Bumpkin

On the way home, Duan Ling Tian started pondering.

He was absolutely certain that the Howling Tiger Fist Li Xiao executed was around 70% similar to his Collapsing Fist.

And the method of force exertion was nearly identical!

Moreover, he could feel how the Howling Tiger Fist was even more agile than Collapsing Fist to a certain degree.

Even though Li Xiao’s cultivation level was similar to his, both being at the eighth level of the Body Tempering stage, Li Xiao obviously hadn’t grasped the quintessence of the Howling Tiger Fist.

Otherwise, even though he would still be unable to defeat Duan Ling Tian, at least he wouldn’t lose so horribly.

Middle grade Profound Rank martial skill?

Duan Ling Tian vaguely realized that he might have mistakenly understood certain things.

In his mind, Rebirth Martial Emperor’s memories rapidly flashed by…

Duan Ling Tian quickly had a new perception of Profound Rank martial skills.

"So that’s how it is. Profound Rank compared to Yellow Rank is an all new type of transformation… The might of a Yellow Rank martial skill is equal to the Military Boxing in my previous life. On the other hand, low grade Profound Rank martial skills are comparable to Form and Will Boxing."

Duan Ling Tian felt enlightened.

In the past, when he saw the Li branch family martial pavilion’s low grade and middle grade Yellow Rank skills which were difficult to take seriously, he had an attitude that felt as if using his Form and Will Boxing would be enough and thus rejected all the martial skills of this world.

But now he realized that even the Form and Will Boxing of his previous life was only comparable to this world’s low grade Profound Rank martial skills.

"Looks like I need to start taking this world’s martial skills seriously."

Duan Ling Tian’s heart twitched.

"Martial skills, on top of offensive martial skills and movement techniques, there are also defense techniques."

Through Rebirth Martial Emperor’s memories, Duan Ling Tian’s horizons grew wider, and he gained knowledge of matters he wasn’t aware of in the past.

"So the Nine Dragons War Sovereign Technique’s War Sovereign’s Nine Forms actually has three Heaven Rank martial skills merged within it… Offensive martial skill, Nine Dragons Radiant Flash; movement technique, Dragon Soaring The Nine Heavens; and defense martial skill, Nine Dragons Barrier!"

Duan Ling Tian took a deep breath. His mood was elated.

The Spirit Serpent Movement Technique in the War Sovereign’s Nine Form’s Spirit Serpent Form was actually the basic section of the Dragon Soaring The Nine Heavens martial skill, a high grade Profound Rank movement technique.

"If I step into the Core Formation stage, I’ll be able to cultivate the basic section of the Nine Dragons Radiant Flash, which is a high grade Profound Rank martial skill called Dragon’s Finishing Touch!"

"If I step into the Origin Core stage, I’ll be able to cultivate the basic section of the Nine Dragons Barrier, which is a high grade Profound Rank martial skill called Earth Dragons Shield!"

Noticing the smile on the corners of Duan Ling Tian’s mouth, the young girl beside him couldn’t help but ask, "Young Master, what are you thinking about?"

Duan Ling Tian laughed. "Nothing. We’ve been out for a while, let’s go back so Mom doesn’t worry."

That night, Duan Ling Tian returned to his room early and lied down on his bed.

He looked at the ceiling while he was in a daze.

In his heart he was thinking and pondering about the martial skills…

A mysterious door was slowly being opened in front of him.

At dawn the next day, Duan Ling Tian brought the young girl out, leaving the Li Clan estate.

He planned to buy some medicinal materials for the Seven Treasures Body Tempering Liquid as well as for other uses.

As for Thunder Flame Pills, Duan Ling Tian had already requested Grand Elder Li Huo to refine a few hundred for him before he left Fresh Breeze Town, more than enough for him and Ke Er to use until they advance to the Core Formation stage…

The two of them quickly arrived at the biggest trade market in the city.

The young girl’s extremely beautiful face attracted plenty of burning gazes from lascivious men. They followed the young girl with their eyes until she entered a luxurious medicine store.

