Chapter 88: The Black Market in the Outer City
Chapter 88: The Black Market in the Outer City
As soon as Lin Quanliang finished speaking, several of them revealed knowing smiles.
"Of course. Shixiong Zeng and the others are personally accepted disciples of Tang Guanzhu. They've been practicing Secret Arts all this time. Otherwise, what do you think we're doing hanging around the Martial Arts Academy every day? We're hoping to perform well and one day, when we meet the Guanzhu, we'll be taught the Secret Arts."
As he spoke, Lin Quanliang sighed, his expression filled with worry.
He had been on the second floor for three years, if not five, but it still seemed like a distant dream.
"Quanliang, you think just having perseverance is enough? Secret Arts aren't something you can learn easily. It also depends on talent. I've heard that out of a hundred people, only one or two can learn it."
"Yes, as long as you learn the Secret Arts, you can continuously break through the limits of the human body. You can punch through walls, leap down from several stories high, and even resist bullets with your flesh. The more powerful ones can even summon wind and rain!" Tan Lei spoke with admiration.
"They can even summon wind and rain?"
Jiang Cheng was stunned.
"Haha, it seems like Jiang Shidi doesn't know much about Secret Arts."
Tan Lei laughed and explained, "Jiang Shidi should know about Primordial Force, right?"
"I've heard of it. It's a mysterious yet omnipresent force that constitutes the entire universe," Jiang Cheng replied.
"Exactly."
Tan Lei continued, "Secret Arts allow us to open up our body's acupoints to absorb this force. Most people absorb pure Primordial Force, which strengthens their bodies, eventually granting them god-like power. A minority, with spiritual affinity, can absorb Primordial Forces of attributes like wind, rain, thunder, and lightning, enabling them to summon wind and rain, just like ancient immortals."
"So that's how it is," Jiang Cheng marveled.
In simple terms, isn't this the path of martial arts and cultivation? The ancestors of the Flame Nation were indeed formidable.
"The two types Tan Lei mentioned both require opening the body's acupoints to absorb the Primordial Force of the universe. However, because the absorbed force is different, the effects vary. But there's one more type that's completely different from the first two," Sun Xiaoli blinked, "Guess which one?"
Seeing this, the others exchanged knowing smiles.
While they didn't know the specifics of cultivation methods, they were well-versed in these common facts.
After a moment of thought, Jiang Cheng said, "It should be... cultivating the spirit, right?"
Sun Xiaoli's eyes widened.
"Jiang Shidi, you must have known the answer all along, didn't you?"
"Not at all. It's just that you mentioned the first two are related to our physical bodies, so naturally, the third one is about the spirit," Jiang Cheng laughed.
Before his transmigration, he had read many novels and watched numerous movies.
Strengthening one's power could be achieved through three paths: the physical body, the spirit, and energy.
Martial arts focused on the physical body,
Cultivation focused on energy,
So the third path must be about the spirit.
"Haha, Jiang Shidi is indeed smart. Well said. The third method is indeed through cultivating the spirit. When the spirit becomes powerful, not only can you sense danger and control others, but you can also manipulate objects. You can even make bullets flying towards you change course or fly back the way they came. It's mysterious and unpredictable."
Lin Quanliang added, "But Secret Arts for cultivating the spirit are even rarer and have higher requirements."
"I'd be content with just one ordinary Secret Art."
"You're dreaming big, kid. Even an ordinary Secret Art is still a Secret Art."
"Yeah."
Laughter filled the air, and the dinner table fell into a moment of calm.
"Actually, Jiang Cheng," Lin Quan Liang looked at Jiang Cheng, "you might be the most likely one among us to be accepted as a disciple by Tang Guanzhu."
"Yes, Jiang Cheng, you're younger than us by a few years, yet you're so strong. Even a fool can see your talent. The senior brothers treat you well, so it's obvious that your reputation has reached the ears of the hall master. It's only a matter of time." Tan Lei also chimed in.
Jiang Cheng smiled bitterly.
"Maybe that hall master has already taken on enough disciples and doesn't want any more."
"That's also possible."
The others nodded in agreement.
Such matters were never certain; it was just a matter of probability.
"If you become the hall master's personal disciple, don't forget about us, okay?"
"Yes, Jiang Cheng, oh no, by then, we should call you Senior Apprentice Brother Jiang instead."
"Hahaha."
Jiang Cheng laughed, but his heart wasn't as calm as he appeared.
After all, the eight characters hadn't even been written yet.
Moreover, if there was a chance, it would be better to consider multiple options or even several plans.
As the laughter gradually subsided, Jiang Cheng asked curiously, "Senior Apprentice Brother Lin, is there no other way to obtain the secret martial arts besides starting from the martial arts academy?"
As he finished speaking, the others exchanged glances.
"Yes, of course, there is," Lin Quan Liang replied.
"In the slum area, there might be people hiding secret martial arts. But finding them is like searching for a needle in a haystack; it's all about luck. I've seen it before; a few years ago, I witnessed someone being taken away by the enforcement team for secretly possessing secret martial arts, causing their family to break apart. There's also a second way: the black market."
"The black market?"
"Yes, the black market. It's said that within the outer borough, there's an underground entrance that leads to the black market. Inside, you can find all sorts of secret martial arts, secret medicines, and secret recipes. Those who enter wear masks, and as long as you have money, you can buy whatever you desire." Lin Quan Liang spoke with a hint of longing in his eyes.
Not only him, but the rest of the group shared the same sentiment.
"This black market, is it difficult to enter?" Jiang Cheng felt that it might not be much easier than searching for a needle in a haystack in the slum area.
"It's not necessarily difficult, nor is it necessarily easy. As long as you obtain an invitation letter, you'll know how to get in. The challenge lies in obtaining the invitation letter."
Lin Quan Liang shrugged.
"So, Jiang Cheng, you should now understand that the martial arts academy is the most reliable path."
Jiang Cheng nodded.
After listening to Lin Quan Liang, it made perfect sense.
However, he was indeed curious about the black market.
If he had the opportunity to live in the outer borough in the future, he would definitely go and take a look.
"Oh, right, Senior Apprentice Brother Lin, I have another question." Jiang Cheng asked again, and it was more of a guess in his heart than a question.
"Go ahead, Jiang Cheng."
"It's just that even we know that Senior Apprentice Brother Zeng and the others possess secret martial arts, doesn't the enforcement team know?"
"Hehe, Jiang Cheng, you're still a bit naive. Although the ban on martial arts was issued by the Horn Clan, the ones implementing it are our Flame Nation people. As such, there's room for manipulation. For some, possessing secret martial arts is a crime, while for others, as long as they don't attract too much attention and cause trouble, a little money can solve the problem." Lin Quan Liang spoke with a profound meaning.
"So that's how it is."
Jiang Cheng's expression showed sudden realization.
Indeed, human nature was the same everywhere.
(End of Chapter)
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