Chapter 88: Outer City Black Market

As soon as the words fell, Lin Quanliang and the others gave each other knowing smiles.

"Of course. Senior Brother Zeng and the others are disciples personally taken in by the Tang Hall Master, and they constantly practice Secret Martial Arts. Otherwise, what do you think we're doing soaking in the Martial Arts Hall every day? It's just to show off a bit, hoping that one day we'll meet the Gym Master and be taught Secret Martial Arts, right?"

At this point, Lin Quanliang sighed, his expression a bit sorrowful.

Because he has been on the second floor for three, not yet five years, but sadly that day still appears far away.

"Quanliang, you think sheer willpower is enough? Secret Martial Arts isn't something you can pick up instantly; it also depends on talent. I've heard that out of a hundred people, only one or two can master it."

"Yeah, once you master Secret Martial Arts, you can continuously break the limits of the human body—punch through walls, leap down from several stories high, even have a flesh body resist bullets. Even better, you can summon wind and rain!" Tan Lei said enviously.

"Summon wind and rain?"

Jiang Cheng was stunned.

Hehehe, it seems Jiang Shidi really doesn't know much about Secret Martial Arts.

Tan Lei smiled and explained, "Jiang Shidi should know about the Force, right?"

"I've heard of it; it's a mysterious, omnipresent power that makes up the entire universe," Jiang Cheng said.

"Exactly."

Tan Lei continued, "Secret Martial Arts let us open the Acupoints inside our bodies to absorb that power. Most people absorb pure Force, which after absorption can strengthen the body and eventually grant godlike power. A few possess a spirit that can absorb the Force of wind, rain, thunder, and lightning, enabling them to summon wind and rain like ancient immortals."

"So that's how it is."

Jiang Cheng sighed.

In plain terms, isn't this just martial arts and cultivation? The ancestors of the Flame Nation are indeed formidable.

"The two types Tan Lei mentioned both require opening the body's Acupoints to absorb cosmic Force, but because the Force absorbed differs, the effects differ. There's also a third type, completely unlike the first two," Sun Xiaoli blinked, "Guess which one it is?"

The others, seeing this, exchanged smiles.

When it came to specific cultivation methods, they didn't know.

But when it came to such common knowledge, they could speak authoritatively.

Jiang Cheng thought for a moment and said, "It must be cultivating the spirit?"

Sun Xiaoli's eyes widened,

"Jiang Shidi, you can't have known the answer from the start, could you?"

"No, really not. You just reminded me that the first two relate to our flesh, so the third must naturally be the spirit," Jiang Cheng said with a smile.

Before the transmigration, he had watched many novels and movies.

Improving strength boils down to three avenues: flesh, spirit, and energy.

Martial arts is flesh, cultivation is energy, so the third is obviously spirit.

"Hahaha, Jiang Shidi is indeed clever. Good, the third method is cultivating the spirit; a strong spirit can not only sense danger and control others, but also manipulate objects, making incoming bullets curve or even fly back, utterly mysterious."

Lin Quanliang said, "However, Secret Martial Arts that cultivate the spirit are even rarer, and the threshold is high."

"Yeah, even a regular Secret Martial Arts would satisfy me, let alone one that cultivates the spirit."

"Kid, your thoughts are nice, but even an ordinary Secret Martial Arts is still Secret Martial Arts."

"Indeed."

A sigh rose, and the dining table fell into silence.

"Actually, Jiang Shidi," Lin Quanliang looked at Jiang Cheng, "you may be the most likely among us to be taken as a disciple by the Tang Hall Master."

"Indeed, Jiang Shidi, you're a few years younger than us yet so strong; even a fool can see your talent is high. The senior brothers treat you well, so it's obvious that once your reputation reaches the Gym Master's ears, it's only a matter of time," Tan Lei added.

"It's not as good as you say," Jiang Cheng forced a smile.

"Maybe that Gym Master has already taken enough disciples and doesn't want any more."

"That could be true."

The few nodded.

There's no such thing as 100%; we can only say it's highly probable.

"If Jiang Shidi becomes the Gym Master's direct disciple, just don't forget us."

"Yes, Jiang Shidi—oh no, at that point we should start calling you Senior Brother Jiang."

"Hahaha."

Jiang Cheng also smiled, his heart not greatly stirred.

After all, those eight characters haven't even a single stroke yet.

And if possible, we should think of more—perhaps several—plans.

So, as the laughter faded, Jiang Cheng curiously asked, "Senior Brother Lin, aside from starting at the Martial Arts Hall, is there no other way to obtain Secret Martial Arts?"

The words hung, and the few exchanged glances.

"Yes, of course there is."

Lin Quanliang said, "In the Poor District, someone might be hiding Secret Martial Arts, but that's like finding a needle in the ocean—just luck. A few years ago I saw someone caught by the Enforcement Squad for secretly possessing Secret Martial Arts, whose family was torn apart. Besides that, there's a second way: the Black Market."

"Black Market?"

"Hmm, the Black Market. It's said that within the Outer City District there's an underground entrance; once you go in you can reach the Black Market, where all sorts of Secret Martial Arts, Secret Medicine, and Secret Treasure are sold. Those who enter wear masks, and as long as you have money you can buy whatever you want," Lin Quanliang said, his eyes filled with longing.

Not only him, the others felt the same.

"The Black Market must be hard to get into, right?" Jiang Cheng felt it might not be much easier than needle‑in‑the‑ocean in the Poor District.

"It's not exactly hard, nor exactly easy. If you get an invitation letter you'll know how to enter, but the difficulty lies in obtaining the invitation."

Lin Quanliang shrugged.

"So Jiang Shidi, you should now see that the Martial Arts Hall is, among them, the most reliable path."

Jiang Cheng nodded.

Hearing Lin Quanliang finish, it indeed made sense.

However, he was indeed very curious about the Black Market.

If we someday move to the Outer City District, if we get the chance we definitely should go take a look.

"By the way, Senior Brother Lin, I still have a question." Jiang Cheng asked again, rather than saying it's a question, it's more like a suspicion in his mind.

"Jiang Shidi, you speak."

"That's right, even we know that Senior Brother Zeng and his group know Secret Martial Arts; doesn't the Enforcement Squad know?"

"Hehe, Jiang Shidi, you're still rather naive. Although the Martial Arts Ban was issued by the Jiao Tribe, the people actually carrying it out are us Yan Nation folks. So there naturally exists room for maneuver. For some, possessing Secret Martial Arts is a crime; for others, as long as they don't act too ostentatiously, cause trouble, and give some money, it's fine." Lin Quanliang said meaningfully.

"I see."

Jiang Cheng showed an expression of sudden realization.

Indeed, human nature is the same everywhere.

(End of chapter)