Martial arts!
Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill!!
At the sight of the words on the Merit Scroll, Qin Zheng's movements instantly froze.
Then, wild ecstasy surged up from the depths of his heart!
He had known something of this martial art in his previous life. It was said to be the supreme divine art of the esoteric sects, used to protect the Dharma.
It was a peerless martial arts secret manual!
From what he had learned in his previous life,
this martial art had thirteen levels in total. With every level mastered, one would gain the strength of a dragon and an elephant!
After reaching the tenth level, one could possess tremendous strength exceeding a thousand jin!
However, this world differed from his previous one. The upper limit of martial prowess here was higher, so this martial art's limit should rise accordingly!
Although it was marked as "incomplete," given the Merit Scroll's abilities, if it said it could be refined, then it should be usable!
So long as he obtained this martial art and used merit to refine and improve it, it should not take long before he could easily handle the threat Shi Dian posed!
Truly, he had searched everywhere in worn-out iron shoes to no avail, only to find it without any effort at all!
The martial art he had longed for had actually been hidden within this ordinary string of prayer beads!
In that instant, Qin Zheng had already made up his mind. No matter what, he had to get his hands on these prayer beads!
These prayer beads were the key to helping him break through his current predicament!
Yet no matter how shocked or delighted he was inside,
Qin Zheng maintained a calm appearance on the surface.
"Sir, have you taken a liking to them?"
Seeing Qin Zheng's reaction, the steward asked with a smile from the side.
Without revealing a trace, Qin Zheng pinched the prayer beads and slowly said, "This one has committed too much slaughter. Keeping such a string of prayer beads on me can at least offer some comfort."
Only after saying that did he turn to the steward and calmly ask, "How much are these prayer beads worth?"
The steward smiled. "These prayer beads were the private collection of a subordinate hall master of the Golden Cicada Gang. Their quality is passable."
"But our men were somewhat disrespectful just now. Consider this little thing a gift to you, sir, as an apology."
They were merely items taken from the Golden Cicada Gang, nothing valuable. It was better to use them to befriend the Skin-Refining Realm martial artist before him.
Though they served Captain Ji, Black Goose City was not ruled by his family alone.
Using a few worthless trinkets to befriend a martial artist who had officially entered the realm was the more profitable deal.
Qin Zheng nodded at this and did not refuse. He directly tucked the prayer beads into his robes.
Even though he wanted to refine the prayer beads immediately, lest the night grow long and dreams multiply,
first, refining the relic within these prayer beads required one tael of merit, more than he currently possessed.
Second, he had only just stepped aboard the flower boat. If he came to look at martial arts, then left right after receiving the prayer beads,
anyone could see that something was amiss.
If the steward then asked for the prayer beads back, it would only create needless trouble.
Thus, with a calm expression, he climbed the steps again and went up to the flower boat's second floor.
There were clearly far fewer people here than on the first floor.
But likewise, the items displayed here were more precious than those below.
When Qin Zheng appeared here, many people cast curious looks his way.
The scene that had unfolded before the flower boat had been clearly witnessed through the windows by everyone on the second floor.
Ignoring the many gazes upon him, Qin Zheng looked around but saw no books or booklets recording martial arts.
When he turned to the steward, he saw the man smiling. "Please follow me."
With that, he led Qin Zheng to a room on the second floor. There was a tea table, chairs, and steaming hot tea.
"Please have a seat. Our people will bring the martial arts over shortly."
After inviting Qin Zheng to sit, the steward took a seat opposite him as well.
"My surname is Xu, given name Shan. I am the steward of this flower boat and also one of Captain Ji's soldiers."
"You look somewhat familiar, sir. May I ask where you are employed?"
During the wait, Steward Xu Shan asked Qin Zheng.
Qin Zheng looked at him and remained silent.
Receiving no answer, the steward was not embarrassed. He immediately laughed it off and changed the subject to other matters.
