Chapter 284: Cultivation Technique Buyer

Chapter 284: The Technique Buyer

A single punch, and a crackling boom.

Such a scene was startling, yet felt ordinary.

After all, did that punch have the killing power of a gun?

Could it outdo a truck for hauling goods at a construction site?

Well... no.

It wasn't even as effective as swallowing a gene potion.

The Second Senior Brother was both surprised and thought it was just so-so.

A genius... hmm.

"Now you've truly entered the door, seems you don't need my teaching. If any questions arise later, come straight to me," said the Second Senior Brother. "Xiao Li, take Qi Yuan to get a set of training clothes."

"Got it."

Everything that had just happened stirred no waves; its shock value was less than a celebrity's dog falling ill.

Qi Yuan followed the staff to collect his training uniform.

At this moment, his heart was far from calm.

Because, in that very punch, he had discovered something different.

The punch was ordinary, inferior even to the martial arts of the Canglan Realm.

But with Qi Yuan's extraordinary perception, he sensed that the punch seemed to conceal something.

"Executing that punch... feels a bit off."

When he threw that punch, Qi Yuan felt a sensation utterly distinct from the martial arts of the Canglan Realm and the martial path of the Wangyue Continent.

Of course, it was merely a feeling.

As for where exactly, he couldn't articulate it.

The main reason was that he was too weak now, lacking the "insight."

If he had the cultivation of the Yin Shen, examining himself, he would instantly discover the issues within his body.

Even the curse could likely be fully resolved, not merely suppressed.

After changing into the training clothes, Qi Yuan entered the practice room.

In the spacious practice room were over twenty men and women.

Most were men; women were far fewer, only a quarter.

"Ooh, a handsome guy?"

As soon as Qi Yuan entered, he drew many eyes.

After all, with Qi Yuan's looks, he had attracted many fangirls back in school.

If not for his mental illness, a girl like Li Yan wouldn't have pursued him so crazily.

Sometimes, when a man is handsome, you learn how forward some women can be.

And those here with spare cash to practice martial arts surely came from well-off families.

These men and women were mostly outgoing; some women even boldly winked at Qi Yuan.

"Newcomer, Qi Yuan. Looking forward to your guidance."

Qi Yuan said casually, found a corner, and began delving into and practicing the "Mingwu Resonance Fist."

"Handsome little brother, I've been here a month longer than you. Want big sister to teach you?" A woman with a high ponytail approached Qi Yuan, her demeanor quite bold.

"Oh?" Qi Yuan looked at the high-ponytail woman. "You've learned well?"

"Wang Shiqiao is a genius with nine stripes, her skill is superb," laughed a friend of Wang Shiqiao from afar.

Wang Shiqiao looked at Qi Yuan, opened the window, and said, "Look... this is the fourth floor."

Qi Yuan glanced down.

From that height, an ordinary person might die jumping.

Could it be...?

He looked at Wang Shiqiao, anticipation in his eyes.

"Watch my punch!"

With a loud shout, Wang Shiqiao delivered a fierce punch to the sandbag beside Qi Yuan.

The sandbag, under immense pressure, swung violently, looking quite powerful.

If it were Qi Yuan before entering this game, already cursed, taking such a punch would have killed him.

"Good, not bad!"

"That punch has a year's worth of power!"

The others clapped as if watching a show.

Wang Shiqiao looked at Qi Yuan, smug. "How's that punch, sis? Powerful, huh?"

Qi Yuan stared at Wang Shiqiao, his face full of expectation. "Powerful. Now, are you going to perform the jump?"

"Huh?" A smile crept onto Wang Shiqiao's lips. "Sis was just kidding. I never said I'd jump from the fourth floor.

Even the senior apprentice brother, jumping from here, would end up in the hospital.

You don't actually think that practicing the 'Mingwu Resonance Fist' can make you a superman, able to defeat gene warriors, do you?"

Qi Yuan murmured upon hearing this, "Is martial arts so weak?"

On the way here, Qi Yuan had heard that the senior apprentice brother of the Mingwu Martial Arts Hall was second only to the hall master.

This man had already reached the eighth layer of the "Mingwu Resonance Fist," just behind the hall master.

Yet, jumping from the fourth floor would still injure him.

No wonder learning martial arts was merely a hobby, akin to fishing or fitness on Blue Star.

"Martial arts aren't weak. Our bodies are much better than ordinary people's... and all-natural, you know!" Wang Shiqiao said, deliberately puffing out her chest.

Due to technological advances and the clash of ideas on Canxing,

the atmosphere in the various countries of Gongxing was now much more open than before.

Especially among the wealthy.

"Where's the natural part?" Qi Yuan glanced at Wang Shiqiao's nose. "You've had work done on your nose."

Wang Shiqiao's expression shifted; she covered her nose, her face flickering. "You can tell?"

"It's that obvious," Qi Yuan replied honestly.

"Damn, it's been less than a year, and someone can already tell. That crappy hospital, what did they promise me? Said it would look completely natural, undetectable. No way, I'm going to find them!" Wang Shiqiao stormed off angrily, apparently to confront the cosmetic surgery clinic.

