Formless Witness Technique

In this world's martial path, simply put, the more Acupoints one's Vital Energy traveled through, the higher the rank of the Cultivation Method and Martial Skill.

Of all the Cultivation Methods and Martial Skills Zhang Ming had mastered, only the [Mighty Bull Cultivation Method] encompassed 300 Acupoints.

Of those 300 Acupoints, more than two hundred came from the fusion of three Mighty Bull Cultivation Methods. The remaining several dozen had been gathered from more than ten manuals collected from Martial Arts Halls and Gangs throughout Yang City.

More than ten Cultivation Methods had brought only several dozen Acupoints' worth of improvement. One could imagine how difficult it would be to advance beyond 300 Acupoints.

Likewise, the Black Tiger Saber's 66, Great Wind Leg's 55, Five Poisons Art (Medicine and Poison)'s 45, and Consecutive Shot hidden weapons (bows)'s 33 had each been formed by fusing varying numbers of Martial Skills.

It was simply that in this little patch of Yang City, the quality of Martial Skills truly was not high.

Even after fusing multiple Martial Skills, the Black Tiger Saber had only reached 66 at most!

But Martial Skills were Martial Skills, after all. They were not Cultivation Methods.

When circulating Vital Energy to execute them, it did not need to travel through the entire body.

In other words, the 66-Acupoint Black Tiger Saber had already reached the rank of an acquired Martial Skill.

It was already a top-tier powerful Martial Skill in Yang City!

In short!

"I'm so strong."

"With a top-grade innate Cultivation Method plus acquired Martial Skills, who in Yang City could be my match?"

Zhang Ming suddenly fell silent, then gave an embarrassed smile.

"No one was my match more than a month ago. Now, there's even less chance of that."

"Hehe."

With a few soft chuckles, Zhang Ming ignited the "system," burning it to ashes.

A generation of "systems" thus fell.

"When it comes to improving the quality of Cultivation Methods and Martial Skills, without other Cultivation Methods and Martial Skills to serve as nourishment, relying solely on myself will be extraordinarily difficult."

"In other words, for a while, the growth of my strength will enter a stable period."

"Ordinary Cultivation Methods and Martial Skills are basically useless to me. At the very least, they have to be at the acquired level. But who wouldn't treasure things of that rank?"

Zhang Ming frowned, forming a plan in his mind.

"Perhaps... they can help me?"

The Mysterious Buyer's figure abruptly surfaced in his mind.

"I wonder how many Cultivation Methods they've collected for me. I notified them more than a month ago."

Zhang Ming's cooperation with the Mysterious Buyer was mutually beneficial.

But compared to the Armor and Weapons, Bows and Crossbows, and such that the buyer needed, Zhang Ming did not have such a great need for money.

Thus, in the early stages of their partnership, providing some reasonable assistance had also been part of the details they agreed upon.

Now, having them help search for Cultivation Methods and Martial Skills was one of Zhang Ming's requests.

Suddenly, while pondering these matters, Zhang Ming sensed something.

He looked toward the door.

"You came."

"I came."

"You shouldn't have come."

"Hm? Why?"

"No, no, no, just joking. Yingxue, don't mind it."

"Hmph. Can I come in?"

"Yes, yes. Come in."

Ever since Zhang Ming had threatened Jiang Yingxue last time that he would terminate their cooperation if she entered without knocking again, Jiang Yingxue had been exceedingly polite and knocked on the door during their subsequent meetings.

From this, it could be seen that Jiang Yingxue, this martial Grandmaster, was actually quite a good person—quite easy to talk to.

She had the air of a white lotus untainted by society.

At the same time, this also indirectly showed just how vast the force capable of raising a martial Grandmaster into a white lotus had to be.

At the very least, it had to be backed by Great Grandmasters, perhaps even Martial Saints.

The door was opened by a pair of fair, slender jade-like hands, and Jiang Yingxue, dressed in black with her face covered, appeared before Zhang Ming.

Without any intention of exchanging pleasantries, Zhang Ming went straight to the point.

"Where are the things I asked for?"

"They're all here."

Jiang Yingxue tossed over a bundle and said coldly.

"Anything else? If not, I'm leaving."

"Hey, hey, don't be in such a hurry."

While placating Jiang Yingxue, Zhang Ming opened the bundle and quickly took stock of its contents.

The bundle was not large, only about the size of an ordinary backpack.

But what it contained was anything but ordinary: more than ten assorted Cultivation Methods he had asked the Mysterious Buyer to collect.

