Chapter 86: Indestructible Golden Body Technique (Incomplete)
The atmosphere seemed to freeze abruptly.
Fortunately, the group behind them quickly provided support.
"Xiao Fan, forget it if he won't let you look. Who even wants to see it?" Gao Yang scoffed. "Everyone here knows this old fraud."
"Exactly! What's with the Tathagata Palm and Nine Yang Divine Skill? You're treating fictional techniques as real?"
"Forget buying them—we wouldn't take them even for free."
"Tch."
The old man sneered coldly at their remarks. "A bunch of blind fools."
"What?!"
"Old man, what did you just say? Say that again if you dare!"
The group froze momentarily before erupting in anger.
"What's the problem with repeating it?"
The old man retorted fearlessly, "Planning to hit me?"
"You!"
The crowd suddenly realized they were powerless against him. Even a single touch would send him sprawling to the ground, demanding at least a hundred yuan to get up.
"Fine then."
A sigh echoed through the tension.
Chen Fan materialized two hundred-yuan bills in his hand.
"???"
The old man's eyes bulged, saliva nearly dripping from his lips.
"The first dozen books looked impressive even if I couldn't understand them. I planned to buy them all after browsing the rest," Chen Fan said regretfully, glancing at the old man. "But forget it if you won't let me see them. I can't comprehend them anyway."
"Leaving."
He stood to depart.
"Wait, young man!"
The panicked old man grabbed Chen Fan's arm. "Who said you can't look? Look all you want!"
"Really?"
Chen Fan remained skeptical.
"Absolutely!"
The old man grinned ingratiatingly. "Just buy them all afterward. I'll give you 20% off."
"No need."
Chen Fan shook his head. "You've ruined my mood and insulted my father's friends. Let's forget it."
"I apologize! I apologize!"
The old man immediately bowed to the group before turning pleading eyes to Chen Fan. "Satisfied now, young man?"
"This guy's skin is thicker than city walls."
Gao Yang marveled, awestruck.
"How else could he scam people?"
"True."
Despite the mocking chorus, the old man maintained his radiant smile.
No shame in earning money.
He could curse them later after securing the cash.
"Fine."
Chen Fan hesitated before adding, "Remember—you offered this. I didn't force you."
"Of course! Look freely!"
The old man urged impatiently, eyes locked on the two hundred yuan disappearing into Chen Fan's pocket.
Chen Fan picked up the "Great Strength Diamond Palm" manual, meticulously flipping through each page. His skill interface remained unchanged.
Another fake.
He sighed internally, abandoning hope for the remaining book.
At that moment, a strange glint flashed through the old man's eyes before vanishing instantly.
"Hmm?"
After finishing the first page, Chen Fan checked his skill interface and froze:
[Indestructible Golden Body Technique (Incomplete): Novice (0%)]
[Collection Progress: 3%]
[Completion Requirements: Thirteen Guardians Horizontal Training Mastery, Golden Bell Cover Ninth Layer]
[Conditions Unmet - Cannot Complete]
The Indestructible Golden Body Technique... was real?
He felt like someone who'd blindly bought a lottery ticket at a roadside stall only to discover a five-million-yuan jackpot.
The collection progress barely reached 3%. Worse, the completion requirements were absurdly demanding—not only requiring acquisition of two advanced martial arts, but their cultivation to peak levels.
Where could he even find these techniques?
As he pondered, his hands kept moving. The progress reached 10% halfway through.
He instinctively wanted to continue reading, then reconsidered—even completing the book might only yield 20% progress. He'd still need those two martial arts regardless.
"Finished?"
The old man asked with sycophantic cheer.
Chen Fan shook his head. "Still incomprehensible."
"Naturally!"
The old man chuckled. "These are profound techniques requiring dedicated home study."
Setting down the manual, Chen Fan asked seriously, "Old man, are these martial arts real?"
"Of course!"
The old man glared as if insulted.
"Then why sell them instead of practicing them yourself?"
By all logic, these should be fakes sold by a scammer. Yet Chen Fan knew better—the Indestructible Golden Body Technique's description promised a golden, invincible form impervious to damage and poison. Other genuine techniques like Shadowless Quick Blade and Water Surface Walking were present too. How could someone possessing such treasures be a street peddler?
The old man paused, a flicker of sorrow crossing his features. "You saw through my disguise?"
"What?!"
Chen Fan's shock mingled with excitement.
"I'm actually a reclusive martial arts master," the old man sighed dramatically. "The world's sudden calamities forced me from seclusion. I await a destined successor to wield these peerless techniques!"
He gestured grandly. "You! With your exceptional bone structure and talent for cosmic justice! These manuals originally cost 160 yuan, but for you—100 yuan!"
Chen Guodong's group exchanged bewildered glances. What nonsense was this?
Chen Fan internally rolled his eyes—extracting truth from this slippery old fox was impossible.
"Taking them all isn't unreasonable," he countered, "but 100's too steep. Fifty maximum."
"What?!"
"Xiao Fan?!"
Voices erupted around them.
"Chen Fan, have you gone mad?" Gu Ze blurted. "Can't you see he's scamming you?"
Fifty yuan was already excessive—five would've been generous!
(Chapter End)
