Getting What He Wanted

Ordinary martial arts were divided into nine grades, from first to ninth. The first grade was the weakest, the ninth the strongest, and ordinary people and factions usually couldn't get their hands on anything too powerful.

Above those was the "Creation Martial Arts"!

Such martial arts could overturn rivers and seas and reshape heaven and earth. However, they were beyond Lin Yiqing's reach for now. He would have to make it to Great Wilderness Prefecture before he could even hope to find one!

"Fifth Grade Martial Art, Thousand River Moon Reflection Sword."

Hearing Elder Qin's words, Lin Yiqing's face lit up with joy. With this Fifth Grade Martial Art, he was sure he'd be able to bring his strength to bear even more effectively.

"Hmph..."

Many people in the hall were furious, but none dared cause trouble. They could only lament that they hadn't offered a good enough price.

After all, the Wanjin Chamber of Commerce was a renowned force in Yan City, and few factions would dare provoke it.

"Next item up for auction..."

Lin Yiqing didn't participate in any more of the bidding. For one thing, he'd already bought what he needed; for another, his pockets were empty.

"Gold belts come from killing and plundering. Could it be I'll have to go pull off a heist?"

Lin Yiqing felt like crying. He hadn't made much money in his previous life, and who would've thought he'd still be broke in this one?

After waiting a while and seeing nothing else he needed, Lin Yiqing turned and left the auction hall. There was no point hanging around; he might as well go cultivate.

Just as Lin Yiqing stepped out of the passage, a tall, thin attendant reached out to stop him.

"Honored guest, might I borrow a moment of your time? A distinguished gentleman would like to meet you."

The attendant bowed and spoke softly, his manner exceedingly courteous.

Looking at the attendant before him, Lin Yiqing furrowed his brow. Through his mental perception, he sensed dozens of people nearby slowly drawing closer, and every one of them was at least as strong as he was.

Lin Yiqing thought for a moment. It was probably the owner of the martial art he'd just traded. There was no one else who'd have reason to seek him out.

"Fine, I'll go see him. It shouldn't be dangerous."

After a moment's thought, Lin Yiqing followed the attendant down a side passage. Numerous rooms lined both sides, clearly private auction booths reserved for the "big shots."

The attendant led Lin Yiqing into one of the rooms. He pushed open the door, revealing a gray-robed elder seated inside, around fifty or sixty years old, his full head of silver hair meticulously combed.

"Master Yan, your guest has arrived."

The attendant bowed to the old man. It was clear that he held an extremely high position.

"Master Yan! Isn't he the one who guided Lin Dong onto the path of a Talisman Master?"

Lin Yiqing's heart jolted. Master Yan was a major figure in Yan City, the president of the Yan City Talisman Master Association. Even members of the three major factions had to treat him with respect.

"Mm, you may leave."

Master Yan nodded and dismissed the attendant before looking up at Lin Yiqing.

Seeing this, Lin Yiqing hurriedly clasped his hands in greeting. "This junior, Lin Yiqing, pays his respects to Master Yan!"

Whatever the other man's intentions, he couldn't neglect his manners.

"Young friend, you truly are extraordinary. In all my life, I've never seen anyone with such a striking appearance. Forgive me for summoning you here so abruptly. I mainly wanted to ask where you got this book on mental power cultivation."

The moment Master Yan saw Lin Yiqing's face, he'd been taken aback. Such exquisite features were rare indeed. Coming back to himself, he stroked his long beard and asked.

"This junior found it in a mountain cave. May I ask if there's something amiss with it, Master?"

Lin Yiqing looked puzzled. He hadn't expected that to be what the other man wanted to ask.

"Heh, there's nothing amiss. I took part in an auction for this book more than ten years ago, but unfortunately, I didn't manage to buy it. Later, when I finally had enough Yang Yuan Pills, the book had disappeared. I heard its owner was killed in a robbery. Now that it's appeared again, I couldn't help but wonder."

Master Yan answered with a broad smile. There was no denying that Lin Yiqing's flawless looks made it easy for others to feel favorably toward him.

"I see. This junior came by it through a stroke of fate. I never knew the Spirit Refining Chapter had such a history."

