The moment Lin Fan told the stallkeeper selling secret manuals what he needed, the other party immediately tossed out three or five techniques for concealing one's aura.
"'Qi Concealing Art' cultivation requirement: Spirit Gathering Realm Third Grade. Within one major realm of another person, it can conceal fluctuations in one's cultivation. Price: 5 Contribution Points."
"'Breath Concealing Technique' cultivation requirement: Meridian Condensing Realm Ninth Grade. Within three major realms of another person, it can conceal fluctuations in one's cultivation. Price: 10 Contribution Points."
"'Blood Gathering Art' cultivation requirement: Spirit Gathering Realm Fourth Grade. Within two major realms of another person, it can conceal fluctuations in one's cultivation. Price: 8 Contribution Points."
As Lin Fan examined the secret manuals before him, his eyes instantly lit up.
Judging by the cultivation requirements of the three secret manuals, the first and third were both suitable for him now.
Lin Fan leaned more toward the third secret manual. In terms of its effects, it was far stronger than the first. Unfortunately, he had few Contribution Points left and was still one point short of being able to afford it.
After thinking it over, he said tentatively, "Boss, this Blood Gathering Art is pretty good, but your asking price is too high. I'll take it for five Contribution Points."
The stallkeeper was a thin, haggard young man. Hearing Lin Fan's words, he cast him a suspicious sidelong glance before saying coldly, "If you sincerely want it, I'll charge you six points. Otherwise, please move along."
In the Blood Demon Sect, techniques for concealing one's aura were extremely unpopular.
This was a Devil Dao Sect. Under normal circumstances, the disciples were too busy trying to climb upward and show off their abilities. How many of them would be willing to painstakingly conceal their auras and hide their cultivation?
Besides, these unpopular techniques consumed a great deal of energy and time. Few disciples of the Devil Dao Sect were willing to cultivate them.
Otherwise, these secret manuals would not have been so cheap.
"Deal!"
Lin Fan no longer hesitated and readily agreed.
Soon, the Contribution Points had been transferred, and Lin Fan obtained the Blood Gathering Art as he wished.
He immediately opened the secret manual and quickly looked through it.
Should ten years of lifespan be consumed to advance Blood Gathering Art to the entry level in advance?
At that moment, a line of text appeared in Lin Fan's eyes—text that only he could see.
Sure enough, it reacted.
Lin Fan secretly rejoiced and immediately said, "I agree to advance it in advance."
The next second, partial insights into Blood Gathering Art rapidly flooded Lin Fan's mind.
At the same time, a strange scene appeared in his mind. A youth resembling Lin Fan sat silently on the ground, his Internal Force circulating around his body along a unique route.
He sat motionless like an withered old tree. As his Internal Force circulated, the aura emanating from his body was like a candle flame swaying in the wind, flickering uncertainly.
"The route of the Internal Force circulation is unusual, concealing fluctuations in one's cultivation."
Lin Fan understood immediately.
Lin Fan did not rush to put it into practice. Instead, he stored the secret manual away, then found an empty corner and sat down.
He immediately began circulating his Internal Force according to the scene in his mind.
Under normal circumstances, Internal Force circulated through the meridians in a complete cycle. According to Blood Gathering Art's instructions, however, the route of circulation was entirely different.
In merely a few moments, the obscure fluctuations of cultivation surrounding Lin Fan seemed to vanish completely.
Lin Fan could sense that his Internal Force was still stored within his body, but the fluctuations that had originally spread out faintly and intermittently were now slowly disappearing.
They had not truly vanished. Rather, in a certain sense, they had been hidden.
He immediately summoned his status panel to check his latest changes.
Name: Lin Fan Lifespan: 390 Talent: Pre-emptive Dao Fruit Realm: Spirit Gathering Realm Fourth Grade Techniques: Basic Demonic Art (Mastery), Blood Gathering Art (Entry)
"With Blood Gathering Art concealing my cultivation, I'll be able to hide myself better."
"Moreover, this technique really is excellent. Even at the entry stage, it has concealed most of my aura. If I circulate my Internal Force and fight someone, as long as I don't use my full strength, it'll be very difficult for anyone to see my true power."
A smile appeared on Lin Fan's face. This trip to the market to take a risk had truly been worth it!
Of course, there were still plenty of things in the market that interested him, such as techniques even more astonishing than Basic Demonic Art, as well as special pills that could improve one's constitution.
