Hundred Refinements Golden Body Technique

"How do I show my sincerity?"

Zhou Qing asked.

"Simple. Internal Art manuals are expensive. Even here in the Black Market, a third-rate Internal Art costs around a hundred taels of silver."

The stall owner replied blandly.

"I understand." Zhou Qing nodded, then discreetly revealed a banknote with a denomination of one hundred taels. In a deep voice, he said, "Do I qualify now?"

"Of course you qualify." The stall owner immediately took out a sheet of paper and handed it to Zhou Qing. "It lists several Internal Arts along with their prices. Tell me which one catches your eye, and I'll get you the manual."

Zhou Qing took the paper and began reading.

Vine Entanglement Strength: Third-rate Internal Art. The internal force cultivated from it was exceptionally resilient, able to be soft or hard. It excelled at grappling and joint-locking, restricting an enemy's movements. Price: 90 taels of silver.

Spring Wind and Rain Art: Third-rate Internal Art. Its internal force was mild and nourishing, with healing effects that accelerated the recovery of external wounds. Price: 90 taels of silver.

Fire Origin Art: Third-rate Internal Art. It stimulated the vitality of one's qi and blood, enhancing explosive strength. Price: 100 taels of silver.

Bright Fire Art: Third-rate Internal Art. Its internal force transformed into fire and contained burning power. Price: 100 taels of silver.

Flowing Water Strength: Third-rate Internal Art. Its internal force flowed like a stream, unceasing and continuous. It excelled at deflecting force and dissipating power, making it suited for prolonged battles. Price: 110 taels of silver.

The sheet listed a total of thirteen Internal Arts, but all thirteen were merely third-rate.

They did not mean much to Zhou Qing.

After all, he was now a Second-rate Martial Artist at the Fourth Level of the Acquired Realm. Third-rate Internal Arts truly held little appeal for him.

"Do you have any second-rate Internal Arts, or first-rate ones?"

Zhou Qing returned the paper to the stall owner and asked.

"None of the thirteen suit you?"

The stall owner's brows furrowed slightly.

"No." Zhou Qing shook his head. "I need a second-rate Internal Art. A first-rate one would be even better."

"I don't have any first-rate Internal Arts." The stall owner shook his head, then said in a deep voice, "But I do have one second-rate Internal Art. It's called Astonishing Waves Strength. Once cultivated to perfection, its internal force will surge like raging waves, each wave stronger than the last, allowing one's power to stack and erupt."

"No first-rate art..." Zhou Qing considered it, then said, "I'll look at the other stalls."

With that, he rose and left.

One could not rush when buying Internal Art manuals.

Besides this stall, four others sold manuals. Perhaps one of those four had a first-rate Internal Art for sale. Even if none had first-rate Internal Arts and only second-rate ones, he still had to compare goods from several sellers before making his choice.

Zhou Qing arrived before the second stall.

The owner of this stall was a woman.

After they exchanged a few words, Zhou Qing got up and left. The Internal Art manuals she sold were likewise mainly third-rate, with only one second-rate Internal Art.

Then came the third stall, and the fourth.

"All four stalls only have one second-rate Internal Art each."

Zhou Qing's brows creased slightly. He left the fourth stall and came to the fifth, hoping its owner possessed a first-rate Internal Art.

The owner of the fifth stall was a man wearing a monkey mask.

"I do have a first-rate Internal Art here."

The masked man spoke directly when he saw Zhou Qing approach his stall.

"Mm? You really have a first-rate Internal Art?"

Zhou Qing felt excitement stir in his heart, but his tone remained calm, and no excitement showed on his face.

If he appeared too eager, he would surely be taken to the cleaners.

"That's right. I do indeed have a first-rate Internal Art manual."

The masked man smiled and nodded, a glint flashing through his eyes. Although Zhou Qing had not shown any eagerness, the man seemed to have seen through his thoughts.

"How much silver do you want for this Internal Art manual?"

Zhou Qing asked.

The masked man raised five fingers. "Five thousand taels!"

"What? Five thousand taels?"

Zhou Qing frowned.

He had only a little over five hundred taels on him in total. He could not afford it at all.

"That's too expensive."

Zhou Qing shook his head.

"Expensive? You actually call five thousand taels expensive?" The masked man said, "Do you know how much a first-rate Internal Art is worth at an auction? Even second-rate Internal Arts can sell for tens of thousands of taels of silver. As for first-rate Internal Arts, without fifty thousand taels of silver, you would not even qualify to join the bidding. The final price often exceeds a hundred thousand taels of silver."

"You said so yourself—that's at an auction, while this is the Black Market." Zhou Qing said, "Internal Arts bought at auction can be cultivated openly and passed down to one's descendants, handed down generation after generation forever without any hidden dangers. But who knows where the first-rate Internal Art in your hands came from? Maybe the day after I cultivate it, people from some great sect will come knocking at my door."

"Four thousand taels. Four thousand at the lowest. Not a tael less."

The masked man said in a deep voice.

"Still too expensive."

Zhou Qing shook his head, rose, and walked away.

This masked man was clearly opening his mouth like a lion, intent on taking a huge bite out of him. How could Zhou Qing agree? Besides, he did not have that much silver on him.

"Wait!" Seeing that Zhou Qing was truly leaving, the masked man called after him. Then he said in a deep voice, "If you genuinely want to buy the art, name your price. If it's suitable, we'll make the deal."

Zhou Qing returned to the stall and said quietly, "Five hundred taels. That's all I have on me. I can't produce even one tael more."

"Impossible! This is a first-rate Internal Art. You think you can buy it for a mere five hundred taels? Why don't you just go rob someone?"

The masked man was clearly angered by Zhou Qing's offer.

He had never seen anyone bargain like this.

He had named a price of five thousand taels. Others would at most cut it in half, but Zhou Qing had countered with five hundred taels, hacking the price all the way down to its toenails.

Zhou Qing did not mind at all and continued blandly, "Five hundred taels of silver is not a small sum. For you, it's nothing more than spending some paper and ink to copy out another manual. If you won't sell it, then forget it."

The masked man's expression shifted slightly. He had not expected Zhou Qing to be so difficult to deal with. Gritting his teeth, he said in a deep voice, "Five hundred taels, then."

"Still too high," Zhou Qing muttered inwardly upon hearing the man agree.

Though the man had gritted his teeth and put on an agonized expression, it was most likely an act.

Still, Zhou Qing did not go back on his word. Being able to buy a first-rate Internal Art on this trip to the Black Market was already exceedingly rare.

In some small counties, the strongest Internal Arts available were only second-rate.

For example, in Black Stone County, the Martial Artist standing at the very peak of the pyramid was merely a Peak Second-rate Martial Artist at the Sixth Level of the Acquired Realm.

Through normal channels, if he wanted to obtain a first-rate Internal Art, he would have to prepare at least a hundred thousand taels of silver.

Zhou Qing took two hundred-tael banknotes from his robes and handed them to the masked man. In a deep voice, he said, "I'll give you two hundred taels first. Once I confirm that there is no problem with the Internal Art manual, I'll give you the remaining three hundred taels."

"Fine!"

The masked man did not fuss over such minor details. He took a manual from his robes and handed it to Zhou Qing.

"Hundred Refinements Golden Body Technique!"

Zhou Qing took the manual and saw five large characters written across its cover.