Chapter 9: Liu Family Blacksmith Shop

As the Five Animal Frolics reached the peak of the third layer, a new prompt appeared on the panel.

Looking at the prompt on the panel, Qin Jiang didn't hesitate and said "Yes" in his mind.

【Insufficient potential points, unable to perform deduction.】

???

He looked at the panel's prompt with some confusion. If it's insufficient, why ask me? His consciousness fell on the prompt, and he subconsciously learned that to perform martial arts deduction, he needed potential points equivalent to the experience value of the highest layer of the martial art.

In other words, to deduce the Five Animal Frolics, he needed to consume 1.2 potential points.

Still a bit short.

He also recalled the potential points he had obtained from that Huangtian Shenmu statue during the day.

What exactly did it have in common with that tombstone?

Early the next morning, Liu Family Blacksmith Shop in City North.

Qin Jiang stood outside the blacksmith shop. This was the only blacksmith shop in City North.

After hearing those people in the restaurant say last night that the County Lieutenant had led troops to Daheishan, he felt a sense of crisis.

In the past, even if there were some tasks outside the city, they were basically the responsibility of the Red Tiger Gang.

After all, the number of people in the Red Tiger Gang was far greater than the county soldiers.

And if county soldiers were dispatched, or even led personally by someone as powerful as the County Lieutenant, it represented too much.

This meant that the Red Tiger Gang perhaps no longer had the ability to solve a certain matter!

After all, although the County Lieutenant himself might not be the opponent of the Red Tiger Gang leader, the individual combat strength of the county soldiers was much stronger than that of the Red Tiger Gang members, not to mention the use of battle tactics and formations.

Plus the advantages of armor and weapons, it could be said that ten county soldiers were enough to rout a hundred Red Tiger Gang members.

*Hoo~~* A chaotic autumn.

He lifted the curtain and walked into the blacksmith shop. There were several rows of shelves, but he didn't see a place for forging iron, only a few servants-like people wiping various iron products.

Most were farm tools and jewelry; he didn't see any weapons.

A servant-like leader walked over. Looking at the neat black cloth clothes on Qin Jiang, he flicked the rag in his hand onto his shoulder and bowed slightly. "Master, what do you need?"

"A blade," Qin Jiang said.

The servant's eyes brightened slightly. Usually, those who came were buying farm tools, and those who wanted blades were truly rare; they were basically disciples of gangs.

But don't say, looking at this person's attire, he really might be one.

"Alright, Master, please follow me."

The two walked past several rows of shelves in the front and arrived at the very back, where various types of blades were placed: ring-pommel sabers, short blades, horizontal blades, and so on.

"Master, take a look. Is there any that catches your eye?" the servant asked with a smile.

Qin Jiang nodded slightly and picked up a horizontal blade; the blade was about two feet long.

He weighed the blade and shook his head. "A bit light."

Then he extended his finger and flicked the blade lightly, and a trembling sound rang out.

"The strength is lacking," he said.

Now that his perception was extremely strong, just by the trembling sound, he could judge that the texture of this blade was somewhat uneven. It was fine for ordinary use, but if it encountered high-intensity combat, he feared it wouldn't last long.

The servant beside him smiled, containing a trace of mockery. "Master, you probably don't know, but these blades were all forged by our owner himself. They are much stronger than those farm tools."

"Usually, to be honest, not many people can afford them, and they are indeed rarely seen on the market."

Truly don't know where this ignorant person came from, actually saying our Liu Family's blades aren't good? Don't you know our Liu Family has been a century-old brand! Qin Jiang smiled; he naturally heard the servant's meaning. "How much for this blade?" The servant bowed slightly. "With respect, one hundred and sixty coins."

Qin Jiang nodded slightly, then closed his eyes slightly, his fingertips gently stroking the blade, and the subtle vibration transmitted into his ears through his fingertips.

Suddenly, an abrupt strange sound rang out in the rhythmic trembling sound.

He opened his eyes abruptly and pointed his finger at a certain spot in the middle of the blade.

*Bong~~~* With a burst of rapid trembling, the blade snapped abruptly. Half of the blade inserted itself into the ground like an arrow, the tip sinking three fingers deep into the ground! *Hiss~* The servant beside him was startled by this sudden scene and retreated a few steps, looking at the half-blade inserted in the ground in shock.

This... this... this was a blade forged by the owner himself; how could it snap with just a point of a finger?! He looked up at Qin Jiang, the mockery in his eyes long gone, replaced by caution. "Master, what is this?"

"I'll count this blade as bought. Are there any better ones?" Qin Jiang asked.

The servant nodded repeatedly. "Eh, Master, wait a moment, I'll go invite the owner!"

After saying that, he ran straight to the backyard. Before long, he led a young man in.

The young man was dressed in sky-blue brocade clothes and looked scholarly, not at all like a blacksmith.

It was just that the exposed hands were faintly black, which one could tell at a glance was practicing some kind of hand technique.

Thinking about it, being able to support a blacksmith shop in the Outer City, he naturally had some skills.

The young man walked up close and saw the half-blade inserted in the ground at a glance, his eyes trembling slightly.

Almost all the blades here were forged by him. Although they couldn't be considered his proudest works, in the Outer City, they belonged to the top tier.

Being able to snap a blade with one finger, this young man who looked even younger than himself must be a true martial artist! If so, perhaps... immediately, a smile appeared. "Little brother, since this blade isn't good, how can I accept money? I am the owner of this blacksmith shop, Liu Family's Liu Yize. Please follow me to the backyard; I have some ordinary weapons, please appraise them!"

Qin Jiang nodded slightly.

"Please!" Liu Yize smiled.

The two arrived at the backyard and walked directly into the workshop for forging weapons. Just as they entered the room, a heat wave rushed toward them.

The sound of hammering continued, with several strong men lifting hammers and letting them fall heavily, accompanied by splashing sparks.

Qin Jiang untied his clothes, rolled up his sleeves, and revealed his strong, flowing arms, making Liu Yize on the side look sideways.

He also untied his outer clothes, revealing the vest inside. His arms were very thick, a circle larger than Qin Jiang's. Just by clenching his fist slightly, veins bulged.

"Come, please this way!" Liu Yize gestured inward.

Passing through the inner hall, the two arrived at a warehouse. Various iron blanks were piled everywhere, and two refined iron racks leaned in the corner.

"Brother, take a look. This is the collection of my Liu Family! Although it can't be considered a divine weapon, whether it's the material or the forging process, it's considered the top tier of ordinary weapons!"

Liu Yize spoke, his words carrying a trace of pride. With the experience of his Liu Family for over a hundred years, it was naturally enough to look down on the Outer City.

Qin Jiang nodded slightly and cast his gaze on the iron racks. Not only were there various types of blades, but there were also axes and swords, and even half a spear shaft was placed there.

That half-spear shaft was a zhang long, and the tail was a threaded structure. With just another iron rod, a slight combination would make it a battlefield killing weapon.

Seeing this, he couldn't help but smile. If this were placed before the chaotic world, just this half-spear shaft would be enough to throw Liu Yize into prison.

Seeing this, it seemed this Liu Family wasn't a good person either.

"Haha, brother, don't be surprised. The government has long since opened up weapon casting. Apart from not being able to privately forge armor, things like this long spear, axes, and halberds are no longer anything. Sometimes, the government officials will even ask my Liu Family to customize weapons." Liu Yize said with a smile.

Qin Jiang nodded slightly and walked forward to select blades.

Before long, he picked up a horizontal blade.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 10 =====

Before long, he picked up a horizontal blade.

(End of chapter)