Chapter 187: Let’s Go

Inside the Demon Suppression Division.

For over ten days, Shen Changqing remained within his residence, taking Satiety Pills when hungry and using Enlightenment Tea to replenish his spirit after mental exertion.

Finally, he had fully deduced both the Invincible Golden Body and the Heavenly Martial Gang Qi.

To this end, he spent additional time transcribing both martial arts manuals.

"The Hundred Battle Saber Technique, the Invincible Golden Body, and the Heavenly Martial Gang Qi—the price of selling these three martial arts will definitely exceed one million taels of silver, but by how much will depend on the situation."

Inside the small pavilion, Shen Changqing placed three martial arts manuals before him.

Each manual bore a different name on its cover.

Invincible Golden Body!

Heavenly Martial Divine Gang!

Hundred Battle Saber Technique!

The so-called Heavenly Martial Divine Gang was, in fact, the Heavenly Martial Gang Qi.

He simply changed the name to differentiate it from the Demon Suppression Division’s version.

Aside from the name, Shen Changqing also altered some of the content.

The original Heavenly Martial Gang Qi only covered the Innate Realm, and with his current cultivation, modifying martial arts of that level posed no great difficulty.

Moreover, Shen Changqing had long since mastered the Heavenly Martial Gang Qi.

With such a foundation, making alterations was a breeze.

Thus, the Heavenly Martial Divine Gang came to be.

"Compared to the Heavenly Martial Gang Qi, the seventeenth level version truly deserves the name Heavenly Martial Divine Gang."

Shen Changqing smiled faintly.

The Heavenly Martial Gang Qi, having broken through its limit, was no longer comparable to its original form.

Having reached the seventeenth level, the Gang Qi produced was unbreakable by anyone below the Grandmaster Realm.

That level of Gang Qi truly deserved to be called Divine Gang.

Originally, he hadn’t planned to sell so many martial arts. He only intended to sell one or two to gather some merit points, keeping the rest to submit to the Martial Pavilion to fulfill the triennial assessment.

But after further consideration, Shen Changqing found it unnecessary to hold back.

Three years was enough time for him to fuse several more martial arts.

And each triennial assessment only required him to submit one martial art to the Martial Pavilion, which was hardly a challenge.

Consuming slaughter points to fuse martial arts, then cultivating them himself before selling them for silver to exchange for cultivation resources—this approach was a win-win situation.

"Other sects hoard their martial arts, firstly because they fear that others will find flaws within them, and secondly because they resent others easily learning what they have painstakingly acquired.

But I have no such concerns. As long as I have slaughter points, I can fuse a large number of Grandmaster martial arts.

I might even successfully fuse martial arts that surpass the Grandmaster level.

Rather than letting these martial arts gather dust, it’s best to exchange them for resources."

Shen Changqing picked up the white jade tea cup and drained the spiritual tea within.

With the status panel and enough slaughter points, Grandmaster martial arts were practically within his grasp.

He also didn’t have to worry about others finding weaknesses in his techniques.

Before, Shen Changqing hadn’t considered this, but now he suddenly realized the status panel’s true potential.

Improve martial arts, fuse martial arts.

And when the martial arts were no longer needed, sell them to squeeze out their last bit of value.

"It’s a pity that a martial art can only be auctioned once. If I could sell it to multiple people, I could earn even more silver."

As soon as this thought arose, Shen Changqing dismissed it.

According to the rules, the seller of a martial art could not sell it a second time.

Likewise, it was forbidden for the seller to entrust another to resell the martial art.

Once such news spread, the buyer would be entitled to full compensation from the seller and could even file a complaint with the Yamen, allowing the Imperial Court to handle the matter.

If the seller was a faction, then its reputation would be completely ruined.

After all, no one wanted their unique martial art to become commonplace, their hard-earned cultivation to be exploited for weaknesses, and ultimately to die as a result.

Moreover, and more importantly:

The more times a martial art was sold, the more its price would plummet. Scarcity often equated to high prices.

Shen Changqing had some understanding of these rules.

Furthermore, the Demon Suppression Division would never allow a large number of martial arts to spread throughout the world.

Martial prowess could breed transgression.

If martial arts became so widespread that nearly everyone possessed a copy, the Great Qin Dynasty’s order would collapse.

At that point, the Demon Suppression Division would naturally step in to clean up the mess.

Despite being a member of the Demon Suppression Division himself, Shen Changqing didn’t believe they would show mercy if he were to do so.

Unless absolutely necessary, he must never provoke the Demon Suppression Division.

Especially the more he understood, the more he realized how terrifying the Demon Suppression Division truly was.

The power this organization possessed could not be contended with by one or two Grandmasters.