Lin Yiqing felt moved. Without reaching the pinnacle of the martial path, one was still an ant. No matter how much one possessed, one might not have the strength to protect it!

Immortality! Strength! These things, once confined to novels and stories, had now taken root deep within his heart.

"Why should I need my ancestral soil beneath my bones? Wherever I am, there are green hills to bury me. Since I've come here, I'll reach the pinnacle of the martial path!"

Lin Yiqing kept encouraging himself. This was the dream he'd planted in his heart after arriving here.

"Have you already cultivated mental power, young friend?"

Seeing how young Lin Yiqing was, Master Yan asked with some anticipation.

Cultivating the martial path required tremendous perseverance and talent, but cultivating mental power demanded even greater innate gifts.

"Yes. To be honest, Master, I've already condensed a talisman seal."

Seeing that the other man meant no harm, Lin Yiqing answered. In the original story, Master Yan had also achieved a great deal in the field of mental power, and he was a good person. He'd helped Lin Dong through difficult times on several occasions.

At this, Master Yan sent a strand of mental power toward Lin Yiqing. Unexpectedly, the mental power surrounding Lin Yiqing blocked it, sending a storm through Master Yan's heart and leaving him utterly shaken.

"Whew, you really are a heaven-gifted genius, young friend! At such a young age, you've already condensed a talisman seal!"

After taking a breath, Master Yan finally steadied himself and spoke.

In all his decades, he'd never seen anyone like this. To condense a talisman seal at only twelve or thirteen—what sort of extraordinary talent did that take?

"Master Yan, you flatter me. I still have a long way to go."

Lin Yiqing clasped his hands. He knew his own circumstances best: he'd only gotten ahead by living two lives. If he grew arrogant and complacent, he'd soon become another "Zhong Yong," a genius who wasted his gifts.

Master Yan waved his hand. He had no idea what Lin Yiqing was thinking and assumed he was simply being modest. He couldn't help but admire him even more.

"These are some of my notes on cultivating mental power, along with the Mental Secret Technique Spirit-Transforming Needle, which I acquired when I was young. Here, take them as a gift."

After a moment's thought, Master Yan took two booklets from his robes and handed them to Lin Yiqing. He truly wanted to take such a prodigy under his wing, but he knew all too well that Yan City couldn't hold him.

A young tiger would one day lord over the forest; a fledgling eagle would surely rule the skies!

"I can't accept gifts without earning them, especially not your notes and secret technique, Master. I'm grateful for your kindness, but these things are far too precious. I truly wouldn't dare accept them!"

Looking at the two booklets, Lin Yiqing's expression changed. He couldn't help clasping his hands as he spoke.

Although he needed these things, the other man had offered such precious gifts after just one meeting and a few words, despite knowing nothing about him. It was hard not to wonder what his intentions were.

"Heh, I was a bit too rash. This is the first time I've met you, young friend, and I was simply moved by your talent. That's why I did this. I hope I didn't frighten you!"

Master Yan was no ordinary man. Having spent years in a position of power, he immediately understood what Lin Yiqing was thinking and hurried to explain.

"How about this, then? If you agree to help me with something within your means when the time is right, I'll still give you these items."

At this, Lin Yiqing considered the matter briefly and understood. If nothing unexpected happened, the other man was likely planning ahead for the Symbol Master Tower.

"Then... thank you, Master. To be honest, these are exactly what I need most right now. I, Lin Yiqing, will surely repay your kindness one day!"

With that, Lin Yiqing bowed and accepted the two booklets with both hands.

His use of mental power was extremely crude. When he'd fought Lin Mang earlier, he'd relied entirely on his own imagination to use it. The other man's gesture was like sending coal in a snowstorm.

Afterward, Lin Yiqing asked him for advice on several ways to use mental power. When the sky grew late, he finally took his leave.

At the inn, Lin Yiqing took a hide scroll from his Universe Bag and studied it closely. He didn't know what kind of demonic beast the hide had come from, but its markings were rather strange.

"Fifth Grade Martial Art, Thousand River Moon Reflection Sword. At last, I've got a martial art worth showing off!"

Looking at the hide scroll, Lin Yiqing's heart burned with excitement. Now he had a high-grade martial art, and he'd even obtained a Mental Secret Technique. Next, he just needed to properly coordinate his abilities.