Chapter 100: Cold Flood Dragon Spear |
In the prefectural city, before Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.
The carriage stopped steadily beneath the imposing seven-story building.
Chen Qing lifted the curtain and stepped down, looking up.
The building had flying eaves and interlocking brackets with magnificent grandeur. On the golden painted plaque were four ancient, vigorous characters: "Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion."
The guards at the entrance wore training attire with fierce bearing and sharp gazes, clearly all hidden strength experts.
Yang Zhicheng, who had been waiting, enthusiastically approached with barely contained excitement on his face, "Brother Chen, you've finally arrived! Steward Liu is in a private room reminiscing with my uncle!"
He paused, his voice carrying a sense of relief and joy, "My uncle doesn't plan to wander around anymore after returning this time! He's established property in the prefectural city and will stay here permanently from now on!"
"Oh?"
Chen Qing's eyes also showed a trace of smile, "This is indeed good news."
Yang Zhicheng's uncle, nicknamed "Thunderbolt Blade" Wu Tieshan, was once a Lihuo Courtyard disciple who later left Five Terraces Sect to become a blade-for-hire, spending years licking blood from knife edges with uncertain whereabouts.
Being able to settle down in the prefectural city this time was undoubtedly a great support for Yang Zhicheng.
Yang Zhicheng nodded, then said, "Brother Chen, I personally examined that spear. Its cold light is piercing and extremely heavy to handle, definitely not an ordinary weapon. Steward Liu's appraisal eye is famously accurate. He says it's a fine piece among lower-grade treasure weapons, no mistake."
Treasure weapon!
Chen Qing's heart stirred.
He already knew that weapons also had grade classifications.
Those cast from ordinary refined iron and hundred-times-folded steel could only be called sharp weapons.
Only weapons that incorporated special ores, were forged with special techniques, and contained special powers could be called treasure weapons!
The difference between treasure weapons and ordinary weapons was like heaven and earth.
Yang Zhicheng led Chen Qing straight to the third floor.
In a private room, two middle-aged men were drinking tea.
One wore Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion steward attire with a capable face and eyes that flickered with hidden brilliance, his aura deep as the sea. This was Steward Liu of Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.
The other wore a dark red brocade robe, tall and robust, with features somewhat resembling Yang Zhicheng, especially the thick eyebrows that were nearly identical.
The two were chatting and laughing harmoniously, clearly old friends of many years.
This person must be Yang Zhicheng's uncle, "Thunderbolt Blade" Wu Tieshan.
"Brother Chen, this is Steward Liu Chengzong of Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion," Yang Zhicheng quickly made introductions, "This is my uncle, Wu Tieshan."
He turned to the two elders, "Uncle, Uncle Liu, this is Chen Qing."
Chen Qing stepped forward and bowed with cupped hands, "Junior Chen Qing pays respects to Steward Liu and Senior Wu."
Wu Tieshan's gaze briefly rested on Chen Qing, nodding slightly without saying much.
Liu Chengzong smiled, "I heard from Zhicheng that young friend is seeking a good spear? Please follow me."
With that, he led Chen Qing out of the private room to a specially made weapon rack.
On the rack lay a spear about twelve feet long with a dark blue body.
The spear shaft wasn't smooth but covered with fine natural patterns like fish scales. It felt bone-chillingly cold to the touch, with a condensed, murderous aura rushing forth.
"This spear is called Cold Flood Dragon."
Steward Liu introduced, "Made primarily from cold iron from the depths of Qianchuan Marsh, supplemented with star-pattern steel and sunken silver, forged nine times through earth fire tempering and cold spring forging. Its nature is extremely cold, incomparably tough, capable of bearing true qi and amplifying ice-cold attribute energy. Though a lower-grade treasure weapon, both materials and craftsmanship are superior, ranking at the pinnacle among its class."
Chen Qing stepped forward and grasped the spear shaft with one hand.
A heavy coldness spread along his arm. The qi and blood in his body surged out, instantly dispelling the discomfort with warmth.
"Excellent spear!"
Chen Qing praised sincerely. This Cold Flood Dragon Spear was even better than he had expected, "Steward Liu, what is the price of this spear?"
Liu Chengzong smiled, "This spear costs thirty-two thousand taels of silver. Since you're introduced by Zhicheng, this is already the lowest internal price, no negotiation."
