Fangxian Heretical Path

Chapter 16 Forbidden Techniques and Spirit Stones
Fang Shu's thoughts froze, and he quickly stopped his wild fantasies.

He pondered that the so-called "fortune slip" seemed like nothing more than a carrot dangling in front of a donkey's head—visible but unattainable.

Then, his gaze fell on his second uncle's writing on the low table.

The paper was covered with dense scribbles, resembling graffiti.

Fang Shu stared at it for a long time before he finally understood the meaning from between the words "farming" and "mining".

From the perspective of cattle and horses to the perspective of servants, what they value most is the word "bloodsucking".

Seeing the look of realization on his face, as if he understood something, his second uncle, Yu Lao Er, sighed and leisurely wrote two couplets:

"Farming and mining are all about being livestock; how can they be better than vampires?"

Toiling and laboring, risking one's life for a living, ultimately only to be tasted by others.

After examining him for a moment, the second uncle looked smug, while Fang Shu looked self-deprecating.

He bowed to his second uncle, finally understanding his uncle's current predicament.

In this situation, let alone the fact that my second uncle has failed to break through the barrier and is physically injured, even if it were a young, strong, and hardworking lad, he would still be chewed up into pieces at the bottom of the market if he was not careful.

Rather than that, it seems better for my second uncle to lie down and wait for the right opportunity... At least this way, he won't be a burden to others or continue to be in debt.

"Second Uncle, I understand." Fang Shu took a deep breath.

He didn't make any grand promises to his second uncle, but simply looked at him with gratitude and enthusiasm:

"Then may I ask, Second Uncle, how can I enter the Taoist temple and learn the immortal skills?"

The second uncle became even more interested at this point, and he wrote a few words on the paper:

"Relationship. Money."

The two characters “符钱” were even circled by my second uncle.

Fang Shu examined it carefully and then understood.

Guling Town is a market town of immortals. Various spells, elixirs, and cultivation techniques that are rarely seen in the mortal world are not only found everywhere here, but there are also many opportunities to find them.

The dojos in the market are places where people can learn and teach.

Their numbers are not small, and those who open Taoist temples are all skilled immortals at the Qi Refining level, and some were once disciples of sects, each with their own unique immortal skills and unique spells.

Although the entry requirements for these martial arts schools vary, generally speaking, as long as one is under the age of eighteen and has enough money for the apprenticeship talisman, one can enter the school to study.

Among them, dojos with good reputations and long-standing experience may be further screened based on these two criteria, but sometimes the requirements may be relaxed.

Fang Shu's second uncle let him digest the information slowly, while he himself continued writing and drawing, calculating the minimum cost of becoming an apprentice and learning Taoism:

"Shaowei Dojo, three months for the first term, 3,600 coins per month, three months of training, totaling 10,800 coins."

Fang Shu stared at it, somewhat dazed.

A month of study at this "Burning Tail Taoist Temple" is equivalent to a year's worth of net income from selling blood, and this doesn't even include other expenses required for cultivation, and there's no guarantee that one can actually enter the Taoist path.

The second uncle frowned and counted on his fingers, plotting how to save this money for Fang Shu.

Upon seeing this, Fang Shu immediately pointed to the long tongue sword beside him.

But my second uncle quickly shook his head, picked up his pen, and wrote:

“The museum is not a safe place; one must have skills to rely on.”

Don't worry about tuition, and don't even think about selling your blood. I've been around this town for ten years, so I know a thing or two. You just need to wait two or three months... at most six months!

Just then, Fang Shusui smiled and untied his bag.

He revealed a tattered tiger skin and the fox fur artifact he had successfully crafted.

Since the Long Tongue Sword cannot be discarded, then the fox fur can be discarded instead.

Just as he was about to speak of this, his second uncle, with his sharp eyes, immediately recognized that the fox fur was a magical artifact, and his eyes shone brightly, his reaction even greater than Fang Shu had imagined.

The other person stroked the fox fur with one hand while looking down at the writing on the tiger skin, clicking his tongue in amazement.

After a long silence, the second uncle, his face flushed, patted Fang Shu's shoulder hard and wrote:
"Good child! You may enter the museum now."

Fang Shu was immediately surprised.

He inquired further and learned that magic spells and magical artifacts were not cheap in the market.

To acquire a typical first-stage calamity spell and artifact together would cost around ten thousand coins. Even if purchased separately, the spell or artifact would cost five or six thousand coins.

The inferior spells and magical artifacts are slightly cheaper, but buying them individually still costs around three thousand coins.

The Secret Sword Technique of the Mouth and Abdomen is a genuine Tribulation-level spell and artifact.

