Seeing Qian Jingming's expression, as if he had seen a ghost, Dongfang Yueming also realized that he might have been a bit too demanding. He rubbed his nose and quickly adjusted his strategy.
“Ahem, thirty to fifty thousand is indeed a bit much.” Dongfang Yueming coughed dryly, extended a finger, and gestured, “How about this, my demands aren't high. First, help me pay for a decent weapon—hmm... just a better quality E-grade one like the one just now will do.”
He paused, his gaze fixed on Qian Jingming, “Also, help me get a copy of... the 《Basic Body Tempering Method》!”
“Body Tempering Method?!” Qian Jingming’s eyes nearly popped out, and he shook his head like a rattle-drum. “No, no! Absolutely not! The 《Basic Body Tempering Method》 is a treasure that costs over a hundred contribution points! It’s worth tens of thousands of federal credits! The risk is too great! What if you can’t pay it back...”
He wouldn't dare to gamble on that! A Cultivation Technique of the Body Tempering Method’s caliber was a hot commodity even on the black market, extremely valuable. If Dongfang Yueming ran off, who would he cry to?
“The Body Tempering Method is a no-go?” Dongfang Yueming frowned, seemingly disappointed, but quickly said, “Then... how about a more Advanced Skin Tempering Cultivation Technique! One that’s better than the 《Qu Pi Jue》 issued by the academy! That should be fine, right?”
“A more Advanced Skin Tempering Cultivation Technique?” Qian Jingming was utterly confused. What did this kid need a Skin Tempering Cultivation Technique for now? Without resources, the more Advanced the Skin Tempering Method, the harder it was to Cultivate.
Although he was puzzled, the value and risk of an Advanced Skin Tempering Cultivation Technique were indeed much smaller compared to the Body Tempering Method. He rolled his eyes, thinking this might be something to consider.
However, before Qian Jingming could think it through, Dongfang Yueming had already acted!
He walked a few steps to the weapon stall, directly picked up a new-looking long blade with a cold glint, clearly much better than the previous broken one, and then, without looking back, shouted to the stall owner:
“Boss! I’ll take this blade! The money, he’ll pay for it!”
As he spoke, he pointed directly at the dumbfounded Qian Jingming!
“What the heck?!!!” Qian Jingming nearly jumped up! This kid... was he forcing a sale?! When did he agree?!
Now he felt like he had lost big! He seemed to have been tricked by this kid!
Dongfang Yueming didn't care about Qian Jingming's reaction. After getting the blade, he turned and grinned at Qian Jingming: “Thanks, Student Qian! Get me that Advanced Skin Tempering Cultivation Technique in the next couple of days, and I’ll come find you for it then!”
Before his words finished, he moved with the wind, clutching the blade and running off in a flash! As if afraid Qian Jingming would go back on his word and chase after him!
“Hey! You, stop right there!” Qian Jingming, exasperated, tried to chase, but Dongfang Yueming was too fast, disappearing into the crowd in the blink of an eye.
“Damn it! I lost out!” Qian Jingming stomped his foot, his face crumpled like a bitter gourd.
At this moment, the lazy stall owner, an old student, walked over, a smile of amusement on his face, and extended his hand to Qian Jingming: “Student, that’ll be three thousand federal credits.”
“Three thousand?!” Qian Jingming’s eyes widened. He pointed in the direction where Dongfang Yueming had disappeared, “That kid just took an E-grade blade! The first broken one you wanted five hundred for, this better one should be a thousand at most! Are you robbing me?!”
The stall owner chuckled, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth: “Times change. That was the price when no one was interested. Now... it’s you, the ‘big spender,’ paying for your friend, so the price naturally has to be a bit more ‘fair.’ Three thousand, not a single cent less!”
Qian Jingming looked at the stall owner’s expression, knowing he was cornered, and felt his lungs about to explode! But he knew that arguing in this kind of place was useless, so he could only accept his bad luck.
Gritting his back teeth, he began to display his “shrewd” nature, spitting as he haggled with the stall owner.
“...Boss, you see I’m not easy either, I’m also a student, just make a friend...”
“...This blade is worth at most eight hundred, I’ll give you a thousand, that’s fair enough, right...”
In the end, after a fierce verbal battle, Qian Jingming painfully pulled out a thousand federal credits and bought the blade.
