I Have A Martial Dao World

Chapter 36: 36. Purchase Ambergris

In the early stages of Sinew-Strengthening, stretching muscles was as common as having a meal every day.

Once again Lu Yao was held down and contorted into strange shapes, but this time it didn't hurt.

Not only had he adapted, but the increased body control after entering meditation also played a role.

Liao Ya nodded with satisfaction and then said, "Being able to stretch like this is barely passable, you can now begin to practice the 'Cultivation Method.' Liao Qe, demonstrate a set of Liao Family Fist for Lu Yao to see."

Liao Qe took off her jacket, leaving only her close-fitting clothes, and instructed Lu Yao, "Besides the punches and kicks, you should also pay attention to the movements of my spine."

As soon as she finished speaking, she started performing the fist form.

Lu Yao had watched Master Liao perform this set during his apprenticeship, but he was only a spectator at the time. Now in a state of constant calm, he could see the intricacies involved.

The movements of the fist form were complex, and even with Liao Qe's expertise, it took almost 20 minutes to complete the entire set. Moreover, the exercise was quite draining, and despite her excellent physical condition, she was drenched in sweat by the end.

This was the "Cultivation Method" of Liao Family Fist, the core of their style. It wasn't intended for combat but mainly for conditioning the body. This single fist form could train all the bones and muscles in the body.

An ordinary person would need three to five years just to get the hang of it, and Liao Qe had been practicing since she was six.

Lu Yao just watched her go through it once, then he took his turn. His first attempt was 90% accurate, and by the second time, he looked like someone who had been practicing for two to three years.

Liao Qe was a bit displeased, "How can this be! Why are you learning it so fast!"

Liao Ya was quite envious,

"This is the benefit of fully entering meditation. The powers of observation and body control are incredibly strong, which makes learning Kung Fu very fast. Many people think Spirit Refinement is laborious and not very useful, but in reality, it greatly aids the Martial Path. The ancients always said—'Sharpening the axe will not delay the work of cutting firewood,' and that's exactly the case."

After pondering for a while, the girl turned to her sister and said,

"Liao Qe, I suddenly think you should postpone Organ Refining and focus on entering meditation first! Having consumed so many tonics, it's inevitable that your foundation isn't stable, but with the enhanced senses that come with meditation, precise and detailed, you can avoid this issue."

"Right! Meditation first!" Lu Yao completely agreed with this view, winking and making faces at Liao Qe. Once she entered meditation, she could do the things she loved.

Liao Qe's face turned red, but she didn't bother with him.

Looking at the sky, Liao Ya said, "You stay and cultivate in the quiet room. I'm going to buy some ambergris. With its help, you will surely succeed in entering meditation."

Liao Qe's pretty face soured; cultivating Spirit Refinement was the most boring part. But she was a sensible girl, knowing that some things have to be done, she obediently went inside to cultivate.

Liao Ya said to Lu Yao, "Let's go to the Prefectural Yamen. We'll buy the ambergris from the government."

~~~~~~~~~

Taking the silver with them as they left the house, Liao Ya wasn't one for small talk, and they walked without speaking.

The idea of using ambergris was Liao Ya's own, but it seemed from her demeanor that even with this substance, victory was not guaranteed.

Lu Yao began to ponder—what other tricks could he bring from Blue Star that would give him an edge? Lost in thought, he unintentionally fell half a step behind.

Suddenly startled, he thought, "Sister's figure is just too extravagant! Below a waist as slender as A4 paper, there suddenly emerges such a substantial backside, yet without appearing the slightest bit bloated."

Immediately, he fully activated his state of constant calm, slowing down his surroundings to better appreciate the view.

He also had to avoid Liao Ya's perceptive gaze, so as not to intrude indecorously.

Lu Yao inwardly sighed, "Such a fine waist and long legs, perfect proportions! And she sways unconsciously when walking, making for a visually gratifying effect!"

"This swaying seems to be a bodily habit formed from practicing Carp Stance, Liao Qe does the same when she walks. What a fine Kung Fu technique indeed."

At the same time, Lu Yao realized—he could use this method to train the Spirit Refining Technique.

While activating the Spirit Refinement Technique to observe his opponent without alerting them, this was the epitome of pressure training!

~~~~~~~

Pressure training was highly energy-consuming, and just as Lu Yao felt dizzy, he arrived at an estate protected by two gigantic stone lions, with four gilded characters on the plaque over the gate—Yunzhou Prefectural Yamen.

While the exterior was quaint and classical with double eaves and a hip-and-gable roof, the interior was modernized. It featured electric lights and telegraphs, and Lu Yao even spotted a hand-cranked telephone.

"The technological level of the Otherworld isn't as low as I imagined..."

Liao Ya placed the Great Lance in the weapon rack at the entrance, passed through several security checks, and led Lu Yao to a department called "Armed Forces Authority."

Lu Yao remembered that this was the institution for the Imperial Court to manage local martial artists.

The staff were quite bureaucratic, and the two stood at the entrance for quite a while before a ninth-grade official dressed in a green government robe came to greet them.

His expression was nearly cold, with a touch of haughtiness, "So it's Master Liao, may I know the purpose of your visit?"

"Official Dong, I'm here to exchange for some ambergris," said Liao Ya.

"Ambergris!?" Official Dong pulled out a thick book to check, furrowing his brow and said, "Master Liao, you haven't established any notable achievements and can only exchange with silver, and the price is not low. The least for one stick of incense is ten taels of silver."

He was well aware of the factions in Yunzhou. The Liao Family Fist had opened their school no more than a year ago, and with only three people, they didn't seem like a grand sect that could afford ten taels of silver.

Liao Ya stood tall with her chest out, proudly saying, "I want to exchange for ten sticks." As she spoke, she took out a cloth bag filled with silver, shaking it to produce a crisp, pleasant jingle.

"Ten sticks!?" Official Dong's face changed! Such an expensive item—normal people usually only buy one stick for critical moments to breakthrough. This was the first time someone wanted ten.

Official Dong gave Liao Ya a deep look, quickly changing his demeanor to one of respect and said, "Please wait a moment, I will return shortly. Someone, bring tea, bring the good tea!"

Immediately, servants led the two to the reception room, serving up tea and pastries with sincere deference.

Compared to the martial artists who exchanged merits for resources, the staff at the government office preferred someone like Liao Ya who paid with solid silver.

~~~~~~~

"Ambergris can induce a state of 'forgetfulness' in a short time, an incredibly mystical state. Currently, very few powers can produce it, and though it's expensive at the government office, it's reliable," explained Liao Ya to Lu Yao as they waited.

They hadn't chatted much before Official Dong came hurrying back with a small chest.

Upon opening the chest, there was a balance scale and an exquisitely crafted jade box.

"Master Liao, please~"

Official Dong handed the jade box with both hands, allowing Liao Ya to examine it.

Inside the box were ten rosewood tubes, containing the sought-after ambergris. The scent made one feel lightheaded and almost otherworldly just by smelling it.

Liao Ya handed over one hundred taels of silver, which Official Dong pinched off a piece of directly, showing that he was a cultivator himself.

He then carefully weighed the silver to ensure accuracy. After confirming everything, he locked the silver in the chest with a satisfied smile on his face.

The servants were also visibly happy, as solid silver made it convenient for their superiors to engage in under-the-table dealings, and by running errands they could get a share.

Curious, Lu Yao asked one of them, "Young brother, can one purchase ambergris with copper coins?"

The young servant looked at him oddly, as a matter of course replying, "Of course not, we only accept solid silver. It's the same for other items; copper coins are not accepted at all."

Lu Yao was momentarily speechless. Weren't copper coins the official currency?