20: Chapter 020 Heavenly Martial Pavilion 20: Chapter 020 Heavenly Martial Pavilion Sikong Jing, though plainly dressed, had an indescribable air about him from his days as the Invincible God General.
Immediately, a store clerk from Heavenly Martial Pavilion approached to inquire, “May I ask what the young master requires?”
Before him stood a delicately beautiful female clerk.
Sikong Jing asked indifferently, “What is the highest grade of Martial Skill available for sale in Yunye City’s Heavenly Martial Pavilion?
And how much does it cost?”
The beautiful clerk’s eyes lit up—this man must be wealthy, asking straight for the highest grade of Martial Skills.
“Young master, we have Yellow-grade Upper Stage Martial Skills in stock here in Yunye City, four sets in total.”
“The price ranges from fifty to one hundred Gold Crystal Coins.”
In the currency of the Great Shang Dynasty, there are Copper Crystal Plates, Silver Crystal Coins, Gold Crystal Coins, and the highest, Purple Crystal Coins.
In the remote Yunzhou, one hundred Gold Crystal Coins is considered a substantial amount.
That equals ten thousand Silver Crystal Coins, or one million Copper Crystal Plates.
“If the young master desires a Xuan Grade Martial Skill or a custom-made Yellow-grade Martial Skill, then a deposit must be paid first, and it needs to be transferred from Yunzhou City’s Heavenly Martial Pavilion,” the female clerk added.
Sikong Jing understood; Heavenly Martial Pavilion was a dreadfully powerful Martial Arts merchant in the Great Shang Dynasty.
They had a presence in nearly every major city, something Sikong Jing was well aware of.
However, he then said, “Give me three of the lowest grade Green Jade Stone Plates.”
Sikong Jing was not here to buy Martial Skills, his inquiries were only to understand the basic price range of Martial Skills in Yunye City.
The female clerk was stunned, her expression gradually cooling off.
This man was no young master, but merely asking questions for the sake of appearances, simply wasting her time and effort.
Without another word to waste, the female clerk turned and walked away.
When she returned, she was carrying three Green Jade Stone Plates and said, “One hundred Copper Crystal Plates.”
That was the price for the three Green Jade Stone Plates.
Green Jade Stone Plates are used for inscribing Martial Skills.
In this world, neither Martial Skills nor Cultivation Techniques could be directly recorded on paper.
Only jade-based materials like Green Jade could properly convey the essence of Martial Arts.
For example, using Green Jade Paper, Green Jade Tubes, and so forth, with Green Jade Stone Plates being the poorest quality.
The success rate of inscribing on them was very low, and they could easily become useless.
The Green Jade Stone Plates Sikong Jing was now purchasing were of the lowest quality, naturally the worst of the worst, mostly used by beginners for engraving experiments or by opportunists.
At that moment, Sikong Jing replied, “I have no money, but I can settle the payment with Martial Skills after successfully inscribing.”
When he was exiled, all his possessions had been cleared out, and he certainly couldn’t ask Su Yuexi for money now.
As soon as he spoke, the female clerk’s expression grew even colder.
She snatched the Green Jade Stone Plates back from Sikong Jing’s hands and snapped angrily, “Why did you come in if you don’t have money?
Do you think I’m a fool?”
This was just an opportunist, thinking he could surely succeed in engraving Martial Skills to cover the cost of the Green Jade Stone Plates.
Using the lowest quality Green Jade Stone Plates, even a Heavenly Realm-level expert couldn’t expect to succeed even once in ten tries.
Sikong Jing frowned and replied, “I am sure I will succeed, rest assured.”
He had been cultivating in his room for two and a half days, raised to the Bright Realm Sixth Layer just to ensure the success rate of the engraving, and it was only after reaching the Sixth Realm that he could engrave Yellow-grade Upper Stage Martial Skills.
“Three Green Jade Stone Plates and you expect success?
Who do you think you are, the Great Merchant Invincible God General?” The female clerk didn’t believe him at all and pointing to the door said, “Either leave now or pay up.”
The Great Merchant Invincible God General—I truly am!
