Song Shuhang asked, "The price?"

Not bad, at least this boy was somewhat aware. This was in line with the principle of the 'Nine Provinces Number One Group' that there was a price for everything.

However, what could this little guy give him?

The ❮Steel Hands Technique❯ was a skill that could be used until the later phase of the Fifth Stage, and if one were to get the chance to meet Senior Phoenix Slayer and have him liquefy them, the ❮Steel Hands Technique❯ could mutate and become like Song Shuhang's current ❮Steel Body Technique❯.

If the price was too low, then it would feel as if its value had been invisibly lowered... But if he set the price too high, then the little guy wouldn't be able to afford it.

This was slightly tricky.

It seemed that becoming a gift imparting grandfather also required certain skills.

After a moment of thought, Song Shuhang said, "Then, give me your most valuable... no, your third most valuable treasure as the price to learn this technique."

The number three was a very popular number among Chinese people. For example... fortune for three lives, three-tenths of an inch into the wood, three-point covenant; and among three strangers, one was a teacher.

And for another example, reckless no more than thrice...

As for the third most valuable thing one had, it would not appear too valuable, but neither would it appear too cheap, so it was very fitting for the message he wanted to send.

"I understand." Scarlet Pupil nodded vigorously, and then he took out a small pouch from his pocket. "This is the protective amulet that my mother gave me. It's the third most valuable thing I have."

"..." Song Shuhang. 

No matter how one looked at it, this thing was just a sachet.

Imparting the ❮Steel Hands Technique❯ in exchange for a sach... no, it was ultimately a protective amulet filled with maternal love.

Whatever, a protective amulet was still a protective amulet...

In the end, his primordial soul had rushed here from thousands of miles away not for this 'payment', but to find the source of the 'karma' that brought him here, and find the opportunity to make a breakthrough.

Song Shuhang's primordial soul took this protective amulet—to be precise, his primordial soul used spiritual energy in order to gently raise the protective amulet.

Then, while receiving this protective amulet, Song Shuhang casually used the 'secret appraisal technique' on it.

His clone, who had closed up far away in the 'Scarlet Dragon Cave', made a remote payment again, paying the price for the usage of the 'secret appraisal technique'.

[Protective amulet: It contains 'dragon bone powder' that can make the wearer strong and healthy. Wearing it for an extended period of time can allow the bearer to obtain a stronger physique.]

What pitiful parents.

Unfortunately, this 'amulet' had little effect on Scarlet Pupil.

While he was in thought, another message was sent to Song Shuhang's mind: [Dragon bone powder can be used to solidify a primordial soul. It allows a cultivator to have their primordial soul solidify into a physical body for a short duration, consuming a certain amount of dragon bone powder in the process.]

Song Shuhang muttered, "Eh? It has such an effect as well?"

Senior Scarlet Heaven Sword glanced at the sachet in Song Shuhang's hand, and remarked, "Oh, it's dragon bone powder. That's something those at the Sixth Stage or below can play around with. That thing you have is made from the bone powder of a 'pseudo-dragon'."

"..." Song Shuhang. 

Heavens, Senior Scarlet Heaven Sword only needed to glance at this thing in order to recognize it. Doesn't that mean that the price my clone paid just now for the usage of the secret appraisal technique was in vain?

With a solemn face, Song Shuhang said, "I've received the payment. Now is the time to teach you the ❮Steel Hands Technique❯. Although it is a beginner-level body-tempering technique, this skill can, in fact, be used up until the Fifth Level!"

"Wait, Mister. I suddenly thought of something." The young Scarlet Pupil suddenly took a few steps back, and drew his spear from the ground again.

"???" Song Shuhang. 

"Mister, before you teach me, you need to prove that you are strong," Scarlet Pupil said seriously. "What if you are a liar?"

"...Shouldn't the part where you confirm whether I am a liar or not be done before the transaction?" Song Shuhang asked.

"I just thought of it," the young Scarlet Pupil said. "Mister, would you return the sachet to me first?"

Song Shuhang looked up at the sky.

Don't be brought into a fool's rhythm; otherwise, you will become no different from them.

"How do you want me to prove my strength?" Song Shuhang lowered his head and smiled.

Scarlet Pupil seriously said, "Fight me!"

"..." Song Shuhang. 

He pointed his finger at Scarlet Pupil and flicked lightly. A trace of spiritual energy was mobilized and struck Scarlet Pupil.

"Aaah~" Scarlet Pupil bounced back and rolled on the grass, taking some time before he could stabilize himself.

Song Shuhang had good control over his spiritual energy. He had made sure to make it such that Scarlet Pupil wouldn't actually get hurt.

"Mister, what level is this magical technique?" Scarlet Pupil got up from the ground, patted the grass clippings on his body, and had a face full of envy.

Song Shuhang softly said, "It's not a magical technique. It was spiritual energy."

Scarlet Pupil thought for a while before asking "Can spiritual energy make me a combat mage?"

Song Shuhang gritted his teeth, and replied, "Yes."

Generally speaking, when cultivators fought, they would use a mix of magical techniques and martial arts. Although Song Shuhang could only use the Lightning Palm and the Lightning Drawing Technique when it came to combat magical techniques, he did have a textbook that he could use as a reference for now.

Scarlet Pupil expectantly said, "Mister, when will I have spiritual energy?"

Song Shuhang placed his hands behind his back. "Cultivation requires one to be down-to-earth, taking one step at a time. Hundred Days Foundation Establishment, followed by the First Stage Dragon Gate Realm. It is only after this that you will be able to gather true qi and cast magical techniques. Don't be overambitious."

