System Puzzle Solved, an Unexpected Delight

The ancient book Lin Feng held was quite obscure.

Its title was Liu Family Ancestral History.

It was the clan history of a prominent Liu family in Longyuan County.

Lin Feng flipped through it briefly but found nothing unusual.

Yet the system added "Crimson Gold Glaze" to the martial arts section of his attribute panel.

Crimson Gold Glaze (Supreme Art) (Not Initiated)

The surprise had come far too suddenly—and far too unexpectedly.

He had actually obtained a supreme hidden weapon art, the very supreme art that another stallholder had mentioned just moments ago.

A supreme art was a martial art beyond High-grade Martial Arts.

Lin Feng selected several pages and read them carefully twice, yet still found nothing unusual.

He had never expected the system to have a puzzle-solving function as well.

"Crimson Gold Glaze" had to be hidden between the lines of this ancient book.

Seeing how intently Lin Feng was reading, the elderly stallholder interrupted him again.

"This ancient book is rather obscure. Fifty taels, and it's yours."

Lin Feng wanted to buy it and study it carefully at home.

But after giving it some thought, he decided not to buy it after all.

If he bought the book and was traced by members of the Liu family or descendants of Jin Liusha, it would be troublesome.

Better not to buy it. That way, no one would know he had learned the supreme art "Crimson Gold Glaze."

In the end, Lin Feng spent one hundred taels of silver to buy that copy of Shenzhou Records.

The elderly stallholder felt she had slaughtered a fat sheep and grinned from ear to ear.

Lin Feng, meanwhile, was even more excited. His little heart thumped wildly, as though he had picked up a lump of gold.

He probably would not be able to sleep that night.

The objective had been exceeded.

Lin Feng decided to wait for Steward Li at the entrance.

As he passed the weapon stalls and saw those Glazed Beads, his heart itched a little.

But he still did not buy any.

If that old woman sold the book containing "Crimson Gold Glaze" today and it happened to be traced afterward—

then anyone who had bought Glazed Beads that same day would surely become a clue.

Lin Feng did not want to take even the slightest risk.

Tomorrow, he could simply buy more arrowheads from the blacksmith and use them as Glazed Beads.

Lin Feng stood at the entrance of the Black Market for a while when someone unexpectedly brought him a chair.

Not bad—the Black Market's service was quite decent.

Lin Feng sat in the chair, but he still could not suppress his excitement.

He summoned his attribute panel and checked it.

He discovered that Crimson Gold Glaze was actually gray.

He checked the point allocation information for Crimson Gold Glaze.

The system indicated that it required eight Breakthrough Points.

It took eight Breakthrough Points just to initiate it. That meant each of the first through eighth levels would require sixteen points, while the ninth level would cost thirty-two.

He only had six Breakthrough Points now—not even enough to initiate it.

This martial art consumed an astonishing number of Breakthrough Points.

But it had to be worth the price.

Once he mastered this supreme hidden weapon art, going out would be like carrying a rapid-fire crossbow. He would no longer fear being surrounded.

If he had learned this martial art the day before yesterday, he would have nailed all fifty-odd little thugs to death on that mountain.

Lin Feng then checked Thousand Mile Divine Movement, a Low-grade Martial Arts lightness skill.

It likewise took one point to initiate and two points to reach minor accomplishment.

It seemed that all Low-grade Martial Arts required one Breakthrough Point to initiate, two Breakthrough Points for each of the first through eighth levels, and four Breakthrough Points for the ninth level.

Cultivating a Low-grade Martial Arts technique to the perfected realm required twenty-one Breakthrough Points.

Lin Feng was now somewhat torn.

Should he add points to Thousand Mile Divine Movement first, or Crimson Gold Glaze first?

If he cultivated Thousand Mile Divine Movement first, he could add points tonight and see results tomorrow.

But if he waited another two days, he could save up eight Breakthrough Points and initiate Crimson Gold Glaze.

