Ren Isana left Maya's shop with his newly acquired Tang Dao. Looking at his savings, which were now two thousand Valis short, he couldn't help but start thinking about how to make some money.
No matter what world you were in, it was impossible to move a single step without money. This sword was practically a gift from Maya; if he had to buy it with his own money, heaven knows how much it would have cost.
Therefore, aside from his studies, Ren's most important task right now was making money.
Should he get a part-time job? Setting aside whether he even had the time, the meager wages from a part-time job would be nothing more than a drop in the bucket.
If he wanted to make serious money, he had to find other methods. Maybe start a side hustle?
Or perhaps he could head out to hunt the monsters wandering the city and harvest their materials.
Ren pondered how to get his hands on more cash as he walked. He was desperately broke right now.
Lost in thought, he soon arrived at the commercial district. Seeing that he had reached his destination, Ren began his shopping.
In addition to buying some necessary clothes, he also picked up some groceries and seasonings to take back.
The apartment the previous owner of this body rented had a kitchen and natural gas, but he had barely ever used them.
To his predecessor, as long as his stomach was full, anything was fine. He had always eaten at a nearby fast-food joint, spending only ten or so Valis a meal.
However, the current Ren naturally couldn't tolerate that. He knew how to cook and didn't like eating out.
Furthermore, with the eyes of [Jianjigu], becoming a master chef would be a piece of cake. It was better to just buy groceries and cook for himself.
By the time he finished buying everything, the sun had already set. Looking at his savings, which had dropped by another few hundred, Ren felt a wave of helplessness.
At this rate, barring any miracles, his savings wouldn't even last until next month.
Making money really needed to be put on the agenda. What a hassle.
Carrying bags big and small, Ren returned to his rented apartment. After setting his things down, he began preparing dinner.
He took out his phone, propped it up next to the stove, glanced at his ingredients, and then searched online for master chef tutorial videos to start learning.
He had to admit, the boost provided by his talent was truly intoxicating. There was a distinct thrill in feeling knowledge pour directly into his brain.
And once it entered, it wasn't leaving. Ren mastered it all instantly. Learning as he cooked, his speed was incredibly fast.
When he finished preparing dinner, he could hardly believe he had made it himself. After all, in the past, he only knew how to cook a few simple home-style dishes.
But the food he just produced was perfect in color, aroma, and taste. He felt like he could easily go out and apply for a job as a chef.
Ren took a bite. The taste was absolutely fantastic. He immediately picked up his bowl and started wolfing it down.
Perhaps because of his martial arts training today, Ren had an exceptionally hearty appetite. Even after finishing all the dishes he made, he still felt like he hadn't had enough.
Ren now had a clear understanding of his current appetite.
*After condensing True Qi, my appetite has grown too. In this world, if you don't have money, you really might not be fit to practice martial arts.*
Muttering to himself, Ren cleared the dishes and then picked up the Tang Dao to study it carefully.
He didn't know what material the blade was made of, but it gave off a piercing chill to the touch, far surpassing anything ordinary steel could compare to.
After carefully examining the Tang Dao, Ren used his phone to start learning again, searching the internet for tutorials on blade techniques.
Furthermore, Ren planned to try a special experiment. Before he transmigrated, he had played a game with a famous saying: "If you don't work hard in your youth, you'll be stuck shooting sword auras while backstepping..."
Could that skill set be recreated in this world? If so, he could pull off those flashy, airborne combos too.
While learning some basic stances, he recalled the moves used by the character in that game.
Gradually, a rough outline formed in Ren's mind. Unleashing those kinds of techniques was actually doable.
However, he needed more foundational moves to support it. Only then could he execute the set of Sword Skills he was picturing.
As for how to shoot sword auras, that was simple. Once his True Qi reached the fourth tier and could be projected outward, he would be able to do it effortlessly.
Figuring this out, Ren's eyes immediately lit up. This was absolutely fantastic. The Ultimate Ghost Swordsmanship in his head was incredibly cool.
It would be incredibly strong in this world, too. Powerful and stylish—who wouldn't love that? Just the thought of juggling enemies in the air while radiating sword aura to clear dungeons got Ren hyped beyond belief.
It was decided. He would walk that path from now on. No matter what, he had to recreate that set of Sword Skills.
He, Ren Isana, was going to become the Grandmaster Blade Soul of this world! With this thought in mind, Ren began devouring various sword techniques online from the comfort of his apartment.
Regardless of whether they were useful or not, he would learn them first. Since he could learn anything just by watching it once and master it by watching it twice, Ren wasn't worried in the slightest.
*I guess this counts as getting stronger just by scrolling through videos, right?* Thinking of this, Ren couldn't help but laugh out loud.
He scrolled through videos for nearly two hours, keeping them on 1.5x speed the entire time. Ren learned every sword move he could find, even though many were repetitive.
But he didn't skip a single one. If someone dared to post it, Ren dared to watch it. Because of this, in just a few short hours, Ren transformed from a complete novice with blades into a seasoned master.
Moreover, Ren felt even more confident in his idea. The set of Sword Skills in his mind was becoming clearer and clearer.
Ren checked the time. Seeing that it was getting late, he finally stopped, washed up, and went to rest.
The night passed uneventfully. The next morning, Ren woke up, washed up, and packed the things he needed to bring. He then went downstairs, bought breakfast, and headed to school.
Passing by the area where the elderly men and women were exercising, Ren took a glance. Realizing they were all practicing things he had already learned, he lost interest.
Eating his breakfast on the way to school, Ren noticed something unusual. There were a lot more patrolmen on the streets.
Seeing these armed individuals seemingly searching for something, Ren felt a bit puzzled. *What happened? Why are they on such high alert?*
Although curious, Ren had no intention of joining the commotion for now. After a few glances, he continued on his way to school.
When Ren arrived at school and entered his new classroom, there were already people inside. Furthermore, Ren noticed a new student sitting in the seat behind Megumi Kato.
Seeing the student sitting there quietly reading a book, Ren felt a subtle shift in his mood.
Flaxen hair and delicate features—Ren recognized her at a single glance. It was Asuna Yuuki!
*I can't believe she's in this world too! Does this mean there are even more familiar faces out there? And wait... it seems like I'm completely surrounded by rich girls!!*