"Is there anything I can get you?"

As soon as Duan Ling Tian walked in with the young girl, the manager personally greeted them, his tone modest.

He noticed the Li Clan crest on their clothes.

The Li Clan was a colossus in Aurora City; even his medicine store was rented from the Li Clan…

After Duan Ling Tian finished telling him of the medicinal materials he needed for the Seven Treasures Body Tempering Liquid, he continued, "Besides that, prepare some Spirit Tempering Grass, Amber Lead, and Fifty-Year-Old Blood Lingzhi."

"Customer, how much of these three spirit medicines do you need?" the manager asked respectfully.

"Twenty pounds of Spirit Tempering Grass and Amber Lead each. As for the Fifty-Year-Old Blood Lingzhi, I’ll take five pounds."

Duan Ling Tian pondered for a moment before slowly replying, "Five pounds of Fifty Years Old Blood Lingzhi?"

The manager was stupefied. He couldn’t believe what he had heard. "Customer, you’re not kidding, right? The other spirit grasses you asked for are just common spirit grasses and not worth much… But Blood Lingzhi is, after all, fifty years old; just fifty grams is already worth a thousand silver, five pounds…"

"50,000 silver, right?"

Duan Ling Tian reached into his pockets and withdrew a stack of silver bills with a thousand denomination and waved it around. "Don’t worry, as long as you prepare the medicinal materials, your silver won’t be any less."

"Yes, yes."

Seeing Duan Ling Tian withdraw so many silver bills that the manager’s eyes sparkled. Without any further doubt, he hurriedly went to prepare the medicinal materials. "Respected customer, please take a look if you need anything else."

"OK."

Duan Ling Tian nodded.

"Young Master, that Blood Lingzhi is so expensive. Is there anything special about it?"

The young girl playfully stuck out her tongue, looking at Duan Ling Tian with a gaze filled with curiosity.

"That’s used as the medicinal catalyst for the medicinal liquid to cultivate defensive martial skills. Five pounds of Blood Lingzhi is only enough for us to use for two months."

Duan Ling Tian lightly smiled.

Two months?

50,000 silver?

The young girl was stupefied. She wanted to say something but was slightly hesitant. "Young Master, isn’t this a bit too extravagant?"

Duan Ling Tian shook his head. "Ke Er, you must remember that if you want to improve your strength, you absolutely can’t skimp on money… Money is a mere worldly possession; if you’ve used it all, you can still find a way to earn more."

The young girl light nodded as if she had realized something and understood.

"Brother Li Yuan, after you buy some Blood Lingzhi, your Golden Bell Cover martial skill should be able to step into the initial stage, right?"

A sound transmitted in from outside the medicine store, getting close and closer.

Golden Bell Cover?

Duan Ling Tian’s heart twitched.

This defense martial skill was included in the memories of Rebirth Martial Emperor as it was considered one of the best defensive martial skills in the middle grade Profound Rank.

Once it’s successfully cultivated, one can stand in place like an immovable mountain, as if a golden bell. Ordinary people wouldn’t be able to break through the defense.

"Yeah, once I buy two hundred and fifty grams of Blood Lingzhi this time, I will be able to step into the initial stage before the clan’s martial meet starts.

Another voice sounded. This voice had a trace of arrogance and callousness.

The former sighed as he said enviously, "Brother Li Yuan, I really envy you; that is worth five thousand silver… If only my father would spend so much on me, then my Iron Arm Technique wouldn’t have taken so long and still not be able to enter the rudiments stage."

The latter said, "You do a comparison in this way: I’m the only son in the family, but you have a big brother. I heard your brother, Li Zhong’s, Iron Arm Technique was cultivated to the initial stage half a year ago."

"Yeah."

The former’s voice contained a trace a jealousy.

"It’s him!"

Duan Ling Tian recognized the owner of the voice. It was actually the main clan disciple, Li Xiao, whom he defeated yesterday in the outer court martial arts practice field.

