After some consideration, Shen Fan decided he needed to go out for a trial.
However, the outside world was not like the academy.
Dangers lurked everywhere, so he needed to cultivate a body technique.
That way, he could escape even if he ran into trouble.
‘It’s time to cultivate the Cloud Ladder Ascension Technique.’ Shen Fan took out the Jade Scroll containing the technique.
The Cloud Ladder Ascension Technique had a total of nine layers, but only the Elemental Patterns for the first three could be deciphered.
The subsequent patterns were blurry, impossible for an ordinary person to make out.
Furthermore, in the three hundred years that Black Water Academy had possessed this Jade Scroll, no one had ever successfully cultivated the Cloud Ladder Ascension Technique, a testament to how profound it was.
This piqued Shen Fan’s interest.
He wanted to see if his Yin-Yang Space could decipher the Cloud Ladder Ascension Technique.
Activating his Soul Eye, three strange Elemental Patterns instantly appeared within the Yin-Yang Space.
They looked like three emaciated figures striking incomprehensible poses.
Moreover, the remaining six Elemental Patterns also went from blurry to clear, but these latter patterns were rigid and devoid of any profound intent.
‘Strange.
Why did the deciphering stop halfway through?’ Shen Fan’s expression faltered.
His Yin-Yang Space could easily decipher even a Mid-tier Martial Skill in a single pass, yet it could only get through the first three Elemental Patterns of the Cloud Ladder Ascension Technique.
His excitement had been premature.
‘Does the Yin-Yang Space’s deciphering ability have limits?
Given its mysterious nature, it should be able to decipher even a Peak-tier Martial Skill.
So why…
Don’t tell me these first three Elemental Patterns are far beyond a Peak-tier Martial Skill?’
He had once heard that above the Meridian Opening Realm was the Cave Profound Realm, and that beyond Martial Techniques existed techniques that were even more profound, closer to the very essence of Elemental Patterns.
‘Perhaps the Level of this Cloud Ladder Ascension Technique surpasses even Peak-tier Martial Skills!’
At the same time, another theory surfaced in his mind: the Yin-Yang Space’s deciphering ability might improve as his own cultivation rose, just like how the light on that white Divine Pattern grew brighter as he advanced.
His heart pounded.
If the Cloud Ladder Ascension Technique’s Level truly surpassed Peak-tier Martial Skills, then its origins must be immense.
After a good while, his excitement subsided, and he calmed down to decipher the first three Elemental Patterns again.
Two hours later, he murmured to himself, ‘So that’s how it is.
The Cloud Ladder Ascension Technique’s Level is too high for an ordinary person to decipher.
Even the Yin-Yang Divine Coin can only make out the first three layers.
It looks like I’ll have to settle for cultivating those for now.’
Shen Fan had used the Yin-Yang Divine Coin to decipher the Cloud Ladder Ascension Technique—a technique that even Martial Artists couldn’t cultivate—and could now practice its first three layers.
If word of this got out, it would be absolutely world-shattering.
‘As long as I keep quiet, no one will recognize the Cultivation Technique I’m practicing.
Since no one else can cultivate it, they won’t understand what they’re seeing.’ He smiled cryptically and muttered to himself, ‘I wonder just how powerful I’ll become once I achieve success in the first three layers.’
After deciphering the patterns several more times, he focused his mind, stilled his spirit, and began to cultivate by moving his body.
One moment, his body would coil like a snake; the next, it would tense like a bowstring.
He practiced all kinds of difficult maneuvers one by one.
‘It consumes so much energy.’ He gave a wry smile, but his eyes shone with excitement.
The more difficult it was to cultivate, the more powerful the technique.
…
「Half a month later.」
In the woods of the rear courtyard, Shen Fan moved like a Little Bird darting through the trees.
He stretched his limbs, and the Primordial Qi inside him circulated in a peculiar way, making him as light as a swallow.
He could push off the air itself, allowing him to stay aloft for nearly ten breaths, as if he were climbing a celestial ladder.
‘My speed is on par with a High-level Body Technique Martial Skill, and I can even briefly change direction in mid-air!’ Shen Fan was ecstatic, wishing he could fly out of the forest and soar through the heavens that very moment.
Unfortunately, with his current cultivation, he had only mastered the first Elemental Pattern, which corresponded to the 1st Layer of the Cloud Ladder Ascension Technique.
Even so, this 1st Layer alone was comparable to a High-level Body Technique Martial Skill.
For now, his mastery of the Cloud Ladder Ascension Technique’s 1st Layer was only at the Initial Success stage.
If he cultivated it to Great Success, he was confident he could stay airborne for twenty breaths and double his speed.
It was an absolutely superb Body Technique for both combat and escape.
One had to know that for a typical High-tier Body Technique cultivated to Great Success, the absolute limit for staying airborne was fifteen breaths.
‘Time to go on my trial.’ Shen Fan wiped the sweat from his brow and turned back toward his house.
