Why did he have to gamble on a real fragment with the bug in the Sacrifice Heavenly Stele?
He could completely set up an artificial fragment to test it.
For example, he could take a complete blade manual from Liu Zhi, refrain from reading the whole thing, then tear off a small portion and try to complete the full blade technique.
If that worked, then the fragment of Three Absolute Shocking Fiends could certainly be completed as well!
Once he understood this, Jiang Che immediately felt as though a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
If it failed, he lost nothing.
If it succeeded, then everything would be perfect.
"Your subordinate understands that biting off more than one can chew is no good, but Three Absolute Shocking Fiends is truly a rare blade technique. I really can't bear to part with it... Could I take both Three Absolute Shocking Fiends and Cool Wind Blade Momentum with me?"
"Of course."
Liu Zhi chuckled.
After receiving the two blade manuals, Jiang Che did not linger at the Liu residence. He even declined Liu Zhi's guidance on Cool Wind Blade Momentum. This time, he would rely entirely on the Sacrifice Heavenly Stele.
The night was already deep. Jiang Che did not return to Zhu Manor, instead casually renting a room at an inn to conduct his experiment.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Jiang Che took out the Cool Wind Blade Manual from his bundle and placed it before him.
This blade technique was not particularly rare. It was stronger than a basic Body Tempering Method like Savage Bull Strength, but not by much. So long as one was willing to spend silver, many martial schools in Tai'an Prefecture taught it.
The reason he had chosen it was that sacrificing such an ordinary blade technique required simpler offerings.
What he truly valued was Three Absolute Shocking Fiends and the effect of completing fragmented manuals, not this blade technique itself.
The book recording the Cool Wind Blade Manual contained only around a dozen pages. Without hesitation, Jiang Che tore off one-tenth of it and began studying it carefully. After confirming that he had memorized it all, he closed his eyes and immersed his consciousness into the Heavenly Stele Space.
Sacrifice target: Master Cool Wind Blade Momentum.
But the Sacrifice Heavenly Stele showed no response. After a while, the small words Jiang Che had inscribed upon the stele with his thoughts gradually faded away and vanished without a trace.
Clearly, reading only one-tenth of the manual was insufficient for completion.
Still, he had no other thoughts about it. He immediately tore off another portion and began probing bit by bit.
Sacrifice target: Cool Wind Blade Momentum, minor mastery. Sacrifice cost: Ten drops of palm blood from an Inner Breath Realm blade cultivator, three rusted broken blades, ten Swift Wind Grass plants, and half a year of lifespan. Proceed with sacrifice?
Jiang Che opened his eyes, which brimmed with surprise.
His fists clenched tightly on instinct.
It really worked!
He had probed little by little, and had now read exactly one-quarter of the blade manual. The Sacrifice Heavenly Stele had also provided the cost of the sacrifice.
This meant that exploiting the loophole in the Sacrifice Heavenly Stele was truly feasible.
As long as he could read one-quarter of a cultivation manual or secret technique, the Sacrifice Heavenly Stele could complete the rest on its own.
He understood all too well what that meant.
In the future, he could specifically collect fragments of top-tier cultivation arts and martial techniques. There would be no need to pay too great a price, and the matter of Body Refining Methods would no longer trouble him.
As for Three Absolute Shocking Fiends, the silver foil recorded one-third of its contents. That meant that as long as Jiang Che completed this sacrifice—
The next time, he could directly cultivate the blade technique recorded on the silver foil.
His strength and foundation would increase enormously.
Of course, all that had to be postponed for the moment. If he wanted to cultivate Three Absolute Shocking Fiends, the first thing he had to do was complete this sacrifice for Cool Wind Blade Momentum.
Three broken blades would be easy enough to obtain, and ten Swift Wind Grass plants would not be difficult either. The herb was not precious, merely an ordinary medicinal plant that grew on cliffs and precipices and could relax the sinews and invigorate the blood.
Its only issue was that it was somewhat scarce.
Lifespan was not a problem either. Altogether, he had only used up a year and a half of his lifespan so far, so he still had plenty left.
The only somewhat difficult thing was the palm blood of an Inner Breath Realm blade cultivator.
This was not easy to acquire. Once someone entered the Inner Breath Realm, they could already command some authority in small places. In government offices, they could become a chief constable.
In the military, they could become a deputy commander.
Among Jianghu forces, such as the information he had gathered on the Cao Gang, an Inner Breath Realm martial artist could already serve as a hall master.
Of course, blade cultivators and sword cultivators were the most common in the world, so they were not particularly rare. So long as Jiang Che could defeat a blade cultivator and take his palm blood, he could satisfy the sacrifice cost.
As he pondered, Jiang Che thought of Deng Yan.
He was a genuine blade cultivator. His blade techniques were exceptionally sharp, and his foundation was solid. Had Jiang Che not directly rushed Savage Bull Strength to major mastery and perfection—
Defeating him would have been utterly impossible.
And from their previous exchange, Jiang Che could basically judge that Deng Yan had, without surprise, already reached Flesh and Blood Manifestation.
A sacrifice delivered right to his doorstep!
Early the next morning, eager to carry out the sacrifice, Jiang Che immediately went to the West City Martial Camp office and had Xu San'er help him gather ten Swift Wind Grass plants in Yanggu County.
He himself brought Geng Dabiao and Xu Chenghu, casually bought some gifts, and went to visit Deng Yan.
His charged punch had struck Deng Yan so hard that he could not stand. The injury was not severe, but it was certainly not light either. Since Deng Yan had already expressed submission, Jiang Che had allowed him to return home and recuperate for a few days.
"How is Huzi's aptitude?"
Jiang Che and the other two strolled through the streets of Yanggu County, chatting casually.
"Much better than mine. He's good material."
Geng Dabiao was straightforward by nature and told Jiang Che plainly.
Xu Chenghu scratched his head beside them, looking somewhat embarrassed.
"If there's anything you don't understand in the future, you can ask me." Jiang Che praised Xu Chenghu. Geng Dabiao possessed a powerful physique and abundant vitality, making him naturally suited to cultivating a broad and forceful Body Tempering Method like Savage Bull Strength.
He had not expected Xu Chenghu to be even better than him. It truly surprised him somewhat.
Still, Jiang Che was happy inside, because the few of them were now more or less his trusted subordinates.
"Thank you, Commander. This subordinate... this subordinate will definitely practice martial arts diligently." Xu Chenghu nodded repeatedly in excitement. Seeing Jiang Che knock Deng Yan to his knees with a single punch that day had given him an immense shock.
He would not forget it anytime soon.
Jiang Che patted Xu Chenghu on the shoulder and smiled, saying nothing more.
Everything was understood without words.
"Commander, I want to ask you for guidance too." Geng Dabiao hurriedly spoke up as well.
He had only been practicing martial arts for half a month, and was still far from major mastery.
"Of course."
"Commander, I heard you haven't been practicing martial arts for very long either. How did you become so formidable?"
As they chatted, the conversation opened up, and Xu Chenghu followed the thread to ask.
"Commander's martial talent is something I've never seen before."
Geng Dabiao could not help sighing.
In just a few days, the gap between them had already been completely widened. Even relying on his massive frame, he had no confidence that he could withstand one of Jiang Che's casual punches.
"Talent? Heh... I traded my life for it."
Jiang Che shook his head and chuckled.