Chapter 55

"Brother, you have good taste! This *Netherworld Scripture* is the pinnacle among water-element foundational cultivation techniques!"

The stall owner was a short, stout man in his thirties. Without waiting for Qin Sang to ask, he enthusiastically promoted, "Among water-element foundational cultivation techniques, the *Netherworld Scripture* is undoubtedly the best. After cultivation, it can greatly refine the physical body and enhance the five senses, far surpassing other techniques. It gives you a significant advantage in battle. I'm selling it to you for fifteen spirit stones, which is absolutely not expensive at all."

Qin Sang flipped through a few pages. His own copy only went up to the sixth level, but this one continued beyond the sixth level. Flipping further, he found all thirteen levels of the complete version!

The *Netherworld Scripture* indeed corresponded to each level of the Qi Condensation realm.

Qin Sang remained calm. On his way, he had seen many stalls selling foundational cultivation techniques, most of which cost no more than five or six spirit stones. Clearly, these foundational techniques were not rare in the cultivation world, yet this *Netherworld Scripture* was priced at fifteen spirit stones.

His Water Shield Spirit Talisman was only worth eight spirit stones, so he would need to make up the difference. He certainly wouldn't spend this much money unjustly. Just as he was about to haggle, someone suddenly shouted from the side.

"You deceitful merchant, it's one thing to lie, but for a few spirit stones, you dare to trick people into cultivating the *Netherworld Scripture*! Have you no conscience?"

Qin Sang was surprised and turned to look at the speaker. He saw two young men who had been buying something from a nearby stall stand up. One was tall and muscular with a rugged appearance and a full beard, glaring angrily at the stall owner.

The other was much thinner, anxiously pulling on his companion's arm and apologetically smiling at Qin Sang and the stall owner.

From his tone, did the *Netherworld Scripture* have some drawbacks?

Qin Sang's brows furrowed tightly.

The stall owner, whose business had been suddenly interrupted, glared at the muscular youth in anger and shouted, "We both agreed to the transaction; no one forced anyone. What's it to you? Mind your own business!"

The muscular youth snorted, breaking free from his companion's grip and stepping forward. With a look of righteous indignation, he said, "You deceitful merchant, the *Netherworld Scripture* is one of the hardest foundational techniques to cultivate. The cultivation speed is extremely slow, and the difficulty of breaking through bottlenecks is much higher than other techniques. The few benefits it offers are negligible compared to the drawbacks. No one would want it for five spirit stones, yet you dare to sell it for fifteen! And you only mentioned the benefits, not the drawbacks, tricking people into cultivating the *Netherworld Scripture* and leading them astray. What else are you if not a deceitful merchant?"

Qin Sang was surprised. Throughout his cultivation, he had only encountered a bottleneck at the third level, and he didn't find it particularly difficult.

Moreover, according to Zhen Ming, some cultivators never reached the tenth level of the Qi Condensation realm, while he had reached the fifth level in less than five years. Wasn't that a decent speed?

Qin Sang's heart stirred, and he flipped through a few more pages. Indeed, he found something.

This *Netherworld Scripture* contained no mention of the Yama Banner!

The youth's voice was loud, drawing the attention of those around them.

The stall owner's face turned red with anger, wishing he could strike the muscular youth, but the market prohibited fighting, and the youth seemed to be at least as strong as him.

Unable to fight, the stall owner was furious and argued, "I hadn't finished my introduction yet. I was about to mention the drawbacks when you jumped in! Besides, this *Netherworld Scripture* is a complete version, and it includes many carefully selected water-element spells. Selling it for fifteen spirit stones is absolutely worth it. Don't meddle if you don't understand."

Qin Sang nodded, "There are indeed some, but they are all very common spells."

He had noticed a list of spells at the end of the book, including the Object Control Spell and the Qi Perception Spell, followed by powerful spells like Fog Lock and Ten Thousand Miles of Ice.

Whether it was the cultivation technique or the spells, they were what he needed now.

"Brother, stop talking!"

"Senior, please forgive us. My brother was just being impulsive..."

The thin youth desperately held onto his companion, repeatedly apologizing to Qin Sang and the stall owner. After whispering a few words in the muscular youth's ear, he managed to pull the angry youth away.

Qin Sang hadn't expected to find such a righteous person in the cultivation world. They had saved him the trouble of haggling. Seeing them about to leave, he quickly put down the cultivation technique and stopped them, bowing and saying, "I am Qin Sang. May I ask for your names, brothers?"

The thin youth seemed somewhat shy, lowering his head and saying, "I am Tan Jie. This is my brother, Tan Hao. My brother was impulsive and caused trouble for you, Brother Qin. Please don't be angry."

These two didn't look alike at all, yet they were brothers?

Qin Sang was secretly surprised, thinking he wouldn't be angry with them; he was grateful.

"Brother Tan, you're too kind. I should thank you both for your guidance. Otherwise, I might have gone astray. Since we've met, it's a matter of fate. Moreover, you've done me a great favor. There's a Drunken Immortal Tower ahead. I'll have the innkeeper prepare some light wine, and we can chat to show my gratitude. Would you honor me with your presence?"

He didn't know the background of the inn on the cobblestone street and didn't dare to enter, but an inn outside would be fine with silver.

However, Tan Hao didn't appreciate it and coldly said, "I just can't stand that deceitful merchant. Anyone else would have done the same. You don't need to thank me. I don't have time for your wine. Move aside!"

"Brother!"

Tan Jie looked distressed, bowing to Qin Sang, "Brother Qin, don't mind my brother. He's just like that... We really have important matters to attend to. We'll have a drink with you another time."

The Tan brothers hurriedly left, leaving Qin Sang somewhat puzzled. There were still such hotheads among cultivators, but they had helped him a lot, so he wouldn't mind such trivial matters.

Qin Sang glanced at the stall owner and turned to leave.

"Brother! Brother Qin! Please wait!"

The stall owner quickly stepped forward, grabbing Qin Sang and said earnestly, "Brother Qin, don't be misled by that young man. Choosing a cultivation technique depends on whether it suits you, not what others say. Besides, I have more than just the *Netherworld Scripture*. Why don't you take a closer look? The price is negotiable."

Hearing Tan Hao's words and the comments from the crowd, Qin Sang knew that few people bought the *Netherworld Scripture*. This fat man had probably been selling it for a long time and wouldn't easily let go of a potential customer, so he pretended to leave.

Sure enough, his guess was correct.

Qin Sang half-heartedly allowed himself to be pulled back, hesitantly saying, "To be honest, Brother, I don't lack cultivation techniques. I just wanted to buy the *Netherworld Scripture* to compare it with my own techniques. Since it's so difficult to cultivate, it might not be useful for me, and it's so expensive..."