Chapter 79

Su Ru said, "I'll lend it to you for a few days, but don't spread it around. This is from the young miss!"

"Got it." Chu Li smiled and handed it back to her, "Thank you, Chief Steward, and thank you, young miss."

Su Ru reached out to take it and put it back in her sleeve, "I forgot you have a photographic memory. The young miss said that practicing the body is just a slight involvement; don't get the priorities mixed up. The fundamental is still the Vajra Deliverance Divine Skill."

"Of course." Chu Li nodded slowly.

He visualized the White Tiger Diagram again, and the white tiger in his mind performed six movements in sequence.

This time, he activated the Great Round Mirror Wisdom and saw an invisible force permeate from the void, like intangible threads piercing into his body.

After these intangible threads entered, his body underwent a strange change. Although subtle, it did not escape the Great Round Mirror Wisdom. His flesh became more compact, as if some unknown impurities had been removed, making it more refined.

Seeing him close his eyes, Su Ru knew he was trying to practice and shook her head.

People are compared to people, and it can be frustrating. She had practiced the White Tiger Yang Cultivation Diagram but saw no effect, unable to visualize it. When she closed her eyes, all she saw was darkness.

Chu Li suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing and then disappearing.

"How is it?" Su Ru asked.

Chu Li shook his head, "A bit strange."

"What's wrong?"

"There's always a feeling of incompleteness," Chu Li frowned and pondered, "… Is the White Tiger Yang Cultivation Diagram incomplete?"

"Can you tell?" Su Ru was surprised.

Chu Li said, "Is it really incomplete?"

"Yes, this is just the first half." Su Ru nodded, "Everyone outside thinks the White Tiger Yang Cultivation Diagram has been lost. Finding the first half is already extremely lucky. No one has heard of the second half."

Chu Li frowned.

Su Ru said, "The young miss said that the first half is already quite powerful, enough for you to practice the Vajra Deliverance Divine Skill. There's no need to be obsessed with the second half."

Chu Li remained silent.

Su Ru gave him a look, "What, you must have the second half?"

Chu Li said, "Without the second half, I feel uneasy."

Many secret manuals have traps, full of pitfalls. The good parts are often hidden at the end, and if you're not careful, you might go wrong. Many are hidden, not explicitly stated, and some are not even recorded on paper, only passed down orally to prevent the secret manual from falling into the wrong hands.

Although the Southern Barbarians are straightforward and don't have many tricks, they cannot be underestimated and must be guarded against.

"You…" Su Ru shook her head, "The common ailment of smart people, too suspicious!"

Chu Li smiled, "Any news at all?"

Su Ru shook her head, "None."

Chu Li frowned and said nothing.

Su Ru said, "This kind of thing can't be investigated. Think about it, who would tell outsiders if they got a secret manual? Besides, even if they got the second half, like you, would they dare to practice? If they don't practice, no one would know!"

Chu Li shook his head, "Not necessarily."

The White Tiger Yang Cultivation Diagram is very profound. If someone got the manual, they might not be able to resist the temptation, no matter how dangerous, and try to practice it. Under the strong temptation, it's easy to have a侥幸心理 (侥幸心理 means a侥幸心理, which can be translated as a侥幸心理).

Su Ru gave him a look, "Anyway, I haven't heard any news."

Chu Li said, "Who in the martial world is famous for body cultivation? … If someone practices the White Tiger Yang Cultivation Diagram, they won't be unknown."

"Body cultivation is a weak point, very few people practice it now." Su Ru frowned and thought, moving her slender fingers, "Let me think. Hu Jing with the Iron Head, Jing Xiaobai with the Iron Fist, and Ding Weisong, the Three-Eyed Dragon King. It seems only these three are famous. There are a few others, but they are not significant."

Chu Li pondered, "The secret manual might be with one of these three."

"You're too imaginative!" Su Ru shook her head and laughed.

Chu Li said, "Do you have any information on these three?"

Su Ru looked at him, seeing his serious expression, and said helplessly, "Alright, I'll get it."

"Thank you, Chief Steward!" Chu Li clasped his hands.

Su Ru gave him a look and left, returning a while later with three booklets in hand, handing them to Chu Li, "Here you go!"

Chu Li took them and quickly flipped through the three booklets, imprinting the information in his mind, and then handed them back to Su Ru, "They are all assassins?"

"Body cultivators make excellent assassins, and body cultivation is very expensive. If they weren't born into wealthy families, they can only rob or plunder, or rob the rich to help themselves, in short, they need to get rich quickly!"

"That's true…" Chu Li nodded.

Body cultivators are different from martial artists. Martial artists exude a strong aura, with bright and piercing eyes, and even at high levels, they have unusual features on their temples and heads.

Body cultivators, on the other hand, cannot cultivate internal energy and can only exercise their flesh and blood. They look thin and weak, like sickly patients, making them hard to guard against, with strong concealment and deception.

Moreover, martial artists generally look down on body cultivators, making it easier to succeed.

Body cultivators are fast and strong but have limited potential. They can't match martial artists in the later stages, but they have an advantage in the early stages. If they master a one-hit kill technique, their power is formidable and hard to guard against.

"The second half is likely with Ding Weisong." Chu Li pondered.

"How so?" Su Ru laughed.

She didn't believe it. Just by sitting at home and counting on her fingers, she could deduce who had the secret manual. It was sheer imagination!

