Chapter 61: You Try Quoting a Price

A supplementary cultivation technique that supposedly doubles efficiency! This was clearly bogus.

If such a technique genuinely existed, it would undoubtedly be a secret scripture, never to be shared, and highly valued even by the most prestigious sects. It would be an invaluable treasure. Why would someone be selling it openly like this?

Observing the man, Lu Ye realized he wasn't being targeted specifically. The man was simply waiting outside the Merchant Guild, randomly approaching passersby.

Lu Ye had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“Not interested,” Lu Ye said, unwilling to engage further.

However, the man persisted, relentlessly extolling the technique's virtues. He claimed it was easy to practice, highly compatible with various low-level techniques, and simple for anyone to pick up. He even added with a solemn expression, “If you doubt me, fellow cultivator, I am willing to swear a Heavenly Secret Oath. Every word I've spoken is true, and I would never try to mislead you.”

Lu Ye paused, his brow furrowed as he watched the man.

Having taken a Heavenly Secret Oath himself, Lu Ye knew that such vows, witnessed by the Heavenly Secret, were not to be taken lightly.

A flicker of doubt crossed his mind. Could such a potent technique truly exist in this world? What did it even mean to triple someone's cultivation efficiency?

Noticing Lu Ye's hesitation, the man gestured, “It’s too crowded here for a proper discussion. Please, come this way, fellow cultivator.”

Lu Ye pondered for a moment, then followed the man to a quieter spot.

“Swear it, then!” Lu Ye cut straight to the chase.

The man swallowed the words he was about to say, then chuckled, “Alright, but listen, fellow cultivator, if I swear, you can't back out of buying it.”

“If the price is fair, I'll naturally make the purchase.”

The man nodded, his expression turning solemn as he intoned, “I, rogue cultivator Chen He, respectfully call upon the Heavenly Secret to bear witness. Every word I have just spoken is true. Should there be even a single falsehood, may I perish enduring all human tortures!”

From an unseen realm, an invisible force descended, settling upon the back of Chen He’s hand, precisely where his battle imprint resided.

Lu Ye's expression remained grim. This fellow was truly desperate to sell that technique, daring to utter such a terrible vow.

“Show me the item,” Lu Ye instructed.

Chen He shook his head. “You jest, fellow cultivator. The technique is so simple and straightforward that if I showed it to you, you’d instantly memorize it. Why would you need to buy it then?”

“How much for it?”

“Thirty spirit stones!” Chen He declared.

Lu Ye turned and walked away.

Although Lu Ye had no idea what was truly going on with the technique, and despite Chen He's willingness to swear a Heavenly Secret Oath, Lu Ye was certain there was a catch. Otherwise, it would easily sell for three thousand spirit stones, not just thirty.

“Fellow cultivator, wait!” Chen He quickly grabbed Lu Ye. “In business, it's normal to start high and haggle. Why walk away without even trying to make an offer? One should show a little integrity.” He pleaded earnestly.

“Three!” Lu Ye indulged him, trying a counter-offer.

“Deal!” Chen He exclaimed, pulling out a jade slip and slapping it into Lu Ye's palm.

Lu Ye's eye twitched.

“Fellow cultivator, I just swore a Heavenly Secret Oath, and you yourself said you'd buy it if the price was right. Three was your offer, after all. You can't go back on your word, can you?”

Lu Ye was speechless. He eventually pulled out three spirit stones and handed them over. Chen He, delighted with the payment, quickly departed.

Lu Ye held the jade slip, but before he could even examine its contents, another person approached, chuckling. “You got scammed, didn't you?” he teased.

Lu Ye glanced at the man, who shrugged. “I got tricked by him too. That technique is utterly worthless.”

Lu Ye realized. “You were watching the whole time?”

The man grinned. “Misery loves company, right? It’s better that two of us are unlucky than just me. I feel much better now.” He even winked at Lu Ye.

Lu Ye calmly stated, “If I were you, I’d go and compete with him. If he can sell that technique, why can't you? Instead of watching others get scammed, why not try to earn some spirit stones yourself? You might even make a profit.”

The man fell into deep thought after Lu Ye's suggestion. After a long moment, he slapped his thigh. “You’ve got a point!” he exclaimed.

When he looked up, Lu Ye was nowhere to be found.

Outside the market, Lu Ye, riding atop Big Tiger, had already ridden away, leaving behind the dust and the petty schemes of those cunning merchants.

Although he was certain he'd been scammed, at least it only cost him three spirit stones. He had just acquired over a hundred spirit stones from the Merchant Guild, so he was relatively well-off and didn't mind the small loss.

Still, the fact that Chen He had sworn a Heavenly Secret Oath implied that the technique genuinely could enhance cultivation efficiency, as he claimed. Otherwise, the oath would have surely backfired on him by now.

What exactly was going on then?

Puzzled, Lu Ye decided to investigate the technique's true nature.

The technique was called the Gluttonous Meal.

It was a technique whose grade was difficult to ascertain, as its cultivation route involved only fifteen spirit apertures!

For context, the Golden Cicada Freedom Art, which Lu Ye practiced, was already a low-grade Yellow-tier technique, capable of opening twenty-seven apertures.

The Gluttonous Meal, with its mere fifteen apertures, was inferior even to a Yellow-tier technique.

However, given that it was an auxiliary technique rather than a primary cultivation method, this was somewhat understandable.

Just as Chen He had claimed, the technique's circulation route was remarkably simple and clear. Because it involved only a few spirit apertures, all situated around the lower abdomen, it boasted strong compatibility with all low-level cultivation techniques.

The degree of compatibility between two techniques depends on how many spirit apertures are shared in their respective circulation routes; the more overlap, the higher the compatibility.

All low-level techniques activate spirit apertures primarily around the lower abdomen, as the root spirit aperture is located there. Many of these techniques activate nearly identical sets of apertures; only variations in their circulation paths account for differences in their specific effects.

Connecting the same nine spirit apertures in different sequences affects the speed at which spiritual energy flows through them, subsequently influencing a cultivator’s strength.

Thus, the order of connection between spirit apertures is a highly precise matter.

The fifteen apertures in the Gluttonous Meal's circulation route largely overlapped with the twenty-seven apertures of the Golden Cicada Freedom Art. Only two apertures were not included in the Golden Cicada Freedom Art's full path. In essence, if Lu Ye were to complete his Golden Cicada Freedom Art cultivation and then open those two additional apertures, he would be able to unlock the secret of the Gluttonous Meal.

There was no rush, though. He would wait until he had fully cultivated the Golden Cicada Freedom Art before verifying whether the Gluttonous Meal truly possessed the miraculous ability to double cultivation efficiency.

After putting away the jade slip, Lu Ye pulled out his map. He compared the distance between Qingyun Market Sects Three and Five, then calculated the time he had spent traveling.

Next, he examined the route he had mapped out to the Jade Blood Sect.

A quick calculation made Lu Ye sigh. At this speed, even without any unforeseen delays, it would still take a very, very long time to return to the Jade Blood Sect’s stronghold.

Any unforeseen circumstances would only extend the journey further.

The road ahead was long, but at least Lu Ye wasn't alone; he had Yi Yi and Big Tiger by his side.