Trick Peddling

Cultivators of this world comprehended the Great Dao, then obtained a method from the Dao, and sought an art within that method.

Lin Chen did not know exactly what the Great Dao of this Side World was, but by his estimation, it was probably something like the Riemann Hypothesis or quantum physics from his previous life—things that looked terrifying at a glance.

In any case, it was something exceedingly difficult, yet once mastered, it allowed one to understand the entire world.

As for methods, they referred to systematic knowledge such as cultivation techniques, the foundations of pill refining, introductory feng shui, and the like—knowledge that could be expanded upon for further research.

Arts, meanwhile, were the means by which cultivators wielded spiritual energy. For instance, pills and Pill Recipes, methods for crafting spirit artifacts... and, most crucially, Dao Protection Arts.

Dao Protection Arts went by different names and possessed different abilities depending on one's realm.

For example, the Dao Protection Arts of Qi Refining Stage Cultivators were called [Magic Tricks]. Since Qi Refining Stage Cultivators could not draw upon Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy and could only use the true qi within their bodies to attack, their power and methods were limited. Hence the name Magic Tricks.

Once one reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, cultivators developed [Spiritual Sense], allowing them to forcibly draw upon Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy. Their methods became stronger and more varied, and thus they were called [Spirit Arts].

As for the Golden Core Stage? According to sect Classics, upon reaching the Golden Core Stage, one needed to turn all of one's methods and all one's thoughts during cultivation into a single Fundamental Art, then derive countless techniques from it.

It could be used not only for battle and protecting one's Dao, but also for one's own cultivation. More importantly, the predecessors had speculated that cultivators could even use it to comprehend the Dao that lay In the Dark!

And this Fundamental Art was known as [Sorcery]!

But to survey one's own cultivation from a lofty height and bring ten thousand methods back to one—this was an ability possessed by Golden Core Stage Cultivators. Lin Chen was still far from that. What concerned him now was whether he could sell the improved Magic Trick in his hands for a good price.

If there was a business in Cultivation World shops that could guarantee steady profits and flow on in a long stream, it was neither Formation Disks nor talismans, Even Less So pills and spirit artifacts—it was cultivation techniques and secret arts!

Formation Disks were generally beyond what ordinary cultivators could afford. No Matter How much one squeezed the costs on talismans, labor costs remained, and special talismans had to be priced even higher. Pills and spirit artifacts were an even bigger pit—if one was lucky, the profits would be immense, but if one was unlucky and invested a great deal of spirit herbs and spirit materials only for the refinement to fail, it would be a devastating loss!

Cultivation techniques and secret arts were different. As long as one first purchased the original copy, then used special restrictions to prevent the purchasing cultivators from spreading it.

The shop could sell it over and over again, gaining a ceaseless stream of profit!

Let Alone improved Magic Trick Templates like Lin Chen's, which had never appeared on the market before. They possessed unique value and could bring enormous profits!

Moreover, Hundred Treasures Tower could turn these improved Magic Tricks into its own signature, establish a distinctive identity, raise its competitiveness, and gain greater renown in the market!

And market renown was directly tied to profit!

Lin Chen smiled faintly. Seeing the other party's words and actions, his heart stirred. It seemed that this improved Magic Trick Template was far more valuable than he had imagined.

Fang Mingyuan picked up the jade slip and carefully read the visible portion of its contents. Only then did he belatedly realize his lapse in composure. Lin Chen had seen through quite a bit of his hand, which would greatly disadvantage him when bargaining down the price later.

But at this moment, he was more concerned about another question. His eyes gleamed as he looked at Lin Chen, a trace of urgency in his voice. "May I ask whether this improved Magic Trick was created by you, Fellow Daoist?"

Compared to the improved Magic Trick itself, he cared more about the person capable of improving it.

After all, Most People in the Cultivation World sought resources, advancement, and lifespan. Few would ponder the essence of cultivation. They merely cultivated step by step according to established routines, Let Alone improve methods and arts.

On one hand, this was due to the inertia of thought. On the other, it lay in one's own comprehension.

Ordinary Person cultivators did not even know how long it would take them to learn the various Magic Tricks and Spirit Arts, Let Alone fully integrate them, improve them, and create anew.

Yet unique improved Magic Tricks not only possessed power unlike ordinary Magic Tricks, but could even become the foundation passed down through a family—or even a sect!

Thus, anyone capable of doing this was worthy of becoming an honored guest of the great families and sects!

"Manager Fang, you must be joking." Lin Chen said with a bitter smile. "If Zhang Mou had such ability, I would have long since become an honored guest of Azure Cloud Sect. Why would I have come here?"

"I merely obtained this from a senior's Cave Mansion. If I did not urgently need a Defense Spirit Artifact, I would not even have taken it out."

The Magic Trick had naturally been improved by Lin Chen, but of course he would never admit it.

Though exposing himself might allow him to become an honored guest of various major powers and enjoy abundant Cultivation Resources, he might also be forcibly confined and made to conduct research solely for them.

Lin Chen was not foolish enough to hand his choices over to others and entrust his own safety to their kindness.

Therefore, from beginning to end, he had never entertained the slightest thought of exposing himself.

If he had not deduced the possibility of war, and if the research on Soul Nurturing Incense Version 3.0 had not urgently required massive resources—matters tied to his future Dao Path—he would not have taken this risk.

Though this move carried risks as well, Lin Chen understood that he possessed neither a system nor an immortal artifact capable of producing resources on its own. He could only obtain them himself. For the sake of a Further Advance, he had no choice but to take risks, no choice but to fight for them!

Lin Chen had never been the sort who talked all day about lying low. In his view, lying low was merely to better conceal one's edge. But if he discovered an opportunity where the gains outweighed the risks, he would absolutely Make A Move and fight for it!

