"You're not running a fever, are you?" Jin Wanshan made a move to touch Qin Yang's forehead.
Qin Yang waved his hand, slapping it away with a sharp crack. "I'm perfectly fine!"
"True heavenly-grade techniques and martial arts are complete," Jin Wanshan said. "Anything incomplete can't possibly reach that level."
"What if it's just missing a single move or technique?" Qin Yang pressed.
Jin Wanshan shook his head. "That still wouldn't count."
Seeing Qin Yang's earnest expression, Jin Wanshan exaggerated dramatically. "Don't tell me you're suggesting the Nangong Clan's Nine Shocking Arrows is actually incomplete—missing a tenth arrow?"
Qin Yang nodded. "Exactly. But seeing your reaction, I doubt anyone would believe me."
Lou Mengyu, who had been deep in thought, suddenly spoke up. "In fact, the Nangong Clan's archery technique might truly have a tenth arrow."
Jin Wanshan pursed his lips. "If Qin Yang's feverish, does that mean you're sick too?"
Lou Mengyu continued undeterred. "The Eight Divine Clans' power stems from their progressive inheritance methods. Some heavenly-grade techniques can even be cultivated at lower cultivation levels. The Nangong Clan's Nine Shocking Arrows is precisely such a case."
"Moreover, the Eight Divine Clans' techniques facilitate breakthroughs more effectively than ordinary heavenly-grade methods. They greatly aid Stellar Realm cultivation and can even increase a cultivator's chances of breaking through to the Divine King realm."
"What exactly are you trying to say?" Jin Wanshan asked, growing increasingly perplexed.
Lou Mengyu spoke slowly, "What I mean is... the cultivation techniques of the Eight Divine Clans are actually incomplete."
Jin Wanshan drew in a sharp breath. "If the Eight Divine Clans' techniques are incomplete, then can we even call the others techniques at all?"
Lou Mengyu wasn't certain either. "I've only heard our clan elders say that when cultivating to the pinnacle of a heavenly-grade technique or martial art, one would sense a clear guiding direction. It's as if the technique itself is showing you the way forward."
"Perhaps this missing move or technique is precisely what's needed to directly break through to the Divine King realm!" Lou Mengyu suggested.
Jin Wanshan suddenly felt his throat dry. From advancing from the Qi Sea Realm to the Zongshi Realm, each realm breakthrough had felt like ascending to the heavens, becoming increasingly difficult with each step.
Advancing from the Stellar Realm to the Divine King realm was even more challenging, requiring complete self-realization and exploration without any techniques or martial arts to guide the way.
If there truly was a missing move within heavenly-grade martial arts that could provide such guidance...
Then countless cultivators wouldn't have met their bitter end at the threshold of the Divine King realm!
Lou Mengyu and Jin Wanshan turned their gaze toward Qin Yang, and in that moment, they both experienced a peculiar... unsettling feeling!
Yes, Qin Yang looked genuinely... strange...
Qin Yang frowned, his face wearing a smug expression. "Don't look at me like that. I've always been this strong."
"If the Nangong Clan found out you could use the Ten Shocking Feathers..." Jin Wanshan chuckled.
Lou Mengyu's expression darkened. "They'd definitely try to kill Qin Yang if they knew!"
Jin Wanshan's smile faded as he realized the implications.
As they continued their conversation, the trio made their way back to Wanshan City.
Now that Qin Yang had learned the Ten Shocking Feathers, he needed to buy a decent longbow and some arrows.
Ah, I didn't want to waste money on a Qiankun Ring, but I guess I have no choice now. Qin Yang imagined himself lugging a large quiver of arrows and shook his head repeatedly.
"Ten thousand low-grade spirit stones?" Qin Yang gasped, as if he'd seen a life-threatening situation.
It was the same shop assistant who had served him before. If they weren't already familiar, the man would have been terrified by Qin Yang's reaction.
The assistant put on a practiced smile. "This is a top-grade Qiankun Ring! The space inside is as big as a cabinet."