In other words, Fang Shu only needed to sell the original copy of the Mouth and Abdomen Secret Sword Technique and the Long Tongue Sword to cover his tuition fees!

This left Fang Shu speechless. He hadn't expected the magical artifacts and spells his second uncle had sent him to be of such immense value. He had thought the thousand taels of silver for the boat fare was the most expensive part!

Secretly, he felt an even deeper hatred for Cheng's act of switching the jar.

Coming to his senses, Fang Shu was still somewhat puzzled.

Although the Skin-Changing Technique is also a spell, it is different from the Secret Sword Technique.

This technique is not a definitive first-stage magic technique; it also depends on luck and materials. It requires years of nurturing or the use of medicinal herbs before a fox pelt can enter the ranks of first-stage magic artifacts.

The price of such magic is obviously heavily discounted. Even if you sell the tiger skin, the fox skin, and the original family recipe for the Secret Sword Technique, you might not be able to raise 10,000 coins.

Fortunately, my second uncle quickly explained the situation:
"This technique is considered minor in terms of its grade. However, it is a forbidden technique in the market and cannot be sold on the streets."

The reason is simple: this technique allows one to change their appearance and physical form, making it difficult to trace crimes committed in the marketplace. Therefore, it is a privately passed down technique among various families.

The second uncle also asked in detail whether Fang Shu had revealed this magic to outsiders after coming ashore.

Fang Shu thought for a moment and then quickly shook his head.

My second uncle breathed a sigh of relief, then his expression turned serious, and he gave me a lecture on the experience of "keeping your weapons hidden."

"This fox fur magic should not be revealed."

The effect of the spell is only one aspect. Secondly, if you possess multiple spells but only reveal one, others will be unaware of your abilities and unable to guard against you.

Fang Shu listened to these experiences with great interest and nodded in agreement.

Seeing that he was listening attentively, his second uncle became even more enthusiastic about writing, without feeling his hand getting tired at all.

Even when Fang Shu asked him to borrow his tongue again so he could speak freely, he hesitated for a moment before refusing again.

After talking for a while, the second uncle finally got to the point:
"Such magic is rare on the market, and once it is sold, it is easy to be targeted, so naturally the price is not low, and the price will rise with the tide."

In short, one kalpa can be sold for two kalpas, and something mediocre can be sold for one kalpa.

Fang Shu nodded, then his eyes flickered, as if he had thought of something, and he suddenly spoke:

"Second Uncle, do you have a way to sell it without leaving any hidden problems or letting anyone know?"

The second uncle dusted off his sleeves, calmly picked up a broken bowl, and seemed to want to take a sip, but the bowl was empty.

He could only cough lightly, his face clearly showing his smugness.

Immediately afterwards, my second uncle briefly explained his plans.

It turns out that he never intended to sell this item in the market; instead, he would sell it outside of the market.

As for the specific location, he hesitated for a moment and did not tell Fang Shu immediately. He simply told him to stay at home and rest for the next two days, and if he felt bored, he could go out for a stroll.

If you really run into trouble, you can ask Dou Sufu next door for advice.

Dou Sufu was none other than the wet nurse of Xi Shi, who was in her thirties and had a mature appearance.

………………

The uncle and nephew discussed and finalized their plan.

The next day at dawn, the second uncle calmly left home, carrying a tiger skin, the original text of the Secret Sword Technique, and a fox skin.

Fang Shu stayed in the paper mill and rarely went out. He only became acquainted with Dou Sufu, who went out early and returned late.

Day three.

My second uncle staggered back from outside, carrying a strange fragrance and the smell of burnt smoke. Judging from his appearance, it looked like he had spent three all-nighters gambling in a casino.

His appearance attracted the attention of many neighbors, but also drew a lot of ridicule:
"So, when your nephew came, you got him to sell his blood and then gamble it away?"

Fang Shu sat cross-legged in the paper house. He heard the discussions outside the door, but remained unmoved.

When my second uncle pushed open the door and closed it, a slight smile appeared on his face.

He reached into his sleeve and held a small object wrapped in yellow paper, about the size of a fist. He gestured for Fang Shu to take it and open it.

Fang Shu carefully unwrapped it. As soon as the yellow paper was opened, he felt a throbbing in his heart, and his throat involuntarily moved.

Wrapped in the paper was a square piece of ore, resembling mixed jade, with a color like clear water, and inside it seemed as if liquid was flowing.

Upon touching it, a slight coolness washed over him, making Fang Shu's heart flutter even more.

"This is……"

His eyes gleamed, and his body couldn't suppress the greedy desire in his gaze: "Spirit stones!?"

My second uncle gathered his sleeves, shook his robe, and nodded reservedly.

(End of this chapter)