Chapter 145: Chapter 132: A Beautiful Woman’s Stroll_2
"The third floor houses the secret scripts of top-grade martial arts and Divine Intent Diagrams, as well as some precious unique martial arts and second-grade Martial Food recipes."
"Each layer requires tougher conditions to enter than the one below it, and the Heart Tempering Decision is collected on the third floor."
"Miss Sirong can enter the third floor and borrow the Heart Tempering Decision, but the Zhao Clan has strict rules. No martial arts can be privately disseminated. If such actions are discovered, the lightest penalty is abolishing one’s martial arts, and the severest is beheading. Miss Sirong would like to help Brother Lu, but she is powerless. Brother Lu, please understand."
At this point, Zhao Sirong showed a look of apology.
Lu Yan saved her, so logically, she could transcribe a copy of the Heart Tempering Decision for him.
But due to the Clan’s rules, she couldn’t.
This rule was engraved in her bones; she dared not cross it.
"Is there no other way? Can it be purchased from the Zhao Clan?"
Lu Yan asked.
If it was possible, no matter how much silver it cost, Lu Yan was willing to spend it.
Compared to an Inner Strength Master, silver was just a worldly possession.
"No, the Zhao Clan prohibits it. The third-rate martial arts are all available for sale. Some of the second-rate martial arts can be sold. But the books stored on the third floor are not for sale at all."
Zhao Sirong shook her head. Seeing that Lu Yan looked a bit upset, she hurriedly continued, "In the past, there was no way, but now there is a way to obtain it."
"What is it?"
Lu Yan perked up immediately.
"Battle achievements."
Zhao Sirong said, "In order to repel the demons, our clan’s leaders dropped a blood edict. They publicly promised that as long as one accumulates enough battle achievements, except for the most important top-grade martial arts and a few of the most precious Alien Beasts within the Zhao Clan, everything else can be exchanged for battle achievements."
"I have heard that although the Heart Tempering Decision is stored on the third floor, no one has come asking for it for many years. As long as you have enough battle achievements, you can definitely exchange for it."
"So approximately how many battle achievements are needed for the exchange?"
Lu Yan asked.
"Based on the standard of top-grade martial arts, five hundred battle achievements can borrow a top-grade martial arts for half a year of studying. I think that’s likely the price for the Heart Tempering Decision."
Zhao Sirong claimed.
"Only five hundred battle achievements?"
Lu Yan felt a load off his chest.
It might be difficult for others, but for him right now, it wasn’t impossible.
He already had ninety battle achievements, meaning he only needed another four hundred and ten.
So what if they’re monsters and demons, he would just kill them.
It was fortunate that he didn’t trade his ninety battle achievements for Martial Food yesterday. It turns out that these achievements could be put to better use.
"As long as Brother Lu has enough battle achievements, I’ll do everything I can to help you gain the Heart Tempering Decision."
Zhao Sirong pledged, feeling a little guilty about not being able to help Lu Yan.
"Thank you, Miss Sirong. I wonder if Miss Sirong could help me purchase some more second-grade Martial Food?"
Lu Yan asked.
Ten kilos per day really wasn’t enough. He would definitely make use of his connections, as not doing so wasn’t his style.
"That’s easy. Brother Lu, wait a moment. I’ll be right back."
Zhao Sirong quickly got up and left and returned moments later with a metal box in her hands.
To begin with, Zhao Sirong handed a token to Lu Yan and said, "Brother Lu, as long as you show this token when purchasing Martial Food, there won’t be any restrictions on the amount you can buy."
"Also..."
Zhao Sirong opened the metal box and revealed the neatly packed dried Martial Food inside.
"Here’s one hundred kilos of second-grade dried Martial Food. It’s a token of my gratitude for saving my life."
Zhao Sirong explained, then closed the box and handed it to Lu Yan.
The market price for one hundred kilos of second-grade dried Martial Food is fifteen thousand taels.
The Zhao Clan, being the number one Feudal Lord in Lingdong, was truly generous when it came to spending.
"In that case, I wouldn’t dare refuse."
Lu Yan happily accepted it, then said his farewells to Zhao Sirong.
Now, he just had to wait.
Wait for the monsters to attack the city, hunt and kill them, and accumulate battle achievements.
As for leaving the city to hunt and kill the monsters, he would pass. He didn’t want to die.
Not just him; even Master Level powerhouses dare not do it.
