Twin Dragons of the Tang Dynasty: Simplified Divine Skills Lead to an Invincible Myth

At 10 a.m., the sun was already high in the sky.

The Wenchang Street in the southern part of the city was bustling with people. Su Yang headed towards the western part of the city—where art shops and pharmacies were concentrated, and he thought he could find tiger paintings and tiger bones there. Although Zhao Qian had a tiger painting, it was ultimately someone else's property; it would be safer to have one for himself.

Just two alleyways later, he noticed the deliberately light footsteps about three zhang behind him. Although the breathing was slow, it did not escape his enhanced perception.

"Being kept watch?"

He sneered inwardly, but didn't stop walking.

Seeing a narrow, abandoned alleyway overgrown with grass and trees ahead, he immediately turned around and stepped into it.

The lean man followed closely behind, a short knife at his waist, his eyes gleaming. He had barely stepped out of the alley when everything went blurry; a large, iron-like hand gripped his throat.

"Tell me, who sent you?"

Su Yang's voice was icy.

"Big...Big brother, spare me...It was the orders of Wang Jian, the leader of the Cao Gang..."

The man's face flushed red as he said with difficulty, "Master Hu's death was suspicious... Master Wang told me to keep a close eye on you..."

"What kind of kung fu does Liu Meng practice? Where does he live?"

Su Yang slightly reduced the pressure on his fingertips.

"The gang leader practices the Sixteen Styles of Killing Knife Technique, and always conceals poisoned darts in his sleeves... When he throws a dart with his left hand, his shoulder sinks first." The man dared not conceal the truth: "He stays at the 'Listening to the Waves Pavilion' in the backyard of the main headquarters, where red lanterns are hung at night, and the changing of the guard takes place at midnight..."

Su Yang inquired about the strength of the three hall masters under Liu Meng of the Cao Gang, and he already had a general idea of ​​their strengths.

He said no more, and with lightning speed, his finger struck the man's heart.

The body was stuffed into an abandoned ditch half-covered by weeds and then covered with bricks and vines.

"Liu Meng, since you're courting death..."

Su Yang turned and merged into the crowd, his gaze already fixed on the west side of the city.

...........

Su Yang walked out of the narrow alley and merged into the crowd on the long street, having already made up his mind.

The "Moyunzhai" in Xicheng is the largest painting shop in Jingling. It is a three-story wooden building with flying eaves and brackets, and its facade is simple and elegant.

The shopkeeper, who appeared to be around fifty years old, initially intended to be perfunctory upon seeing Su Yang dressed in simple clothes, but was intimidated by his calm demeanor and sharp gaze. He quickly greeted him with a smile, "What kind of painting would you like to see, sir?"

"Tiger paintings should capture the true spirit and essence, not be mere imitations."

Su Yang got straight to the point.

A hint of surprise flashed in the shopkeeper's eyes. Not daring to be negligent, he led him to a private room on the second floor.

More than ten tiger paintings hang on the wall, depicting tigers descending the mountain, tigers roaring in the moon, and tigers lying on the ridge, each with its own unique form, but the brushwork varies in quality.

With his eyesight greatly enhanced after achieving a minor breakthrough in internal strength, Su Yang could immediately distinguish the true and false "spirit" in the paintings. Most of them were merely imitations, but three were different.

One painting, "Hungry Tiger Pouncing on Its Prey," depicts a tiger with eyes gleaming fiercely, its forepaws bulging with muscles, its menacing aura almost bursting from the paper. Another, "Mountain King Patrolling the Ridge," shows a tiger perched on a cliff, its gaze self-assured and exuding a regal and domineering presence. A third, "Drinking from a Stream Under the Moon," shows a tiger crouching by a stream, its muscles flowing smoothly like water, conveying a sense of movement within stillness.

Su Yang's gaze finally settled on "The Hungry Tiger Pounces on Its Prey".

This painting exudes the most ferocious aura, with tiger eyes like lightning and muscles bulging.

[Overlord Blade Proficiency +1!]

[Overlord Blade Proficiency +1!]

【….】

As he carefully examined the painting, the panel kept flashing in his mind.

"How much is this one?"

He pointed to "The Hungry Tiger Pouncing on Its Prey".

A shrewd glint flashed in the shopkeeper's eyes as he smiled and said, "Sir, you have a good eye! This painting, 'Hungry Tiger Pouncing on Its Prey,' is a late-life copy by 'Tiger-Obsessed Taoist,' and the brushwork has captured seven-tenths of the original's spirit... Price... Twenty-five taels."

Su Yang understood.

