Chapter 3

" Ding dong! System update complete, vulnerabilities have been fixed! "

" Ding dong! After this system update, the system will forcibly bind to the host. If the host expresses unwillingness to be cultivated again, they will be punished. For each statement... the penis will shorten by an inch, until it disappears completely. "

" Ding dong! The host has grasped the essence of evil by sowing discord and has completed evil acts such as assassinating and bribing officials. Reward: 500 evil points. "

Without time to complain about the system messages in his mind, Wu Fan found a small tea stall on the street. It was mid-July, the height of the summer heat. After ordering a bowl of cool tea, he sat in a corner and entered the system space.

"I want to check if there are any suitable cultivation techniques or something that can quickly improve my martial arts!"

Wu Fan entered the system space and eagerly made his request. He had long anticipated that the system would give him a reason to be cultivated after this update, even though the threat was quite disgusting, he could just ignore it. Being a bad person wasn't so bad, after all.

" Ding dong! No problem! "

The light screen flashed, and the "Cultivation Techniques" page, originally one of six, was enlarged. The prices were adjusted to provide Wu Fan with quick service. In other words... Wu Fan was now a pauper, and he couldn't afford the expensive items, so only the cheaper ones were shown to him.

Wu Fan, however, didn't feel like a pauper because he always believed "the customer is king." As he looked, he grumbled and complained, "Why are there only three cultivation techniques? Is this a joke? So few, how can I choose! And one of them is 'Childhood Technique'... Do you think I'm a child? At a glance, only two are left to choose from..."

" Ding dong! The host currently has 800 evil points, which is insufficient to exchange for higher-level cultivation techniques. If needed, please continue to work hard."

" Ding dong! System evaluation: Host, you actually have a talent for being a bad person. In less than two hours, you have achieved such significant results, which is very encouraging. Please continue to work hard!"

" Ding dong! Announcement: The exchange service has been temporarily adjusted to include currency exchange. The exchange rate is 1 gold for 10 silver, and 1 silver for 1 tael. The host is strongly advised to become a greedy miser..."

After the system's rapid-fire three statements, Wu Fan stood there in a daze, mechanically adjusting the light screen. He looked at the cultivation technique "Desert Mad Saber" priced at 1,100 evil points, and shouted, "Damn it! Why didn't you fart earlier! 3,000 taels of silver! 300 evil points! Just like that, they're gone~~~?"

" Ding dong! Friendly reminder: Actually, your white jade Buddha is more valuable. It can be exchanged for 500 taels of gold in this world~~~"

" Pfft!!! "

Wu Fan clutched his chest, feeling cold, tired, and heavy-hearted... No wonder that bastard dried corpse was grinning like a chrysanthemum! 500 taels of gold, that's 5,000 taels of silver, plus 3,000 taels of silver notes, a total of 8,000 taels of silver! With his salary as a deputy commander of the Eagle-Soaring Guard, even in ten years, he couldn't save that much without eating or drinking!

After an unknown amount of time, the deeply affected Wu Fan shakily straightened his body and said stubbornly, "I'll just consider it a payment for a position as a commander... The silver will be accounted for eventually! I hate unclear accounts!" He paused, then clutched his chest and muttered, "I'll get it back!"

" Ding dong! The host is currently learning the 'Spring Cold Saber,' the standard technique of the Eagle-Soaring Guard in this world. It has significant drawbacks and a low ceiling. It is recommended to stop immediately and switch to the 'Yuyang Saber,' which costs 700 evil points. The 'Yuyang Saber' was created by the famous general Qi Jiguang and can be used for both street fights and battlefield battles. Additionally, it is recommended to purchase a 'Bone Washing Pill' to cleanse and strengthen the body."

Wu Fan looked at the three cultivation techniques on the light screen. Ignoring the "Childhood Technique," which was purely a scam, he had the "Bagua Saber" and the "Yuyang Saber" left. He suspiciously examined the "Bagua Saber" and compared it with the "Yuyang Saber." Clearly, the system hadn't lied; the practicality of the "Yuyang Saber" was evident, making it the best choice.

However...

There's always a "but." Whenever this word appears, there's always a catch.

"This 'Yuyang Saber'... doesn't come with an internal energy cultivation method!" Wu Fan clicked his tongue, "You say the 'Spring Cold Saber' has significant drawbacks and a low ceiling, but I really need its power now. What should I do?"

" Ding dong! The 'Yuyang Saber' techniques are refined. The host can temporarily use the internal energy circulation method of the 'Spring Cold Saber' to enhance the 'Yuyang Saber' and increase its power. Once enough evil points are accumulated, the host can exchange for the top-tier internal energy circulation method, or perhaps exchange for skill points to advance without obstacles. The 'Yuyang Saber' includes both single and double saber techniques. Doesn't the host think it is extremely suitable for the current weapon, the 'Fourteen Postures'?"

