Another month slipped by in a flash.
Lu Changsheng had completely settled his mind. He was in no rush, waiting with patient calm.
Whoosh.
Without the slightest warning, Lu Changsheng struck almost instantaneously.
A streak of white light flashed from his hand, appearing on the opposite side of the room in the blink of an eye.
"It's done!
"A full month, and the Instant Kill Technique has finally reached mastery. It took far longer than I anticipated..." Lu Changsheng murmured under his breath.
Generally speaking, progressing a martial technique from entry-level to proficient, and then to mastery, did not take much time at all.
What was more, Lu Changsheng's comprehension had already reached 147 points, far surpassing that of an ordinary person.
Even so, it had still taken him an entire month to reach mastery.
This alone indirectly proved the extraordinary nature of the Instant Kill Technique—it had to be at least a third-tier, or even fourth-tier, martial technique!
Only after a martial technique reached mastery could it be wielded as effortlessly as an extension of one's own limbs, possessing genuine combat power.
Lu Changsheng had been waiting for this very moment!
"Now that the Instant Kill Technique has combat capability, I can head to the black market."
With all his preparations complete, Lu Changsheng waited until night fell. Disguising himself by tying a black cloth over his face, he set off straight toward the southern part of the city.
At night, during the Hai hour.
The southern city remained bustling, with people of all walks of life gathering in the black market.
Lu Changsheng's gaze swept over the stallholders.
Finally, he spotted the woman from last time.
The female stallholder was still selling martial techniques, though she seemed to have rotated in a fresh batch. She always seemed capable of procuring numerous martial techniques through one means or another.
Lu Changsheng walked directly up to her and asked in a low voice, "Do you have any Strengthening Blood Realm martial arts? Superior martial arts would be best!"
He stated his request right away.
If he wished to strengthen his qi and blood, or even push it to its absolute limits, he had to have a superior martial art.
Otherwise, merely stacking ordinary martial arts would yield diminished results.
If anyone could reach the pinnacle of qi and blood simply by stacking ordinary arts, there would not be so many martial artists forever barred from entering the Divine Strength Realm.
"Superior martial arts?"
The stallholder looked up, glancing at Lu Changsheng before narrowing her eyes slightly. "It's you?"
Clearly, she recognized him.
Even though Lu Changsheng wore a disguise, she had mingled in the black market for a long time; her sharp eyes saw straight through it.
"Superior martial arts—even those of the Strengthening Blood Realm—are exceedingly rare.
"Under normal circumstances, they aren't sold in the black market, because they're worth their weight in gold.
"However, if you want a superior Strengthening Blood Realm art, I happen to have one. It just depends on whether you have the silver."
The woman looked straight at Lu Changsheng.
"What martial art?" Lu Changsheng asked.
She pulled a manual from her bundle.
It was not ancient; on the contrary, it looked brand-new, still carrying the fresh scent of ink.
Evidently, it had been transcribed only recently.
"You're in luck. I only just obtained this superior martial art and transcribed a copy. It's called the Six Heavens Blood-Strengthening Technique.
"This art consists of six layers, each layer a heaven unto itself—an absolute superior martial art!
"As for the price, one thousand taels of silver. No bargaining."
Lu Changsheng's eyes widened sharply.
"How much? A thousand taels of silver?"
Lu Changsheng felt she was practically robbing him blind.
A Strengthening Blood Realm art, even a superior one, ought to cost a few hundred taels at most.
A thousand taels of silver? Did she take him for a fool?
Hearing his reaction, the stallholder slipped the manual back into her bundle and said coldly, "I've named my price. If you don't want it, forget it.
"True superior martial arts are priceless, virtually unobtainable on the open market.
"This Six Heavens Blood-Strengthening Technique is a genuine foundation-building superior art. Once mastered, one's foundation becomes rock-solid, even increasing the chances of stepping into the Divine Strength Realm.