Thirty-two thousand taels of silver!
This item was indeed expensive. Chen Qing's yearly stipend was only ten thousand taels of silver.
Three years of stipend for one treasure spear.
However, Chen Qing felt it was very worthwhile.
He immediately took out two heavy bundles from his robes, precisely the gold, silver, and treasures obtained from eliminating the River-Overturning Five Dragons.
Liu Chengzong gestured, and professional accountants immediately came forward to count.
Soon, the accountant reported, "Steward, total value approximately forty-seven thousand taels of silver."
Chen Qing nodded silently, this matched his own estimate closely.
Liu Chengzong nodded, "Young friend, after deducting the spear cost, fifteen thousand taels remain. Would you like it exchanged for silver notes, or shall we look at other items in the pavilion? Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion has pills, secret manuals, rare items, everything you could want."
"Please show me around, Steward Liu." Chen Qing was indeed curious to see.
"Please!" Liu Chengzong gestured for Chen Qing to proceed.
Under Liu Chengzong's guidance, Chen Qing toured the interior of Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.
The various sections were dazzling: the Pill Cauldron Hall was fragrant with medicine and lined with jade bottles; the Rare Treasures Hall was lustrous with pearls and gems, exotic beast materials everywhere; the Secret Records Hall was rich with the scent of scrolls; there was even a "Beauty Residence" where graceful figures could be glimpsed through pearl curtains, obviously housing carefully trained beautiful women.
Chen Qing kept his eyes straight ahead, mainly noting the pill and manual areas.
Qi Nourishing Pills here sold for one hundred twenty taels each, far higher than Five Terraces Sect's internal price.
Pills that assisted breakthrough bottlenecks and nourished bloodlines and meridians were astronomically priced.
In the manual section, there were many inferior and middle-grade martial arts, but superior martial arts only had fragments or introductions, with core heart methods not sold.
Walking to a corner of the Rare Treasures Hall, Chen Qing's steps suddenly halted.
His gaze was drawn to several pigeon-egg-sized stones with irregular holes on their surfaces, displayed under crystal covers.
These stones... weren't much different from the one he had obtained from Jiang Baoqing.
Liu Chengzong noticed his gaze and smiled in introduction, "Young friend Chen is interested in these? These are venomous insect eggs."
"Venomous insect eggs?"
"Exactly."
Liu Chengzong explained, "There are countless strange insects and exotic beasts in the world. Venomous insects are naturally gifted, able to inhale and exhale toxic miasma, secrete deadly poisons, even immune to water and fire, difficult to harm with blades and spears."
"If one can find insect eggs and hatch them with secret methods, then feed them with blood essence and specific poisons, once they mature and acknowledge a master, they can become great aids for fighting enemies, making sneak attacks, or even for cultivating poison techniques."
"These few here are eggs of 'Bone-Corroding Thread Worms,' ranked eighty-seventh on the venomous insect list. After hatching, this insect is thin as hair yet extremely tough, able to pierce through protective true qi and inject bone-corroding poison. Those affected suffer flesh and bone dissolution in extreme agony. They're excellent for sneak attacks and harming people. These eggs were captured at the edge of Ten Thousand Poison Swamp, priced at three thousand taels each."
One insect egg cost three thousand taels of silver!
Chen Qing understood why Jiang Baoqing had treasured it so carefully.
He calmly asked, "Steward Liu, does hatching these eggs require special conditions?"
"Naturally."
Liu Chengzong nodded, "Different venomous insects require different hatching environments. These Bone-Corroding Thread Worms need to be soaked in a mixture of juices from several deadly poisons like 'Seven-Step Heartbreak Grass' and 'Heart-Rotting Flower,' then placed in a cold, dark place for forty-nine days to possibly hatch successfully. How to feed and tame them after hatching requires specialized breeding techniques, which our pavilion also sells in related manuals."
Chen Qing pondered briefly, "Steward Liu, I'm quite interested in the way of venomous insects. Could you gift me a manual recording common venomous insects and their habits? Just to broaden my knowledge."
"A small matter."
Liu Chengzong readily agreed, signaling an assistant to bring a not-too-thick booklet with "Brief Guide to Hundred Poisonous Insects" written on the cover, "This manual records the characteristics, rankings, and general habitats of a hundred common venomous insects. Though it lacks specific breeding techniques, it's sufficient as an introductory reference."
