50: First meeting with the tattooed man

Chapter 50: First Meeting with Tattoo Bro

Wu Xian was stunned, “Glorious Evolution?”

“Exactly,” Zhang Mazi’s eyes lit up, “That phrase really resonated with our leader and has now become our philosophy and slogan.”

“…” Wu Xian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

It was just a simple slogan, were they really that invested in it?

No, their strong approval of this slogan already said a lot.

“Don’t tell me you’re actually trying to achieve some kind of life evolution?” Wu Xian asked cautiously.

Zhang Mazi was noncommittal, flexing the muscles on his arm at Wu Xian, “Isn’t what we’re doing a great evolution?”

Wu Xian was momentarily speechless.

Sure enough, everyone involved in human modification was a “lunatic.”

“From my observations, your powerful Physical Body strength comes from spiritual substances, right?” Wu Xian probed, seizing the opportunity.

“Of course,” Zhang Mazi nodded, “Just as the power of a scroll comes from spiritual pigments, why can’t we humans directly obtain power through spiritual substances?”

“That makes sense, but is it really okay to put spiritual substances into the human body?”

“Of course there will be problems, but it’s all worth it.”

A subordinate beside him chimed in, “Exactly, at least it’s better than wasting this spiritual power and only being able to live in a garbage dump.”

“What a Scroll Master can do, we can do too!”

“…”

Wu Xian’s expression was stiff, but he could understand.

As they said, people at the bottom had no future, even if they had the ability to Cultivate spiritual energy.

Take himself for example; if he hadn't undergone Transmigration, bringing memories from his previous life, he might now be struggling in a garbage dump like Zhang Mazi and Zhao He.

“Wouldn’t it be better to save up some money and buy a scroll?” Wu Xian asked, puzzled.

“A scroll?” Zhang Mazi scoffed, “You might not believe it, but I’m still carrying two scroll loans, though thankfully they’re almost paid off now.”

“Ah?” Wu Xian was surprised, “Then why don’t I see you using a scroll?”

“It broke, of course.”

Zhang Mazi spread his hands and smiled, seemingly having come to terms with it.

Wu Xian was momentarily speechless.

At this moment, he realized a crucial issue: scrolls could break, making them consumables for Spirit Masters.

Good scrolls were fine, but those second and third-rate scrolls weren’t as durable.

For example, wasn’t Zhao He’s [Demon Slayer Blade] shattered by Zhang Mazi?

Especially when risking their lives in a copy, a broken scroll was a minor issue; just surviving was a good outcome.

From a certain perspective, common people saving money to buy a scroll was more like an act of “entrepreneurship.”

And the outcome of entrepreneurship, presumably, needed no further explanation.

If you add the premise of a loan, it’s terrifying, absolutely terrifying!

Of course, you could choose not to “start a business” and just be an ordinary laborer, but what if your little laborer Awakened a talent for spiritual energy Cultivation?

Or what if a dimensional leak suddenly occurred?

The more Wu Xian thought about it, the more alarmed he became.

Unbeknownst to him, they had already arrived at the area where the North District and the Shantytown met, a place known as Shudao District.

It was a place where people from the Shantytown usually hung out; it had everything one could want, and the crime rate was extremely high.

In a word: the goods might not be great, but the prices were definitely cheap.

The air was filled with a mixture of various foul odors, and as a few pairs of long legs passed by, he could even smell a pungent, cheap perfume.

Wu Xian felt uncomfortable all over and frowned.

He didn’t like this kind of place in his previous life, and naturally, he wasn’t interested in it in this life either.

“Yo~ Virgin!” A grinning skinny man saw Wu Xian, his eyes gleaming, “Wanna have some fun, little bro? A three-star half-succubus, guaranteed to make you unable to stop.”

Zhang Mazi frowned and blocked the man, “Get lost, we’re on important business.”

“Oh, it’s Mazi Bro’s people,” the skinny man smirked playfully, “With our relationship, you gotta leave this good deal for me, right?”

Zhang Mazi impatiently waved his hand and led Wu Xian and the others away.

