An auxiliary technique that doubles efficiency! That was clearly nonsense.

If such a technique truly existed, it would definitely be a secret manual never shared externally, treasured even by top-tier major sects, and its value would be immense. Why would it need to be peddled around like this?

Looking at this male cultivator, Leaf Gray knew he wasn't specifically targeting him but was lurking outside the Merchant Alliance, randomly choosing targets.

He just happened to be seen by him.

"Not interested." Leaf Gray didn't plan to engage with him further.

Unexpectedly, the man persisted, continuously explaining the wonders of the technique to Leaf Gray – how simple it was to cultivate, its strong compatibility with various low-level techniques, how anyone could easily master it. He even said with a solemn expression, "Fellow Daoist, if you don't believe me, I can swear a Providentia Oath. Every word I've said is true; I would never deceive you."

Leaf Gray stopped and frowned at him.

He had sworn a Providentia Oath before, so he knew this kind of oath witnessed by Providentia was no joke.

He couldn't help but feel puzzled. Could there really be such a powerful technique in this world? Doubling a person's cultivation efficiency – what did that even mean?

Seeing Leaf Gray's interest, the male cultivator gestured and said, "It's too crowded and noisy here, not suitable for detailed discussion. Fellow Daoist, this way please."

Leaf Gray thought for a moment, then followed the man to a less crowded spot.

"Swear the oath," Leaf Gray went straight to the point.

The man swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue, chuckled wryly, and said, "Alright. But Fellow Daoist, if I swear the oath, you can't refuse to buy."

"If the price is right, I'll naturally buy."

The male cultivator nodded, his expression turning serious, and said solemnly, "This humble cultivator Faelan Blackwood respectfully requests Providentia to bear witness: every word I just said is true. If there is even half a falsehood, may I suffer all the torments the human world has to offer and die!"

An intangible power descended from the unseen, landing on the back of the male cultivator named Faelan Blackwood's hand – clearly the location of his battlefield imprint.

Leaf Gray's expression turned stern. This guy was really going all out to sell that technique, daring to swear such a vicious oath.

"Let me see the item," Leaf Gray said.

Faelan Blackwood shook his head. "Fellow Daoist, you jest. The technique is simple and clear. If you were to see it, you could memorize it immediately. Why would you need to buy it then?"

"How much?"

"Thirty spirit stones!" Faelan Blackwood quoted the price.

Leaf Gray turned and walked away.

Although he didn't know exactly what the deal was with that technique, and Faelan Blackwood was even willing to swear a Providentia Oath for it, he was certain there must be some trick involved. Otherwise, forget thirty spirit stones, it could be sold for three thousand.

"Fellow Daoist, wait! In business, the seller quotes a high price, the buyer makes a counteroffer! How can you just turn and leave without even trying to bargain? One should have some integrity." Faelan Blackwood quickly grabbed Leaf Gray, persuading him earnestly.

"Three!" Leaf Gray followed the advice and tried making a counteroffer.

"Deal!" Faelan Blackwood took out a jade slip and slapped it into Leaf Gray's palm.

Leaf Gray's eye twitched.

"Fellow Daoist, I did swear a Providentia Oath. And you just said you'd buy if the price was right. This price of three was set by you yourself. Surely you won't go back on your word, Fellow Daoist?"

Leaf Gray was left speechless. In the end, he took out three spirit stones and gave them to the other party. Faelan Blackwood, having obtained the spirit stones, left happily.

Holding the jade slip, before Leaf Gray could even check its contents, someone walked over laughing and teased, "Got scammed, didn't you?"

Leaf Gray looked at the person. The man shrugged: "I got scammed by him too. That technique is completely useless."

Leaf Gray understood. "You were watching just now?"

The man laughed: "It's better for two people to be unlucky than just me alone, don't you think? I feel much better now." He even winked at Leaf Gray.

Leaf Gray said calmly, "If I were you, I'd go compete with him for business. If he can sell that technique, why can't you? Instead of just watching others get scammed, might as well go scam some spirit stones yourself. You might even make a profit."

The man fell into deep thought upon hearing Leaf Gray's words. After a good while, he slapped his thigh: "That makes sense!"

When he looked up, Leaf Gray was already gone.

Outside the market, Leaf Gray, riding on the big tiger's back, had already sped away, not bothering with the scheming of those unscrupulous merchants.

Although he was sure he had truly been scammed, fortunately, the cost wasn't high – only three spirit stones. He had just traded for over a hundred spirit stones at the Merchant Alliance, so he was relatively wealthy and didn't mind too much.

However, Faelan Blackwood even swore a Providentia Oath, meaning the technique really could improve cultivation efficiency as he said; otherwise, he would have suffered the oath's backlash long ago.

What was really going on?

Feeling suspicious, Leaf Gray began investigating the specifics of the technique.

Gluttonous Feast – that was the name of the technique.

Moreover, it was a technique difficult to grade because the entire meridian pathway it covered involved only fifteen apertures!

One must know that the Cicada's Transcendent Metamorphosis Leaf Gray cultivated was already the lowest-grade Yellow Rank technique, capable of opening twenty-seven apertures.

This Gluttonous Feast only had fifteen apertures, not even reaching Yellow Rank.

But considering it wasn't a primary cultivation technique but an auxiliary one, it was somewhat understandable.

Just as Faelan Blackwood had said earlier, the meridian pathway of this technique was clear and extremely simple. Because it covered very few apertures, and those apertures were all located near the lower abdomen, it had strong compatibility with all low-level techniques.

The compatibility between two techniques depends on how many overlapping apertures their meridian pathways cover. The more overlap, the higher the compatibility.

All low-level techniques open apertures scattered near the lower abdomen because the Origin Spiritual Aperture is located here. Many low-level techniques open almost identical apertures; it's the difference in meridian pathways that leads to variations in the techniques' characteristics.

The same nine apertures, connected in different sequences, result in different flow speeds of spiritual power within them, which in turn affects the cultivator's strength.

Therefore, the sequence of connecting apertures is a very rigorous matter.

The fifteen apertures in the Gluttonous Feast's meridian pathway basically overlapped with the twenty-seven apertures of Cicada's Transcendent Metamorphosis. Only two apertures were not included in Cicada's Transcendent Metamorphosis. In other words, if Leaf Gray finished cultivating Cicada's Transcendent Metamorphosis and then opened those two additional apertures, he could uncover the secret of the Gluttonous Feast.

There was no rush. After he finished cultivating Cicada's Transcendent Metamorphosis, he could see if this Gluttonous Feast was truly as miraculous as claimed, capable of doubling cultivation efficiency.

Putting away the jade slip, Leaf Gray took out the Ten-Point Map again. He compared the distance between Jade Market III and V on the map and calculated the time he had spent.

Then he looked at the route he had planned to The Vermilion Guild.

After a quick calculation, Leaf Gray couldn't help but sigh. At this speed, even without any delays on the road, it would probably take a very, very long time to return to The Vermilion Guild headquarters.

If he encountered any incidents causing delays, it would take even longer.

The road ahead was long. Fortunately, Leaf Gray wasn't entirely alone; at least he had Evie and the big tiger by his side.