: Black Market, Purple Lingzhi, News of Internal Cultivation Techniques! [Big Brothers and

Chapter 53: Black Market, Purple Lingzhi, News of Internal Cultivation Techniques! [Big Brothers and Beautiful Ladies, Please Subscribe!]

After Su Yang poured boiling water on six ant nests in the cloth shop, killing a bunch of cockroaches, he...

【Killing Knife Technique (Perfected)】

The panel in his mind was flashing.

At the same time, his swordsmanship was perfected.

He could clearly hear Sun Wang's tense breathing in the distance and the trembling of cockroach tentacles in the cracks of the wall.

I could see every trace of dust floating in the sunlight, and the subtle movements of the legs of surviving ants.

His muscles were as hard as iron, his skin was much more resilient, and his senses and reflexes had reached a whole new level. The world seemed to slow down, but in reality, it was because his perception and control over his body had changed dramatically.

"In less than half an hour, the Killing Blade Technique was perfected!!"

Su Yang looked at the panel in his mind, a look of satisfaction in his eyes. He exhaled sharply, looked at his hands, and murmured, "This is the fastest I've mastered all my martial arts!"

At this moment, he felt confident.

If he were to face Liu Meng again...

Killing him is as easy as a single, casual strike!

"Sun Wang, you did a good job."

Su Yang looked at Sun Wang, his voice deep and serious: "The soup and meals shall remain the same; do not leave your sight."

"I understand!"

Sun Wang bowed and turned to leave.

"Nebula, you continue practicing your swordsmanship with the other guards."

Su Yang then looked at Li Xingyun and gave him instructions.

"Yes, Uncle Su."

Li Xingyun responded and turned to run towards the training ground.

The greatest truths are the simplest.

[Su Yang]

[Martial Arts/Skills: Apricot Grove Herbal Recognition (Perfect), Tiger Form Fist (Perfect), Armor-Piercing Dart Technique (Perfect), Killing Blade Technique (Perfect), Grass-Walking Technique (Perfect), Nourishing Life and Strengthening Vitality Technique (Minor Success 3992/12500), Breaking Army Tiger Soul Blade (Proficient 1863/2000), Forty-Nine Style Overlord Blade. Incomplete 25/49 (Beginner 896/2000)]

[Simplified point: 89.3]

Su Yang returned to his room, closed the door, sat cross-legged on the bed, and opened the simplified control panel.

"The Killing Blade Technique is now complete. Only the Breaking Army Tiger Soul Blade and the Overlord Blade remain. There are still a few hours before tonight's trip to the black market. I must hurry and improve my proficiency; every bit of strength I gain is precious!"

Su Yang looked at the panel, sat down cross-legged, placed the tiger image and tiger paw in front of him, held a small wooden knife in his hand to cut the tiger skin, and stared at the image of a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey. On the panel in his mind, the proficiency of the Breaking Army Tiger Soul Blade and the Overlord Blade kept increasing.

As dusk settled in late afternoon, the night deepened.

Su Yang changed into a gray robe and shorts, concealed his knife and mask, and quietly left the manor with a bundle in hand. His purpose was clear: to obtain high-quality tonic herbs of even greater age and a secret manual for their combined use.

He frequented dark alleys, his senses fully activated, taking in all the prying and whispering under the cover of night in the western part of the city.

Half an hour later, we arrived at Sheep's Tail Alley.

The alley was narrow and deep, ending at a high wall, which led to a dead end.

The curtains of the third earthen house were completely drawn back, and a dim candlelight shone from behind the mottled door panel, like a lone eye peering into the darkness.

Su Yang first took out a black robe from his package and put it on, then put on a mask, revealing only a pair of calm and deep eyes. After confirming that it was the right person, he stepped forward and knocked on the door. The knocking sound was particularly clear in the silence: three long knocks followed by two short knocks.

.

"Thump, thump, thump—thump, thump."

There was a moment of silence inside the door, then a hoarse voice, like the rubbing of sandpaper, rang out: "The night road is difficult to travel; where do you come from, traveler?"

"Entrusted by an old friend, I brought some keepsakes." Su Yang replied in a deep voice as the old clerk had instructed, while simultaneously slipping the smooth-edged five-zhu coin through the crack in the door.

A very faint metallic clanging and rubbing sound came from inside, as if someone was carefully examining the engravings on the money.

"Squeak!"

A few breaths later, the door cracked open inwards, creating a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through sideways.

The one-eyed man blocked the doorway, his remaining eye sharp as an eagle's. It first swept over the slightly bulging outline of Su Yang's robes where his sword was hidden, then lingered for a moment on Su Yang's composed stance and breathing rhythm before finally stepping aside and succinctly stating: "Enter! Rules:"

Do not inquire about the source of the goods, do not reveal your true identity; once the money and goods are exchanged, neither party owes the other anything; each party bears their own fortune and misfortune.

Su Yang nodded slightly and crouched down to slip inside.

Behind the door are earthen steps leading down, which are cold and damp.

After descending more than twenty steps, pushing open the iron-clad wooden door leading underground, a wave of sound and heat, mixed with the smells of sweat, medicine, rust, and even blood, suddenly rushed in.

The underground space is vast and supported by rough wooden strips and stone.

There were about two hundred men in black robes, their faces covered with masks and cloths, a mixed group of people.

On the east side of the stall, there were rusty swords and bloodstained leather armor. The stall owner was a burly man with a fierce face, negotiating with the buyer with his eyes and gesturing with a ruthless air.

The stalls on the west side displayed strangely colored medicinal herbs and sealed porcelain bottles. The air was filled with a sweet and pungent medicinal smell, which seemed to be both poison and tonic. Several men in black were gathered there, talking in hushed tones.

At the south corner, several people were gathered around a copper basin containing bear paws, deer penises, and other items. They were making the transaction quickly, as if afraid of being seen by others.

In the darkness, someone passed something through their sleeve; the edges of the oil paper wrapping revealed a slight yellow tinge. After the transaction, they immediately turned and blended into the crowd, leaving no trace.

The candlelight flickered.

Su Yang's gaze swept across the noisy crowd, precisely locking onto a medicinal herb stall on the west side. He needed ginseng of even older age to replenish his inner strength; it was the foundation of his livelihood, and he couldn't afford to delay even a moment.

As you approach the stall, the stall owner raises his eyes warily.

Su Yang lowered his voice: "The ginseng must be at least ten years old."

A flicker of surprise crossed the stall owner's eyes. He took out an oiled paper package from an old wooden box behind him and carefully unfolded it. Inside lay a ginseng root, its stem tightly packed, its tendrils long and slender like a network of threads, its body plump, and its skin a yellowish-brown—definitely a fine product.

"Fifteen years old, three hundred taels, no bargaining."

"Three hundred taels?"

Su Yang lightly touched the ginseng with his fingertips, and his perfect medical knowledge instantly responded: the medicinal power was rich, the ginseng was old enough, and it was genuine, five years older than the ten-year ginseng from Jishetang.

However, the price is six times higher.

However, he knew the truth in his heart.

Jishetang's best stock has been swept away by Duba Manor; ordinary pharmacies rarely have stock of this age. The black market price is high, but the goods are genuine. What I lack now isn't money, but time, and a channel to quickly improve my strength.

The mastery of the Nourishing Life and Strengthening the Vitality Technique relies entirely on ginseng supplementation. The stronger one's internal strength, the more self-protective power one has in Jingling City, and the better one's chances of dealing with the remnants of the Canal Gang, Fei Jianhua's schemes, and the chaotic world.

Three hundred taels of silver may be a huge sum, but if it can bring steady progress in internal strength and shorten the time needed to break through to the next realm, then it's worth the money. Silver can be earned back, but falling behind in strength by even one step could mean the difference between life and death.

"I want it."

Su Yang's voice was still hoarse, but it carried an undeniable decisiveness.

He stopped haggling and took out six ingots of official silver worth fifty taels from the package. This was the silver he had obtained from Hu San; it was of excellent quality and was a hard currency on the black market.

The silver ingot landed on the small scale in front of the stall owner with a heavy thud. After checking its purity and weight, the stall owner's wariness turned into a smile. He quickly rewrapped the ginseng and handed it over.

"You're very generous, sir."

The stall owner smiled and handed over the ginseng packet. Just as Su Yang was about to turn away, he suddenly spoke again in a low voice, his tone carrying a genuine seriousness: "Please wait a moment, sir. I see you're buying ginseng. I have something good here; I wonder if you'd be interested?"

"Oh? Let me see."

Upon hearing this, Su Yang's heart stirred.

The stall owner turned around and carefully took out a flat wooden box from the old wooden crate behind him. The moment the lid was opened, a unique aroma, clear and cool like a snow mountain spring with a hint of woody fragrance, quietly permeated the air, washing away some of the mixed smells of the surrounding medicinal herbs.

On the red velvet cloth inside the box, a complete Ganoderma lucidum lies quietly.

It is as large as a large bowl, with a thick, solid canopy that is as smooth as solidified fat. It has a deep purplish-gold color and a warm, jade-like luster on its surface, along with layers of extremely dense cloud-like ring patterns.

