Immortality begins in Goose City

Chapter 42 The Tale of the Black Basin

Huang Shujian didn't look at it carefully and immediately added more points to "Golden Bell Cover".

After three points, the "Golden Bell Cover" technique will be completed perfectly.

However, like the "Bajiquan Manual", it only provides a hint that the limits can be broken, but there are no evolution options.

There are only 2 free attribute points left on the panel.

Huang Shujian lay on the massage table, letting Zhao Ming's strong hands pat and massage his back, but his mind was racing.

"Wu Zhichong has seen all three martial arts techniques. They are indeed of high quality and belong to the top-level martial arts."

"In terms of sophistication and potential, it may be slightly inferior to the Tiger Subduing Blade Technique, but it is definitely far superior to the Mountain Collapse Fist."

"Why is it that, despite being of similar rank, only the 'White Crane Technique' can evolve?"

His gaze swept across the dark blue panel.

[Class: Beast Blood Warrior]

"Could it be..." A thought flashed through Huang Shujian's mind.

"For a Beast Blood Warrior to evolve an ordinary martial art into a unique one, the prerequisite is... that the martial art itself must imitate the form or characteristics of some kind of beast?"

"The Tiger Subduing Blade Technique imitates a fierce tiger, evolving into the Heavenly Tiger Divine Blade Technique; the White Crane Skill imitates a crane..."

"While Bajiquan and Jinzhongzhao are also superior martial arts, their core principles do not imitate specific animals, so they cannot trigger the evolution mechanism?"

The more I think about it, the more reasonable this hypothesis seems.

"It seems I'll need to be more targeted when collecting cultivation techniques in the future."

"Imitating dragons, tigers, leopards, cranes, apes, snakes... these kinds of cultivation techniques related to beasts are the high-quality techniques that can help me evolve." Huang Shujian understood this, adding another criterion to his selection of cultivation techniques.

Just as I was thinking this, the massage from my back moved to my left arm.

Zhao Ming's palm followed the tendons of his left arm, pushing and kneading from his shoulder all the way to his wrist, and then pressed down hard near the "Yangchi" acupoint on his wrist.

A strange heat suddenly surged from deep within my arm, and with the force of the massage, it rushed towards my left palm!

Almost instinctively, Huang Shujian suddenly spread his left hand and reached forward, accurately grabbing Zhao Ming, who was massaging him right next to him.

"Ah!" Zhao Ming exclaimed softly, startled. Her body was grabbed, but she dared not move, only trembling slightly.

Xiuer, standing nearby, suddenly brightened up and exclaimed with delight, "Congratulations, young master! You've discovered another new insight!"

Huang Shujian felt the Yangxi acupoint on his left hand and his face lit up with joy.

The fourth major acupoint has been opened.

"This medicinal bath combined with medicated oil massage unblocks the meridians and promotes the circulation of qi and blood, which is indeed helpful for opening the mind." Huang Shujian loosened Zhao Ming's wrist and realized this.

Moreover, the moment the Yangxi Aperture opened, the number of [Free Attribute Points] on the panel jumped slightly, changing from 2 to 3.

"It seems that my efforts to take supplements and drink nourishing medicine these past few days have finally paid off."

It's exactly 3 o'clock!

This perfectly meets the requirements for the evolution of the White Crane Technique!

Huang Shujian couldn't wait any longer, focusing his mind on the evolution options of the "White Crane Skill".

However, the expected evolution did not occur.

A clear prompt pops up on the panel:

The evolutionary conditions were not fully met.

[Key material missing: Crane-related extraordinary item (or equivalent substitute).]

Huang Shujian was taken aback, then suddenly realized.

Yes!

The reason why the evolution of "Tiger Subduing Absolute Blade Technique" into "Heavenly Tiger Controlling Divine Blade" was so smooth was because the heart of the Mountain Lord had already been integrated into his body, and he himself contained top-grade tiger blood essence.

And for the "White Crane Skill" to evolve into a skill exclusive to beast blood warriors, it also requires the corresponding crane blood essence as a catalyst and material!

"So that's how it is..." Huang Shujian finally understood the evolution mechanism.

"For an ordinary cultivation technique to evolve into a technique exclusive to beast-blooded martial artists, not only does the technique itself need to imitate beasts, but the blood essence of the corresponding beast is also required as a catalyst during the evolution process."

