Tiffany hid tightly behind Thunder, clutching his clothes and not daring to look.

Thunder saw that the person in charge was about to whip again, so he grabbed the whip: "Don't hit him."

The person in charge glanced suspiciously at Thunder, said nothing, and withdrew the whip.

The man was looking at Thunder, and Thunder was staring back at him.

What a face! Truly an exceptional face!

"What's your name?" Thunder looked at him and asked with a smile.

"He's mute," the person in charge kindly reminded Thunder.

"Carlos!" The man opened his mouth and spoke his name, loud and clear. The person in charge was dumbfounded. Ever since this slave had been sent to the trading post, he had never spoken a word. It had been over a year, and no one had bought him. The person in charge was used to him squatting in the corner every day, but today he actually spoke?

The person in charge felt as if a club had struck him on the head.

"Carlos, good name!" Thunder nodded. "Are you willing to follow me? Be responsible for protecting me and my family's safety, and swear by honor and dignity! If necessary, even at the cost of your own life."

The person in charge's face twitched as he looked at Thunder; he really couldn't understand how a slave could have honor and dignity.

Carlos nodded, his gaze resolute.

"Alright, it's him!" Thunder laughed heartily, and under the confused gaze of the person in charge, chose the last slave slot.

You know nothing! Thunder secretly laughed to himself. Carlos's face showed he was destined for wealth but unable to enjoy it; a mole on his Palace of Fortune blocked his luck, so even if good fortune came to him, it would be diverted away.

In other words, whoever stayed by Carlos's side would benefit the most, as all of Carlos's wealth and luck would be transferred to those around him.

This was the legendary lucky star! Thunder suddenly remembered some information he had seen at Longhu Mountain; otherwise, he really wouldn't have bought Carlos.

Eight strong slaves followed behind Thunder, making him look even more imposing.

Unexpectedly, Tiffany requested to buy the maids herself. Thunder looked at her in confusion but agreed.

But after the little girl bought eight maids, Thunder understood what Tiffany was up to.

Although these eight maids were also rather pretty, their looks were only average and couldn't compare to Tiffany at all.

Little rascal! Over the past few days, Thunder had discovered that although this little maid didn't like to talk and was always quiet, she was quite cunning.

As for maids, as long as they managed the household, it was fine—they weren't for show, so Thunder had no objections.

Eight guards cost eighty gold coins, while the maids were cheaper, only eight gold coins each. Just this one trip to the slave market cost Thunder a total of one hundred and forty-four gold coins.

Everyone came to greet Thunder. After finding a restaurant outside for lunch, he spent more money buying many sets of clothes for the guards and maids, hired a large carriage, and headed home.

Chapter 12: Celestial Master's Exquisite Steps and Celestial Master's Eye

Ever since he brought back sixteen slaves, the house had become lively. Inside and out, the diligent maids and guards cleaned everything anew. All the weeds and rubble were thoroughly cleared away, and the broken doors were repaired. The house looked completely new.

Thunder put the eight guards under Carlos's command, while the maids were managed by Tiffany, leaving nothing for Thunder to do.

Early in the morning, Thunder began practicing his footwork in the inner courtyard.

Disciples of the Talisman Sect use talismans to cultivate the Dao and are not skilled in martial arts, but they must practice two auxiliary techniques. One is footwork—exquisitely clever footwork! Otherwise, if they ever fought an enemy, they would surely suffer.

The Talisman Sect of Longhu Mountain has a footwork technique called Celestial Master's Exquisite Steps, personally passed down by the founder. When used with cultivation, it can dazzle the enemy, leaving them with no target to attack. At that moment, one can seize the opportunity to cast talismans and surely defeat the enemy.

As the saying goes: The secret of footwork lies in rhythm; without understanding rhythm, all is in vain. The front step is like treading yet not, the back step is like swinging yet not, the momentum of a raging bull or fierce tiger is all built on rhythm, the rear drive and reverse movement guide the legs and feet, swaying the hips and blocking with the waist like the autumn wind.

Celestial Master's Exquisite Steps focuses on two words: rhythm!

By mastering the tempo of fast and slow, one can strike later but arrive first, dodging the enemy's fierce attacks.

Colin's physical condition was really not great. After less than half an hour of practice, Thunder was already panting and quickly went to sit on a chair to rest.

This footwork is divided into three stages: moving like a startled rabbit, lingering afterimages, and "a thousand miles in a step"!

After mastering the first stage, one can move as swiftly as a running rabbit. Even ordinary people can practice this stage, but they must be exceptionally intelligent.

After mastering the second stage, one can run as fast as the wind, almost invisible to the naked eye, with lingering afterimages trailing behind—truly miraculous! This stage requires the aid of cultivation; ordinary people simply can't achieve it.

The third stage: "a thousand miles in a step"! In an instant, one can reach another place, so fast that others don't even notice the movement.

Since Celestial Master's Exquisite Steps was passed down, among the recorded elders, only the founder had fully mastered it and reached the final stage. As for Thunder... he hadn't even reached the first stage.