Chapter 270: Line 246, Part 2

Agarwood Temple.

At this moment, a strong man, standing at 1.9 meters tall with muscles like gray rocks, was wearing an open-chest short jacket, clasped his fists to greet Zhang Rongfang.

“Hua Chengying from the Iron Cloth Hall, greets Lord Guardian.”

“The hall master is too kind. I have always admired the culture of Hard Skill, and since I have been in the Dao Palace, I have hoped to learn true Hard Skill Martial Arts.

Now, finally being able to find a real expert, it’s truly a great fortune!”

Zhang Rongfang responded gently, clasping his fists back in return.

“There is no need to treat me as the Guardian here, just consider me as an ordinary apprentice.”

Hua Chengying is the person with the highest attainment in Hard Skill around Citong.

His Iron Cloth Skill has been practiced to the extreme. In the martial world of Citong, he has the reputation of the Iron Clothes Man.

Although his grade is only Seventh Grade, he is indeed a genuine Hard Skill master.

“You are too modest, my lord. With your existing martial foundation, practicing Hard Skill will become much more efficient.”

“Oh? Why do you say so?” Zhang Rongfang inquired.

“You might not know, my lord. High-grade experts, when breaking through the limits of their grades repeatedly, also make their skin and muscles more resilient.

This already makes them stronger than ordinary people. Such individuals, when starting to concurrently practice Hard Skill, are naturally akin to having a foundational realm in Hard Skill.

For instance, I have a friend who, at Sixth Grade, came to me to concurrently practice the Iron Cloth.

Once he started, his body toughness was already comparable to the disciples in my hall who practiced up to the Second Layer.

So he quickly went through the First Layer of Iron Cloth and directly began on the Second Layer.” Hua Chengying explained.

“I see.” Zhang Rongfang understood. “So with concurrent practice, what level could I be considered at? Please test my skills, hall master.”

Hua Chengying agreed, moved closer, and carefully examined Zhang Rongfang’s condition.

Occasionally, he had him extend his arms and tapped on his muscles.

“You should be at the strength of the Second Layer. You truly… deserve to be a Super Grade!” He praised.

Before arriving, he was already aware that the person before him belonged to the Great Dao Teaching as a Super Grade expert.

Thus, he wasn’t overly shocked.

Although Super Grade is very powerful, he had several encounters in Citong.

He had some impressions.

And this time, forming a connection with a Super Grade was surely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him.

“So equivalent to the Second Layer of Iron Cloth?” Zhang Rongfang nodded.

“Exactly, my Iron Cloth Hall’s Iron Cloth Skill consists of six layers in total; mastering them equates to reaching the Sixth Grade Hard Skill level.

By then, apart from fatal weak points, other parts can withstand multiple full-force hits from peers without injury.”

Hua Chengying introduced, with a hint of pride on his face.

“Moreover, as long as it’s not a peer expert, repeatedly hitting the same spot with full force more than five times, the body almost won’t be damaged. After ten breaths, they can endure a second round of hits.”

“Excellent! So as long as movements are swift and positions are continually changed, peer masters almost cannot affect you?” Zhang Rongfang praised.

“That’s correct.” Hua Chengying nodded.

“Admirable, admirable. Next, I’ll rely on the hall master’s guidance.” Zhang Rongfang clapped his hands.

Nearby, a Daoist proactively served gold for teaching, with a disc holding twenty large ingots, each weighing ten liang.

With a single move, it amounted to two hundred liang!

Hua Chengying’s expression remained steady. Compared to money, he valued this relationship more.

“I, Hua, will certainly give my all!”

On the side, Chen Han didn’t understand why Zhang Rongfang suddenly began practicing Hard Skill again.

But Daoist’s talent was overflowing; whatever he does has his reasons, so he couldn’t counsel him.

He just noted the situation here internally, planning to send it back to Great Capital Celestial Treasure Palace via carrier pigeon later.

The Sect Leader would make arrangements then.

At this moment, Hua Chengying and Zhang Rongfang were in the martial practice ground behind the Daoist temple, one teaching and the other learning, occasionally using medicinal baths to temper and train their bodies.

As Hua Chengying had said, Zhang Rongfang’s physical toughness was high, training proceeded extremely quickly.

Iron Cloth consists of six layers in total, the cultivation technique is relatively crude, but for Zhang Rongfang, within just two days, without using any attribute points, he easily met the advancement requirements for the first two layers and directly started practicing the third layer.

Meanwhile, at this time, Sun Chaoyue, whom he had met once, and his father Sun Qinghong.

This former supervisor of Tan Yang Mansion faced a critical life decision.

*

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*

Tong Mansion.

In a secluded courtyard.

Sun Qinghong was coughing into a handkerchief.

A smear of bright red slowly spread on the white handkerchief.

“Brother Sun, look at you, were the previous medications taken on time? Why is your condition worsening?” Tong Haocun sat across from the stone table in the courtyard, expressing concern.

He was a close friend of Sun Qinghong in past years, now sheltering the Sun family entirely on his own, bearing all criticisms.

To Sun Qinghong, he was indeed a benefactor of the Sun family.

The debt the Sun family owes him is too great.

What puzzled Sun Qinghong, however, was that Tong Haocun hadn’t visited this courtyard much since half a year ago.

Why did he come once not long ago, and again today?

“Brother Tong, if there’s anything you need, just say it. That my Sun family can still be intact today is much thanks to your help, which I, Sun Qinghong, will remember with gratitude!”

“Brother Sun, sigh…” Tong Haocun sighed deeply. “You… you like to keep everything to yourself. Even when you were tricked before, if you had consulted me earlier, things wouldn’t have turned out this way.”

