Chapter 110: Heaven's Fortune and Mysterious Weapons, Worshipping the Gods and Upholding the Law

Having the same name is common, but sharing both name and pronunciation with one's own grandfather—that's rare.

Li Yuan was slightly surprised, and accepted the invitation:

"Since the Zhao Family Head has invited me, Li Mou naturally must go. However, I've already accepted several other families. Once I'm free, I will certainly visit the Zhao residence."

"In that case, Zhao Mou shall await the arrival of Master Li."

Zhao Zhao Yunsheng let out a breath of relief, cupped his hands, and took his leave.

Liu Zheng closed the courtyard gate, sucking his teeth: "Three shops on Divine Weapon Street in Fucheng!"

Divine Weapon Street is one of the most bustling streets in Fucheng; even calling it worth its weight in gold is no exaggeration. How much silver those three shops are worth, he couldn't calculate on the spot.

"The Zhao Family is truly generous."

Li Yuan put away the property deed, unable to refrain from sighing in admiration.

The Zhao Family's reaction was too swift. With three shops handed over, he had no reason to make things difficult for this Young Master Zhao over the matter.

"One of the six great families!"

Liu Zheng was shaken beyond words. Watching Li Yuan examine the property deed, his eyes inevitably gained several degrees of reverence.

Let alone the Zhao Family—even the smallest clan in Fucheng was beyond what his own family could compare with. One could say that even if his Laozi exhausted every connection and scheme, he could never have gotten close to a scion of a great clan like Zhao Zhao Yunsheng.

Yet such a colossal power had actually bowed its head to Li Yuan…

"Three adjoining shops—if knocked through, they're probably about half the size of a Weapon-Forging Hall. The Zhao Family really has money."

Li Yuan sighed inwardly, and inevitably grew more cautious.

No wonder the Zhao Family rose from being dung-tycoons to one of Fucheng's six great families. Their family style is truly extraordinary.

Sending Liu Zheng off to buy pills for him, Li Yuan returned to his room to feed the little mouse.

All his belongings were in the incense burner; there was nothing to pack at all.

"So many invitations—which one first?"

Li Yuan had no intention of going to the Zhao Family. Although the Zhao Family had shown sincerity, he also didn't believe the Zhao Family would dare lay hands on a true disciple of Divine Weapon Valley without covering their tracks.

But with Old Han absent, he was prepared to play it steady. In any case, it was the Zhao Family inviting him, not him eagerly currying favor.

"This is the weight of a true disciple of Divine Weapon Valley!"

Flipping through the invitations, Li Yuan was very satisfied.

If he were not a true disciple but an ordinary inner disciple, let alone the Zhao Family, even Zhao Zhao Yunsheng himself might not have paid him any heed.

Forget three shops—not even one would have been given. As for an apology, they'd be doing well not to strike at him in secret.

"Mm, let's go to this one first—the Zhou Family. They deal in iron ore, small scale, only three mines…"

Casually picking one from the invitations, Li Yuan had no real knowledge of these minor families and couldn't be bothered to inquire.

He chose this one purely because the courtesan ranking on it was high.

"Lady Ning Shuang—she's ranked twenty-first on the Hundred Flowers List. Dressed in a white gown, graceful and enchanting, accomplished in every art: chess, calligraphy, painting, playing the flute and zither. Truly, truly…"

Liu Zheng, who had returned from buying pills, was very excited. He pulled out the Hundred Flowers List and flipped to that page to show Li Yuan.

The painter who drew the Hundred Flowers List knew the human heart; with just a few strokes he sketched out a woman of exquisite figure.

"Enough. First, deliver the invitation to the Zhou Family."

Li Yuan handed the invitation to Liu Zheng, who scampered off at once, very eager.

"Young Lady Lu's little gathering of fellow townsmen is quite necessary. With people helping out, there's more time to practice Wu Gong."

Li Yuan thought to himself.

When his purse was thin, he wanted to do everything himself; spending an extra copper coin pained him. But now, time was more precious to him.

Drawing people to his side was naturally as it should be.

"The shops need to open too. Can't keep dreaming of getting rich quick."

Even in Fucheng, in Divine Weapon Valley, the saying 'poor scholars, rich martial artists' was absolutely not wrong—it might even be more obvious and direct. Li Yuan had already sensed it.

For instance, Fang Fang Yunxiu was very strapped for cash. At this meeting, she was clearly still wearing the same clothes as last time, washed white from laundering…

Having a stable, long-term income was very important—not just for pills,

he also needed to collect more weapons.

Divine Weapon Valley had plenty of good things, and so did Fucheng.

"Hah!"

Li Yuan slowly pushed through his Soldier Body stance, mentally sorting through yesterday's gains.

Han Han Chuijun's mastery of Wu Gong was beyond doubt. The manuals he had personally copied naturally contained his insights into Wu Gong.