Genuine tiger paintings from the Sui Dynasty are already rare, mostly collected by the powerful and wealthy. Although this copy is not an original, it was painted by a master, and the fierce aura of the tiger in it is unmistakable, making it perfectly usable.

"Twenty taels."

He spoke calmly, without pressing the issue further.

"this……"

The shopkeeper feigned hesitation, but seeing Su Yang's confident expression, he knew he had found a discerning customer. He immediately smiled and said, "Deal! You certainly know your stuff, sir!"

As he took the silver, he gestured to the shop assistant, "Bring that dark blue velvet box and pack it carefully."

The waiter responded and brought out a dark blue brocade box with subtle cloud patterns. He opened the lid to reveal a soft silk lining inside. The shopkeeper carefully placed the scroll inside, smoothed both ends of the scroll, and carefully adjusted the lining to ensure the scroll was secure before closing the lid.

Su Yang took the brocade box, which felt slightly heavy in his hand.

The box is made of solid wood with a warm, smooth velvet surface, clearly made with care.

He held the brocade box securely in his hand, said no more, and turned to walk into the unique herbal scent of the medicine shop street.

........

The air in Xicheng Pharmacy Street is perpetually filled with the unique aroma of licorice, astragalus, and various other herbs.

Su Yang stepped into Wanzhitang, the largest and most comprehensive pharmacy in Jingling City.

The old shopkeeper behind the counter, with his white hair and beard, was flipping through a yellowed medical book.

Seeing Su Yang enter, he put down his book, his gaze lingering briefly on the brocade box in Su Yang's hand, and asked gently, "Sir, what would you like?"

"Do you have any high-quality tiger bones?"

Su Yang got straight to the point.

The old shopkeeper shook his head: "Sir, you're too late. The fine piece of tiger bone we acquired the other day was bought up by the entire Duba Manor, who said the manor lord urgently needed it for his martial arts practice. We simply don't have any good tiger bones left in the shop."

"Where are the tiger's paws and eyes?"

"They've all been taken away," the shopkeeper said with a wry smile. "There's been a shortage of goods at Wohu Ridge lately, so perhaps you'll have to try your luck elsewhere, sir."

The trail seems to have gone cold.

Su Yang thanked the shopkeeper and left Wanzhitang empty-handed.

It seems we'll need to find another way to obtain tiger bones. Perhaps we should really make a trip to "Crouching Tiger Ridge," or perhaps we should wait for news from the black market.

The sun was approaching its zenith.

Without further delay, Su Yang carried the brocade box containing the painting "Hungry Tiger Pouncing on Its Prey" and the sixty steel darts he had purchased, and went straight back to Ruifeng Cloth Shop.

Back inside the manor, Li Xingyun and nine guards were practicing their swordsmanship.

After making some arrangements, Su Yang bolted the doors and windows of the room.

He placed the brocade box on the table, opened the lid, took out the scroll, and slowly unfurled it.

In an instant, the ferocious, hungry tiger leaped into view, its murderous aura filling the small room.

Su Yang sat cross-legged in front of the painting, contemplating it intently.

The fierce glint in the tiger's eyes, the sharpness between its claws, the ferocious power that seemed ready to tear everything apart when its muscles bulged...

[Overlord Blade Proficiency +1!]

[Overlord Blade Proficiency +1!]

【…】

The panel flashes steadily every twenty breaths.

Although this copy is not the original, the artist's grasp of the tiger's domineering and fierce aura is superb, and his proficiency with the [Overlord Blade] skill is improving very well.

at the same time.

Sun Wang also delivered lunch on time—a pot of ginseng chicken soup carefully stewed with the last piece of ten-year-old ginseng, the soup was golden in color and had a rich ginseng aroma.

Su Yang slowly sipped his soup while looking at the picture.

The warm ginseng soup entered his stomach, transforming into a pure and warm current that subtly resonated with the fierce sword intent he had gleaned from the painting, nourishing his meridians and spirit together.

[Proficiency in the Nourishing Life and Strengthening Qi Exercise +1!]

[Simplification point +1!]

[Overlord Blade Proficiency +1!]

【…】

【49-Style Overlord Blade - Incomplete 25/49 (Beginner 322/2000)】

Time passed, and at seven o'clock in the evening, Su Yang looked at the panel in his mind and saw that he had mastered the basics of the Forty-Nine Styles of the Overlord Blade - Remnant 25/49. A look of satisfaction appeared in his eyes, and he thought to himself, "I gain one point of proficiency every twenty breaths. This progress is not bad. In a few days, my Overlord Blade will be perfected!"

"The Canal Gang has set its sights on me; I must strike first!"

He stood up, looked out the window, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

I was originally planning to go to the black market tonight, but the crisis with the Cao Gang must be dealt with first!