Can You Afford a Top-Tier Technique?

Chapter 38: High Grade Cultivation Method, Can You Afford It?

In the mountains.

A hidden, dilapidated temple.

Lu Chen sat cross-legged, opening his status panel to check.

Name: Lu Chen

Cultivation: Fifth Rank (14%)

Cultivation Method: Azure Wave Art (Perfection), True Heaven Art (Beginner)

Martial Arts: Four Absolute Martial Arts (Perfection), Grass on Flying (Perfection), Tidal Wave Saber Technique (Perfection · Lone Boat Slashes the Moon), Blood Shadow Sword (Perfection · Blood Fiend), Blood Fiend Art (Perfection · 1x Combat Power), Gale Saber (Rudimentary Understanding), Sky Severing Finger (Beginner), Big Dipper Seven Stars Array (Beginner) Talents: Convince with Virtue, Bronze Skin Iron Bones, Lightning Law King

Merit Points: 1244

"Merit Points, add some to Gale Saber and Sky Severing Finger."

Lu Chen silently chanted in his mind.

[You have consumed 120 Merit Points. Gale Saber has been upgraded to Perfection, deriving secret technique: Gale Breath Severing Slash!]

[You have consumed 140 Merit Points. Sky Severing Finger has been upgraded to Perfection, deriving secret technique: Sky Severing Claw!]

Two lines of text appeared.

Hoo!

Lu Chen once again felt his mind flooded with countless pieces of information.

It was as if he had cultivated for over a decade in an instant, with all sorts of insights rapidly surfacing.

Even the power within his body increased again. His muscles bulged, and veins surfaced.

His cultivation rose from Fifth Rank (14%) to Fifth Rank (41%).

"It's a shame I still couldn't break through to the next realm. I still need a higher-level cultivation method. Without one, even if I had the strongest martial arts, their power would ultimately be limited."

Lu Chen sighed inwardly.

It was increasingly so as one progressed.

In the early stages, one might be able to get by without relying on a cultivation method.

But later on, the importance of a cultivation method became irreplaceable.

"I heard there's a Listen to Wind Tower in this world that specializes in selling all sorts of information. I might as well go there and see if I can find any news about advanced cultivation methods."

Lu Chen pondered.

The night was deep and quiet.

All was still in the surroundings. Just as Lu Chen sat in a corner, quietly resting, his eyes suddenly snapped open, emitting a sharp glint. He swung a palm, extinguishing the campfire, and leaped, landing lightly on the roof beam.

Someone's here?

Within his perception, he clearly heard chaotic footsteps from outside, accompanied by heavy, rough breathing.

A moment later.

Indeed, a blood-soaked figure came rushing from afar, entering the dilapidated temple.

As soon as he entered, he gasped for breath, his face deathly pale, nearly exhausted.

His injuries were faintly visible, with even dark bloodstains emitting a foul stench.

It seemed he had been poisoned.

"It's him!"

Lu Chen's eyes widened in surprise. He recognized the person. It was Liu Jinglan, whom he had just met a few days ago!

He had become so disheveled!

Where had the woman who accompanied him gone?

After a few gasps, Liu Jinglan rushed directly behind the mud statue in front of him. His sword flashed like lightning, quickly digging out a hollow behind the statue. He squeezed himself inside, then took a plank to block himself.

But his injuries were too severe. Even hidden, his faint gasps could be heard.

Just as Lu Chen was secretly wondering.

A short while later.

He again heard the sound of urgent, sharp whistling wind from outside.

"There's blood on the ground, he went this way!"

"Search quickly! We can't let him escape!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Six or seven men in black rushed in from outside. As soon as they entered, their eyes turned cold, and they began searching.

Crack! Crack...

The entire dilapidated temple was in chaos.

Suddenly, someone shouted in alarm, "We found him!"

"Liu Jinglan, if you have to blame someone, blame yourself for meddling. Die!"

