"Hey Wei," I called out, catching up to him after morning practice. "Quick question about those fancy techniques of yours..."
Wei Lin's eyes lit up with the kind of enthusiasm usually reserved for spiritual treasure discoveries. "Finally ready to invest in premium martial arts? I have an excellent selection of-"
"Slow down," I interrupted before he could launch into what was definitely a prepared sales pitch. "I'm working with a budget here. Like, a very small budget. Think 'starving outer disciple' level of resources."
"Ah." He nodded sagely. "The tragic poor protagonist approach. Very classical. Though usually they have so heaven-defying talent to make up for their lack of resources."
I glanced at my decidedly non-heaven-defying cultivation level. "Let's focus on what I can afford instead of what talents I don't have."
Wei Lin led to his quarters, which looked like a spiritual technique rchant had exploded inside. Scrolls covered every surface, technique manuals were stacked in precarious towers, and what looked suspiciously like a price catalog lay open on his desk.
"Welco to Wei's Premium Martial Arts Emporium!" He gestured grandly. "Where cultivation dreams co true, for the right price. Now, what's your style preference? We have the 'Graceful Immortal' line for those seeking elegance, the 'Thunder Warrior' series for more aggressive practitioners..."
"I need sothing fast," I said, examining a scroll labeled 'Cloud Step Technique (Budget Edition)'. "Sothing that lets hit hard and get out before I get hit back. Preferably without bankrupting ."
"Ah, the swift striker archetype! Very popular among disciples who've recently experienced trauma via combat evaluation." He started pulling scrolls from various piles. "Though I should warn you, the really good speed techniques tend to be..."
"Expensive?" I guessed.
"Investnt opportunities!" he corrected cheerfully. "But for you, my friend who survived Zhou's special attention, I might be willing to offer a discount."
What followed was the most aggressive martial arts sales pitch I've ever experienced. Wei Lin had techniques for everything - defensive arts that supposedly made you untouchable, attack patterns that promised devastation, even specialized techniques for specific weather conditions.
"This one," he explained, holding up an ornate scroll, "is the 'Sumr Rain Sword Dance.' Perfect for humid days when you want to look dramatic while fighting."
"I'm looking for effectiveness, not dramatization," I reminded him. "Also, I don't use a sword."
"That's what makes it special! It can be adapted to any weapon! Though the dramatic effect is reduced by 47% without proper sword luminescence..."
After an hour of increasingly elaborate demonstrations (how did he fit all these techniques in one room?), we finally got down to serious negotiation.
"The Phantom Strike technique," Wei Lin said, holding up a surprisingly plain scroll. "Fast, direct, minimal energy requirent. Perfect for disciples who want to hit things very hard very quickly and then be sowhere else."
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"That... actually sounds useful." I examined the scroll. The technique diagrams were clear and practical, without the usual flowery cultivation manuscript aesthetics. It seed to be sothing that would prove useful in a world like the Two Suns where I don't have access to qi. "What's the catch?"
"Well..." He hesitated. "It's not very... prestigious. No flowing robes, no dramatic energy manifestations. Just pure speed and power. Most disciples prefer sothing more visually impressive."
"I prefer not getting hit," I countered. "How much?"
The price negotiation that followed would have made rchant sect elders proud. Wei Lin started at "reasonable investnt in your future," worked his way down through "friendly discount" and "tragic protagonist special," and finally arrived at "slightly above what I can afford."
"Look," I said after another round of haggling, "I can offer basic spirit stones, three contribution points, and..." I dug through my pockets. "Half a spiritual energy bar."
"Is that the premium blend from the sect store?"
"No, it's the basic outer disciple ration kind."
"Ah." He looked pained. "You really are going for the impoverished protagonist angle."
But finally, after much dramatic sighing and references to friendship transcending re profit, we struck a deal. The Phantom Strike technique was mine, along with Wei Lin's solemn promise to never reveal how little I'd paid for it.
"Just rember when you beco a powerful inner disciple," he said as he handed over the scroll. "Preferably rember with lots of spirit stones."
Learning the technique proved to be... interesting. The training ground I'd found was secluded enough to avoid embarrassnt, but that didn't make the initial attempts any less painful.
The first few tries sent sprawling in various undignified positions. Phantom Strike worked by concentrating spiritual energy into brief, explosive bursts of speed and power. The key was timing - gathering power, releasing it in a precise sequence, and riding the energy wave through the strike.
Hours passed as I practiced the movents over and over. The technique wasn't fancy, but it was starting to feel... right. Like sothing that fit my style, or at least my style of trying not to die.
Each successful execution seed to refine my energy channels slightly, making the next attempt smoother. It wasn't dramatic cultivation breakthrough territory, but it was progress. I could feel my body adapting to the high-speed movents, muscles and ridians strengthening with each repetition.
The sun was setting by the ti I finally called it quits. My muscles ached, my spiritual energy was nearly depleted, and I'd probably created several new bruise collections. But when I checked my status...
Soul Essence: 290/300
Spiritual Essence: 246/246
Physical Essence: 219/219
My physical essence had increased by 4 points. The repeated stress of high-speed movent and energy compression was forcing my body to adapt and grow stronger. Sure, my technique execution was still rough around the edges, but it was definitely an improvent over the sect's basic arts.
As I headed back to my quarters, scroll safely stored away, I couldn't help but feel satisfied. Sure, I wasn't pulling off heaven-shaking techniques like certain mysterious young masters, but I had sothing that worked for . Sothing fast, practical, and most importantly, sothing that might actually keep alive in the next combat evaluation and maybe even let last longer in a strange world.
The next morning's practice session was going to hurt, but that was future 's problem. Current was just happy to have a technique that didn't involve looking dramatic while getting beaten up.
Though I did kind of wish it ca with flowing robes. Maybe Wei Lin had a discount on those too...
But that could wait. One step at a ti, starting with not hitting myself while using Phantom Strike. The flowing robes could wait until I actually managed to look cool while moving fast.
Besides, torn and dirty robes from training accidents probably counted as "cultivator chic" anyway. At least, that's what I kept telling myself as I limped back to my quarters, already planning tomorrow's practice session.
Who needed heaven-defying talent when you had determination and a bargain-bin technique? Though maybe I should see if Wei Lin had any discount healing arts for sale too... just in case.
Status Update:
New Technique: Acquired (Bargain Price)
Training Progress: Painful but Promising
Physical Essence: Slightly Less Pathetic
Fashion Sense: Still Pending
Probability of Survival in Next Combat Evaluation: Marginally Improved
But that was definitely a problem for tomorrow's . Current needed sleep, preferably before these muscles decided to stage a full rebellion.
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