Chapter 12

"Of course."

Although Yang Ji found it a bit strange, he didn’t think much of it. He unstrung the bow and handed it over.

"Not bad, made of heavy ironwood. Although it’s not top-quality, it can still be used in a pinch."

Lü Ling weighed the bow, skillfully stretched it, and immediately drew a full bow, then shot an arrow into the sky.

"Boom!"

The arrow released, causing the earth to tremble within a ten-step radius. Yang Ji’s clothes fluttered, and he almost lost his balance. Then he saw a shocking blood-red arc shoot into the sky, visible even from a great distance.

"This arrow should be enough for them to see me and come over."

Lü Ling looked at the sky and nodded in satisfaction.

"So, you were contacting your subordinates."

Yang Ji understood. He had already noticed that Lü Ling’s attire suggested wealth and nobility, and she shouldn’t be without attendants. It seemed that during the pursuit of the Crown King Snake, she had become separated from them.

Thinking of Lü Ling’s skilled posture and strength when she shot the arrow, Yang Ji’s heart stirred, and he suddenly had an idea:

"Lü Ling, can you teach me archery?"

Yang Ji’s archery skills were still at the stage of mastering the release of force, and everything he knew was self-taught. If he had a good teacher, it would be a different story, and he would avoid many detours.

"Ah! Archery?"

Lü Ling turned around, surprised. "Don’t you already know how to do it?"

Yang Ji smiled bitterly and didn’t hide the fact that it was his first day learning archery.

"I see."

Lü Ling understood, smiled slightly, and said cheerfully, "No problem, it’s a small matter."

For Lü Ling, drawing a bow and shooting an arrow was as natural as breathing. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to hit the incredibly fast "Crown King Snake" during the pursuit.

"Archery is actually similar to martial arts; both require 'mind and spirit to be one.' Once you grasp this key point, it’s actually very easy."

Lü Ling simply drew a stance, looked straight ahead, and was unusually serious.

"When you draw the bow, your hand and the bow must become one, your eyes and the arrow must become one, and your mind and spirit must become one. Achieving these three steps will make you invincible, and you will never miss a shot, like this."

Boom!

Her wrist relaxed, and the second long arrow shot out with a burst of blood energy, flying over a great distance and disappearing from sight.

"Thank you."

Yang Ji was about to thank her, but before he could speak, he suddenly heard a deafening roar from a distance, shaking the mountains and forests, and then everything was silent.

"You!—"

Yang Ji looked shocked.

"Hehehe, this is what I mean by 'mind and spirit to be one.' When you reach my level, you can do the same."

Lü Ling smiled.

This was effortless for her, but Yang Ji’s admiring gaze made her very pleased.

"Right. Since you want to learn archery from me, I’ll teach you the 'Tiger-Leopard Thunder Sound' technique. Use it when you shoot to not only protect your meridians from the damage of the bow and arrow but also to strengthen your internal organs and increase your power when shooting."

Lü Ling said.

"Thank you."

Yang Ji was overjoyed.

"Don’t thank me. This is just a small thing. If you can enter the martial arts realm in the future, you won’t care about such small things. For now, practice archery according to the method I told you."

Lü Ling said indifferently.

She was telling the truth. The "Tiger-Leopard Thunder Sound" technique, although powerful, was only useful at the breathing realm and didn’t involve any family secrets.

Lü Ling was already at the martial arts realm, so the "Tiger-Leopard Thunder Sound" was of no use to her, and calling it a "small thing" wasn’t an exaggeration.

However, Yang Ji didn’t immediately start practicing archery.

"Regardless, I must thank you. This may be a small thing to you, but to me, it’s like a snowball in a snowstorm, extremely valuable."

Yang Ji bowed respectfully to Lü Ling and said seriously.

He was facing exclusion within his clan and would be expelled if he didn’t reach the martial arts realm by the age of sixteen. For him, every bit of strength was crucial.

A hint of interest flashed in Lü Ling’s eyes.

She had given the "Tiger-Leopard Thunder Sound" technique on a whim, but Yang Ji’s genuine nature truly caught her attention.

She and Yang Ji had just met, but he had already left a deep impression on her twice.

"Alright. I accept your gratitude. Start practicing archery."

Lü Ling said.

Next, Yang Ji began practicing archery under Lü Ling’s guidance.

At first, Lü Ling was smiling, but later she became silent and more serious. She had guided many people, but few could grasp the key points and learn so quickly as Yang Ji did with just a few words.

It wasn’t just simple archery; Lü Ling was teaching him how to integrate martial arts with archery. Many experienced hunters might not even be able to learn these things.

"Such high insight, but how can his cultivation be so...?"

Thoughts raced through Lü Ling’s mind. She knew many people, but few left such a deep impression on her.

Generally, someone with Yang Ji’s insight would have already reached the martial arts realm. But she had seen with her own eyes that Yang Ji was only at the sixth stage of the breathing realm.

"Buried talent..."

That was the only description that came to Lü Ling’s mind.

At that moment, she almost asked about Yang Ji’s identity but held back.

"Good, not bad."

