Chapter 20: Tianwu Pavilion

Although Sikong Jing was dressed simply, as a former invincible divine general, he possessed an indescribable aura.

A shop assistant from the Tianwu Pavilion immediately stepped forward to inquire, "May I ask what you require, young master?"

Before him stood a delicate and beautiful female clerk.

Sikong Jing asked indifferently, "What is the highest grade of martial technique available for sale in the Tianwu Pavilion of Yunye City? And what is the price?"

The beauty's eyes lit up; it seemed he was a wealthy patron, asking for the highest grade of martial technique right out of the gate.

"Young master, we have in-stock Yellow-grade high-tier martial techniques in Yunye City. There are four sets in total."

"The price ranges between fifty and one hundred Gold Crystal Coins."

In the Great Shang Empire, the currency consisted of Copper Crystal Plates, Silver Crystal Coins, Gold Crystal Coins, and the highest, Purple Crystal Coins. In the frontier region of Yunzhou, one hundred Gold Crystal Coins was considered a significant sum.

This was equivalent to ten thousand Silver Crystal Coins or one million Copper Crystal Plates.

"If you desire a Profound-grade martial technique, or a custom-made Yellow-grade one, a deposit will be required to have it transferred from the Tianwu Pavilion in Yunzhou City," the beautiful clerk added.

Sikong Jing understood. The Tianwu Pavilion was a terrifyingly powerful martial arts merchant in the Great Shang Empire. They had a presence in almost every large-scale city, and Sikong Jing was naturally well-acquainted with them.

However, he pivoted and said, "Give me three of the lowest-grade Green Jade Plates."

Sikong Jing had not come to purchase martial techniques; he was merely asking to understand the basic market prices in Yunye City.

"What?"

The beautiful clerk froze, and her gaze gradually turned cold.

This man was no "young master"; he was just some poser asking idle questions, wasting her time and effort.

Too lazy to waste another word, the clerk turned to leave.

When she returned, she was carrying three Green Jade Plates and said, "One hundred Copper Crystal Plates."

That was the price for the three plates.

Green Jade Plates were used for recording martial techniques. In this world, whether it was a martial technique or a cultivation method, they could not be recorded in books made of paper. Instead, they had to be engraved on green jade-like materials to truly convey the martial intent.

Examples included Green Jade Paper or Green Jade Cylinders, of which the Green Jade Plates were the lowest quality.

The success rate of engraving was extremely low, and the material could be ruined at any moment.

The plates Sikong Jing was purchasing were the most inferior kind—the absolute bottom of the barrel. They were typically used by beginners for experimental engraving or by opportunists looking to take a gamble.

At this, Sikong Jing replied, "I have no money, but once I succeed in the engraving, I can use the martial technique to settle the debt."

When he was exiled, everything he owned had been stripped away, and it was impossible for him to ask the current Su Yuexi for money.

Upon hearing this, the clerk's eyes grew even colder. She snatched the plates back from Sikong Jing's hands and said with indignant fury, "If you have no money, why did you come in here? Do you take me for a fool?"

He was clearly an opportunist, assuming he would definitely succeed in engraving the technique and then using it to pay for the plates.

What a joke.

Using the lowest-grade Green Jade Plates, even a Heaven-realm expert would struggle to succeed even once in ten attempts.

Sikong Jing frowned and replied, "I will certainly succeed. Rest assured."

He had spent two and a half days cultivating in his room to reach the current sixth level of the Bright Realm specifically to ensure a successful engraving; only after reaching the sixth level of the Bright Realm could he successfully engrave a high-tier Yellow-grade martial technique.

"You think you can succeed with just three Green Jade Plates? Who do you think you are, the invincible divine general of Great Shang?" The clerk did not believe him at all. She pointed at the door and said, "Either get out now, or pay up."

