"Senior, I would like to browse archery techniques appropriate for my level."
Ryu spoke maybe more politely than he had in his life. Though his voice was still tinged with the usual cold he had for strangers, its edges had softened somewhat.
This wasn't because he felt scared of the middle-aged man before him, but rather because he was understanding of the latter's plight. And, he was also feeling somewhat grateful that he had gained such a reminder so easily.
This was no longer Sacrum. Things would be far more difficult here.
The middle-aged man stood with a smile.
"Young master can just call me Old Man Balin, I am one of the three Deacons of this small shop. I'll take you to what you need right away."
Those on the ground floor of the merchant shop couldn't help but look toward Ryu. It obviously wasn't normal for a Deacon to receive just anyone. It was clear that this young man had an astounding background.
A silvery light enveloped the middle-aged man and Ryu. The two soon appeared in a private, but spacious room. There was nowhere to sit, nor were there the displays there had been on the first floor. Instead, it was just a vast empty space as though they were standing in the middle of the depths of space.
With a thought from Deacon Balin, that changed quickly.
Rows of displays began to appear, each neatly arranged.
"Young master, these are our current catalogue of archery techniques appropriate for your level."
Ryu swept out his Spiritual Sense. There were quite a number here, easily approaching a thousand or so.
Ryu stepped forward and picked up a jade. But, he soon shook his head and picked up another. He went through this process several times before Balin finally said something.
"Young master, are these techniques not to your liking?"
"They're missing something," Ryu replied honestly.
He didn't expect these techniques to be on the same level as the two best techniques he had taken from those two Hidden Blade Sect individuals. After all, those techniques had cultivation techniques to be paired with. But, he still expected something better than this.
"Show me your absolute best," Ryu continued.
"As the young master wishes."
Balin's gaze became heavy as he controlled the formations to rearrange everything once more. This time, only a dozen or so techniques remained.
The moment Ryu picked up the first, the feeling that flooded him was entirely different. As he went through the techniques, each one gave him a vastly different feel, but it was a good one.
He took a breath, his aura relaxing as he began to think. What was the difference between these techniques and the ones he carried with him from his Kunan Clan? Well, there were a few things.
The first was that these techniques had an air of mystery that was hard to describe, a certain charm.
The second was that the circulation patterns required to execute these techniques were extraordinarily simple, even simpler than some lower level techniques that Ryu had learned before.
The third was that they all relied on a conception and touched the faintest hint of a Dao. It was this third factor that likely gave the techniques the charm Ryu felt from them.
"I will take these two techniques. <Thirteen Soaring Azures> and <Roaring Sky Serpent>."
With those two purchases, another thousandth of Ryu's wealth had vanished. It was hard to believe that two Middle Heaven Grade techniques were actually so expensive. But, it was clear that even in the True Martial World, techniques of this caliber were quite rare.
After sifting through his memories again, Ryu found that these techniques were known as techniques with Dao Charm. Similar to Crown Herbs, they could display the prowess of techniques beyond their level due to how powerful they were. However, they were likewise very difficult to learn and were usually reserved for the use of extremely high level geniuses.
There were many people who could use Dao Charm Techniques at lower grades, but found themselves unable to do so as their cultivation progressed. Those like Ryu could continue to do so into the Heaven Grade were already quite rare to begin with.
…
Deacon Balin watched Ryu leave with a grave expression. Two individuals appeared to his left and right, both of whom were Deacons as well.
"Three Dao Charm techniques? Is he overestimating himself?"
One of the Deacons couldn't help but question this. Usually, even for geniuses, one would only have a single Dao Charm technique practiced to mastery. This was especially so at lower levels.
The simple fact was that increasing one's cultivation was more important, no one had the time to master so many Dao Charm techniques when most couldn't master even a single one.
Yet, not only had Ryu taken two Dao Charm techniques, he had even taken the movement Dao Charm technique, <Whispering Petals>.
"Did you find any information on him?" Deacon Balin didn't answer.
"We haven't been able to find anything about blind boy with white hair. It's either he's from a higher Heaven, or he's carrying the wealth of an entire smaller world on him. Regardless, it has nothing to do with us anymore, just inform the young master of what we've found out to sate his curiosity and wipe our hands of this matter."
**
The following day, Ryu boarded the Astral Ship and was escorted to his Violet VIP living quarters.
It would take three months to make it to the True Martial World from here. It was time to see just how far his comprehension speed had fallen.
The living conditions of Violet VIPs were nothing short of spectacular. Ryu didn't need to worry about food, accommodations, and he was even offered high class women to serve him. He could only shake his head when he realized that these women were actually in the World Sea Realm, with the Head Servant actually being in the Sky God Realm herself.
Ryu ended up refusing these tempting services and entered the training room that was also a part of his accommodations. He found that even if he set a full powered punch at the walls, he couldn't even force the formations to ripple.
This much was good, that meant he could go all out.
Taking a seat at the center of the training room and turning the privacy settings on, Ryu began to meditate on <Thirteen Soaring Azures>.