He pointed to a large storage cabinet nearby. It could indeed hold many items, but...
Qin Yang had thought he was rich again, but this was just another shattered dream...
"Are all cultivators' money fake or something?" Qin Yang couldn't help but lose his composure.
Lou Mengyu chuckled softly from the side, ready to produce spirit stones for payment. But Qin Yang reached out to stop her.
"Hold on!" Qin Yang narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing both the shop assistant and Jin Wanshan before declaring, "There's a problem—a very serious problem!"
"What problem?" Jin Wanshan asked, perplexed.
"Last time I bought something here, you didn't give me a discount!"
"Pfft!" The shop assistant nearly choked on his own blood.
Jin Wanshan's mind went blank.
Such a serious expression, such a solemn tone, all to complain about not getting a discount?
"Wanshan Chamber of Commerce operates on a fair and transparent pricing system," the assistant said weakly. "We offer no discounts."
Slap!
Qin Yang's palm struck the counter with a resounding crack. "I don't care!" he roared. "If there's no discount today, I'm walking out empty-handed!"
"Very well, we'll give you our maximum discount—twenty percent off," the assistant said quickly. "What else would you like besides this Qiankun Ring?"
Qin Yang stood frozen, never imagining he'd reach this point.
Jin Wanshan's laughter shook his entire body, while even Lou Mengyu couldn't suppress her giggles.
"Didn't you say... there's no discount?" Qin Yang froze, unwilling to spend 10,000 spirit stones on a Qiankun Ring. Had he finally found a reason to bargain, only for it to vanish like this?
Jin Wanshan laughed heartily. "You're my friend! An eightfold discount is nothing. Even if..."
Qin Yang's eyes lit up. "Even if what?"
Jin Wanshan quickly backtracked. "No 'even if.' Just eightfold. This is the maximum face-saving I can offer."
Qin Yang clicked his tongue, taking the ring. "Bring me your three best-grade mystical longbows."
The shop assistant hurried to fetch them. Moments later, three opulent longbows radiating mystical energy were carried in.
Each bow exuded an extraordinary aura, distinct from the others.
"These are mastercrafted, with stunning designs and formidable power," the assistant explained.
"This is the Ice Emperor Bow, crafted to resemble solid ice. It's actually made from ten-thousand-year-old frost iron combined with special materials... Arrows fired from this bow carry stabilized true qi and a chilling frost essence."
"This is the Scarlet Flame Bow..."
"This is the Dragon Song Bow..."
"Wait, this Dragon Song Bow is also a mystical-grade treasure?" Qin Yang's eyebrow twitched.
The Dragon Song Bow had a straightforward design, its bronze hue exuding an ancient, weathered charm. One end terminated in a dragon's head, the other in a dragon's tail, giving it a regal appearance. Yet compared to the Ice Emperor Bow and Scarlet Flame Bow...
There was no contest. The other two bows were simply too opulent.
Jin Wanshan shot a glare at the shop assistant. Did this guy really think his friend was some easy mark?
Sweating profusely, the assistant hurried to explain, "This isn't just any ordinary Profound-grade magical artifact—it's a top-tier specimen within that rank! Though unassuming in appearance, its bow is peerlessly sturdy, and the string possesses extraordinary elasticity. While lacking special effects, its raw arrow power rivals that of some Earth-grade longbow artifacts."
Qin Yang remained unconvinced. What use was a magical artifact without special effects? How superior could its arrow power truly be?
He reached out and seized the Dragon Song Bow. The moment his hand closed around it, his face darkened.
"Unbelievably heavy..."
Qin Yang lifted the bow and casually drew the string.
A sudden gust of wind swept through the shop, converging on the Dragon Song Bow.
As he released the tension, a dragon's roar reverberated through the air, startling everyone present.
Sensing something had been discharged, Qin Yang focused his gaze. A perfect hole had been punched through the wall at his casual aim!