Chapter 8

At this moment, Zheng Ming also began to understand that although his Azure Bear Body was extremely beneficial for cultivating the Bear Hug Technique, today's sudden progress was not solely due to the Azure Bear Body, but also because of his years of hard training.

Over the years, although his Bear Hug Technique did not improve much due to his physical condition, he had already laid a solid foundation.

Therefore, after transforming his body into the Azure Bear Body, he was able to make a breakthrough, advancing his Bear Hug Technique to the fourth level.

Stopping his cultivation, Zheng Ming looked at the courtyard covered with branches of various sizes and the large tree that seemed to have been ravaged by a fierce wind, a smile appeared on his face.

He casually picked up a stone, formed his palm into a blade, and chopped down on it.

A three-inch thick green stone was split into two pieces by Zheng Ming's single chop, and his palm was not injured at all, which was naturally due to the effect of internal strength.

For a moment, Zheng Ming was filled with anticipation for his two basic cards!

Standing under the tree, sensing the two revealed cards in his heart, Zheng Ming's expression became more solemn. This time, his choice had to be more serious.

Although the初级拳法大成 (初级拳法大成) and the江湖草药 (herbal medicine) from Li Zhong were undoubtedly very useful to him now, Zheng Ming, who had lived in the Great Jin for over a decade, knew even better the importance of elixirs in cultivation.

A single lowest-grade Rehmannia Pill could offset a month's worth of intensive cultivation for a warrior below the tenth rank, and it had special effects when breaking through bottlenecks.

Therefore, even the most ordinary Rehmannia Pill cost over a thousand taels of silver each.

When Zheng Ming heard about the importance of elixirs in the past, he wanted to learn alchemy, but his father, Zheng Gongxuan, told him that alchemy not only required high talent but also a good teacher.

And in the entire Qingchuan County, there was not a single alchemist!

Thinking about the future need for elixirs in his cultivation, Zheng Ming felt that the herbal medicine might be even more useful in the future.

These two skills made Zheng Ming unable to make a decision.

"If you cannot decide, you can save the basic cards and choose later," the mechanical voice sounded in Zheng Ming's ear again.

"Red reputation points reaching one thousand grant you a chance to draw a random card. Now, with two thousand reputation points, you have two chances. Please choose the level of the card to draw!"

Draw a random card? What is a random card?

As this question arose in Zheng Ming's mind, the mechanical voice provided the answer: "Random cards can be drawn infinitely as long as you have enough reputation points. Moreover, the range of draws is not limited to your current strength."

Not limited to my current strength, could it be that the three basic cards I drew earlier were limited by my strength, which is why I drew Li Kui and the others?

"Which levels can I choose from?"

"Warrior level, success rate one in ten; Martial Hero level, success rate one in a hundred; Immortal Hero level, success rate one in a thousand; Divine Hero level, success rate one in ten thousand; Primordial level, success rate one in a hundred thousand."

"Once you draw a card, you will gain the opportunity to use the full strength of the character on the card!"

The full strength of the character on the card made Zheng Ming's heart race. If he could draw a Primordial level card, not only would he be invincible against San Sunzi, but even the entire Great Jin Dynasty would not dare to provoke him.

However, the one in a hundred thousand chance was too small.

After some deliberation, Zheng Ming decided to try a Warrior level card first. After all, one should not aim too high. Moreover, if he could draw another Li Kui, with his full strength, he could make San Sunzi run for his life!

As soon as he made his decision, countless cards began to flash in his mind, but this time, nine out of ten cards with the same back were empty.

Completely empty, nothing at all!

He hoped this time he would not draw an empty card. After confirming a card, Zheng Ming locked onto it in his mind.

The moment he locked onto the card, he found that his reputation points immediately decreased by a thousand!

A thousand reputation points, just like that!

Zheng Ming felt a pang of pain, which made him even more eager for this card not to be empty. If it were empty, he would have lost a lot.

After all, beating Wu Banshen only earned him one reputation point!

When the card was revealed, Zheng Ming felt time passing slowly, but fortunately, the card did not disappoint him. The moment it was revealed, Zheng Ming saw a person on the card!

Zheng Ming's heart was immediately filled with joy. As long as there was a person, the thousand reputation points were not wasted.

However, when he carefully examined the card, his heart twitched. Damn it, this card, the thousand reputation points, might as well have been wasted.

"Xu Xiake"

What a famous name! Zheng Ming had even read "Xu Xiake's Travel Notes." The skill written below was "Exploring Mountains and Rivers"!

What does "Exploring Mountains and Rivers" mean? How is it different from sightseeing? What the hell, wasn't this supposed to be a Warrior level card? How can sightseeing be a skill?

Even without this card, I can sightsee!

Although he was angry, Zheng Ming could only store the card for now.

He still had one more chance. This time, he would not draw a Warrior card but directly draw a Martial Hero card to avoid wasting effort and drawing an empty card!

However, the one in a hundred chance made Zheng Ming feel a toothache. One in a hundred, this chance was too small!

But compared to the one in ten chance that resulted in drawing Xu Xiake, Zheng Ming decided to draw a Martial Hero card!

Choosing to draw a Martial Hero card.

After making this decision, Zheng Ming found that the red cards in his mind were replaced by yellow cards.