Besides, he was not without a plan.

'What I've brought out is only an improved Magic Trick, not something original. It shouldn't attract the attention of Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators. And Qi Refining Stage Cultivators—even though I may not be able to defeat them, I can still flee...'

Lin Chen had not failed to make the worst-case calculations regarding what might happen after he revealed the improved Magic Trick!

"Is that so?" Fang Mingyuan stared intently at Lin Chen, as though trying to see something from his face. But the other party's expression was so genuine that he found it difficult to read.

Could it really have been nothing more than a fortuitous acquisition?

"Shopkeeper Fang, since we are doing business, as long as there is profit to be made, that is enough. The source is not important, is it?" Lin Chen asked in return.

"Fellow Daoist is right." Seeing that he could not pry out any useful information, Fang Mingyuan could only nod in agreement.

"However, although it is an improved Magic Trick, we must still test its power. Would Fellow Daoist be willing to conduct a test with us?" Fang Mingyuan said.

"Certainly." Lin Chen nodded.

Afterward, Fang Mingyuan formed hand seals, seemingly communicating with someone. Before long, a middle-aged man pushed open the door and entered.

Hmm?

Lin Chen's Gaze shifted as he looked toward the man. He had the back of a tiger and the waist of a bear, a cold and stern face, and his Whole Body radiated a sharp, fierce aura. His eyes in particular possessed an indescribable keenness.

"This is the Captain of our Hundred Treasures Tower guards—Wang Ping." Fang Mingyuan explained with a smile. "We ask that Fellow Daoist Zhang cooperate with us in testing this newly improved Magic Trick."

Lin Chen glanced at him and nodded. "Sure."

"This is our guest, Fellow Daoist Zhang Ping. For this test of the trick, I hope you'll cooperate fully."

Wang Ping gave Lin Chen an indifferent look and nodded. "Naturally."

Since Hundred Treasures Tower had no testing grounds, the three could only head to a designated location in the Marketplace.

Inside the testing grounds.

"Next, please use this trick on Wang Ping, Fellow Daoist," Fang Mingyuan said after they arrived.

"No target practice?" Lin Chen glanced at him.

"This trick is meant for actual combat," Fang Mingyuan replied.

Lin Chen understood what he meant. Target practice could only test the trick's power, not determine its value in real combat.

Lin Chen looked at Wang Ping, who stood more than ten meters away in the original place, surrounded by a small yellow shield. It was an ordinary Defense Spirit Artifact suited to an average cultivator.

So that's it. They're judging this trick's value based on the defenses and evasive ability of an ordinary cultivator? This thought flashed through Lin Chen's heart.

"Since That's the Case, I'll do as Manager Fang says." Lin Chen gave a faint smile.

Then Lin Chen abruptly raised his right hand. His entire bearing underwent a heaven-and-earth transformation in an instant, and a piercingly cold aura spread from his whole body!

Not far away, Wang Ping's pupils contracted. In his sensing, Lin Chen seemed to transform in the blink of an eye from a harmless little white rabbit into a savage tiger ready to devour its prey!

"Condense!" Lin Chen coldly uttered a single syllable. True qi surged within him, directly forming a long spear in front of him!

The entire spear was Golden Yellow, its shaft covered in lifelike crimson patterns. A scorching yet razor-sharp aura radiated from it, forcibly twisting the surrounding air!

"Go!" Lin Chen cast Zhang Ping a glance, then directly controlled the golden spear as it flew toward him.

Is this... the Golden Spear Art? Wang Ping froze.

The Golden Spear Art was a Qi Refining Stage Spirit Art with rather high offensive power, but because its flight speed was slow and it was easily dodged, it had always only been used in clashes between factions.

Where has this Spirit Art been improved? Could it be... Before Wang Ping Had Not Yet Had Time To finish the thought, the golden spear In Front Of him suddenly exploded!

Raging flames surged toward him, and Even More, a dazzling golden flash streaked past!

Not good!

Wang Ping's expression changed. The muscles across his Whole Body suddenly tensed as he fiercely raised the shield under his control!

Bang!

Under that blow, Wang Ping was sent flying backward. Before he Had Not Yet Had Time To steady himself, the flames immediately pounced upon him and completely engulfed him!

"Excellent!" Fang Mingyuan's eyes blazed at the side. He paid no attention whatsoever to Wang Ping's condition and instead shouted his praise aloud.

Clearly, what he cared about more was the power of this trick.

"Cough, cough!" As the flames dispersed, a figure emerged from within.

Wang Ping wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, raised his shield, and looked at the obvious crack running across it. In the Conversation, there was a trace of wariness in his voice.

"This... this Spirit Art's attack power and speed have both surpassed the Golden Spear Art. If one is caught unprepared, one will definitely suffer a heavy loss."

"However, this Spirit Art requires extremely strong predictive judgment to aim, and if one is approached at close range, there will be no chance to use it either," Wang Ping analyzed.

"Even so, its power still cannot be underestimated. And Fellow Daoist Wang Ping seems to have forgotten one point." Lin Chen smiled faintly. "Even if the opponent blocks this attack, the flames that spread over them are enough to disrupt their response. After that, Whether It Is fleeing or launching a Sneak Attack, Can All create enough opportunity, can't they?"

"That's right." Wang Ping fell silent for a moment before replying.

"Indeed, not bad." Fang Mingyuan chuckled, then his tone shifted. "Although this trick is powerful, it also has quite a few limitations. What price does Fellow Daoist seek?"

"That will depend on whether Shopkeeper Fang's offer is sincere enough." Lin Chen smiled lightly.

Normally, it was these merchants who fleeced their customers. Now that he had such a rare opportunity, if he did not fleece them for a good sum, Lin Chen would feel he had failed his own conscience!