C16 Profound Rank Technique

The Inner Sect disciple wouldn't even think of demanding Spirit Stones, especially not from the Second Demon who had come to collect them. No amount of Spirit Stones would be worth the trouble it could bring.

Already in a foul mood, the incessant shouting of the crowd was the last straw. He couldn't hold back his temper any longer. Offending the Second Demon was out of the question, but did that mean he had to put up with this disrespect?

"Everyone, quiet down! Another shout and you'll be dragged out!"

The authoritative presence of the Inner Sect disciples was palpable, and it seemed they were ready to enforce their words.

Most of those in line were Outer Sect Disciples and Worker Disciples. Cultivators from outside the sect, who usually weren't short on Spirit Stones, often acquired their admission tickets through alternative means.

The cultivators present were not highly skilled, and the threat alone was enough to silence them, turning them into timid turtles.

Then, an unusual scene unfolded: Lin Bo, known as the Second Demon, handed the admission ticket to Ning Xiaofan with a respectful gesture.

"Ding! Congratulations, Master. Reputation points are increasing..."

Those familiar with the Second Demon were well aware of his fearsome reputation.

"Big brother, who's that?"

"Could he be the Second Demon's elder brother?"

"Yes, is he the eldest young master?"

"Step back, everyone. Dealing with one demon is bad enough, and now there are two?"

"Actually, it's three. Didn't you see the chubby one with the pout over there?"

The cultivators eyed the group as if they were true demons.

"Ding! Congratulations, Master, your reputation points have increased by 1."

"Reputation points have increased by 2."

"Reputation points are increasing..."

What was happening? This was incredible!

With just one move, Lin Bo had significantly boosted his reputation points. Impressive, to say the least.

Ning Xiaofan accepted the entrance scroll and strode confidently into the square.

"Ding! Congratulations, Master! Your reputation points have increased again..."

"System, what's my current reputation score?"

"Master, you have 21 reputation points."

'Amazing! Just for showing up, and I get all these points. This is great!'

As Ning Xiaofan crossed the threshold, a dazzling light flashed, and a wave of dizziness washed over him. His body felt as if it had been drained, and within moments, he found himself transported to an entirely different space.

His vision darkened momentarily, then flared back to life. He found himself in a vast square, but this was no ordinary space—it was a Magic Artifact! Instead of one sun, the sky boasted four smaller ones. The market sprawled before him, seemingly larger than a city with a million inhabitants. What was this place?

Upon arrival, a stone pillar caught his eye, pulsing with light. Inscribed upon it were the words "Teleportation Stone." To return to one's original location, all one had to do was press their hand against the stone, which explained the need for Spirit Stones.

The entrance ticket was a scroll, and by holding it, one could depart this place. It made sense that it, too, required Spirit Stones.

The market was immense, dwarfing the one in Sky Burning Valley, and it was not even smaller than the valley itself. The cultivation levels of the people here were inscrutable, and their attire differed from those in Sky Burning Valley. This place wasn't just a market for Sky Burning Valley; it also hosted other sects.

"Let's go," Ning Xiaofan urged Lin Bo and Fanh Yichen. "When we return, just hold onto the teleportation stone and don't lose the entrance scroll."

"Okay, Xiaofan, what's the matter?"

"We need to find a secluded spot to change our appearance."

With the tools Wang Chan had left behind, Ning Xiaofan altered everyone's appearance. Now, with desirable items in tow, they wouldn't attract unwanted attention. They also switched to common attire, shedding the distinctive garb of Sky Burning Valley disciples.

"Mr. Ning, I'm hungry."

"Don't call me Mr. Ning here."

"What should I call you, then?"

"Just 'Brother.'"

"Oh, Brother, I'm hungry."

Ning Xiaofan couldn't help but feel a bit awkward when Lin Bo, the strapping young man, addressed him as 'Brother.'

"Address me as Big Brother, him as Second Brother, and I'll call you Second and Third Brother."

Ning Xiaofan was concerned about being misunderstood; he certainly didn't have any peculiar inclinations!

Stepping away from the teleportation formation, the expanse of the market city unfolded before them. Could this truly be just a market city? It seemed more akin to an Immortal Palace.