Black Water Academy was located in the southern part of the Imperial City.
It, along with Bai Shan Academy and Changling Academy, formed a triangular configuration, representing the three great powers that stood above the Black Water Kingdom.
Nestled between the three great academies was the Black Water Marketplace, one of the main gathering hubs for Martial Artists throughout the Black Water Kingdom.
It facilitated all kinds of transactions.
Whether it was Elixirs, weapons, Martial Techniques, Cultivation Techniques, or anything else a Martial Artist might need, it could be traded for at the Black Water Marketplace.
One day, Shen Fan, dressed in practical attire, set out from Black Water Academy and headed straight for the Black Water Marketplace.
He wanted to buy a saber.
His old saber was of poor quality and was about to fall apart after only a few uses.
For his upcoming trial, a better saber would significantly increase the power of his Fast Blade technique.
He had specifically gone to the Government Hall to collect his Monthly Pay of one hundred silver.
Ever since he had successfully cleared his name, his treatment and benefits were identical to those of any other disciple at the Third Rank of Meridian Opening.
He couldn’t help but sigh.
In this world, strength was everything.
He crossed two streets, passed by a tavern, and soon saw a large pagoda tree.
Beneath it stood a sprawling, two-story pavilion that radiated an imposing aura.
“Divine Weapon Pavilion.”
Shen Fan let out a wry chuckle.
‘Shopkeepers these days really have big egos,’ he thought.
‘Divine Soldiers are weapons of legend, said to be able to tear the very heavens asunder.
How could one possibly exist in a place like the Black Water Kingdom?’
Lost in thought, he arrived before the Divine Weapon Pavilion, where a young woman who looked to be about sixteen or seventeen came to greet him. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
The woman was beautiful, with sharp eyes and a cultivation at the Third Rank of Meridian Opening.
Seeing Shen Fan’s shabby clothes and low cultivation, however, a flicker of disdain crossed her face.
Her interest immediately vanished.
“What kind of weapon are you looking for?” she asked dismissively.
‘What a snob,’ Shen Fan thought, displeased.
“A saber,” he said coldly.
“This way.” The woman impatiently led Shen Fan to a weapon room in the back.
The weapon room was about thirty feet square.
In the center stood a large rack forged entirely from gold, upon which rested a number of exquisite boxes.
Some boxes were four or five feet long, while the shortest were less than a foot.
Surrounding the gold rack were several silver-colored stands, each holding a saber of a unique shape that glinted with a cold light.
The moment he stepped inside, a bone-chilling aura washed over him.
‘There’s even Saber Qi.
Looks like they have some good sabers here,’ Shen Fan murmured.
“Hmph. Your eye isn’t half bad,” the woman sneered, striding in ahead of him.
Then, pointing to an iron rack in a dim corner, she said, “Pick from over here. You can’t afford those other ones.”
Shen Fan had just started walking toward the golden rack when he heard her words.
Anger flared within him.
‘She really looks down on people.’
“Hey, get away from there! Don’t get the boxes dirty with your filthy hands.” The woman pointed at Shen Fan with an elegant Orchid Finger gesture and berated him.
“I’ve seen plenty of country bumpkins like you. You never buy anything, just paw at everything. If you get it dirty, can you afford to compensate us? Ugh, I’m only even bothering with you because I’m in a good mood. Otherwise, looking as poor as you do, I would’ve kicked you out ages ago!”
Shen Fan’s face flushed red with rage.
“Fine,” he said, his anger boiling over.
“Tell me, how much for the most expensive saber you have?”
“Heh, I don’t mind telling you. The most expensive saber here costs ten thousand gold pieces. You heard me—ten thousand *gold*, not silver, and not copper! Even our cheapest saber is one thousand silver! You should know that our sabers are the absolute finest in all of Black Water City!” the woman snapped.
“Are you buying or not? If not, then scram! Don’t interrupt my business!”
When Shen Fan heard the price was ten thousand gold, he was stunned.
He had never even touched a piece of gold in his entire life, let alone ten thousand.
He’d never even seen a thousand silver before.
Ten thousand gold was equivalent to one hundred thousand Silver.
He only had one hundred Silver on him.
How could he possibly afford such a Treasure Saber?
The woman’s attitude made him furious, but he had no way to vent his anger.
This world was so pragmatic; without strength and without money, no one would even look you in the eye.
“Hmph! So what if it’s ten thousand gold? Have your best saber ready. I’ll be back to pick it up in a few days!” Unwilling to lose face, Shen Fan left this parting shot and hastily departed.
“Pah! A poor wretch like you thinks he can buy a Treasure Saber worth ten thousand gold?” the woman spat, cursing loudly at Shen Fan’s retreating back.
…
In the end, Shen Fan settled for a four-foot-long saber from a small blacksmith’s shop.
The quality was much better than his old one, and it cost him a little over ninety Silver.
After that, he bought a few bags, bundled his things, and departed from the Black Water Marketplace.