I Can See Your Combat Power

Hua Ji did not quite understand Tang Luo’s meaning, but he simply responded, “Both…both are possible.”

To say the most impressive things in the most timid manner – that was what was happening. Tang Luo looked at Hua Ji’s weak expression and spoke in annoyance, “What do you mean both are possible? If I were to bring ten thousand people before you to memorize their names and faces after one single glance, could you do it?”

The number of people one can truly connect within a lifetime is quite limited. For example, everyday when we walk on the street, we might encounter thousands of people, but only a few can genuinely make an impression. Not to mention remembering them three to five days later. Even the people with superior memory can’ t remember many people’s names and faces if they do not make a concerted effort. Hua Ji’s desire to remember everyone might just reflect his confidence due to a small sample size. After all, after acquiring the Star Pavilion, he has been staying inside every day, with limited human interactions. It’s therefore not surprising for him to have such an idea.

If the sample size were to expand to ten thousand or even more, the question remains whether or not he could still remember them. This is fundamentally what Tang Luo was asking.

When the timid Hua Ji heard Tang Luo’s question, he carefully probed, “Ten thousand people, only in one glance?”

“Yes.”

If it s only ten thousand people… Hua Ji contemplated for a moment and nodded, “That’s also doable.”

“Really or not?” Tang Luo was astonished. This level of memory has surpassed the standard of a highly intelligent person.

Upon hearing the doubt, Hua Ji quickly explained, “Master, do you remember a year ago when Lou Hongzhi and his gang caused a ruckus at the Secret Arts Pavilion? There were seven thousand, three hundred and twenty-nine people gathered in front of the Pavilion. I can clearly remember each of their faces.” This was one of the few major events that he witnessed in his life. He could clearly remember the infuriated looks on those faces, and he couldn’t comprehend how the normally kind and weak civilians could transform into such demonic figures. Having harbored hatred for the crowd who had almost forced him to commit suicide in front of the pavilion, he often recalled the scene that day.

After that incident, many among that crowd pretended as if nothing had happened and came for work. I identified each of them and forbade them from coming for work. Those fools who were hoodwinked into believing that the Star Pavilion was a place for training evil instruments do not deserve your grace, Master! The decisiveness in Hua Ji’s voice was evident; it was a transformation from his polite and yielding demeanor.

Tang Luo watched in awe at the spirited young man.

He had witnessed the panic in Hua Ji during that incident; the fact that Hua Ji was able to remember the faces of more than seven thousand people in such a scenario and still remember them a year later was truly challenging what he knew about the limits of memory.

Even his evolved brain might not be as strong as Hua Ji’s memory. Simply describing him as having “a good memory” wouldn’t justify his talents. It seemed that Hua Ji was a possessor of some kind of human-level blood talent. That could be the only explanation for such extraordinary memory.

“Impressive.” Tang Luo exclaimed, originally, he only took Hua Ji on board because of the amusing tales Hua Ji recited during his bedtime, he never thought he’d discovered a hidden gem. This made him really happy. He then looked at the unyielding Hua Ji and spoke, “Wielding such a talent and being a mere shopkeeper seems a waste. From today, start practicing foundation-building martial arts.”

Practicing martial arts? Have someone who hasn’t even completed the muscle and bone strengthening training practice martial arts?

This sudden request deeply wrinkled Hua Ji’s facial features. He hastened to plead, “Master… I’m already in my twenties, how can practice now?” The reason martial arts training begins from a young age is that youngsters have pliable muscles, making them highly adaptable. Practicing the Yi Jing and Bone Strengthening Art may cause some pain, but one can endure it and get through. Adults can indeed start foundation building from scratch, but the pain is more than hundreds of times worse. The mere thought of folding his own leg over his head made him shudder from the bottom of his heart.

Train the same way you did as a child. If you still want to be the shopkeeper of the Star Pavilion, you must complete foundation building. Understand?” Tang Luo said flatly. He didn’t know how many people with talents were among the million people, there might be people more talented than them appearing in the future, but he did know that the most loyal ones now were only Hua Ji and Gong Zheng. So he cannot let Hua Ji fall behind.

Though he was being reluctant to start foundation-building again, when being the shopkeeper was mentioned, Hua Ji subconsciously replied, “I understand.” Having experienced the honor of being a shopkeeper, asking Hua Ji to go back to living like a servant was harder for him than dying. As long as he could continue to be the shopkeeper of the Star Pavilion, he would be willing to do anything.

Before the twelfth month, I want you to complete the first six diagrams of the

Yi Jing and Bone Strengthening Art. Go.”

Hua Ji left with his orders; the only thing on his mind was “I’m going to die, I’m going to die.”

The Yi Jing and Bone Strengthening Art consists of thirty-six diagrams, also known as The Thirty-six Bridges between Heaven and Earth. It involves thirty- six postures for stretching muscles and bones. It is almost the only way for anyone with no foundation to get into meditative state.

Through meditation, practitioners can transcend the restrictions of the five senses, perceive the most primitive spiritual power in the universe, and communicate with it. The human body will become a bridge between the natural spiritual power and consciousness in the specific postures. The so- called foundation building is achieved by continually deepening the communication between humans and the universe until all the meridians in the body are activated. Afterward, whichever technique you practice will be more effective.

For ordinary warriors, the first diagram is the most challenging one to start with, possibly taking up to half a year. But it gets easier thereafter. Even for people with the most ordinary talents, the spiritual power accumulated from communicating with the universe in five years would be enough for them to complete the foundation building. Let alone, Hua Ji already has the foundation from his childhood. As long as he’s willing to endure the hardship, it should be an easy task to finish the first six diagrams.

With Hua Ji leaving, Tang Luo made his way to the side, picking up the files left by Manager Xu. They contained the recent actions of the intellectual celebrities in Xiling. When he found the file about Du Sha, he immediately saw some surprisingly news.

An epidemic broke out in Red Cloud Mountain. Sun Jinfang asked the noble families for medicine.”

“Provisions were distributed from the storage. Du Sha was relieved of his position as a clan leader by Du Clan’ s elders.”

After resigning as clan leader, Du Sha used his hundred years of service as a payment to negotiate with other clans for food. He’s always ready to deal.” Tang Luo slowly read through the files a couple of times and his brow furrowed deeply when he closed them. When it rains, it pours.

He had already known that Du Sha would sell himself, but he didn’t think it would happen so soon. This probably has to do with the Xiao family occupying two mam peaks of Red Cloud Mountain and the three senior elders of Du Clan stripping Du Sha of his position.

To the already vulnerable commoner, the sudden withdrawal of Du Clan, which was opening up grotto houses non-stop, along with Du Sha’s sudden step-down and the scarcity of food, is inevitably a terrible blow. The fear and weakness may accelerate the spread of disease, while the noble families will only watch with indifference. They even wish that the plague could wipe out all the commoners on Red Cloud Mountain, allowing them to start competing for Red Cloud Mountain justifiably.