Qi Yuan turned away, paid no further attention, and resumed studying the "Mingwu Resonance Fist."

This martial system comprised both an internal cultivation technique and external forms.

Had it been the martial arts of the Canglan Realm, a single glance would have sufficed for Qi Yuan to master it completely and replicate it flawlessly.

Yet the martial ways of this world were entirely different.

Qi Yuan could indeed perform a complete routine of the Mingwu Resonant Fist.

However, it demanded constant, repetitive practice.

He realized that executing this technique was, in itself, a form of progress.

For ordinary practitioners, advancement meant a growing familiarity with the forms.

For Qi Yuan, it was nothing of the sort.

He sensed something far deeper woven into the movements.

It was only that his current self remained incapable of unearthing it.

"Fist strikes like the soul, vibrating through the four quarters... push upward, circle right..."

Qi Yuan murmured under his breath, continuing to execute the Mingwu Resonant Fist.

The martial forms unfolded through Qi Yuan's hands; he was entirely focused, practicing with utmost devotion, as time slipped rapidly away.

Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, yet Qi Yuan remained deaf to all else, persisting with the routine.

Within the training hall, the other students laughed and chatted, some sparring, others indulging in idle banter, occasionally casting glances at Qi Yuan that never lingered for long.

Not far away, Qiao Wu peered through the glass door, scanning the entire training hall.

Ultimately, his gaze settled upon Qi Yuan, a flicker of admiration gleaming in his eyes.

"In this day and age, to still be so obsessed with martial arts is truly a rare thing," Qiao Wu could not help but sigh with emotion.

He was the master of the Mingwu Martial Arts Hall, already past fifty years of age, yet due to the genetic serum he had taken, he stood there like a veritable wall, imposing and striking.

The Second Senior Brother stood beside Qiao Wu, looking at Qi Yuan as he remarked with a sigh, "A pity he was born in the wrong era. Had he lived in ancient times, with his diligence and talent, he might well have become a fierce general whose name shook the realm."

Qiao Wu nodded in agreement.

Indeed, modern society was vastly different from ancient times.

The martial way had dwindled into a mere embellishment, confined to a small circle.

Take Qiao Wu, for instance, who hailed from a martial lineage.

His ancestors had even produced martial scholars and generals.

Yet what of it today?

Decades of bitter practice in the Mingwu Resonant Fist had brought him less improvement than a single vial of genetic serum.

"He wants to participate in the Martial Arts Tournament? He is a good prospect.

Our Mingwu Martial Arts Hall hasn't had a student participate in many years. If he goes, he might just draw a good number of people to our hall," Qiao Wu smiled, mentioning it casually.

The martial arts circle was a closed, insular world.

Those like Qiao Wu, who had taken genetic serums, were barred from competing in the Martial Arts Tournament. Otherwise, it would be unfair to the other contestants.

"Mm, with his looks, if he competes in the tournament and manages to break into the top hundred for the national broadcast, he will definitely attract a massive following," the Second Senior Brother calculated.

After all, people with Qi Yuan's high level of attractiveness who also practiced martial arts so seriously were far too scarce.

"The top hundred?" Qiao Wu shook his head. "His physical conditioning is too poor. He likely won't even make it past the municipal level, let alone... the nation."

The Second Senior Brother smiled at this, realizing he had indeed been indulging in whimsical fantasies.

The enhancement martial arts provided to the human body was limited, far less noticeable than simply eating more rice to put on mass and gain physical strength.

...

"Setting aside immortal techniques, my current strength... has indeed increased by a small margin."

Upon returning home, Qi Yuan took a hot bath.

In the training hall, he had perspired profusely, his entire body flushed with heat.

"This sort of cultivation... seems connected to the blood."

Qi Yuan’s gaze seemed to pierce through his own physical form.

While practicing the martial art, his eyes had gleaned hints of hidden information; the blood within his body seemed to have undergone a certain transformation.

However, the information visible to him was sparse, leaving him unclear as to what exact changes had transpired.

"I must hasten to elevate my strength in immortal cultivation..."

Qi Yuan sighed with emotion.

As he was now, his strength was too meager, leaving him incapable of accomplishing many things.

Yet to accelerate his immortal cultivation, he needed money to purchase materials.

"Could it be that I have to go out and set up a street stall as a physician?" Qi Yuan pondered.

With his eyes and his various accomplishments, working as a physician would absolutely suffice.

Though he did not understand the illnesses of this world, whenever someone was sick, he could just declare it a kidney deficiency and treat them casually with Daoist techniques; it would absolutely work without a hitch.

"Let's check first if my cultivation technique has sold."

With this thought, Qi Yuan logged into his account.

"Oh... someone gave a tip?"

Qi Yuan’s eyes lit up.

He had previously set a rule that anyone wishing to send him a private message had to provide a tip of ten thousand yuan.

He had not expected that someone would actually pay it.

"As expected, this world still has plenty of fo... wealthy people!"

Qi Yuan was delighted.

Was this not open for business?

Looking at the account balance, which now held a grand sum of five thousand yuan more, Qi Yuan felt a pang of toothache.

"Taking half of the tip money, this software is truly black-hearted."