*The invincible divine general of Great Shang? That actually is me!*

However, Sikong Jing remained silent. He eventually prepared to turn away; it seemed he would have to earn one hundred Copper Crystal Plates first.

"Haha, I didn't expect to encounter such a fool these days. Wanting to engrave a martial technique with just three Green Jade Plates? That's hilarious."

Suddenly, a young man holding a folding fan walked toward them, laughing loudly.

The beautiful clerk's eyes brightened, and she said with a flirtatious smile, "Oh my, isn't this Young Master Chu? What wind blew you here?"

The young man, Young Master Chu, pinched the clerk's buttocks and laughed, "Just wandering around because I had nothing better to do. I didn't expect to run into such a self-important idiot."

The clerk allowed the harassment, letting out a coquettish whine, "Indeed, a fool has interrupted your leisure, Young Master Chu."

"Not at all, not at all. I'm quite happy..."

Young Master Chu shook his head and pointed at Sikong Jing with an air of superiority. "I'll pay for those three Green Jade Plates for you. If you fail to engrave the technique, you must kneel in the middle of the street and loudly proclaim three times: 'Young Master Chu Bo is invincible under heaven!' How about that?"

Hearing this, the clerk immediately barked at Sikong Jing, "You fool, why aren't you kneeling to thank Young Master Chu for his generosity?"

Her expression was one of pure bullying, riding on someone else's coattails.

Sikong Jing looked up calmly, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You want to bet with me?"

"Bet?"

Chu Bo widened his eyes and gave a mocking smile. "I suppose so, though you aren't exactly qualified."

"Since it's a bet, what if I actually succeed in engraving the technique?" Sikong Jing asked, narrowing his eyes.

Stunned for a moment, Chu Bo burst into laughter. "Then I'll kneel in the street too and say three times that you are invincible under heaven. Is that enough?"

Because of Chu Bo's appearance, the other customers in the Tianwu Pavilion began to gather. When they heard that Sikong Jing intended to engrave a martial technique using the three lowest-grade Green Jade Plates, the entire room erupted in laughter.

Especially when they heard he wanted to win, the laughter became deafening. It was simply impossible.

Young Master Chu Bo was merely playing with a fool.

"That won't be necessary. I'm not so arrogant as to think I'm invincible under heaven. You only need to kneel and loudly proclaim three times: 'Su Yuexi is the number one beauty under heaven.'" Sikong Jing casually changed the terms of the bet.

Chu Bo didn't realize who Su Yuexi was. He waved his fan and said, "Fine, fine. Whatever you say."

Sikong Jing ignored him and focused his gaze on the Green Jade Plates.

Memories of high-tier Yellow-grade martial techniques flashed through his mind, but very few came to him. One had to remember that in his past, he had practiced techniques starting from the Heaven-grade.

After a long while, he recalled the first martial technique he had seized from bandits when he first joined the Great Shang army—his first high-tier Yellow-grade technique. Without a word, he began the engraving process...

"Look at how serious this fool is. He actually thinks he can succeed."

"Haha, he's just some obsessed simpleton. He hasn't been beaten by reality yet, so he thinks he can do anything."

"To put it bluntly, he's got a screw loose."

The ridicule from the onlookers grew louder; they all viewed this as a performance of Chu Bo mocking a fool.

They did not know that Sikong Jing had already entered a state of total absorption. The terrifying true qi of the *Emperor-Slaying Prison-Breaker Art* flickered at his fingertips as he pressed it into the Green Jade Plate, tracing lines one by one.

One breath, two breaths, three breaths...

*Hum!*

The lines at his fingertips were completed in one fluid motion. In just three breaths, the Green Jade Plate flashed with a jade-colored light!

A moment later, the light faded. On the originally unremarkable Green Jade Plate, an inexplicable martial aura had emerged. Sikong Jing rose quietly and said indifferently, "My apologies. I succeeded on the first try!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the ridicule vanished, leaving the entire Tianwu Pavilion in an indescribable silence.