They were still face down, and each card looked the same from the back.

Unlike when he chose the basic cards, now, out of a hundred Martial Hero cards, ninety-nine were blank.

The cards flashed through Zheng Ming's mind like a continuous light show. He had no way to judge, so he randomly focused on one card.

This one!

Whether or not, it's up to fate!

When he made this choice, he found that the reputation points in his mind had already dropped to zero.

Even the worst Martial Hero card, I don't ask for Nie Feng, Bu Jingyun, Pang Ban, Lang Fanyun, Qiao Feng, or the Sweeping Monk. Even if I get Tian Boguang, I can accept it.

With a bit of prayer in his heart, Zheng Ming slowly revealed the card. The moment a character appeared on the card, Zheng Ming's heart was greatly relieved!

There was a character, which meant his luck was really good, and he had drawn a one in a hundred chance.

He wondered what would happen if he drew a one in a thousand chance Immortal Hero card. The moment this thought appeared, he immediately dismissed it. One in a thousand was too small.

His thoughts carefully scanned the revealed card and found a handsome man holding a twelve-foot spear and riding a steed.

The man's handsomeness made Zheng Ming feel a bit jealous. However, seeing this card, he felt a bit disappointed.

He had clearly drawn a Martial Hero card, but the character on the card was a Warrior. Generally, only Warriors ride horses!

However, when his gaze fell on the character's name, his disappointment instantly turned to surprise.

Evil Spirit Li Ruohai, skills: Martial Heart, Blazing Hundred Strikes, Man and Horse as One!

This time, he was really lucky, drawing Evil Spirit Li Ruohai. In his previous life, Zheng Ming, who loved reading novels, was not unfamiliar with this character. If he were to list his top ten favorite Martial Heroes, Li Ruohai would definitely be on it.

A fearless man on horseback with a spear.

Moreover, Li Ruohai's combat strength was quite strong, ranked third in the world by the invincible Demon Master Pang Ban!

Although he was not very familiar with the top experts in the Yun State, just from Li Ruohai's aura, Zheng Ming felt that he could easily defeat his father, a tenth-rank expert.

"This card can be used for twenty minutes!"

The cold voice brought Zheng Ming back from his excitement. Only twenty minutes, and only once, this was too little.

It would be more than enough to teach San Sunzi and even his grandfather a lesson, but it seemed a bit wasteful to use it just for that.

Suppressing the urge to immediately test how strong Li Ruohai was, Zheng Ming looked at the two cards of Xiang Chong and Li Zhong again.

If I could exchange the basic cards for Li Ruohai, I would even trade three for one!

"Brother, don't think too much. If you want to die, it's better to slit your throat. Setting fire to yourself is too painful!" With this shout, Zheng Heng ran in quickly.

His large eyes stared at Zheng Ming, and before Zheng Ming could speak, he continued, "Brother, I shouldn't have told you about Father's efforts to get you into the Bi Xue Tan. If you feel you don't have a chance, I'll go to the county and kill Zheng Jintang!"

Zheng Ming looked at Zheng Heng with a pained expression. Why did his brother always think the worst? Setting fire to himself, what was there to set fire to?

He huffed and said, "Brother, besides not calling me 'Brother,' let me tell you one more thing: open your eyes and look clearly. Am I the type to set fire to myself?"

"Hehe, that's good, you scared me!" Zheng Heng wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, a bit puzzled, "These branches were fine on the tree. Why did you knock them down? I really don't understand you!"

Without waiting for Zheng Ming to explain, he threw a key and said, "This is the key to Father's study. You know where the martial techniques are stored. Father wants you to find one. I think the Bear King Fist is the most suitable for you."

As he spoke, he turned and walked out, saying, "I need to see Xiaoyue. I was caught by Father giving you the key and will be late!"

Watching Zheng Heng leave in a hurry, Zheng Ming could only shake his head helplessly.

However, Zheng Heng's words reminded him that his father's study contained martial techniques. He could refer to these techniques to choose between Li Zhong and Xiang Chong's skills.

The study was in the back courtyard of the Zheng family estate, a place that most of the family considered a minor restricted area. Inside the study were two large bookshelves.

Zheng Ming had come here to read many times as a child, so he knew the way. He pressed a button in the corner on the left side of the study.

The bookshelf on the left side silently parted, revealing a locked iron door. Zheng Ming stared at the hidden door, and his mind went back to five years ago.

At that time, the family was in danger, and his father, Zheng Gongxuan, brought his three siblings to this iron door, instructing them to hide here if they were in danger.

Although the three siblings never used the iron door until the crisis was over, Zheng Ming would never forget his father's expression when he gave them the instructions.

Entering the hidden door, there was another desk inside, but the books on the desk were far fewer than those outside.

A dozen or so books were neatly arranged on the table. In terms of their value, any one of them could buy all the books outside.

"The Bear Hug Technique," "The Bear King Fist," "The Fierce Wind Leg," "The Meteor Knife"...

Looking at the titles of the books, Zheng Ming's eyes slowly revealed a hint of excitement.

PS: The new book is like a young sapling, hoping for the support of all my brothers. If you have recommendation tickets, please give them to "Hero Kill." If you haven't collected the book yet, please help by collecting it!