Chapter 16: Forbidden Technique, Spirit Stone
Fang Shu’s thoughts froze, and he quickly stopped the wild imaginings in his heart.
He pondered that the so-called Opportunity Talisman, no matter how he looked at it, felt like just a carrot dangling in front of a donkey’s head—visible but unattainable.
Immediately after, his gaze fell again on Second Uncle’s handwriting on the low table.
The entire paper was covered in scribbles, densely packed like ghost-drawn talismans.
Fang Shu looked at it for a long while before discerning the meaning from the gaps between words like Farming and Mining.
Looking horizontally, it was cattle and horses; vertically, servants and maids—all emphasizing the two words “Blood Ghost.”
Second Uncle Yu Lao Er, sitting beside him, saw his expression of sudden realization and understanding, so he also let out a long sigh and leisurely wrote two couplets:
“Farming and mining, all beastly labor, how can it compare to Blood Ghost?
Bodily toil and risking life day by day, in the end, just being tasted by others.”
After admiring it for a moment, Second Uncle looked pleased with himself, while Fang Shu showed a self-mocking expression.
He lowered his head and bowed to Second Uncle, finally understanding Second Uncle’s current helpless situation.
In such circumstances, let alone Second Uncle’s current state of failed breakthrough and bodily injury—even if it were a young and strong, hardworking young man, a moment of carelessness would still result in being chewed to bits at the bottom of the Marketplace.
Rather than that, it seemed truly better to lie low like Second Uncle, quietly awaiting the right moment… At least this way, he wouldn’t burden others or continue accumulating debt.
“Second Uncle, I understand.” Fang Shu took a deep breath.
He didn’t make any grand promises of ambition in front of Second Uncle, merely looking at him gratefully and earnestly:
“Then may I ask Second Uncle, how should I enter the Dojo to learn Immortal Merit?”
Second Uncle became even more interested at this and wrote a few words on the paper:
“Connections. Talisman Money.”
Among them, the two words “Talisman Money” were specially circled by Second Uncle with his pen.
Fang Shu looked closely and understood.
Gu Ling Town was an Immortal Cultivator Marketplace, where rare Mortal World Magic, Pills, Cultivation Methods, and the like were not exactly everywhere, but opportunities abounded.
The Dojos in the Marketplace were places open to all, for teaching the Dao and instructing disciples.
There were no small number of them, and those who opened Dojos were all Refining Qi level Immortal Cultivator experts, some even former Sect disciples, each with their unique Immortal Merits and signature Magic.
Though the entry conditions for these Dojos varied, generally, as long as one was under eighteen and had sufficient apprenticeship Talisman Money, one could enter and learn.
Dojos with good reputations and senior qualifications might add further screening to these two conditions, but sometimes they would also relax them.
Second Uncle let Fang Shu slowly digest this, while he himself continued to write and draw, calculating the minimum cost for apprenticeship and learning the Dao:
“Burn Tail Dojo, one term of three months, three thousand six hundred money per month, three months total ten thousand eight hundred money.”
Fang Shu looked at it, somewhat dazed.
Entering this “Burn Tail Dojo” to learn for one month actually equaled the pure income from a year of selling blood, and this didn’t even account for other cultivation expenses, with no guarantee of Entering the Dao.
Second Uncle frowned and counted on his fingers beside him, starting to figure out how to save up this sum for Fang Shu.
Seeing this, Fang Shu immediately pointed to the Long Tongue Sword beside his hand.
But Second Uncle quickly shook his head and wrote with his pen:
“The Dojo is no benevolent place; one cannot go without Magic for protection.
Don’t worry about the tuition; don’t even think of selling blood. I’ve muddled along in town for a good ten years and have some connections. You just need to wait two or three months… half a year at most!”
At this moment, Fang Shu smiled faintly and untied his travel bag.
From it, he shook out a tattered Tiger Skin, as well as the Fox Fur Magic Tool he had successfully crafted.
Since the Long Tongue Sword could not be discarded, then discarding the Fox Fur would do.
Just as he was about to mention this, Second Uncle’s sharp eyes spotted that the Fox Fur was a Magic Tool, and his eyes lit up with a reaction even greater than Fang Shu had imagined.
He touched the Fox Fur with one hand while looking down at the writing on the Tiger Skin, clicking his tongue in amazement.
After a long while, Second Uncle’s face flushed red, and he patted Fang Shu’s shoulder hard, writing:
“Good child! You can directly enter the Dojo now.”
Fang Shu was momentarily stunned.
Upon careful inquiry, he learned that Magic and Magic Tools were not cheap in the Marketplace.
An ordinary First Tribulation Magic and Magic Tool would cost around ten thousand money to acquire together. Even buying Magic or Magic Tool separately would cost five or six thousand money.
Subpar Magic and Magic Tools were slightly cheaper, but even singly, they cost around three thousand money.
