Cultivation: Start From Simplifying Martial Arts Techniques

Chapter 45 - 45: Space Grid

Chapter 45: Space Grid

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Chen Fei remained silent, attentively observing the two individuals before him.

“Take a look at this portrait and see if you can see anything strange.”

Xing Wenxiang looked at Chen Fei’s vigilant appearance and said with a smile, “We suspect that this person used a disguise technique. Please help us.”

Maintaining a composed demeanor, Chen Fei donned his deerskin gloves and accepted the portrait. The drawing was well done, and it bore a striking resemblance to his disguised appearance. It was evident that the incident involving Ling Hanjun had left a lasting impression on him.

Chen Fei began to scrutinize the portrait, examining it carefully for any telltale signs that could indicate the use of a disguise technique.

“It’s hard to tell if there’s anything unusual from a portrait.”

After carefully examining the portrait, Chen Fei looked up at Ling Hanjun and Xing Wenxiang. His expression revealed his genuine assessment. The portrait, being a processed rendition based on Ling Hanjun’s description and drawn by other artists, made it challenging to detect any subtle abnormalities.

To truly determine if someone had employed a disguise technique, it would require a firsthand observation, similar to how Xing Wenxiang had easily discerned Chen Fei’s altered appearance.

“I see. That’s unfortunate.”

Xing Wenxiang exchanged a quick glance with Ling Hanjun. He was aware that relying solely on the portrait would provide limited information, and Ling Hanjun’s suspicion of disguise was just that—a suspicion.

If it were someone else making this request, Xing Wenxiang would have likely declined and moved on. However, due to his relationship with Ling Hanjun, he felt obliged to fulfill the request, even if it meant periodically monitoring the black market.

Having tracked Chen Fei to this point, Xing Wenxiang wanted Ling Hanjun to closely observe Chen Fei and determine if there was any cause for suspicion. That was the main objective.

“Friend, may 1 inquire if you typically wield a saber?” Xing Wenxiang asked, hoping to gather more insight into Chen Fei’s activities and background.

Ling Hanjun observed the long saber in Chen Fei’s possession. The saber technique displayed earlier appeared to be rather ordinary, as expected of a wandering cultivator. “What is it that you wish to inquire about?” Chen Fei responded cautiously, not directly addressing Ling Hanjun’s question.

Ling Hanjun’s gaze remained fixed on Chen Fei as he continued, “It’s nothing. I witnessed my friend effortlessly defeat five opponents with a single move, and it made me eager for a spar. Would you be interested in exchanging a few moves?”

“I wouldn’t dare to embarrass myself,” Chen Fei replied, evading the proposition and maintaining his guarded stance.

Chen Fei shook his head, declining Ling Hanjun’s invitation, and took a step back. It was impossible for him to engage in a sparring match. Chen Fei’s purpose in wielding the saber was to conceal his true identity. However, he had made sure to acquire a basic saber technique and had honed it to perfection to maintain the facade.

“I see. What a pity,” Ling Hanjun remarked, noticing Chen Fei’s readiness to retreat at any moment. He decided not to press the matter any further.

Moments later, Chen Fei’s figure disappeared, blending into the surroundings. In order to dispel Ling Hanjun’s suspicions, Chen Fei deliberately showcased the agility of his movement technique, ensuring it was on full display.

That night, Ling Hanjun had only caught a glimpse of Chen Fei’s appearance and witnessed his impressive movement techniques. He hadn’t witnessed any sword techniques being used. Given this, Chen Fei realized he had to sever all ties with his past completely.

Thanks to the three movement technique manuals he had obtained from the Zhang Clan, Chen Fei’s current lightness skill was completely different from before. He no longer had to worry about being implicated.

“How did it go?” Xing Wenxiang inquired, observing Ling Hanjun’s pensive expression.

“It doesn’t seem to be the person we’re looking for,” Ling Hanjun replied after a moment of contemplation, shaking his head.

“That’s alright. I’ll accompany you to visit a few experts in the county. If we still can’t find him, it’s likely that the person has already left Pingyin County,” Xing Wenxiang suggested with a smile.

Ling Hanjun acknowledged Xing Wenxiang’s suggestion with a slight nod, refraining from further discussion.

