Can You Afford a High-Grade Cultivation Art?

Deep in the mountains.

Inside a hidden, ruined temple.

Lu Chen sat cross-legged within, opened his panel, and checked it.

Name: Lu Chen

Cultivation: Fifth Rank (14%)

Cultivation Arts: Azure Wave Art (Mastery), True Heaven Art (Beginner)

Martial Arts: Four Absolute Martial Arts (Mastery), Grass on Flying (Mastery), Tidal Wave Saber Technique (Mastery · Lone Boat Slashes the Moon), Blood Shadow Sword (Mastery · Blood Fiend), Blood Fiend Art (Mastery · Double Combat Strength), Gale Saber (Elementary), Sky Severing Finger (Beginner), Big Dipper Seven Stars Array (Beginner) Talents: Subdue Others with Virtue, Bronze Skin Iron Bones, Lightning Law King

Merit Points: 1244

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

Lu Chen muttered inwardly.

[You have consumed 120 Merit Points. Gale Saber has been raised to Mastery. Derived secret technique: Gale Breath Severing Slash!]

[You have consumed 140 Merit Points. Sky Severing Finger has been raised to Mastery. Derived secret technique: Sky Severing Claw!]

Two lines of text emerged.

Whoosh!

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

It was as though he had cultivated for over a decade in an instant, all manner of insights swiftly surfacing.

Even the strength within his body rose again. His muscles swelled, and veins bulged.

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

"Unfortunately, I still haven't broken through. I still need a higher-grade cultivation art. Without one, no matter how powerful the martial arts I'm given, their might will ultimately be limited."

Lu Chen sighed inwardly.

The further one went, the more this held true.

In the early stages, one might not need to rely on cultivation arts.

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

"I hear there's a Listen to Wind Tower in this world that specializes in selling all kinds of information. I may as well take a look. Perhaps they'll have news of high-grade cultivation arts."

Lu Chen pondered.

The night was deep and still.

The lands in every direction were silent. Just as Lu Chen sat cross-legged in a corner, resting quietly, his eyes suddenly snapped open, a sharp glint flashing within them. With a sweep of his palm, he extinguished the bonfire. Then his body sprang up, and he landed lightly atop a roof beam.

Someone?

His senses clearly picked up chaotic footsteps outside, accompanied by heavy, ragged breathing.

Not long after.

Sure enough, a blood-soaked figure came charging wildly from afar and rushed into the ruined temple.

The instant he entered, he began gasping for breath, his face deathly pale, nearly drained of all strength.

The wounds on his back were faintly visible, with traces of black blood seeping out and giving off a foul stench.

It seemed he had suffered a poisoned wound.

"It's him!"

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

How had he become so wretched?

Where was the woman who had been traveling with him?

Liu Jinglan took a few breaths, then rushed straight behind a clay statue. His sword flashed like lightning as he quickly dug out a hollow behind it, squeezed himself inside, and fetched a wooden board to conceal his body.

But his injuries were too severe. Even hidden away, his faint breathing could still be heard.

Just as Lu Chen was secretly puzzled.

Not long after.

He heard another sharp, hurried rush of wind from outside.

"There's blood on the ground. He went ahead!"

"Search quickly! Don't let him get away!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Six or seven men in black rushed in from outside at once. The moment they entered, their gazes turned cold as they began searching.

Crack! Crack...

The entire ruined temple was turned upside down.

Suddenly, someone cried out, "Found him!"

"Liu Jinglan, blame yourself for meddling in other people's business. Die!"

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The six or seven black-clad men immediately began fighting Liu Jinglan.

Liu Jinglan was badly wounded. Under their siege, he soon began coughing up blood in great mouthfuls.

"West Mountain Nest of Ghosts, aren't you afraid of being held to account?"

"Held to account? Once we kill you, who'll know we did it?"

"Die!"

Puff! Puff! Puff! Liu Jinglan was quickly struck by several swords, his life hanging by a thread.

Lu Chen's eyes flashed from atop the beam.

Were Merit Points really waiting to be picked up wherever he went?

Seeing Liu Jinglan about to die miserably, he could not help but leap down from the roof beam. Like an afterimage, he swept past one man in an instant.

Splurt!

That man's body was cleaved in two on the spot. Blood sprayed everywhere, and organs shot through the air.

[You have killed a Martial World rogue currently committing evil. Merit Points +150!]

"Who?"

"What person is that?"

The remaining men were all startled. They hurriedly retreated and turned to look at Lu Chen.

Liu Jinglan was also shocked, but when he saw who it was, his face immediately filled with excitement. "Young Hero Lu, thank you for saving my life! I beg Young Hero Lu to help me!"

"Young Hero Lu? Which Young Hero Lu?"

"Who cares who he is? Kill him too!"

The group lunged forward again.

Yet Lu Chen swept the long saber in his hand, like a blazing sun streaking through the air. The snowy gleam shocked them all, and they instantly covered their eyes.

They only felt as though a brilliant beam of light had fiercely pierced their eyes in the darkness.

Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff!

"Ah!"

Heads flew through the air! Blood splattered everywhere!

Too ghastly to behold!

Five men slain with one slash!

Another man had both eyes pierced blind. He let out a shrill scream, collapsed to the ground, and rolled about madly.

Clang!

The long saber returned to its sheath.

As though it had never been drawn!

[You have killed four Martial World rogues currently committing evil and blinded one of them. Merit Points +500!]

[You have saved a hot-blooded hero who was about to die miserably. Merit Points +200!]

Liu Jinglan's heart shook as he gasped heavily.

So fast!

Such a cold saber!

The might of that single slash had actually reached such a level!

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

Liu Jinglan hurriedly cupped his fists, overflowing with gratitude.

"No need." Lu Chen nodded and was already searching the corpses on the ground.

Watching Lu Chen's actions, Liu Jinglan's heart churned. Finally, he gritted his teeth, dropped to one knee, and said, "Young Hero Lu, I beg you to save me!"

"Oh?"

Lu Chen raised a brow and turned back to look at Liu Jinglan.

"The young lady Qingqing, who was traveling with me, has been taken by villains. Even I was nearly killed. My death does not matter, but I beg Young Hero Lu to lend a helping hand and save Miss Qingqing."

Liu Jinglan spoke earnestly.

"You mean that woman from before?"

"Yes."

"Forget it. The price for asking me to act is steep. I'm afraid even you can't afford it!"

Lu Chen refused outright. Although taking action would earn corresponding Merit Points.

Merit Points could be farmed anywhere.

Why did he have to wade into this muddy water?

"The price?"

Liu Jinglan stared blankly.

"What else? Heroes need to eat too. Traveling the Martial World comes with enormous expenses. Where do you think those heroes get their money?"

Lu Chen said coldly.

"I'm willing to pay. How much do you want?"

Liu Jinglan hurriedly asked.

"Forget the money. I was only giving an example. What I want can't be bought even with gold and silver."

Lu Chen glanced at Liu Jinglan. "For example, can you afford a high-grade cultivation art?"

"A high-grade cultivation art?" Liu Jinglan's expression changed in shock.

High-grade cultivation arts were indeed far too expensive.

Such things had always been controlled by powerful factions at the highest levels.

They rarely ever circulated outside.

What right did he have to afford something like that?

"So forget it."

Lu Chen said, "I still have plenty of troubles of my own to settle. Why should I wade into the muddy waters of your affairs?"

As he spoke, he prepared to pick up the sole surviving captive on the ground and leave.