Chapter 162: It’s All About Favors

Qin San’Er didn’t understand, and Lin Jian understood even less. Lin Jian simply didn’t want to get to the bottom of it; he wasn’t that curious.

So he changed the subject, "If I also have a Yellow Grade Secret Technique, can I become an Ancient Martial Cultivator by following its cultivation method?"

"Of course... not!" Qin San’Er said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "If the threshold for Ancient Martial Arts were that low, it wouldn’t have declined."

"Why not?" Lin Jian pressed.

"Because of resources!" Qin San’Er looked at Lin Jian. "I risked coming here to trade with you just for the elixir pills in Young Master Chu’s hands, so you can imagine how important resources are!

"And even this might not be enough for me to clear my meridians.

"So, resources come first. Without them, even if you have a Heavenly Grade Secret Skill, it’s useless."

"Resources..." Lin Jian thought for a moment. "You mean things like jade stones with Spiritual Qi?"

"Yes. Jade stones with Spiritual Qi, medicinal herbs containing Spiritual Qi, Elixir Pills refined from those herbs, as well as other jewelry or precious plants with Spiritual Qi, and so on.

"These resources are incredibly scarce."

Hearing Qin San’Er’s words, Lin Jian nodded. "I see. Then where does the Qin Family get the resources for cultivation?"

Qin San’Er thought about it. "First of all, you have to understand that an Ancient Martial Cultivator’s resources must be supported by massive financial wealth.

"Whether it’s the Qin Family, Master Jin Er, or even Xu Fengbin, they all share one thing in common—they are in business and they have money.

"Because with money, you can exchange it for resources, buy exorbitantly priced herbs of good age, and purchase jade stones with Spiritual Qi.

"No money means no resources.

"Our Qin Family also has people in business. For example, my second uncle, several of my aunts, my granduncles, and my cousins—they are all doing business. That way, there is a steady stream of funds to buy rare cultivation resources from all over the world."

"Understood." Lin Jian nodded. Just as Xu Fengbin had said, without money, you shouldn’t even think about cultivating, let alone becoming a Qi Refiner or an Ancient Martial Cultivator.

"You can keep the Pill Stone Technique. Consider it your first reward for joining me!"

"What?" Hearing Lin Jian’s words, Qin San’Er shot up to his feet.

He was giving him the Mystic-grade Pill Stone Technique?

One had to know that if this were sold in the Ancient Martial Circle, it wouldn’t go for less than two billion.

Yet now, Lin Jian was just giving it to him!

"This... I can’t accept this. I can’t take it." Recovering from his shock, Qin San’Er hurriedly shoved the handkerchief back to Lin Jian.

This thing was too heavy a burden and far too precious; he couldn’t afford to take it. He even worried that if others found out, they would chop off his hands and his head to steal this Pill Stone Technique.

So, although this item was excellent, it was also a death warrant!

Lin Jian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but he thought for a moment and said, "Then copy it down and memorize it. There will always be a time when you’ll need it in the future."

"Right, right, right. That works. I’ll copy it and memorize it." Qin San’Er no longer refused, as this was the safest option.

With excitement and agitation, he used the hotel’s pen and paper to copy the contents of the handkerchief.

Once he finished copying, Lin Jian asked, "How confident are you in clearing your meridians? Do you need me to call Xu Fengbin over to help you?"

"Ah? This... you... he would come?" Qin San’Er couldn’t believe it. If he had Xu Fengbin guiding him from the side, that would naturally be great. But that was too far-fetched. Why would a bigshot like Xu Fengbin bother to guide him?

"Looks like it would be useful. I’ll call and ask him," Lin Jian said. Then, while dialing the number, he asked, "By the way, I still don’t have a Yellow Grade Secret Technique for beginners. Do you have one?"

"Of course I do. What the Qin Family cultivates is Yellow Grade. If you want to learn it, I’ll write a copy for you."

"Won’t that put you in a difficult position?" Lin Jian asked with a smile.

"What’s so difficult about it?" Qin San’Er waved his hand dismissively. "You gave me your Profound Grade technique, so what’s a Yellow Grade one in return? Besides, I don’t have any sense of belonging to the Qin Family. Betraying them actually makes me a little excited."