Clang, clang, clang!

Six or seven black-clothed figures immediately engaged Liu Jinglan in combat.

Liu Jinglan was severely injured, and being surrounded, he soon began to cough up blood profusely.

"West Mountain Nest of Ghosts, aren't you afraid of retribution?"

"Retribution? Who would know it was us if we killed you!"

"Die!"

Puff, puff, puff! Liu Jinglan was quickly wounded, his life hanging by a thread.

Lu Chen, perched on the roof beam, his eyes flashed.

Is there merit to be gained wherever I go?

Seeing Liu Jinglan about to die tragically, his body couldn't help but leap from the beam. Like an afterimage, he instantly flashed past one of the attackers.

Slash!

The man's body was split in two on the spot, blood splattering, organs flying.

[You have killed a wicked martial artist causing harm. Merit Points +150!]

"Who?"

"Who's there?"

The remaining attackers were startled, quickly retreating and looking towards Lu Chen.

Liu Jinglan was also shocked, but upon seeing who it was, his face lit up with excitement. "Young Hero Lu, thank you for saving my life! Please, Young Hero Lu, help me!"

"Young Hero Lu? Which Young Hero Lu?"

"Who cares who he is, kill him too!"

The group charged forward again.

However, Lu Chen swung his long saber, like a rising sun cutting through the sky. Its brilliant gleam startled everyone, and they instinctively covered their eyes.

They felt as if a dazzling light had pierced their eyes in the darkness.

Puff, puff, puff, puff!

Ah!

Heads flew! Blood splattered!

A gruesome sight!

Five men killed with one strike!

Another man had his eyes gouged out. He screamed in agony, lying on the ground, rolling frantically.

Clang!

The long saber returned to its sheath.

As if it had never moved!

[You have killed four wicked martial artists causing harm and blinded one of them. Merit Points +500!]

[You have rescued a passionate hero on the brink of death. Merit Points +200!]

Liu Jinglan was inwardly shaken, gasping for air.

So fast!

Such a cold blade!

The power of a single strike, to this extent!

"Thank you for saving my life, Young Hero Lu."

Liu Jinglan clasped his fists in gratitude.

"No matter," Lu Chen nodded, already searching the bodies on the ground.

Watching Lu Chen's actions, Liu Jinglan's heart churned. Finally, gritting his teeth, he knelt on one knee. "Young Hero Lu, I beg you, please save me!"

"Oh?"

Lu Chen raised an eyebrow and looked back at Liu Jinglan.

"The young lady Qingqing, who was with me, was abducted by the thugs. I was almost killed as well, but my life doesn't matter. I implore you, Young Hero Lu, to lend me your hand and save Miss Qingqing."

Liu Jinglan pleaded earnestly.

"You mean the woman from before?"

"Yes."

"Forget it! My price for intervening is very steep, I'm afraid even you couldn't afford it!"

Lu Chen refused directly. Although he could earn Merit Points by taking action, Where couldn't he earn Merit Points?

Why bother getting involved in this mess?

"Price?"

Liu Jinglan's face went blank.

"What else? Heroes need to eat too. Traveling the world incurs huge expenses. Where do those heroes get their money from?"

Lu Chen said indifferently.

"I'm willing to pay. How much would it be?"

Liu Jinglan quickly asked.

"Forget the money. I was just giving an example. What I want, even gold and silver can't buy."

Lu Chen glanced at Liu Jinglan and said, "For example, a High Grade Cultivation Method, can you afford it?"

"A High Grade Cultivation Method?" Liu Jinglan's expression startled.

A High Grade Cultivation Method was indeed too expensive.

Such things had always been held by the major powers.

They rarely flowed outward.

What right did he have to afford such a thing?

"So, let's just forget it,"

Lu Chen said, "I have plenty of my own troubles to deal with, so why should I get involved in your mess?"

Saying this, he picked up the only survivor on the ground and prepared to leave.