A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

Chapter 39: Chapter 38: Late Sun Magic Sword Skill

After leaving the trading post, Lü Zhong and Huang Shuyuan parted ways.

Walking alone down the street, his heart swelled with excitement and joy.

The Fear Bear Hide had ultimately sold for two hundred and eighty Spirit Stones. Compared to the previous price of one hundred and seventy, that was a full one hundred and ten Spirit Stones more. This sum was equivalent to several years of income for an ordinary loose cultivator. It was no wonder Lin Zhongze and his group had resorted to such measures.

After subtracting Huang Shuyuan’s share, Lü Zhong’s take was a total of one hundred and sixty-eight Spirit Stones.

’Killing just one Demon Beast yields such a huge profit. No wonder people die in the jaws of beasts every year, yet Beast Hunting Cultivators continue to flock to the hunt, one after another.’

’The allure of wealth truly is a powerful thing!’

At this thought, he grew more cautious.

Carrying such a fortune, Lü Zhong started seeing Evil Cultivators everywhere he looked.

’It’s time to buy a couple more Magic Skills.’

Concealing Breath and Traces were two sides of the same coin. Now that he knew the Breath Concealing Skill, he naturally had to learn the Stealth Technique to go with it. Combining the two Magic Skills would allow him to come and go without a trace—an essential tool for any situation.

’And the Malice Detection Technique. If they have it, I’ll buy that as well.’

Lü Zhong had heard of this Magic Skill long ago.

Its function was simple: to detect malice in real time.

For instance, if an Evil Cultivator were really tailing him right now, casting the Malice Detection Technique would trigger an internal alarm, letting him know someone bore him ill will.

Similarly, in the wilderness, it could be used to detect a Demon Beast lurking nearby.

While it certainly had major limitations and numerous ways to be circumvented, it was still an excellent early-warning Magic Skill.

The streets weren’t crowded. Lü Zhong walked up to a shop called the ”Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion.”

A closer look revealed it was the former site of the Magic Technique Pavilion, which had been sold, renovated, and reopened under a new name.

He went inside to browse. The shop’s decor was elegant and impressive, and the selection of Magic Skills for sale was comprehensive. It seemed to stock nearly every Magic Skill for the Qi Refining Stage. Naturally, the Malice Detection Technique he was looking for was among them.

Notably, the shop also sold various ”Experience Books” for Magic Skills, as well as guides on Casting techniques.

Lü Zhong’s interest was immediately piqued.

The book *Techniques for the Long-term Qi Observation Technique* was probably the same method Li Dong had taught him.

There was also *Advanced Qi Observation Skill: A Geomancer’s Foundation*, another book on Casting techniques for the Qi Observation Skill.

Then there was an Experience Book titled *One Hundred Practical Insights on Qi Observation Skill*. It was clearly a manual on how to use the skill. According to the cover’s description, the book taught how to distinguish between different types of Spiritual Qi, judge a target’s strength from their Spiritual Qi fluctuations, and apply the Qi Observation Skill in combat.

”How much for this one?”

”Five Spirit Stones.”

’So cheap?’

Lü Zhong wondered, ’Shouldn’t this kind of knowledge command a much higher price?’

But on second thought, he understood.

Knowledge was precious, but the market size mattered. Most low-level independent cultivators didn’t bother practicing Magic Skills, so an Experience Book like this might not sell a single copy for a long time. Furthermore, many cultivators would try to figure things out on their own to save money. That was why its price was the same as the Qi Observation Skill itself.

When he asked about the two books on Casting techniques, the prices were indeed higher, both starting in the double digits.

Clearly, techniques and experience were not the same thing.

Lü Zhong decided to buy both the Magic Skills and their Experience Books. Spending a little extra money would save him a lot of time, which, on careful consideration, was well worth it. He pointed to several items on the counter and said, ”I’ll take this Experience Book for the Qi Observation Skill, another one for the Breath Concealing Skill, and also the Stealth Technique and the Malice Detection Technique. I want both Magic Skills and their corresponding Experience Books.”

Hearing this, the shop’s Receptionist thought, ’A big spender has arrived!’ and immediately approached with a beaming smile.

