Deep within the courtyard house of Soul King Village, Village Chief Hun Mie was flipping through the Flowing Water Art manual. "The manual is correct, it's genuine, but it's missing the latter half. The Flowing Water Art is a martial arts technique that can be cultivated to the Seventh Grade, but several generations ago in Shui Lanlan's family, someone never achieved a grade, causing the manual to become incomplete."

He casually tossed the Flowing Water Art onto the ground. For martial arts manuals like this, he couldn't even be bothered to look at them properly. With an upper limit of only the Seventh Grade, and he himself was already at the Seventh Grade, the creator of the Flowing Water Art was at most Sixth Grade, and most likely Seventh Grade—the same level as him.

The talent limit of the Flowing Water Art's creator was the Seventh Grade, but he was different.

He was at the Seventh Grade because Tianniu Island's resources were too scarce, allowing cultivation to reach only the Seventh Grade at most. The creator of the Flowing Water Art had originally come from outside to Tianniu Island, with their limit being the Seventh Grade. Although both were at the same realm, their understanding of martial arts was not on the same level.

If he calmly focused on creating martial arts techniques, they would definitely be more profound than the Flowing Water Art.

But it was unnecessary. The martial arts manual he practiced was extremely advanced, far superior to anything he could create himself.

Hun Xiaoyan brought three scrolls, unrolling them one by one and hanging them on the wall.

Village Chief Hun Mie stood with his hands behind his back, speaking in a deep voice, "I have mastered three profound martial arts techniques. The first is the Mysterious Water Black Snake Art—look at the first painting."

The first painting depicted a vividly lifelike giant black snake, its scales covered in mysterious patterns, rolling through turbulent rivers. It opened its massive mouth toward the overcast sky, as if wanting to devour the heavens or challenge the celestial order.

Li Xuan, Huo Lingling, and Li Dalong all stared at the Mysterious Water Black Snake Art. Li Xuan felt as if, through the ancient painting, he could clearly see the Mysterious Water Black Snake in the river. It was moving, declaring its fury to the firmament.

As the Mysterious Water Black Snake twisted, he gradually discerned the intricate patterns on all of its scales.

Hum!

The Mysterious Water Black Snake turned its head, seemingly looking back at Li Xuan through the ancient painting.

Li Xuan blinked, and the Mysterious Water Black Snake returned to normal, still roaring at the sky.

Huo Lingling's eyes underwent a subtle change, momentarily transforming into the vertical pupils of the Mysterious Water Black Snake.

Li Dalong widened his eyes, carefully observing the Mysterious Water Black Snake painting, but from his reaction, it was clear he hadn't perceived anything.

Village Chief Hun Mie took in the three's performances, sighing inwardly.

He had assessed Li Dalong's bone structure—it was quite good. Li Dalong also possessed an ability to transform into a giant snake, which aligned perfectly with the Mysterious Water Black Snake Art. Switching between human and snake forms for cultivation, his training speed wouldn't be inferior to his own, making him worthy of inheriting his legacy.

This was also why he hadn't killed Li Dalong.

His daughter had inadvertently picked up a martial arts genius;

he should be happy. But he couldn't see through Li Dalong's origins, so he always held some reservations about him.

Today, witnessing Li Xuan and Huo Lingling's reactions, he was astonished to discover that their talent was even better than Li Dalong's. Both had clearly sensed the artistic conception contained within the Mysterious Water Black Snake painting.

This was their first contact with martial arts, their first time seeing the Mysterious Water Black Snake painting, and they hadn't even begun practicing the Black Water Mysterious Snake Art, yet they could already connect with the painting's artistic conception. Their talent was unprecedented in his experience.

These two had the potential to break through to the Upper Three Grades!

He never expected that another world would harbor such martial arts prodigies!

Village Chief Hun Mie recalled his own initial training with the Mysterious Water Black Snake painting. It took him a full day and night of observation to perceive the painting's artistic conception after generating his first strand of Qi and Blood. He only grasped a trace of the Mysterious Water Black Snake's intent after achieving a grade, which allowed his combat power to far surpass others at his level.

"Your talent is exceptional. After learning the martial arts, remember to practice diligently and don't waste your peerless innate gifts," Village Chief Hun Mie said to Li Xuan and Huo Lingling.

Li Dalong asked from the side, "Father, what about me?"

Village Chief Hun Mie snorted coldly, "Dull-witted! They have the potential for the Upper Three Grades;

you, at most, the Middle Three Grades!"

Li Dalong wasn't discouraged and said confidently, "Father, we have an old saying where I'm from: diligence can make up for lack of ability!"

"What if a genius works as hard as you?" Village Chief Hun Mie retorted.

Li Dalong was stumped. He wasn't originally from Xia Country;

the phrase "diligence can make up for lack of ability" was something he had painstakingly come up with last night.

