Zhang Rongfang didn't think much about it anymore. That box was just a miscellaneous box, and it was quite normal to find something that Xiao Qingying had discarded inside.
He returned to his residence with Zhang Xintai, reheated the prepared medicine, and drank a large bowl.
He also ate several large chunks of braised pork legs in one go.
A surge of warmth continuously gathered from his chest and abdomen.
Zhang Rongfang raised his hand, his gaze focused on his palm, and suddenly the attribute panel appeared once again.
'Zhang Rongfang — Life 15-15.
Skills: Rejuvenation Purification Talisman Manual - Mountain-shaped Talisman (Limit-Breaking) (Limit-Breaking Skill: Heavy Mountain), Void Observation Skill (First Layer Essence Orifice).
Available Attributes: 1.'
"Still no changes... life and skills."
To upgrade the level, one must master a second talismanic skill. However, even with a master's guidance, it would take at least a month to grasp the Morning Energy Talisman.
Leaving such a period completely idle would be somewhat wasteful....
After all, there would be new attributes coming in by that time.
Zhang Rongfang thought for a while.
"I'll save it for now, and once I've mastered it, I'll quickly max out the Morning Energy Talisman."
He put his hand down.
Currently, the abilities displayed by the attributes are mainly used for self-assessment.
Using it to assess others, however, is somewhat redundant.
After collecting data for so long, he could see the attribute life of most people in Qinghe Palace.
But skills are truly hard to gather.
After all, it's impossible for others to demonstrate martial arts and talismanic skills openly for you.
"Additionally... what does the life attribute actually influence?"
Regarding this point, Zhang Rongfang had been contemplating and analyzing it during this period.
He already felt that as his life attribute increased, his endurance, energy, strength, and burst power were all improving accordingly.
Furthermore, his body was becoming less susceptible to illness, evidently indicating an increase in immunity.
If it were in his past life, he would definitely catch a cold if exposed to the cold for just ten minutes.
Yet here, even using cold well water to bathe didn't affect him.
Thinking about this, Zhang Rongfang suddenly thought of Senior Sister Zhao Dacong's attributes.
'Her life is 15-19, with a frighteningly high limit. Could this be the reason for her innate great strength?'
'If so... this life attribute might significantly enhance overall physical aptitude. If I raise it to a certain level... could it become innate divine power?'
'No, that's not right...'
Zhang Rongfang suddenly thought of something. He quickly went to the desk, took out a piece of parchment from the drawer.
Written on it with charcoal were the data he collected on many people.
It's all written in simplified characters, and no one but him could understand it.
Soon, he found the information he was looking for.
'Zhang Chunxi, Life 22-27. Skills: Void Observation Skill (Nascent Soul Stage).'
"Old Hall Master Zhang is purely a literary cultivator, with life already exceeding twenty, yet he was almost knocked unconscious from a fall. It can be seen that this life doesn't influence strength bursts and so on.
The most likely explanation is that life should influence longevity, while my enhancements are likely due to the Mountain-shaped Talisman...."
"In this light... the level of martial arts can enhance a person's strength, burst power, endurance, speed, and so on. The immunity is still in doubt and needs verification.
After all, the difference between Old Hall Master Zhang and a martial cultivator lies in martial arts. One is purely a literary cultivator, and the other has also practiced martial arts."
Zhang Rongfang felt that this analysis was the closest to reality.
"With this, perhaps I can practice more martial arts, using different martial arts to enhance and stack physical attributes?
The choice of martial arts doesn't have to be limited to the martial arts of the Great Dao Teaching."
As soon as this idea arose, Zhang Rongfang was immediately motivated.
If each martial art can enhance his physical strength, then when he accumulates a wealth of martial arts, to what extent could he enhance himself?
The thought of it felt thrilling!
Ever since arriving at Qinghe Palace, he had been suppressed everywhere due to his identity, feeling stifled.
If he could forge a path through martial arts, in the future... wouldn't it allow him much more freedom and enjoyment?
If it weren't for the many people he couldn't beat, he wouldn't endure such pointless frustration.
Right then, Zhang Rongfang returned the parchment and eagerly left his room.
The location of his new room was right next to Zhang Xintai's.
Zhang Xintai had arranged for this on his own initiative.
He turned a corner in the corridor and arrived at Zhang Xintai's door.
He knocked on the door and communicated his thoughts.
"Hmm? Want to see some inferior martial arts to broaden your horizons?" Zhang Xintai, who was quietly cultivating the Void Observation Skill inside the room, nodded in agreement upon hearing this.
"That indeed needs to be done, as eventually, you'll encounter practitioners skilled in various martial arts. Knowing oneself and one's opponents can help avoid many dangers."
"Wait a moment." He turned around and rummaged through his room.
In less than a few minutes, he emerged with two thin parchment booklets.
"Here, these are two of my dad's collections. Take a look to get familiar. They were from opponents he casually defeated back in the day. It's a pity, though, that he killed quite a few opponents when he was young, but only these two carried manuals with them.
Otherwise, he could have collected quite a few manuals. As for other martial arts styles, later, you can ask the old man to explain and demonstrate the tactics."
"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Zhang Rongfang cupped his fists in gratitude.
"We're brothers, no need for such formalities. Go on, I still need to continue practicing the cultivation of literature. Whether I can live to ninety depends on this." Zhang Xintai was evidently quite dedicated to cultivating literature.
Zhang Rongfang took the two parchment booklets and returned to his room, focusing in the candlelight.
The first booklet, written in black characters on yellow paper, read: 'Taichang Eagle Claw Skill'.