After voicing his grievance, Qi Yuan opened the chat interface and immediately spotted a message.

"Will you sell this cultivation technique for ten thousand yuan?"

"Ninety-nine million, nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand yuan, no bargaining. If you want to haggle, I won't bother doing business," Qi Yuan replied casually.

He had created this technique himself, so this price was by no means a loss.

If placed in the Canglan Realm, the "Super Invincible Somewhat Explosive Cultivation Technique," once perfected, would be fully qualified to serve as the foundational treasure of a major sect.

Even an ordinary Heaven-grade top-tier manual could not compare to it in the slightest.

"Can we have a video call to communicate?"

Very quickly, the opposite party sent a message.

"Video calls count as adding me to your contacts; you need to tip a hundred thousand first," Qi Yuan replied.

He couldn't be bothered to video chat with others for no reason.

Meanwhile, in a border town of Yuelang Country, a man in a black jacket narrowed his eyes, lost in thought.

Beside him, a young man in a short tunic wore an angry expression: "This guy is definitely a scammer. He wants a hundred thousand just like that? Does he take us for fools?

There's no way there's a real cultivation technique later.

And immortality... that's nonsense."

The young man in the short tunic stole a glance at his boss, saw him deep in contemplation, and dared not say more.

The black-jacketed man tapped his fingers on the table, pondering something.

"I have all his identity info here. If he dares to cheat me... we can just go to Qinyuan and drag him over," the black-jacketed man said with a confident look.

His identity was no ordinary one—he was an arms dealer.

His line of work put his life on the line, so he wasn't afraid of being scammed.

Besides... a hundred thousand was nothing.

"Transfer sent."

Without any hesitation, he tipped another hundred thousand.

After tipping, he glanced at the young man in the short tunic, who immediately understood his boss's intent and quickly placed a large sniper rifle on the table.

The black-jacketed man clearly meant to intimidate the seller with this display.

About a dozen breaths later, the video call connected.

The black-jacketed man looked at Qi Yuan, who was wearing a shirt, and was about to speak when he heard the other's lazy voice.

"Five minutes. If you haven't decided to buy within five minutes, this deal is off."

Qi Yuan's voice made the black-jacketed man pause, his prepared words stuck in his throat.

The black-jacketed man wasn't angry; instead, he stroked the sniper rifle on the table: "A hundred thousand for five minutes—Mr. Qi's time is truly precious."

Qi Yuan wasn't surprised that his identity had been leaked.

After all, information on the internet was like a sieve; not to mention the wealthy and powerful, even a minor official could dox someone.

A few months ago, a minor official in Qinyuan Country had abused his power to threaten doxxing online for a celebrity crush, making headlines.

"You've gotten a great deal," Qi Yuan replied honestly.

If in the Canglan Realm, any cultivator received five minutes of Qi Yuan's guidance, they would benefit immensely, if not advance a major realm.

The black-jacketed man looked at Qi Yuan's young face, a complex expression crossing his features.

This was the first time he'd met someone so hard to deal with.

Although the information he'd found suggested the other party had a mental illness.

Clearly, that data was fake.

The confidence in Qi Yuan's eyes, that lazy air—no mentally ill person could possess that.

"Can I see more of the 'Super Invincible Somewhat Explosive Technique'... the later parts?

After all, this is a hundred-million deal; such a big business needs careful consideration." The black-jacketed man put down the sniper rifle and stopped touching it.

He realized that the sniper rifle seemed nonexistent in Qi Yuan's eyes.

Facing Qi Yuan, an ordinary man, he somehow felt more intimidated than when facing the leaders of small countries.

"Is a hundred-million deal that big? I've heard some people set a small goal of a hundred million.

This technique... if you don't want to buy it, forget it.

I might not bother selling it again later.

This chance comes only once; you'd better seize it."

Qi Yuan said casually.

He was short on money, but he did things as he pleased.

If it was too much trouble, he'd rather not sell.

For a cultivator, making money was simple.

Besides, he still had a year's worth of memories.

At worst, he could buy some lottery tickets, right?

The black-jacketed man stared at Qi Yuan, many thoughts racing through his mind.

A hundred million was no small sum; even he would feel the pinch.

What if... this was a setup?

He wavered, torn with indecision.

Should he... capture him?

The young man in the short tunic stood by, his gaze anxious.

He felt that Qi Yuan was nothing but a con artist.

But since the boss hadn't spoken, he kept quiet.

Just then, Qi Yuan suddenly spoke: "You're in Yuelang Country, right? I'm also short on this Yuelang-exclusive plant, Kunqing Grass. If you buy my technique, I could do a second round of cooperation with you.

I need some special plants from Yuelang that aren't available in Qinyuan. You ship them over, and in return, I'll pay you, or give you some potions and pills... hmm, they help with cultivation."

Kunqing Grass?

The black-jacketed man paused, glancing at the potted plant on the table.

How did Qi Yuan know?

According to his investigation, Qi Yuan was just an ordinary citizen of Qinyuan.

This Kunqing Grass was known only to a handful in Yuelang—how did he know about such an obscure thing?

(End of chapter)