Starting as a dockworker

Chapter 48 The Fisherman Reaps the Benefit: The Difference Between External Skills!

"That's right, it's me."

Li Xiao smiled and said, "The group of foreigners I followed all the way to Shishan Wharf. They were carrying a large amount of explosives at the wharf, which I detonated."

In fact, he also killed a Japanese Taoist priest and saved a group of women.

However, Li Xiao was too lazy to talk about these things anymore.

"Good, well done!"

Upon hearing this, Huo Jiu rushed over with great joy, grabbed Li Xiao's arms, and said excitedly, "Heroes have always emerged from among the young! You have done me, Huo Jiu, a great favor. These Japanese have brought so much explosives; they must be targeting me, Huo Jiu. Tell me, Brother Li Xiao, what do you want? Just say the word."

Li Xiao laughed and said, "Just speak up?"

Huo Jiu nodded: "Yes! As long as I, Huo Jiu, can afford it!"

Li Xiao thought for a moment and said, "I've already reached the Refining Strength Realm. I've heard that further martial arts training requires a lot of resources. Otherwise, how about Chief Huo covers all the resources for me?"

When Xiao Zhenshan practiced martial arts at Guiyuan Martial Arts School, he never mentioned asking for money.

But his silence doesn't mean Li Xiao doesn't know.

I already feel bad about giving him free martial arts lessons, so how could I let Lao Xiao pay for them?

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhenshan was the first to be surprised, and he took a deep breath.

He's only been in the martial arts school for a few days, and he's already at the Strength Refinement Realm?

However, considering that he could master the stance training in just one day, it wasn't surprising.

He's a genius among geniuses!

"Alright, I'll take it all, Huo Jiu!"

Huo Jiu patted his chest and said.

Xiao Zhenshan smiled but didn't say anything more.

He also knew that Huo Jiu probably wanted to win over Li Xiao and give him this opportunity.

But since you, Old Huo, have brought this up, don't blame me for using all the top-tier resources...

"However, Chief Huo, I also overheard some secrets."

Li Xiao put away his smile and said, "These Japanese people brought explosives, but they weren't actually targeting your Dingyang Gang."

Huo Jiu asked curiously, "What's the purpose of all that commotion and all that explosives?"

Li Xiao pointed to the ground and said, "To deal with what's under your mine... actually, I think you could sell the mine to the Japanese..."

Upon hearing this, Huo Jiu frowned: "I had professionals survey it, and... there's still a large amount of iron ore deep inside this mine. Selling it to the Japanese would be like using it against the people of Great Xia..."

Xiao Zhenshan waved his hand to interrupt Huo Jiu, saying, "Old Huo, don't rush, let Li Xiao finish speaking..."

Upon hearing this, Huo Jiu fell silent.

Li Xiao continued, "There's something beneath your mine."

Huo Jiu said, "I know that... To be honest, Brother Li Xiao, I just want you to help me get rid of that filthy thing down there..."

Li Xiao waved his hand and said, "No, what's beneath your mine isn't just ordinary filth, it's a terrifying thing, sealing away an...evil god!"

"An evil god?"

Huo Jiu and Xiao Zhenshan were both startled.

Huo Jiu never dreamed that such a thing was hidden beneath the mine he bought.

No wonder so many people died in the mine; all the methods we tried didn't work.

Li Xiao nodded: "Yes, an evil god! It must have been sealed a long time ago. Now that the dragon vein is broken, this evil god is beginning to awaken. Dealing with the evil god is completely beyond my capabilities, but these Japanese seem to have some tricks up their sleeves. They want to kill this evil god."

Xiao Zhenshan said, "Li Xiao, my disciple, you mean to..."

Li Xiao said, "Now that we know this secret, let's have a 'when the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits' scenario."

Huo Jiu understood: "A brilliant plan!"

Li Xiao said, "However, I still need to go back to Xiangshan to discuss the specifics of how to deal with this with Granny Ming. Chief Huo, you don't need to rush to sell the mine. Their explosives have been destroyed, and it will probably take some time to raise new ones. During this time, you can hold out for a while and try to get a good price."

Huo Jiuxi said, "Great idea! I'll first kill these Japanese, then skin them, pull out their tendons, chew them up, and eat them! Thanks to Brother Li Xiao, otherwise I, Old Huo, would have suffered a terrible fall."

Thus, the three hit it off immediately.

Huo Jiu rubbed his hands together, looked at Xiao Zhenshan, then at Li Xiao, and said, "Brother Li Xiao, when are you graduating from this martial arts school? Do you have a good place to go? If not, why not come to my Dingyang Gang? As long as you're willing to come, the position of vice-gang leader will be reserved for you!"

This shows that they are trying to win them over.

Xiao Zhenshan frowned. "I treat you like a brother, and you actually want to poach my talent?"

"this..."

Li Xiao smiled and waved his hand in refusal, then said, "I appreciate the Chief's kindness, but I don't have any grand ambitions. I just want to do some small business. Chief Huo, would you be interested in investing some money?"

Li Xiao would naturally not join the Dingyang Gang.

