Black Market

The attribute panel was naturally a joke to Li Pin.

The so-called [Embrace Dan: 0/514] theoretically required delivering 514 instances of Dan Jin.

Relying on the nourishment of Life Vitality and a heavily optimized Eight Fiends True Fire Strength, he could deliver two instances of Dan Jin daily even with depleted Qi and Blood.

But this didn't mean he had to practice 514 times to Embrace Qi into Dan.

This number was constantly changing.

He had obtained a new method for Embracing Dan, gaining a new understanding of Embracing Qi into Dan. The number might drop from 514 to 500 or 450. After each instance of Dan Jin delivered, a slight realization would cause the increase to change from 1 to 2, or even 3.

Furthermore, not all Dan Jin were the same.

Delivering Dan Jin by erupting Qi and Blood was different from delivering Dan Jin when all thoughts were empty, and spirit, energy, and mind boiled to the extreme. The effects were drastically different.

Therefore, this number only had reference value.

He needed to constantly adjust according to his own cultivation progress to achieve the best cultivation results.

"Embracing Qi into Dan, before the Jiangzhou Martial Arts Competition begins, it will be enough."

Li Pin said.

Embracing Qi into Dan was within reach.

The next step...

"Gang Jin."

Li Pin recalled the videos he had watched about Gang Jin. "This type of Force mainly originates from subtle resonance, vibrating oneself, using oneself as an amplifier to deliver this Force. Top experts' Gang Jin vibrates at frequencies exceeding the speed of sound, forming a layer of white air waves. The ancients called this Innate Gang Qi, which is the original origin of Gang Jin."

Vibrating oneself, using oneself as an amplifier—easy to say, but extremely difficult to do.

Because when vibrating oneself and using oneself as an amplifier, the first to bear the backlash of the Force is oneself.

The external skin, muscles, and bones were one thing.

The Force backlash borne by the internal organs was the true test.

If the physique and internal organs were not strong enough, one would suffer backlash, get injured, and vomit blood before even delivering the Gang Jin.

"There are many videos of Dan Jin martial artists online, but the videos of Gang Jin grandmasters have significantly decreased."

Li Pin pondered. "This is because Gang Jin grandmasters are considered truly upper-class individuals. Although they have the highest professional title, due to the greater weight of the martial arts world compared to other industries, their status surpasses that of those with the highest professional title in other industries. They receive national subsidies and are respected in all occasions, so there's no need for them to post videos for traffic and recruit disciples like Dan Jin martial artists."

They themselves were the traffic.

In a city like Canglong City, with a population of several million, there were fewer than ten Gang Jin grandmasters on the surface.

Dan Jin martial artists were surrounded by some wealthy businessmen and relatives.

They had achieved success and could help those around them live well.

Around Gang Jin grandmasters...

They conversed with erudite scholars and had no uncultured associates.

They had truly entered another stratum.

"With my current knowledge base, physical strength, and understanding of Gang Jin, to externally train Gang Qi and internally strengthen the viscera, it would likely take..."

Li Pin quickly arrived at a new number.

[Gang Refining: 1/6481]

It seemed impossibly far away.

However, it didn't matter.

"One must walk step by step, eat one bite at a time. First, I'll set a small goal: deliver Gang Jin, and then proceed from external to internal, gradually."

Li Pin calmly accepted the gap between himself and Gang Refining.

Moreover, the Life Vitality cultivated by the Innate Qi Nourishing Technique had an extraordinary effect on nourishing the viscera.

Backlash, injury, nourishment, recovery.

This itself was a form of training.

This would lay a solid foundation for him to deliver Gang Jin as soon as possible.

"It would be best to have some complete texts and inheritances for cultivating Gang Jin. I hope the private trading market on Friday won't disappoint me."

Friday soon arrived.

At eight in the evening, Li Pin took a car to the Luo Family Courtyard on Fangzheng Street.

Due to its large area, a large flower market could not be located in the city center.

From the Luo Family Courtyard's proximity to the flower market, it was evident that this area was not prosperous.

As it was adjacent to Hengyu Mountain, which Canglong City had not yet fully developed into a scenic area, it still appeared somewhat desolate at night.

However, when Li Pin arrived at the Luo Family Courtyard, it was quite lively. The several old alleys next to the courtyard were bustling with people.

Most of these people, like Li Pin, wore deep robes, hats, and masks. Some were wrapped entirely, altering their appearance.

In addition, most people appeared robust, full of vitality, and brimming with Qi and Blood, indicating their successful martial arts training.

At the entrance of each alley, people stood guard next to a warning sign.

Under the lamplight, the writing on it was clearly visible.

No loud noises.

No forced buying or selling.

No inquiries about the source of goods.

Payment settles all, no responsibility thereafter.

There were over a dozen rules in total.

Li Pin glanced at them and entered one of the alleys.

Inside the alley, dozens of people had set up stalls on the ground. The number of people coming and going was not large, about a hundred or so.

Considering the other alleys, it could be estimated that the total visitor flow for this black market each time it opened was only around a thousand people.

Li Pin inspected them one by one.

The stalls sold a wide variety of items.

Techniques of unknown origin, ancient books from bygone eras, strange objects with unknown effects, seemingly genuine medicinal herbs, smuggled pills, and tokens with stories, swords, and antiques.

However, ninety percent of these items held little value.

Fortunately, this black market was different from those dealing in antiques and curios, where ninety-nine percent were fakes. Some genuine items were still being sold here.

For example, the Dragon Tiger Pill, leaked from the Martial Arts Association, was among them.

Li Pin searched for a while and quickly found a technique that could lead to Embrace Dan.

"Dragon Form Fist, a technique from the Dragon Fist Gym."

This martial arts gym was famous in Jiangzhou.

It had a Gang Jin Grandmaster lending their name to it.

"How much?"

"One hundred and sixty thousand."

One hundred and sixty thousand?

This price was much lower than he had expected.

But it made sense. The Dragon Fist Gym had a significant influence in Jiangzhou. If someone was discovered practicing their techniques without permission, those with connections would pay a fine, while those without could be beaten to death without consequence.

Furthermore, even if one seller of secret manuals was caught, another would appear.

The most crucial point was that if one could Embrace Qi into Dan just by following a manual, Dan Jin would have become commonplace in the world long ago.

It was like how very few students could become top university professors by self-studying from books.

Li Pin didn't rush to buy and continued to browse.

There were quite a few stalls selling Embrace Dan martial arts.

After a full circle, he found six Embrace Dan martial arts.

The most expensive one was sold by a descendant of a declining martial arts gym. It was sold by the owner themselves, with no hidden dangers, but the price was also the highest, five hundred thousand.

The remaining few were priced between one hundred thousand and five hundred thousand.

The one sold for one hundred thousand was the core inheritance of the Five Elements Body Refining Technique from the Five Elements Sect, the top martial arts force in Canglong City.

The Five Elements Sect had been established for over forty years, with branch schools in several surrounding cities, including the provincial capital, Jiangzhou City. They had taught at least eighty to ninety thousand students.

Moreover, as a local power in Canglong City, their disciples and students were spread across all walks of life.

As he was looking at this Five Elements Body Refining Technique, he vaguely sensed someone watching that stall.

If he were to actually buy this body refining technique...

It was uncertain whether he could return home safely after leaving the Luo family's compound.

Either this stall owner was too bold to sell the Five Elements Body Refining Technique.

Ignorance breeds fear.

Or...

They were targeting the Five Elements Sect directly.