He placed the three martial arts manuals into his arms.

Shen Changqing rose to leave.

The fifteen-day agreement was nearly up.

Earth Division Demon Slaying Courtyard.

Ji Qu had been waiting there for some time.

Not long after the courtyard door was knocked, it was opened.

"Lord Shen has arrived."

"Brother Ji."

Shen Changqing nodded.

Ji Qu said, "Lord Shen intends to go to the black market now, yes?"

"Indeed, but I am unsure of the current situation there."

"As per Lord Shen’s request, I have already communicated with the black market’s auction house. News has spread, and many Jianghu factions have gathered at the black market, waiting for the auction to begin.

Also, because of your reputation, the auction house will not collect a deposit beforehand, and the normal commission has been reduced from five percent to two percent."

Ji Qu stated truthfully.

Two percent.

Shen Changqing nodded inwardly.

One million taels, and they take twenty thousand. The auction house was indeed a lucrative place.

Seeing his expression, Ji Qu couldn’t help but explain.

"Lord Shen shouldn’t overthink it. The auction house charges a commission for many reasons, such as advertising and security during the auction.

Sometimes, when you auction off important items, you can even request the auction house to help escort them."

The auction house didn’t collect commissions for nothing.

They would do many things when needed.

Shen Changqing smiled, "If the auction house were to provide escort services, is there a possibility of them stealing the goods themselves?"

Hearing this, Ji Qu also smiled, revealing a subtle expression.

"Black market auction houses normally have a good reputation in the Jianghu and have their own professional ethics. They wouldn’t easily do something that would ruin their own reputation.

"However, if there really is some priceless treasure that even moves the auction house, then that’s hard to say.

"After all, the auction house is a black market organization. While they value morality, they won’t always adhere to it."

Ji Qu’s explanation aligned with Shen Changqing’s thoughts.

Then, Ji Qu asked, "It’s about time. Would Lord Shen like to go to the black market with me, or would you like to make some simple disguises?"

"There’s no need."

Shen Changqing directly refused.

"Since it’s a public auction, there’s no need for any disguise. I want to see which person dares to have covetous thoughts."

Not to mention that he was a member of the Demon Suppression Division.

With his strength alone, unless a top expert in the Jianghu took action, no one could deal with him.

But how could experts of that level act for a few ordinary Grandmaster martial arts manuals.

Those experts.

According to Shen Changqing’s guess, should be working hard to break through the limits of martial artists.

To move them, unless it was a martial art of the level of the Great Sun Scripture or the Tathagata Golden Body, there might be a chance.

Now, with the backing of the Demon Suppression Division, there was no need to worry about anything.

If it were before, before breaking through to the Grandmaster Realm and understanding the specifics of martial artists, he might still have been a little worried.

But now.

Shen Changqing already understood that the Grandmaster Realm was the limit of martial artists.

The experts in the Jianghu were, at most, at the pinnacle of a great system, and it was unknown whether there were even any experts who had reached the limits of both systems.

As for experts above the Grandmaster Realm.

Only the Town Guardians of the Demon Suppression Division could do it.

Such a gap.

Was enough to make the people of the Jianghu fear the Demon Suppression Division like vipers.

Ji Qu said, "Lord Shen indeed doesn’t need to disguise himself, but this old one needs to make a simple disguise."

After saying that, he directly took out something as thin as a cicada’s wing, like a transparent paper, and directly covered it on his face.

One breath.

Two breaths.

In just a few breaths, Ji Qu, standing in front of him, changed into an unfamiliar appearance.

Immediately afterwards.

His slightly hunched back straightened, sweeping away his former aged aura.

Coupled with his current appearance, he looked just like an ordinary young man, making it impossible to associate him with an old man.

"Brother Ji’s skills are truly amazing!"

Shen Changqing applauded in admiration.

This was the first time he had seen someone use a disguise technique in front of him.

In a few breaths, a familiar person turned into a stranger. If it weren’t for the skin on his hands and neck still looking old, it could almost be said to be flawless.

Ji Qu smiled faintly, and his originally aged voice also became younger.

"These are just some small tricks that can’t be put on the table. When traveling in the Jianghu, it’s inevitable to hide one’s identity. This old one is different from Lord Shen, just a mere Innate martial artist."

After saying that, he took out another bottle from his arms, and then poured some liquid from the bottle and applied it to the skin that was not covered by clothing.

In Shen Changqing’s sight.

Wherever he applied it, the old wrinkles would disappear, replaced by the delicate skin of a young person.

At this point.

It was no longer possible to see any trace of Ji Qu’s disguise.

"Let’s go."

"Please lead the way, Brother Ji."

Shen Changqing came back to his senses and put away the curiosity in his heart.

End of Chapter