"Its only flaw is how profound it is. Cultivating it to the sixth heaven is extraordinarily difficult. Yet even reaching the fourth or fifth heaven solidifies your foundation enough that advancing to the Divine Strength Realm won't be hindered."
With that, she fell silent.
She knew very well that anyone seeking superior Strengthening Blood Realm arts was largely doing so to break through to the Divine Strength Realm.
Such people rarely cared about the cost in silver.
"One thousand taels. I'll take it.
"And I'll pick twenty-two martial techniques as well. How about two hundred taels of silver for them?"
Lu Changsheng did not forget to seek a small concession, effectively asking for two complimentary martial techniques.
"Fine. Pick twenty-two techniques from here."
The stallholder was generous and did not haggle over minor details.
Lu Changsheng accepted the Six Heavens Blood-Strengthening Technique, selected twenty-two martial techniques, and then stood up, heading straight out of the black market.
One thousand two hundred taels of silver, gone in the blink of an eye.
Spending money like water... and I still need to buy medicinal cuisine. Looks like I'll have to make several more trips into the mountains...
Lu Changsheng vaguely felt that merely foraging herbs from the mountains would soon fail to make ends meet.
After all, the herbs in the valley were already mostly harvested.
Once the herbs were gone, what then?
He had to find another way to make money.
"Huh? That figure looks familiar. Wait, isn't that the fat sheep we lost track of last time?"
"Right, it really is that kid! He's disguised, but could a disguise like that fool my eyes?"
"Heh heh, we slipped up and lost him last time. We can't let him slip away again!"
"Just now, that kid seemed to make another hefty purchase in the black market. We can't let this chance pass."
Within the black market, three figures fixed their venomous, serpent-like gazes onto Lu Changsheng.
Then, they trailed closely behind him.
Lu Changsheng had only taken a few steps before sensing something was amiss.
Evidently, he was being tailed.
Sure enough, dragons and fish mingle in the black market. I've been targeted again...
Lu Changsheng noticed the three figures behind him.
Yet he felt neither panic nor fear.
Leaving the black market, Lu Changsheng turned through several streets, heading deeper into increasingly dim, deserted alleys.
Suddenly, Lu Changsheng halted.
He looked up; without him realizing when, a figure had appeared in front of him.
Lu Changsheng whipped his head around. Behind him stood two more figures.
He was surrounded!
Yet Lu Changsheng remained composed, asking in a calm voice, "Gentlemen, what guidance do you have, blocking my path like this?"
"Kid, what did you just buy in the black market?" one of the masked men asked.
"Nothing much. Just a martial arts manual, not worth much," Lu Changsheng replied placidly.
"Not worth much? I saw you spend a full thousand taels of silver!
"Besides, a few months back, you spent several hundred taels in the black market too. Tsk, tsk, quite rolling in wealth, aren't you?"
Lu Changsheng's eyes narrowed slightly.
A few months ago, when he had sensed someone tailing him in the black market, it had actually been these three.
In other words, they had already set their sights on him back then!
As the three men spoke, they continued closing in on Lu Changsheng.
"Gentlemen, there is no enmity between us.
"If you have your eyes on what little silver I carry, how about I simply give it to you?
"There are three thousand taels of silver in this bundle. It's yours."
With that, Lu Changsheng began walking slowly toward the man ahead, step by step.
"Three thousand taels of silver?"
The eyes of the three men went wide, wild excitement surging within them.
They had thought he was a small fat sheep, but he turned out to be an enormous one!
They were making a fortune this time!
"Hurry up and bring the bundle over!"
The three could hardly wait.
Meanwhile, Lu Changsheng was gauging the distance.
One step, two steps, three steps...
Seeing that he was less than five paces from the man in front, a faint smile surfaced at the corner of Lu Changsheng's mouth.
He abruptly hurled the bundle in his hands forward.
"Here's your silver!"
The bundle sailed high into the air. In that instant, the gazes of all three men locked onto the bundle suspended above.
Now!
The next moment, a cold glint flashed in Lu Changsheng's eyes.
Chapter 11