The selection of Inner Strength techniques within the store was dazzling, and many were very familiar to Lin Chen, such as the Dragon's Eighteen Palms and the Nine Yin Manual, and there was even the Sunflower Manual, the ultimate technique of the Invincible East.
As he continued to look down, Lin Chen was somewhat shocked because he even saw Cultivation Techniques from popular contemporary novels and animations.
Flame Splitting Wave Edge, Buddha's Fury Lotus, Mighty Prison Heaven Finger, Shadow Clone, Spiral Sphere, Eight Gates Escape Technique…
Lin Chen felt a surge of envy, but these techniques were all in a gray, locked state.
"Why are these techniques all in a locked state?" Lin Chen asked, somewhat dissatisfied.
Just imagine if he could master Flame Splitting Wave Edge and Buddha's Fury Lotus, how cool would that be.
"Host does not meet the cultivation requirements, unable to practice," the system provided an annoying answer quickly.
"Damn, if I can't practice them, why display them?" Lin Chen complained.
Just then, he suddenly noticed a familiar technique, "Bajiquan," available for purchase and reasonably priced at 50 popularity points, just enough.
This was Xiao Yan's signature skill when he first debuted,
"That's the one," Lin Chen decided.
In the end, Lin Chen chose Bajiquan, because after all, being in the city, such a technique was already a game-changer, and there would definitely be no problem using it for self-defense.
"Ding-dong, does the host want to deduct 50 popularity points to exchange for 'Bajiquan'?"
"Confirmed!" Lin Chen responded.
"Ding-dong, congratulations host 'Lin Chen' for learning the Advanced Earth Rank Fighting Technique 'Bajiquan.' 50 popularity points deducted, balance 60."
Accompanied by a flash of golden light, a brief introduction of the martial arts technique appeared in Lin Chen's mind:
"Bajiquan, a close-range combat technique known for its powerful attacks. Once fully mastered, the attacks carry eight layers of vigorous Qi, stacking eightfold, its power comparable to a low-level Earth Rank technique!"
Lin Chen couldn't help but laugh excitedly, never having imagined he would one day possess such a powerful skill.
He threw a punch at a thick tree trunk nearby.
"Bang!"
Accompanied by a muffled sound,
The tree trunk bore a fist imprint, with cracks extending outward.
"Crack, crack,"
Accompanied by soft sounds from within the tree trunk.
"Bang!"
Another loud explosion, and the entire tree trunk burst open, breaking into two halves.
"So powerful!"
Lin Chen looked at his fist, as if in a dream, never having thought that one day he could split a tree trunk into two with a single punch.
At that moment, a set of light footsteps suddenly came from the doorway, and Lin Chen looked towards the door.
He saw Zhao Xiaowen walk in with a jar in her hands.
"Are today's insecticides sold out?" Looking at the empty water tank beside Lin Chen, Zhao Xiaowen said with some regret.
Lin Chen smiled, "Of course not, I saved a jar for you. Come on, let me personally help you apply it."
Hearing Lin Chen's words, Zhao Xiaowen felt a warmth in her heart, "Thank you."
The two went to Zhao Xiaowen's field. Lin Chen picked up the pesticide sprayer, spraying the crops. Watching the gold beetles fall to the ground, Zhao Xiaowen was also taken aback.
"Lin Chen, how did you manage to develop such a powerful insecticide?" Zhao Xiaowen curiously asked.
Zhao Xiaowen was very familiar with Lin Chen; the two had been classmates from elementary school through high school.
In her eyes, however, Lin Chen was a very ordinary student with no special skills and was not particularly outstanding. Although they had always been classmates, the words they had exchanged could be counted on one hand.
She had not expected that Lin Chen would one day develop an insecticide capable of killing armored beetles, which was beyond her anticipation.
"I usually like to read books about insects, and I accidentally came up with this," Lin Chen said with a smile as he made up a hasty excuse.
Although not fully satisfied with Lin Chen's answer, Zhao Xiaowen didn't say much. She pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from Lin Chen's cheeks.
The fragrance of the handkerchief on Lin Chen's face was sweet in his heart.
Not far away, a BYD sedan stopped on the road next to the field. A young man wearing sunglasses in the car saw the scene of Zhao Xiaowen wiping Lin Chen's sweat and was furious.
"Damn it, Lin Chen, you dare to woo my woman? You're asking for trouble!" Wu Bin glared at the two, who were laughing and talking in the field, his lungs almost bursting with anger.
"Brother, should we go over and give him a lesson?" asked a young man with a pointy face from the passenger seat.
"Wait a moment. Once he and Xiaowen separate, bring him over here," Wu Bin said harshly as he threw his cigarette on the ground.
Soon, Lin Chen had sprayed Zhao Xiaowen's entire field; the insects in the field had been completely eradicated.
What was even more surprising was that the crops that had been wilting from the beetle bites seemed to come back to life after being sprayed.
"Thank you. Here is the money for the medication," Zhao Xiaowen said as she handed Lin Chen two hundred yuan.
Lin Chen shook his head, "I can't take your money; we are old classmates after all."
Lin Chen knew that Zhao Xiaowen's family was not well-off; her father had always been sick in the hospital, and her mother had been maintaining the family by running a small restaurant alone, which was not easy.
"That wouldn't be right," Zhao Xiaowen tried to tuck the money into his pocket, but Lin Chen turned and ran away.
Zhao Xiaowen wanted to chase after Lin Chen but suddenly noticed that Lin Chen was running incredibly fast, disappearing in a flash.
"Why is he running so fast when his physical education grades were always failing in school?" Zhao Xiaowen wondered as she gazed frustratedly at Lin Chen's vanishing figure.
When Lin Chen saw that Zhao Xiaowen wasn't following, he breathed a sigh of relief, but just then two young men appeared in front of him.
"Lin Chen, our boss wants to see you. Come with us," the two men said mockingly as they sneered at Lin Chen.
Seeing the two, Lin Chen was stunned. Both were village bullies Wu Bin's henchmen, one called Monkey and the other called Dumb Bear.
"Does he want something from me?" Lin Chen wondered. To his knowledge, he had never offended Wu Bin, so why would he seek him out?
"Enough talk, let's go. Brother Wu is getting impatient, and you'll be sorry," Dumb Bear said menacingly.
"Alright, let's go," Lin Chen shrugged.
If it had been before, Lin Chen might have been concerned, but now he wasn't afraid of Wu Bin at all.
Lin Chen walked behind the two, heading towards a small grove not far away.
In the grove, Wu Bin was smoking a cigarette and fidgeting with a dagger, his eyes coldly watching Lin Chen as he approached.
"Boss, Lin Chen has been brought to you," Monkey said respectfully.
Wu Bin blew a smoke ring, his gaze icy as he smirked arrogantly, "Lin Chen, you've got quite some nerve!"
"Wu Bin, I don't recall provoking you. What's the matter?" Lin Chen asked calmly.
Seeing Lin Chen's composed demeanor, Wu Bin was very displeased. In Peach Blossom Village, everyone trembled at the sight of him, a chilling sneer emerged at his lips: "Something wrong? Kneel down and call me 'Grandpa' twice, then I'll tell you."
A chill flashed in Lin Chen's eyes, "Wu Bin, are you seeking death?"
"What did you say?" Wu Bin's face twisted even more fiercely.