“I just got lucky and broke through.”
Ye Hao stopped in his tracks, looked at Liu Siyu, and nodded gently.
“Senior Brother, your cultivation speed is so fast.”
A hint of yearning surfaced in Liu Siyu's eyes.
Half a year had already passed since their batch joined the Baiyun Sect as handymen, yet she was still at First-Layer Qi Refinement, with any breakthrough to Second-Layer Qi Refinement remaining far out of reach.
Yet Ye Hao before her had actually broken through to Second-Layer Qi Refinement.
Such speed truly amazed her.
What was more, the other party had achieved extremely high attainments in the Lesser Spirit Rain Technique.
This made Liu Siyu all the more certain that she had to remain on good terms with Ye Hao.
Ye Hao looked at her, cupped his hands, and said, “Junior Sister, I won't chat with you any longer. I still need to go collect the white spirit rice seeds for the next crop.”
“All right. Take care, Senior Brother. Don't let me hold you up.”
Liu Siyu hurriedly nodded obediently in response.
“Mm.”
Ye Hao nodded, then departed from the area.
His breakthrough speed would only become faster and faster.
According to his calculations, the time it would take him to break through to Third-Layer Qi Refinement wouldn't exceed a month at most.
Breaking through from First-Layer Qi Refinement to Second-Layer Qi Refinement—advancing one minor realm in half a year—could still be explained by having sufficient resources on hand despite having a poor spirit root.
However, if he broke through to Third-Layer Qi Refinement after just another month...
Such a cultivation speed that not even a supreme spirit root could achieve would surely make people suspect that he harbored a great secret.
When that time came, it was very likely to draw the attention of the higher-ups, who might then abduct him and rob him of his freedom.
Therefore, he had to conceal his realm. A cultivation technique capable of masking his aura was currently Ye Hao's best choice.
“Let's go check out the market.”
He went to the steward and collected the white spirit rice seeds.
Ye Hao, who had originally intended to return to his wooden house, turned around and headed down the mountain.
The Scripture Pavilion was good, but it required contribution points.
Although contribution points could be exchanged for spirit stones, doing so would still be too much of a loss for Ye Hao. If he could find a technique capable of concealing his aura in the market, he wouldn't need to go there.
If he truly couldn't find one, it wouldn't be too late to head to the Scripture Pavilion then.
“Uncle, you're actually still here?”
As he walked along, Ye Hao suddenly came to a halt.
Earlier from a distance, he had felt that the stallholder looked somewhat familiar. Once he drew closer, he finally confirmed that this was clearly the very stallholder who had sold him the Lesser Spirit Rain Technique a few days ago.
“It's you!”
The stallholder raised his head to look at Ye Hao and instantly remembered who he was. Suddenly realizing something, he hurriedly spoke up, “That Lesser Spirit Rain Technique has already been sold to you. There's no returning it now!”
“Rest assured, Uncle. I quite like that Lesser Spirit Rain Technique.”
“I came over this time just to see if you have any other techniques here—for instance, one that can help someone conceal their aura.”
Ye Hao explained with a smile.
Hearing that Ye Hao wasn't here to return the item, the stallholder also breathed a sigh of relief. After all, it had taken him a very long time to sell that Lesser Spirit Rain Technique.
“As long as you're not here to return it, that's fine.”
“Though at Second-Layer Qi Refinement, do you even need that sort of technique?”
The stallholder looked at Ye Hao with a face full of suspicion.
“Just tell me whether you have one or not.”
Ye Hao said hastily.
He was afraid that continued questioning like this would pique the other's curiosity, causing him to reveal even more information.
“I actually do.” The stallholder no longer dwelled on it, immediately pulling an ancient book out from his robes.
Three large characters were written prominently on it: Turtle Breath Technique.
“Why is it incomplete again?”
After receiving it, Ye Hao flipped through a few pages and discovered that this Turtle Breath Technique was just like the previous Lesser Spirit Rain Technique—not complete in the slightest.