"Bah!" Lin Jian spat playfully, and then the two of them burst into laughter.

The call went through and was answered after three rings.

"You finally remembered to call me? But aren’t you a bit too early? Good thing I wake up early every day. Anyone else would’ve cursed you out!" Xu Fengbin joked with Lin Jian over the phone.

Lin Jian also asked in surprise, "You’re already a Grandmaster. Do Grandmasters still sleep?"

"Get lost, Grandmaster my ass!"

"Haha!" Lin Jian laughed heartily.

"Xu, I went to Anxi to handle some business a couple of days ago, and my phone got waterlogged again, so I’m only calling you today after getting a new one. Thanks for what happened back in the Capital City!"

Although Xu Fengbin, acting as the peacemaker, didn’t completely pacify Jin Er, his intentions were good, and for that, he had to be thanked. So, a formal thank-you was entirely necessary.

Sure enough, upon hearing Lin Jian’s words, Xu Fengbin was very satisfied.

"By the way, Xu, I have a Mysterious Secret Skill on hand that I want to sell. Could you help me contact a buyer? I’ll give you a commission then, how about it?"

"What? A Mysterious Secret Skill? You have one?" Xu Fengbin exclaimed in shock.

"Yeah, I got it in Anxi. I ran into an Innate Eighth Grade expert there and found it hidden in the lining of his clothes. The text is embroidered on a handkerchief, mostly in ancient characters. Qin San’Er, who’s with me right now, told me it’s a Mysterious Secret Skill."

"Innate Eighth Grade? Who was it?" Xu Fengbin took a deep breath.

"I don’t know his name, but his close-combat skills were incredibly fierce, and his moves were deceptive and unpredictable. He used a Bone-Carving Knife!"

"Innate Eighth Grade, Hong Tianzhu!" Xu Fengbin took another deep breath. "Did his Bone-Carving Knife have a ruby inlaid on it?"

"Yes, a red stone. But it’s not his Bone-Carving Knife; it’s my Bone-Carving Knife."

"Fine, fine, fine, it’s yours." Xu Fengbin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "Where are you right now? I’ll come find you. Also, do not contact anyone else, and do not show the contents of the Mysterious Secret Skill to anyone else."

"What do you mean, Xu? You want to keep it? I’m telling you, I’m really short on money right now..."

"Cut the crap, give me the address!" Xu Fengbin snapped in annoyance.

Lin Jian chuckled and hurriedly gave him the hotel address.

He had intentionally told Xu Fengbin about the Mysterious Secret Skill because he knew Xu Fengbin definitely didn’t have one. As expected, Xu Fengbin took the bait perfectly.

However, given his relationship with Xu Fengbin, if the man wanted it, he would just give it to him. He had no use for it anyway. That’s right, he planned to give it to Xu for free. After all, in the Ancient Martial Circle, Xu Fengbin was his only friend.

Very soon, at five-thirty in the morning, Xu Fengbin arrived at the hotel and knocked directly on Qin San’Er’s door, as Lin Jian had never left Qin San’Er’s room.

Accompanying Xu Fengbin were Master Chen, Chen Zhiyuan, and Chen Zhiyuan’s son, Young Master Chen—the guy Lin Jian had once beaten to a pulp.

Master Chen was probably Xu Fengbin’s best buddy, as well as his major financial backer. There were undoubtedly endless stories between the two of them, as they were so close they seemed like one person—practically inseparable, like two peas in a pod.

Young Master Chen, on the other hand, shrank in fear the moment he walked in, not even daring to look Lin Jian in the eye.

"Hello, Mr. Lin!" This time, upon seeing Lin Jian again, Chen Zhiyuan quickened his pace, taking the initiative to extend both hands for a handshake and respectfully addressing him as Mr. Lin!

Because he was thoroughly convinced—utterly and completely won over!

There was even a sense of fear mixed into his submission. After all, this was the fierce man who had taken out Jin Er, so he no longer felt any sense of superiority in front of Lin Jian!