Chapter 174 - 173: Reversed Rank-Jumping is Still Rank-Jumping
Chapter 174: Chapter 173: Reversed Rank-Jumping is Still Rank-Jumping
The streets of Cangwu City were lined with shops, bustling with crowds of people.
Hawkers’ cries echoed endlessly from both sides of the street, creating a lively scene.
"Old rice wine, two copper plates a bowl! The flavor will linger on your lips!"
"Candied haws! Candied haws that are great for nourishing the body! Made with medicinal fruits, only one copper plate a stick!"
"..."
Wu Chen loved this bustling, everyday atmosphere. As he walked, he collected quite a few snacks in his hands.
Munching on his snacks as he went, it wasn’t long before Wu Chen spotted one of his goals for this trip to Cangwu City.
An inn bearing the sign of the Jiang Clan Commerce Association.
After all, the antique-style, magnificent pavilion occupied several acres of land. It was hard not to notice.
Then, as he usually did, he handed his horse over to a waiter at the inn’s entrance and was led by another to a quiet guest room.
He also took the opportunity to ask the waiter about the location of the Jiang Clan Commerce Association’s auction, who told him the auction house was right behind the inn.
Furthermore, the next auction was scheduled in just three days.
"If you wish to attend the auction in three days, Sir."
The waiter bowed and said with a smile, "You’ll need a silver banknote of ten thousand silver taels as a deposit to qualify for entry."
’Ten thousand taels...’
Just moments ago on the street, prices were being called out in copper plates. Now, he was at a venue that required tens of thousands of silver to even enter.
The contrast was certainly a bit stark.
Wu Chen nodded without saying much. He swept a hand over his waist, pulled a crimson silver banknote from his storage bag, and placed it on the table.
His meaning was clear: he intended to participate in the auction in three days, and he was qualified to do so.
"Sir, this ten-thousand-tael silver banknote is just to verify your eligibility. If you find an item you wish to purchase at the auction, the cost will first be deducted from this amount."
"If you do not purchase anything at this auction, the ten thousand taels will be returned to you in full."
The waiter took the silver banknote and briefly explained the process to the handsome young man before him.
Wu Chen nodded, unconcerned about this detail, and asked instead:
"Pardon me for asking, but how many martial arts schools are there in Cangwu City? And what realm are their masters at?"
The auction was in three days, and Wu Chen had no intention of letting the two free days go to waste.
As things stood, the most stable source for improving his strength was the city’s martial arts schools.
"Sir, Cangwu City has two martial arts schools, both on the main street. You can’t miss them if you walk by. The masters of both schools are at the late stage of the Organ Refining Realm."
After all, a martial arts school was a business, and the master’s realm was its main advertisement. There was no reason to hide it.
That was why the waiter knew the realms of the two school masters.
Wu Chen nodded, taking it all in.
"Is there anything else I can help you with, Sir?" the waiter asked politely. A young talent who could casually produce a ten-thousand-tael silver banknote for an auction was not someone he could afford to treat lightly.
"That’s all."
Wu Chen shook his head. His purpose for coming here was simple, centered on three things:
Martial Arts, Martial Arts, and more goddamn Blood Coagulation Realm Martial Arts!
’The school masters are only at the late Organ Refining Realm? That level is indeed enough to open a martial arts school in Cangwu City.’
’But...’
Wu Chen’s brows furrowed. ’I wonder if these two school masters have any Blood Coagulation Realm Cultivation Techniques in their possession.’
’Otherwise, why would they be stuck at the late Organ Refining Realm?’
’Or perhaps they, too, are desperately in need of a method to coagulate their Origin Essence?’
Wu Chen shook his head, knowing it was useless to overthink it.
He glanced at the sky outside. It was already dark. He decided to visit the martial arts schools himself tomorrow; that would reveal all the answers.
「Two days later.」
A dark-faced, ordinary-looking young man strode quickly out of a martial arts school in Cangwu City.
He moved swiftly into an alley, as elusive as a shadow, and vanished in just a few blinks of an eye.
When he emerged from the other end of the alley, the young man’s appearance was completely new. As he walked, he drew frequent backward glances from the young ladies of wealthy families, who were dressed in fine silks.
They wondered which young master he was, to be so easy on the eyes!
