Transmigration To Magus World-Chapter 59: Negotiating with a Tiger

"Rise and come over here," the person behind the screen said, their deep voice slightly weakened, yet still commanding authority.

Hearing this, Aizen straightened his back and, without hesitation, lifted the beaded curtain and walked in. He moved around the screen to see a large ebony desk, on which sat the Four Treasures of the Study, antiques, and an official seal.

A sturdy, burly figure stood by the pearwood armchair in front of the desk, facing away from Aizen as he placed a book into the bookshelf behind him. Just his robust, solid back alone exuded a certain pressure.

"You were promoted to a Black-Clothed Disciple only half a month ago?"

This burly, sturdy Elder Mustang turned around, his hair silver but his eyes sharp, like a tiger watching its prey, his gaze firmly fixed on Aizen.

This question hit the mark.

Aizen wasn’t surprised; anyone who had investigated him would be curious about his rapid advancement. It was just that Elder Mustang’s questioning was particularly direct.

"Yes, Elder. Half a month ago, I advanced to the rank of Black-Clothed Disciple," he replied straightforwardly.

Elder Mustang’s tone remained direct. "In half a month, you’ve advanced twice and ascended the mountain to become an outer Clan disciple. How do you explain this?"

Indeed, it required an explanation.

When the stronger party becomes curious, if the weaker one can’t quell that curiosity, it risks having the stronger party forcefully extract the information.

It’s like if a drunken man became curious about a woman’s body: she could either submit willingly to satisfy his curiosity, or stand firm and see if she can fend him off or if he overpowers her.

Elder Mustang was too powerful. Aizen had confirmed by now that Elder Mustang was not an Innate Magus stage expert, but he was still among the strongest below that level.

The usual tricks wouldn’t work on this elder. Whatever the elder asked, Aizen had to answer carefully and reasonably. Fortunately, he had already anticipated this situation and had a plan in mind.

"Elder, you must already have a rough idea of my abilities. I had a fortunate encounter about half a year ago, and I began training in secret. Fearing that others would covet my fortuitous gain, I kept it hidden until I fully mastered it. Half a month ago, my skills advanced, so I went to qualify as a Black-Clothed Disciple."

"Oh~ So you’re saying that this powerful internal energy, as if cultivated over ten years, was acquired in just six months?"

Elder Mustang’s expression was half-smiling, his eyes flashing with a dangerous gleam.

Aizen’s face revealed a trace of surprise, which he quickly concealed, giving a wry smile. "I didn’t expect Elder Mustang to see through it as well. Yes, this ten years’ worth of internal energy was indeed accumulated over the past six months."

"Is that so?" Elder Mustang’s smile grew deeper, but his eyes shone with a clear menace, even a killing intent.

Aizen nodded. "Elder Mustang, perhaps you haven’t heard of a specific cultivation technique that strengthens oneself by absorbing others’ internal energy. This is the reason I’ve cultivated this much internal energy so quickly."

"What?" Elder Mustang’s expression changed. "Did you acquire the Primordial Sunlight Manual of Elder Sunlight Magus?"

"Primordial Sunlight Manual?" Aizen was momentarily stunned. Revealing his Absorbing Star Technique was a strategic compromise, but this Elder Mustang seemed to have jumped to conclusions with this Primordial Sunlight Manual. Could it be that this world also had techniques similar to the Absorbing Star Technique?

It was possible. After all, the world is filled with extraordinary people, and the Absorbing Star Technique, as rated by the system, was merely a fourth-rate cultivation method. Perhaps someone in this world had indeed developed a technique similar to the Absorbing Star Technique.

"Where is this manual?"

Elder Mustang’s eyes gleamed, but Aizen shook his head. "By sharing this with you, Elder Mustang, I am choosing to pledge my loyalty to you. This manual no longer exists; it only remains in my mind. I can recite the technique for you. With your vast experience, you should be able to determine its origins."

This was playing with fire, negotiating with a tiger.

But Aizen had been forced into a corner. Since challenging the mountain and defeating Krul, he had already been walking on a tightrope. To survive, he had to take risks.

The Absorbing Star Technique was his strength—and potentially his downfall.

If he didn’t ascend the outer mountain to qualify as an outer Clan disciple, the system would erase his technique. By ascending, he’d succeeded, but his technique became something that others would inevitably covet.

Elder Mustang didn’t doubt him. People who obtain secret manuals through fortuitous encounters rarely keep them after training to avoid having them stolen.

"Recite it for me," Elder Mustang said as he sat down in his pearwood chair, looking fully composed.

Without hesitation, Aizen recited the Absorbing Star Technique, though he omitted the fusion technique. One must always keep an ace in the hole.

The fourth-rate Absorbing Star Technique, without the fusion technique, was formidable but would only rank at the bottom of the fifth-rate techniques.

With the system, as long as he survived, he’d have ample opportunities to acquire even stronger techniques, so he wasn’t overly attached to the Absorbing Star Technique. For now, though, his focus was on handling this old fox, Elder Mustang.

If this wily old man planned to kill him to silence him after acquiring the technique, Aizen was prepared with a last resort.

With this thought, Aizen finished reciting the technique, withholding only the fusion method, while part of his attention shifted to the active marketplace of the system.

It was now past six in the morning, nearing the hour of 10 a.m., and the rare items in the marketplace had already refreshed.

One of these items had long been on Aizen’s radar. When he was poisoned by needles and faced Giordano and his companion, he had been tempted to buy it but ultimately held back.

Now, though, if this old turtle of an elder tried to kill him after getting what he wanted, Aizen was prepared to strike back.

People without power may wait passively to die, but those with strength and trump cards are unlikely to resign themselves to fate.

After hearing the recited technique, Elder Mustang furrowed his brows, lost in thought. After a long moment, his gaze returned to Aizen.

"This technique is indeed unique. Based on my experience, I’d say it was created by a master who borrowed from the Primordial Sunlight Manual of Elder Sunlight Magus. But this technique is inferior to the Primordial Sunlight Manual itself. If I’m not mistaken, although it allows rapid internal power growth, it has significant flaws that are difficult to overcome... Have you noticed this flaw?"

Aizen sneered inwardly; this old fox was still probing.

Feigning ignorance, he shook his head. "This... With my limited knowledge, I haven’t noticed any major flaws. By absorbing others’ internal energy, I’ve quickly grown stronger. Currently, several streams of energy flow within me, giving me great strength. However, I do feel a slight ache in my Core and meridians at night. Could this be the flaw you’re referring to, Elder?"

Elder Mustang squinted slightly. Aizen’s expression seemed genuine, and he inwardly sneered: This kid is ultimately inexperienced in Sorcery arts. Even with a good technique, he’s like a nouveau riche who doesn’t understand how to use it. If a technique existed to absorb unlimited internal energy and endlessly grow stronger, would the Elder Sunlight Magus have met a tragic end...?

Though the technique has serious flaws, it’s still useful for reference. However, this kid recklessly absorbs energy, quickly enhancing his strength but ultimately inviting disaster. If he continues, his core might explode from the multiple energy streams.

I’ll let him live a while longer. His strength is sufficient to serve as a powerful pawn. At the rate he’s going, he’ll turn into a cripple eventually, so I’ll use him while I can.