6 6 Making progress and making bank!

 After a bit of haggling, I ended up leaving with a potion of permanent detect surrounding temperature, which I got for 1 gold. - sue me I was curious.

I also purchased a Mid Earth Grade martial art that uses my whole body called whirlwind body fighting technique which uses rotation to deal critical strikes.

Following which, I bought a High earth grade sword style called Nine-fold slashes technique which emphasizes permutations of nine basic slashes which can be expanded into 95 kinds of slashes and once mastered 380 slashes in different orders for supposedly every situation.

The final thing I bought was information on nobles that could be considered evil enough that they had passed the moral event horizon.

There were 3, but I narrowed it down to the only one who had a vault full of treasure.

6 gold for that info.

The techniques cost 30 platinum for the mid-earth grade one, and 45 platinum for the high earth-grade one.

Did you think I was just going to destroy evil for free?

Maybe after the beast of the end stops going berserk every night.

I decided to train the full body martial art until 1PM and then the sword technique until 5:30.

Then I'd put on my mask and cloak and loot Count Blupson's estate.

For the first 20 minutes I just twirled in the way that the martial art demanded all moves initiated, trying to get a feel for the movement.

Then I started using the strikes for the next 40 minutes.

I rapidly twirled with momentum, I was a whirlwind of kicks and fists and elbows and my knees followed in. This technique even uses my forehead as a weapon. My fore-arms joined in as my shins and feet became even more of a weapon.

The backs of my hands, the fronts of my palms, even my fingers.

All were a dance of violence as I spun I spun-

Something was strange, there was- a formula. A- what is this num-

I snapped out of it just as I was about to see some kind of universal truth. Damn, I really felt like I was about to gain something awesome.

It was 6PM, and I realized that I needed to raid that fucker's mansion before mr. big-cat decides to freeze the city.

I realized my cultivation had gone from halfway to four to the beginning of 5 of the houtian stage.

I would think about this later, I rushed towards the estate of the person I am going to call mr.blup-blup from now on simply because his name is dumb.

Arriving at the estate at exactly 6:05 PM I chug the potion that tasted like cinnamon and sea urchin soaked in mint-fermented egg yolk, ugh. Then I put on my cloak, mask and imaginary sunglasses.

I entered the estate unseen and unnoticed due to the awesome enchantments on the cloak.

I arrived at the big golden vault that was literally made of gold, if I had more time, I'd totally cut it into chunks and shove it into my armor, but I can't due to time constraints.

Simply cutting a door for myself, I walked in.

Gold and platinum all over the floor, shining gemstones and artifacts with enchantments everywhere.

I tested the swords by having one try to cut the other.

Quickly I found the best one, after all I can just come back for more every loop.

81 broken swords later, I grabbed the best one. I tried to cut my sword with it, and surprisingly the noble sword in fact, was good enough to cut my black-smithed sword easily.

I grabbed all the gauntlets and heavy metal boots, followed by some elbow guards with short spikes and sturdy knee guards. 7 of each, I'll find out which was the best by getting them appraised later. Of course, I only grabbed the ones I could put atop my current gear.

6:24 PM I had 6 minutes left, and nobody had found me yet so that's good.

I hoovered up all but a single copper coin, just for the shits and giggles.

Obviously everyone this close to the slums would die like an ice-statue.

I grabbed all the books.

6:27

I grabbed the gemstones I ignored.

6:28

I decided to grab the breathing techniques, after all, you can never learn enough about how they use mana for martial arts here. I also got 4 movement techniques that seemed promising. I might be able to apply it to apply these abilities to future chi based techniques.

The shockwave of cold blasted outwards around the city. My internal potion granted temperature calculation showed an initial -120 C and it just kept getting colder.

-125 C

-135 C

-140 C

Wow, and that was just the first few seconds after the first minute, it hit -175 C

I decided to walk outside since this estate was just outside the slums.

The moment I arrived outside-

The last thing I noticed was a big -235 C as I was flash-frozen like a raw chicken exposed to liquid nitrogen squared.

I decided to yank the proverbial cord all the back as far as I could. I would arrive at 4:30 AM using 95% of my current Chi.

I decided that was the best idea.

5th lvl Houtian,

3469 platinum/Holy coins.(Nice rule bro? How did this even happen?)

Maxed out the counter on large gold.

Maxed out the counter normal gold.

Silver too.

My copper coins are still stuck at 99999+ too.

I didn't even know a denomination known as Iron Dots existed but I maxed those out too.

This, Too, Was indeed a good haul.

My eyes snapped open, the familiar sensation of temporal displacement fading away. It was 4:30 AM, the city still shrouded in the darkness of early morning.

I had successfully pulled myself back to this point in time, sacrificing a significant portion of my chi to do so.

No time to waste. Today, I would focus on the Nine-fold Slashes Technique, the sword style that had eluded me in the previous loop.

