Chapter 199

As one of the four great families of Yunzhou, the Xiao family's collection is rich beyond what ordinary people can imagine.

Not to mention anything else, just that mountain‑high pile of gold, silver, and jewels is worth several hundred thousand taels of silver,

Moreover, there are all kinds of rare treasures, antique calligraphy and paintings, even a piece of the extremely rare phoenix‑dao red‑jade blood coral.

However, Qin Shuo is not particularly interested in these things.

Gold and silver are fine, but without the corresponding strength to back them up, they cannot be held onto.

Past the crates piled high with gold and silver valuables, Qin Shuo entered a completely new area where many wooden racks displayed books, wooden carvings, porcelain bottles, and some strange metals.

And the most eye‑catching item is a bow hanging on the stone wall, extremely similar to the cold‑iron great bow previously used by Xiao Changgong.

"This bow…"

Qin Shuo's gaze is piercing; at a glance he sees that this bow is extraordinary.

Its whole body is like a blue sea condensed into the sky; the bow limbs bulge with green dragon scales, from the gaps of which silver gleam seeps; the ends of the bow are carved with dragon heads swallowing clouds, and a crystal‑clear, jade‑like bowstring is stretched to the limit.

【Discovered ingredient: Dragon‑Spine Sky‑Splitting Bow】

【Grade: Thousand‑Forged】

【This bow is forged from ten‑thousand‑year cold iron, refined over years in earth‑fire hammering, dross removed and essence retained, using the great sinew of a thousand‑year mountain flood dragon as the string; it cannot be wielded by anyone lacking a strength of ten thousand jin!】

【Refining effect: Cloud‑Shattering Archery (Great Completion), Heavenly Gang Breathing Method (Great Completion), Innate True Gang (Great Completion), Sun‑Shooting Archery (Fragment) – Cloud‑Shattering Moon‑Splitting!】

【Tip: The Cloud‑Shattering Archery was derived by the Xiao family's ancestor from the Sun‑Shooting Archery; after refining, there is a certain chance to obtain the Sun‑Shooting Archery!】

【Current energy insufficient, cannot be refined!】

Sun‑Shooting Archery?

As the text prompt of the Taotie Cauldron surfaced in his vision, Qin Shuo froze completely.

Is this archery related to the Sun‑Shooting Divine Bow?

"So the legend is true; the Xiao family really does possess a thousand‑forged divine bow!"

Seeing Qin Shuo staring fixedly at the blue great bow on the stone wall, Yang Si came over, and upon seeing the bow that looked like it was forged from an iron spine and azure dragon, he too was startled.

"Do you know this bow?"

Qin Shuo raised his eyebrows, turned his head to look at Yang Si, who was half a head taller than him and resembled a humanoid giant ape.

"I wouldn't say I know it, but having grown up in Yunzhou since childhood, I've heard some legends about this Xiao family bow."

According to Yang Si, hundreds of years ago the Xiao family's ancestor, while fishing on the Pinglan River outside Yunzhou city, once hauled up a cold‑iron great bow.

That bow was covered entirely in dragon scales, as if transformed from a flood dragon.

Even more strangely, this bow could speak human words, teaching the Xiao family's ancestor the Cloud‑Shattering Archery at that time.

Although many people do not believe this rumor,

but according to records of several great families that have been passed down for hundreds of years, the Xiao family's rise back then was indeed related to a bow completely covered in dragon scales.

"A bow that can speak?"

Qin Shuo laughed helplessly.

Since ancient times, rumors have often been exaggerated, and placing trust in tales of gods and ghosts is normal.

Although the bow before us is extraordinary, it certainly cannot speak; the rise of the Xiao family's ancestor must therefore have some other hidden factor.

Qin Shuo is not interested in the history of the Xiao family's rise, but since this bow is actually connected to the Sun‑Shooting Divine Bow, he cannot help but investigate it deeply.

"Colonel Qin, you've taken a liking to this bow? Indeed, as a divine archer, this bow suits you well."

Seeing Qin Shuo's eyes glazed over, fixed without blinking on the dragon‑scaled great bow, Yang Si knew without doubt that the other party had already taken a fancy to it.

However, it is said that this bow cannot be used by anyone lacking a strength of ten thousand jin.

Colonel Qin, though a divine archer, but this strength…

Huh?

Just as Yang Si was wondering whether Qin Shuo could draw this bow, the latter had already taken down the long bow, gripped it, and began to pull it slowly.

Hum!

As the bowstring slowly retreated, an indescribable pressure welled up in his chest, as if an ancient azure dragon were gradually awakening, exhaling a breath that made his heart pound.

"A fine bow!"

Qin Shuo slowly released the bowstring, letting it return to its place, his eyes revealing undisguised delight.

With his physique strong enough to bear the power of the Four Symbols, even drawing this bow made him feel a slight strain.

This feeling was something he had never experienced even when using the Thunder‑Strike Iron‑Wood Bow.

Admittedly, the Thunder‑Strike Iron‑Wood Bow, even among thousand‑forged divine weapons, ranks among the top.

Its naturally formed grain is extremely suitable for the infusion of true essence and gang energy, greatly enhancing the user's true qi efficiency.

But for Qin Shuo, his greatest weakness is precisely his low cultivation realm and thin true qi, making it difficult to unleash the true power of the Thunder‑Strike Iron‑Wood Bow.

However, this Dragon‑Spine Sky‑Splitting Bow is different; its body forged from ten‑thousand‑year cold iron is slightly inferior to the Thunder‑Strike Iron‑Wood Bow in terms of true qi infusion.

Yet in pure bow strength, it far surpasses the Thunder‑Strike Iron‑Wood Bow, perfectly matching his immense physical strength.

