"Is there something strange about this secret manual?"
Su Mu stepped closer and lowered his voice to ask.
The stall owner was visibly startled. He slightly raised his head to glance at Su Mu, seemingly trying to guess the thoughts of the person before him, but unfortunately, all he could see was that white fox mask covering the face.
"Are you not from Qingyun County?"
"What if I am? What if I'm not?" Su Mu was increasingly certain that the Tiger Subduing Fist had a significant origin.
Upon hearing this ambiguous answer, the stall owner assumed the person before him was an outsider. "This is the area around Qingyun County Town in Qingzhou, apart from the government office and the Black Mountain Army that has surged in recent years, there are five major forces."
"These five major forces consist of a family, a temple, a tower, and two gangs."
"The family is the Qingyun Xiao Family, the temple is Vajra Temple, the tower is Hundred Elixir Tower, the two gangs are Qingfeng Gang and White Jade Gang, and this secret manual of yours may be related to Vajra Temple."
The stall owner quietly explained, as these were not really secrets; anyone could find out by inquiring outside. After speaking, the stall owner said no more.
The government office and Black Mountain Army, five major forces.
The person's words were vague, but Su Mu could almost be sure that the Tiger Subduing Fist he acquired was likely martial arts from Vajra Temple.
"Thank you for informing me."
Having obtained the answer, Su Mu quickly withdrew his hand from the Tiger Subduing Fist and began selecting secret manuals, while the stall owner quickly placed the manual in his bosom.
First, he chose a lightweight body technique. Su Mu selected a body technique called Startled Sparrow Step from the stall, then intended to choose a weapon type martial arts.
But there were only two weapon martial arts in the stall, and after reading the first three pages, Su Mu realized that the two weapon martial arts were not as good as the previous fist technique, and the types were bent hooks and short blades, which Su Mu wasn't fond of.
"It's better to select a fist technique or leg technique."
After some selection, the eyebrows under Su Mu's white fox mask furrowed. Looking around, he found that the Rock Shattering Fist he initially flipped through was the most suitable.
"These two manuals will do."
Su Mu successfully traded one secret manual for two, and upon completing the transaction, he immediately stood up and left.
"The Tiger Subduing Fist is martial arts from Vajra Temple, among ninth-grade martial arts, its power is considered top-tier. Once mastered, it's difficult to meet a match at the same level, but the cultivation difficulty of these bald donkeys' martial arts is too high. I can find an opportunity to sell it to others. I wonder how this guy obtained it."
"This person probably comes from some remote area outside Qingyun County... Little does he know that mastering one martial arts to the depths is much stronger than multiple mediocre martial arts. Cultivating one martial arts requires immense energy and time, a few years at least, or even ten years or more. This guy is really strange, actually wanting to cultivate multiple martial arts at once."
"But it's also possible that he couldn't cultivate the Tiger Subduing Fist, which is why he thought to trade it..."
Watching Su Mu leave, the stall owner shook his head, muttering to himself.
Su Mu was unaware of the stall owner's thoughts, and even if he knew, he would just disregard them. This high difficulty, top-tier ninth-grade martial arts in others' eyes wasn't particularly challenging for Su Mu.
Su Mu continued to wander the black market after leaving the stall. Since he was already here, browsing more could also broaden his knowledge. After wandering around and deciding to leave, just as he was about to turn around.
A weak figure hurriedly approached him, this person had their head down and seemed to be in a hurry, accidentally colliding with Su Mu.
Instinctively, as a ninth-grade martial artist, Su Mu's inner power circulated, his figure only swayed slightly, his lower body sank like a tiger crouching in the forest, unmoving.
In contrast, the weak figure seemed to have collided with a wall, letting out a muffled hum, their figure staggered backwards several steps, almost falling to the ground.
"Are you alright?"
Su Mu wanted to reach out and pull them, but that weak figure retreated a step in fear.
"Sorry, sorry."
The person apologized several times before quickly brushing past and leaving.
Watching the figure leaving, Su Mu showed a puzzled expression. He felt that something was off about this person, so he inconspicuously checked his clothes and found that the secret manuals were still there, and no money or items were missing.
"Probably overthinking it."
Not long after, Su Mu walked towards the black market exit, and the few vendors at the exit showed a trace of sympathy as they watched Su Mu leave.
"That guy was targeted by those three... I'm afraid he won't make it out of this barren forest alive."
Leaving the black market, in the desolate forest, Su Mu's white fox mask showed a hint of coldness, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.
The Great Success of Five Animals Qigong, the Great Success of Tiger Subduing Fist, coupled with months of continuously taking Three-in-One Body-Strengthening Soup and the improvement of comprehension made Su Mu's senses far superior to ordinary people.
Though the footsteps behind him were light, they couldn't escape his ears.
Su Mu paused, turning to look.
Not far away, amidst the shadows of the night forest, emerged a weak figure. Su Mu's pupils slightly contracted, immediately recognizing that the figure was the person who had collided with him in the black market earlier.
"It seems I wasn't overthinking it... this person was deliberate, I've been targeted."
Su Mu thought for a moment and figured out the oddity within; the other party was likely testing his strength through that 'unintentional' collision.