"Old Han calls the progression from Qi-Blood to Body Transformation the Three Limit-Breaks. Nurturing internal force is the first, internal strengthening is the second, body transformation is the third…"

"My Qi-Blood Grand Circulation is already complete. I only need to take pills and medicines to finish body tempering and step straight into Internal Strengthening. Until Internal Strengthening is complete, there are no bottlenecks!"

"The Nine-Form Root Bone raised my ceiling. Once I break through a limit, the gains far exceed those of the same rank. This advantage needs to be maintained…"

…

Comparing it to himself, Li Yuan sorted and summarized.

"Old Han and the other elders in the valley clearly aren't on the same path. Who's right and who's wrong I can't tell for now, but it seems I don't need to choose…"

Li Yuan knew what to prioritize and wasn't arrogant. But with the Soldier-Diviner Register in hand, as long as he had enough weapons and Root Charts, he didn't need to practice various martial arts day after day for decades like Old Han.

"Collect Root Charts to alter my root bone, nurture force and temper the body in parallel, until Internal Strengthening is complete. Mm, the advancement of the Soldier-Diviner Register must keep pace too—the Rift Sea Mystic Whale Hammer is the Top priority…"

After completing one set of Soldier Body stance, Li Yuan felt a slight settling in his heart. Footsteps came from outside the courtyard—Liu Zheng had hurried back.

"Hah!"

Slowly withdrawing his stance, Li Yuan fetched a basin of water, wiped himself down, changed into a fresh set of clothes, and only then stepped out.

Fucheng was bustling, with every kind of shop imaginable. After going out, Li Yuan first sought out a silk shop and had a tailor take his measurements for a custom-made outfit.

Although he didn't care much about the True Disciple Grand Ceremony, if he actually showed up in rough hemp clothes, that really wouldn't do.

Afterwards, he wandered along the street, looking for weapons he could buy. His standards were very high now — any weapon below second-tier, unless it had a special enhancement effect, he would no longer bother to purchase.

As for second-tier or third-tier weapons, he had come across quite a few along the way, but after weighing things, he only bought a few that carried a 'Talent Enhancement.'

"Weapons in Fucheng are all much more expensive. A hammer weapon like this would cost at most forty-five taels in Gao Liu County, but here it's fifty-two taels…"

Liu Zheng felt a pang of pain — this was after he had haggled, and the stallkeeper's original asking price had been eighty taels.

"Still not bad."

Li Li Yuanzhong paid the silver readily. He, who was preparing to open a forging shop in Fucheng, naturally would not complain about weapons being expensive.

"Third-tier weapons are still hard to come by."

After turning down a few streets, he did come across several third-tier weapons, but the prices made Li Li Yuanzhong feel they weren't worth it either, so he had to give up.

When the sky was gradually darkening, he took Liu Zheng to attend the banquet at Hundred Flowers Pavilion.

As for the top courtesan, he was somewhat curious as well — mainly because the Hundred Flowers Ranking portrait was painted so lifelike that he wanted to see it for himself.

……

……

Riding the sedan chair back to the residence, Zhao Zhao Yunsheng headed straight for the rear courtyard, but this time he didn't manage to enter the courtyard before being stopped by an old man.

"Steward Liu, that Li Li Yuanzhong has agreed to attend the banquet. I need to see Grandfather…"

Zhao Zhao Yunsheng was quite polite.

The steward before him had served his grandfather for over fifty years — an absolute trusted confidant — and he did not dare to offend him.

"Young Master, please go back. The Master is currently practicing his art."

Steward Liu gave a slight nod, turned, and walked into the rear courtyard.

In the rear courtyard, the lingering scent of incense and candles had not yet dispersed. Steward Liu bowed slightly before the door, and only after receiving a response did he push the door open and enter.

In the study, green smoke curled about. An old man in a black long gown sat cross-legged on a cattail hassock, facing a life-sized, vividly lifelike bronze statue.

"He agreed?"

The Zhao Family Head slowly opened his eyes — his features and expression were strikingly identical to the divine statue opposite.

"Mm, he agreed."

Steward Liu bowed, observing the rites with great deference, yet seemed somewhat unable to meet the old man's eyes through the green smoke.

"A top-grade dragon-shaped root bone — such a fine seedling wasted on Han Han Chuijun is—"

"—a waste. If we could win him over, nothing could be better."

The Zhao Family Head lit incense and candles, making offerings to the divine statue.

Steward Liu only felt a chill in his heart, yet still replied:

"It is a waste. For over a thousand years, Han Han Chuijun's lineage has been chasing that nonexistent 'Rift Sea Mysterious Whale Hammer,' delaying who knows how many people…"

"Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing is ultimately only legend — just like that heavenly fire when the Great Ancestor pacified the realm. There is no waterfall-like heavenly fire in this world, nor will there be any Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing."

As the Zhao Family Head spoke, he drew a gentle breath, and the green smoke filling the room slithered like little serpents, drawn into his mouth and nose.

In an instant, the wrinkles on the old man's face rapidly smoothed out, his somewhat sallow complexion flushing with color, as if he had grown more than ten years younger.

