Chapter 5

Deducing [Suction Palm] still required two prerequisites.

First, he had to cultivate Suction Palm to perfection. Second, he needed gravity-attribute materials to assist him.

He now had half the materials. As for gravity-attribute Magic Cores, he could either go to the Mittel Family-though his current gold coins certainly would not be enough, and there would be some additional expenses-or head to the outskirts of the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

But he had not even reached the beginner level in Suction Palm yet. He would practice first.

Lu Ze took a thin, yellowed manual from inside his robe. This was [Suction Palm], a Low Yellow Tier Dou Technique possessed by the Jia Lie Family-or rather, all three major families of Wutan City.

It differed from Basic Swordsmanship, which emphasized muscle memory built day after day and fine control of Dou Qi, relying on slow, painstaking effort.

His physical foundation had been poor when he first transmigrated. It had taken three full years of swinging his sword to reach perfection.

But as a Low Yellow Tier Dou Technique, Suction Palm had a relatively low entry threshold.

More importantly, the gravity attribute of Mysterious Heavy Iron Ore perfectly matched Suction Palm's force-generating techniques for pulling, so he did not need to simply grind proficiency as he had with Basic Swordsmanship.

With the help of Mysterious Heavy Iron Ore, cultivating Suction Palm was as easy as turning over his hand.

Besides, after three years of swinging a sword, his body had long since adapted to circulating Dou Qi.

Cultivating Suction Palm, which was of the same tier as Basic Swordsmanship, to perfection would certainly take much less time.

Lu Ze began cultivating Suction Palm behind closed doors. Sitting cross-legged on his bed, he pressed both hands against the Mysterious Heavy Iron Ore. The Dou Qi within him slowly circulated along Suction Palm's prescribed route, while the gravity attribute of the mysterious heavy iron acted like a whetstone, constantly compressing and tempering his Dou Qi.

Time slipped quietly by, and several months passed in the blink of an eye.

When Lu Ze poured the final wisp of Dou Qi into his palms, their suction abruptly surged.

The teacup and books on the table, and even that hundred-jin piece of Mysterious Heavy Iron Ore, began to tremble slightly.

[Ding! Suction Palm perfected.]

Lu Ze let out a long breath of turbid air and collapsed onto the bed, his entire body aching as though a carriage had rolled over him.

Yet his eyes were filled with excitement. After several months, he had finally ground Suction Palm to perfection.

With a thought, he checked the panel.

[Deduction prerequisite one: Suction Palm perfected. Fulfilled. Deduction prerequisite two: mysterious heavy iron, gravity-attribute Magic Cores ×10. Current: 0/10.]

"Ten gravity-attribute Magic Cores..."

Lu Ze frowned. Gravity-attribute Magic Cores were an uncommon type. In Wutan City's markets, a First Order Gravity Magic Core cost between thirty and fifty gold coins. Ten would cost three to five hundred.

Just then, the idle chatter of two disciples by the courtyard gate drifted over the wall.

"Have you heard? The Xiao Clan is holding a small auction at the Mittel Auction House tomorrow.

"The final item is a third-order medicinal herb, Purple Leaf Orchid Grass.

"Purple Leaf Orchid Grass is the main ingredient for refining Qi Gathering Powder.

"The Xiao Clan is paving the way for that good-for-nothing Xiao Yan!"

Their voices gradually faded into the distance.

Lu Ze sat on the bed, his gaze shifting slightly.

The Mittel Auction House was the largest trading venue in all of Wutan City. It offered not only medicinal herbs, but also all sorts of Magic Cores from the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

He would certainly be able to find the gravity-attribute Magic Cores he needed there.

"The Mittel Auction House. Looks like I'll have to make a trip tomorrow. And while I'm there..."

A seductive, enchanting figure surfaced in Lu Ze's mind: Ya Fei of the Mittel Family.

Lu Ze closed his eyes again, preparing to continue cultivating.

Yet he had been meditating for less than an hour.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Suddenly, someone pounded on the courtyard gate with a deafening racket, accompanied by Jia Lie Fu's shrill, rasping voice and its mocking tone.

"Young Master Lu Ze, wake up. The clan head has issued orders. The fighting at the South City Mine Vein is critical.

"The family needs you to provide reinforcements. Please assemble at the family square promptly at the hour of the Rabbit. If you're late, you'll face military punishment."

Lu Ze's eyes snapped open, a trace of icy coldness flashing in their depths.

The hour of the Rabbit? It was only the hour of the Tiger now. Jia Lie Bi did not intend to give him even a single night. He was eager to send him into the meat grinder of the mine vein and kill him with a borrowed blade.

