13: Trade Fair

The "Furious Bull Strength (Incomplete)" only contained the initial small portion. It detailed how to stimulate qi and blood through specific postures and breathing to increase physical strength. The style was quite fierce and direct, but it was severely fragmented.

The "Twelve Pieces of Brocade" and "a brief discussion on qi and blood transference," on the other hand, focused on sitting in meditation to regulate breathing and using intent to guide the circulation of qi and blood. They contained more theory than practical application.

"Just these?" Lin Mo frowned slightly.

"Guest, how could truly good items end up in a bookstore?" The Old Shopkeeper lowered his voice.

"Those martial arts halls and aristocratic families value true methods more than their own lives. These few books are already quite decent; at least the methods are orthodox. Practicing according to them for physical fitness certainly won't go wrong, and if you're lucky, you might actually grasp some of the principles."

He pointed at "a brief discussion on qi and blood transference" and the "Outline of Basic Breathing."

Lin Mo understood clearly.

He hadn't expected to buy divine martial arts manuals here anyway. Being able to obtain relatively systematic theoretical guidance, several different breathing techniques, and ideas for mental guidance was already a harvest.

These pamphlets could serve as references for the Death Warriors. Combined with their own practice, they might be able to summarize and refine a more effective introductory method.

"I'll take all of these. Also, Shopkeeper, have you heard of the Qinglan Martial Academy recruiting students, or which martial arts hall in the city teaches relatively solid methods with a threshold that isn't excessively high?"

Lin Mo asked while having Shi Liu pay the money.

The Old Shopkeeper spoke while wrapping the books: "Qinglan Martial Academy holds open entrance exams every spring and autumn. The requirements are strict; one needs local household registration or a prominent guarantor. One also has to pass multiple assessments of skeletal structure, Heart-Nature, and written exams. It's not a place ordinary people can enter."

"As for martial arts halls..." He paused for a moment. "The master of the Gale Martial Hall in the west of the city is a retired military officer. What he teaches are practical killing techniques for the battlefield. His style is tough, but entry requires signing a long-term contract with many restrictions."

"The master of the Pine Wave Martial Hall in the east of the city is said to have traveled far and wide in his early years and has broad knowledge. The content he teaches is more varied but focuses more on foundations and health preservation. The threshold is slightly lower, but the tuition is not cheap."

"There are also a few others, but they are smaller in scale and not well-known."

Lin Mo noted this down and left Bogu Hall after giving his thanks.

Returning to his lodgings, he distributed the purchased books to the Death Warriors involved in the cultivation trials, ordering them to study the texts and attempt to adjust their cultivation methods based on their own experiences.

He himself carefully read "a brief discussion on qi and blood transference" and the "Outline of Basic Breathing," cross-referencing them with his own sensations.

"Focus the mind on the Dantian, breathe deeply, slowly, and evenly, guiding qi and blood downward, then upward again, in a continuous cycle like a ring without end..."

The descriptions in the books shared commonalities with the path he had explored but were more systematic. In particular, they mentioned several key acupoint nodes for qi and blood circulation and a rudimentary outline of the meridian circulation paths.

Lin Mo attempted to Cultivate by guiding his sense of qi and blood according to the most basic Lesser Heavenly Circuit Mental Transference Method recorded in the books.

With his powerful mental concentration and keen perception of his body's internal state, he soon felt that wisp of qi sensation.

It began to flow slowly along the simple route described in the book, following his intent.

Though weak, the path was clear. Every time it passed through a location, the corresponding body part would transmit a faint sense of warmth or tingling, and his spirit would be refreshed.

"It works!" Lin Mo felt certain.

This proved his previous direction was correct and also showed that these basic theories indeed had value.

Although this was only the shallowest form of mental guidance and was still far from true Internal Energy circulation, it had pointed out the path and could initially mobilize and nourish that wisp of qi sensation.

He immediately combined this method of "guiding qi and blood sensation along a simple circuit" with the adjusted breathing rhythm and taught it to Death Warrior Si and the others, letting them try it once they developed a qi sensation.

A few days later, the effects became apparent.

Several Death Warriors reported that after Cultivating with the new method, the growth rate and stability of their qi sensation had significantly improved, and their bodies felt more transparent and powerful after practice.

Correspondingly, the warm current fed back to Lin Mo also became clearer and purer, causing the qi sensation in his Dantian to grow at a visible rate, gradually showing a trend of condensing into a thread.

At the same time, news also came from Wu and Lu.

Wu, relying on [Basic Forging Perception] and the funds provided by the Gang, successfully became an apprentice under a prestigious old blacksmith in the city.

He began systematically learning forging techniques, paying particular attention to knowledge regarding metal material processing and weapon maintenance.

Lu, relying on [Basic Herb Identification] and his steady, hardworking nature, found a job as a clerk in a reputable pharmacy, giving him the chance to encounter more medicinal ingredients and prescriptions.

Everything was progressing according to plan.

Lin Mo received summarized information from various locations every day, adjusting his strategies.

The picture of Qinglan City slowly unfolded before him; it was more than ten times more complex than Qingyuan Town.

In addition to the government, the martial academy, and the major martial arts halls, there were also merchant Alliances, escort bureau guilds, underground Gangs, and the looming presence of aristocratic family forces. The waters were very deep.

But he was not impatient. The daily stacking of physical attributes continued, and the number of Death Warriors was now close to twenty.

The cultivation feedback System had been initially established and verified as effective. Financial strength was steadily accumulating through channels in Qingyuan Town. The intelligence network was taking root.

What he needed now was a more stable identity and an entry point to access higher-level martial arts knowledge. A martial arts hall? The academy? Or... some other way?

Just as Lin Mo was weighing his next move, Er brought back unexpected news.

"Master, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion caravan is coming again. They are expected to enter the city tomorrow afternoon."

"Additionally, I have scouted some news. In three days, Jubao Tower in the south of the city will host a small private trade fair."

"The participants are mostly merchants and Martial Artists with some status in the city. It's said that special items related to martial arts occasionally appear."

"Such as rare medicinal herbs, damaged ancient weapons, and even... Incomplete Manuals suspected to record secret techniques. Entry requires a recommender or a guarantor of sufficient weight."

Lin Mo's eyes shifted slightly.

The return of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion might be an opportunity to continue building connections.

And this Jubao Tower trade fair sounded like an opportunity to obtain unconventional resources.

"Find out the specific location of the trade fair, the initiator, and possible recommendation channels. At the same time, keep a close eye on the Hundred Treasures Pavilion caravan, especially the movements of Steward Wu and Guard Zhao," Lin Mo ordered.

Three days later, at Jubao Tower in the south of the city.

This was a three-story wood-and-stone structure with flying eaves and bracket sets. Its appearance was ancient and simple, not particularly eye-catching.

However, within certain circles, its reputation was quite prominent.

The small trade fairs held irregularly every month had a high threshold, yet unexpected items always flowed out from them.

Lin Mo was currently sitting in a private room by the window on the second floor, with clear tea placed before him.

He was able to sit here not because of a recommendation from Steward Wu of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, but by using another item from among the small objects "produced" by the Death Warriors brought from Qingyuan Town.

An old jade ring with strange carvings and a weathered color. Through a broker contacted by the intelligence network team, it was exchanged for the qualification to enter this trade and this inconspicuous private room.