The market was segmented into five distinct areas, each representing one of the five arts of cultivation: the medicine pill zone, the weapon refining zone, the array formation zone, and a combined area for Spiritual Talismans and books. At the heart of it all lay the colossal auction area.

Each area was bustling with numerous shops, and many vendors had set up their stalls, attracting crowds of people leisurely browsing.

Most individuals here were at the Foundation Stage, and Ning Xiaofan realized his own cultivation level wasn't particularly high. Level up? There was no rush. He planned to accumulate more Cultivation Points before considering an upgrade.

Earning reputation points seemed to be the easiest task at hand. He had just earned 21 points, equivalent to two Cultivation Points! That was enough to save him twice or boost his cultivation by two levels.

"Let's check out the secret tomes first."

The trio made their way to the Spiritual Talisman Scripture Area, only to find it teeming with vendors.

"Take a look! Techniques for cultivating True Qi, methods for strengthening spiritual force, and more."

"Light Body Technique... as graceful as a swallow, as swift as a tiger..."

"The Art of Spirit Cultivation... refining essence into energy, energy into spirit, uniting spirit and movement."

"May I take a look at the Soul Refining Technique?"

A middle-aged man with a friendly smile responded, "You may read two pages, no more than that."

Ning Xiaofan gently opened the book and skimmed a page before promptly closing it.

"System, can you appraise this for me?"

"Certainly, Master. Simply say 'appraise,' and the level one appraisal will commence."

So that's how appraisal worked. He had thought it was a matter of his own analytical skills.

"Thank you."

He set the book down and walked away. The appraisal revealed that the book was overly simplistic, merely an introduction to the basics and not a true cultivation method.

After browsing for a while longer, they stumbled upon a unique book stall. In its center stood a medicinal cauldron, pitch-black as though crafted from clay, with several books scattered around it.

"Uncle, do these books belong to you?"

"Yes, young man. Feel free to look through them, but be aware they are protected by restrictions."

The seasoned vendor clearly knew his trade, ensuring that without payment, the books would be nothing more than stacks of useless paper.

A glimmer of spiritual light danced in his hand as he uttered, "Identify."

The technique for pill refining was of the Beginner Rank, a skill from the declining Pill Refining Master Sect. Hidden within the book's pages was a secret compartment, and with that, the appraisal was complete.

"Uncle, what's the price for this tome?"

"Fifty Spirit Stones."

"That's quite steep. Uncle, any chance of a lower price? I'm just a solitary cultivator with not many Spirit Stones to spare."

"I can knock off a bit. How about forty-nine Spirit Stones?"

"Uncle, for a Beginner Rank pill refining technique, isn't that asking a lot? What if I offer ten Spirit Stones?"

"That's far too little. I won't sell for that. Try your luck elsewhere."

"But this is an artifact from the esteemed Great Zhou Pill Refining Master Sect, not some common rubbish."

The technique acknowledged by the system was indeed impressive, but the cost was prohibitive.

"Uncle, I'll go up to thirty Spirit Stones. That's my final offer. If it's a no-go, then we'll leave it at that."

The middle-aged uncle pondered briefly, "Fine, let's make a deal. It's been several days with no luck. Sigh."

As soon as Ning Xiaofan completed the transaction, the notifications chimed in.

"Ding! Congratulations, Master. Your abilities have improved, and you've earned 1 ability point."

"Ding! Congratulations, Master. Your appraisal skills have advanced to Level 2, and you've acquired the Spirit Eyes ability."

Spirit Eyes, no way!

"Yes, Master. Spirit Eyes are now yours. Would you like to activate them?"

"Activate Level 2 ability, Spirit Eyes."

A quick scan with his newfound vision revealed a black jade slip hidden within the pill refining manual of the Pill Refining Sect, too small for most to notice.

This was indeed a treasure. With just one look, he could see the pill furnace across the way. It appeared to be a simple clay furnace on the outside, but inside, it was a different story. Spiritual light flickered within, revealing intricate, ancient patterns.

"Appraisal complete: the Pill Refining Sect's Divine Furnace, a Grade Three Magic Artifact."

Ah, so this was a valuable find. "Uncle, what's this clay furnace used for? It looks rather unsightly!"

"Ah, this is my chair. I sit here when I get tired."

"Oh, this chair looks nice. Are you selling it?"