He didn’t expect Li Xiao, who had just had two or three of his finger bones broken by him, to actually be able to come out and walk around the market today with such vigor.

With a quick thought, Duan Ling Tian understood.

Based on the injury Li Xiao received yesterday, if he used a grade nine Gold Injury Pill, he would be healed in one night.

Using a Gold Injury Pill on such a light injury.

Main clan disciples were really extravagant!

"Li Xiao, I heard that you lost to a newly-arrived branch family disciple yesterday, and he even used the Howling Tiger Fist against you?"

"Brother Li Yuan, don’t mention it; I was really unlucky yesterday. Who knew that a newly arrived branch family disciple would be at the eighth level of the Body Tempering stage and his Howling Tiger Fist would have even stepped into the mastery stage… But his Howling Tiger Fist seemed incomplete. If I’m able to cultivate my Howling Tiger Fist to mastery soon, I can definitely defeat him!"

"It is really odd that a branch family disciple used a middle grade Profound Rank martial skill."

"Don’t mention him. Right. Brother Li Yuan, the little girl beside him was really vivacious and beautiful, not one bit inferior to Li Shi Shi."

"Not inferior to Li Shi Shi? Are you sure?"

...

The two youths around the age of seventeen talked as they walked into the medicine store.

"It’s you!" Li Xiao exclaimed in a low voice, looking at the couple who had their backs towards him. He recognized the view of their backs.

Li Yuan also looked towards the couple and curiously asked, "Li Xiao, you know them?"

"Brother Li Yuan, he is the branch family disciple I told you about earlier, Duan Ling Tian!" Li Xiao said in a low voice.

"Looks like there’s some fate between us. Aurora City is so large, yet we are able to meet here." Duan Ling Tian brought the young girl along as he turned around and grinned.

"Humph!" Li Xiao’s expression turned slightly grim.

However, Li Yuan besides him had his gaze fixedly staring at the young girl beside Duan Ling Tian, unable to move away anymore.

The slim and graceful young girl with a drop-dead gorgeous face caused his heart to tremble.

Li Yuan muttered to himself, "She’s really not one bit inferior to Li Shi Shi, and at certain points even better than Li Shi Shi…"

Noticing Li Yuan’s unrestrained gaze, the young girl frowned.

"Hi, I heard you’re a branch family disciple who just arrived at the main clan. How about we become friends?"

Withdrawing his burning gaze, Li Yuan walked over in a polite manner, as if he was a completely different person from before.

"I don’t know you." The young girl’s voice was cold and indifferent, seemingly unapproachable.

"Then let’s get to know each other from this moment… I’m Li Yuan, a main clan disciple. In the outer court, as long as you say my name, any person will give you some face and treat you well out of respect for me."

Li Yuan’s manner of speaking was filled with arrogance.

"Oh? So that means that the outer court disciples don’t dare to offend you?"

Duan Ling Tian glanced deeply at Li Yuan.

"Humph! Duan Ling Tian, Brother Li Yuan’s strength can rank at the top three in the outer court. If you were sensible, you would f**k off right now. Maybe Brother Li Yuan will take you under his wing since you’re so sensible."

Before Li Yuan could speak, Li Xiao had already grunted.

"Oh, really?"

Duan Ling Tian smiled indifferently. Disregarding Li Yuan’s eyes that seemed to be burning, he grabbed the young girl’s hand and walked away, ignoring the two of them.

Li Yuan took a deep breath and said, "As long as you’re willing to be friends with me, I can give you a big gift. Fifty grams of Fifty-Year-Old Blood Lingzhi. how about it?"

This was obviously said to the young girl beside Duan Ling Tian.

Duan Ling Tian lightly laughed as he said to the young girl, "Ke Er, some people are really stingy, wanting to bribe you with only fifty grams of Blood Lingzhi."

"Bumpkin, what do you know? Brother Li Yuan is talking about Fifty-Year-Old Blood Lingzhi; just fifty grams is worth two thousand silver… A bumpkin like you probably can’t even produce a hundred silver coins, right?"

Li Xiao mocked.