”The Stealth Technique is eight Spirit Stones, and its Experience Book is a bit pricier at Ten Spirit Stones... Then there’s the Malice Detection Technique, which is fifteen spirit stones, and its companion Experience Book is twelve spirit stones... Add Five Spirit Stones for the Qi Observation Skill Experience Book and Three Spirit Stones for the Breath Concealing Skill Experience Book... that comes to a total of fifty-three spirit stones.”

”Wrap them up,” Lü Zhong said calmly.

After paying the Spirit Stones, he put the newly acquired books away and headed for the door.

Just then, the Receptionist ran out from the back room, waving and calling out:

”Fellow Daoist, please wait! We’ve just received a shipment of new Magic Skills. I wonder if you might be interested?”

”Oh? New Magic Skills?”

At this, Lü Zhong stopped, his curiosity piqued.

’The Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion’s selection of Magic Skills is already so comprehensive. What new skills could they possibly have received?’

Illusion Skill, Stone Armor Skill, Sweating Skill...

It was a pile of novel Magic Skills, with names and functions he had never heard of before.

”This shipment just arrived from Central Earth. Fellow Daoist, please see if any of them catch your eye,” the Receptionist said with an expectant look.

”From Central Earth? No wonder...” Lü Zhong mused as he flipped through the Magic Skill catalog, searching for something that suited him while recalling what he knew about Central Earth.

The so-called Central Earth was exactly what its name implied—the land in the center.

Central Earth was the origin of this continent’s Cultivation Realm. The Human Race had migrated outward from this central point, and after a long period of pioneering and propagation, had established the current five great Cultivation Realms: the East, South, West, North, and Central.

As the cradle of the Human Race, the Immortal Dao in Central Earth was naturally prosperous beyond measure. All sorts of ancient and powerful sects had taken root there, so it was no surprise that new Magic Skills were constantly being created.

’To be able to bring these Magic Skills all the way to Qingliu Square in the remote Southern Wilderness... it seems this Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion is quite powerful,’ Lü Zhong thought to himself, then pointed to a line in the catalog.

”This Late Sun Sword Skill, could you let me see it, please?”

”Of course.”

The Late Sun Sword Skill used Spiritual Power to form a blade capable of inflicting damage.

It was an adjusted version of the Magic Sword Skill, one that prioritized Casting speed over raw power.

The resulting Magic Sword could not be launched as a projectile; it could only be wielded in hand.

Furthermore, its duration was extremely short, not even lasting a single breath’s time.

At first glance, the skill seemed completely useless.

But after reading the description, Lü Zhong immediately decided to buy it.

’With this Magic Sword Skill, I can compensate for the Green Frost Sword’s weakness in close combat. I might even be able to give an enemy who gets too close a nasty surprise!’

The Late Sun Sword Skill was not cheap, costing a full twenty-five Spirit Stones. For that price, one could buy both the Breath Concealing and Stealth skills, along with their corresponding Experience Books.

But its high price naturally reflected its high value.

Cultivators were still human, and thus subject to human habits of thought and their associated blind spots. Before the Late Sun Sword Skill became widely known, very few would think to guard against it.

This lack of defense against it was precisely why it could command a price of twenty-five Spirit Stones.

One thing was certain: in the days to come, many people in Qingliu Square would definitely die by this skill.

Lü Zhong paid the money, left the shop, and headed toward East Main Street.

Passing a meat stall, he decided to buy a couple of pounds of Spirit Beast Meat to take home and nourish his body.

Although Spirit Beast Meat contained less Demon Spiritual Qi than the meat of a Demon Beast, eating it still had a body-strengthening effect.

Considering his own frail constitution, Lü Zhong felt it was necessary to make some improvements. If he had time in the future, he might even practice one of the Body Refining Techniques. That way, a minor injury in combat wouldn’t drastically reduce his overall strength.

”How much for this Mud Shell Pork?”

”That depends on the cut you want, Fellow Daoist. Different cuts have different amounts of Spiritual Qi, so the price varies. My prime cuts go for fifty talismanic coins a pound. How many pounds would you like?”

”I’ll take two pounds of the prime cut, then.”