Unfortunately, the Contribution Points on him had been almost entirely depleted, so he could only stand aside and watch.
After leaving the market, Lin Fan headed toward Blackwood Cliff without looking back.
"Junior Brother Lin, what a coincidence."
However, Lin Fan had not gone far before a figure blocked his path.
Looking at Wu Hai, who had suddenly appeared, Lin Fan furrowed his brows, but they soon relaxed.
He asked with a cheerful smile, "Senior Brother Wu, what are you doing here?"
"So many people went missing two days ago. My conscience has been troubling me, so I thought I'd come down and search again to see if I could find any trace of them."
Wu Hai spoke with deep anguish.
As he spoke, he walked closer to Lin Fan.
Wu Hai earnestly requested, "Junior Brother Lin, if you don't mind, search for their traces with me. I'm willing to offer ten Contribution Points as your payment."
"I invited several Menial Disciples down to look for people, but not one of them was willing to pay me any attention."
Wu Hai's tone was filled with grievance.
It would be strange if anyone were willing to pay you any attention.
Lin Fan secretly laughed in his heart.
On the surface, he revealed a sympathetic expression and consoled him, "Senior Brother Wu, you're really considerate. They simply don't understand you. I believe in your character."
As he spoke, Lin Fan walked toward Wu Hai of his own accord and raised a hand to pat him on the shoulder.
Lin Fan's seemingly casual movement nevertheless made Wu Hai sense a terrifying danger.
The next second, several black tentacles shot out from Wu Hai's body and rapidly thrust toward Lin Fan's chest.
"Since you believe in me, then go die."
"Killing you will mean one less competitor, and I can also use your blood essence to become stronger."
However, Lin Fan seemed to have anticipated it. With a single flash, he dodged every attack.
Before Wu Hai could react, Lin Fan had already rushed before him like a ghost.
"Senior Brother Wu, you shouldn't have provoked me."
Lin Fan smiled brightly. In Wu Hai's eyes, that smile was ice-cold.
His face suddenly twisted, and intense pain erupted from his chest.
Only then did he discover in terror that, at some unknown point, Lin Fan's fist had already punched through his chest. Blood gushed wildly from the wound.
"You..."
Wu Hai had just moved his lips when his body exploded on the spot with a boom.
"Wouldn't it have been nice to stay alive? Why insist on seeking death?"
Looking at the flesh and blood covering the ground, Lin Fan shook his head and muttered to himself.
This was his first time killing someone, yet not only did he feel no guilt, he instead felt incredibly satisfied.
Perhaps it was because the person he had killed was a vicious man like Wu Hai, who had killed without batting an eye. That was probably why he felt this way.
Out of the corner of his eye, Lin Fan suddenly noticed an object. It was the cloth bag Wu Hai had left behind.
The cloth bag was heavy. There should be quite a few good things inside.
Lin Fan did not rush to open it. Instead, he stored it away first.
He then punched out a pit and buried all the flesh and bone fragments inside.
After dealing with the corpse, Lin Fan finally proceeded toward Blackwood Cliff at an unhurried pace.
He returned to Blackwood Cliff before noon.
Just as Lin Fan was about to enter the Hidden Scripture Pavilion, he encountered Wang Biao walking out from inside.
Wang Biao swept him with a glance and greeted him of his own accord, "Brother Lin, what did you buy?"
Lin Fan shook the medicine bottle in his hand and said with a smile, "Foundation Replenishing Pill."
The moment he finished speaking, Wang Biao froze on the spot.
The Menial Disciples in the Hidden Scripture Pavilion almost all relied on Dual Cultivation to cultivate and climb upward. Who would care about the life or death of their Dual Cultivation partner? If one died, they could simply find another.
Good heavens, not only do you feel sorry for her, you're even taking care of her?
Wang Biao clicked his tongue in amazement and said, "I never would have guessed. You're actually a good person."
"I wouldn't call myself a good person. I just have a little conscience left." Lin Fan shrugged and said.
Wang Biao smiled and did not say anything more.
During the last Monthly Test, Lin Fan had reached the First Grade of Spirit Gathering Realm in such a short time that many old Menial Disciples had grown quite wary of him, treating him as a formidable competitor.
Now, however, it seemed that Lin Fan was being so unwise as to spend his limited Contribution Points on his Dual Cultivation partner. He might not be able to continue competing with them for the limited Formal Disciple slots in the future.
With one fewer competitor, it meant one more opportunity for himself. Wang Biao and the others were all happy to see it happen.
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