Chapter 219: Wider Reach
Adam’s finger hovered for a fraction longer as the logic finalized in his mind. Pricing wasn’t optional, it was the core of the entire system. Without value, there was no return. Without return, there was no Enlightenment.
It all connected too cleanly to ignore.
For a Master to gain Enlightenment from a technique, that technique had to carry weight. It had to mean something to the person receiving it. If it was handed out freely, that connection disappeared instantly.
No value meant no gain.
Adam’s gaze sharpened slightly as he followed that thought further. Pricing wasn’t just about making profit. It was about setting a threshold. If the price was too low, it reduced perceived worth, weakening the exchange.
For example, a Supreme Grade technique sold for almost nothing would break the balance, the system wouldn’t reward it and Enlightenment wouldn’t come.
The value had to match the grade, the demand, and the impact. Too low, and it was ignored. Too high, and no one would take it.
It had to be exact.
Adam leaned back slightly, recalling something else, his own rewards.
Most of the techniques he had received weren’t purchased. They were earned. Yet Adam knew they still generated Enlightenment for their creators. That meant value wasn’t limited to currency. It could come from actions.
From achievement.
Wind Carnage Requiem...
He got it after saving an entire sector.
Absolute Wind Control...
That came when he reached Master rank, even while unconscious.
Those weren’t small feats. They carried weight far beyond any simple transaction. His actions had paid the cost, and the system had recognized it. That recognition translated into value and value triggered Enlightenment.
The same rule. Different form.
Adam’s eyes narrowed slightly as another thought surfaced. Then how does the system track all of this? Martial artists didn’t have panels like him. They didn’t see notifications, values, or gains.
Yet it still worked.
Something was recording everything.
Every technique learned. Every exchange made. Every act of value, whether through currency or achievement. It measured it all, then returned Enlightenment only when the balance was correct.
The same applied to existence.
That resource governed evolution, martial spirits, and even learning speed. It followed the same invisible rules. Input, output, value, return. Everything tied back into the same structure.
Adam exhaled slowly, a faint smile forming.
"It’s like a game..."
Adam let the thought settle, then pushed it aside. Some things weren’t meant to be solved immediately. Digging too deep without strength to back it up was reckless. For now, understanding the surface was enough.
There were still bigger priorities.
"I still have that guest in my soul... and a second soul I barely understand," he muttered under his breath. The reminder was sharp. Those weren’t small mysteries. They were risks waiting to become problems.
Adam exhaled slowly and steadied himself. One step at a time. There was no need to rush everything at once. Power first. Understanding later. That order had kept him alive so far.
His focus returned to the forum.
Sixty three profound techniques sat ready, waiting to be released. As he initiated the upload process, the interface prompted him with several options. The first was simple - identity visibility.
Public or anonymous.
Adam didn’t hesitate.
Anonymous.
There was no benefit to exposing himself so he kept it anonymous. The next requirement appeared immediately after.
Demonstration videos.
Each technique needed visual proof, something buyers could analyze before committing. Without it, the techniques wouldn’t pass verification. Adam didn’t waste time questioning it. It made sense.
He left the room and headed straight to the manor’s training grounds.
The moment he arrived, he began moving.
Fire surged first as he displayed the techniques like Eternal Sun and Crimson Lotus of the Fire God. Earth followed, forming Geocentric Absolute and Terra Invicta with crushing stability.
Then came wind, with Vayu’s Descent followed by Zephyr Void Cutter. Finally, lightning gathered, condensed into a single devastating release, Indra’s Judgment.
Each technique was executed once but from the side, Scott who had been initially training had stopped moving entirely. His eyes stayed locked on Adam, confusion and disbelief written clearly across his face. Multiple affinities, and perfect execution with no hesitation.
It didn’t make sense.
Adam gave him a simple nod before leaving.
Once the recordings were complete, he returned to his room without a word. Back inside, he uploaded each video carefully.
Then came the descriptions.
He kept them clean and direct, outlining the core concepts. Each technique was positioned for maximum appeal.
Once submitted, the system initiated verification.
A brief pause followed.
Then...
[Verification Complete]
[Suggested Price Calculated]
Adam’s eyes flicked to the numbers.
Each one sat close to a million.
There was no hesitation.
Adam accepted the pricing and pushed all sixty three techniques live in a single motion.
****
Adam leaned back in his chair, eyes fixed on the monitor. The techniques were live. The prices were set. Everything had been verified and pushed onto the marketplace. Now, there was nothing left to do but wait.
Seconds passed.
Then minutes.
But nothing changed.
Adam let out a slow breath. This outcome wasn’t unexpected. If anything, it confirmed what he had already predicted.
The techniques he posted weren’t aimed at Martial artists with SSS rank cultivation talent because supreme Grade techniques would have been too expensive and restrictive. Only those with SSS cultivation talent could even learn them, and those people were rare.
Too rare.
That kind of audience wouldn’t generate the volume he needed. Even if they purchased, the numbers wouldn’t scale fast enough. It wasn’t about quality alone, it was about reach.
And reach required accessibility.
Adam’s gaze sharpened slightly as he reviewed his decision. The techniques he released were optimized for broader use. They targeted those with D and E rank cultivation talent.
Those were the ones who needed techniques the most. The ones constantly searching for something affordable, usable, and effective. If they could learn his techniques, the numbers would stack fast.
And with numbers came Enlightenment.
"It’ll come," Adam said, pushing himself up from the chair.
There was no point sitting still, staring at an unmoving screen. The system didn’t reward impatience. It rewarded results.