This person was none other than Wu Chen, who had used his Disguise Skill to purchase Blood Coagulation Cultivation Techniques from the two martial arts schools.
It was precisely because of this skill that he could openly buy the Martial Arts without fear of being followed.
’Fifteen thousand silver taels for one book. That’s within an acceptable range.’
In Wu Chen’s view, any problem that could be solved with money wasn’t a real problem.
He then looked at the text flashing on his panel to check his gains:
[Entry-level Heart-Cleansing Blood Coagulation Art proficiency +1]
[Entry-level Heart-Cleansing Blood Coagulation Art proficiency +1]
[Entry-level Heart-Cleansing Blood Coagulation Art...]
[Entry-level Heart-Cleansing Blood Coagulation Art (356/4000)]
Seeing that the proficiency requirement was the same as before confirmed that it was undoubtedly a Blood Coagulation Realm Cultivation Technique.
Wu Chen didn’t care about the quality of these Cultivation Techniques.
His plan remained the same: first, he would stack up his realm, then he would come back and steamroll any Martial Artists in the Blood Coagulation Realm.
This way, he could obtain higher-quality Blood Coagulation Cultivation Techniques to solidify his foundation.
’Even if it’s a reverse leap, it’s still a leap!’
With the panel, he didn’t have to be like other martial practitioners, nitpicking over the choice of a single Martial Arts Cultivation Technique or even needing one tailor-made for him.
After all, others had limited lifespans. If they chose wrong, they would get half the results for twice the effort, struggling for over a decade only to end up unable to make any progress.
But Wu Chen was different. His main strategy was to learn everything and then merge it all.
’Good or bad, I’ll learn it first and worry about it later!’
With two Cultivation Techniques in hand, Wu Chen didn’t linger. He changed his face multiple times in the alleys and took a few detours before heading back out onto the street and making a beeline for the inn.
Although this trip might have exposed the fact that he was carrying a huge sum of money, he had little to worry about while staying at the Jiang Clan’s inn.
So he lay on his bed and quietly waited for the next day’s auction.
「The next morning.」
CLANG! CLANG!—
A knock came from the door, followed by the waiter’s voice:
"Sir, the auction begins in one hour. You may enter now."
"Alright, I know."
After replying, Wu Chen looked at his panel:
[Deep Red Host] Wu Chen
[Martial Arts Realm] Fifth Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm
(Qi Power: Wild Bull Shakes the Earth) (Stamina: Endless Qi Power) (Body: Disguise Skill) (Physique: Body Like Adamant Rock)
[Martial Arts & Cultivation Techniques] ’Bone-Eroding Wind Blade: Force’ ’Swift Swallow Plucks a Leaf Step: Force’ ’Vast Qi Nourishing Formula: Intent’ ’Blood-Absorbing Demon Skill’ ’Body Refining and Essence Nourishing Skill’
After glancing over the panel, he focused his mind inward and, sure enough, saw five drops of Origin Essence Blood swirling ceaselessly among his organs.
’I wonder if I’ll come across a Blood Coagulation Realm Martial Art at this auction. It might let me coagulate another drop of Origin Essence.’
’But all told, including the ten-thousand-tael deposit, I only have a little over twenty thousand silver taels in banknotes.’
’Besides, auctions involve bidding wars. The final price will probably be much higher than normal. My funds are a bit tight.’
Wu Chen touched his storage bag, not too worried. Inside was a Jiang Clan Commerce Association Jade Pendant engraved with the name ’Jiang Fang’.
He had received this Jade Pendant from a man named Jiang Fang, a member of a side branch of the Jiang Clan, as thanks for helping him fight criminals and crack down on gang members back in Black Stone City.
’I wonder what kind of discount it’ll get me. And I don’t know if the name of a side-branch family member like Jiang Fang will carry any weight here in Cangwu City.’
’After all, someone who was exiled to Black Stone City probably doesn’t have that much influence.’
Wu Chen muttered to himself, his hand stroking the hilt of his blade.
’If the Jade Pendant doesn’t work, I certainly don’t mind using a more... effective method.’
With that thought, he rolled out of bed, washed his face with some clear water, and pushed the door open.
Seeing Wu Chen was ready, the waiter expertly led the way.
The two of them headed toward the back of the inn, passing through a corridor and a garden.
They walked for a quarter of an hour.
A massive auction house appeared before Wu Chen.