Lin Tang spent the night at the True Martial Association's Jiangbei Branch.
「The next day.」
Several types of Centennial Elixirs, including the Earth Spirit Ginseng, were delivered to the branch from their headquarters. Lin Tang first set the Earth Spirit Ginseng aside for safekeeping before checking the other herbs.
Yup, they're all old enough. The varieties aren't particularly precious, but it's better than nothing.
Without delay, Lin Tang brewed them into a soup and drank it all in one gulp. Afterward, he found a secluded corner to ditate and cultivate his skills. His power slowly increased once more.
"In a word: incredible!"
Once the dicinal effects had been fully refined, Lin Tang, still craving more, returned to the main building to announce his departure.
THUD!
A figure scrambled toward him and began kowtowing frantically.
"Master Lin, a great man like you shouldn't concern yourself with the transgressions of a lesser man! Please, I beg you, forgive !"
It was Lu Liangfei, whose hand Lin Tang had crippled at Xie Changchun's estate.
"Didn't I already forgive you?" Lin Tang asked, baffled. "Otherwise, do you think you'd still be alive?"
"Well..." Lu Liangfei stamred, "what I an is, could you please... heal my hand?"
"That'll cost you extra," Lin Tang interrupted flatly.
"Yes, yes! I've prepared a separate paynt!" Lu Liangfei hastily retrieved a box and presented it, holding it high above his head. He had been terrified Lin Tang wouldn't even give him an opportunity. Any chance at all was a good thing.
Lin Tang took the box and glanced inside. It was a ginseng from Changbai Mountain.
"I asked around," Lu Liangfei said, trying to curry favor. "This ginseng is also over a hundred years old."
Lin Tang, however, was disdainful. "And you think I need every single dicinal herb that's over a century old?"
"Ah? You don't?" Lu Liangfei was dumbfounded.
"This is useless to . You'd be better off taking it back for your elders to build up their strength." Lin Tang tossed the box back to him.
Lu Liangfei was on the verge of tears. Seeing that Lin Tang was about to leave, he didn't give up. He explained that he had other treasures, just not dicinal herbs, and begged Lin Tang to take a look. Perhaps there might be sothing he'd find appealing.
Lin Tang couldn't be bothered to deal with him.
"Brother Lin, there you are! I was afraid you had left without saying goodbye!" Wei Zichu walked over, greeting him with a radiant smile. She also inford him that the parts of Villa No. 1 that Mo Zhongyuan had damaged were now fully repaired.
Then, she tilted her head and saw Lu Liangfei's pitiful state, his face a ss of tears and snot. She was a kind-hearted person, and even though she despised Lu Liangfei for offending Lin Tang over so woman, she couldn't help but feel a pang of pity. She suggested compassionately, "We're not busy anyway. Why don't we go take a look?"
"Fine," Lin Tang replied, indifferent.
"Thank you, Miss Zichu! Thank you, Master Lin! This way, please!" Lu Liangfei was overjoyed and hurriedly led the way.
When they arrived at his collection room, they saw several rows of shelves laden with antiques, jades, calligraphy and paintings, jewelry, and all sorts of other valuables. It was a dazzling collection. Lu Liangfei had two great passions: beautiful won and collecting. He was quite proud of his valuable collection, but when he saw that Lin Tang wasn't the least bit interested, his heart sank.
"Brother Lin, there are so swords and staves over here!" Wei Zichu pointed to a rack dedicated to cold weapons. She then picked up a sharp sword and gave it an elegant flourish. "Brother Lin, do you know any Swordsmanship?"
"I know a move or two..."
"Could you demonstrate a few? I think Swordsmanship is just so cool!"
Lin Tang took the sword and noted that it was forged using modern techniques. In truth, modern forging thods and materials were generally superior to those of ancient tis. A modern steel blade would have been considered a priceless treasure in ancient eras.
Still, Lin Tang looked at it with disdain. "This sword is too fragile," he said. "It would snap if I bent it. There's no point."
"Oh, alright then." Wei Zichu glanced at Lu Liangfei, her expression saying she was powerless to help.
Lu Liangfei sighed inwardly. Looks like it's hopeless.
"Hm?" Just as Lin Tang was about to leave, his gaze suddenly fixed on one of the antique shelves. Displayed in a sealed, transparent case was a thoroughly rusted ancient sword. It looked more like a withered tree branch; a single swing felt like it would shatter the blade into pieces.
Lin Tang took it out and stroked it gently, his fingers imdiately coming away with a layer of gri.
"Uh, Master Lin, do you like this antique sword? Are you planning to take it back as a display piece?" Lu Liangfei asked, astonished. I thought he wasn't interested in antiques.
"Of course not," Lin Tang said, his interest piqued like a child who had discovered a new toy. "I plan to use it as a weapon for self-defense."
"What!?" Both Lu Liangfei and Wei Zichu stared in stunned silence.
He rejected the brand-new weapons, calling them too fragile, yet he wants to use this broken-down relic as a weapon? Could it possibly be sturdier than modern blades? Impossible!
But who cared? Master Lin had finally found sothing he liked, so he should just give it to him. Lu Liangfei imdiately offered the case as well, advising that it was best to keep the ancient sword sealed inside to prevent further rusting. He was about to share more maintenance tips when Lin Tang simply tucked the rusty sword into his waistband, giving no thought to its preservation.