After a brief inspection, he found that only a few of the dozen-plus Cultivation Methods were duplicates. The rest were "new goods" he had never seen before.

Zhang Ming nodded, fairly satisfied inwardly.

But in the ways of business, one could not reveal any positive emotion before the other side's son.

As the seller of Armor and Weapons, he was the one calling the shots.

Zhang Ming frowned.

"Out of these dozen-plus Cultivation Methods, I already have several of them. Of the rest, only three are at the acquired level. There isn't even one innate-level Cultivation Method?"

He looked at Jiang Yingxue, his eyes filled with a trace of dissatisfaction.

"I can't feel even the slightest bit of importance being placed on this!"

"I think I need to reassess our cooperation."

Jiang Yingxue was furious, a flush of anger creeping onto her cheeks.

But remembering what her master had said before she left, she forcibly suppressed the anger in her heart.

Without speaking, she merely took another booklet from her robes.

She said coldly.

"Here. This should be enough!"

With that, Jiang Yingxue turned to leave again.

"Hey, hey, hey, why are you in such a rush? What's wrong with letting me inspect the goods?"

"How can a martial Grandmaster be so impatient?"

Don't get angry, don't get angry, don't get angry. He's someone Master specifically instructed me about, specifically instructed me about. Don't get angry, don't get angry.

Silently repeating this to herself, Jiang Yingxue stopped and waited for Zhang Ming to inspect the goods.

"Formless Witness Technique?"

Flipping through it casually, Zhang Ming discovered that this Cultivation Method was extremely unusual.

First was its martial arts rank. This [Formless Witness Technique] was actually an unranked Cultivation Method—or rather, no one was certain what rank it ought to be assigned.

Second, it was exceedingly difficult to cultivate. The entire text was shrouded in mist and clouds, leaving one completely at a loss.

Lastly, this Cultivation Method perfectly suited Zhang Ming's requirements.

More than a month ago, when communicating with Jiang Yingxue, Zhang Ming had requested not only a large number of Cultivation Methods and Martial Skills.

He had also asked her to seek out Cultivation Methods or Martial Skills for training eyesight or mental strength.

There was no need to explain the purpose of cultivating those two things—it was to search for and uncover Spiritual Energy.

It was an attempt for the immortal cultivation path he had just "created a new folder" for.

And this [Formless Witness Technique] perfectly fulfilled both of Zhang Ming's requirements.

As its name suggested, the [Formless Witness Technique] recorded that once it was cultivated to great mastery, one's eyes would become divine.

Anyone witnessed by those eyes would tremble with fear, their hearts splitting in terror as boundless dread arose within them.

It also had the effect of enhancing one's eyesight.

It could train eyesight while also increasing mental strength. Did that not fulfill all of Zhang Ming's requirements?

"Not bad. This time, I'm reluctantly satisfied."

After looking it over, Zhang Ming put on an uninterested expression and looked at Jiang Yingxue.

"For our next transaction, I hope you'll bring Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures."

"Zhang Ming!"

"Are you crazy? You dare ask for Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures? Even for us, things of that level are exceedingly rare!"

Jiang Yingxue was enraged, furious at Zhang Ming's greed.

"Look at you, look at you, you're getting worked up again."

"I know you're in a hurry, but don't rush. Listen to me first."

"Hmph—" Jiang Yingxue snorted coldly, waiting to see how Zhang Ming would spin his honeyed words.

"I plan to add an item to our transactions."

"What item could be worth Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures?"

"Phosphate Fertilizer!"

"What? What is that?"

Zhang Ming smiled faintly.

"Something that can multiply grain yields!"

Phosphate Fertilizer, a type of chemical fertilizer, had been one of the foundations of agricultural technology in his previous life.

The birth of Phosphate Fertilizer had been entirely accidental.

Some time ago, workers at the Mine had discovered an unusual ore at its bottom.

After identifying it, Zhang Ming had been astonished to discover that it was high-quality phosphate ore.

And with the aid of [Ignite Comprehension], he had successfully "excavated" the method for producing Phosphate Fertilizer.

"Multiply?"

Jiang Yingxue's small mouth fell open in disbelief.

"You're sure it multiplies yields? You're not joking?"

"What would I gain from lying to you?"

"I have to report this when I return. I can't make this decision."

Of course Jiang Yingxue understood what a terrifying effect multiplied grain production would have.

Precisely because she understood, she knew even more clearly that this was not something she could decide.

"Fine, I understand. Take care, I won't see you out."