Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Another Winter

Black market, main entrance, unnamed small pavilion.

Li Yuan was carefully inspecting the market entry register.

This register was made in triplicate.

Each market entrance had inspections and registrations, which were then stored before being displayed. Later in the evening, the miscellaneous tasks person would compile the Five Directions Market’s registrations into a single volume and quickly deliver it to Master Li for review.

After Master Li reviewed it, the items could be listed.

However, most of the time, Master Li merely glanced over it, not bothering to look closely, marking it with a red pen to indicate approval.

Therefore, the items listed in the register Li Yuan held were those that had been listed only this morning.

If he had arrived earlier, he could have known which items would be listed today.

Currently, Li Yuan’s eyes quickly scanned, and his fingers leisurely flipped through the pages.

He was searching for a few items.

First, a Ninth Grade Demon Beast.

The selection criteria for the demon beast were a gentle nature, proficient in scouting, and able to move covertly, making it extremely difficult to detect. If possible, he’d also like “tank type” and “can provide assistance and household protection” services.

He had had enough of the pain of not having “eyes.” Especially when killing Senior Brother Ren, he could only hide in the small woods and wait for him.

Second, Eighth Grade Demon Beast Meat.

He needed Eighth Grade Demon Beast Meat to stimulate Shadow Blood, to reach areas that Ninth Grade Demon Beast Meat couldn’t, assisting him in breaking realms.

However, the channels for Eighth Grade Demon Beast Meat are scarce, provided steadily only to the Sect Leader, Vice Sect Leader, and Elder.

Now he could only hope to find some Eighth Grade Demon Beast Meat leaking into the black market.

Third, skills.

He had discovered that skills like “archery,” “tracking,” “beast taming,” and “spear skill” were basic skills, serving as “stepping stones” to cultivate more advanced skills but lacked uniqueness.

However, the three moves of the Spring and Autumn Blade – “Spring Thunder,” “Jingzhe,” and “Tengyuan” – could eventually be merged into a new skill, something ordinary skills couldn’t offer.

He wanted to see if there were higher-level skills, so if his realm was stuck, he could widen channels through skill cultivation, assisting in meeting the conditions for promotion.

Fourth, cultivation skills.

Since he could have two kinds of Shadow Blood in his body, he wanted to try if it was possible to cultivate a third.

But this was something likely not for sale, merely a thought or maybe see if there is another opportunity.

However, he wasn’t after just any cultivation skill, he was looking for one with a subsequent Dharma Gate, unlike the Willow Return Technique, which offered nothing beyond the Ninth Grade.

Though his teacher told him to create one himself, he knew he wasn’t able to create a cultivation skill yet.

Li Yuan carefully browsed.

After a round, he quietly put the book down.

As expected, no luck, none of the things he wanted were there.

Master Li glanced at him and said: “Nothing caught your eye?”

No worries, after some time, once Wei Family’s spoils are accounted for, many will be released.

Check with me every few days. As long as it aids your cultivation, Master will pave a convenient path for you.”

To Master Li, legacy was particularly important.

His injuries were beyond recovery, and his lifelong wish was to see this disciple grow, to see him develop new Soul-Throwing Technique, Spring and Autumn Blade…

Only then could he lay down a heavy burden in his life.

“Thank you, Master…”

…

…

In the days following, for Li Yuan, life suddenly gained regularity, with time seemingly speeding up.

By being cautious, low-key, humble, and polite, he avoided inexplicable trouble, and with the domineering Senior Sister Zhao and the protective Master Li, he comfortably trained and grew under their large umbrella.

Compared to him, the original Wei Family’s Three Halls were in chaos. The Sun Family wouldn’t let Blood Saber Sect dominate, understanding the concept of mutual reliance, so they desperately rallied the remnants of the Wei Family, providing various secretive support, and began causing havoc recklessly.

The Twelve Martial Arts Schools encountered many troubles, with several skirmishes breaking out that Li Yuan wasn’t clear on, only knowing that the Blood Saber Sect suffered many casualties, leading some schools to shut down…

The Blood Saber Sect struggled to cultivate disciples, yet under such overt and covert strife, the losses of disciples couldn’t be recovered with new ones.

