The black market and its outskirts displayed a bloody and savage side completely different from that of Ningyang Mansion.
Fortunately, he had visited the black market several tis and slaughtered quite a few people with ill intentions. Furthermore, having beco a regular patron, no blind fools dared to ambush him anymore.
As he browsed, subtly trying to acquire information on secret teachings of the Black Iron Level, the results were discouraging.
Nonetheless, he wasn’t too concerned. Given his current situation, he was still quite a distance from reaching the Mountain Copper Level, so there was no rush.
Therefore, he casually perused various stalls. The fact that he could kill those at the Elite Gold Level gave him so confidence.
The black market might have paid tribute to the Morning Star Level of Ningyang Mansion, but those at the Morning Star Level wouldn’t appear in the black market.
"This Soul Forging thod seems interesting, how much is it?" Wang Linchi asked.
He saw a book titled "Elephant Soul-smithing Art". He had a vague mory of it; it was a Soul Forging thod of the Hundred Beast Sect, a once-Prestigious Sect in Xian State. They were eventually destroyed by Ningyang Mansion and had been wiped out for nearly a decade.
The Hundred Beast Sect was sowhat unique. Its core Soul Kind was the "Beast Shadow". Combined with other Soul Kinds, a Beast Shadow could erge during battle, not only providing attack, Defense, and support capabilities but also assisting in Cultivation, upgrading Physique, and more.
"An Excellent Soul Kind," the seller glanced at Wang Linchi and responded indifferently.
As one of the core Cultivation Techniques of a large Sect, the "Elephant Soul-smithing Art" could be combined with another technique called "Dragon Wandering Soul-smithing Art" to formulate a third, the "Dragon Elephant Soul-smithing Art". However, the corresponding Soul Secret Technique was needed for the combination to work.
If complete, it would indeed be worth an Excellent Soul Kind.
"To what Realm?" Wang Linchi asked.
"Just White Porcelain Level."
As soon as the seller finished speaking, Wang Linchi stood up to leave. Does he really think I’m a fool? Who would buy a Soul Forging thod that only reached White Porcelain Level? Even if it weren’t complete up to the Morning Star Level, reaching the Elite Gold Level would at least be acceptable. Honestly, not even a complete sucker would buy this.
Furthermore, there was only one copy of the "Elephant Soul-smithing Art". Without the "Dragon Wandering Soul-smithing Art", its value would greatly diminish.
’I heard you’re looking for a Forging Secret Technique?’ The seller whispered, his voice directed only to Wang Linchi’s ears.
Wang Linchi, who had stood up to leave, paused, then asked, "How much?"
He naturally wouldn’t reveal that he was looking for the Forging Secret Technique, instead using a substitute term in his inquiry.
"Follow ." The seller packed up his things and led the way.
Seeing this, Wang Linchi hesitated for a mont, then followed.
There was danger, no doubt about it, but he was also very curious about this so-called Forging Secret Technique.
He quickly left the black market with the seller, and Wang Linchi felt like he had been tricked. Perhaps the seller was plotting an ambush.
However, the seller’s strength was only at the Mountain Copper Level, approaching Mithril Level.
An isolation barrier was set up. Wang Linchi gauged its strength; It could be easily broken.
"You do a favor, and I’ll give you the "Dragon Wandering Soul-smithing Art" and the "Elephant Soul-smithing Art", including the Soul Secret Technique and the Forging Secret Technique." The seller seed to have more to say but trailed off.
"What favor?" Wang Linchi asked, not pressing for more details imdiately. Transactions had to be handled step by step.
"Help deliver sothing into the Beast Garden Secret Realm, the major Secret Realm listed as number sixteen in the black market, available in seven days," the man said.
"Oh? You’re a Disciple of the Hundred Beast Sect. Interesting," Wang Linchi nodded. "Okay, I’ll do it."
"Then could you tell about the Forging Secret Technique and what you were going to say earlier?"
He agreed first; whether he would actually go in seven days was another matter. He was certain that this Disciple of the Hundred Beast Sect had not only approached him but also others—casting a wide net to catch more fish.
"Awakeners have nine grades. You should know that. But these nine grades aren’t innate; they are restrictions ford by the Soul Resemblance and Soul Skill of an Awakener from the Dajing Court."
"Not only did they classify Levels, but they also modified the Cultivation Techniques of each Realm and imposed restrictions."
"Unless recorded on the list, one could not receive the corresponding secret techniques. Even the knowledge of their existence was out of reach."
"Soul Secret Techniques were a little better, as so Awakeners required Soul Resemblance for their attacks, so these were released. However, they were restricted to acquisition at the Black Iron Level."
"And if one wasn’t recorded in the register, they couldn’t pass the detection and therefore couldn’t acquire them."
"Only those of Nobility, Aristocratic Family mbers, Sect Disciples, and the like had this privilege, and even they had to acquire it step by step."