With this bow in hand, Qin Shuo is confident that even without using a single thread of true qi, he can threaten a great master who has achieved completion of the viscera‑refining stage.

If combined with the Wind‑Thunder Arrow Technique and the Whale‑Swallowing Four Seas, even a master who has reached great completion in viscera refining, he has a certain chance to shoot them down.

This bow is practically tailor‑made for him!

"May I try it?"

Seeing Qin Shuo handle the bow so casually, Yang Si also felt a burning desire to try it.

Although he does not use bows and arrows, this is nevertheless a thousand‑forged divine weapon,

an ordinary person might never see one in a lifetime, so he naturally wants to get his hands on it.

Although Fu Lingyan's Phoenix‑Wing Gilded Halberd in his hand is also a thousand‑forged divine weapon, ordinary people wouldn't dare even to touch it, let alone glance at it twice, for fear of being beaten up; he certainly wouldn't have any designs on it.

"Of course."

Qin Shuo was not stingy either, directly handing over the long bow in his hand.

"Whoa, this is heavy! Must be over a hundred catties..."

As soon as the long bow entered his hand, Yang Si realized this bow was absolutely not something an ordinary martial artist could use.

A bow weighing a hundred catties, if wielded by an ordinary martial artist, even holding it would be taxing, let alone drawing and shooting.

"This Colonel Qin's external training is indeed extraordinary."

Yang Si secretly clicked his tongue in amazement, yet his hands began to draw the bow.

"Huh?"

However, no matter how hard he tried, the bowstring didn't budge an inch.

"This bowstring..."

Yang Si's eyelid twitched; he glanced at the calmly composed Qin Shuo out of the corner of his eye, shifted his feet slightly, assumed a standard archery stance, and pulled back with all his might.

"Hum!"

As the veins on his neck bulged and his face flushed, the semi-translucent crystalline bowstring finally moved back a little.

But this lasted less than a second before Yang Si felt his arms about to give out.

Seeing that he could barely hold on, he had no choice but to draw on his internal true qi.

"Boom!"

As a vast amount of true qi surged into his arms, the Cold Iron Great Bow was finally drawn fully.

"Snap!"

The instant the bowstring was released.

Yang Si felt that his true qi and blood qi had been depleted by more than half, his flushed complexion faded, he panted like an ox, and his face turned pale.

The arrow that shot out like a violent savage dragon slammed hard into the Inner Treasury's stone wall, carving out a terrifying black hole of unknown depth.

The underground stone chamber shook violently, as if an earthquake had occurred.

Countless dust particles drifted down from the ceiling, leaving the Inner Treasury smoky and hazy.

"Sorry, I couldn't hold it for a moment..."

Yang Si's face showed a somewhat embarrassed expression, yet his heart surged with tumultuous waves.

No wonder one who has attained Condensed True Grand Completion possesses combat power not inferior to that of a Refining Viscera Great Perfection; even this Cold Iron Great Bow can be drawn with ease, his physical strength being terrifying beyond imagination.

"It's fine."

Qin Shuo snatched up the Dragon Spine Bow, slung it across his back, and began to rummage around the Inner Treasury.

This stone chamber treasury holds plenty of good things,

Besides the Dragon Spine Bow, he also found a Great Earth Pill and three Organ-Protecting Pills, all medicines he currently urgently needs.

According to Fu Lingyun's promise, Qin Shuo may freely choose three treasures from the Inner Treasury, and Yang Si likewise.

But Yang Si, to make amends, gave those three chances to Qin Shuo, so Qin Shuo ended up with six selection opportunities.

The two wandered about the Inner Treasury for nearly an hour, and finally Qin Shuo settled on the six treasures he needed.

Dragon Spine Splitting Sky Bow, a Great Earth Pill, three Organ-Protecting Pills, and a Marrow-Washing Pill.

As for the Earth Origin Pill, needless to say, this medicine allows one to offset ten years of arduous training by a Condensed True Realm martial artist; it is truly a precious pill.

The Organ-Protecting Pill and Marrow-Washing Pill are likewise valuable, the medicines he will need after breaking through the Refining Viscera Realm, and thus they were also included among his six treasures.

Looking at the pills and long bow in Qin Shuo's hands, Yang Si felt a mix of emotions for a moment.

Had it not been for his own excessive pride, considering himself superior, he would not now have to hand over these priceless treasures to make amends.

However, being able to spend money to avert disaster, he ultimately felt it was not a loss.

Anything else aside, just that other person's inhuman strength alone, as long as he doesn't die young, his future prospects are limitless.

The inventory of the Xiao family's assets continued until evening before it concluded.

Although Qin Shuo didn't need to personally get involved, he also had to oversee the scene, staying busy until nightfall before clocking out.

Returning home.

Qin Shuo immediately rushed to the storeroom for exotic beast meat to accumulate energy for the Taotie Cauldron.

The Taotie Cauldron's internal space is not large, comparable to a real-world bronze great cauldron.

Therefore, these purchased exotic beast meats cannot be fully stored inside the cauldron; they can only be kept in the storeroom.

Once the energy accumulation was complete, he immediately sat cross-legged on the bed, eager to begin refining the Dragon Spine Splitting Sky Bow.

If he could refine the Sun-Shooting Arrow Technique contained within, his archery skill would likely meet the requirements to enter the Divine Weapon Secret Realm.

"Refining ingredients, 'Dragon Spine Splitting Sky Bow'!"

As his thoughts turned, the blood qi energy within the Taotie Cauldron surged skyward, transforming into blood-colored flames that completely enveloped the azure great bow covered in dragon scales.