Elder Huo

Because Jiang Chen had cultivated the Sky Devouring Demonic Dragon Art, the circulation of his cultivation method constantly strengthened his physical body.

Jiang Chen's physical body was far stronger than that of cultivators of the same rank, and the Draw Sword Slash was highly suited to him.

If he combined it with the Sky Annihilation Strike secret art, his own strength would be multiplied fivefold, and with the Sky Annihilation Strike's tenfold enhancement, that would amount to a fiftyfold increase.

The power of a slash like that could be imagined. With Jiang Chen's current strength, if he unleashed the Draw Sword Slash and Sky Annihilation Strike simultaneously, there probably would not be many in the Martial Master Realm who could withstand it, right?

Unless the opponent was a Martial Grandmaster Realm expert.

"It's you." Jiang Chen chose the Draw Sword Slash.

Next, Jiang Chen also chose a second-tier palm martial skill, the Blazing Flame Palm. It could condense flames from true qi and inflict explosive damage on enemies.

There was also a second-tier movement technique, the Soaring Wave Steps.

And a second-tier saber martial skill, the Great Desolate Saber Art.

The Great Desolate Saber Art was broad and forceful, a domineering martial skill.

Each second-tier martial skill cost two hundred spirit stones.

The Draw Sword Slash, Blazing Flame Palm, Soaring Wave Steps, and Great Desolate Saber Art—four techniques in total—cost Jiang Chen eight hundred spirit stones.

"Eight hundred spirit stones in total," Elder Huo said.

Jiang Chen paid the spirit stones, then copied the techniques down at the side. After he finished, he returned the original manuals to Elder Huo.

"Jiang Chen, some time ago, I heard that your cultivation had been crippled. Looks like that was just a rumor," Elder Huo suddenly said.

Jiang Chen's heart tightened, worried that someone had discovered his secret.

The secret of the Sky Devouring Pearl absolutely could not be revealed to anyone. Otherwise, if people learned of such an heaven-defying cultivation method, it would easily bring him a fatal disaster.

The Sky Devouring Pearl had replaced Jiang Chen's dantian. It was now Jiang Chen's new dantian.

"I was lucky. My dantian wasn't destroyed, so my cultivation remained," Jiang Chen said.

"Mm. The fact that you escaped that calamity shows that your fortune isn't bad. Since you seem to favor sabers, I happen to have a saber martial skill here. It's a fifth-tier skill. If you can help me complete a task, I'll impart it to you. How does that sound?" Elder Huo said.

"A fifth-tier martial skill!" Jiang Chen gasped when he heard this.

Fifth-tier martial skills were absolutely legendary existences in Qingyue Town.

Yet Elder Huo before him actually possessed a fifth-tier martial skill.

One had to know that, on the surface, the strongest martial skills possessed by the three great lineages were only fourth-tier. There were very few of them, merely two or three, and they were treasured like priceless heirlooms.

Now Elder Huo was actually saying that he had a fifth-tier martial skill. How could Jiang Chen not be shocked?

"My strength is limited. Even if I had a fifth-tier martial skill, I wouldn't be able to cultivate it," Jiang Chen said. He did not agree immediately.

If the payment was a fifth-tier martial skill, then the conditions certainly would not be easy to fulfill.

Elder Huo looked at Jiang Chen with appreciation. He had not expected Jiang Chen to remain clearheaded in the face of the temptation of a fifth-tier martial skill.

If it had been anyone else, they would have been eager to learn the conditions, all for the sake of obtaining the fifth-tier martial skill.

"My fifth-tier martial skill is rather special. A Martial Artist Realm cultivator can cultivate it. It has a total of twenty-five forms: five can be cultivated in the Martial Artist Realm, five in the Martial Master Realm, five in the Martial Grandmaster Realm, five in the Martial King Realm, and five in the Martial Emperor Realm. Each major realm has five forms suited to it. It is far stronger than your Great Desolate Saber Art," Elder Huo said.

"Martial Emperor Realm." Jiang Chen's heart trembled. Elder Huo actually possessed such an astonishing fifth-tier martial skill. Could he be an unparalleled expert?

However, Jiang Chen could not sense Elder Huo's realm at all. His aura seemed to be completely absent.

