Chen Cheng's expression was calm. He sat leisurely, sipping his tea and waiting.
The Luo's Shop was a major establishment, after all. They wouldn't do anything rash over an Inner Breath Technique that only built a foundation.
After about the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, the middle-aged Steward returned from the second floor. He smiled and said, "The expert has taken a look. This Inner Breath Technique is indeed cultivable, but we still need to see the second half of the Cultivation Technique Manual.
"If there are no problems with the second half of the Cultivation Technique Manual, our shop is willing to purchase it for one hundred taels of silver. What does our honored guest think?"
One hundred taels of silver! This far exceeded Chen Cheng's expectations.
Of course, he couldn't agree too quickly. He stroked his chin, pretending to think for a moment, before answering crisply, "Alright. One hundred taels of silver it is."
With that, he took a complete Cultivation Technique Manual from his robes and placed it on the table.
The middle-aged Steward didn't immediately pick up the Secret Manual. Instead, he smiled. "Our honored guest's Secret Manual has very fresh ink. It must have been recently copied. Before our shop makes the purchase, we'd like to confirm one more thing.
"I wonder, have you sold this Secret Manual to any other shops before? If you have, our shop can only offer twenty taels of silver."
"I haven't sold it before," Chen Cheng replied definitively. He went ahead and pulled out all the Secret Manuals he had, placing them on the table together.
"Our honored guest is truly straightforward! Please wait a moment." The middle-aged Steward exclaimed in admiration before finally picking up the Secret Manual and heading to the second floor again.
This time, Chen Cheng didn't have to wait long. After just a moment, the middle-aged Steward hurried back, smiling. "Honored guest, the expert has looked at it, and there's no problem with the Cultivation Technique Manual.
"Would you prefer silver notes or silver coins?"
The middle-aged Steward didn't ask about the origin of the Cultivation Technique Manual, nor did he press further about whether it had been sold before. Chen Cheng, however, couldn't help but ponder.
In fact, he had used a Conical Hat to hide most of his face precisely to conceal his identity and avoid trouble from questions about the technique's origin.
His original plan was to sell the Secret Manual to several shops simultaneously, and he would have considered it a success to get three or five taels of silver from each.
But the way things had unfolded had far surpassed his expectations.
The Luo's Shop was simply offering too much!
Forget one hundred taels of silver; Chen Cheng would have sold it for even twenty taels.
'As expected of a major establishment!'
Chen Cheng sighed internally and took off his Conical Hat.
"Aren't you worried that I might have sold this Secret Manual somewhere else before?"
The middle-aged Steward's eyes lit up, and he smiled.
Any intelligent person wouldn't risk offending the Luo's Shop by trying to cheat them. This was the confidence that a major power like the Luo's Shop possessed.
The young man before him revealing his true face was clearly an extremely intelligent move.
"Honored guest, you jest. Choosing to sell the Secret Manual at our shop is the greatest show of trust in us.
Since you trust our shop, our shop naturally trusts you in return.
"I am Qian Bin, a Steward at the Luo's Shop's Ruyi District branch. If you have need of anything in the future, be it Cultivation Technique Manuals, Weapons, or Medicinal Materials, you can come directly to me.
"As for the prices, they will definitely be more favorable than at other shops."
Qian Bin calmly and proactively revealed his name. On one hand, it was to show the attitude of the Luo's Shop and put Chen Cheng at ease. On the other hand, he couldn't help but feel the desire to build a connection.
Although the young man before him was plainly dressed, he had been calm and composed from start to finish, unruffled by the situation. This steady temperament alone was beyond that of ordinary people.
Even if such a person came from a humble background, they were very likely to soar to great heights in the future. Establishing a good relationship with him would be beneficial to both the Luo's Shop and himself.
Having lived two lives, how could Chen Cheng not understand the meaning behind Qian Bin's words? He immediately stood, clasped his hands in a salute, and smiled. "Then I must thank Steward Qian in advance.
"I am Chen Cheng, a Prison Guard working in the South City Prison under Mr. Cheng, Cheng Rui. If Steward Qian has any need of me, I will naturally do my best."
As the saying goes, one good turn deserves another. Chen Cheng certainly couldn't fall behind.
"Of course! Of course!" Qian Bin also smiled and returned the salute, showing not the slightest contempt just because Chen Cheng was a mere Little Prison Guard.
