He had chosen Elite Grade rather than the higher Earth Grade for one reason.
He was poor.
Beginner Grade Techniques generally cost around 1 to 10 Gold Coins.
Elite Grade Techniques generally cost around 100 to 1,000 Gold Coins.
Earth Grade Techniques were even more outrageous, starting at 10,000 Gold Coins, with some reaching as high as a hundred thousand!
"Let's go! Time to pick a technique!"
He acted as soon as he decided.
Su Zhan headed straight for the Martial Hall.
The Martial Hall was the central supply hub for all Martial Artists. Here, one could buy every pill, Spirit Weapon, technique, and cultivation resource a Martial Artist needed.
Not only that, if one wanted to form a group and leave the city to hunt ferocious beasts—
Or post bounty missions, purchase rare materials, and so on... all of it could be done here.
Thus, by the time Su Zhan neared the place, all three techniques had already begun to stir.
Basic Qi and Blood Technique: "Pills! The rich scent of so many high-grade pills!"
Nine Fire Saber: "Good heavens, there are so many Spirit Weapon auras here, it's enough to make one drool!"
Jade Body: "I smell so many high-year medicinal herbs. Big Brother, you smell them too, right? I want to eat them so badly..."
Nine Fire Saber: "Not just high-year medicinal herbs—there are plenty of high-grade minerals too. They smell absolutely incredible!!"
Basic Qi and Blood Technique: "There are many powerful experts stationed here too. Some have already gone beyond the range of my perception!"
"..."
Through the chat messages, Su Zhan learned some new information.
It was not only pills that could nourish and accelerate Body Tempering Techniques. Even medicinal herbs used for pill refinement could do the same... The same applied to weapon techniques. As long as they were metal ores capable of forging Spirit Weapons, they could stir their desire; devouring them would accelerate cultivation!
"With this, my options have broadened considerably."
Su Zhan's eyes flickered.
He had already made up his mind. Once his techniques broke through and his strength rose, he could immediately accept missions to hunt ferocious beasts outside the city... When that time came, whether he exchanged them for Spirit Weapons, pills, or anything else, it would all bring him substantial gains!
The Martial Hall was both grand and spacious.
It carried the air of futuristic science fiction.
After asking where techniques were sold, Su Zhan headed straight there.
The technique section was just as enormous.
Its arrangement resembled a library.
Technique manuals sat neatly on row after row of bookshelves.
"Beginner Grade."
"Elite Grade."
"Earth Grade techniques must be selected on the second floor, and proof of funds is required."
"I'd better obediently stay on the first floor."
He arrived at the Elite Grade technique section.
"Body Tempering Technique section."
"Weapon Technique section."
"Attribute Technique section."
"Special Technique section."
"I won't consider Special Techniques for now. I'll cultivate an Attribute Technique directly!"
Su Zhan had already thought it through on the way here.
He already had a Body Tempering Technique and a weapon technique.
What he currently lacked were Attribute Techniques and Special Techniques.
As the name implied, Attribute Techniques included metal, wood, water, fire, earth, ice, lightning, wind, light, darkness, poison, and so on... all of these fell under Attribute Techniques.
Special Techniques had no fixed definition. They included things such as the Disguise Skill, which could alter one's appearance; Stealth Technique, which concealed one's body; Breath Concealment Method, which suppressed one's aura; and so forth.
Special Techniques found it difficult to directly increase one's strength.
Attribute Techniques were the opposite.
They were several times more difficult than any other category of technique, but likewise, the power they brought was several times greater than that of other techniques!
But Su Zhan soon found himself troubled.
"These techniques... Every single one feels powerful!"
Heavenly Fire Hand: Flames gathered in the palm. Upon reaching Major Accomplishment, it could instantly melt through metal and stone... If it struck a human body, the outcome was easy to imagine.
Cold Thunder Method: It summoned lightning to attack opponents and could be attached to a weapon, inflicting immeasurable damage upon enemies... It could be summoned from thin air or attached to a weapon; both its power and effects were top-notch.
Corrosive Poison Art: It could be applied to a blade. Once it struck an enemy, it inflicted extremely potent corrosive poison damage... A must-have for dirty tricksters!
Heavenly Fire Hand, 800 Gold Coins.
Cold Thunder Method, 800 Gold Coins.
Dark Corrosion Poison Cultivation, 1,000 Gold Coins.
The prices were absurdly expensive. He could not afford a single one!
He could only filter through Elite Grade Techniques suited to him that cost no more than 300 Gold Coins.
"Right!"
A flash of inspiration struck Su Zhan. "Why do I have to choose myself? I can ask the techniques!"
Su Zhan: "Can you sense the auras of the surrounding technique manuals? I want to choose a technique suited to me. Do you have any suggestions?"
Jade Body: "Boss, you've come to the right people! We can all sense their auras, and we can even tell whether their presence is strong or not!"
Nine Fire Saber: "That's right, Boss. If you want to cultivate one, I recommend that Ice Kill Technique. Its aura is sharp, so its attack power must be impressive!"
Basic Qi and Blood Method: "I sensed Ice Kill Technique as well. It is indeed good and stands out among the surrounding Attribute Techniques, but I think that precisely because it is too fierce, it will be difficult to control."
Su Zhan: "Then do you have a suggestion?"
Basic Qi and Blood Method: "Boss, I recommend Departing Fire Method. Its aura is somewhat gentler, making it easier to control, while still retaining considerable power."
Jade Body: "Big Brother, I have to say something about that. Departing Fire Method is gentle, but it's too gentle. Its power is somewhat lacking compared to other Attribute Techniques."
Nine Fire Saber: "True. I have a little Fire attribute myself, and in my eyes, Departing Fire Method is a downright honest fellow—far too mediocre."
Su Zhan: "Then do you have any good suggestions?"
Jade Body: "Boss, there don't seem to be any particularly good Attribute Techniques around here that perfectly suit you. Why not walk farther ahead?"
Su Zhan: "Alright. Then I'll walk through the entire section, and you can sense them properly."
Su Zhan began browsing the Elite Grade Attribute Technique section directly.
To let the techniques sense everything clearly enough, he actually walked back and forth through the area several times.
There were quite a few suitable ones.
But at a glance, all of them cost more than 300 Gold Coins, leaving Su Zhan able only to gaze at the ocean and sigh.
Suddenly.
Basic Qi and Blood Technique: "Boss, wait!"
Nine Fire Saber: "Big Brother Blood Consumption, you felt it too, right? Something's not right!"
Jade Body: "I noticed it earlier, but this time the feeling is even stronger!"
Curious, Su Zhan asked impatiently, "Did you sense some powerful technique? Where is it?"
Basic Qi and Blood Method: "Boss, look beneath your left foot."
Beneath his left foot?
Su Zhan lowered his head. "I don't see anything."
Jade Body: "Boss, it's the pad propping up the bookshelf leg!"
What the hell?!
Su Zhan focused his gaze. Beneath the bookshelf leg really was a grimy-looking pad, folded into a square.
Nine Fire Saber: "Yes, that's it! That oppressive feeling is coming from this thing!"
Su Zhan was utterly dumbfounded.
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