"Hu Jing practices his head, Jing Xiaobai practices his hands, but Ding Weisong is fast and strong, with no particular part standing out, yet he is the strongest among the three. He must have practiced the White Tiger Yang Cultivation Diagram."

"What if he practices something else?"

"I've seen the secret manuals in our mansion's martial hall. All body cultivation techniques, once mastered, are hard to threaten innate experts, making them weak points. Ding Weisong's body cultivation technique is more powerful than all the body cultivation techniques in the mansion, so it's likely the White Tiger Yang Cultivation Diagram!"

"Alright, alright, let's say it's him." Su Ru shrugged, "You won't find him. He's an assassin, elusive, and impossible to track."

"Can't the Duke's Mansion find him?"

"Really can't." Su Ru shook her head.

Chu Li laughed.

"What are you laughing at!" Su Ru huffed, "Hu Jing and Jing Xiaobai can be found with some effort, but Ding Weisong is very mysterious and cunning. No one even knows what he looks like!"

Chu Li laughed, "That makes me more certain he has the White Tiger Yang Cultivation Diagram. Even if he doesn't, his technique is worth practicing."

"You want to deal with him?" Su Ru tilted her head, "For the body cultivation technique?"

"If he were a righteous person, I wouldn't do this, but he's an assassin, so there's no hesitation."

"Pity you can't find him." Su Ru pouted, "Don't waste your time!"

Chu Li smiled.

Su Ru, seeing his confidence, said irritably, "What are you up to now?"

Chu Li said, "You can't go to him; you have to make him come to you."

"Rubbish!" Su Ru shook her head.

"Since he's an assassin, he must be found, right?"

"According to rumors, if you deposit a silver ticket at the Flying Dragon Bank and write the name of the person you want to kill on it, if the ticket is returned, it means he doesn't accept. If it's not returned, it means he accepts the commission."

"Flying Dragon Bank…" Chu Li frowned, "Seems he has deep roots."

Su Ru nodded, "The Flying Dragon Bank is spread across the land, not just in our Great Ji, but also in Beili, Nanzheng, and Daqiu. It's a powerful force, untouchable!"

Chu Li stroked his chin.

"You still want to find him?"

"I'll offer ten thousand taels to have him kill me."

"Someone tried that before, wanting to avenge someone he killed, but ended up being killed!" Su Ru huffed, "No one dares to do that now. Why is Ding Weisong called the Three-Eyed Dragon King? Because he sees through all traps, and no one can catch him!"

"Then I must try." Chu Li said.

Su Ru gave him a look, "Chu Li, if you really do this, I'll tell the young miss."

Chu Li looked at her.

Su Ru calmly stared at him.

Chu Li saw her determination and smiled, "Alright, I'll think about it."

Su Ru stared at him.

Chu Li shrugged and smiled, "Alright, I'll practice the first half for now, and not look for him!"

Su Ru huffed, "If you lie to me, you know the consequences!"

"Of course!" Chu Li nodded quickly.

He didn't abandon the idea of finding Ding Weisong but thought it was not the right time. He couldn't ignore Su Ru's warning, as she meant well.

With the Great Round Mirror Wisdom, he could detect real danger and stop practicing. The first half's six diagrams were already very profound, enough for him to practice for a while.

Once there was an opportunity, he would go out and find Ding Weisong, and then Su Ru would have nothing to say.

---

The eastern garden was especially beautiful in the evening.

The sunset dyed the flowers and grass a rosy red, and the lake shimmered with a red glow, with faint golden light. The willows by the lake danced gracefully in the evening breeze.

Chu Li sat by the lake, practicing the White Tiger Yang Cultivation Diagram under the willow tree.

As he visualized, the intangible force from the void flowed into his body, causing subtle changes. As the practice time increased, the changes became more noticeable, and his flesh became more refined and lighter.

He suddenly felt something and opened his eyes, seeing a small boat approaching. On the boat stood the graceful Zhao Ying, her lake-green silk robe fluttering, waving her arm from afar.

Chu Li smiled and waved back.

Zhao Ying gracefully landed in front of him, bringing a refreshing fragrance, "Senior Brother, when did you return?"

"Just now." Chu Li smiled, "Congratulations, Junior Sister."

Zhao Ying smiled, "Senior Brother noticed?"

"Reaching the innate realm." Chu Li looked at her and smiled, "Congratulations."

"Thanks to Senior Brother's Tendon-Opening Pill." Zhao Ying smiled sweetly.

Chu Li waved his hand.

"Senior Brother, let's go to the city for a walk." Zhao Ying smiled, "How about the Moon-Inviting Tower?"

Chu Li raised an eyebrow.

Zhao Ying smiled slyly, "Senior Brother hasn't been to the Moon-Inviting Tower?"

"How do you know I've been there?" Chu Li smiled.

Zhao Ying pouted and huffed.

Chu Li said, "That time was for a serious matter."

Zhao Ying pouted her cherry lips.

He came back and ignored her, yet went to the Moon-Inviting Tower. How could she not feel angry and sad?

Chu Li sighed, "I really can't talk about it."

"I'll keep it a secret!" Zhao Ying said quickly.

Chu Li smiled, "I was sent by the Chief Steward on a confidential mission."

Zhao Ying pouted and glared at him.

Chu Li shrugged helplessly, and Zhao Ying huffed, not pressing further, knowing he couldn't talk about it.