Secret Buyer

Chapter 654: Chapter 381: The Third Test

Meng Ahnan struggled to follow.

"Sink your body down, keep your spine straight, don’t collapse your waist like withered crops."

"What about your hands? Hold them at your navel, don’t let them swing around, or you’ll lose your breath."

After Seventh finished speaking, he set up a stance, standing on the freezing field ridge, his whole body loose and slack, with not a bit of a martial artist’s posture, looking like he might topple over at any moment.

"Just stand like this, don’t think about anything else. If you can stand for the duration of an incense stick, you’re at the Entry Level."

"Remember, keep your body loose, let your spirit settle, like the wheat in the field, digging its roots deep so it won’t fear the northwest wind."

After teaching, he carefully offered a fawning smile to the overseer:

"Sir, it’s done."

"Hmm."

The overseer waved his hand weakly, laconically saying:

"Those who stand long enough, go to work once the incense stick is done. It’s only like this on the first day; from now on, if you want to stand, you’ll have to do it on your own time after work."

Meng Ahnan panted, this exercise wasn’t really hard, but it was so cold,

and being barefoot, standing on the hardened frozen soil, after just a short while, his feet were in sharp pain,

as time dragged on, the cold wind kept burrowing into his coat, his whole body felt like it was being gnawed by ants, numb and itchy.

Among them, a tenant was the first to give in, with an "ouch," he sat down on the ground, his lips turning purple with cold,

Meng Ahnan also felt like he couldn’t stand it, his hands, legs trembling uncontrollably, his teeth chattering.

Zhang Zichong seemed to notice Meng Ahnan’s predicament, and whispered:

"Brother Ah Nan, you must hold on, my brother said, this is the first test, if you can stand for an entire incense stick, you’ll have the right to measure your vitality and blood in a few days!"

Meng Ahnan nodded with difficulty, persistently enduring.

He didn’t know how vitality and blood were measured, nor did he know what benefits there were to being a martial farmer, he only knew he couldn’t die again.

This was not the modern world, life was as cheap as a straw, if he wanted to survive, to live well, to live like a person, he had to stand out.

Two more people fell beside him—they didn’t know this was a selection, so naturally, they didn’t have the willpower to persist.

The length of an incense stick felt as long as the last boring lesson before school holidays.

"Time’s up." The overseer suddenly straightened up, tapping his copper smoking pipe: "The three who are still standing, what are your names?"

Zhang Zichong looked up in surprise,

as Meng Ahnan stood to the side, dazed, without any reaction.

It was like fog had appeared before his eyes, a bit hazy. The Buddha statue he was holding was getting hot, burning his skin,

amidst the fog in front of him, that Buddha Statue appeared.

Or rather,

a being identical to the pure and compassionate Buddha Statue emerged.

Meng Ahnan keenly sensed that everything around him had fallen into stillness,

the overseer, Zhang Zichong, the tenants,

even the cold wind blowing from the sky, had frozen at this moment.

Everything in the world ceased, leaving only the majestic being before him.

"You... who are you?"

Meng Ahnan spoke in a trembling voice, softly, gazing at the mysterious being that occupied all his vision,

The figure carried a huge rotating wheel on his back, behind which were indescribable things, like the legendary Six Paths of Reincarnation.

The mysterious being smiled gently:

"In this harsh world, only those who strive will succeed. I bestow upon you the gift of unfaltering progress with effort, granting you the Divine Techniques of never regress."

"Additionally, I grant you the destiny of always gaining reward from attempts—do you wish to accept?"

Meng Ahnan was bewildered, his heart filled with both surprise and apprehension. Was this... his golden finger arriving??

As long as he worked hard, he would progress, as long as he tried, there would be rewards, and everything he learned and gained would never regress!

"I accept!" he answered without hesitation.

The mysterious being nodded with a smile, his expression suddenly becoming solemn and dignified:

"Every gift has a price."

"I give you the Divine Techniques to keep moving forward in turbulent times, but I must also take something from you."

As he spoke, a large Contract appeared in the mysterious being’s hand.

Meng Ahnan’s heart raced, listening... was this like a devil’s contract?

He gritted his teeth:

"I’ll do as you instruct, senior!"

The mysterious being smiled again, inscribing words on the Contract.

A Contract that even the Supreme Fruit Position could be traded for... what couldn’t be traded then?

"I bestow you three great gifts, three talents, Divine Techniques, and destiny, the talent of inevitable progress, called ’Primordial Origin’."

"The talent of never regressing, called ’Taiqing’."

"The destiny of inevitable gain, called ’Spiritual Treasure’."

"Since you bear this destiny, you shall also bear the Cause and Effect... and as an exchange."

Zhang Fusheng paused, gazing at the tense Ah Nan, then spoke with a serene tone:

"And as an exchange, when I attain enlightenment, you shall substitute for me to achieve it, enlightenment is yours, but the power of the Fruit Position remains mine."

Three question marks appeared on Meng Ahnan’s forehead.

Enlightenment...?

He didn’t understand, but it seemed this contract only had benefits, no downsides.

He merely had to bear some Cause and Effect, and enlightenment without the power of the Fruit Position was all.

"I accept!"

He shouted out.

The mysterious being nodded, saying "Good," then vanished into thin air.

Time resumed its flow.

’Crack!’

The overseer whipped:

"Why aren’t you working?"

Meng Ahnan silently picked up the hoe, but his eyes were full of determination—everything was different now!