Even at the initiation stage, a peerless martial art ought to possess considerable power.

In the end, Lin Feng still could not resist the temptation of a peerless martial art.

He decided to endure for two more days, save up eight Breakthrough Points, and initiate Crimson Gold Glaze first.

He waited at the entrance for nearly half a shichen before Steward Li and his group finally emerged.

Steward Li's face was full of smiles. He appeared to have gained quite a lot.

Lin Feng stood and said, "Judging by how happy you look, Brother Li, you must have found a treasure you fancied."

Steward Li also noticed the irrepressible smile on Lin Feng's face.

"It seems Brother Lin also bought the Martial Arts Manuals he wanted."

Steward Li swept his gaze around and said, "There are too many eyes and ears here. Let's talk after we return."

The two left the Black Market and went straight to Lin Feng's courtyard in the County Town.

Lin Feng and Steward Li entered the main hall of Lin Feng's home.

Lin Feng lit two oil lamps, and the two sat beside the table.

Steward Li took a rolled painting from a servant and slowly spread it across the table.

When Lin Feng saw what was painted on it, he did not know what to say.

He had thought it was calligraphy or a landscape painting. It turned out to be a beauty bathing.

"Brother Li, what value does this thing have?"

"Haha, its value lies in how pleasing it is to the eye.

It isn't convenient for me to take this painting home, so I'll leave it here with you, Brother Lin.

Your sister-in-law doesn't like me looking at such things."

Who would have thought that Steward Li was an old lecher—and henpecked besides?

"Brother Li, it isn't convenient to keep this painting with me either.

In a few days, my family will be moving into the County Town too.

It probably would not be good if my wife saw it."

"It's fine. Keep it here for a few days first. Once your family moves over, return it to me."

"Alright, then."

Steward Li asked, "I wonder what manual Brother Lin bought?"

Lin Feng took out Shenzhou Records. "I didn't buy a manual, but I bought an interesting book."

"I didn't expect Brother Lin to be a man who loved books."

Steward Li picked up Shenzhou Records and flipped through it. "This is a fine book. Once Brother Lin finishes reading it, lend it to me for a few days."

"A trivial matter."

"It doesn't matter that Brother Lin did not buy any Martial Arts Manuals this time.

When the Black Market opens next time, I'll bring you again.

Perhaps then Brother Lin will be able to buy the Martial Arts Manuals you desire."

"Then I'll thank you in advance, Brother Li."

Steward Li looked at the painting he had bought again before returning home to rest.

When night came and it was time to sleep,

Lin Feng finally remembered that he had forgotten to buy bedding.

Lin Feng could only sleep through the night in his clothes.

He did not sleep well that night.

His mind was filled with scenes of himself throwing hidden weapons like a rapid-fire crossbow.

The next day, just after he rose, Steward Li sent someone to invite him to breakfast.

Lin Feng was almost overwhelmed by the favor.

Steward Li was taking far too good care of him.

After eating at Steward Li's home, Lin Feng headed straight for the market.

He planned to purchase some daily necessities.

At the very least, he needed to buy a set of bedding so that he would have a blanket next time he came.

Once he had bought everything, he prepared to return home.

As usual, he bought the children some pastries and sweets.

He also made a trip to the blacksmith's shop, intending to buy some arrowheads to practice Crimson Gold Glaze.

But when he arrived at the blacksmith's shop, he discovered that Iron Beads were not rare at all. The shop had plenty of them.

Many young masters liked to use slingshots to shoot birds.

They often went to blacksmith shops to buy these Iron Beads.

That was why the blacksmith's shop always kept them in stock.

Lin Feng spent ten taels of silver on twenty Iron Beads, then hurried home.

The day he had arranged with Mr. Hong was drawing near.

After initiating Crimson Gold Glaze, he would need to initiate Basic Swordplay next.

He wondered what grade of martial art Mr. Hong would teach him after he became his disciple.