On the contrary, his estimation of Chen Cheng rose even higher because he had openly stated his identity as a Prison Guard.
To be of humble status yet so open and honest, neither servile nor overbearing—how many people in this world could achieve that?
Qian Bin had been a Steward at the shop for many years and had seen countless young talents, but he had never met one with the same temperament as the youth before him!
Seeing that Chen Cheng wasn't in a hurry to take the money, Qian Bin continued with a smile, "Little Brother Chen, are you looking to buy a Saber Technique Manual?"
In just a short while, his form of address for Chen Cheng had changed from "honored guest" to "Little Brother."
Chen Cheng could sense his friendly intentions. Seeing that Qian Bin was about the same age as Old Chen, he thought for a moment before saying, "Brother Qian, that is indeed my intention."
"Haha," Qian Bin chuckled, clearly pleased with Chen Cheng's form of address. He patted his chest and continued, "Then you've come to the right person. I can't speak for other things, but when it comes to Saber Technique Manuals, I, Old Qian, can guarantee that you can buy the very best in all of Linji City right here."
With that, he took a Secret Manual from a cabinet and solemnly placed it in Chen Cheng's hands.
"This is the 'Wind Chasing Saber Technique,' a Mid-level Saber Technique Manual. It should be the most suitable for you."
Chen Cheng was quite curious and asked, "What is a Mid-level Secret Manual?"
Qian Bin already knew that Chen Cheng seemed to know little about Martial Arts Cultivation, but he didn't mind. He explained with a smile, "Cultivation Technique Manuals are divided into Superior Secret Manuals, Mid-level Secret Manuals, and Lower Grade Secret Manuals.
"With a common Secret Manual, once you reach Perfection in your Cultivation, it's difficult to progress further. These are known as Lower Grade Secret Manuals."
A Mid-level Secret Manual, however, not only allows you to cultivate to Perfection but, if you are exceptionally talented, also allows you to advance further and cultivate Momentum.
"As for Superior Secret Manuals, they contain a Fundamental Diagram. By comprehending the Fundamental Diagram, you can grasp a Realm."
Chen Cheng felt he had learned a great deal. He then asked, "What is Momentum?"
Qian Bin pondered for a moment, then smiled. "I have not cultivated Momentum myself, so my understanding is limited.
"Take Saber Technique, for example. Generally, cultivating a Saber Technique to Great Success is enough to reliably defeat three to five armed, able-bodied men. Cultivating it to Perfection allows you to reliably defeat three to five Martial Artists of the same Realm who are at Great Success in their Saber Technique.
"If you master Saber Momentum, you can easily defeat more than ten Martial Artists of the same Realm who are at Saber Technique Perfection. You might even be able to defeat a Martial Artist at Saber Technique Perfection who is in a higher Realm.
"As for that Realm, it is a legendary state. Across all of Linji City, you could probably count the number of Martial Artists who have grasped such a Realm on one hand."
After a brief moment of thought, Chen Cheng asked, "Are you saying that External Skills are more important than Inner Cultivation Techniques?"
Qian Bin chuckled. "Not necessarily. In Cultivating the Martial Dao, one needs to cultivate both internally and externally.
"The Body Refining Realm is divided into the Skin Grinding Realm, Muscle Strengthening Realm, Bone Forging Realm, Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm, and Organ Refining Realm. These are the five Realms of Body Refining. With every Realm you advance, your strength increases dramatically.
"External Skills are naturally extremely powerful because they are enhanced by Weapons. A common Martial Artist who has reached Great Success in Saber Technique could even kill a Martial Artist who has just entered the Skin Grinding Realm, relying on the sharpness of their blade.
"If one's Body Refining reaches Great Success in the Skin Grinding Realm, their skin and membranes become as tough as ox-hide, and their physical strength and speed will far surpass that of an ordinary Martial Artist.
If these two were to face off, the ordinary Martial Artist would stand no chance, even if they had cultivated their Saber Technique to Great Success.
"If Body Refining advances even further to Skin Grinding Perfection, the skin and membranes become as hard as iron and stone, difficult to injure with blades. Even if they just stood there and let an ordinary Martial Artist hack at them, they wouldn't be harmed in the slightest.
"Whether it's Momentum or a Realm, comparisons are generally made between those of the same Realm. If the Realms are different, then it's another matter entirely."