Earth-grade as a bargaining chip, lured by profit

Jinling City, the underground black market outside the city.

On the dark and damp street, Dongfang Yueming once again put on that oversized black hooded sweatshirt and walked into the "Dark Blood" shop with practiced ease.

A gaunt old man, wearing a monocle, was wiping a bloodstained dagger in the dim light. Hearing footsteps, he said without looking up, "Closed for business. Go early tomorrow if you want to sell the stolen goods."

"I'm not here to dispose of stolen goods."

Dongfang Yueming, his voice hoarse, cut to the chase. "I want to buy the cultivation technique for the Blood Transformation Realm."

"Thud."

The old man dropped the dagger from his hand onto the counter. He suddenly looked up and stared at Dongfang Yueming as if he were a madman.

"Friend, you're not joking, are you?" The old man chuckled dryly, but his eyes became wary. "Blood Transformation Realm cultivation technique? That thing is a strategic resource! In the entire Jinling City, besides the military, the Martial Dao Association, and those few top families, who else has one?"

"Even if a copy occasionally leaks onto the black market, it's a hot potato with enormous trouble. If anyone dares to sell it openly with a price tag, the aristocratic families and the Night Watchers will tear the roof off the black market the very next day!"

The old man waved his hand. "No, no, go find somewhere else."

Dongfang Yueming did not move.

He knew very well that nothing was unsellable on the black market; the key was... whether you were willing to pay the right price.

"One hundred thousand coins plus a Profound Grade blood technique." Dongfang Yueming said calmly, taking out a jade slip from his pocket. "This is a complete Profound Grade Saber-Drawing Technique, not only extremely powerful but also absolutely clean."

The old man's breathing quickened for a moment.

His gaze was fixed on the jade slip, and he swallowed hard. He didn't care about 100,000 yuan, but among ordinary martial artists and underground mercenaries, a clean Profound Grade killing technique was enough to cause a bloodbath!

The old man clenched and unclenched his fists, his eyes filled with struggle.

But in the end, fear of the powerful figures at the top prevailed over greed.

"Huff..." The old man laboriously looked away. "Friend, this offer is indeed tempting. But to tell you the truth, it's not that I'm not envious, but Blood Transformation Realm cultivation techniques... I simply can't access them at my level. Even if I did, a transaction of this caliber isn't something I can approve. You should put it away."

"Isn't the Profound Grade enough?"

Dongfang Yueming chuckled softly.

Indeed, for powerful figures who can control Blood Transformation Realm techniques, Profound Grade martial arts skills may be precious, but they are not enough to make them risk breaking the tacit understanding between all parties to make a deal.

"Since the Profound Grade doesn't meet the standards of your superiors, what about this one?"

Dongfang Yueming lightly traced a line in the Xukong with his fingertip, mobilizing a trace of the [Taixu Extreme Ice Sword Scripture] within his body and sealing it into the jade slip.

"Snap."

He casually tossed the jade slip onto the counter.

"A Earth Grade- one blood skill."

"What?!"

The old man suddenly jumped up, accidentally knocking over a nearby shelf. He scrambled onto the counter, his hands trembling as he stared at the jade slip, as if it were an indescribable relic of a deity.

"Earth-level... Earth Grade? You're insane! This is impossible! You can count the number of Earth Grade martial arts techniques in the entire Jinling City on one hand!"

"Whether it's true or not, you'll know for yourself if you experience it," Dongfang Yueming said calmly, arms crossed.

The old man trembled as he extended a finger and carefully touched the surface of the jade slip.

"Buzz--!"

The mere wisp of emanating extreme cold sword intent instantly traveled along the old man's finger and directly into his Sea of Consciousness!

In that instant, the old man seemed to see a deathly Xukong of Absolute Zero, where everything was frozen and Vitality was extinguished! The already depleted blood and energy within his body were so frightened that they completely stopped flowing!

"Thump!"

The old man's legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, drenched in sweat, panting heavily, his eyes filled with undisguised extreme fear and fanaticism!

That is a power that truly surpasses the Profound Grade!

"This... this is actually..." the old man stammered, unable to utter a complete sentence.

Earth Grade martial skill! If this were to leak out, it would drive all the powerful families in Jinling City crazy! And now, someone is actually using it to exchange for a basic cultivation technique for the Blood Transformation Realm?!

What a waste!

"Now, can we do this deal?" Dongfang Yueming looked down at him.

For him, with a trillion points in hand, Earth Grade blood skills are just products on an assembly line. He can use them to exchange for the stepping stones to the realm he desperately needs, a sure-fire way to make a profit.

"Yes! We can do it!"

The old man nodded frantically, like pounding garlic. He scrambled to his feet, his attitude becoming incredibly respectful, even showing a hint of awe.

"My lord! This is far too extravagant of you! I absolutely dare not touch this jade slip!"

The old man wiped the cold sweat from his brow. "But I can assure you, the 'big boss' behind the black market will be extremely interested in this deal! Please give me an hour... no, half an hour! I'll go and report immediately!"