“Hey kid, I can see that your bones are of a thousand years' genius. How about you purchase one of my martial arts cheats? I guarantee you that once you have it, you will leave all your peers in dust.”
Drake turned toward the direction of the voice. He found a decrepit old man. He looked frail and weathered, with stooped shoulders and deeply lined features that suggested a lifetime of hardship. His clothes were threadbare and patched, hanging loosely on his emaciated frame. His scruffy beard and unkempt hair, added to the impression of neglect and poverty. His eyes, however, held a spark of hidden wisdom and strength, hinting at a depth beyond his outward appearance.
“What do you want old man?” asked Drake.
The old man gave a toothy grin and showed him a few booklets. They were tattered and worn, their covers faded and frayed from years of use and neglect. The pages inside were yellowed with age, some torn and creased.
“Kid, I can see that you are a martial arts genius of a millennium. How about you buy one of my ancient martial arts secrets? They have been passed down in my family for generations. I guarantee that if you buy it, you will be unstoppable in your journey to the top” the old man said as he tried to fool Drake.
Drake’s eyes twitched as he read the various titles on the booklets.
“The Unstoppable Fist of the Fluffy Bunny: Striking Fear into Hearts with Cuteness and Cuddles”
“The Invisible Wall Technique: Blocking Attacks with the Power of Ignorance”
“The Majestic Art of the Awkward Goose: Inspiring Awe through Graceful Stumbles”
Drake controlled himself from cursing the old man and asked, “Old man, are you sure these martial arts are reliable?”
The old man made a face as if Drake said something preposterous, he said, “You doubt? Ha! Let me assure you, these techniques have felled giants, vanquished armies, and brought empires to their knees. With the knowledge contained within these booklets, you will become unstoppable."
“Hey look. The old man is trying to fool someone else.”
“How many times has it been in this week?”
“Who knows, I stopped counting after fifty.”
“This old man is too greedy for asking five thousand fog coins for one mortal skill.”
“Didn't anyone try snatching those mortal skills from him? I am sure many explorers won't mind snatching, stealing or even killing the old man, just to get the mortal skills in his hand.”
“Of course, many tried. But all failed and paid a painful price for their transgressions, many even died. Who knew that the shameless and greedy old man is an Extraordinary and a strong one at that.”
Just as Drake was about to say something, he heard the chatter of nearby players. The old man pretended he didn’t hear anything and still maintained his toothy grin.
Drake suddenly became interested in the so-called martial arts cheats. He used his appraisal skill on them. After reading the introduction of those ‘martial arts cheats’, he once again used it on the old man. After reading his information, he had a strange smile on his face.
Name: Ding Lao Tian
Level: 100 (500)
Class: Martial Artist
Path: Xian (Martial Artist, Sequence 9, Rank 10, 100%)
Introduction: Ding Lao Tian was the elder of an Emperor (sequence 4) level sect, the Infernal Sword Sect. He had reached the peak of Sequence 5, the Nascent Soul Realm of the Xian path. After making countless contributions to the sect, he was given the Rank 1, Sequence 4, Soul Transformation Realm potion. But he failed to counter the madness induced by the potion. He barely saved himself but he regressed to the peak of sequence 9. Even his domain that he comprehended was destroyed. He doubted that his potion was tampered with by the sect master, who didn’t want any other competition for his seat as the sect master. He was thrown out of the sect as he was mostly useless. He left with his two-year-old granddaughter. His wife, son, and daughter-in-law had died previously in a fight against another sect. With his granddaughter, he traveled to many places and finally settled in the Windmere City of the Widmere Kingdom.
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‘Ivy, how dangerous is he?’
[His path is regressed to sequence 9. And the sword domain he comprehended was destroyed. Even his intent is regressed to mid-level and is semi-destroyed. He can kill any Extraordinary with ease. He can fight Transcendent with some effort with more effort for a higher stage Transcendent with his intent. Against an early-stage Paramount, he is strong enough to die together with one.]
‘What is a cheat-level character like him doing in the novice village?’