"I'll work even harder! Double the effort!"

Village Chief Hun Mie snorted again. Outwardly, he still looked down on Li Dalong, but inwardly, he somewhat acknowledged him.

"The art I practice is the Mysterious Water Black Snake Art. Cultivated to its limit, it reaches the Fourth Grade. It contains a secret method that allows an attempt to break through to the Third Grade. If you help me successfully hunt down the Mountain Deity, I will teach you the complete Mysterious Water Black Snake Art, including the secret method!

If you choose this method, before the hunt for the Mountain Deity, I can guide you in practicing the Mysterious Water Black Snake Art. If you choose to practice the other two arts, I can only give you the martial arts manuals. I guarantee the manuals are genuine and haven't been tampered with. Whether you can master them depends on your own fortune."

Then, Village Chief Hun Mie introduced the other two martial arts techniques.

The second painting was the Soaring Dragon in the Heavens painting, corresponding to the Soaring Dragon in the Heavens Art, with an upper limit of the Fourth Grade. It lacked a secret method for impacting the Third Grade but included a lightness skill. Only by practicing the Soaring Dragon in the Heavens Art and comprehending a strand of the Soaring Dragon in the Heavens artistic conception could one master the Soaring Dragon Lightness Skill.

Once the Soaring Dragon Lightness Skill was mastered, one could tread on air and fly at the Seventh Grade, with extremely fast speed, rarely matched by peers.

The third painting was the Subduing Dragon and Taming Tiger painting, corresponding to the Subduing Dragon and Taming Tiger Art. It was the only martial art in Soul King Village that could be cultivated to the Third Grade. It included an external skill, the Dragon-Tiger Mark, which required bathing in the blood of a giant snake and a fierce tiger to begin mastery. Upon activation, dragon roars and tiger growls would emanate, making one impervious to blades and spears, with dragon and tiger patterns appearing on the back.

The previous village chief had practiced the Subduing Dragon and Taming Tiger Art. Normally, his combat power should have been stronger than Hun Mie's, but his talent was far inferior. He never comprehended the Subduing Dragon and Taming Tiger painting's artistic conception and was ultimately killed by Hun Mie using the Mysterious Water Black Snake artistic conception.

The Subduing Dragon and Taming Tiger Art is difficult to begin, challenging to practice, and arduous to comprehend its artistic conception!

After Village Chief Hun Mie finished his introductions, he quietly awaited the trio's decision.

This was their first contact with martial arts, their first time seeing the Mysterious Water Black Snake painting, and they hadn't even begun practicing the Black Water Mysterious Snake Art, yet they could already connect with the painting's artistic conception. Their talent was unprecedented in his experience.

The Subduing Dragon and Taming Tiger Art is difficult to master. Even if they studied for a few days, they definitely wouldn't be able to grasp it initially.

He wanted to utilize Li Xuan's strength to hunt the Mountain Deity, not sincerely teach Li Xuan martial arts.

If Li Xuan realized this later, he couldn't blame him. He had shown full sincerity;

it was Li Xuan who couldn't resist the temptation of the Third Grade and actively chose to practice the Subduing Dragon and Taming Tiger Art.

Li Xuan looked at the three profound martial arts and immediately excluded the Mysterious Water Black Snake Art. After swallowing the Martial Arts Seed and consuming the Hell Savage Ox meat, his path to the Ninth Grade was already smooth. He only needed to learn a martial art, cultivate Qi and Blood, and easily become a Ninth Grade practitioner.

Village Chief Hun Mie practiced the Mysterious Water Black Snake Art. If Li Xuan chose this method, the Village Chief would certainly notice his rapid progress, affecting his subsequent plans.

Village Chief Hun Mie recalled his own initial training with the Mysterious Water Black Snake painting. It took him a full day and night of observation to perceive the painting's artistic conception after generating his first strand of Qi and Blood. He only grasped a trace of the Mysterious Water Black Snake's intent after achieving a grade, which allowed his combat power to far surpass others at his level.

By then, forget about plotting the treasures in the Ancestral Treasure Vault;

Village Chief Hun Mie would probably join forces with the Hunting Team to kill him first, attempting to extract the Martial Arts Seed.

After a moment, Li Xuan made his decision. "I choose the Subduing Dragon and Taming Tiger Art."

Village Chief Hun Mie revealed a smile. "Ambitious! A martial artist should charge forward fearlessly!"

Huo Lingling looked at the three paintings in turn. Her reaction to the Mysterious Water Black Snake painting was the strongest;

she could perceive the artistic conception contained within it, so she chose to practice the Mysterious Water Black Snake Art.

Li Dalong also chose the Mysterious Water Black Snake Art. Of course, he didn't really have a choice. Even if he selected another martial art, Village Chief Hun Mie would change it to the Mysterious Water Black Snake Art.