Being forced to grow like a pig? But I'm immune to the consequences!

"What's the price?" Mr. Wu asked.

The boss held up five fingers, his tone confident: "Five whole portions of exotic beast meat, less than that and it's off the table."

Mr. Wu immediately shook his head: "Too expensive."

"Expensive? This isn't expensive at all!" the shopkeeper immediately retorted. "What you want is a secret technique used only by martial artists, far superior to ordinary supplies. It's just a few portions of exotic beast meat; exchanging it for these two techniques is a steal!"

"Beast meat is a consumable; once it's used, it's gone forever, and it can't be replicated at all. But the cultivation techniques and secret arts I need can be copied hundreds or thousands of times; their value is incomparable," Wu Sheng said calmly. "Moreover, beast meat is extremely strictly controlled, a hundred times more sought-after than potential-enhancing potions. If beast meat really existed, who would offer it for trade? Everyone keeps it for their own cultivation; I simply can't produce that much."

He knew that the basic cultivation methods for martial artists were distributed by the inner city nobles as soon as one became a martial artist. Therefore, this stuff wouldn't be very valuable and wasn't worth the high price of five portions of exotic beast meat. As for the secret technique to conceal one's cultivation level, although it might be more troublesome, this black market merchant in front of him definitely had countless copies.

After saying that, Wu Sheng also stretched out a hand and stated his price: "Five potential potions in exchange for these two items."

Without a second thought, the shop owner shook his head: "Impossible, that's too few! At least twenty!"

"Six branches." Wu Sheng refused to budge an inch.

"No, no, eighteen! We can't have any less!"

"Seven branches."

The shopkeeper gritted his teeth, his face contorted with conflict: "Fifteen! I'll sell you fifteen, or this deal is off!"

Wu Sheng was silent for a moment, then said firmly, "Ten doses. I can only offer ten potential-enhancing potions at most. If that's not enough, I'll check with other vendors—I'm sure you're not the only one in this black market that has these things."

After saying that, he turned around and made a gesture as if he was about to leave.

Seeing this, the shopkeeper panicked and quickly grabbed him, his face full of pain but also reluctant to give up the sale: "Fine, fine, I give up! Ten it is! But they can't be defective! You wait here, I'll go get you the stuff!"

After saying that, the boss turned and quickly went into the small cubicle behind him. A moment later, he came back with two worn leather booklets.

In front of a black market stall.

Wu Sheng took the two worn leather booklets. His fingertips, rough against the covers, quickly flipped through them. The pages were yellowed, covered with dense writing and meridian diagrams.

"Is there anything wrong with this?" Wu Sheng looked up, his gaze falling on the boss's face. "It's not a fake, is it?"

The shopkeeper patted his chest, swearing confidently, "How could that be! I've been doing business in this black market for ages; my reputation speaks for itself. Any martial artist who follows the methods here will definitely be able to cultivate. If there's even the slightest bit of fraud, you can smash my stall!"

Wu Sheng closed the booklet, tucked it into his pocket, and said calmly, "I believe you wouldn't lie to me, boss."

The moment the words fell.

Wu Sheng's eyes narrowed.

A faint yet terrifying aura suddenly emanated from his body.

This aura was directed only at the boss.

The boss's previously fawning smile froze instantly. He felt as if the blood in his body had stopped flowing, and a chilling sensation, originating from the depths of his being, shot up his spine and to the top of his head. Every hair on his body stood on end.

Musha!

The masked, poorly dressed fellow in front of me was actually a genuine martial artist!

The shopkeeper's legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to his knees. A gurgling sound came from his throat, but he couldn't utter a single word. He had actually been haggling with a martial artist!

Wu Sheng didn't linger. He left behind ten potential potions and turned to disappear into the dimly lit passage.

Only after Wu Sheng's figure completely disappeared did the boss suddenly collapse to the ground, panting heavily, his back completely soaked with cold sweat.

He had originally intended to check the quality of the potential potion before letting Wu Sheng leave, but now, he dared not do so.

He didn't know Wu Sheng's true identity, nor did he know why Wu Sheng wanted to buy these two items, but he didn't dare to think too much about it.

Because he was very clear about one fact.

The more you know, the faster you die.

Leave the underground black market.

Wu Sheng did not return to the Hyena Gang's base. He had already caught up with Zhang Yong and Guo Hui, so there was no need to go back and cause trouble.

As for those two books, I'll have to study them when I get back.

He determined the direction and headed straight for the outer city ferry, intending to take a boat back to the inner city.

The sky was somewhat overcast, and the wind outside the city carried the smell of rotting garbage.

Wu Sheng walked with a steady gait.

while walking.

Wu Sheng did not stop walking, but his brows furrowed slightly.

After breaking through to the Martial Artist realm, his five senses became terrifyingly acute. He could perceive every rustle and movement of his surroundings.

Just now, he noticed a faint gaze behind him.

Someone is following us.

Moreover, the other party's footsteps were extremely light and his breathing was long, indicating that he was definitely not an ordinary vagrant or gangster from the outer city.

"It's getting faster and faster, heading straight for me," Wu Sheng thought to himself.

Instead of quickening his pace to escape to the ferry, he turned and veered off the main road, heading towards a more desolate and long-abandoned cluster of buildings.

"It's getting faster and faster, heading straight for me," Wu Sheng thought to himself.

Instead of quickening his pace to escape to the ferry, he turned and veered off the main road, heading towards a more desolate and long-abandoned cluster of buildings.

The area was a desolate ruin, rarely visited by people.

Best suited for killing.

It is also suitable for burying corpses.

Abandoned building complex.

The surroundings were eerily quiet, with only the mournful sound of the wind whistling through the crumbling walls.

Wu Sheng stopped in front of a half-collapsed stone wall, turned around, and stood quietly.

He is waiting.

A few breaths later.

A figure emerged from behind the broken stone pillar.

The newcomer made no attempt to conceal his face; he was burly and dressed in a black, practical outfit. Most striking was the menacing scar on his face that stretched from his left eye to the right corner of his mouth, giving him an aura of ferocity and ruthlessness.

He stared at Wu Sheng with the same look he had on a corpse.

"Kid, you've got guts and you're pretty sharp, but you're too stupid and not smart enough?" Scarface said in a rough voice.

Scarface sneered again, cracking his neck as he did so. "I really don't know what you were thinking. Do you think you're so strong at the fifth level of Body Tempering? You found me and still came to this secluded place on your own. It saved me a lot of effort, making it easier for me to make my move."

Wu Sheng remained calm, his tone impassive: "Who are you?"

"Who am I?" Scarface drew a short knife from his waist, the blade gleaming coldly in the dim light. "You don't need to know that. All you need to know is that you're about to die."

Wu Sheng looked at him, his gaze hardening: "Someone sent you to kill me. Who is it?"

Scarface licked his lips, his face full of ferocity: "You're going to die anyway, why waste so much breath? What good will it do to know who it is? You're going to die anyway. I'm a man of principle; if I take someone's money, I'll do their bidding."