“Damn it...” Qian Jingming looked at his shriveled wallet, on the verge of tears, “I ran into a jinx! Not only did I give him a blade for free, but I also have to go find him that damn Advanced Skin Tempering Cultivation Technique... What am I doing this for...”
He felt like he had truly suffered a double loss this time. But for some reason, looking at Dongfang Yueming’s disappearing back, a strange feeling subtly arose in his heart—this kid... didn’t seem like a simple character?
Back in the simple dorm, Dongfang Yueming locked the door behind him, his gaze fixed on the brand-new long blade in his hand.
The blade was over three feet long, straight, and gleamed with a cold metallic luster. Although it was only E-grade, it felt heavy in his hand, its quality far superior to the previous junk. The hilt was wrapped in rough, non-slip cloth, providing a firm grip.
“Not bad, better than expected.” Dongfang Yueming nodded in satisfaction. Although the process was a bit “clever,” the result was good; at least he now had a weapon to use.
Unable to contain his excitement, he took a deep breath and slowly assumed a stance in the narrow dorm room.
Clang!
The long blade unsheathed, emitting a clear, resonant Dragon’s roar!
The next moment, Dongfang Yueming’s figure moved!
Fast! Extremely fast!
Blade light flickered, like spilled moonlight, instantly filling the entire room! Chop, hack, lift, thrust, wipe, slash... The essence of the Basic Fast Blade Thirteen Styles at Perfection Realm was displayed to its fullest!
Clearly just the most basic Moves, yet in his hands, they seemed to transform into elusive, untraceable killing blows! The blade edge sliced through the air, emitting sharp “whoosh” sounds, as if even space itself was being torn apart!
His footwork moved with the blade, sometimes as ethereal and unpredictable as a ghost, other times as swift and fierce as a tiger descending a mountain!
After practicing the set of blade techniques, Dongfang Yueming’s forehead was slightly sweaty, but his eyes shone with astonishing brightness!
“Good! Too good!” He couldn’t help but let out a low cry, feeling the powerful control brought by the Perfection of the blade technique, and the Bloodline-like connection with the long blade in his hand. His heart was filled with an unprecedented sense of security and confidence!
With this Perfection blade technique, combined with his Physical Body at Skin Tempering Perfection (Niu Pi (Cowhide)), his combat power, compared to yesterday, had more than doubled!
Gao Hu? A month from now, who would crush whom was still unknown!
...The night passed without incident. Dongfang Yueming did not stay up all night Cultivating, but chose to get ample sleep to recover his energy, after all, there was an important patrol mission tomorrow.
The next morning.
As dawn was just breaking, Dongfang Yueming woke up on time. Feeling the abundant Qi and blood and spirit within him, he nodded in satisfaction. The benefits brought by Skin Tempering Perfection were not just defense and strength; his recovery ability and energy also far surpassed before.
After washing up, a thunderous hunger rumbled in his stomach. Cultivating in the Body Tempering Realm was a huge consumption of Qi and blood and physical energy, especially for his “fast-track” Perfection Realm, the demand for energy was even more astonishing.
He unhesitatingly went to the academy cafeteria.
At this moment, there were already quite a few early-rising new students in the cafeteria, each with tired and anxious faces.
Dongfang Yueming directly ordered a five-person portion of high-energy meals—Mortal Beast meat rich in Qi and blood, special wheat rice to replenish physical energy, and a large cup of nutrient solution to supplement trace elements.
Immediately, many surprised glances were cast his way.
Dongfang Yueming paid no attention, sweeping away all the food like a whirlwind, only then feeling the intense hunger slightly alleviated.
“Phew...” He let out a satisfied burp, feeling the food transform into a warm current within his body, replenishing the consumed Qi and blood, but inwardly he couldn’t help but groan.
“This appetite... it’s too scary! One meal cost me dozens of federal credits! If this continues every day, just eating will be an astronomical sum!”
Everywhere required money! It seemed that earning contribution points from patrol missions was even more urgent!
While he was eating, he also heard the low discussions of the surrounding new students.
“How was it? Did you feel any Qi when Cultivating the 《Qu Pi Jue》 last night?”
“Sigh, don’t even mention it! I sat there all night and felt nothing! This Cultivation Technique is too difficult, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, why is it so hard to stimulate Qi and blood? I feel like I’ve almost rubbed my skin raw, and there’s still no reaction!”
“One month... Skin Tempering entry in one month, I think it’s doubtful! What if I really get eliminated then?”