Ghost Market Gets Saber Technique, Hidden Dragon in the Abyss

# Chapter 10: Ghost Market Gains a Saber Art, Hidden Dragon in the Depths

The Ghost Market in Qingzhou Prefecture City's southern district grew even more sinister and eerie under the cover of night. Amidst the dilapidated market stalls, only scattered lantern light flickered, like the eyes of lurking beasts.

Li Yifan and Lei Zhen, both cloaked, navigated the maze-like alleys under Lei Zhen's guidance. The air was thick with the mingled scents of mold, medicine, and a hint of blood. Glances from the shadows were filled with scrutiny and greed.

"Brother Li, Ghost Market rules: ask little, observe much, and trade cleanly," Lei Zhen reminded him in a low voice, clearly familiar with the place.

Li Yifan nodded slightly, his Detection skill quietly active, sensing his surroundings. He detected several obscure, powerful auras hidden in the shadows—at least Meridian Opening Realm experts. This Ghost Market truly ran deep.

They arrived at a corner where an old man as withered as a dead tree crouched, a few tattered ancient tomes spread before him.

"Ghost Elder, my friend here wants to buy some information on the Xuntian Guard selection, and also find a suitable saber art," Lei Zhen said with considerable respect toward the old man.

Ghost Elder lifted his cloudy eyelids and swept a glance over Li Yifan, his gaze seeming to pierce through the hood. Li Yifan's heart tightened—this old man's aura was unfathomable.

"Information, one hundred taels. Saber arts, look for yourself. Prices are marked." Ghost Elder's voice was hoarse as he pointed at the books on the ground.

Li Yifan's eyes swept over them: Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber (Yellow Grade, incomplete, five hundred taels), Wind Breaking Saber Technique (Yellow Grade Middle, complete, eight thousand taels), Burning Wood Saber Technique (Yellow Grade Upper, incomplete scroll, eighteen thousand taels).

Burning Wood Saber Technique, Yellow Grade Upper! Li Yifan's heart leaped. But eighteen thousand taels was nearly his entire savings. Lei Zhen said quietly, "Brother Li, although this Burning Wood Saber Technique is powerful—rumored that mastery can touch the Profound Grade threshold—it's extremely difficult to cultivate. This is only an incomplete scroll with just the first six forms. Better to choose the complete Wind Breaking Saber Technique; it's easier to get started."

Li Yifan sank into thought. According to the new settings, the power of a Small Success Yellow Grade Upper saber art was roughly equal to a Perfection Yellow Grade Lower one. This meant that even if he trained Burning Wood Saber Technique to Small Success, its power would only match his previous Perfection Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber, just with greater potential. A complete Yellow Grade Middle art, if trained to Small or Great Success, might be more practical in the short term.

But... he had a proficiency panel, no cultivation bottlenecks! If he was going to choose, he'd pick the one with the highest ceiling! Even if early progress was slow, in the long run, Burning Wood Saber Technique's value was irreplaceable!

"I'll take this Burning Wood Saber Technique incomplete scroll, and the information." Li Yifan made up his mind and counted out eighteen thousand one hundred taels in banknotes.

A flicker of barely noticeable surprise passed through Ghost Elder's eyes. He took the money and handed over the booklet and a slip of paper. "Information's on it. The saber art is settled—treasure or trash, that's up to your fortune."

The slip of paper held concise information: it listed details on several popular candidates and noted that the first test was the "Strength Testing Stele," which comprehensively assessed both physical force and true qi quality.

Back at the inn, Li Yifan immediately studied the Burning Wood Saber Technique incomplete scroll. The opening emphasized "Burning Intent"—heart-fire driving blade-fire, overbearing and blazing. But it only had the first six forms.

[Discovered skill Burning Wood Saber Technique (Yellow Grade Upper/Incomplete). Learn?]

"Learn!"

Information flooded in, and the panel updated:

[Skill: Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber (Yellow Grade Lower/Perfection) - (Maxed)]

[Skill: Burning Wood Saber Technique (Yellow Grade Upper/Incomplete) - Beginner (0/1000)]

He immediately began practicing. It was indeed difficult! Not only were the forms complex, but it heavily emphasized that elusive "Burning" intent, requiring him to mobilize blood qi and true qi to simulate a scorching sensation. It was far more intricate and profound than Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber. Even with his perfected saber foundation and the panel's assistance, progress was slow.

