Internal Cultivation Arts

The moment Jiang Dao heard the news, he almost thought he had misheard.

"Yes, Young Master. However, this isn't a high-level cultivation technique; it's a life-nurturing art. But even so, it's incredibly expensive. Throughout the entire Great Ye Dynasty, very few people dare to put a cultivation technique up for auction!" Pang Lin explained.

"It's just a life-nurturing type?" Jiang Dao felt a bit disappointed.

"Young Master, even a life-nurturing art is already very rare. As I mentioned before, any internal cultivation technique is the lifeblood of a sect or a major power. Apart from the sect leader or gang leader, no one else can access it. Once this kind of thing circulates in the martial world, regardless of its level, it will inevitably lead to countless people shedding blood and countless others fighting to the death."

Pang Lin looked serious. "This life-nurturing art was brought to auction by a martial artist previously. Unfortunately, due to the Malevolent Spirit incident, the people of Hengzhou City are in a state of panic, and all auction houses have temporarily closed. No one has dared to bid on it, which is why it's still here. Otherwise, under normal circumstances, this cultivation technique would have been snapped up at an exorbitant price!"

Jiang Dao pondered for a moment.

Life-nurturing art.

While it sounded like it was just for nurturing life, it was still a cultivation technique. If he could modify it to the realm of 60 or 120 years later, it should have remarkable effects.

"Then what price are they asking for this cultivation technique?" Jiang Dao asked.

"The city is in chaos right now, so I've already lowered the price significantly. It's around 300,000 taels of silver!" Pang Lin replied.

This was still taking advantage of the Malevolent Spirit situation. Otherwise, under normal circumstances, even for a life-nurturing art, it wouldn't be obtainable for less than 500,000 taels.

"Alright, take me there first!" Jiang Dao said.

"Young Master, it's getting late. Perhaps we should go tomorrow?" Pang Lin's expression suddenly changed.

"No need. We're going now. Delay could lead to complications!" Jiang Dao stated.

It was still dusk, and there was still a long way to go before nightfall. As long as he moved quickly enough, he could return home before dark.

The two mounted their swift horses, galloped out of the gates, and sped towards the Dragon City Auction House.

An empty street area.

Setting sun, overgrown grass.

Few pedestrians.

The proprietor of the Dragon City Auction House wore a worried frown, feeling as if every day had stretched into a year over the past few days. They had brought in many scarce resources from all over the Great Ye Dynasty, expecting to make a fortune from this auction and establish the Dragon City Auction House's reputation, crushing the other auction houses.

But they never expected the chaos caused by the Malevolent Spirits, the widespread panic, and the countless casualties within just a few days. Now, even the city gates were sealed, and there were hardly any pedestrians walking within the city. The scheduled auction date had long passed, and no one dared to show up. Watching this batch of goods about to become dead stock, they weren't even sure if they would survive until tomorrow.

At that moment, the old proprietor, Su Mingyuan, felt a heavy burden in his heart, dispirited and unhappy. However, a piece of good news had arrived today: the head of the Jiang Family's guards, Pang Lin, had come to their auction house wanting to purchase that life-nurturing cultivation technique. Although the price had been lowered to 300,000, it was still a transaction. Even though it was far from the price they had anticipated, being able to sell it was quite good. Keeping it in hand was like holding a hot potato; if it attracted the malicious intent of evildoers, it would undoubtedly bring them endless trouble.

"Shopkeeper Su..."

Suddenly, a deep voice, like a booming bell, echoed from the entrance, shaking the very air. Hearing the voice, Su Mingyuan immediately rushed outside, only to be stunned by the sight. Two figures emerged in the courtyard. One was Pang Lin, the head of the Jiang Family's guards whom he had already seen during the day. The other was a burly, exceptionally tall man with broad shoulders, dressed in a long black robe, with a steel saber at his waist. His dark hair was like ink, and his eyes were sharp, like lightning.

"What a mighty man!" Su Mingyuan marveled inwardly. "Is this the eldest son of the Jiang Family, Jiang Dao? When did he become so robust?"

