Permanent Genius State

"Money is getting a bit tight..."

In Xianyun County, dozens of kilometers away from Yanggu County, Fang Can sat in a room at an inn late at night, lost in thought as he looked at the mere three taels of silver he had left.

According to the purchasing power of this world, these three taels of silver would be enough for an ordinary person to live frugally for half a month.

But for someone like him who had no fixed home, it wasn't even enough to cover his recent inn and food expenses.

"I should have brought some gold when I transmigrated. I wonder when I'll be able to go back." Fang Can sighed and collapsed onto the bed, pulling a stack of papers from his robes.

These were the letters of allegiance from various major forces within a hundred-mile radius to the Tiger Fiend Sect; he could use these to collect protection money from martial halls every month.

Fang Can flipped through the papers, marking the forces he would visit next based on the map in his head.

According to the collection dates, Fang Can selected three slips: the Blazing Sun Martial Hall, the Green Smoke Pavilion, and the Black Stone Gambling Den.

As long as he showed up with these slips, he could collect at least 300 taels tomorrow, which would keep him from worrying about money for a year. After that, he would just take the money and run, wandering the world as he pleased.

"I heard Jiang's Tribulation Sword Mountain is in Liang Province, but that's a bit far. Should I go seek refuge with her?"

Fang Can lay leisurely on the bed with his legs crossed, letting his mind wander aimlessly.

But then he recalled her recommendation that he undergo the Egg-Replacing Period surgery, and he subconsciously dismissed the idea.

Gazing at the twinkling stars through the window, Fang Can's consciousness gradually dimmed, and he drifted into a deep sleep.

Lying on the bed, Fang Can had only napped for two hours when he felt a chill rise from the back of his head.

Almost instantly, the familiar sensation made him bolt upright. He gripped the Longquan Treasure Sword leaning beside him, scanning his surroundings like a startled Hajimi.

Fang Can was very familiar with this cold feeling; it was his talent, Extreme Misfortune Brings Prosperity, activating. In other words, there was definitely someone nearby who posed a threat to him.

"Where is the enemy?" Fang Can scanned the area, his eyes searching in vain.

Calming down, he sat cross-legged on the floor, closing his eyes to sense the changes in Extreme Misfortune Brings Prosperity.

He realized that his superpower had indeed been triggered, but unlike the intense, short-lived bursts of the past, it was maintaining his aptitude at a very steady, continuous output.

"Does Extreme Misfortune Brings Prosperity think that the thing in the shadows might pose a threat, but a negligible one, so it's just symbolically boosting my aptitude?" Fang Can guessed.

Comparing it to his panel, Fang Can found that unlike the dozens-fold increase in aptitude he got from eating Arsenic, his aptitude was now maintained at about three times his normal state—the kind of minor danger that might cause him to trip while walking.

But although the boost was small, it was stable. At three times his normal aptitude, he was in the state of a minor genius at every moment.

Since the superpower determined the danger wasn't too great, Fang Can stopped worrying about it. After all, having someone who posed no real threat watching him and providing a free aptitude boost wasn't a bad thing.

If they ever jumped out, he would just crush them.

He looked up at the sky outside the window. The sky was just beginning to brighten, and the faint sunlight shone on him, constantly recharging his cells.

He was no longer sleepy, so he simply packed his luggage and set off to collect his debts. As for his first target, it was naturally the nearby Blazing Sun Martial Hall.

Carrying his long sword, the short-haired Fang Can walked past the early morning crowds. Since leaving the Tiger Fiend Sect, the proportion of martial artists around him had dropped significantly.

Of the eighty or ninety people he encountered, only a few had steady gaits and vibrant blood energy, and he hadn't seen a single person who had crossed the First Mysterious Barrier.

After all, martial arts required a focused mind. A martial artist with good aptitude would struggle for two years just to barely reach the first level of the Mysterious Barrier.

But this realm was not stable; it would rise or fall depending on one's state of mind.

Most people practiced martial arts to get ahead in life.

But if they spent their days working hard in the fields and being scolded by their bosses, they would be filled with suppressed anger. Even if they were disciplined at night, their severely depressed state of mind would only hinder their practice, leading to twice the effort for half the result.

Therefore, unless one was from a wealthy family, they wouldn't even have the opportunity to practice. If life was full of regrets, the barrier of martial arts was hard to cross.

Facing the morning glow, Fang Can arrived at the gate of the Blazing Sun Martial Hall. He looked up at the vigorous, powerful characters carved on the plaque and nodded slightly.

"May I ask what brings you to the Blazing Sun Martial Hall, brother?" The guard at the entrance stepped forward.

As he spoke, he sized Fang Can up. Neither his attire nor the sword on his back looked like those of an ordinary person, which made him soften his tone.

Fang Can didn't hesitate, pulling out the slip to show him: "I am from the Tiger Fiend Sect."

Upon hearing "Tiger Fiend Sect," the guard's demeanor dropped another notch, and he bowed respectfully:

"Please wait a moment, honored guest. I will go inform the Hall Master immediately."

Watching the guard scurry off to report, Fang Can felt the man's attitude was a bit exaggerated.

But then he saw another guard grab a chair and place it behind Fang Can, fawning, "Please sit, honored guest. He will be back in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."

Fang Can: "...Oh, you're too kind."

The guard waved his hand, flattered: "Where would you get such an idea, honored guest? This is only what we should do."

Inside the martial hall, the messenger guard trotted into the meeting hall and reported to the current Hall Master, Ye Yonglie: "Reporting to the Hall Master, someone from the Tiger Fiend Sect is here to collect rent."

"Oh?" Ye Yonglie, who hadn't been up long, tilted his head in confusion: "Why are they here so early today? They usually don't come until the hour of the Rooster."

"I'm not sure. And unlike the disciples who came before, this is a new disciple I've never seen."

"A new disciple?" Ye Yonglie frowned: "Did this disciple say how much they wanted to collect this time? 500 taels or 1000 taels?"

"He didn't say." The guard scratched his head: "But he looks young, probably just out of the Martial Arts Hall. He doesn't have much experience, so maybe he'll ask for less."

"Hard to say." Ye Yonglie felt the situation was tricky. After thinking for a moment, he said: "Invite him in first."

"Very well, sir."

Watching the guard trot away, Ye Yonglie sat back in his grand armchair and waited patiently.

He did not have to wait long; as a spirited youth was led in by the guards, Ye Yonglie immediately stepped forward to greet him:

"Truly, heroes emerge from the youth. I am Ye Yonglie, the current Lieyang Hall Master. It is a pleasure to meet another talented young man from the Tiger Fiend Sect. May I ask your honorable name?"

"You can call me Fang Can. You should understand the purpose of my visit," Fang Can said with a smile as he pulled a receipt from his pocket.

"Oh, of course, that is no problem at all." Ye Yonglie smiled and produced a money pouch, pressing it into Fang Can's hand: "This is just a small token of my sincerity."