The stipe is short, thick, and strong, and the overall shape is round and simple, like a work of art sculpted by nature.

"This 25-year-old Ganoderma lucidum comes from the north and grows in the heartwood of an ancient hemlock tree." The stall owner's words were concise yet carried immense weight: "Its nature is mild, its medicinal power is profound, and it is a top-grade tonic."

He looked up, his gaze meeting Su Yang's across the distance, and then announced the price: "If you want it, take it for 800 taels of silver, no bargaining."

"Twenty-five-year-old Zizhi... eight hundred taels of silver?"

Su Yang stood still, his mask concealing all his expressions.

With his profound knowledge of medicine, he could tell that it was genuine just by smelling and looking at it.

Eight hundred taels of silver is indeed a high price.

However, this substance is over 10 years old, and its pure medicinal power, if transformed, will bring considerable simplification and accelerate the mastery of the Nourishing Life and Cultivating Essence Technique. If the Nourishing Life and Cultivating Essence Technique breaks through and reaches its peak, one's internal strength will increase greatly, and one's strength will advance by leaps and bounds.

Purple Ganoderma lucidum aged 25 years.

Unpredictable.

Money can be earned again, but if we miss this Ganoderma lucidum tonight, who knows when we'll find such a suitable medicinal herb again? In this world, falling behind in strength by even a step can mean the difference between life and death.

"Okay, I'll take it."

As soon as Su Yang finished speaking, his right hand reached into his inner pocket. Four crudely made but heavy gold bars were neatly stacked on the copper scale pan, reflecting a cold, hard light under the dim yellow oil lamp.

"Forty taels, pure gold."

Su Yang's voice was completely calm. When he placed the gold bar on the scale, he could feel several pairs of eyes briefly sweeping over him from the left and right sides of the stall before quickly looking away before meeting his gaze.

Without even lifting his eyelids, the stall owner stretched out his withered, claw-like fingers and first used his fingernail to lightly scratch the side of the four gold bars, leaving shallow marks. Then he held them up to the lamp flame and squinted to examine the texture and luster of the cut surfaces.

Then, he placed the four gold bars into the scale pan one by one and moved the weights with his fingertips very steadily.

"The fire consumption is too high, and the color is slightly off."

The stall owner finally spoke, his voice hoarse: "According to today's market rate, it's one to seventeen."

Su Yang knew that this was a common tactic used in the black market to drive down prices.

If he argued, the other party might back down to 1 to 17.5, but wasting time on a difference of a few taels of silver would be a loss. He simply reached into his robes, grabbed a few loose silver ingots and a handful of copper coins, estimated their weight, and dumped them all next to the gold bars with a clatter.

"One to eighteen. Forty taels of gold, which is equivalent to seven hundred and twenty taels of silver. Here are eighty taels of silver, making it eight hundred." His tone left no room for argument. He didn't withdraw his hand; instead, he pressed it onto the pile of silver coins, looking at the stall owner's face: "Give me the Ganoderma lucidum."

The stall owner's cloudy eyes swept back and forth between Su Yang's hands and face twice, then he suddenly grinned, revealing yellowed and blackened teeth: "Sir, you're straightforward and a savvy businessman."

He stopped raising the exchange rate and neatly swept all the gold and silver into the hidden compartment under the stall, as if the previous harassment had never happened. Then, he picked up the purple ganoderma wood box with both hands and handed it over steadily.

Su Yang took the wooden box.

The weighty, cool texture of the ginseng in his hand, and the warm, moist scent of the century-old ginseng that wafted from his chest almost simultaneously, put his mind at ease.

Without the slightest hesitation, he stuffed the wooden box into the deepest part of his bag, nodded slightly to the stall owner, and turned to leave.

As the transaction was completed and Su Yang put away the wooden box and turned around, he caught a glimpse of at least two people out of the corner of his eye. At the same moment, they subtly changed direction and headed out of the black market.

Su Yang remained vigilant, continuing his journey and quickly blending into the crowd. However, instead of heading directly to the exit, he turned towards another corner piled with old, worn-out books.

The stall owner was a lean man dressed in black, wearing a gray-white mask, with lively eyes.

The stall displayed ancient books, travelogues, and three rudimentary secret manuals.

Su Yang's gaze swept across the three booklets, which varied in thickness but all appeared crudely bound.

He picked up the three booklets and quickly flipped through them.

The methods of washing and striking with medicine in "Iron Head Kung Fu" are quite detailed. The application of force in "Iron Broom Kung Fu" is tricky. The footwork in "Flowing Cloud Steps" is somewhat rudimentary, seemingly a common, widely circulated technique.