[He may look strong, but his intent is semi-destroyed. The more he fights using his intent, the more its damage would increase and may be destroyed with too much use. So he does not normally fight those above sequence 9. And mostly show a harmless exterior to not draw attention.]
‘Can he go back to his previous strength?’
[Yes he can. He will need to consume all the potions all over again. Moreover, he needs to level up another mastery to the Expert stage and higher to comprehend its intent. He can no longer improve his sword intent unless he uses some rare medicines that repair intent.]
Drake then focused back on the old man. The old man still maintained his toothy grin.
He had a nagging feeling in his mind when he read the old man’s introduction that was only magnified after he asked for more details from Ivy. But without further context, he pushed it to the back of his mind.
“Are you sure you want to sell them, old man?” asked Drake with a smile after reading the martial arts description.
“Of course, I want to sell them. Kid, you better be grateful, it is because I am in some need of money, otherwise, I would never sell my secret martial arts” the old man said sounding as if he was doing a favor to Drake.
“How do you sell this amazing martial arts cheat, old man?” Drake asked after listening to the old man’s sophistry.
“The old man had a strange feeling seeing Drake’s smile, but he still answered, “I knew you have great eyes, kid. For just five thousand fog coins you can have one of them. What do you say, so you want one?”
“Yes, I want,” said Drake.
The old man was astonished but didn’t show it on his face. To cover his emotions, he said, “Haha, heroes come from the young. Come on, tell me which one you want. And you better not forget this old man when you become a great martial artist revered by all.”
“I want… all of them,” Drake with a dramatic pause in between.
Not to mention the old man, even everyone nearby in the market stopped. It was as if a pause button was pressed in the market.
Drake enjoyed seeing the old man’s reactions. The only reason he appraised the old man was because of the information he got from the martial arts cheats. He found that they were all mortal skills, ten in total. Individually, they had nothing out of the ordinary, but together, they contained potion formulas for an uncommon path.
Potion Formula
Path: Xian
Sequence: 9, Martial Artist
Rank: 1-3
Five thousand fog coins for a mortal skill was even worse than daylight robbery. But getting three potion formulas for an uncommon path for fifty thousand fog coins was a steal. Just a rank 1 potion formula for an uncommon path could go for more than fifty thousand fog coins in an auction. Not to mention three potion formulas from rank 1 to 3.
The old man quickly came to his senses. A serious expression replaced the cunning expression on his face.
“Kid, are you messing with me? I hate people who cheat me” the old man said in a slightly threatening voice.
Drake’s smile widened as he said, “But I want to purchase all the martial arts you have.”
The old man looked at Drake seriously.
In the meantime, the rest of the onlookers also came to their senses. A huge commotion started in the market.
“Who is he? Is he a scion of some big power?” An NPC asked.
“Is he a core member of a top guild? But even those guilds don’t have too much liquidity? Even if they have they would use it for something useful, not splurge it like him.”
“Is there any secret hidden in those martial arts cheats?”
“I think he is just fooling the old man.”
Everyone had different opinions. But the many eyes watching both Drake and the old man changed. Half of them were aiming for the possible secret in those martial arts cheats that might be much more precious than mortal skills and the rest were aiming for Drake’s money. They were watched as a hawk watched its prey. Though who was a prey and who was a predator was unsure.
The old man didn’t like the attention he was receiving. He decided to finish the transaction quickly. And if Drake cheated him, he had more than a hundred ways to make him regret it.
Just as the old man was about to agree to the transaction, his eyes widened. He quickly walked past Drake as if he didn’t hurry, he would lose a great treasure.
Drake was startled seeing the old man leaning in the middle of the conversation. He turned around and saw him walking towards a guy and a girl approaching together towards their location.
He again had a nagging feeling as he saw the guy walking with the girl. The more he listened to the conversation of the three, the more the nagging feeling increased. Finally, he referred to the guy and asked Ivy what was in his mind to confirm his suspicion.
‘Ivy, is he…’
[Yes, he is a protagonist.]