Chapter 32

This is the upper volume of the "Gentle Breeze Dancing Willow Sword Technique," a sword manual. It contains only the sword techniques, without the accompanying cultivation methods, indicating that the old man still held back.

This set of sword techniques is one of the few both inexpensive and profound martial arts in the "Four Seas Pavilion." Originally, it was the exclusive martial art of the Liu family from Yangzhou in the Jiangnan region, renowned for its subtlety, praised in the martial world as "gentle breeze dancing fine willow, pale moon hiding plum blossoms."

The founder of the Liu family, Liu Mengyan, was a disciple of the Dragon Tiger Daoist Sect, one of the ten major sects. He roamed the martial world for decades, relying on his self-created "Gentle Breeze Dancing Willow Sword Technique" and "Moon Hidden Plum Blossom Body Technique."

This "Gentle Breeze Dancing Willow Sword Technique" is a high-level martial art of the Qing grade, usually passed down within the Liu family, from father to son, from inside to outside. As a foundation of a prominent family, it would never have been put up for sale. However, due to the misfortune of the Liu family, a gambling-addicted wastrel emerged, and he pawned a "Qing grade" sword technique for 500,000 taels of silver at the "Four Seas Pavilion." This is how the sword technique ended up in the hands of the "Four Seas Pavilion."

Even though this sword technique is of the "Qing grade," the "Four Seas Pavilion," despite its immense wealth, would not have sold it. It would have been kept internally for cultivating experts or waiting for the seller to redeem it at a high price, to avoid offending fellow martial artists. It would never have been sold as a common item.

Initially, the "Four Seas Pavilion" adhered to business principles and did not immediately declare the sword technique as a dead pawn. They waited for the Liu family to redeem it. However, the Liu family, despite being a prominent family in Jiangnan, had poor family discipline. Not only did they have a gambling-addicted son, but also a domineering father. After a few words, they clashed with the Yangzhou branch manager of the "Four Seas Pavilion," even injuring someone with a sword.

This incident stirred up a hornet's nest. The "Four Seas Pavilion," having been publicly humiliated, immediately declared the secret manual a dead pawn. A "Qing grade" martial art worth several times the 500,000 taels was priced at 5,000 taels per copy, sold widely across the entire land. Soon, the Liu family's sword technique became widely known. The domineering head of the Liu family was so enraged that he spat blood and died shortly after, leading to the decline of the Liu family. Within a decade, they were removed from the list of the "Ten Prominent Families."

The "Four Seas Pavilion" not only destroyed the Liu family through commercial means but also retained a trick in selling the secret manual. The 49-move "Gentle Breeze Dancing Willow Sword Technique" had the last three most powerful moves removed.

The first part of the sword technique was priced at 5,000 taels, while the last three moves were 10,000 taels each. These three moves are the core and essence of the entire technique. Without them, the "Qing grade" sword technique would drop to "Blue grade," a whole level lower.

Many young people, without a sect or lineage but harboring martial dreams, after spending 5,000 taels on the first part of the technique and seeing its subtlety, would grit their teeth and buy the last three moves. For a time, the "Four Seas Pavilion" saw a surge in profits.

Qingxuan's copy of the sword technique was the early version without the final three moves, with no annotations from famous masters, making it the most basic version.

Indeed, this "Blue grade" sword technique captivated the martial arts-obsessed Qingxuan, who soon forgot his task of collecting martial arts and immersed himself in studying the manual.

As he flipped through the pages, a "ding" sounded in his mind, and a notification appeared: "New martial art recorded successfully, gained 6 skill points, one opportunity to choose a Blue grade martial art."

Qingxuan was delighted, not expecting the "Martial Art Collection System" to complete the recording so quickly. The new martial art, being a sword technique, earned fewer skill points than the previously recorded "Tai Chi Cultivation Technique," which was classified as a "unique skill." Jiao Sandai, seeing Qingxuan's excitement, was also pleased.

There's a chance, there's a chance. This young Taoist is very fond of this secret manual. If I can persuade him further, I can definitely sell it and meet my performance targets, which will help me get a promotion to the town.

Jiao Sandai, secretly rejoicing, did not immediately disturb the engrossed Qingxuan but smiled and waited for the young Taoist to ask questions. Jiao Sandai also knew that the secret manual in Qingxuan's hands was just a sword technique without the cultivation method. Even if Qingxuan had an incredible memory, he could only mimic a few moves without the internal cultivation method, making it just a show of skill.