"A dragon-shaped root bone — such a genius, if he could be used by me, then this old man might not need to take that step. A pity, I cannot afford to provoke the Divine Weapon Valley right now…"

Hearing these words, Steward Liu lowered his head even further: "Direct entry as a true disciple — the Divine Weapon Valley treats him so well. Winning him over will likely be very difficult…"

"If once doesn't work, try a few more times. A dragon-shaped root bone is worth this old man's patience. If it truly doesn't work, then there is only…"

The Zhao Family Head stretched his sinews and bones, so comfortable he wanted to moan:

"The Bai Shen Fa is truly a sacred art. Those foolish people who cannot grasp its method brand it as Xie Fa — how utterly stupid they are."

"Su Su Wanxiong."

Steward Liu's expression tightened slightly: "The Divine Weapon Valley has held dominance over Zhilong for over a thousand years. Even though the Xieshen Sect is powerful, relying solely on Su Su Wanxiong's single branch, I'm afraid it cannot shake them."

"Success or failure — what does it have to do with my Zhao family?"

The Zhao Family Head's expression was calm: "This old man has no wish to make enemies of anyone — I only wish to maintain my Zhao family's position…"

Having spoken, he turned around:

"Go summon a few top courtesans from Hundred Flowers Pavilion. This old man is in the mood today."

"Yes!"

Steward Liu bowed and withdrew.

……

……

Zhilong Prefecture's hundred industries flourished, and with the Divine Weapon Valley dominating nearby, even the powerful Six Great Families did not dare expand recklessly. Naturally, large and small gangs and clans rose up in turn.

The Zhou family was one of them.

For several generations, members of the Zhou family had entered the Divine Weapon Valley. With this connection, they could conduct small-scale ore and iron trade, but in this generation no clansman had managed to enter the inner sect. Without that backing, the trade had become somewhat unstable.

At a banquet, host and guests were all delighted. Li Li Yuanzhong also learned a great deal about the Zhou family's background.

"This banquet, the Zhou family isn't losing out."

Liu Zheng was still savoring the songs and dances of the pavilion, but he also had a general understanding of the Zhou family's situation:

"Brother Li came to attend the banquet today — those rivals of his will have to think twice…"

The name of a true disciple was far too useful!

Liu Zheng felt envious in his heart, sighing with emotion. Throughout the entire banquet, the Zhou family had kept their posture especially low, but the Zhou family's power was also far beyond what his own family could compare to.

The Zhou family had mines — three large ones — and among them, one even contained rare iron materials. If not for this generation lacking a promising disciple, they would not have clung to outsiders.

"The Zhou family isn't bad, but those other families — I need to visit them as well."

Li Li Yuanzhong did not rush to decide.

With the reputation and status of a true disciple, the room for him to choose was simply too vast. The Zhou family's conditions were not poor, but the principle of comparing three sellers, he still understood.

It was only a matter of a few banquets' worth of time, and he had it to spare.

……

He drove Liu Zheng out of his own courtyard.

The sky had already gone dark. Li Yuan naturally had no intention of leaving the city to return to Huishan. He splashed cold water on his face, then began taking his pill and standing post.

"Transforming the various forms, and finally, merging the various forms—Old Han's path is not an easy one!"

Lifting his hammer and standing post, Li Yuan closed his eyes slightly, able to clearly sense the internal force circulating within his body.

He had altered his bone structure several times, which naturally gave rise to many different internal forces. These forces were scattered throughout his body, moving with his qi and blood, nourishing his physique.

The Nine Forms pushed his limits to the extreme, and the various internal forces accelerated the pace of his body tempering.

"Squeak squeak~"

Suddenly, the little mouse let out a sharp cry.

Li Yuan instantly gathered his stance, held his hammer horizontally before him, and looked toward the roof: "Who's there!"

"Junior brother, the mouse at your place is awfully sharp. I had already lightened my hands and feet, yet I was still discovered?"

As the drifting voice trailed off, Sha Sha Pingying vaulted into the courtyard. Gazing at the little mouse digging at the corner of the wall, he could not help clicking his tongue in wonder: "This little thing isn't about to become a spirit, is it?"

Li Yuan's face darkened slightly. He pointed at the courtyard gate: "Senior Brother Sha, I have a door here."

"Force of habit, force of habit. Next time, next time I'll definitely use the door…"

Sha Sha Pingying didn't even blink: "Junior brother, when Elder Han left, he gave instructions. Today you have to come with me…"

"Master gave instructions?"

Li Yuan was somewhat doubtful.

"Junior brother, you actually don't trust me?"

Seeing his expression, Sha Sha Pingying immediately cried out in grievance, but truly had no token to produce. He could only say helplessly:

"Junior brother, you are a true disciple—your status is even above mine…"

"Where to?"

Li Yuan asked.

Sha Sha Pingying waved the steel rod in his palm, his smile somewhat creepy:

"The Bai family is far, the Zhao family is close—of course we're going to the Zhao family!"