The simplification was very much in the panel's usual style, and Lu Zhiyuan was pleased. Judging by how much he walked each day, a little effort might bring Water-Treading Art to Perfected proficiency in a single day.
His movement skills would improve noticeably. With diligence, fusing and practicing all four movement arts might take only four or five days. Then he would see whether that produced a fundamental improvement.
He put down the Water-Treading Art manual and picked up the one for Immortal Cloud Sword Art.
Water-Treading Art's simplification had been expected. What mattered now was whether the panel could recognize and improve Immortal Cloud Sword Art. If it could, his lack of advanced techniques would be less of a problem.
He spent two full hours reading by candlelight, until his head swam and his eyes blurred. At last, an entry appeared on the panel.
[Techniques: Immortal Cloud Sword Art (Incomplete)]
"Technique detected. Spend fifty silver taels to simplify Immortal Cloud Sword Art (Incomplete)?"
"So it really is Immortal Cloud Sword Art. Incomplete is to be expected, but that simplification cost is high."
His eyes brightened. He had achieved his first goal. If the panel could simplify it, there was hope. Authentic, accurate advanced techniques might be difficult to find, but plausible-looking imitations should be plentiful.
"Panel, simplify Immortal Cloud Sword Art!"
"Simplifying Immortal Cloud Sword Art (Incomplete)... Simplification successful... Immortal Cloud Sword Art (Incomplete) → Immortal Points the Way!"
A sword technique appeared in his mind: graceful, agile, swift as the wind, delivering a thrust from a seemingly impossible angle. He had not practiced it yet, but simply contemplating it captivated him.
"What an excellent sword technique!"
A moment later, he finished absorbing the knowledge and could not help praising it. Compared with Immortal Points the Way, even Greenpeak Sword Art at Perfected proficiency looked like a child's wild flailing, almost painfully crude.
"Immortal Points the Way is probably only one sword technique within Immortal Cloud Sword Art, yet it's already this profound. How powerful must the complete sword art be? And what a mighty institution the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect must be!"
He murmured to himself. This single move gave him a glimpse of the whole. The more he understood, the smaller he felt.
Shaking his head slightly, he put that strange feeling aside and focused again on Immortal Points the Way.
With his current aptitude for swordsmanship, practicing it normally would probably take months merely to reach Basic. Who knew how long Mastered would take?
Yet fusing it with his Perfected Greenpeak Sword Art felt incompatible. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
It was like fusing the formulas for Blood Vitality Pills and Healing Pills. Fusion was possible, but their differing effects made the result awkward.
Greenpeak Sword Art could be fused with Immortal Points the Way, but one had to take precedence.
Immortal Points the Way was more advanced and would naturally dominate, forcing him to discard most of his Perfected Greenpeak Sword Art. Besides, it was a single sword technique, better suited to a finishing move than a complete sword art.
Otherwise, he would use the same move over and over. He was nowhere near capable of defeating every possible technique with one stroke, and enemies would easily counter him. With no better option, he separated the techniques again.
"Can a simplified technique be simplified again?"
The thought flashed through his mind. He immediately gave the panel another simplification command.
"Five hundred silver taels!"
The information startled him. A second simplification was possible, but it cost ten times as much as the first.
"Money really can buy happiness."
He took several deep breaths and looked at Water-Treading Art. He could not afford to simplify Immortal Points the Way again, but Water-Treading Art was within reach. He wanted to see what a second simplification would do.
"Performing second simplification of Water-Treading Art... Simplification successful... Water-Treading Art → Leg Bouncing!"
His eyes widened slightly. The second simplification had changed the action from walking to bouncing his leg, making it easier still. Apparently, money really could do anything.
"So I'd better work hard at earning it!"
He crossed one leg over the other and slowly began bouncing it.
Early the next morning, he went to Clearwell Clinic as usual, greeting people along the way before entering the alchemy room.
He glanced at the panel. Water-Treading Art had already reached Mastered and was very close to Perfected. He also discovered that walking still increased its proficiency. The source of this chapter is novelping.com.
After a second simplification, the first simplified practice method remained effective. He had simply gained another way to increase proficiency.
He was in a good mood. Walking here that morning, he had felt noticeably lighter. The movement art was clearly taking effect.
He lit the fire, set up the alchemical furnace, and began brewing Healing Pills.
They sold for somewhat more than Blood Vitality Pills. He now started with one batch of Healing Pills, keeping some for himself or for sale at the black market.
Then he brewed several batches of Blood Vitality Pills, keeping enough for his own use and selling the rest.
Compared with the previous month, he deliberately reported a slightly higher pill yield. A little improvement would make the clinic recognize his aptitude without seeming excessive. He needed to strike the right balance.
That afternoon, while cultivating after taking Blood Vitality Pills, he was summoned by Jia Shiheng.
"I spoke to the Young Mistress today. After hearing about your situation, she wants to develop your talent. She plans to appoint you deputy steward of the clinic near the north gate."
Jia Shiheng picked up his teacup, blew on the tea, and took a sip.
"Is there danger involved?"
Lu Zhiyuan frowned slightly. Good fortune rarely fell into his lap like this. His aptitude for alchemy was good, but hardly extraordinary enough to make him a clinic's deputy steward overnight.
"No danger, but a little trouble."
Jia Shiheng considered briefly. "The Young Mistress suspects a problem with Steward Luo there and wants you to look into it. You have no powerful connections, but enough skill in alchemy to justify the position without arousing too much suspicion."
"Don't rush to refuse."
Seeing his expression, Jia Shiheng smiled. "To persuade you to go, the Young Mistress will raise your share from thirty percent to forty percent. You'll also receive the formula for Herbal Restoration Pills immediately. If you find evidence of Steward Luo's wrongdoing, she may even give you the formula for Lightspirit Pills."
Lu Zhiyuan opened his mouth, then swallowed his refusal. It was not that he had ceased wanting to decline. The offer was simply too generous for him to find a reason.
Increasing his share from thirty percent to forty percent would help him save faster. Now that he knew about the panel's second simplification, silver was essential to rapidly improving his strength. The more, the better.