"Sure am!"

"How much?"

"How much? You think we're in the mortal realm? Fifty Low Grade Spirit Stones, no haggling."

These ancient books and the pill furnace were all acquired at the lower end of the market, but as luck would have it, there was a big market day, and today he'd stumbled upon a wealthy buyer.

"I'll offer thirty Spirit Stones for it."

The uncle's eyes crinkled with joy; he hadn't spent much but ended up collecting sixty Spirit Stones. He'd be lying if he claimed he wasn't thrilled.

Ning Xiaofan handed over the Spirit Stones and claimed the clay furnace, a Grade Three Magic Artifact. No more exploding furnaces for him!

Currently, he was only crafting Grade One medicine pills, so using a Grade Three Furnace seemed a tad extravagant. In the market, a furnace of this caliber would go for no less than a thousand Spirit Stones!

After securing the furnace, he turned his attention to the other books on the ground. The Wood Fire Technique caught his eye.

Such a cultivation method was unheard of in the entire Sky Burning Valley, for it was a rare technique that harnessed both Wood and Fire Spiritual Qi. It was perfect for Fanh Yichen, a find this rare was invaluable!

"System, appraise."

"Wood Fire Technique, Profound Rank cultivation method, incomplete."

Incomplete? No matter. The quality of the technique was what counted.

"Uncle, what's the price for this incomplete Wood Fire Technique?"

"How did you know it's missing pages? Are you a descendant of a master alchemist?"

"No, I'm not. What's the deal with this book? Are you selling?"

"Selling, same price, thirty Low Grade Spirit Stones. This was from a master alchemist..."

"Deal, I'll take it."

With a swift motion, Ning Xiaofan purchased the Wood Fire Technique, the perfect addition for Fanh Yichen's collection.

As the three young men left, the uncle watched in astonishment. He wondered which family's offspring could be so lavish.

In just a moment, he had made 90 Low Grade Spirit Stones, enough to keep him worry-free for decades. How could he not be overjoyed?

"Ding! Congratulations, Master, you've earned 1 Charm Point."

The uncle couldn't help but appreciate himself; this system certainly had its quirks.

"It's been three years since I've opened shop, but once I do, it's a feast for three years," the elder said with a grin, pulling another junky furnace from his storage space and setting it atop the bookstand. He then tossed a few tomes onto the stall.

Sure, they were damaged, but he had the system to fix that!

"System, can this ancient book be restored?"

"Master, it requires two Cultivation Points."

"I've only got four left, and you want half? Go ahead and restore it!"

Fixing the Pill Recipe cost just one point, but now two points were needed to mend this ancient book. He wondered how many points it would take for a Heaven Rank technique.

"Ding! Congratulations, Master, the cultivation book has been successfully restored, costing you two Cultivation Points."

"Ding! Congratulations, Master, you've repaired the Pill Recipe and earned an immense five Virtue Points."

Noticing his Cultivation Points dwindling, he quickly sought to replenish them.

"System, what's my current tally of Cultivation Values?"

"Master, you have two Cultivation Points, three Skill Points, five Virtue Points, three Charm Points, four Cultivation Points, and twenty-five Prestige Points, along with five Spirit Stones."

"System, convert my Prestige Points into Cultivation Points."

"Affirmative, Master. The exchange is complete."

With his Cultivation Points back up to four, he felt he had conserved enough for Yichen's sake.

"Yichen, this cultivation technique is for you."

"Is this a gift for me?"

"Yes."

Holding the Wood Fire Technique, Fanh Yichen hesitated to let it go. Worker Disciples in Sky Burning Valley only had access to basic techniques, nothing as substantial as this. Even Outer Sect disciples couldn't lay hands on a Yellow Rank technique.

"Xiaofan, is this a Yellow Rank technique? It doesn't seem to be missing any pages!"

"It's complete. This isn't a Yellow Rank technique. This technique..."

"Oh." Disappointment crept into his voice upon hearing Ning Xiaofan's clarification.

"It's a Profound Rank technique."

"Profound Rank?"

"Shh, keep it down."

"Is that so?"

Ning Xiaofan nodded. "Xiaofan, are you absolutely certain?"

"Mhm."

"Then you should be the one to train with it. It's too valuable a treasure to be squandered on me."