Poor Jiao Sandai, if he knew that Qingxuan had recorded the sword technique and could use the "Little Wu Xiang Technique" to perform it completely, he would have regretted it deeply.

Qingxuan slowly closed the sword manual.

The recording was complete, and the task was done.

Now, he had 18 skill points available.

Qingxuan, without hesitation, opened the "Martial Art Collection System" interface, knowing that no one else could see it.

On the "Martial Arts to Practice" page, a new martial art, "Gentle Breeze Dancing Willow Sword Technique," appeared, marked as a Blue grade martial art, requiring 8 skill points to learn.

Considering that other Blue grade martial arts required over 20 skill points, Qingxuan speculated that the recorded martial arts might be cheaper to learn.

The collection experience bar also remained at "5%."

Unable to hide his joy, Qingxuan felt the value of the secret manual was now complete.

Qingxuan shook the sword manual and asked, "What's the lowest price for this secret manual?"

"Seeing that the young Taoist truly likes it, I'll price it at 3,000 taels," Jiao Sandai replied, "It can't go any lower."

"Is that so—too expensive, I can't afford it!" Qingxuan casually tossed the book to Jiao Sandai and turned to leave. This time, he was really leaving.

"Ah—ah?" Jiao Sandai was taken aback. Just when things seemed promising, they ended this way. He became anxious.

In three quick steps, he rushed to Qingxuan and pleaded, "Young Taoist Qingxuan, you can't do this, you can't be ungrateful, you can't abandon me—"

Qingxuan, who had taken a few steps, suddenly turned around and laughed, "Uncle San, what are you talking about? How have I become ungrateful and abandoned you?"

Jiao Sandai, clutching his chest, tried to control his rapid heartbeat, thinking, "In front of this young master, I don't need to pretend; I am truly suffering."

"Young Taoist Qingxuan, I spoke without thinking, I apologize... Please, help this old man..."

Qingxuan pondered for a moment and said softly, "It's hard for you to wait for me for so long, and the stall at the entrance must be neglected..." After a moment of worry, Qingxuan seemed to make a big decision, "I, the Taoist, am generous. I'll help you once. You can pick a few books that catch my eye from your collection."

In his previous life, Qingxuan was a homebody and didn't know how to take advantage of others. Now, truly taking advantage, he felt a bit uncomfortable.

Forget it, I'm just being cheap.

"Uh, oh, alright." Jiao Sandai, who had been frowning, immediately put on a different face, confirming his dog-like nature.

Jiao Sandai, despite his mixed feelings, was relieved to sell a few more books. Although he didn't sell the high-value martial arts, he had a chance to complete his monthly target. If he could sell a few more books in the remaining half of the month, his dream of being promoted to Yunxia County would be easily realized.

After carefully selecting nearly ten books, Qingxuan paid 20 taels of silver, depleting his savings.

Just as Qingxuan was about to leave, a thought struck him, and he involuntarily called out to Jiao Sandai, who was about to leave.

"Hey, Uncle San..."

"Ah, young Taoist, what else do you need?"

"Do you have any other martial arts secret manuals?"

"Yes, of course, but, young Taoist, this place is small, and the only Blue grade martial art is the 'Gentle Breeze Dancing Willow Sword Technique.' The others are not worth mentioning."

"Uh, forget the Green grade and above. I want Gray and White grade martial arts. Give me a private job. Copy these martial arts for me. I'll pay you 10 taels for 50 copies. How about it?"

"50 copies?" Jiao Sandai was startled, "So many? Young Taoist, how can Gray and White grade martial arts catch your eye? Besides, these are common. A couple of them would be enough. Why do you need 50?"

For Jiao Sandai, collecting 50 martial arts was not difficult. Unlike the Green grade and above, which were the "Four Seas Pavilion's" main money-makers, Gray and White grade martial arts were often given away as freebies. Even if Jiao Sandai took on this job, he wouldn't be penalized by the "Four Seas Pavilion." So, 10 taels for 50 copies of low-level martial arts was a profitable deal, though not very lucrative. Given Jiao Sandai's love for money, he would likely mobilize his family to copy the manuals as soon as he got home.