Without crane blood, this evolution cannot take place.

"Extraordinary items from cranes..." Huang Shujian repeated in a low voice, "It seems there's another item to search for."

He glanced at his remaining 3 points of Freedom attribute and temporarily suppressed the idea of ​​adding them to the other two cultivation techniques.

Attribute points are precious and must be used wisely.

The back massage continued, and Zhao Ming's movements seemed more skilled than before, with better control over the pressure.

Huang Shujian closed his eyes, enjoying the rare moment of relaxation while mentally planning his next move:

The skinning demon of Xingliyuan.

Crane blood essence.

Imitating the kung fu of animals.

Heart-Shattering Palm Assassin.

And most importantly—three months later, Zhang Muzhi enters the city, bringing utter destruction to the Huang family!

"Young Master, have you heard? The Apricot Pear Garden has been haunted lately," said Xiu'er, the narrator, while eating a bear-shaped cookie.

"Oh?" Huang Shujian raised an eyebrow.

Haunted? Or perhaps evil spirits?

Xingliyuan, that's where Lan Xiaodie died, right? She was beheaded and skinned alive...

"I heard them say that ever since Lan Xiaodie died, every time they perform opera, it's haunted."

"Everyone says it's Lan Xiaodie's vengeful spirit crying out for justice?"

Xiuer stuck out her tongue in fear.

Huang Shujian's eyes lit up, "Let's start with Xingliyuan!"

……

Apricot and Pear Orchard.

Normally, this time of day would be filled with the sounds of gongs and drums and the clamor of voices.

The sign hanging at the entrance will list the show for tonight, and the waiters will call out their wares at the entrance, while vendors selling melon seeds and peanuts weave through the crowd.

But at this moment, the area in front of Xingli Garden was so deserted that it was unsettling.

The vermilion gate was faded, and dust settled on the door knocker.

Below the steps, only a few withered leaves were swirling in the wind.

The sign at the entrance reads "Wupenji" in neat characters.

The place is deserted.

The reason is common knowledge in Goose City.

Lan Xiaodie, the leading actress and star of Xingliyuan, is dead.

He died a horrible death.

He was beheaded and his entire body was skinned; his head is still missing.

The body was found in her own bedroom, and it is said that the scene when it was discovered was enough to drive anyone crazy.

Since then, rumors of "haunted Xingli Garden" and "Lan Xiaodie's vengeful spirit seeking revenge" have been rampant.

Fearing they might be tainted by bad luck, the listeners flocked to the neighboring Yuchun Garden.

Even some of the timid actors, musicians, and servants in the garden secretly ran away.

The apricot and pear orchard collapsed in an instant.

The troupe leader's hair turned white with worry.

The garden needs rent, people need to eat, and creditors come knocking every day.

Out of desperation, he came up with a solution: he invited a well-known traveling troupe to set up a stage in the park, hoping to attract some audiences with their novel performances.

If all else fails... then we'll have no choice but to sell this farm that's been run by generations, and leave Goose City with the rest of the people to find a way to make a living elsewhere.

Today is the last show Xingliyuan is putting on before they bring in a variety show troupe.

They were performing the old play, "The Story of the Black Basin".

It's a dignified farewell, for myself and for this garden.

The audience was sparse, with only seven or eight people.

Most of them are nostalgic old fans, or old men who are so bored they're bored out of their minds and don't care about rumors.

On the stage, the lights were dim.

The troupe leader, who was playing Bao Gong, had just taken the stage and was about to begin his lines for the "First Trial of the Black Basin."

His gaze unconsciously swept across the audience, a habitual action that suddenly made him pause in surprise.

Someone had taken up a seat at a square table in the front row of the audience.

A young man, dressed in a fine navy blue long gown, with a handsome face and calm eyes.

Two maids stood behind him, one petite and with a baby face, the other with a graceful figure and her head bowed.

The troupe leader's heart skipped a beat.

It's Huang Shujian! The young master of the Huang family! The crown prince of Goose City!

Why did he come?

The troupe leader didn't have time to think it through; his years of stage experience allowed him to suppress his astonishment instantly.

He took a deep breath, steadied himself, and then a fuller singing voice burst forth from his throat than usual!

"Bring it here!"

A drawn-out singing note opened the curtain on tonight's grand performance.