One possibility was that Elder Huo truly had no cultivation. The other was that Elder Huo's realm surpassed the Martial King Realm—that he was an expert above the Martial Emperor Realm—and that was why Jiang Chen could not detect him.

Jiang Chen could detect the cultivation of cultivators whose realms were no more than three major realms above his own.

But on second thought, that was impossible. How could a tiny Jiang Family possibly have a Martial Emperor Realm expert guarding it?

It simply wasn't realistic.

"May I ask what conditions Senior requires?" Jiang Chen asked.

"How about this? In the Great Desolate Mountain Range, there is a place called Snake King Valley. A spirit medicine called the Red Snake Flower grows there. Pick one hundred of them and bring them back. Once you complete the task, I'll give you the fifth-tier saber martial skill. How does that sound?" Elder Huo said.

"Snake King Valley?" Jiang Chen was startled.

Snake King Valley was a ravine where numerous serpentine Demonic Beasts roamed. It was said that a large fourth-tier serpent lived there, possessing strength equivalent to that of a Human Race Martial Grandmaster Realm expert. Ordinary people simply did not dare enter, for fear of encountering that Snake King.

All those serpentine Demonic Beasts revered the fourth-tier Snake King and gathered in Snake King Valley.

Many people in Qingyue Town knew of Snake King Valley.

Jiang Chen had not expected Elder Huo to send him to such a dangerous place.

"Senior, this is too dangerous." Jiang Chen refused.

If the Snake King were a Third-tier Demonic Beast, Jiang Chen would absolutely dare to go. But if it was fourth-tier, he was somewhat cowardly. After all, he had only one life.

It was not worth risking his life by entering Snake King Valley for a fifth-tier martial skill.

Besides, this was merely Elder Huo's promise. Jiang Chen did not even know whether Elder Huo truly possessed a fifth-tier martial skill.

"I know you doubt whether my words are true. How about this? I'll first impart the first five forms of the martial skill to you as a deposit. Once you return after completing the task, I'll teach you the remaining twenty forms. How does that sound?" Elder Huo said.

"I'll look at the martial skill first before making a decision," Jiang Chen said.

If he could obtain the first five forms and confirm their power, then he could consider venturing into Snake King Valley.

"Very well. These are the first five forms." After saying this, Elder Huo took a small booklet from his person and handed it to Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen took it and looked through it for a while. Shock appeared in his eyes. This was indeed a high-tier martial skill.

"You don't need to doubt it. I can guide you in cultivating it. Try out its power," Elder Huo said.

Afterward, with Elder Huo's guidance, Jiang Chen truly succeeded in cultivating the first five forms.

Jiang Chen was overjoyed. This was indeed far more powerful than the Great Desolate Saber Art, and it greatly tempted him.

Elder Huo was also shocked by Jiang Chen's talent. He had only explained it twice, yet Jiang Chen had grasped the essentials and successfully cultivated it.

Such comprehension had truly frightened Elder Huo.

Back then, Elder Huo himself had needed more than ten pointers before he had begun to grasp even the tiniest bit.

But Jiang Chen had grasped the essentials and entered the doorway after only two explanations.

Although Elder Huo was shocked inside, he showed nothing on the surface.

"Not bad. You grasped the first five forms in such a short time," Elder Huo said indifferently.

"Elder Huo, I, Jiang Chen, accept these terms. I'll bring back one hundred Red Snake Flowers," Jiang Chen said.

"Good. Then I'll await your good news. Snake King Valley is dangerous, so you must be careful," Elder Huo said.

"Very well." Jiang Chen nodded.

After saying this, Jiang Chen left the Martial Arts Pavilion and returned home.

Watching Jiang Chen's departing figure, a sharp glint flashed through Elder Huo's eyes.

"I never expected that a tiny Jiang Family would possess a genius with such astonishing comprehension," Elder Huo thought.

He still needed to prepare many things. His next journey into the Great Desolate Mountain Range would have Snake King Valley as its target.

As long as he found one hundred Red Snake Flowers, the fifth-tier martial skill would be his. At the thought of this, Jiang Chen grew excited.

A fifth-tier martial skill—how many people dreamed of obtaining one?

This also made Jiang Chen feel that Elder Huo was no ordinary person.