But Wu Xian’s interest was strongly piqued.

Holy cow, there really were succubus scrolls!

“Succubus scrolls?” Wu Xian asked curiously.

“What, you don’t know?” Zhang Mazi’s expression was strange.

What a joke, how could a Young Master from a rich family not have played with a succubus scroll?

Wu Xian shook his head, “This is my first time in a place like this.”

“No wonder,” Zhang Mazi chuckled, “Succubus scrolls rely on extracting men’s vital Qi to improve, especially a virgin like you; you’re a great tonic for a succubus.”

“Oh, oh.”

Wu Xian was impressed without fully understanding.

But to be honest, he really wanted to see what a succubus scroll looked like.

“Here we are,” Zhang Mazi stopped, “Behave yourself once we go inside.”

Wu Xian looked at the small storefront in front of him in surprise; it was actually a small clinic.

Inside, he could see a few patients being treated, as well as a bald young man, about thirty years old, with various dark, re-tattooed marks all over his body.

“Hello, I am Wu Xian.”

Although he was mentally prepared, he was still startled by the man’s appearance.

Looking at the layers of tattoo marks on his body, was he really involved in “human scroll art”?

The bald Tattoo Bro grinned at him, “Lin Yang, please come in.”

Following Lin Yang to the back room of the clinic, he sat down.

“I heard Your Excellency is very interested in our [Glorious Evolution]?” Tattoo Bro Lin Yang scrutinized Wu Xian, “Tsk tsk, it’s rare to meet someone who can appreciate my art.”

“Uh, no need for evolution,” Wu Xian also curiously examined Tattoo Bro, “I’m just purely curious.”

Hearing this, Tattoo Bro Lin Yang was visibly taken aback.

“Are you implanting spiritual pigments into the human body through tattooing?” Wu Xian was full of questions, “How do you do it? Does this really not kill people?”

“So, the police from the upper society have already noticed us?”

Tattoo Bro’s face darkened, and his voice became cold.

“You’ve misunderstood, big brother, I’m not a police officer,” Wu Xian quickly explained, “I’m just curious about your Heaven-Defying methods; it’s hard to imagine how you perfectly integrate spiritual substances into the human body.”

Lin Yang was skeptical, “What, Your Excellency also understands spiritual substances?”

“Somewhat.”

“A Scroll Master?”

Lin Yang’s expression was strange.

“You could say that, I just got my trainee certificate.”

Wu Xian didn’t hide anything; since they were going to communicate and learn, they naturally had to be open and honest.

“Really?!” Lin Yang looked suspicious, “A noble Scroll Master is actually interested in my little trick? Shouldn’t you be scoffing at it?”

“Why not?” Wu Xian asked, puzzled, “I think Your Excellency’s craft is amazing!”

Lin Yang was still suspicious, “Show me your certificate.”

Wu Xian calmly showed his trainee certificate, and Lin Yang’s eyes brightened, stepping forward to examine it closely.

“You’re a top student from an art studio, aren’t you?” Lin Yang sighed regretfully, “It’s a pity I couldn’t get in back then, or I wouldn’t have fallen to this point.”

“I’m not from an art studio; you could say I’m a self-taught scroll student,” Wu Xian explained with a light chuckle.

“A self-taught scroll student?” Lin Yang rolled his eyes and waved his hand dismissively, “Don’t joke around~ I’ve been self-studying scrolls for so many years, it’s completely impossible; I’ve never seen anyone get a certificate by self-study.”

“Maybe I’m just more talented,” Wu Xian teased.

“You really got it by self-study?” Lin Yang was dumbfounded.

Wu Xian laughed, “You might not believe it, but I couldn’t even afford the application fee for an art studio back then, so I didn’t even qualify to take the exam.”

“Could it be… I still have hope?”

Lin Yang’s eyes sparkled, and he muttered, looking like he had rekindled his dreams and hope.

Then, he stepped forward and firmly grasped Wu Xian’s hand, his gaze sincere.

“Little bro~ Please guide me! I won’t let you guide me for free; I’ll pay!”