Crow Immortal
Chapter 23: Astonishing Secret Technique

Seeing the crimson-robed girl joking like this, "Zhu Lao San" scratched his head sheepishly. However, noticing that Han Yu didn't laugh at him, he puffed out his chest again, proudly displaying his hairy, pudgy torso - quite an eyesore.

"Indeed, I do possess an astonishing secret technique that no one has ever acquired before."

"I would never sell it unless to a destined individual."

Han Yu found this strange: What kind of "astonishing secret technique" could this fat man have among his pile of junk?

But then the fat man solemnly took out an ancient jade slip and extended it toward Han Yu.

"Fellow cultivator, care to give it a try?"

Han Yu didn't reach out. Instead, he glanced at the crimson-robed girl who was suppressing her laughter.

Seeing his caution, the girl laughed: "Go on, take it! It's quite interesting!"

Han Yu still didn't extend his hand. Having been bullied before, he was most wary of trusting strangers - jokes aside, what if these two suddenly turned hostile? After all, they knew each other while he was a stranger.

"You're really quite cautious. Fine, I'll demonstrate it for you."

Having the white spirit dog guard her basket of moonlight grass, she stepped out from behind her stall and approached Zhu Lao San, grasping the jade slip.

Zhu Lao San looked helpless: "Zhong Yue, you..."

"Just for fun! Quickly demonstrate it for this fellow cultivator," said the crimson-robed girl Zhong Yue with a smile.

With resignation, Zhu Lao San weakly said: "Ah, fellow cultivator, you are destined for this secret technique!"

As he spoke, the ancient jade slip suddenly emitted a white glow.

Zhong Yue nodded approvingly: "Not bad, it really does look like destiny. How many spirit stones for this technique?"

"Twenty spirit stones, not a single less! This is a supreme secret technique passed down from a Golden Core realm master's cave dwelling—"

At this point, even Zhu Lao San couldn't keep a straight face. He dispersed the faint white glow he'd secretly conjured with a minor spell to create the illusion of "destiny": "Zhong Yue, satisfied? At least I didn't lie - this truly came from a Golden Core master's cave dwelling. Whoever buys it definitely won't be cheated!"

Zhong Yue nodded with a satisfied smile: "Alright, alright!"

Then she turned to Han Yu with a laugh: "See now? This isn't a scam - you're definitely 'destined' for this technique!"

Han Yu understood - this Zhu Lao San was full of tricks, though none of his goods were legitimate.

"Is this really a secret technique?"

He asked one question.

Zhu Lao San immediately saw a business opportunity: "Of course it's a secret technique, and an extremely useful one at that!"

"What kind exactly? Offensive?"

Zhu Lao San shook his head.

"Defensive?"

Another head shake.

"Elemental control?"

Still shaking his head.

Han Yu was speechless - all that grand talk for yet another piece of junk.

"Well then, fellow cultivator, I'll leave you to your business..."

"Wait, fellow cultivator, wait! This technique can smooth your cultivation path, turning you into a cultivation genius!" Zhu Lao San hastily called out. "Why not consider it? For the right person, I'm not rigid about the price - even ten or eight spirit stones could be negotiated!"

Zhong Yue giggled from the side: "More like you can't sell it at all, right?"

Zhu Lao San awkwardly scratched his hairy chest: "Alright, alright, stop interrupting. I need to discuss business with this fellow cultivator—"

But Han Yu couldn't resist asking: "May I ask, fellow cultivator, what do you mean by 'turning into a cultivation genius'?"

"Ahem, it means transforming cultivation mediocrity into genius..." Zhu Lao San looked guilty. "You'll understand after buying it."

Seeing his evasiveness, Han Yu knew there was probably still something fishy.

But given his current cultivation level and assets, he couldn't afford any genuinely useful techniques today anyway. He hadn't even had chances to touch and replicate items from other stalls.

Might as well see what this so-called genius-making technique was about.

He extended his hand: "Let's see if I'm destined for your technique, fellow cultivator."

Zhong Yue slightly parted her cherry lips in surprise: "Hmm?"

Is this guy stupid? There's nothing to see! As long as you have spirit stones, everything Zhu Lao San has is destined for you - no hesitation needed!

"Ah?"

Zhu Lao San hadn't expected this turn of events either. He immediately pressed half the jade slip into Han Yu's right hand and activated his spell: "Ah, fellow cultivator, extraordinary, truly extraordinary! This spiritual light bursting from your hand shows remarkable destiny with my jade slip! You'll surely dominate the Southern Sky Region of the cultivation world and gain fame across the Five Great Sects!"

Han Yu's right hand grew warm, and his chest felt slightly heavier - the jade slip had been successfully replicated.

Releasing the slip, he saw Zhu Lao San still showering him with praise to make the sale, while Zhong Yue looked at him like he was some rare fool, unable to understand his interest in this obvious scam.

Han Yu smiled: "Fellow cultivator, your words are most persuasive. Unfortunately, I don't have any spirit stones on me..."

Zhu Lao San's flattery cut off abruptly: "Uh... maybe next time then? I'll keep it for you?"

"Next time I probably still won't have spirit stones."

Zhu Lao San's beaming face instantly turned cold: "Then why didn't you say so earlier?"

"Move along, don't block my business!"

Having enjoyed the show, Zhong Yue burst into giggles: "You're quite an interesting one!"

As Zhu Lao San resumed hawking his wares, Han Yu felt it best not to linger and moved to the reed mat area to see what the mortals were selling.

Ordinary rice, common livestock and game, foodstuffs, sewn garments, even people selling their children or themselves into servitude.

While browsing, a straw-hatted figure hurried over with head lowered. Recognizing Old Li, Han Yu was about to greet him when the old man grabbed his arm with a withered hand, whispering urgently: "Let's go!"

His hurried steps were slightly unsteady, as if fleeing some ferocious beast or recovering from an intense battle.

What had Old Li been up to?

Curious, Han Yu asked quietly after leaving Green Sprout Market: "Old Li, you just now—"

"Don't ask what you shouldn't."

Old Li cut him off bluntly, leading the way in silence.

Han Yu glanced at the woods outside the market, sensing the two crows - one large, one small - that he'd nurtured with Spirit Nurturing waiting quietly to receive him, which eased his mind somewhat.

Returning to the spirit fields, Old Li's throat worked visibly as he rushed into his stone hut without another word to Han Yu.

Han Yu paused briefly before returning to his own hut.

Old Li's vital energy was depleted... He had secrets in the market.

But that was Old Li's business, just as Han Yu had his own.