Who knows how many terrifying monsters were hidden in those mountains outside the city.
If surrounded by several Grandmaster-level monsters, or encountering a monster king, even a Grandmaster would be doomed to death.
With ample Martial Food, the progress of the Cloud Walk dramatically sped up.
Moreover, since meeting with the enchanting woman that day, no strange sounds were heard at night anymore.
Ten days later, after finishing a hundred pounds of Dried Martial Food, Lu Yan went to the Zhao Clan’s Martial Food House to purchase more Martial Food. Using the token given by Zhao Sirong, there was no limit, and Lu Yan always bought in fifty pounds each time.
Of course, the silver was spent just as freely, gushing out like flowing water.
Regrettably, while strolling through the streets or the market, Lu Yan consulted the Dao Book but never found any Dao Food.
One night, after circling around Lingwang city’s night market and gaining nothing, he saw a figure unexpectedly jumping out from the house of the enchanting woman next door as he returned home.
"It’s him, Zhao Hao."
Lu Yan was somewhat surprised.
Having practiced the Sky Eagle Eye, his vision was extremely sharp. He was by no means mistaken.
That figure was absolutely Zhao Hao. Even though he ran forward swiftly, his side profile was spotted by Lu Yan.
As if sensing something, Zhao Hao also turned his head and glanced at him. Their eyes met, and Zhao Hao’s figure suddenly halted. A trace of a murderous intent flashed through his eyes.
Just then, the bustling voices of talking came from the other side of the street, and people started to walk this way.
After hesitating for a moment, Zhao Hao quickly moved forward, disappearing into the darkness.
"This Zhao Hao, why did he come out from that woman’s room, could it be that he is also one of her subordinates?"
Lu Yan speculated silently.
It wasn’t impossible.
After all, even he was almost not able to resist the charm of that enchanting woman.
Lu Yan did not give it much thought, he went into his room and continued to cultivate by consuming Martial Food.
Nothing happened that night.
Two days later, when the Martial Food was almost finished, Lu Yan went out again, and purchased another fifty pounds of Martial Food from the Zhao Clan’s Martial Food Building.
Fresh Martial Food should not be bought in large quantities at once because if it is kept for too long it easily affects its effectiveness. Unlike Dried Martial Food, which can be purchased in large quantities and stored.
When he returned home carrying the Martial Food, he saw many people gathered around his house’s doorstep.
Through the crowd, he saw Zhou Xiang lying on the ground with twisted legs and a pale face.
Meanwhile, Tofu and her mother were kneeling beside Zhou Xiang, looking terrified.
A sturdy man in his fifties stood aside, looking down at Tofu and her family with a cold gaze.
"Speak up, where did the Martial Artist living in your house go?"
The sturdy man interrogated, his face full of menace, scaring Tofu to the point her face turned pale, her body cowering in her mother’s arms.
"Master, we truly do not know where the Martial Artist went. Why would he tell us, ordinary folks, where he’s going? Please spare us, Master."
Tofu’s mother tearfully pleaded.
"Then when will he be back?"
The sturdy man asked again.
Tofu’s mother still shook her head.
"Your constant denial makes you useless."
The cruelty in the sturdy man’s eyes intensified.
"Do not hurt my mother."
Tofu, summoning courage from somewhere, stretched out her hands to protect her mother and added: "That Uncle Lu is a good man, he’s very gentle with people, I believe he would not kill indiscriminately."
"Little girl, are you implying that I’m not a good person, that I’m wicked? How dare you, a lowly commoner, insult a Martial Marquis."
The murderous intent in the sturdy man’s eyes became even more pronounced, and he extended his palm, as large as a palm-leaf fan, to strike Tofu.
This man was a Martial Marquis, even though he didn’t exert too much force, being hit would cause severe injuries, if not death, to Tofu given her delicate body.
A glint of cold light flashed in Lu Yan’s eyes. His figure flashed, like a ghost, moving through the crowd and appeared in front of Tofu, striking the sturdy man with his palm.
The sturdy man was shocked, he quickly exerted his bone strength and took a step back, striking back with a palm against Lu Yan’s.
With a crash, the sturdy man stumbled back, his arm trembling uncontrollably.
Smack!
Lu Yan stepped forward again, striking another blow.
This blow was fast as lightning, and the opponent couldn’t avoid it, getting struck directly on his face. He staggered back more than ten steps, fell on his butt, his head buzzing, and for a while, he couldn’t come to his senses.