The second book cover, written with red cinnabar, reads: 'Dragon and Snake Ascension Skill', followed by two small characters: Zhenyi.
"Goodness... Is this martial arts from the Zhenyi Sect?" Zhang Rongfang's heart skipped a beat.
In the Great Spirit, the Zhenyi Sect is a much more formidable Taoist sect than the Great Dao Teaching.
There are two major Taoist sects in the Great Spirit: Zhenyi and Great Dao.
The founder of Zhenyi is one of the Five Sons of Ming Mountain, highly regarded by the imperial court of the Great Spirit, and was commanded by the emperor to establish the Jixian Institute to oversee all Taoist sects.
Compared to it, the Great Dao Teaching only occupies some high-level seats in the Jixian Institute, and its overall influence is far inferior.
"Even managing to obtain martial arts from the Zhenyi Sect, this mentor is truly...." Zhang Rongfang couldn't say much more and immediately opened the book to examine it.
The first book, Taichang Eagle Claw Skill, contains rather succinct content.
The training method is divided into several stages:
First stage, place coarse rice into a basin, and repeatedly jab with fingers to toughen the skin.
Second stage, mix stones into the coarse rice basin and repeat the above process until there is no sensation of pain.
Third stage, point the fingers at stone to train the hardness of muscles and bones.
Fourth stage, hook heavy objects with fingers, and proceed until one feels no pain when lifting.
Fifth stage, use an iron sand basin, piercing with fingers in an eagle claw shape while increasing the weight of the hooked objects.
Sixth stage, choose trees or rocks for actual striking practice and begin learning complementary techniques.
At the end, there are detailed recovery methods, requiring the use of specially made injury pills and red umbrella medicinal wine for hot baths after each training session, to prevent hidden injuries.
The manual also details the standards for each stage to advance to the next stage.
The combat technique revolves around maximizing the power of the trained eagle claws with specific routines.
The combat technique is of low grade, and the routines are simple. For Zhang Rongfang, who surpassed limits with the Mountain-shaped Talisman, it was easily comprehended after just a glance.
The key lies in mastering the eagle claws.
'According to the manual, training the eagle claws doesn't depend on innate ability, and as long as there is perseverance and determination, and no lack of fingers, anyone can practice it.
This Eagle Claw Skill can be initially mastered in three years, but becomes difficult to perfect afterward. If there is a method to harmonize the qi and blood of the eagle claws, one might reach a higher realm.'
"Eagle Claw Skill...." Zhang Rongfang imagined that this cultivation technique might be used to break through ranks when no other martial art is available.
Mainly, the practical utility of the technique is not strong.
In the same level combat, if you use eagle claws, others might use a poisoned dagger to achieve similar power.
If the opponent wears thick armor, the eagle claw skill is largely rendered ineffective. After all, the fingers are only so long....
"Can only supplement the training."
He shook his head slightly and then looked at the other manual.
Dragon and Snake Ascension Skill.
Upon opening this book, the writing was done in cinnabar, and the paper was much finer, clearly not of the same grade as the Eagle Claw Skill.
At least the writer was wealthier.
This martial art content was also not difficult, merely describing a set of footwork with a matching heart method.
The footwork called Dragon and Snake Movement seems to be inspired by the movements of dragons and snakes as they glide and hide.
The description mentions: Mastering this method allows for silent walking, movement like the wind, treating steep and muddy grounds as flat, and climbing trees with ease like a true giant snake.
'This is it!' Zhang Rongfang's heart leapt with joy, as the Morning Energy Talisman took too long to initiate, but this Dragon and Snake Movement seemed quite suitable.
The footwork wasn't difficult, and the heart method entry was also straightforward.
Though, it was easy to learn but hard to master, but who was he?
As long as he could start, even a pile of dung could be turned into gold!
Then, Zhang Rongfang carefully studied the Dragon and Snake Movement, the entire text only a few thousand words. After reading, he put down the book and began practicing back and forth in the room.
To initially enter, one only needs to memorize the basic footwork of the Dragon and Snake, a total of sixty-four steps, completed in one breath without mistake.
This constitutes an entry.
The Dragon and Snake Movement, once mastered, has three realms.
First is Snake Movement.
Second is Dragon Movement.
Third is the Unity of Dragon and Snake.
With the high difficulty foundation of the Morning Energy Talisman, and his overall endurance and breath foundation,
Zhang Rongfang repeatedly familiarized himself with memorizing the footwork, then tried about ten times and managed to succeed once.
Though it was by chance, the status panel ignored anything else. As long as he succeeded once, it immediately showed the Dragon and Snake Ascension Skill under his skills.
"Got it!"
Zhang Rongfang wiped the sweat from his forehead, revealing a smile.
With the foundation of other martial arts, coming to practice such a level-lower technique, entering became comparatively easy.
Sitting down to rest for a while, he drank a few sips of water.
Then, lowering his gaze to his hands, his vision floated over to the status panel.
'Zhang Rongfang—Life 15-15.
Skills: Rejuvenation Purification Talisman Manual—Mountain-shaped Talisman (Limit Break) (Limit-Breaking Skill: Heavy Mountain).
Void Observation Skill (First Layer Refined Aperture).
Dragon and Snake Ascension Skill (Entry).
Available Attribute: 1.'
Without hesitation, Zhang Rongfang immediately focused on the plus sign following the Dragon and Snake Ascension Skill.
Imagining lightly clicking it.
With a swish, the available attribute changed from 1 to 0.
While the word 'Entry' following the Dragon and Snake Ascension Skill quickly vanished, blurred for a moment, then cleared, changing to 'Mastered.'