His goal was to save all living beings, not to be confined to a small gang.

There are two ways to achieve this.

One is to assist a person with lofty ambitions and outstanding talent in bringing peace and prosperity to the world.

If we can't find someone like that, then there's only one other way.

—Become that kind of person yourself.

But Li Xiao figured he could only take the second option.

Because after reading newspapers and observing the world over this period of time, he realized that although this world was very similar to the Republic of China in his memory, it was not the same world, and such great people were not born here.

However, Li Xiao would not miss out on the connections of Huo Jiu, the leader of the Dingyang Gang.

First, win them over and do some business with them; gradually, you can bring them under your control.

Huo Jiu, upon learning that Li Xiao had no intention of joining the Dingyang Gang, decided to try and win him over.

Cooperation is a good way to win people over, so he immediately agreed, "Great! Brother Li Xiao, what kind of business do you want to do? Just name your name, and I, Old Huo, will definitely invest."

Li Xiao smiled and said, "I haven't decided yet. I'll talk about it when I do."

Upon hearing this, Huo Jiu knew that Li Xiao was definitely not cut out for business.

However, we still need to invest; consider it as building this relationship.

......

The following morning, the disciples of Guiyuan Martial Arts School closed their training room.

Li Xiao habitually practiced standing meditation. After entering the Refining Strength Realm, he felt that the speed at which he could increase his strength by standing in the Returning Origin Stance had slowed down, which should mean that he had reached the limit of human strength.

The reason why the Refining Power Realm can be called a realm is that there is a dividing line. Before the dividing line, as long as resources are sufficient, the power can be improved very quickly. After crossing this dividing line, it will slow down.

This is only because Li Xiao possesses "innate superhuman strength"; others would be even slower.

Xiao Zhenshan also got up early in the morning to come and guide Li Xiao in martial arts practice.

Li Xiao stopped practicing his stance training and asked, "Old Xiao, I've already reached the Refining Strength Realm. Should I continue practicing external martial arts or focus on cultivating my cultivation level?"

"It seems that Old Eight has already told you about the difference between internal and external martial arts..."

Xiao Zhenshan stroked his beard, pondering, and said, "Normally, one cultivates both internal and external techniques simultaneously. However, your cultivation level has advanced too quickly; this is the first time I've seen such a situation. I think you can pause your cultivation for a while and focus on cultivating external techniques to solidify your foundation, allowing you to better control this body that possesses the strength of a thousand jin..."

Li Xiao nodded and said, "Alright, then let's start by practicing external martial arts techniques. Otherwise, I won't be able to use all my strength. Yesterday, when I sparred with my eighth junior brother, I couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes."

Xiao Zhenshan laughed and said, "Disciple, you have reached the required level, but having the level alone is useless. You still need to put it to use. I will now teach you external martial arts techniques. I believe it won't be long before you can deal with Lao Ba... These external martial arts are also divided into different levels, including low, medium, and high. Which one do you want to learn?"

Li Xiao asked, "What's the difference?"

Xiao Zhenshan stroked his beard, his gaze deep, and slowly said, "The difference, in the final analysis, lies in the word 'time'."

"Time?" Li Xiao asked thoughtfully.

"Exactly."

Xiao Zhenshan nodded and explained in detail, "Lower-level external martial arts have low barriers to entry and quick results, such as Thunderclap Hand, Tongbei Fist, Iron Sand Palm... These rudimentary skills focus on one or a few killing moves, not seeking comprehensiveness, but only quick mastery. Ordinary martial arts school disciples, if they are willing to work hard, can use them in actual combat in three to five months, which is more than enough for self-defense and fighting. However, their limits are also low, their potential is limited, they are more powerful than versatile, and they are easily controlled when they encounter a master."

"Intermediate level external martial arts emphasizes a system. It is often a complete fist, palm, or leg technique, such as the Five Elements Bagua Palm, the Twelve-Road Tan Leg, or the Twenty-Four-Road Po Feng Saber... It not only requires practicing killing moves but also understanding variations. It usually takes one or two years to achieve a minor level of proficiency, but the foundation is more solid and the means of combat are more diverse. Most of the best martial artists in the world practice at this level."

"Superior external martial arts..."

Xiao Zhenshan's tone became serious, "That's different. Such techniques are often passed down in an orderly manner and have a profound foundation. It's not just a fighting style, but also contains unique secret methods of energy circulation and power generation, and even involves some principles of blood and qi circulation. To cultivate such techniques, one needs comprehension, hard work, and time to hone one's skills. It's difficult to even scratch the surface without three to five years. To achieve something, ten years is considered short. But once mastered, its power is far beyond that of lower-level techniques, and defeating opponents of higher realms is commonplace."

Li Xiao listened intently and pressed for an answer: "Is there anything better?"

Xiao Zhenshan took a deep breath and said, "If it were any other disciple, I would have kicked him out immediately. But you are different. Above the superior level, you also have top-tier external martial arts techniques."

Li Xiao's eyes lit up: "Top-tier? That's exactly what I want to hear!"