He looked up to observe the other’s expression, finding only confusion on Sun Qinghong’s face.

“Brother, this time I’m here to ask for your help.”

“Ask for help? Brother Tong, what do you mean?” Sun Qinghong asked in surprise. “Now I’m injured and sick, my wife is missing, my family fortune is exhausted, and I’m left with only a daughter and an old servant. How can I help you?”

“Brother, you are unaware, not long ago, the Tong family fleet encountered trouble with the local governor at the Sims Kingdom port for some unknown reason and had to call upon the big ship owner, Gersa, to settle it.

At the time we promised Gersa that upon returning home, we would repay the favor by gifting him all the porcelain from the Treasure Sword of the Tong family.

But who would have thought….”

Tong Haocun sighed again.

“Who would have thought that after Gersa returned home, he would quickly go back on his word, demanding not just one shipload of porcelain, but three!”

“This….” Sun Qinghong was also astonished.

“We have been discussing countermeasures since, but all to no avail.

These are three shiploads of goods; if we truly give them away, the Tong family would suffer tremendously, losing two years’ worth of profits. How can I bear this…?”

“That Gersa is truly despicable. Sigh…. Brother Tong, rest assured, if there’s any place you can use my help, don’t hesitate to ask.

However, my current condition is such that the Sun family has no money or people to offer….” Sun Qinghong’s voice gradually lowered.

His injuries, delayed for the best treatment period, had already become chronic.

With his Ninth Grade martial arts, he could only perform at the level of six or seven grade.

Even so, it was still deteriorating.

He couldn’t figure out how he could possibly be of any help.

Tong Haocun, filled with compassion, reached out and patted Sun Qinghong’s shoulder.

“Brother, are you still keeping things from me? Your daughter knows Zhang Ying, the Lord Guardian of the Great Dao Teaching, so why haven’t you mentioned this at all?

If I knew earlier that your family was acquainted with Lord Zhang, wouldn’t your current identity issue be easily resolved?”

“Zhang Ying, Lord Guardian?” Sun Qinghong looked utterly puzzled.

He had no recollection of this name.

“Brother, you’re not being honest. Even at this moment, you’re pretending? Take note, someone of that level, a Daoist from the Great Dao Teaching, whose master is Sect Leader Chongxuan, is an immensely powerful figure.

You know such a person and still act so oblivious? Isn’t that a bit….” Tong Haocun sounded slightly dissatisfied.

“Brother, it’s truly not someone I know; if I knew such a person, why would I have needed to come to you initially? I truly have no idea what’s going on.” Sun Qinghong looked utterly confused.

Seeing this, Tong Haocun, judging by his expression, seemed somewhat convinced it wasn’t a fabrication.

“Then perhaps your daughter, Chao Yue, became acquainted with such a prominent figure without your knowledge.

Previously, when Chao Yue and Xinyao went out shopping together, Xinyao saw her conversing with Lord Zhang.

Though it wasn’t for long, they looked like old acquaintances.

Brother, you must understand, for businessmen like us, just having such a connection, being able to visit without being turned away, holds the potential for progress and deepening relationships!

You have this opportunity, and you should hurry to deepen it; otherwise, if too much time passes, their impression will fade, and you might not even get to meet them. This connection would be broken.”

Sun Qinghong squinted his eyes, stirred inside.

“Brother, are you serious?”

“Of course, I’m serious, Brother, don’t you know, if that lord wishes, getting the Sun family out of its entanglement with the cult isn’t too hard at all.” Tong Haocun smiled.

“Oh? Why is that?” Sun Qinghong’s heart skipped, sparking a hopeful thought.

“Do you even need to ask? For others it might be troublesome, but Zhang Ying, the Lord Guardian, is in charge of the entire Citong’s external affairs, precisely your family’s concern.

Even if there’s an issue with the cult, it falls under his authority. Tell me, does he even have to exert effort to help the Sun family?” Tong Haocun shook his head.

With that, Sun Qinghong was genuinely tempted.

He had been exhausting his mind fleeing everywhere, avoiding capture, simply because his identity had been labeled as colluding with the cult?

If now there was a chance to clear his name, with his ability and his daughter’s, the prospects for the Sun family to rise again were certain!

After all, they were Spirit People.

And in Great Spirit, many positions were specifically designated for Spirit People.

For instance, the position of the governor and many key and sensitive positions.

“Brother, it seems you’ve understood.” Tong Haocun smiled. “This is a great opportunity for the Sun family to rise again!”

“Brother, your timely reminder. If not, I might have missed this fleeting golden opportunity!” Sun Qinghong sincerely clasped his fists.

“Even understanding now is timely!” Tong Haocun nodded in satisfaction.

“It’s just, brother, what does this matter have to do with the big ship owner Gersa?” Sun Qinghong asked, puzzled.

“That’s because Gersa’s major backer, Isebas, is a friend on good terms with Lord Zhang. If he were to put in a word, what would Gersa amount to?” Tong Haocun laughed.

“I see.”

“Brother, even you were kept in the dark by Chao Yue; you should educate her well afterward. Let her understand our current situation, and since that Lord Zhang hails from the Celestial Treasure Palace of the Great Dao Teaching, the world-renowned hub of medical expertise, if you establish a connection, maybe even your chronic illness can be completely cured….”

“Celestial Treasure Palace… I’ve heard of it too, I understand….” A thick, burning hope emerged in Sun Qinghong’s eyes.

Immediately, the two lowered their voices and began discussing how to expand and deepen this connection.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep