Becoming a Martial Saint starts with Jian Ti Quan (a type of Chinese martial art).

Chapter 15 The Ancient Dynasty of Xuanshang

Five skill points!

Fang Shuwen's pupils contracted slightly, but his expression remained unchanged.

This book is definitely problematic; it's not just an ordinary book for casual reading.

The fact that this book can provide strange energy suggests that it is the same as the Mysterious Jade.

However, they are not entirely the same; there is no danger for ordinary people to come into contact with the mysterious jade.

But this book.

He didn't even touch it; he just glanced at it and almost met with disaster.

This was because he had mastered martial arts, and his bones had already cracked twice.

Only when one's blood and energy surge are there opportunities to save oneself.

Anyone else would probably be dead by now.

Strange energy.

These four words swirled in his mind and matched with the "mysterious jade" that Grandpa Zheng had mentioned.

The strange jade is eerie.

They differ by only one character, yet share the same origin.

It seems there are far more evil things in this world than he imagined.

The fact that the book could absorb five skill points indicates that the strange energy it contained was comparable to the excellent strange jade that Old Master Zheng lost to him.

"Are you alright? You look terrible."

Seeing that he was standing still, Shen Xinyi couldn't help but ask again.

The poor student, who had looked like he'd seen a ghost just moments before, had calmed down now, though his face was still frighteningly pale.

It looked completely hollowed out.

She looks just like her cousin after visiting a pleasure boat.

"fine."

Fang Shuwen shook his head and bent down to pick up the fallen stool.

He placed the cloth bag at his feet, but his gaze involuntarily drifted towards Shen Xinyi inside the counter.

at this time,

Shen Xinyi had already lowered her head to read the book again, her slender white fingers turning the page, her expression focused and calm, showing no sign of anything amiss.

Fang Shuwen withdrew his gaze, his mind churning with thoughts.

Who exactly is this bookstore owner?

Why was she so nonchalant when she came across this book, while I almost fell for it after just one glance?

The strange jade poses no danger to ordinary people, but he clearly didn't touch the book just now. He only glanced at it and was almost dragged into that gloomy ancient castle.

Fang Shuwen's gaze fell once again on the woman in a cheongsam behind the counter, who was looking down at a book.

She turned the pages quietly, her slender fingers gliding across the paper, her expression focused and calm.

Fang Shuwen's mind was racing, but he remained outwardly calm.

"Boss lady, is this book... really from Shenghai Bookstore?" he asked casually.

"What else can I do? I can't just print it myself, can I?"

Shen Xinyi didn't even look up, her tone carrying a hint of impatience, clearly not wanting to be disturbed.

Fang Shuwen smiled and didn't ask any further questions.

The bookstore owner, Shen Xinyi, showed no change in her breathing, heartbeat, or even blood flow.

Therefore, she probably genuinely didn't know there was anything unusual about the book.

However, he has now absorbed the strange energy in the book.

Now this book is no different from any other book.

.......

Dusk was falling outside the window.

Fang Shuwen was still reviewing his lessons.

Tomorrow is the opening exam; he needs to pass all seven subjects to stay on as a student.

Chinese literature and arithmetic are not difficult.

With his foundation from his past life, middle school level exams were as easy for him as drinking water.

What really gave him a headache was the "New Learning Outline," which contained a lot of martial arts theory and bizarre common sense.

The original owner had never attended a class in this subject; the textbook was brand new, as if it had just been handed out.

He opened the "New Learning Outline" and began to study it page by page.

"Evil and strange beings are formed from exotic energies in the world; they are formless and intangible, and often attach themselves to objects..."

Fang Shuwen's gaze lingered on this line of text.

He looked up and glanced again at the gray-blue book in Shen Xinyi's hand.

Formless and intangible, yet attached to objects?

Could that book, "Tales of the Ancient Castle," be a book possessed by something eerie?

So I almost fell for the trap after only glancing at the book title.

And Shen Xinyi.

She may not be unaffected; rather, she was unaffected for some other reason.

Fang Shuwen shook his head, temporarily suppressing these thoughts, and continued reading and reviewing.

......

Time slipped away unnoticed amidst the rustling of pages.

By the time Fang Shuwen closed his textbook, it was already completely dark outside the window.

The number of pedestrians on the street gradually decreased, and only the dim moonlight fell.

He rubbed his sore eyes, got up to pack his schoolbag, and took out a few copper coins and placed them on the table.

"Boss lady, tea payment."

Shen Xinyi finally raised her head, glanced at the copper coins on the table, and then looked at him.

Fang Shuwen nodded to her, then turned and pushed open the shop door.

A night breeze swept over me, carrying a hint of coolness.

He stood on the steps at the entrance of the bookstore and took a deep breath.

I currently have five skill points, which is half of the ten points needed to fuse the Tengshe Fist.

After the school entrance exams are over, I need to find a way to go to the martial arts academy and buy a cheap piece of mysterious jade.

If all else fails, we can go and play a few more games of chess with Grandpa Zheng.

Although the old man has an eccentric temper, he is addicted to chess, so you might be able to win something more from him.

Thinking of this,

Fang Shuwen smiled slightly, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and stepped into the night.

........

The new government building of Xikou County.

The lights were still on in the Folklore and Antiquities Survey Department's dedicated office.

Lin Xiu sat behind his desk, holding a thin document in his hand, his brows furrowed in worry.

Several photos were spread out on the table, showing the two bodies that were pulled out of the Qingshui River this afternoon.

A body with a collapsed chest and several broken ribs, smashed by a fist.

Another neck was twisted to one side unnaturally, indicating it had been broken.

Clean and swift, a single, fatal blow.

Both of them had their money taken, which suggests that it was either a robbery or a revenge killing.

As a special department, such a case should not have fallen on his shoulders.

But one of these two people is involved in a case he is currently investigating.

Moreover, it is an important goal.

Therefore, Liu Mang and his companion were killed because this person had indeed come into contact with the Tengshe Nilin.

The Tengshe Nilin (a mythical creature) originated from an ancient tomb located in the mountains of northern Jiangnan Province.

A group of tomb raiders discovered an ancient tomb and looted it of all its valuables.

This serpent scale thus ended up on the black market.

This item was not initially taken seriously.

After all, China is a vast country with a rich history, and there are countless similar items.

This strange object, whose energy was almost completely depleted, was not taken seriously.

But, until recently.

The Shenghai Folk Customs and Antiquities Survey Department salvaged some bronze slips from an ancient shipwreck dating back to the Xuan Shang Dynasty.

The restored content reveals that the last emperor of the Xuan Shang dynasty was Emperor Zhou Yuan.

He once ordered the construction of a Crimson Sky Divine Ship, intending to soar into the heavens in search of the essence of immortality.

According to the bronze inscription, Emperor Zhouyuan did not find the essence of immortality on this trip.

But it wasn't without its rewards; he found a divine treasure located high in the heavens.

Unfortunately, the time was not right, and the divine treasure could not be opened.

Emperor Zhouyuan returned disappointed and recorded the location of the divine treasure on the scales of a Teng serpent.

That is, the copper sheet he is currently investigating.

That copper piece is the reverse scale of the Teng Snake!