Selling Martial Skills

As Ling Wuyuan looked over the various cultivation manuals in the catalog, he found it somewhat difficult to choose.

From the books he had read and the information he had gathered, he knew that these so-called low-grade manuals, mid-grade manuals, high-grade manuals, and the rarest top-grade manuals mainly applied only to the first four realms of martial cultivation. Thus, their proper formal names should really include the word "basic."

For example: low-grade basic manuals, mid-grade basic manuals, high-grade basic manuals, and top-grade basic manuals.

Those four realms were collectively known as the Four Body Tempering Realms.

[Body Tempering Realm]: Tempering flesh and blood.

[Bone Forging Realm]: Tempering Bones.

[Blood Strengthening Realm]: Strengthening Qi and Blood.

[Organ Fortification Realm]: Strengthening the internal organs.

Low-grade basic manuals primarily involved the Body Tempering Realm and Bone Forging Realm. They offered virtually no substantial help for the latter two realms and were the most basic cultivation methods.

Mid-grade basic manuals further refined the first two realms while also touching upon the latter two. However, most were vague on the details or offered limited assistance. At most, if one followed the manual word for word and truly cultivated it to mastery, there might be a slim chance of barely reaching the Organ Fortification Realm.

As for high-grade basic manuals and top-grade basic manuals, they were naturally further improvements over mid-grade basic manuals. As far as Ling Wuyuan knew, mastering a high-grade basic manual would allow one to reach the Organ Fortification Realm smoothly, while a top-grade basic manual could perfectly lay the foundation for cultivators to advance into subsequent realms.

In an organization like the White Crow Gang, which had existed for several centuries, there might be two or three high-grade basic manuals. But those things were probably exclusive to the gang's chosen talents—only direct disciples of elders, Hall Masters, Vice Gang Leaders, or the Gang Leader could possibly obtain them.

Therefore, for ordinary disciples, obtaining a mid-grade basic manual was already no easy feat. Even if they initially received only an incomplete copy and had to gradually exchange merit for the later portions of the cultivation method, that was still the case.

After thinking it over, Ling Wuyuan gave up on the idea of directly obtaining a complete low-grade basic manual and instead focused his attention on the various mid-grade basic manuals.

Although low-grade and mid-grade basic manuals differed little in the first two realms, their main difference lay in their lack of power later on.

Still, low-grade basic manuals had the advantage of being relatively simple and accessible to commoners.

Most of the time, they required few medicinal resources to assist cultivation.

They looked far more convenient—a truly conscientious choice for the poor.

However, Ling Wuyuan, who had read many related books, understood very well that this so-called speed and simplicity were often achieved by consuming the body's latent potential. It was a form of continual, additional overexertion of the body...

If low-grade basic manuals meant gritting one's teeth and cultivating until one was likely to meet a grim end in old age,

then mid-grade basic manuals meant cultivating while using medicines to replenish the deficiencies produced during cultivation, doing one's best to avoid leaving behind any aftereffects.

Now that he had decided to set his sights on mid-grade basic manuals, Ling Wuyuan thought of the reward he had received for placing in the top three of his cohort's academic classes—the reward that allowed him to choose an additional low-grade martial skill. A plan gradually formed in his mind.

His gaze soon fell upon someone.

It was a youth around sixteen years old.

Though they had not interacted much, over the course of their year as classmates, Ling Wuyuan had still learned something of that person's family background.

He knew that the youth came from a family with a modest amount of wealth.

The family had risen in his grandfather's generation and expanded during his father's generation.

But at the end of the day, their history of prosperity was not long—only a few decades.

Going further back, both his grandfather and father had merely been ordinary people.

Thus, the family's development had basically reached its upper limit.

Whether they wanted to climb higher or protect their existing wealth, they needed one or two martial artists to emerge from the family.

That was why they had done everything they could to get him into the White Crow Gang.

In short.

All his family sought was opportunity.

"Hey! Friend!"

"Want to buy a martial skill?"

Hearing that,

the youth, who had been wondering why Ling Wuyuan had approached him, immediately brightened.

"Yes, yes, yes!!"

"Let's talk!!!"

Having only a cultivation method without a matching martial skill always left something lacking.

It was like being strong and sturdy yet having no techniques whatsoever.

Naturally, he was extremely interested in what Ling Wuyuan had said.

"To be honest, I want to choose a mid-grade basic manual, but properly getting started with those manuals requires quite a few medicinal materials. My purse is empty, and I can't afford that expense. So, if you're willing, I can transfer you my right to choose one low-grade martial skill, and all you need to do is give me a sum of money directly."

Once he understood Ling Wuyuan's intentions and realized that Ling Wuyuan truly had no money and genuinely wanted to sell him a low-grade martial skill, the other youth became even more delighted. He immediately asked eagerly, "Easy, easy..."

"At what price does little brother intend to transfer that right to choose a low-grade martial skill to me?"

"I investigated beforehand. Outside, the normal price for a low-grade martial skill is between two hundred and two hundred and fifty gold coins, with the actual price fluctuating according to the type of martial skill. But the selection right I possess lets you freely choose from every low-grade martial skill held by the White Crow Gang. It can basically meet any need—whether you want fist techniques, leg techniques, or sword techniques... anything is possible. So I think the price can be set at the top end..."

"So, one price only: two hundred and fifty gold coins!"

To be honest, just hearing Ling Wuyuan's lengthy analysis, complete with market research and sounding thoroughly reasoned, made the youth's head ache.

Setting everything else aside.

The mere fact that Ling Wuyuan could lay things out so logically told him that Ling Wuyuan would not be easy to fool.

He had thought this was some worldly inexperienced child who would be easier to deceive...

However,

being born into a merchant family, bargaining was in his nature.

So he put on a troubled expression, still wanting to struggle a little.

After all,

two hundred and fifty gold coins truly was no small sum.

For commoners, calling it an enormous fortune would not be an exaggeration.

Yet before he could even begin to bargain, Ling Wuyuan followed up with another combination blow.

"The two hundred and fifty gold coins I mentioned are the proper market price."

"If you go outside and buy something at that price, you can't guarantee whether it's genuine or whether it has any hidden problems. But if you choose a low-grade martial skill here in the White Crow Gang, you don't need to worry about any of that."

"You absolutely won't lose out or get scammed!"

"So what are you hesitating for? What a wonderful opportunity. You wouldn't want to disappoint your parents either..."

In an instant,

the sixteen-year-old youth began to sweat profusely.

Though he came from a merchant family, Ling Wuyuan was an old man wearing a child's skin.

Right from the start, he had attacked from every angle, appealing to both emotion and reason.

Thus, after his expression shifted back and forth for a while, the youth trembled as he stretched out a hand, forcibly stopping Ling Wuyuan's ongoing eloquent speech.

"Enough."

"Stop talking..."

"Let's make the deal..."

"Excellent. A pleasure doing business with you!"