Moreover, with the physique that Scarlet Pupil had, only the heavens knew whether or not he could even reach the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Song Shuhang said, "I teach with my heart, so you should give your all. Don't ask too many questions, don't think about too many things. Keep your feet on the ground and take things one step at a time."

Scarlet Pupil nodded vigorously. "Yes, Mister!"

In the end, he asked another question. "Mister, are you a hybrid like me?"

Song Shuhang replied, "No, I'm not a hybrid."

"Oh." Scarlet Pupil nodded, seeming to have lost interest at once as he stopped asking questions.

❄️❄️❄️

The ❮Steel Hands Technique❯ was a Second Stage body-tempering technique. It was a technique used for blacksmithing that could only be formally practiced at the Second Stage.

In addition, the ❮Steel Hands Technique❯ had its own set of basic fist techniques for First Stage cultivators to build their foundation with and practice. Once successful, they would be able to seamlessly learn the ❮Steel Hands Technique❯.

Song Shuhang was now going to guide Scarlet Pupil on the basic fist technique for the ❮Steel Hands Technique❯.

This basic fist technique was not complicated. It was several times simpler than Song Shuhang's ❮Basic Buddhist Fist Technique❯, which focused on the power of one's wrist.

Song Shuhang first divided this set of basic fist techniques into four sections, and planned to guide Scarlet Pupil section by section.

After he finished imparting the first section, Scarlet Pupil began to practice rigorously at the side.

It was horrible to watch.

It was clearly a set of very basic fist technique moves, but in the hands of Scarlet Pupil, it somehow became fragmented. It was similar to how one could have a bad connection when watching videos on the Internet, resulting in the video having to buffer repeatedly, completely ruining the experience.

Senior Scarlet Heaven Sword floated leisurely in the air.

Song Shuhang sighed.

"How is it? How does it feel to truly guide a disciple from scratch?" Scarlet Heaven Sword asked while chuckling. 

Although Song Shuhang had accepted two disciples, when Chu Chu and Little Cai took him as their Master, they had both already long since begun cultivating. They had not been blank sheets.

Song Shuhang said, "One step at a time. When it comes to the moves of the fist technique, Scarlet Pupil can at least learn the form. As for the chant, it will be quite troublesome."

The chant for the fist technique was in Chinese... Although Song Shuhang had the ability to translate it into the language of the Black Dragon World, the most important thing about the chant was the pronunciation. Without the proper intent and pronunciation, it would be difficult to draw the spiritual energy between heaven and earth to temper one's body. If the chant were to be translated to the language of the Black Dragon World, it would lose its effect.

I wonder if Scarlet Pupil has the talent to learn foreign languages?

"Are you going to continue with this?" Scarlet Heaven Sword spun in a circle, and said, "I'll be honest with you, if you continue spending time with this little guy, let alone ascending to Sixth Stage in 30 days, I doubt you'd be able to do so even if you had 30 years."

This little guy's talent in cultivation was so terrible that it made people's hearts ache. For him to be unable to even perform a set of basic fist techniques remotely well, who knew how many years it would take him just to successfully temper his body?

What Song Shuhang lacked the most right now was time.

Within 30 days, if he couldn't reach the Sixth Stage, his body would be reduced to ashes in the Ninth Stage Heaven Tribulation Realm.

"Then, I have to find a way," Song Shuhang said.

Scarlet Heaven Sword asked, "You aren't going to impart your strength to him, are you?"

Song Shuhang said, "I'm not Daoist Priest Horizon, and this little guy hasn't even successfully tempered his body. With such a weak physique, if I were to impart him even a sliver of strength, he would explode."

After saying that, he lifted the clothes around his waist. After a Fifth Stage cultivator brought out their primordial soul, they were usually bare naked right after leaving the cultivator's body, but as long as the cultivator willed it, they would be able to generate clothes on their body.

The attire of Song Shuhang's primordial soul was the same as that of his clone who was in seclusion.

Senior Scarlet Heaven Sword asked, "What are you doing? Are you trying to show me your colorful waist?"

"What's so interesting about this colorful waist? Of course not. This is what I'm referring to." Song Shuhang pointed to the 3D Calabash Brothers mark on his waist. "The 'Learning God System' designed by Senior White is a great thing, the dream of those who desire to learn. With it, my mother no longer has to worry about my poor academic performance."

"You want to use the 'Learning God System' that Fellow Daoist White had designed to teach this boy how to cultivate?"

Song Shuhang said, "Exactly. I only need to add the basic fist technique and fist technique chant of the ❮Steel Hands Technique❯. In terms of meditation techniques, the Black Dragon World's meditation techniques are more suitable for him. Afterward, I can input the relevant knowledge for ascending to the Second Stage from the First Stage in the Learning God System. When the time comes, as long as Scarlet Pupil studies diligently and cultivates just as hard, he should at least be able to reach the First Stage Realm."

As for the body tempering liquid suitable for his cultivation, the Black Dragon World should have alternative magical medicine that could produce the same effect. If there wasn't any suitable medicine, then Song Shuhang could simply make it himself. He believed that he could at least refine the simple body tempering liquid.

❄️❄️❄️

The day in the Black Dragon World was about to end.

Song Shuhang finally finished imparting all the moves of the 'basic fist technique'.

Song Shuhang said, "You should practice this set of fist moves a few more times. After that, make sure to rest early... Tomorrow, I will bring you something good."

Scarlet Pupil thought for a while, and then replied. "Okay, Mister."

Tomorrow? This mysterious uncle will come again tomorrow?