend, as well as some outsiders like Su Changkong.

Since the day of the auction was not a rest day, Su Changkong asked Director Liu of Black Iron Manor for a day off, claiming he was feeling unwell. Naturally, Director Liu had no suspicions.

In the morning, Su Changkong arrived early in Dongling Town.

At this time, Su Changkong had made some preparations. He carried a knife at his waist, deliberately kept his hair unkempt, and wore an ape mask he had bought from a street stall over his face.

Heed the saying, ‘Do not reveal your wealth; should someone take notice, it could bring danger.’ Just like the unknown man who had a hundred silver notes on him and met his demise at the hands of robbers, it was better to be cautious when attending such auctions, for safety’s sake.

Outside the Zhao family estate, the place was bustling. Numerous carriages were parked, and even soldiers from the local Yamen were on guard.

The Zhao family, as the wealthy family of Dongling Town, had heavy security for the auction of their family property before their migration to prevent any mishaps.

Approaching the Zhao family estate with a knife at his waist and wearing an ape mask, Su Changkong attracted many glances. A Zhao family disciple came forward and courteously asked, “Would you like to attend our Zhao Family’s auction, sir?”

“Yes,” Su Changkong responded in a low voice, his reply brief and to the point.

“Please pay an entry fee of five taels of silver. The fee will be fully refunded to you after the auction,” the Zhao family disciple said.

The Zhao Family’s auction was open to anyone, but to prevent overcrowding and curiosity-seekers, an entry fee was required. This helped filter out those who were merely there to gawk.

“Hmm,” Su Changkong grunted in acknowledgment, respecting the Zhao family’s rules. He took out five taels of silver from his chest and handed it to the Zhao family disciple, knowing that it would be returned afterward.

“Please follow me.”

After paying the entry fee, a Zhao family disciple led Su Changkong into the Zhao family estate and into the makeshift venue of the auction.

The venue was a spacious hall with rows of numbered seats.

Su Changkong noticed that there were already around twenty to thirty people gathered in the hall, mostly dressed extravagantly, the majority from wealthy families near Dongling Town.

Besides them, Su Changkong also saw a few people dressed in black like he was, wearing masks, apparently also not wishing to reveal their identities!