Chapter 120: Methods to Increase Spiritual Power

"Xiao Cheng, do you want to trade with me for the way to enter the Black Market?"

"Hmm."

Jiang Cheng smiled faintly, "I wonder, Shi Dage, what price you have in mind?"

Shi Yan heard this, hesitated for a moment, and said, "I can tell you the way to enter the Black Market for free, but there is one condition."

Jiang Cheng was not particularly surprised by this.

The two parties had just finished the remaining transaction, the other side's account received 19,000, so in the short term there was no need to worry about lacking money.

Then he proposed another condition for the exchange, which was also reasonable.

"What condition? Shi Dage, tell me."

"The condition is, if one day we encounter trouble, Xiao Cheng, you can step in and help us again."

Shi Yan chuckled wryly, "You know what the Poor District is like, Xiao Cheng. With your help this time, my wife, children, and I got through the difficulty. But if a few years later the Iron Fist Gang is driven out and another gang takes over, charging even more than the Iron Fist Gang, I hope that Xiao Cheng, you can extend a hand then."

"Sure."

Jiang Cheng agreed without hesitation.

What the other side put forward was more a request than a demand.

Because whether to do it or not depends entirely on one's conscience.

"Alright, Xiao Cheng, wait a moment, I'll go fetch the Bid Token."

"Bid Token?"

Jiang Cheng was startled.

A short while later, Shi Yan came over holding a palm-sized round token.

"Just knowing the Black Market's location isn't enough; you must have it to enter."

Shi Yan said, handing the round token to Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng reached out and took it; the token's surface emitted a yellow glow, seeming to be forged from gold, yet it was relatively light.

The token had no front or back, as both sides bore the number 72.

"This is the serial number."

Shi Yan explained, "My father said that the Bid Tokens for the Outer City District Black Market are limited in number; each token corresponds to a serial number, and only one person can enter at a time. Thus the token itself is a scarce resource, easily coveted by others."

"I see."

Jiang Cheng's expression became much more serious.

"Xiao Cheng, before I tell you the Black Market's location, I must give you a warning: without a certain level of strength, you must never enter the Black Market. Inside it is safe, but once you leave, that's not guaranteed."

At this point, Shi Yan's face showed sorrow.

"My father, because he once went to the Black Market to buy Secret Medicine, was targeted, and after leaving he was beaten badly. He barely escaped the pursuers and returned, but soon after, due to his severe injuries, he passed away."

Jiang Cheng, hearing this, was about to speak words of comfort.

Shi Yan's tone suddenly filled with resentment, "But who would have thought that the ones who injured my father didn't stop there; they must have coveted the token in my father's hand and our family's Secret Martial Arts, constantly searching around."

"Forced by desperation, my grandfather could only sell the family assets and secretly take us away, going to other parts of the Outer City District. Yet we were still found; to protect us, grandfather was killed by those people. I dared not stay in the Outer City District, so I fled to this Poor District, and after many twists and turns, finally arrived here."

"I have been desperately cultivating Secret Martial Arts, hoping to become a Force Warrior, kill my enemies, and avenge my family. Unfortunately, I lack the talent. Of course, I won't ask you, Xiao Cheng, to avenge me; that would be too much to demand."

Shi Yan let out two wry laughs.

Jiang Cheng nodded.

Indeed, those people were no simple characters; they even dared to kill in the Outer City District. "Shi Dage, what level Force Warrior was your father?"

"Level Three."

Shi Yan saw Jiang Cheng's meaning and said, "Reaching Level Three as a Force Warrior is the minimum requirement to enter the Black Market; the higher the better—ideally Level Four or Level Five. However, be careful; my grandfather told me that there are also many Level Seven, Level Eight, and even Ninth Level beings inside."

"Understood."

Jiang Cheng took a deep breath.

The waters of this Outer City District are indeed deeper.

In this Poor District, perhaps a Level Four or Level Five Force Warrior could walk around freely.

But in the Outer City District, that's only the minimum threshold to enter the Black Market? Even at my level, I'm still somewhat lacking.

Shi Yan then proceeded to tell Jiang Cheng the Black Market's location.

It sounded as if it were in an alley, and it only opens on the first and fifteenth of each month; at other times, even with a token, it's useless.

Having given Jiang Cheng the method and the token, Shi Yan seemed to exhale in relief.

He also longed to avenge his father and grandfather, but with his strength, going there would be a death sentence; and without seeing this thing, he recalled those layers of painful memories.

It's fine that Jiang Cheng took this item.

Seeing Jiang Cheng secure the token, Shi Yan smiled and said, "Xiao Cheng, next I'll dictate this scroll to you; listen and take notes."

"Hmm."

Jiang Cheng nodded, but before that, he still had a question.

"Shi Dage, after sensing the Force, I found that absorbing them into the body consumes a lot of Spiritual Power. Do you have any secret manual that can boost Spiritual Power?"

Shi Yan was startled at first, then could only laugh and cry.

"Xiao Cheng, you know, even my father and grandfather never obtained Secret Martial Arts for cultivating Spiritual Power. That item does exist in the Black Market, but each time it appears, it's quickly bought, and the price isn't cheap."

"I see."

Jiang Cheng felt a bit disappointed, but it was expected.

"Xiao Cheng, actually there are other ways to boost Spiritual Power."

Shi Yan shifted his tone.

"What methods?"

Jiang Cheng quickly asked.

Xiao Cheng, don't get excited first; this method might not be as powerful as you imagine. Compared to the Secret Martial Arts that can enhance Spiritual Power through cultivation, it's worlds apart, but if you persevere, it can still have some effect.

Shi Yan paused, then continued: "This method is also what my grandfather told my father, and I overheard it by chance. That is, when absorbing Force, when you feel you've reached your limit and the pain is unbearable, don't stop; keep going. Although it's painful, if you persist for a long time, your Spiritual Power will gradually increase."

Jiang Cheng's expression changed upon hearing this.

If possible, he really doesn't want to go through that feeling again.

This is also a method of no choice.

Seeing Jiang Cheng's expression, Shi Yan also became more convinced that Jiang Cheng had indeed sensed the Force.

Those Secret Martial Arts for cultivating Spiritual Power are not only rare, they also demand higher comprehension from cultivators; otherwise, the number of Spiritual Thought Masters wouldn't be far fewer than that of Force Warriors.

"I understand, thanks for the reminder, Brother Shi." Jiang Cheng expressed his gratitude solemnly; really, there's no other way, he can only do this for now—to increase his strength, he can't avoid some hardship.

(End of chapter)