“Ahem, don't worry about that.”
“This Turtle Breath Technique is a special secret art. Even if it's incomplete, it's far stronger than techniques of the same tier.”
“If you want it, take it for 10 low-grade spirit stones.”
The stallholder chuckled.
In truth, this Turtle Breath Technique and the Lesser Spirit Rain Technique were both obtained by him from the same secret realm.
However, as for their specific effects, he had never tested them either.
After all, with his cultivation base, he had no use for this kind of technique whatsoever.
“Let me see.”
Ye Hao wasn't in a hurry to agree, immediately flipping through the Turtle Breath Technique before him.
Soon, he made a discovery.
Just like the Lesser Spirit Rain Technique, this Turtle Breath Technique was divided into twelve layers.
The previous Lesser Spirit Rain Technique had at least possessed the cultivation methods for the first eight layers, whereas this Turtle Breath Technique only had the first five layers remaining.
Still, even though only the cultivation methods for the first five layers remained, as long as he practiced the Turtle Breath Technique to the Fourth Layer, even a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator wouldn't be able to see through his true realm. Thus, this Turtle Breath Technique was indeed a good item.
After verifying it, Ye Hao finally produced 10 low-grade spirit stones. “Fine, I'll take this Turtle Breath Technique.”
“By the way, Uncle, besides this Turtle Breath Technique, do you have any other good things here?”
“For instance, cultivation techniques or combat techniques that can enhance one's fighting strength?”
Hearing Ye Hao's words, the stallholder picked up an ancient book weighed down in a corner of the stall and tossed it to Ye Hao. “Fire Snake Technique. A First-Tier mid-grade technique. Cultivate it to the realm of major accomplishment, and your palm can spit out a fire snake. It'll be more than enough for your use.”
“How many spirit stones for this one?”
Hearing this, Ye Hao's eyes lit up, and he quickly pressed for details.
“This is a complete First-Tier mid-grade technique. It costs 50 low-grade spirit stones.”
The stallholder stated bluntly.
“All right, I'll take it.”
Inside Ye Hao's system space, the number of low-grade spirit stones totaled a full 732.
Taking out 50 low-grade spirit stones to purchase the First-Tier mid-grade technique before him was still more than enough.
After taking out 50 low-grade spirit stones, Ye Hao put away the Fire Snake Technique.
He hadn't expected that shortly after arriving at the market, he would accomplish the purpose of this trip—and even far exceed his initial expectations.
Not only had he obtained the Turtle Breath Technique to conceal his aura, but he had even gained a powerful offensive technique, the Fire Snake Technique.
“You little fellow are pretty wealthy, aren't you?”
The stallholder also hadn't expected Ye Hao before him to produce 50 low-grade spirit stones without batting an eye. Adding in the previous 10, that was a whopping 60 low-grade spirit stones.
For someone at Second-Layer Qi Refinement to be able to take out this many low-grade spirit stones was rare indeed.
“They were all bestowed by my elders.”
Hearing the man say this, Ye Hao's heart gave a sudden start, and a trace of vigilance arose within him.
He hurriedly offered an explanation.
At the same time, his heart was filled with deep remorse.
Everything recently had simply gone too smoothly.
His vigilance had dropped considerably as a result.
Handing over 60 low-grade spirit stones so readily for transactions had likely caused him to be targeted long ago. Fortunately, no one dared to make a move against him inside the market.
“Relax, I have no interest in those spirit stones of yours.”
Seeing through the careful thoughts on Ye Hao's face, the stallholder couldn't help teasing him.
“Uncle, until we meet again.”
Ye Hao lingered no longer, cupping his hands and taking his leave.
As he departed, several people nearby who had been eyeing this spot the entire time hurriedly tailed him.
“Scram!”
A reprimand resounded within those people's minds.
They instantly froze in place, then collapsed heavily onto the ground, losing consciousness.
Rate on N.U.