What a reckless waste of a historical artifact! The way he's treating it, that ancient sword won't last more than a few days. Lu Liangfei thought helplessly.
Still, accepting a gift ant incurring a debt. Since Lin Tang had taken the sword, he owed Lu Liangfei a favor. Quick as a flash, he repaired Lu Liangfei's damaged ridians. As his inner energy flowed without obstruction, Lu Liangfei felt like he had returned to his peak state.
"Master Lin, your dical skills are simply divine!" Overjoyed, he was in complete awe. He then promised to keep an eye out for Centennial Elixirs, vowing to do everything in his power to collect them for him.
"Your willingness is enough," Lin Tang said noncommittally.
He went to bid farewell to Huangfu Zhan, Wei Shanhe, and the others.
"Master Lin, rember to co to my banquet!" Wei Shanhe said with a hearty laugh.
Wei Zichu was a little reluctant to see him go. "Brother Lin, let drive you into the city."
"There's no need to trouble yourself." Lin Tang politely refused and departed.
After he was gone, Wei Shanhe remarked curiously, "Zichu, why was Master Lin wearing such a decrepit old sword at his waist?"
Wei Zichu shrugged. "I have no idea what Brother Lin is thinking..."
Lin Tang used his Qinggong, moving like a blur of wind. Once he reached a completely deserted stretch of wilderness, he took down the rusty sword and drew it from its sheath.
"Haha, this ti I've really hit the jackpot!" Lin Tang roared with laughter, his face alight with excitent. He channeled his True Qi, which flowed seamlessly into the blade.
Instantly, the sword erupted in a brilliant light. The surrounding weeds disintegrated into dust, and the ground beca crisscrossed with deep furrows, as if it had been plowed. The destructive power was astounding.
Normally, an ordinary sword made of common materials could not rge with True Qi. Forcing it would only cause the blade to shatter. This sword in Lin Tang's hand, however, was different. It was forged from a combination of materials, one of which was called Gengsha—an extrely precious immortal-grade spirit material capable of rging with True Qi. It could even be used to forge a flying sword! If he had a flying sword, Lin Tang's combat strength would increase severalfold, if not more.
But there's too little Gengsha in this sword, and I don't have any other spirit materials on hand. It's not enough to forge a flying sword... Forget it. I'll leave it in this blade for now; it serves as a good disguise. If I extracted it, it would be difficult to store, and if so expert recognized it, it would just be another headache.
Pleased with himself, he returned to Jiangbei City. Passersby stared at him. Seeing a man swaggering around with a tattered, rusty sword, they were all rather perplexed.
What's with that getup? Is he crazy?
Lin Tang couldn't care less what others thought. He considered the 265 million in his bank account and decided there was no reason to wait. Ti to shop.
He went straight to several major pharmacies, swiping his card and stuffing his purchases into a large snakeskin bag. This left the pharmacy staff baffled. The cheapest of these dicinal herbs cost hundreds of thousands per portion.
Is that really how he's going to treat them? How can he be so careless?
Passing a budget clothing store, he casually bought another bagful of affordable, durable clothes. Though he didn't mind spending money, he was a practical man. To him, expensive and stylish brand-na clothes served no real purpose.
And so he walked down the street, shouldering his bag, looking for all the world like a scrap collector.
I rember there's another pharmacy up ahead, and they have an herb I need...
Lin Tang arrived at a large shopping mall filled with all kinds of stores. One of the pharmacies inside was doing very good business. As soon as he walked in, several custors frowned and moved away from him.
This is a high-end mall, for crying out loud. What are the security guards getting paid for? How could they let soone from the dregs of society in here? Aren't they worried he'll steal sothing?
The pharmacy staff, however, didn't chase him away. They maintained their professionalism and greeted him warmly. When they learned he wanted to buy the "Nine Layers Tower," an herb worth hundreds of thousands, they didn't question his ability to pay. The clerk simply inford him that soone had already purchased it just half an hour ago.
"What a coincidence," Lin Tang remarked, slightly surprised but not disappointed. These herbs were rely nice-to-haves for him anyway. Since he had the money, he figured he might as well buy them. It didn't matter if soone else got to them first.
"Pfft—"
The surrounding custors, however, didn't believe he was a genuine buyer and began to speculate maliciously among themselves.
"I bet this guy was just lurking nearby. He saw soone else buy it, so now he's pretending he wanted it too, since he doesn't actually have to pay."
"Eh, why would he do that?"
"To show off, obviously. Pretending to be rich. Probably trying to pick up so naive young girl?"
"How pathetic!"
Lin Tang paid their comnts no mind. It was just as Hou Baoshu—the man he had killed—had said: Does a giant care about the buzzing of ants?
He shouldered his bag, headed downstairs, and planned to return to Villa No. 1 to rest.
"Lin Tang?! So there you are! You! You big liar, I've finally caught you! Sobody help! Get this conman to the authorities!"
Suddenly, Shang Yuenong rushed over, grabbed Lin Tang's sleeve, and began shouting excitedly. Her husband, Yao Qian, was with her, his face a mask of utter shock.
My God! This is Shen Youling's worthless husband? Has he really fallen so far that he's picking up trash to survive? That's just... pathetic, isn't it?
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