"Sir, you have a good eye! These three books are a perfect match—"

The stall owner immediately approached with a smile.

"Name your fair price."

Su Yang interrupted him, pointing to the "Flowing Cloud Steps" manual: "You can copy this book for thirty copper coins at the martial arts school in the south of the city."

The stall owner's smile froze, realizing he'd met a shrewd customer. His eyes darted around, and he lowered his voice: "Look at what you're saying—martial arts schools are just scratching the surface! This book of mine has three crucial escape techniques appended at the back; it's the real deal for survival in the martial arts world! Here, all three together, fifty taels! You can't get this price for them individually!"

"Thirty-five taels."

Su Yang put down the booklet and said calmly, "Your 'Iron Head Kung Fu' is missing the last two pages of the prescription. You've already made a profit at this price."

The stall owner's facial muscles twitched, as if in pain, but he finally slapped his thigh: "Fine! I'll take it at a loss to make a friend! Thirty-five taels, take it! But don't tell anyone this price!"

Su Yang paid and accepted the book.

He knew the stall owner was still making a profit, but buying three immediately usable combat techniques at this price to fill his own gaps was already a good deal. After all, he had a simplified panel, and as long as he could put them on the panel, he could quickly achieve perfection!

Su Yangshou carefully put away the manual, glanced at the stall owner, and was about to leave when suddenly, a thought struck him. He stopped and asked in a low voice, "Do you have—an internal energy cultivation method? Whether complete or not, as long as the method is correct, it can unlock subsequent realms?"

"Internal energy cultivation techniques?"

The stall owner stopped what he was doing, looked up and carefully examined Su Yang, especially lingering for a moment on the bulging part of Su Yang's bag, a smile of knowing and shrewdness spreading across his face.

He glanced around, leaned forward, and lowered his voice even further: "Sir, if you've asked about this, you're truly an expert."

However, those things that provide a means of survival and unlock the secrets of superior martial arts are all tightly guarded, more so than life itself. Complete, orthodox martial arts manuals are absolutely impossible to find here. Even if they existed, they would have long been collected by major sects or aristocratic families, and would never have reached this place.

Seeing that Su Yang remained unmoved, he knew the other was no novice, so he changed the subject, adding a touch of mystery, and said, "However—if you are truly interested, please come again in a few days, at midnight on the seventh night of the month. I vaguely remember an eccentric old fellow who seemed to be carrying around a fragmented internal cultivation manual. It's quite old, and he said he found it in a mass grave. The contents are profound and strange, and it's severely incomplete. He's displayed it several times, and many people have asked about it, but not a single one has dared to make a move."

The stall owner clicked his tongue and added, "The price isn't exactly outrageous, I've heard. But as you know, incomplete cultivation techniques are more dangerous than poison. That's why nobody's buying them."

"An incomplete internal martial arts manual?"

Su Yang's heart stirred.

To others, incompleteness is a fatal flaw, but to him, with his simplified interface, he may be able to glimpse and extract the true essence from those fragmented, difficult, and obscure fragments.

"The seventh day, midnight."

Su Yang repeated himself, his tone flat: "Which oath?"

"It's still here. Come on the seventh day, and I'll show it to you."

The stall owner chuckled: "But sir, let me make this clear from the start: that thing is cursed. Whether you like it or not, whether you buy it or not, and whatever happens to it, it has nothing to do with me."

"nature."

Su Yang nodded, paid the bribe, and turned to leave.

Just as I turned around, I caught a glimpse of a black-robed figure crouching in front of the stall behind me. The person was looking down at the goods, and his face seemed to be covered by a black mask that had no expression on it.

Su Yang's gaze swept over unintentionally, just as the man in black robes also looked up.

Their eyes met in mid-air.

That look in his eyes—calm, yet sharp.

"what?"

Su Yang felt a sudden jolt in his heart, a vague and elusive sense of familiarity flashing through his mind, but he couldn't quite place where he had seen that look before.

Before he could think further, the man in black robes lowered his eyes indifferently and continued fiddling with the objects in his hands, as if the encounter had been unintentional.

Su Yang didn't stop walking.

This subtle sense of unease, though more bothersome than the nakedly greedy gazes behind him, was not the time to delve into it. He didn't linger, quickening his pace and leaving the black market through the most secluded exit.

Almost at the same moment his figure disappeared into the darkness outside, the heavy curtain moved slightly again.

Two figures, clinging to the wall like geckos, silently slipped out, locking onto the direction Su Yang had left in the light, and then silently disappeared into the night, giving chase.