"Thank you, Steward Liu."
Chen Qing accepted the booklet along with the remaining fifteen thousand taels in silver notes and the 'Cold Flood Dragon' treasure spear, storing them all safely.
Having finished his business, Chen Qing bid farewell, "Thank you very much, Steward Liu."
Liu Chengzong warmly replied, "No problem. If young friend needs anything next time, just come directly to Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion to find me."
Every young talent could potentially become a major customer of Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion in the future, so he was naturally happy to build good relations.
Chen Qing then went to the private room to bid farewell to Yang Zhicheng and Wu Tieshan.
Before leaving, he discreetly slipped a thousand-tael silver note into Yang Zhicheng's hand.
Yang Zhicheng was startled, a flash of brightness in his eyes, then quickly tried to refuse, "Brother Chen, this... this is too kind!"
Chen Qing smiled, "Business is business. Your uncle's return and settlement is joyous news, this is just my small token. Moreover, this spear purchase was entirely due to Brother Yang's introduction."
Yang Zhicheng couldn't refuse and finally accepted the silver note.
One thousand taels of silver was not a small sum.
"Brother Chen, travel safely." Yang Zhicheng cupped his hands in farewell.
"Good, next time we have opportunity, let's gather again."
After speaking, Chen Qing turned and boarded the carriage.
Just then, Wu Tieshan emerged from the private room, "Young friend Chen, please wait a moment."
Chen Qing and Yang Zhicheng both looked at him.
Wu Tieshan said solemnly, "I haven't returned to the prefectural city in many years. This time I happen to want to visit Five Terraces Sect to see some old friends. How about sharing the carriage? We can look out for each other on the road. What do you think?"
Wu Tieshan was once a Lihuo Courtyard disciple. With his current mid-stage embracing elixir strength, he had been middle-tier within the sect.
He had quite a few old friends still serving in positions there.
Coming to settle in the prefectural city this time, stopping by to visit one or two was perfectly normal.
"That would be excellent. I'll trouble Senior to look after me on the road."
Chen Qing naturally wouldn't refuse. The other was Yang Zhicheng's uncle and a mid-stage embracing elixir expert. Traveling together was perfectly proper and actually safer.
Wu Tieshan nodded and boarded the spacious carriage with Chen Qing.
The driver cracked his whip, and the carriage slowly started, leaving the bustling, noisy Yunlin Prefecture City and heading toward Dingbo Lake where Five Terraces Sect was located.
Inside the carriage, Wu Tieshan and Chen Qing exchanged pleasantries before closing his eyes to rest.
Chen Qing was also content with the quiet, taking out the "Brief Guide to Hundred Poisonous Insects" to browse.
The carriage gradually traveled farther. The official road was lined with green trees, sunlight filtering through branches and leaves to cast mottled shadows.
This location was about thirty li from Yunlin City, a rather desolate place on the route toward Five Terraces Sect.
The official road made a large turn here, with rolling hills and dense forests on both sides. The hilltop offered broad views while the bottom was relatively narrow, making it an excellent place for ambush and assassination.
Four figures like ghosts merged with shadows had already lurked in the hilltop forest: Sun Kui, Li Xiao, Qian Tong, and Hu Sifang.
"They're coming!"
Hu Sifang, who had been sensing distant qi with closed eyes, suddenly opened them with a flash of excitement and cruelty.
Black qi flashed in Sun Kui's eyes as he growled, "Act according to plan! Second and sixth follow me in frontal attack, fifth circle around behind. Must kill with one strike, give him no chance to breathe!"
"Yes!"
Qian Tong's figure melted silently into the grass shadows below the slope, his aura restrained to the extreme.
Sun Kui, Li Xiao, and Hu Sifang were like three fierce beasts ready to pounce, their gazes locked deadly on the approaching carriage on the official road below.
Inside the carriage, Wu Tieshan, who had been resting with closed eyes, opened them with a slight frown.
Chen Qing also closed his booklet almost simultaneously, looking outside the carriage.
The driver remained oblivious, continuing to drive the carriage forward.
When the carriage reached the middle section of the slope, at its narrowest point—
"Attack!"
Sun Kui's explosive shout rang out like thunderclap!
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