Third-Order Martial Artist

"Bang!"

A violent tremor echoed through the entire warehouse.

Even the walls quivered slightly from the impact.

Yet the target on the Punch Strength Testing Machine had only been knocked about twenty degrees off-center by his punch.

Xu Qing hurriedly fixed his eyes on the display.

The number on it was rapidly climbing.

"1245.9 kg"

"2714.8 kg"

"."

"5527.6 kg"

"5922.9 kg"

At last, the number stopped at "6011.5 kg."

"Beep!"

Strength: 6011.5 kg

Classification: High-Level Warrior

Xu Qing's eyes lit up. "High-Level Warrior? That means... a Third-Order Martial Artist!"

For a moment, he felt rather emotional.

He had actually become a Third-Order Martial Artist.

However, he had a rough estimate of his own strength, so he did not celebrate for long before seriously considering the matter.

"According to Uncle Luo's classifications, this strength score isn't far from the minimum requirement for a Fourth-Order Martial Artist—eight tons."

"I just don't know who would be stronger if I faced that staff-wielding youth from the Hunting Tiger Gang."

Xu Qing narrowed his eyes.

There could be enormous differences in physical ability even among Third-Order Martial Artists.

The minimum standard was four tons of strength, while the upper limit could reach seven or eight tons—nearly double. Speechless.

Add in the gap in exertion techniques and combat skills, and there was no telling how wide that disparity could become.

Xu Qing believed he was probably no match for that youth.

After all, his Fist Technique only involved basic force exertion.

His Spear Technique was stronger, but its method of exerting force was the same.

Still, he was not discouraged.

After all, he had trained for only a short time. He was just getting started, and he still had plenty of room to improve.

After tidying up a little, Xu Qing shut down the machine.

He searched the warehouse but found no bank cards or other valuables that he could carry with him.

So he locked the main door and left the warehouse.

There were some valuable items inside, but it was inconvenient for him to exchange them for money.

Besides, he had no channels to do so.

He might as well leave them there.

This warehouse could serve as a temporary base.

After leaving the warehouse, Xu Qing drove straight toward the Dragon Scale Bank in the center of the county town.

This time, aside from obtaining some Grade D Gene Potions in 0121 County, he also wanted to get a Combat Secret Technique.

Or perhaps a Gene Guidance Technique.

However, he estimated that neither would come cheap, so he had come prepared to broaden his horizons even if he could not afford to buy them.

He would not be disappointed either way.

Before making any purchases, though, he first needed to deposit the money into an anonymous bank card.

Otherwise, when making purchases, others might be able to trace his identity through the transfer records.

Though he did not know whether it would be useful, Xu Qing still wanted to conceal his identity as much as possible.

That might help him avoid some unnecessary trouble.

On the way to the auction house, Xu Qing bought a black mask from a toy store.

He had intended to use it to hide his identity.

But to his surprise, once he entered the auction house...

After registering some simple "false" information under the staff's guidance, he learned that the auction house actually offered anonymous auctions, though they required a fee.

He only needed to provide a delivery address to receive a website link.

Using that link, he could enter the anonymous auction system and participate in the auction.

Once he won, the transaction could be completed through electronic payment, making it extremely convenient.

There was no need for outdated methods like masks or cloaks.

Thus, Xu Qing used the brass Bearer Card taken from the bandit to pay five thousand Alliance Coins, then received a placard.

"Mr. Li, today's auction will begin at 3 PM.

When the time comes, log into the website on your admission ticket to enter the electronic marketplace.

If your device supports VR, you can even enjoy an immersive, on-site experience.

Once the transaction is successful, we will ship the auction item directly to the address you provided."

"Alright, got it." Xu Qing lowered his voice, nodded, and left wearing his mask.

The staff member watched Xu Qing walk away, merely shaking his head with a smile, helplessly amused by the man's peculiar way of keeping secrets.

What era was this? Who still used such outdated methods?

After leaving the auction house, Xu Qing checked the time.

It was only 11 in the morning.

So, he casually found a place to have lunch.

Afterward, he returned to Silver Sparrow Warehouse.

He remembered that there seemed to be a computer in the warehouse.

After returning, Xu Qing checked the computer and found that it could access the internet and was in perfect working order, so he rested briefly.

Then he began practicing his Fist Technique.

Although his Fist Technique had already reached Perfection, it had become a habit of daily life.

When 3 PM arrived, he logged into the website on time and entered the auction house's anonymous auction system.

On the screen, the host had already begun the opening remarks.

"Alright then, let us bring out our first item of the day."

As a staff member carried a tray onto the stage, the auctioneer removed the red cloth covering it, immediately revealing three exquisite USB drives placed on top.

"This is a map of an Ancient Civilization Ruins discovered beneath Antarctica. It is highly likely to be related to the powerful race among the stars, the Rakshasa Race."

"However, this map is incomplete, and the three sections we have collected do not connect to one another."

"The starting bid is fifty thousand Alliance Coins, with each bid increase no less than fifty thousand."

"The auction begins now!"

"One hundred thousand! Guest Number Three bids one hundred thousand!"

"It is said that someone once excavated a fragmentary Rakshasa Race Combat Secret Technique from these ruins and greatly increased their strength."

"Excellent! Guest Number Seven bids five hundred thousand!"

"Alright, another guest has bid—six hundred thousand!"

"Seven hundred thousand! Someone has bid seven hundred thousand!"

"..."

Watching the fierce competition, Xu Qing could not help clicking his tongue.

A fragmentary map of uncertain authenticity and extreme incompleteness could actually sell for such a high price?

He could only marvel at how rich these people were.

Even if there really was some secret manual inside, it had surely already been taken by whoever sent the map in for auction.

As for the people bidding on the map now, Xu Qing guessed that they either possessed other sections of the map or were hoping to get lucky and snag a bargain. In any case, they were definitely wealthy.

He merely watched for entertainment.

Soon, an hour of the auction had passed.

It paused for a break.

Xu Qing felt somewhat helpless.

Throughout the entire first hour, all the items auctioned had been related to ruins.

Not a single one was the Combat Secret Technique or Gene Guidance Technique he wanted.

That disappointed him somewhat.

He took a sip of water.

He could only hope that the remaining two hours would bring something worthwhile.

"I don't need a complete manual. Even an incomplete one would do. I have the point-allocation system—so long as I can get started, maybe I can level it up with points!"

Xu Qing suppressed the faint anxiety in his heart and consoled himself.

What he feared now was that those so-called manuals would be priced too high, or that someone else would compete for them.

He only had a little over six hundred thousand in his hands.

He had earned it over the past year by working himself to the bone, taking on overtime after overtime.

Xu Qing glanced at the valuables stored at the back of the warehouse, then shook his head again.

He extinguished some of the unrealistic thoughts in his heart.

Practicing martial arts was a money pit, and martial artists' equipment was outrageously expensive. As someone working in the Combat Suit industry, he naturally understood the ins and outs.

But he also knew that such equipment was simply beyond what he could afford.

For now, he could only start with what mattered most.

Such as the Gene Guidance Technique and Combat Secret Techniques.