Unintentionally, he had used his inner power, allowing the other party to ascertain that he was a Refining Power Martial Artist.
Since the other party already gauged his approximate strength, yet still dared to commit murder and robbery, the people targeting him were certainly not comparable to those scoundrels hired by Tiansun Li to ambush him.
To intercept a Refining Power Martial Artist, there must be at least one Refining Power Martial Artist among these people.
"This place is not suitable for staying longer, I must leave first."
Thinking of this, Su Mu was unwilling to directly fight with these unknown villains in the forest. If he could get away, it was better to do so immediately.
The best of all strategies is to escape; with that in mind, Su Mu quickened his pace, performing Deer Play from the Five Animals Qigong, transforming himself into a deer darting through the forest.
"Buying two secret manuals worth two hundred taels in one go, this guy definitely has more than just two hundred taels on him. Even though he's tricky, after this job, we can live comfortably for the rest of the year."
Ten yards behind, a lean figure had greed in his eyes.
"I bumped into him deliberately just now, judging from his reaction, he's likely just a Ninth-Grade martial artist who has only completed the first Refining Force. My brother is close to completing his second Refining Force, with both of us, we should easily handle this guy."
Just as Su Mu suspected, he had indeed done it intentionally. He orchestrated the 'unintentional' bump to test Su Mu's strength.
When people face sudden impacts, they instinctively protect themselves; through Su Mu's reaction, he could gauge his capability. He sensed that the power within Su Mu was fierce, a hallmark of the first Refining Force.
First Refining Force is known as Ming Force, where the power can shatter rocks and is broad and fierce. Martial artists at this realm struggle against those wearing armor.
The second Refining Force is called Dark Force, it is subtle and can penetrate armor to injure those behind it.
Clearly, from Su Mu's reaction, his power remained at the level of Ming Force.
"Not good, this fat sheep is looking to escape; we can't wait any longer."
Immediately, the lean figure sprinted while retrieving a wooden whistle from his collar, the forest resounded with intermittent whistle sounds, long and short.
As the whistle echoed for several moments, Su Mu noticed two other whistle sounds from different orientations ahead, clearly exchanging information.
Su Mu halted abruptly; he realized he was surrounded. He was unfamiliar with this desolate forest, but the opponents clearly were. Escape seemed unlikely.
"Judging by the whistle, the other two are still some distance away..."
"Break them one by one!"
Su Mu understood he must prevent the three from converging into an encirclement, choosing to first eliminate the one behind him!
Upon seeing Su Mu attempting to flee, the lean figure ceased hiding and pursued relentlessly. Upon seeing Su Mu dash into a dense forest, he couldn't help but reveal a cruel smile.
He knew well that this dense forest was a haven for killing, as they had murdered quite a few there.
"You've picked yourself a fine burial place."
But as the lean figure stepped into the forest, he was gripped with sudden terror; beneath the distant tree shadows, a figure emitted a fierce aura resembling a predatory tiger.
"This person isn't a Grade-Entering Martial Artist... but even a lion must give its all to catch a rabbit!"
The nearing perfection of Five Animals Qigong allowed Su Mu high control over his muscles. The great success in Tiger Subduing Fist enabled him to quickly mobilize his qi blood and power.
Gulp.
The lean villain swallowed hard, feeling like he was being stalked by a terrifying beast.
The next moment.
His heart skipped a beat; reflected in his eyes was a figure charging like a fierce tiger.
Roar!
The punch carried a faint tiger roar, capturing the advantage first; this was the added effect of reaching great success in Tiger Subduing Fist.
The lean villain panicked, hurriedly drawing the long saber at his waist, but was momentarily dazed by the tiger roar, making him too late to swing.
Seizing that fatal moment of distraction, Su Mu closed the few-yard gap instantly.
Vajra Subduing Tiger!
The first move was a killer strike; Su Mu's fingers clenched like iron pincers into tiger claws, his eyes behind the mask glaring, resembling Vajra's furious gaze. His waist and abdomen bent slightly, moving with his arm, his right claw struck forth.
Before the lean villain could slash, Su Mu's claw landed decisively on his throat.
Crunch.
The throat bone was instantly shattered, the claw tore open flesh, passing cleanly through the neck, emerging from the back of the neck with the tiger claw.
"This, this..."
The lean villain's eyes widened to the limit in disbelief and alarm, his mouth opened and closed seeming to say something.
In the next moment, Su Mu's right arm exerted force, withdrawing his hand from the bloody cavity.
Immediately, blood splattered forth.
The lean villain trembled, pupils dilated, and collapsed in a heap.
Killing a villain in one strike, Su Mu glanced at the fallen corpse, astonished by the fearsome power of Tiger Subduing Fist.
"Worthy of Grade-Entering Martial Arts."
Su Mu thought to himself, looking at his blood-stained right claw; having killed again, he was no longer panic-stricken as the first time.
Under the mask, Su Mu's eyes flickered fiercely; killing such murderous robbers held no mental burden.
Hoo!
He exhaled deeply, then breathed out slowly.
As the breath left him, his qi blood and power circulated faster, becoming scorching hot; he gazed into the forest's depths, akin to a fierce tiger awakening.
"Two remain..."