Chen Fei wandered around for a while before eventually returning to his rented courtyard. Deep in thought, he frowned, not expecting Ling Hanjun’s persistence in tracking him. Nonetheless, Chen Fei had taken numerous precautions to ensure the smooth sale of his medicinal pills.

Back in his room, Chen Fei removed the bag from his back, glancing at the glimmering silver inside. A smile graced his face. Five hundred taels—it was a substantial amount. At this rate, he estimated that it would only take a few months for the Supressing Dragon Elephant to amass fifty thousand taels. However, Chen Fei knew it was unrealistic for him to remain in Pingyin County for that long. Nevertheless, with his alchemy skills, he could swiftly accumulate wealth in other cities as well.

“Store!”

With a single thought, the silver on the table vanished, and the balance displayed on the interface skyrocketed to over 5,000 taels of silver. Chen Fei admired his accumulated wealth for a moment, prepared to close the interface panel when he noticed an exclamation mark in the upper right corner of the screen.

Curiosity piqued, Chen Fei clicked on the exclamation mark, and a message appeared in his mind. The message revealed the term “Space Grid,” leaving Chen Fei momentarily stunned as he processed the information.

The interface told Chen Fei that because he had more than 5,000 taels of silver stored, he could now spend 5,000 taels of silver to exchange for a spatial slot. This space was one cubic meter in size and could store items.

“This interface actually has such an ability!”

After a brief hesitation, Chen Fei decided to proceed with the exchange.

Given the current circumstances, there was limited opportunity to spend a large amount of money. Chen Fei was still far from the 50,000 taels required for the simplification of Suppressing Dragon Elephant. Furthermore, the simplifications of other cultivation techniques provided ample earning potential at his current pace.

However, the real value of the space grid lies in its ability to store items. If Chen Fei’s expectations were met, it would prove to be incredibly convenient and surpass the worth of a mere five thousand taels.

In an instant, the value displayed on the interface plummeted to just a few dozen taels. Simultaneously, Chen Fei felt a spatial layer materialize before his eyes.

An expression of excitement spread across Chen Fei’s face as he delved into the exploration and study of this newfound spatial grid.

After an hour of research, Chen Fei’s initial excitement waned, replaced by a slight frown. He rubbed his chin in contemplation.

He had discovered that the space slot could indeed store items, but it was limited to just one object at a time. Once he placed the longbow inside, there was no room for the arrow unless he removed the longbow to make space for it.

“It truly is a space grid. No wonder it only costs five thousand taels,” Chen Fei muttered to himself, scratching his head. While the space provided was one cubic meter, the limitation of only accommodating a single item at a time greatly diminished its usefulness.

“Is it suggesting I save money and continue purchasing more slots?” Chen Fei mused aloud, a hint of frustration evident in his voice.

Chen Fei paced back and forth in his room, deep in thought about the capabilities of the space grid mentioned in the interface. After a brief moment, he halted his steps and made his way to the kitchen.

With the bag of rice before him, Chen Fei focused his mind on it. In an instant, the rice vanished from its original location, reappearing within the spatial grid. A slight change in Chen Fei’s expression occurred, his eyes lighting up with joy. He approached the bag, opened it, and revealed the familiar beige grains of rice inside.

However, when Chen Fei attempted to mentally manipulate the rice once again, it failed. The entire bag of rice remained stationary.

“So, it seems that as long as 1 package it, it will be considered as a single item?” Chen Fei mused, his curiosity piqued by this newfound understanding.

Realizing the potential of the space grid, Chen Fei wasted no time. He gathered pots and pans from the kitchen, placing them inside a tightly sealed sack. With a focused thought, the entire sack vanished and reappeared within the spatial grid.

“This is how it works!” Chen Fei exclaimed with a sense of achievement. However, he also recognized the inconvenience of having to retrieve or store the entire bag each time. His mind raced with ideas to address this issue.

The following morning, after receiving the medicinal herbs from the Zhao family, Chen Fei set out. The atmosphere in Pingyin County had noticeably changed, with a sense of desolation permeating the streets. People hurriedly completed their tasks and hastened home, avoiding lingering on the streets.

Moreover, the absence of women caught Chen Fei’s attention. Reflecting on the actions of the rebel army, he let out a sigh of disappointment..