MTLNOVEL Chapter 191: Main Force
Chapter 191: Main Force
Ye Beining, Xiang Chengxing, and Xu Lian gathered together to discuss their options.
Purchase directly;
Exchange with a combat technique of equal value;
Borrow on credit, using future opportunities as collateral;
Form a marriage alliance.
What should they choose?
Ye Beining was leaning toward options 1 and 2-either buying outright or trading for a technique of equal value. As the legitimate son of the lord of Wuguang City, he had deep pockets.
Xiang Chengxing was inclined to choose option 4. After all, he wasn’t married yet, and forming a marriage alliance with the Shui family didn’t seem like a bad idea.
Xu Lian could immediately rule out option 4. He already had a first wife, and the Shui family would never agree to a marriage alliance under such circumstances.
Option 1 was also out of the question. He only had a few thousand Spirit Stones left, which wasn’t even enough for his return trip.
Option 2 was also almost impossible. The only combat techniques he could offer were the Sacred Spirit Record and the Great Desolate Dragon Grasping Technique.
The Sacred Spirit Record was an immortal-level technique, worth a hundred times more than the Four Symbol Battle Tactics. Even if he offered a single combat technique from it, it would still be a huge loss.
The Great Desolate Dragon Grasping Technique seemed to be the ultimate secret technique of the Snake Catching Family, so he couldn’t possibly exchange it for the Four Symbols Battle Tactics.
As for techniques like the Breaking Wind Sword Technique, the Seven Styles of Primal Gang, and the Short Strike – Shadow Chase, they were basically “junk” in the eyes of the Shui family-they wouldn’t be interested in them.
Thus, he had no suitable combat techniques to offer for exchange.
This left him with only one option: Option 3, borrowing on credit and using future opportunities as collateral.
If he entered the Hundred Boats Secret Realm and didn’t gain any opportunities, he would essentially get the Four Symbol Battle Tactics for free.
If he did gain opportunities, he would use half of them to repay the Shui family. That would still leave him with the other half.
He didn’t have to be too greedy.
He thought this was a good deal.
Xu Lian made his decision. “I choose option 3 – borrow on credit and use future opportunities as collateral.”
The Shui family elder smiled. “That’s acceptable.”
Ye Beining and Xiang Chengxing both gave Xu Lian a strange look, surprised that he would choose option 3.
Xiang Chengxing kindly reminded him, “The opportunities within the Hundred Boat Secret Realm are either non-existent or extremely rare and precious. It could be a divine herb, a divine weapon, or even the acquisition of a law of power. If you gain such an opportunity and have to give half of it away, you’ll deeply regret it.”
“…” Xu Lian thought that this made sense, but he had no other choice. He was simply too poor to afford the other options. He could only “consume in advance”.
“I understand, but I still choose option 3. If I get a chance, giving half to the Shui family is acceptable.”
The Shui family elder chuckled and looked at Ye Beining and Xiang Chengxing. “Actually, I hope you two will also choose option 3.”
Ye Beining and Xiang Chengxing firmly refused. Giving half of their opportunities to the Shui family? That would be like being their “laborers”.
Xiang Chengxing said, “I choose option 4 – forming a marriage alliance. I don’t have a suitable Dao mate yet, so it’s not a bad idea to marry a legitimate daughter of the Shui family as my first wife.”
The Shui family elder nodded. “That’s a good choice. The Shui family would be happy to form a marriage alliance with a top genius like you from Daze Prefecture.”
Ye Beining thought for a moment. “If all three of us had chosen option 2, it would have been ideal. We wouldn’t all have to offer combat techniques; we could have drawn lots, and the unlucky one would have offered an equivalent combat technique in exchange. The other two would have gotten the four symbol fighting techniques for free.
But now I’m the only one left. If I choose option 2, I’ll have to offer an equivalent combat technique, which isn’t worth it.
So, I can only choose option 1-purchase it directly. Name your price.”
The Shui family elder held up two fingers. “Since you’re a friend of Yingyue’s, I’ll give you a friendly price. This much will do.”
Two billion? Xu Lian was shocked. This was the friendly price?
Ye Beining said, “Twenty billion? Fine. I don’t have that much on me right now, but I’ll send someone to deliver it after I return.”
The Shui family elder nodded. “That’s acceptable.”
“…” Xu Lian realized that he had underestimated the situation. It wasn’t two billion, but twenty billion.
Thinking about it, it made sense. The Four-Symbol Battle Tactic could even be used by Great Ability-level elders, and it could double the combat power of a four-man team. Major factions with many Great Ability-level experts would be willing to pay even more for it. This was indeed a friendly price.
“Now that we’ve come to an agreement, I’ll start teaching you the Four Symbol Battle Tactics.”