Lu Ze slowly stood, looking at the hundred-jin piece of Mysterious Heavy Iron Ore on the table, then at the word "perfected" beside [Suction Palm] on the panel.

Hmph. You want me to go to my death?

He picked up the Emerald Water Sword from the table, hung it at his waist, and walked out.

Early morning, at the Jia Lie Family square. The sky had just begun to brighten, and the morning mist had yet to disperse.

Lu Ze arrived on time, carrying a simple travel pack, the Emerald Water Sword hanging at his waist.

In the center of the square, Jia Lie Xiong—a trusted subordinate of Great Elder Jia Lie Nu and Jia Lie Shan's older paternal cousin—was mustering the men with a cold expression.

Jia Lie Shan stood to one side with blood-staunching ointment applied to his neck, his gaze brimming with venom as he looked at Lu Ze.

"Lu Ze, the fighting at the mine vein is critical. To counter the Xiao Clan's offensive, we need to reopen the C-Class Abandoned Mine Vein. The terrain there is extremely complicated, and it has the most magical beasts.

"The family now needs you to take three people there to scout the route and serve as the vanguard."

Jia Lie Xiong wore a serious expression, acting as though he was simply conducting official business.

The C-Class Abandoned Mine Vein was a deathtrap that even the family guards refused to enter. Large numbers of ferocious magical beasts at the peak of the first order, and even the Second Order, occupied it. Sending a Two-Star Dou Zhe there was tantamount to pronouncing a death sentence.

Lu Ze took the wooden token without so much as glancing at Jia Lie Shan and said flatly, "There's no need to take others to their deaths. I'll go alone."

At these words, the Jia Lie Clan disciples waiting to enjoy the spectacle all froze.

Jia Lie Shan looked at him as though he were an idiot.

"You're going alone? The magical beasts will chew you up until not even your bones remain.

"If you want to play the hero, don't do it now!

"Can you bear the responsibility if you delay the family's plans?"

"Enough nonsense!" Lu Ze turned and walked away. "Lead the way."

Jia Lie Xiong and Jia Lie Shan exchanged a glance, each seeing wild delight in the other's eyes.

This good-for-nothing was actually seeking death. He had even saved them the cannon fodder who would cover him.

Fine. Since you're in such a hurry to be reincarnated, we'll oblige you.

Soon, they reached the entrance to the South City Mine Vein. Tents bearing the words "Jia Lie" had already been pitched around it, and a grim, murderous atmosphere hung over the area.

Jia Lie Shan pointed at the pitch-black mine tunnel that gave off a foul stench.

"In you go. Don't die too quickly."

Without a word, Lu Ze walked straight into the darkness.

Naturally, Lu Ze was no fool. He had not come to the C-Class Abandoned Mine Tunnel out of temper.

On the contrary, he knew exactly what he was doing.

During these months of cultivating Suction Palm, he had been searching for more Mysterious Heavy Iron Ore.

Effort did not fail the determined. He had finally found relevant clues about why the C-Class Abandoned Mine Tunnel had been abandoned.

The reason was that a small, half-deep mysterious heavy iron vein had been discovered in its deepest reaches.

This was not what the Jia Lie Family wanted. Moreover, its dense gravity-attribute presence slowed mining progress, and magical beasts appeared there. These and other reasons had led the Jia Lie Family to abandon the tunnel.

And!

A mysterious heavy iron vein! That meant associated magical beasts would probably appear here, and their Magic Cores would certainly have the gravity attribute!

At the thought, Lu Ze could not help licking the corner of his mouth.

Deep within the C-Class Abandoned Mine Tunnel, it was dark and damp, and fluorescent moss covered the rock walls.

The smell of magical beast droppings and the pungent reek of blood filled the air.

Lu Ze lightened his footsteps and slowly made his way onward.

Suddenly, a faint rustling came from the darkness ahead.

Lu Ze stopped, his right hand slowly closing around the hilt of the Emerald Water Sword. More than a dozen pairs of tiny eyes glowing an eerie green lit up in the darkness.

Lu Ze looked closely. They were Iron-Armored Rock Rats, thick-skinned, tough-fleshed Earth-element magical beasts ranging from the peak of the First Order to the early Second Order.

Even Ultimate Yellow Tier blades and swords struggled to cut through the stone armor on their backs, and the Magic Cores condensed within their bodies were precisely the gravity-attribute Magic Cores Lu Ze needed.

"Squeak! Squeak!"

The leading Rock Rat, as large as a calf, let out a piercing screech.

More than a dozen Rock Rats turned into gray afterimages, hurtling madly toward Lu Ze.

"Just right for testing my sword."