Chapter 85: Shadowless Quick Blade, Water-Treading Lightness Skill
"Ah, really?"
Chen Fan hurriedly apologized with sincere tone, "Old sir, I'm truly sorry. I accidentally read too far ahead."
"No harm done."
The old man waved his hand magnanimously. "Young man, both this Nine Yang Divine Skill and the previous Tathagata Palm are peerless martial arts. If you buy them together, I'll give you a discount - nine yuan per manual. How about it?"
"But these are still too profound. Maybe I should look at something easier?" Chen Fan blinked.
He began questioning reality.
Were both manuals fake? Or had he simply not read enough to meet the system's recognition threshold?
Regardless, he decided to scan all dozen manuals first. If nothing triggered the system, he'd spend ten yuan to verify one - consider it trial and error.
"Very well."
The old man hesitated before nodding. Compared to previous customers who asked endless questions without buying, this honest-faced youth was preferable.
Newly arrived members of the Chen Clan stared in confusion as Chen Fan repeatedly picked up and replaced manuals.
"Guodong, what's Xiaofan doing?"
"Picking martial arts manuals? But that old man only sells fakes!"
"He shouldn't get scammed."
Chen Guodong chuckled helplessly. "He must have his reasons. Let's observe."
The group exchanged glances, acknowledging their helplessness.
Meanwhile, the old man stopped speaking. Initially, he'd enthusiastically explain each manual Chen Fan picked up, but now the youth kept abandoning them mid-read.
"Is this brat causing trouble on purpose?" The old man's brow furrowed.
Chen Fan's heartbeat suddenly spiked.
Success!
A genuine manual!
[Shadowless Quick Blade (Incomplete): Novice (0%)]
[Collection Progress: 36%]
[Completion Requirements: Body Tempering Tier 3, Basic Blade Technique LV5]
[Conditions Unmet]
This blade art moved faster than the eye could follow - hence its name. Perfectly, Chen Fan had recently acquired a dagger that could serve as either blade or short sword.
Now even disarmed of his gun, he could defend himself in close quarters.
Chen Fan suppressed his excitement. The old man definitely knew which manuals contained real techniques. If noticed, his free browsing would end.
"Did he recognize the real manual?"
Unbeknownst to Chen Fan, the old man sensed something amiss.
Right on cue, Chen Fan replaced the manual and picked up another.
"Hey kid, are you buying or not?"
The old man's patience wore thin as half the manuals were inspected without purchase intent.
"Of course I'll buy."
"Then why no decision after so many?"
"I found some interesting ones, but want to check if there's better."
The old man's gaze flickered to a particular manual. Of course there were better ones, but even if found, they'd be incomplete. For ten yuan, you get what you pay for.
Chen Fan grabbed another manual titled [Water-Treading Lightness Skill] - common name, but potentially valuable if genuine.
[Water-Treading (Incomplete): Novice (0%)]
[Collection Progress: 10%]
[Requirements: Body Tempering Tier 2, Basic Movement Technique LV3]
[Conditions Unmet]
"Basic Movement Technique?" Chen Fan wondered. He knew Basic Footwork, but this was new.
No matter. He flipped pages, watching progress climb to 30% before stopping mid-manual. Even completing it wouldn't reach 100% - the old fox!
After dismissing several fakes, only two remained: [Indestructible Golden Body] and [Vajra Palm].
Chen Fan felt satisfied already with two free techniques, but human greed is endless. These last two sounded impressive.
"Enough already!"
The old man blocked him, smile gone. "You've seen enough! Those last two won't change anything."
"Look at grumpy gramps!" Gao Yang chuckled.
The always-smiling old man showing anger? Unprecedented.
"Understandable."
"Quite normal." Liu Yong and others nodded. If they were the old man, they'd have snapped earlier.
Chen Fan locked eyes with the old man, sensing something.
Real techniques remaining? Or mere bluff?
"Old sir, just two left. Let me check, then I'll buy."
"Buy first."
"Check first."
"No check without buy."
"No?"
"No."
The old man stood firm, convinced this was some rival's prank. No true expert would miss the two real manuals earlier!
Special thanks to reader 20170417070622025 for the 100 Qidian coin tip!!!
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(End of Chapter)
