Chapter 31: Earth-Tier Martial Arts Technique

"This..." Seeing the gold coins in Xin Lang's money pouch, Qian Baidu rubbed his hands together, his thoughts waging a fierce battle within him. Never in his life had he seen so much money at once. Sensing Qian Baidu's hesitation, Xin Lang immediately enticed him further: "I also have a high-level Mortal-grade martial art, 'Shattered Heart Dragon Claw.' I can put that up for grabs as well!"

"Really?" The moment he heard "high-level Mortal-grade martial art," Qian Baidu's eyes gleamed with greedy, wolfish light.

"Of course!" Xin Lang replied with absolute certainty.

"In that case, I'll risk it!" Under the weight of temptation, Qian Baidu gathered his courage. "Classmate Bargain Student, hand over your gold coins and that high-level Mortal-grade martial art. I'm here to rob the rich and help the poor!"

Xin Lang couldn't help but rejoice as the Upgrade Device popped up a side quest! Though it was a simple quest worth only one experience point, Xin Lang was thoroughly satisfied. At his current level, earning a single experience point required completing ten thousand basic tasks. Considering the vast difference in their strengths, it was already generous of the Upgrade Device to award him even one point.

Half a minute later, Qian Baidu was lying flat on the ground, defeated by Xin Lang without suspense. To spare Qian Baidu's pride, Xin Lang had deliberately drawn out the fight, not letting him lose too miserably.

Qian Baidu lay prone, still refusing to admit defeat, struggling to prop himself up with trembling arms.

Kneeling beside him, Xin Lang said, "Classmate Qian, don't push yourself too hard. Just admit defeat. Even if you lose today, you can always try again tomorrow."

"No, I won't concede!" Qian Baidu replied stubbornly, "I have to get your 'Shattered Heart Dragon Claw.' Otherwise, I'll lose to that fat fool!"

Though Qian Baidu was still determined, the Upgrade Device had already notified Xin Lang of the quest's completion, awarding him one experience point. His total experience had now risen to twenty-two.

Despite Qian Baidu's refusal to admit defeat, the Upgrade Device had already judged his attempt to rob the rich and help the poor a failure.

Hoping to encourage Qian Baidu to improve his strength and provide him with more opportunities for experience farming, Xin Lang passed on the high-level Mortal-grade martial art, "Shattered Heart Dragon Claw," to Qian Baidu.

Though Qian Baidu had failed in his attempt, he still received a high-level Mortal-grade martial art, which greatly boosted his confidence. He said to Xin Lang, "Classmate Bargain Student, thank you so much! With this 'Shattered Heart Dragon Claw,' after I master it tomorrow, I'll definitely succeed in robbing that fat fool!"

"Uh... no, you should be robbing me instead," Xin Lang corrected him.

But Qian Baidu simply clenched his fists at Xin Lang, replying earnestly, "Goodbye, Classmate Bargain Student! Just wait for my good news. Tomorrow, I will succeed in robbing the rich and helping the poor!"

"Classmate Qian, you should come rob me!" Xin Lang called after him.

But Qian Baidu, lost in thoughts of how to deal with that fat fellow Gu Ge, didn't hear a word. As he watched Qian Baidu disappear down the corridor, Xin Lang sighed, "Looks like I'll need Fatty Gu to provoke him a bit more, so he can improve faster. Only then can I farm him for even more experience."

"Boss, what are you looking at? Did you spot a beauty?" At some point, Fatty Gu appeared at Xin Lang's side, searching for the imagined beauty along Xin Lang's line of sight. "If a beauty has caught your eye, she has to be a celestial maiden! No, I have to catch up and take a look!"

With that, Fatty Gu turned to chase after Qian Baidu.

Just as Fatty Gu was about to take a step, Xin Lang seized him by the nape. "Come back here! Where do you think you're going?"

But with Xin Lang restraining him, Fatty Gu couldn't get away and protested anxiously, "Boss, let me go! Otherwise, that beauty will be gone in a moment!"

"Beauty? More like in your dreams!" Xin Lang scolded. "What's going on with you? Your strength hasn't improved at all lately! Have you been so busy chasing girls that you've neglected your training?"

Fatty Gu cried injustice, "Boss, that's not fair! If I had time to chase girls, wouldn't my strength have improved by now?"

At this, Xin Lang suddenly remembered that this fat fool's training method was truly the envy of all.

Once Xin Lang let go, Fatty Gu said, "Boss, I've taken care of everything you asked me to do! The auction is set for tomorrow, and here's your invitation!"

He handed Xin Lang a red invitation with gold trim.

"So soon?" Xin Lang took the invitation, surprised to find the trim was actual gold. Marveling at the Gu family's extravagance, he asked, "Who did you find to test the medicine?"

"You'll be satisfied, Boss! I found the wife of the current Lord of Sun City!" Fatty Gu added a little sheepishly, "It just so happened my father had a favor to ask of the Lord, so he sent your 'Sevenfold Rejuvenation Elixir' along. But don't worry, Boss. My father said that once the elixir is auctioned off, he'll pay you the full market price for it!"

Hearing this, Xin Lang's expression darkened rather than brightened. "You told your father everything about me?"

Fatty Gu quickly explained, "No! How could I dare? You told me it's a secret, and I'd never breathe a word, not even to my father!"

Relieved by Fatty Gu's answer, Xin Lang flipped through the gold-trimmed invitation and handed it back. "Just sell the Sevenfold Rejuvenation Elixir for me. I won't attend the auction myself."

At his current strength, Xin Lang didn't want to risk exposing his identity as a level-nine alchemy grandmaster. He had to protect himself as much as possible.

"Boss, the Gu family's auction only happens once a month, and there are always some great treasures up for bidding! Are you sure you don't want to go?" Fatty Gu urged.

"No, I'll wait for your news at the academy."

Before his rebirth, Xin Lang had been a level-nine alchemy grandmaster, a living national treasure of the Great Xia Dynasty. He'd seen countless rare treasures and attended innumerable auctions for the sake of collecting high-level ingredients. In this small Sun City, the finest treasures wouldn't amount to much.

What Xin Lang needed now was to quickly complete his main quest: "Earn Ten Thousand Gold Coins."

"Boss, are you really not going?" Fatty Gu asked again.

"Not interested," Xin Lang replied.

Still unwilling to give up, Fatty Gu added mysteriously, "According to my father's inside sources, this auction will feature an Earth-grade cultivation technique. Aren't you tempted to come see it?"

"An Earth-grade cultivation technique?" Xin Lang exclaimed in shock.

PS: Brothers, I need your votes!