Thus, recruiting tributers became Blood Saber Sect’s only choice.

The sect started lowering requirements, recruiting Seventh and Eighth Grade tributers from outside the county.

In fact, many freelance Martial Artists were willing to settle there.

First, it provided a stable place of refuge;

Second, an elevated status allowed them to enjoy unrestrained pleasures;

Third, stable Ninth Grade Demon Beast Meat saved them a lot of trouble, though it lacked Eighth Grade, it was still good.

The arrival of these people indeed enhanced the Blood Saber Sect’s strength, yet it also sowed seeds of turmoil.

Li Yuan paid no attention to these events, exploiting the Blood Saber Sect’s manpower shortage to have Yu Mao silently recommend Qian Da into the sect.

Qian Da, strong and robust unlike ordinary people, with a clear mind, had no trouble getting in, becoming an Outer Disciple, and was sent to Silver Creek by Li Yuan to start practicing the Blood Saber Sect’s sword skill.

Qian Da was extremely grateful to Li Yuan and, recognizing Li Yuan’s imprint on him, remained loyal. Meanwhile, Qian Si and Qian Wu continued managing the transport of prey.

But now…Li Yuan no longer accepted money for these prey; instead, he supplied them directly to Hengwu Restaurant.

As summer passed into autumn, and the leaves fell…

The rural fields revealed sparse patches of golden yellow.

Poor harvest!

Still a poor harvest!

Despair clouded the hearts of many, the dire human condition beyond words.

Grain and wine prices continued to hold high, merchants hurriedly hoarded a new batch of grains, hoping to make huge profits later on.

Meanwhile, Hengwu Restaurant set up a porridge kitchen, providing free porridge for relief, serving crowds not only of beggars, but many refugees and some nearing starvation.

As autumn passed and winter arrived.

Due to the infusion of fresh blood, Blood Saber Sect began showing slight disturbances.

Past orderliness was disrupted, as oppression from Martial Artists escalated, along with incidents of harassment and bullying becoming more frequent…

Li Yuan ignored these, minding his own stable life around Silver Creek, maintaining a simple, three-point routine, cycling between the Inner City, Silver Creek, and the black market.

In the black market, he arrived every evening bringing tea or fine wine for Master Li, reviewing the market entry register to foresee the next day’s listed items, thus selecting goods.

Upon discovering target items, he neither revealed nor was questioned by Master Li.

He would wear a three-piece set, mask, cloak, with a short knife hidden in the sleeve, swiftly arriving early at the black market the next morning to make his purchases.

Notably, he occasionally let go of demon beast meat, sometimes making appearances to buy unrelated items. Also, he prepared seven different styles of three-piece sets, with items such as a stomach padding suit, high-heeled boots, a beard, and long hair.

It was common for many in the black market to wear masks, so his get-up was quite normal.

In the past, he might not have had so much money.

But now, with the lady boss’s financial backing, he could afford the items he fancied.

Eighth Grade Meat was rare, very rare.

But thanks to the market entry register, he could predict what would be listed daily, allowing him to make quick snatches, coming and going like the wind.

Accumulating over time, he snatched at least 60 to 70 pounds a month, and up to 100 pounds during the plentiful months.

Time flew, and before long, it was the coldest three-nines of the twelfth lunar month.

Snow fell like a python, its movements scattering millions of silver scales, sweeping through the sky and earth, racing through the streets and alleyways of Shanbao County.

Lady Yan and the lady boss donned white fur, enjoying the view of snow and plum blossoms.

The stew bubbling on the stove sent out warm, comforting sounds.

Li Yuan sat alone under the eaves of the study in the inner courtyard, watching icicles of varying lengths hang from the eaves, only to be blown off and shattered on the ground by the wind.

He had a premonition.

The breakthrough…would be today.

After today, he would officially step into the Seventh Grade, reaching Great Perfection, becoming one of the strongest in Shanbao County.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep