Chapter 52: Into the Treasure Mountain, Forging a Genius

The inner storehouse wasn't large, only two rows with a dozen or so weapon racks, sorted by blade, spear, sword, and halberd. Most racks were more than half empty.

"The inner storehouse holds a total of two hundred and ninety-three sharp weapons, forty-three of them superior grade. Blades and swords make up half, hammers the other half. Unorthodox weapons are rare."

Wang Hu introduced them, his eyes full of envy:

"Only the three Shopkeepers and the master have the authority to draw weapons from the inner storehouse. His old self really dotes on you—no one else gets this kind of treatment."

A single superior-grade sharp weapon cost over thirty taels of silver, more than two years of his monthly pay. If he were to flip it and sell it, that would be three years' wages.

"The master is generous with his praise, but I hardly deserve it."

Li Yuan's gaze could no longer leave these weapon racks. Before his eyes stretched a field of white and blue, yet he couldn't help reaching out to touch them.

【Jade Essence Copper Hammer (Second Grade)】

【Jade Essence Copper mixed with Jade Water Spirit Clay, tempered through a thousand fires, then nurtured for years in a cold pool, infused with a great craftsman's heart's blood. Limited by its material, it falls short of supreme grade】

【Wielding Requirement: Any hammer technique at Perfection】

【Wielding Effects: Mighty Force, Armor-Piercing Horizontal Training, Thousand-Pound Strength】

Among the several hundred hammers in the inner and outer storehouses, this one ranked first—already close to a supreme-grade sharp weapon!

Apart from being a short-handle heavy hammer, it was nearly perfect, one of the weapons Li Yuan coveted most. Those four effects were all fine pieces, no worse than the Great Craftsman's Hammer.

"This hammer was the master's masterpiece back in the day. The only pity is that it's too heavy."

Wang Hu knew every weapon in the inner and outer storehouses like the back of his hand. Though called a guard, he was in truth the warehouse's de facto manager.

"Yes, truly a masterpiece."

A hammer of over eighty catties—once Li Yuan got his hands on it, he didn't want to let go. Yet he hesitated, glancing at a few others, all fine pieces he'd been eyeing for a long time.

【Refined Steel Wind Tiger Pestle (Second Grade)】

【Hundred-Tempered Wind-Breaking Hammer (Second Grade)】

【Cold Light Jade Blade (Second Grade)】

【Minor Purity Silver Sword (Second Grade)】

These four second-grade weapons each had their own merits compared to the short-handle heavy hammer in his hand, all bearing three or four wielding effects. Only, unlike the hammer, he couldn't meet their wielding requirements for the moment.

What made him hesitate was the very last one.

【Black Silver Skin-Close Soft Armor (Second Grade)】

【Soft armor woven from refined black silver threads mixed with jade essence copper, soaked in silver liquid for years before completion. It combines flexibility with agility, can deflect internal force, and can withstand thrusts and slashes from second-grade and below light weapons……】

【Wielding Requirement: Any horizontal training at Great Completion】

【Wielding Effects: Light Weapons Find No Purchase, Horizontal Training Talent】

This was the only inner armor in the entire inner and outer storehouse of the Weapon Forging Shop. Its value was extremely high—even internally it was priced at two hundred taels of silver, a top-grade treasure.

Though it only had two wielding effects, Li Yuan's eyes still burned with desire.

Traveling the jianghu, how could one avoid taking a blade? This kind of soft armor, even without wielding, was a layer of protection—let alone that among its wielding effects was the rarest of all, a talent-type enhancement.

"It's the Horizontal Training Talent!"

Li Yuan couldn't help picking up that silver armor. It felt ice-cold to the touch, its weave neat and orderly. With a gentle shake, it rippled like water waves, showing how excellent its force-deflecting effect was.

"This armor……"

Seeing him pick up the armor, Wang Hu's expression shifted slightly: "Junior Brother, this soft armor is too precious. If you take it, the master might have to fork out silver on top……"

"No, Brother Hu, don't worry. I'm just looking."

Li Yuan set it down reluctantly, glancing around the small inner storehouse. His palm burned hot, wishing he could haul everything away.

'I really want to haul it all away!'

Muttering to himself, Li Yuan fell into a dilemma.

What he wanted most was, of course, this soft armor. But first, its value was too high; second, he had nowhere to learn horizontal-training Wu Gong, let alone reach Great Completion.

The wielding requirement alone was unmet.

"Two hundred taels of silver!"

Li Yuan sighed inwardly, no longer hesitating. He lifted the short-handle heavy hammer in his hand:

"Please register it for me, Brother Hu. I'll take this Jade Essence Copper Hammer!"

……

……

The rear courtyard, a small garden.

Cao Yan paced slowly with his hands behind his back. Not far behind, Qin Xiong walked with his head slightly lowered.

"Though Niu Gui has mid-to-upper grade bone root, his talent isn't all that good. Over eight months now, and he's still far from Proficiency. Even if he gets the quota, what qualifies him to enter the Divine Weapon Valley?"

Cao Yan paced slowly, unhurried, yet carried the bearing of a fierce tiger patrolling its mountain, making the two-heads-taller Qin Xiong look somewhat thin:

"Just because you brute-forced his qi and blood to Proficiency? Giving him the quota would only be a waste!"

Qin Xiong's expression wasn't great, but he was still indignant: "The Divine Weapon Valley values bone root above all. If Niu Gui won't do, then surely the boy with bone root barely mid-to-lower grade won't do either?"

Bone root was extremely important.

Not only did one learn martial arts faster, but one's blood and qi also grew faster. With the same pills, those with good bone root absorbed far better. Every sect and school that took disciples valued bone root without exception.

"Though Li Yuan's bone root isn't good, his martial arts talent can be called outstanding! Four months to hammer technique Minor Completion—how many in Gao Liu County can match that?"

Cao Yan shook his head slightly:

"How long did it take you to reach hammer technique Minor Completion back then?"

"I……"

Qin Xiong's heart chilled slightly.

His bone root was excellent, yet it still took him a full year to reach hammer technique Minor Completion. In terms of martial arts talent, he too fell short of that boy from the Li Lin family.

"Admittedly, martial artists with poor bone root are much slower at cultivating qi and blood, or internal force. But this kind of talent makes it far more likely he'll enter the Divine Weapon Valley than Niu Gui."

Cao Yan looked calmly at Qin Xiong until the latter lowered his head, only then easing slightly as he said:

"The Divine Weapon Valley will open its mountain gates next spring; there is still nearly a year. If before then you can bring his hammer technique and blood qi to a minor mastery, it may not be impossible to spare him a spot.

Your relationship with Yu Zhen is not bad; I heard the White Ape's Fundamental Diagram was even borrowed? If this still fails..."

"Thank you, Shopkeeper."

Qin Xiong's expression eased slightly.

"Tang Lao is severely injured, Wang Ding is already old. Once I depart for the Hibernating Dragon Mansion, you will be the chief Shopkeeper of the shop; how many women could you not have?

Why trouble your own apprentice over a mere aging, faded woman?"

Cao Yan patted his shoulder:

"Your internal strength is already sufficient; at most three to five years and your body tempering will be accomplished. Your mind should be placed on the proper path!"

Qin Xiong lowered his head, Breathing heavily:

"... Yes!"

The two exchanged a few words; just as Qin Xiong was about to take his leave, he saw Zhang Ben rushing over. Before the man even arrived, his laughter was already audible.

"Shopkeeper, great news!"

"What is it, Old Zhang?"

Cao Yan was slightly startled. He reached out to take the jade-green blade, gave it a light flick, and his eye corners could not help but lift:

"Lacking but a fraction of the finishing touch, it would be a superior sharp blade. Who forged this?"

"My disciple, Li Yuan!"

Glancing at Qin Xiong, who was about to depart, Zhang Ben wore a face full of smiles.

"Li Yuan?"

Qin Xiong's eyelid twitched. He raised his head and met Cao Yan's deep, dark gaze. His heart trembled; he clasped his fist, turned, and departed.

"In the Dao of forging, he actually possesses such talent?"

Fiddling with the jade-green blade, which still lacked a hilt, Cao Yan's face also bore a smile; a superior sharp weapon was the key to his rooting in the Hibernating Dragon Mansion.

"His talent is absolutely excellent! This old man was far from matching him back in the day!"

Zhang Ben did not stint on praising his disciple:

"This old man believes that as long as the shop provides support, at most ten years, no, five or six years, he will surpass me and forge supreme-grade sharp blades on his own!"

Snap!

Five fingers clamped onto the blade's edge; Cao Yan's gaze was dim and deep:

"With such fine talent, the shop must naturally give its full support!"

(End of this chapter)