Finding the same secluded patch of grass as before, I began to practice.

The movements were intricate, each slash a precise and deliberate action, building upon the nine core forms to create an endless array of variations.

With each repetition, my understanding deepened, the movements becoming ingrained in my muscle memory.

The 1000-hour amulet worked its magic, accelerating my learning to an astonishing degree. Hours passed like minutes as I immersed myself in the intricacies of the sword style.

By the time the sun began to rise, I had mastered the basic nine slashes and was delving into the more complex permutations.

Stopping at 11AM, I realized I could use 48 of the maximum 390 forms and combinations.

With a happy look on my smiling face, I decided to pay another visit to Kasimir.

He might have something that could further enhance my combat abilities.

Stepping into the familiar alleyway, I performed the ritualistic claps and found myself once more within the ever-shifting expanse of the bazaar.

Kasimir materialized before me, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

"Back again, Tereda Chouju?" he chuckled. "Seems like only today, over and over again, that you visited me. Indeed, time loops are amusing to keep track of."

"I guess," I replied, a strange look on my face that I couldn't even comprehend even having made it. "I'm interested in movement techniques. Something to enhance my speed and agility in combat."

"Ah, a wise pursuit," Kasimir nodded. "Tell me, what is your budget for this endeavor?"

I hesitated for a moment, then replied, "Around 120 platinum coins." I didn't want to reveal the true extent of my wealth, but I knew I needed something truly exceptional.

Kasimir's eyes gleamed with interest. "For that price, I can offer you something quite extraordinary. The 'Shadowstep Waltz', a peak earth-grade movement technique said to have been developed by the assassins of the Shadow Plane. It allows the user to manipulate shadows, teleporting short distances and moving with an almost ethereal grace."

I considered his offer, picturing myself flitting through the darkness, utilizing shadows to outmaneuver my opponents. It was tempting, but ultimately, I knew it wouldn't suit my needs.

"While intriguing," I countered, "being limited to shadows would restrict my options in open combat. Do you have something with more versatility, a technique that allows for both speed and agility regardless of the environment?"

A thoughtful expression crossed Kasimir's face as he stroked his beard. "Hmm, a challenge indeed. But I believe I have just the thing."

With a flourish, he gestured for me to follow, leading me deeper into the labyrinthine maze of the bazaar.

The shelves shifted and rearranged themselves as we walked, revealing new and ever more bizarre artifacts.

Finally, we arrived at a display case containing three scrolls, each radiating a distinct aura.

"Here we have three movement techniques of exceptional versatility," Kasimir announced, his voice tinged with pride.

"The first, 'Stepping on Air,' allows one to manipulate air currents that exist around them, enhancing agility and evasion based on the movement of the surrounding atmosphere. The greater the wind, the more effortless your movements become."

He pointed to the second scroll. "This one, the 'Ice-Wind Steps,' is particularly potent in colder environments. The user draws upon the chill of the air to enhance their speed and reflexes, becoming a whirlwind of icy precision."

I grimaced at the mention of ice, the memory of Puck's devastating blizzard still fresh in my mind.

Taking that technique felt like accepting defeat, an admittance that I had failed to prevent the disaster puck would create upon release.

"And the third?" I inquired, my gaze falling upon the final scroll, its aura letting off energy that felt like the spell that woman with the carriage used to shred me when I first arrived.

"Ah, the 'Whirlwind Step,'" Kasimir explained with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

"This technique allows the user to generate wind currents with their movements, creating a whirlwind of force that enhances both speed and agility. Just as well," he added with a sly smile, "it can be used in concert with the Stepping on Air technique, creating a truly formidable combination. Now, if only a certain customer had a bit more platinum."

His words were a playful jab, a subtle acknowledgment that he knew I possessed more wealth than I had initially let on.

A flush of embarrassment crept up my neck, but I couldn't deny that I would need these techniques, especially with the synergy between Stepping on Air and Whirlwind Step.

With a sigh of resignation, I reached into my coin pouch and retrieved the necessary platinum coins. "Very well, Kasimir," I conceded. "I'll take both the wind based ones."

A wide grin spread across his face as he accepted the payment, his eyes twinkling with delight. "An excellent choice, my friend. These techniques will serve you well on your journey."

I left 400 platinum lighter than I came in with.

About an hour passed as I ran through the streets, alternating each of the two techniques.

I was close to merging them, but-

Suddenly, a commotion broke out nearby. I emerged from another alleyway to see a young girl with silver hair and elf ears chasing after a smaller figure with short blonde hair.

The smaller girl clutched a black emblem in her hand inset with a shining red gem, her eyes wide with panic and excitement.

"Stop, thief!" the silver-haired girl shouted, her voice filled with urgency.

Recognition dawned on me. This was Emilia, one of the royal candidates, and the thief girl must be Felt, the one from the orb vision.

I moved to follow.