Living in the same Hengzhou City and belonging to the same upper class, Su Mingyuan had naturally seen Jiang Dao before.

But the Jiang Dao in my memory wasn't this burly and imposing!

No wonder he wanted an internal cultivation manual!

This eldest son of the Jiang family looks like he's specifically trained in martial arts!

"It's Young Master Jiang, does Young Master Jiang want to take a look at that manual now?"

Su Mingyuan smiled.

"That's right. Master Pang must have already set the price. May I see that secret manual to confirm its authenticity?"

Jiang Dao asked.

"Of course, you can take a look!"

Su Mingyuan nodded and immediately instructed a servant to fetch the dusty Life Nurturing Art manual.

Not long after.

A servant walked over with a sandalwood box held in both hands.

Jiang Dao casually took the box, gently opened it, and saw an old, faded manual lying quietly inside.

Life Nurturing Art!

Three large black characters met his eyes.

Jiang Dao took out the manual and flipped through it casually. He found that the manual had over a dozen pages, each filled with text.

He quickly flipped through it from beginning to end, silently opening his panel. Soon, he frowned.

No reaction?

He had read it, but no text appeared on his panel!

Could this be a fake manual?

Or is it that internal cultivation manuals are different from other martial arts?

With other martial arts, they only appeared on his panel after he saw someone perform them.

He hadn't seen anyone perform this internal cultivation manual, so it wouldn't appear?

For a moment, Jiang Dao hesitated, unable to determine if the manual was genuine or fake.

"Shopkeeper Su, where did you get this manual? Have you had its authenticity tested?"

Jiang Dao inquired.

"Young Master Jiang, rest assured, this manual was consigned to us by a martial artist. When we received it, we specifically invited experts from the central region of the Great Ye Dynasty to thoroughly examine it. We can guarantee that this manual will allow one to sense Qi, but as for its specific power, we are not sure."

Su Mingyuan chuckled.

"That's fine then."

Jiang Dao nodded gently, took out thirty thousand taels of silver notes from his embrace, and handed them to Su Mingyuan.

"Young Master Jiang, just a moment!"

Su Mingyuan suddenly forced a smile. "As you know, this manual is unique in the entire southern Great Ye region. In our hands, it's naturally worthless, but in the hands of some martial artists, it's priceless. So, I hope Young Master Jiang can be a bit more flexible with the price..."

He chuckled and said no more.

Jiang Dao instantly understood his meaning and raised an eyebrow.

He wants to raise the price?

"Shopkeeper Su, your Dragon City Auction House has always operated with integrity. How is it that now you're engaging in price gouging?"

Pang Lin's tone was cold as he stared at Su Mingyuan.

Su Mingyuan's expression turned awkward, but he remained silent, smiling and looking at Jiang Dao.

Jiang Dao closed the manual casually, looked at Su Mingyuan, and said calmly, "Shopkeeper Su, if you consider me some kind of easy mark, I think it's unnecessary. While it's true I've practiced some martial arts, I'm not particularly in need of this kind of cultivation method.

If you want to raise the price, I think you've found the wrong person. As you yourself said, this manual is worthless in your hands. Moreover, Hengzhou City is in utter chaos right now. If I don't buy it, no one else will come looking for you. If you keep it, it might even bring you a fatal disaster! Since you want to keep it, then keep it!"

Su Mingyuan's expression changed slightly.

"Don't do that, Young Master Jiang, I was just joking, just joking!"

He quickly said.

To be honest, the sooner this manual could be sold, the better.

Otherwise, it would be a hot potato in his hands.

Jiang Dao snorted coldly, set the thirty thousand taels of silver notes aside, picked up the Life Nurturing Art manual, and left.

Pang Lin on the side let out a cold laugh, gave Su Mingyuan a deep look, and followed, striding away.

Su Mingyuan sighed inwardly.

Integrity in business, he knew that well.

But now, with the malevolent spirits rampant, who knew if they would even live to see tomorrow!

Who was he being honest for?