However, Sikong Jing remained silent and eventually prepared to turn around, seeming to need to earn a hundred Copper Crystal Plates first.
“Hahaha, I never thought I’d encounter such a fool these days.
To think he could carve a Martial Skill from three Green Jade Stone Plates, I’m dying of laughter!”
Suddenly, a young man with a folded fan approached, his laughter echoing.
The beautiful sales clerk’s eyes lit up, and she chuckled, “Oh, isn’t this Young Master Chu?
What kind of wind has blown you here?”
Young Master Chu pinched the beautiful sales clerk’s buttocks, then laughed, “Just strolling around with nothing better to do, and I’ve bumped into this delusional fool.”
The beautiful sales clerk tolerated Young Master Chu’s frivolity and retorted coyly, “Yes, letting a fool disturb Young Master Chu’s refined taste.”
“Not at all, I’m quite happy…”
Young Master Chu shook his head and, pointing at Sikong Jing condescendingly, said, “I’ve paid for your three Green Jade Stone Plates.
If you can’t carve out a Martial Skill, kneel on the street and loudly say three times that Chu Bo Young Master is the invincible one in the world, how about that?”
Upon hearing this, the beautiful sales clerk immediately scolded Sikong Jing, “You fool, why don’t you kneel and thank Young Master Chu for his generosity?”
Her expression took on an air of borrowed authority.
Sikong Jing looked up indifferently, the corner of his mouth slightly curling as he said, “You want to bet with me?”
Chu Bo’s eyes widened as he chuckled mockingly, “I suppose so, even though you’re not qualified.”
“Since it’s a bet, what if I can carve out a Martial Skill, how about you then?” Sikong Jing asked, squinting his eyes.
Pausing, Chu Bo laughed heartily and replied, “Then I too will kneel on the street and say three times that you are the invincible one in the world, is that okay?”
Due to Chu Bo’s appearance, the customers at the Heavenly Martial Pavilion also gathered around; when they heard that Sikong Jing was going to carve a Martial Skill from the three lowest quality Green Jade Stone Plates, the whole audience laughed.
Especially when they heard he wanted to win, the laughter was deafening; it was simply impossible.
Young Master Chu Bo was toying with a fool.
“That’s not necessary, I haven’t gotten to the point of thinking that I’m invincible in the world.
You just need to kneel and loudly say three times that Su Yuexi is the number one beauty in the world,” Sikong Jing casually changed the bet.
Chu Bo, unaware of who Su Yuexi was, shook his fan and answered, “Alright, whatever you say.”
Sikong Jing listened and then turned his attention back to the Green Jade Stone Plate.
In his mind, he recalled a Yellow-grade Upper Stage Martial Skill from his memories, but he could think of only a few.
He had to remember, he’d started his cultivation with skills from at least the Heavenly Grade.
After a while, he remembered the first Martial Skill he had seized from bandits when he first joined the Great Shang Army, and it was also the first Yellow-grade Upper Stage Martial Skill he had cultivated; without a second thought, he began to engrave.
“Look at this fool’s serious attitude; he really thinks he can succeed.”
“Hahaha, just a cultivation crazed simpleton who has never been harshly treated by reality, thinking he can do anything.”
“Simply put, his brain is stewed.”
The ridicule from the spectators grew louder, all treating this as a performance of Chu Bo toying with a fool.
However, they did not know that Sikong Jing had become completely engrossed, his fingertips flashing with the terrifying True Qi of the Emperor Beheading Technique, which he infused into the Green Jade Stone Plate, where lines began to emerge under his fingers.
One breath, two breaths, three breaths…
The lines from his fingertips seamlessly completed, and in just three breaths, the Green Jade Stone Plate flashed with a jade-colored light!
A moment later, the light vanished.
The ordinary Green Jade Stone Plate now emitted an inexplicable Martial Arts aura, and Sikong Jing also quietly stood up, indifferently saying, “Sorry, I succeeded on the first try!”
As these words were spoken, the ridicule ceased, and the whole Heavenly Martial Pavilion was left in indescribable silence.