And the Secret Mouth-Sword Technique was a proper First Tribulation Magic and Magic Tool.
In other words, Fang Shu only needed to sell the original Secret Mouth-Sword Technique in his hand, along with the Long Tongue Sword, and his tuition would be covered!
This left Fang Shu dumbfounded; he hadn’t realized the Magic Tool and Magic that Second Uncle had sent him were of such great value.
And to think he had believed that one thousand Boat Fare was the most expensive!
Secretly, he hated Cheng Guanzi’s swapping trick even more deeply.
Coming back to his senses, Fang Shu was still somewhat puzzled.
Although the Fur-Shedding and Skin-Changing Technique was also Magic, it differed from the Secret Mouth-Sword Technique.
This technique was not a solid First Tribulation Magic; it depended on luck and Materials, requiring years of nurturing or Medicinal Herbs for the Fox Fur to possibly reach First Tribulation Magic Tool level.
The price of such Magic was obviously heavily discounted; even selling the Tiger Skin, Fox Fur, and the inherited original formula of the Secret Mouth-Sword Technique together might not quite reach ten thousand money.
Fortunately, Second Uncle quickly explained:
“This technique is considered a Minor Technique in grade. But in the Marketplace, it is forbidden Magic, not to be sold openly.
The reason is simple: it can alter appearance and change form; if used in crimes, it hinders Marketplace investigations, so it is privately transmitted by each family.”
Second Uncle also carefully asked if Fang Shu had exposed this Magic in front of outsiders after arriving ashore.
Fang Shu thought back and quickly shook his head.
Second Uncle breathed a sigh of relief, then his expression turned serious as he imparted some experience on “hiding one’s tools on the body.”
“Be cautious not to expose this Fox Fur Magic.
Its Magic effect is only one aspect. Having multiple Magics but revealing only one means others won’t know you have it and can’t guard against you—that’s the second.”
Fang Shu listened to this experience with keen interest, nodding vigorously in agreement.
Seeing how attentively Fang Shu listened, Second Uncle wrote with even greater enthusiasm, not feeling his hand tire at all.
Even when Fang Shu again asked to borrow his tongue to speak freely, he hesitated a moment before refusing once more.
After talking for a good while, Second Uncle finally got to the point:
“Such Magic is rare on the market; once sold, it’s easy to be targeted, so the price is naturally high and rising.
In short, its First Tribulation can be sold as Second Tribulation, subpar as First Tribulation.”
Fang Shu nodded, then his eyes flickered as he thought of something and suddenly spoke:
“Then Second Uncle, do you have a connection to sell it without leaving traces or being known?”
Second Uncle brushed his Sleeve, calmly took a broken bowl in hand as if to sip, but it was empty.
He could only cough lightly, his face full of the two words—”Indeed”—looking quite smug.
Immediately after, Second Uncle briefly outlined his plan.
It turned out he wouldn’t sell the item in the Marketplace at all, but outside the Marketplace.
As for exactly where, he hesitated a bit and didn’t tell Fang Shu right away, only instructing him to stay home and rest well for the next couple of days; if bored, he could go out for a stroll.
If he really ran into trouble, he could consult the neighbor Dou Su Fu.
Dou Su Fu was none other than that thirty-something Wet Nurse with a ripe, alluring beauty like Xi Shi.
………………
Uncle and nephew thoroughly discussed and settled the plan.
The next day at dawn, Second Uncle carried the Tiger Skin, the original Secret Mouth-Sword Technique, and the Fox Fur, and leisurely left home.
Fang Shu stayed in the Paper Workshop, basically not going out, merely getting acquainted with the early-out late-return Dou Su Fu.
The third day.
Second Uncle swaggered back from outside, reeking of strange fragrance and scorched Smoke, looking exactly like someone who had holed up in the Gambling House for three nights straight, gambling hard.
His appearance drew attention from many neighbors, provoking quite a few mocking remarks:
“Nephew comes, so he sends the nephew to sell blood, then takes the money to gamble?”
Fang Shu sat cross-legged in the Paper House; he heard the discussions Outside the Door but felt no fluctuation.
When Second Uncle pushed the door in and secured it, he immediately showed a light smile.
He reached into his Sleeve, producing an object wrapped in Yellow Paper, fist-sized, and gestured for Fang Shu to take and unwrap it.
Fang Shu carefully unwrapped it; as the Yellow Paper opened, he felt a throb in his heart, his throat involuntarily swallowing.
Wrapped inside was an Ore shaped like mixed jade, colored like green water, with Liquid seemingly flowing within.
Upon touching it, a thread of chill spread, making Fang Shu’s mind throb even more.
“This is…”
His eyes shone brightly, his Physical Body uncontrollably revealing greedy desire: “Spirit Stone!?”
Second Uncle gathered his Sleeve and Robe, shook out his Robe, and nodded reservedly.
