Chapter Eight: Antique Street

Tsk, Master really doesn't hold back.

Late at night, Liu Tian staggered out of the small courtyard, clutching the wall like a husk of medicinal dregs utterly squeezed dry. As the strongest contemporary martial artist, Tiandao surpassed Liu Tian in stamina, strength, agility, and fighting experience by a vast margin.

During nearly six hours of relentless training, Liu Tian had tried every possible strategy, only to be mercilessly suppressed each time. The terms “Tianwu Killing Path” and “Heart Severing Path” had been drilled into him to the point of becoming a conditioned reflex. Yet, this grueling, hellish regimen was not without its results.

Keep working hard.

Liu Tian silently summoned his status panel. The sole skill listed, “Tianwu Fist,” had now evolved into “Tianwu Killing Path.” Perhaps because the Killing Path was an upgraded version of the Fist, their levels did not substitute evenly. After the transformation, the original Level 4 of Tianwu Fist had declined to Level 3 for the Killing Path, though the special effects remained largely the same, with the addition of a new Level 1 effect called “Domineering Will.”

Now, the panel described Tianwu Killing Path as follows: Level 3. Special effects: Sturdy Body (Level 3), Lightness (Level 2), Killing Intent (Level 2), Domineering Will (Level 1, cannot be upgraded).

As for Domineering Will, Liu Tian found that when practicing or fighting, he would sense a subtle urge—an inner voice roaring from the depths of his soul: Conquer, plunder, rule, command all.

According to Tiandao, this voice would continually accompany anyone who practiced the Tianwu Killing Path, growing stronger as one’s skill deepened, only coming under control once the practitioner surpassed the level of a martial artist.

This martial art, so focused on the heart, was indeed powerful—yet equally insane.

If its effects were not limited to practice and combat, but instead plagued a person in daily life, even those without ambition might be driven mad, obsessed with grand designs to the point of recklessness.

Even as it was, under the twin influences of Killing Intent and Domineering Will, practitioners of the Killing Path often lost control in battle, at times falling prey to a frenzy ruled by bloodlust. At the same time, these effects lent them greater power and endurance, a case of the mind strengthening the body.

A true and utter demonic path.

Now that he was far from the courtyard, Liu Tian, who had not actually suffered much harm, dropped the act and straightened his back. If not for his superb acting skills—his empty, listless expression had fooled Tiandao when Killing Intent and Domineering Will were dormant—he might still be getting pummeled.

I need to find another source of Origin Points. If this keeps up, I’ll be beaten senseless. According to Master, at this pace, it’ll take me at least three months to master the Heart Severing Path.

Damn, three months of beatings? I’ll be battered beyond repair! My talent can’t be that bad, can it? Looks like I’ll have to work even harder.

Glancing back at the light behind him, Liu Tian closed the “Hard Work” panel and mused to himself.

Tomorrow, I’ll skip class and check out the antique market for possible Origin Point sources…

……

The next day, relying on his martial control, Liu Tian forced himself to look pale and frail enough to get a sick leave, and headed to the antique market in the remote southern part of the city.

This was the city’s famous Antique Street, a chaotic place filled with both genuine and fake goods. The stalls lining the road were piled with “antiques” of unknown origin—perhaps dug from graves, stripped from corpses, or simply unearthed from someone’s backyard.

The shops themselves offered slightly more credible wares, most with at least some history—at the very least, it was unlikely that any item was made just yesterday and put on the shelf as an antique today.

The reason this antique street thrived in such a remote location was mainly the lack of regulation. Whether freshly unearthed from tombs or scavenged from bodies, everything could be sold here without interference.

Perhaps there were lookouts at the entrances, or shadowy dealings behind the scenes, but within Antique Street itself, order was strictly maintained—anyone who broke the rules would likely end up as a corpse, their valuables sold as antiques themselves.

The two largest underground forces in the city, Violet Orchid and Silverwood Star, jointly protected Antique Street. Dig a little deeper, and there might be even greater powers at play. Thanks to their presence, the order on this street was better than in most of the city, and even people with no ties to the underworld could be seen here.

Thus, when Liu Tian—dressed in his Rose Academy uniform—arrived, he attracted a few glances, but soon most people ignored him, letting this “young master” wander at will.

Of course, Liu Tian had other clothes, but as mentioned before—Rose Academy was an elite institution. Its students were all wealthy or noble, backed by formidable influence.

In these times, when capital ruled all, everyone was just out to make a living; few were willing to risk their lives without cause.

For this reason, the academy’s uniform served as a formidable shield and a mark of one’s means—proof that he could afford to buy antiques.

With it, he could bypass many invisible barriers, and the truly powerful forces would never consider touching such a hot potato.

As for minor players blinded by potential profit—ha! What could a bunch of clowns possibly do to someone who practiced the Tianwu Fist—no, the Tianwu Killing Path?

They might just end up as stepping stones for Liu Tian’s cultivation!

Not knowing whether his theory was correct, or the layout of the stores, Liu Tian spent nearly two hours wandering and getting a feel for the place, hoping he might sense something capable of providing Origin Points.

Unsurprisingly—no luck at all!

It made sense: even Origin-providing Prisms required close, physical contact to absorb their energy. There was no way he could sense such things just by wandering aimlessly.

Though his attempt failed, Liu Tian wasn’t discouraged; his stroll wasn’t pointless—at least he’d learned about the local customs and identified some potential targets.

Since he couldn’t sense anything directly, there was no need to keep wandering. With his mind made up, Liu Tian headed straight for the first target.

Ignoring the roadside stalls—99.99% certain to be fake—Liu Tian, unable to believe in such luck, made for the first shop likely to have relevant antiques.

It was an antique store named “Dust,” boasting the largest floor space and an elegant, classical decor. At the entrance stood a sign listing its services: Antique Appraisal, Purchase of Valuable Antiques, and Antique Sales.

Liu Tian knew nothing about assessing the reliability of antique stores, but common sense told him: with such a large premises, they were bound to have at least something worthwhile.