The elder of the Shui family immediately started instructing them.
Shui Yingyue, Ye Beining, and Xiang Chengxing listened intently, occasionally forming hand seals as they practiced while listening. They were clearly top geniuses.
Xu Lian, on the other hand, received a message: [Four-Symbol Battle Tactics is being recorded].
[Name: Xu Lian]
[Rank: Great Grandmaster Stage 6]
[Techniques: Four Symbols Battle Tactics (combined attack technique, requires four people to perform simultaneously), Great Desolate Dragon Grasping Technique, Sacred Spirit Record (immortal-level technique, complete edition), Breaking Wind Sword Technique (Volumes 1-3), Seven Styles of Primal Gang (complete edition), Short Strike – Shadow Chase…]
[Items: Sword of Destruction (not equipped)]
[Note: You currently have two unused progression points.]
The Shui family elder first gave a general explanation, followed by a detailed one.
Then she asked, “Have you learned it?”
Shui Yingyue, Ye Beining, and Xiang Chengxing all nodded, indicating that they had.
They looked at Xu Lian, who said, “I’ve barely managed to learn it.”
The Shui family elder said, “Good. Now let’s start practicing. I’ll create four Great Grandmaster Stage 5 watery figures, and you will use the Four Symbol Battle Tactics to deal with them.”
Except for Xu Lian, Shui Yingyue, Ye Beining, and Xiang Chengxing all looked serious. Great Grandmaster Stage 5 watery figures were stronger than their current cultivation levels.
The Shui family elder waved her hand, releasing a blue light that spread out like a divine chain, connecting with the drizzling rain. Immediately, four watery figures appeared, much stronger than before.
The four geniuses exchanged glances and simultaneously activated the Four-Symbol Battle Tactic.
Immediately, the four of them seemed to merge into a single entity, causing the entire drill ground to tremble.
At the same time, a loud dragon roar, a deep tiger growl, a sharp phoenix scream, and a hoarse turtle hiss echoed through the air.
Above Xiang Chengxing’s head, the image of a black turtle appeared.
The image of a Fire Phoenix appeared above Shui Yingyue’s head.
A white tiger materialized over Ye Beining’s head.
An Azure Dragon appeared over Xu Lian’s head.
It seemed that the “Four Symbols” in the Four Symbol Battle Tactic referred to the four sacred beasts.
Shui Yingyue, Ye Beining, and Xiang Chengxing were all confused. The Azure Dragon was the leader of the four sacred beasts, so logically, it should have manifested above Ye Beining, who had the highest cultivation among them. Why did it appear above Xu Lian?
Damn it… Xu Lian was also at a loss. The Azure Dragon manifestation in the Four-Symbol Battle Tactic would naturally appear above the person with the highest cultivation. This was a characteristic of the technique. Didn’t this mean that his cultivation level was the highest among the four?
The Shui family elder was also stunned for a moment, but she quickly understood. She looked at Xu Lian with a strange expression. “You’ve been hiding your cultivation level?”
Xu Lian had no choice but to admit it. “It’s just a personal habit… I’ve been hiding a little.”
The Shui family elder praised him. “That’s a good habit. Hiding a few minor ranks can often be useful in critical moments.”
Ye Beining’s expression darkened. Previously, he had looked down on Xu Lian for his seemingly low cultivation level, but now it turned out that Xu Lian was actually stronger than him.
Before they could dwell on it, the Shui family elder waved her hand and the four Great Grandmaster Stage 5 Watery Figures launched their attack!
“The Azure Dragon will attack head on.
Fire Phoenix and White Tiger will flank from the side.
Black Tortoise will defend.”
The elder of the Shui family provided guidance as she watched.
The four geniuses followed her instructions, positioning themselves accordingly and engaging in a fierce battle with the four Great Grandmaster Stage 5 Watery Figures.
“Boom! Boom! Boom!”…
With a few blows, the four watery figures were shattered.
The Four Symbol Battle Tactics were indeed impressive.
“Combine your attacks!”
The Shui family elder released a blue light, creating an even more powerful watery figure, this time at Great Grandmaster Stage 7.
The four geniuses controlled the four sacred beast images, merging them into a single entity and unleashing their strongest attack!
“Boom!”
The watery figure of Great Grandmaster Stage 7 was also destroyed!
“Excellent. The first time you use the Four-Symbol Battle Tactic, you’ve already reached such a level of combat power. With a few more days of training, you’ll be able to unleash even more power. Entering the Hundred Boat Secret Realm should be a sure thing.”
The Shui family elder didn’t hold back her praise. She was very pleased with the four top tier geniuses. It wasn’t often that one had the opportunity to teach four such talents at the same time. What elder wouldn’t be pleased?