"This restriction wasn’t only in the Great View; it also applied to Secret Realms. You’ve probably acquired a Soul Forging thod in a Secret Realm yourself. Before you acquired the Soul Secret Technique, that Soul Forging thod wouldn’t have included the Soul Secret Technique, even if it was a Soul Forging thod capable of reaching the Sunlight Level."
"Once you were listed or possessed the Soul Secret Technique, any Soul Forging thod you gained in a Secret Realm would include it. The Forging Secret Technique of the Black Iron Level also followed this rule."
"Forging Secret Techniques were even more stringently controlled than Soul Secret Techniques. Unless one joined an appropriate organization or faction, those in the middle and lower echelons of society would never even hear of them. Even I only possess the Soul Secret Technique and the Forging Secret Technique; I don’t know of any higher-level ones."
The other party revealed so truth to him.
This revelation didn’t break Wang Linchi’s calm, but inside he was cursing. He hadn’t expected the situation to be like this.
He initially thought the Dajing Court only monopolized them physically; he didn’t expect them to directly alter the rules with so powerful Soul Resemblance.
As for this Disciple from the Hundred Beast Sect, he only had the Soul Secret Technique and Forging Secret Technique. When the Hundred Beast Sect was exterminated all those years ago, he was still at the Black Iron Level. His registration for the Mountain Copper Level hadn’t been updated, so naturally, he couldn’t access the secret techniques of the Mountain Copper Level.
"So, every Level actually has a set of relevant secret techniques, without which one cannot break through completely?" Wang Linchi asked, following the other person’s line of reasoning.
"That’s right. If you break through without mastering all the secret techniques, your future progress will slow down until you find yourself incapable of breaking through to the Morning Star Level, remaining forever at the Elite Gold Level."
"This fate awaits anyone lacking even a single secret technique." The other party didn’t attempt to conceal the truth.
"No wonder so people are stuck at the Black Iron Level for their entire lives. So this is the reason," Wang Linchi mumbled softly.
It made sense; individuals with poor talent combined with incomplete breakthroughs naturally progressed slowly.
"So you’re not content with your situation either, are you?" Wang Linchi knew that the other party hadn’t broken through to the Mithril Level because his Soul Forging thod lacked the secret technique for the Mountain Copper Level.
And this secret technique is likely related to Wang Linchi delivering sothing into the Beast Garden Secret Realm.
"Yes, I also lack the secret technique required for the Mountain Copper Level," the other party admitted without hesitation.
"Then can I ask what I am supposed to deliver? And who is the recipient?" Wang Linchi didn’t ask if there was danger, because it was bound to be dangerous. If there were no danger, why would they need his help?
"Any Beast King will do," the man responded, then added after a beat, "Don’t ask what a Beast King is. Find out yourself when you’re in the Beast Garden Secret Realm."
"Fine. When will you give these two Soul-smithing Arts?" Wang Linchi inquired.
"You can have them now as a deposit, but first, you have to swear an oath using your spiritual power." The seller agreed instantly but required appropriate assurance.
"No problem. But there’s one more thing: how can we guarantee that your two Soul-smithing Arts, along with the Soul Secret Technique and the Forging Secret Technique, are genuine and without errors?" Wang Linchi asked the question lingering in his mind.
The other party’s assurance was clearly derived from so form of Soul Kind power, but Wang Linchi wasn’t afraid. With the power of his four Mythology Level Soul Kinds, it couldn’t influence him in any way, especially since the seller’s spiritual power was inferior to his own. This was precisely because the spiritual power of a Black Iron Level Awakener was lower than that of a Mountain Copper Level one; otherwise, Wang Linchi would have been countered by the seller. Otherwise, how would this world be worthy of being called one where the strong are respected?
"If you don’t mind the trouble, you can acquire these two Soul-smithing Arts yourself before handing the item over to the Beast King. I can provide you with the corresponding ans of acquisition."
"If the Soul Forging thod and Soul Secret Technique you obtain differ in any way from what I provide, or if there’s no Forging Secret Technique included, it ans there’s a problem with what I gave you, and both the oath and the task beco invalid."
"You can add this sentence to the oath."
"Even if you weren’t recorded in the register but managed to obtain the corresponding secret technique through other ans, the restriction would be lifted. It’s just that ordinary people couldn’t achieve this," the other party calmly stated.
It was indeed a vicious cycle. To break the monopoly, one first needed the very resources that were monopolized. Yet, if one already possessed them, they wouldn’t be subject to the monopoly in the first place. These rules, he mused, were clearly designed specifically to target bottom-tier Awakeners like them.
"The content of the oath needs to be detailed and can’t be this simple," Wang Linchi agreed; it didn’t affect him anyway. However, he still maintained the appropriate attitude, lest the other party beco suspicious.
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