[Skill: Burning Wood Saber Technique proficiency +3... +4... Struggling to comprehend the core technique's essence.]

For several days in a row, Li Yifan cultivated almost without sleep. Only on the night before the selection did he finally train the first six forms of Burning Wood Saber Technique to Small Success (120/2000). When he swung his blade, the wind carried a distinct scorching heat. Its power... was indeed about the same as his previous Perfection Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber, but the force application was more refined, and it subtly hinted at stronger growth potential.

The next day, the Xuntian Guard training grounds buzzed with noise.

The first test, "Strength Measurement," began. Martial artists struck the pitch-black Strength Testing Stele in turn, light flashing. White light meant passing, cyan was good, blue was excellent, and purple was genius.

Lei Zhen stepped up. A single punch sent out a dense cyan light, shooting up to two-thirds of the stele's height! "Cyan Grade Upper! Not bad!"

Liu Ruyan's palm carried a chill of ice energy. The stele lit up with an icy blue light at a similar height! "Blue Grade Middle! Good!"

Zhao Song struck with a hand-saber. A sharp blade aura triggered a deep blue light that nearly filled the stele's surface! "Close to Blue Grade Upper!" Exclamations arose. Zhao Song looked around proudly.

It was Li Yifan's turn. Many eyes focused on him, and Liu Kun's face was full of venomous resentment.

Li Yifan calmed his mind and steadied his breath. He was keenly aware of his disadvantage: Basic Breathing Technique was only Yellow Grade Lower. Although trained to Great Success, the quality of his true qi was ultimately a weakness, inferior to Zhao Song's, Liu Ruyan's, and others' Yellow Grade Upper internal arts. His advantage lay in Burning Wood Saber Technique's unique force application and his ability to concentrate power.

He activated his Great Success Basic Breathing Technique, highly condensing his Bone Forging Initial blood qi and true qi according to Burning Wood Saber Technique's core method. His palm faintly glowed red, radiating scorching heat.

"Break!"

He struck out with his palm. The force was scorching and explosive, penetrating into the stele!

"Hum!"

The stele trembled. A dense, solid cyan light pillar shot up into the sky. At the edge of the light, a faint, almost imperceptible trace of pale purple halo coiled around it! The pillar's height was similar to Lei Zhen's and Liu Ruyan's, but the density of the color and that hint of purple made it quite distinctive!

"Cyan Grade Upper! Contains a trace of blue light! Comprehensive assessment: Good Upper, approaching Excellent!" the examiner announced loudly, giving Li Yifan an extra look. This result was neither too high nor too low—not as good as Zhao Song's deep blue, slightly inferior to Liu Ruyan's pure blue, but stronger than most cyan lights. That trace of blue in particular indicated excellent force application or some special quality.

Murmurs spread through the crowd.

"Bone Forging Initial getting that result isn't bad."

"Seems he has some skill, but still falls short of Young Master Zhao and Miss Liu."

"What's with that trace of blue?"

Zhao Song glanced over, the corner of his mouth curling slightly, as if he didn't think much of it. Liu Ruyan's eyes shifted subtly, as if sensing the residual scorching aura. Lei Zhen nodded at Li Yifan. Liu Kun looked both disappointed and jealous.

Li Yifan withdrew with a calm expression. This result was within his expectations. A Small Success Yellow Grade Upper saber art had power equivalent to a Perfection Yellow Grade Lower one, but with superior force application, partially compensating for his lower true qi quality. It let him reach "Good Upper, approaching Excellent"—enough to advance without drawing too much attention, temporarily hidden beneath the brilliance of talents like Zhao Song and Liu Ruyan.

On the high platform, the middle-aged examiner who had noticed Li Yifan before said to the person beside him, "This boy's true qi quality is average, but the force application in that palm strike just now was quite peculiar. Its condensation and explosive power are very strong. It seems to be a high-grade fire-type martial technique, and he's already grasped some of its true essence. Pity his internal arts are holding him back. List him as a secondary observation target."

"Yes, sir."

The first test ended, and Li Yifan advanced smoothly. He was like a hidden dragon, concealed in deep waters, gathering strength. He believed that as his Burning Wood Saber Technique's realm improved, his true edge would eventually reveal itself.

And the coming tests would be the true moment to test his practical combat ability.