Lü Ling composed herself and then taught Yang Ji the method to practice the "Tiger-Leopard Thunder Sound."

"Alright, I should leave now."

Lü Ling stood up:

"You saved my life, and I have nothing to repay you with. I see you like practicing, so I have a breathing realm manual, the 'Divine Dragon Bone Strengthening Pile Method.' Once you reach the seventh stage of the breathing realm, you can learn this pile method, which will help you strengthen your bones and increase your power."

Yang Ji’s enthusiasm for martial arts was evident to Lü Ling, especially when she taught him the "Tiger-Leopard Thunder Sound." She herself was the same and could sense it immediately.

"I wanted to give you something else, but with your current strength, it would be useless and even harmful. Only what suits you is the best."

Lü Ling paused and then took out a token from her pocket and threw it to Yang Ji:

"This is my token. If you need anything in the future, you can use this to find me."

A hint of surprise flashed in Yang Ji’s eyes.

"Thank you."

Yang Ji said, though surprised, he didn’t refuse.

He was struggling in his clan and faced many difficulties in his martial arts journey, so he had no right to refuse.

The things Lü Ling taught him, whether the "Tiger-Leopard Thunder Sound" or the "Divine Dragon Bone Strengthening Pile Method," were not necessarily the most advanced, but they were exactly what Yang Ji needed now.

As Lü Ling said, "What suits you is the best"!

Bang!

Lü Ling smiled, then clenched her fist, squatted down, and stomped her foot, leaving a deep imprint. She then leaped like a monkey and quickly disappeared into the depths of the forest.

"This is... the 'Divine Dragon Bone Strengthening Pile Method'?"

Yang Ji’s eyelids twitched, and in his mind, he replayed Lü Ling’s last "squat and stomp" before she left. It didn’t seem like a movement for leaving but rather a demonstration for him.

"I should leave too."

Yang Ji imprinted Lü Ling’s last movement in his mind and then turned to leave.

...

"Miss!"

"Miss!..."

...

In the distance, as Lü Ling appeared, several figures quickly gathered around her. These people had powerful auras, and their skin glowed with bloodlight. Some even wore the standard armor of the imperial army!

If Yang Ji were there, he would be shocked to see that these were actually imperial soldiers.

"Miss, we were so worried."

"Yes, if anything happened to you, how could we explain it to the city lord?"

...

The guards bowed before Lü Ling, their faces full of concern.

Lü Ling didn’t respond, but extended her arm and looked at the sky. A loud screech echoed, and a massive blood-colored shadow descended from the clouds. Just before it hit the ground, it flapped its wings and landed on Lü Ling’s extended arm.

It was a huge eagle, as big as a calf. Its eyes were sharp, and its iron-like feathers glowed with the blood energy of a martial artist.

This was a blood eagle, incredibly strong, comparable to a martial artist at the second or third stage of the martial arts realm, making it an extremely powerful pet.

"Relax, I’m fine."

Lü Ling stroked the blood eagle, her face full of affection. She was a bit pained to see its injured right wing, which had been hurt during the pursuit of the Crown King Snake.

"Also, do you know of someone named Yang Ji around here?"

"Yang Ji? Is it the boy who just left?"

The guard leader, with deep-set eyes and a hawk-like nose, frowned and pondered:

"From the name, he seems to be from the Yang clan, but the Yang clan’s disciples have their own hunting grounds and shouldn’t be here. Is there a problem with him? Could he be related to the heretics from the other dimension? Should we take action?"

As he spoke, his face became alert, and his eyes glinted with a hint of killing intent, looking in the direction Yang Ji had left.

"Enough, always talking about killing! Where are all these heretics? If he really had a problem, wouldn’t I have dealt with it myself?"

Lü Ling rolled her eyes, annoyed.

She didn’t plan to hide this matter and said directly:

"He saved my life just now."

"Ah!"

"Ah!"

...

A chorus of gasps rose, and the guards around her suddenly looked up, their faces pale.

Although Lü Ling had gone out alone and couldn’t be stopped, as guards, allowing the city lord’s daughter to face such danger was a huge dereliction of duty.

"Relax. I won’t say anything."

Lü Ling said calmly and then briefly recounted her encounter with Yang Ji.

"In that case, he should be greatly rewarded. — Is just the 'Tiger-Leopard Thunder Sound' and the 'Divine Dragon Bone Strengthening Pile Method' too meager?"

The guard leader hesitated and asked.

Honestly, they were grateful to Yang Ji. Being poisoned by the heart-eating snake was almost certain death, and if not for Yang Ji, they wouldn’t know how to explain it to the city lord of Pingchuan.

"No need."

Lü Ling waved her hand and said firmly:

"The martial arts realm is a turning point. If his talent is limited and the breathing realm is his limit, then the 'Tiger-Leopard Thunder Sound' and the 'Divine Dragon Bone Strengthening Pile Method' are the best rewards for him. If he can break through the bottleneck and reach the martial arts realm... he can come find me with that token, and I will help him."

"Alright, let’s go."

Lü Ling waved her hand, ending the conversation.

The group gradually moved away and disappeared into the depths of the mountains.

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