Before long, a servant knocked on the door, then pushed it open and entered.
"Steward Xu, this is what you asked for."
The servant held a tray with both hands. On it lay a thin booklet.
At Xu Shan's nod, he placed the tray on the table before Qin Zheng.
Qin Zheng lowered his head, his gaze instantly locking onto the booklet on the tray.
On the cover of the brand-new booklet, four bold characters danced like dragons and phoenixes—Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell.
"Sir, this is the handwritten copy of the movement art we seized from the Golden Cicada Gang."
Steward Xu Shan smiled at Qin Zheng.
Qin Zheng nodded, then reached out, picked up the booklet, and opened it.
A faint fragrance wafted from the booklet. Even though it was merely a handwritten copy, the paper used was clearly not cheap.
After flipping through it briefly, he discovered that it contained only half the content.
Qin Zheng closed his eyes slightly. Several breaths later, he opened them and said, "How much? I'll take it!"
A smile appeared on Xu Shan's face. He then asked, "How high a price can you offer, sir?"
Qin Zheng did not waste words and immediately said, "Bring paper and brush!"
The smile on Xu Shan's face deepened, and the servant beside him immediately understood. He turned and left the room.
Not long after, when he returned, he carried another tray. It held paper and a brush, as well as another equally thin booklet.
After placing the paper and brush before Qin Zheng, Qin Zheng picked up the brush and immediately wrote down everything in his mind concerning the Ghost-head Saber Technique.
A moment later, Qin Zheng stopped writing and handed the written pages to Xu Shan across from him.
Xu Shan hurriedly accepted them and stared intently at the contents. His brows first furrowed, then gradually relaxed.
After finishing, he looked up at Qin Zheng, nodded, and said, "It will do."
At this, Qin Zheng lowered his head again and continued writing down the essential points of the saber technique.
Only half an hour later did Qin Zheng stop writing once more. He had written out the complete essentials of the saber technique, along with some insights into its cultivation.
After all, this saber technique was not particularly formidable. Being able to exchange it for two martial arts manuals made Qin Zheng feel somewhat embarrassed.
"Done."
He spoke.
Then he reached for the other thin booklet.
After he finished flipping through this booklet, the Merit Scroll above the sea of his mind gave a slight tremble.
Then another line of text appeared upon it.
Martial art discovered: Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell. Can be refined. Requires three qian of merit. Refine?
It would work!
Joy rose in Qin Zheng's heart, though he forced his face to remain calm.
He then tucked both booklets into his robes, stood up, and said, "The deal is complete. I'll take my leave!"
With that, he turned and prepared to leave the room.
"Wait!"
Xu Shan's voice sounded at that moment.
Qin Zheng frowned and turned to look at him.
Then Xu Shan said with a smile, "Sir, since you traded for this movement art, only you may cultivate it. You must not pass it on to others!"
Qin Zheng nodded, said, "Understood," then swiftly turned and left.
He needed to get out of here and quickly refine the movement art to the beginner level!
After Qin Zheng's figure disappeared, Steward Xu Shan picked up the pages recording the Ghost-head Saber Technique.
Leaving the room, he headed toward a room on the third floor.
There, Ji Changyin, dressed in ordinary clothes, was leisurely drinking hot tea while reading the booklet in his hands.
Four characters danced like dragons and phoenixes across it. They were precisely the Golden Cicada Gang's movement art—Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell!
"Master Ji, the matter you instructed me to handle has been taken care of. That man has already left."
Xu Shan respectfully handed the pages in his hand to Ji Changyin as he spoke.
Ji Changyin set down the original copy of the movement art in his hand, then took the pages Xu Shan offered him.
His gaze carefully examined the Ghost-head Saber Technique recorded upon them.
A moment later, he gave a soft laugh. "To comprehend a saber technique that enters the realm from the process of beheading people."
"I never expected there to be such a genius among my subordinates!"
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