Hearing this, Wu Fan was stunned, then nodded and sighed, "In the end, it's all about being poor, isn't it? Forget it, forget it! I'll go with the 'Yuyang Saber'! Once I become a commander, I'll make more silver, and then I'll have everything!" He changed his tone, suddenly remembering that after exchanging for the 'Yuyang Saber,' he still had 100 evil points left. He proudly said, "Right, how many points does the 'Bone Washing Pill' cost? Give me a hundred or eighty to eat like candy!"

" Ding dong! 1,000 evil points..."

" A hundred? Wow, that's... "

" Ding dong! No! One pill!"

Wu Fan: "...", why did his eyes suddenly feel blurry? So bitter!

He dejectedly exited the system space, picked up the cool tea in front of him, and drank it in one gulp, then threw a few copper coins and walked out.

" Sir! "

Behind him, the tea stall owner called out, somewhat uneasy.

" The extra is a tip for you! "

Wu Fan waved his hand generously and walked away.

The tea stall owner, on the verge of tears, looked at the five copper coins in his hand and wanted to say, "Cool tea, six copper coins a bowl~~~"

Wu Fan walked quickly and returned to his home in the western part of the city, a small, dilapidated courtyard. Standing in front of the wobbly gate that seemed to be blown away by a breeze, Wu Fan felt a deep sense of reflection. It was said that the poor were literate and the rich were martial, and this family had fallen because of martial arts! No, it should be said that the original owner of the body Wu Fan now inhabited had caused the downfall.

In the Great Sui Empire, martial arts were highly esteemed, and due to the existence of internal energy, many superhumanly brave individuals emerged, maintaining a balance of power with the literati. The upper echelons set the tone, and the lower echelons followed. When people saw that those in high positions were mostly martial artists, the martial spirit naturally grew stronger.

However, being a martial artist required talent, effort, and money!

Leaving aside the wealthy, for a poor family, if a child practiced martial arts, the first requirement was "food." They couldn't be hungry and needed sufficient chicken, duck, and fish to supplement their diet, which was already a significant burden. A century ago, the Great Sui Empire experienced a rebellion by feudal lords, leading to the emergence of the Southern Liang and Northern Yan. The war between the three countries lasted for a century until the Great Sui Empire recently conquered the Southern Liang. War meant many things, such as taxes and conscription. If not for his father, who was a minor commander in the Eagle-Soaring Guard, Wu Fan might not even have enough to eat, let alone have the strength to practice martial arts.

The Imperial Guard was the personal army of the Great Sui Empire, more like a deformed department that combined prison, punishment, espionage, and assassination. The establishment of this department was because the founding emperor of the Great Sui Empire had an illegitimate claim to the throne, having usurped it from his son-in-law. To prevent the throne from being reclaimed, the founding emperor established the Imperial Guard, which consisted of three guards, collectively known as the emperor's personal army, to monitor the literati and martial officials. To ensure the purity and legitimacy of this department, the selection method was hereditary, passed down from father to son, or through more extreme means.

Wu Fan's father was a hereditary member of the Eagle-Soaring Guard. To ensure that Wu Fan would not end up like him, the minor commander used every means possible. After his mother's early death, he managed to raise Wu Fan to the age of seventeen before passing away last year. Wu Fan inherited his position as a minor commander in the Eagle-Soaring Guard. Wu Fan was skilled in martial arts but was cold and aloof, leading to his isolation in the Eagle-Soaring Guard. After enduring for several months, he died of depression last month, and Wu Fan's soul took over his body...

In short, being a martial artist was very hard and very expensive. The Eagle-Soaring Guard provided a versatile "Spring Cold Saber" and a standard saber, which included both horse and foot combat techniques and internal energy, but that was far from enough. To advance further in martial arts, one needed better internal energy cultivation techniques, superior horse and foot combat techniques, and a suitable, strong, and sharp weapon. Finally, a good horse was essential. The cost was not something an ordinary person could bear.

Like Wu Fan now, he relied on the "Great Villain Cultivation System" as his backing and was lucky enough to draw the "Fourteen Postures" as his weapon in the first lottery. Otherwise, he would still be a poor wretch. Even so, his current martial equipment was far from complete, and he was far from the top martial artists.

After a long period of dazed thinking, Wu Fan's thoughts returned. He shook his head, sometimes his thoughts were still influenced by the residual emotions of the body. For example, killing—how could Wu Fan dare? It was because his memories were mixed with the feelings of the Wu Fan from this world, making him indifferent to killing and death, and able to act decisively.

" Creak creak creak~~~"

A gust of wind blew past, and the old wooden door groaned.

" Oh oh oh... Damn it! "

" Bang! "

" Sigh! "

He sighed deeply, looking at the broken door and the dust on the ground. Wu Fan said, "To be a person, the most important thing is to be strong, and the same goes for a door! Be strong! Really!"

At that moment—

" You! Didn't! Buy! Rice! "

...

PS: Request for recommendations and collections.

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