"Ordinary weapons, no matter how tough or sharp, can only be considered sharp tools. Their uses are limited, and they can only be wielded by ordinary people. If cultivators pour their mana into them, even the finest sharp weapon will shatter because it cannot bear the force. Magic tools are different—they can receive and contain mana." Zhao Tong cleared his throat and launched into an eloquent explanation.
"This sword can be infused with mana?" Yuan Ming asked in surprise.
"Try it yourself." Zhao Tong did not answer directly, merely handing the sword to Yuan Ming.
Yuan Ming took the longsword and gripped it tightly, circulating the mana in his dantian and guiding it toward his palm.
The moment mana gathered in his palm, he felt as though it had immediately found an outlet to vent through. It extended outward and flowed into the Bronze Longsword in his hand.
The next instant, a layer of azure light shimmered across the Bronze Longsword, like a swimming fish gliding upward from the guard and shooting straight toward the tip. An unmistakably sharp aura radiated from it.
"Azure Fish."
Only then did Yuan Ming notice two elegant Southern Frontier characters engraved near the sword's guard.
"This is an inscription left by the weapon refiner. It is not his own name, but the name he gave this sword. Judging from that, this sword was either one of his proudest works or held extraordinary significance for him." Zhao Tong glanced at it and spoke casually.
"Then why did you call it a Half-Magic Tool?" Yuan Ming asked again.
"Because magic tools usually possess certain additional powers, such as releasing frost, fire, lightning, and so on. That is due to Array Patterns of different attributes being contained within them. This sword of yours was not inscribed with Array Patterns after it was forged, so it does not possess such abilities," Zhao Tong continued explaining.
After giving it some thought, Yuan Ming realized that the sword had indeed only become sharper just now and displayed no other additional power. He asked, "Can it still be remedied? Can Array Patterns be engraved onto it afterward?"
"It can, naturally, but only an elder from the Fire Refining Hall can do that. Ordinary disciples do not possess such skill," Zhao Tong said.
The moment Yuan Ming heard this, he knew there was no hope for now. With his current status as a beast slave, no matter how many resources he accumulated, he could never invite a sect elder to forge a magic tool for him.
"There is one more thing I'd like you to take a look at." As Yuan Ming spoke, he took out the Black Pottery Vial he had obtained from Bayin.
Zhao Tong took it, opened it curiously, and immediately caught a pungent, spicy smell.
He instantly moved it away, shoved it back with a look of disgust, and said, "This is a Blood Burst Pill. Where did you get it?"
"What is this thing used for?" Yuan Ming did not explain. He sealed the stopper and asked.
After some thought, Zhao Tong understood where it had come from. He had seen plenty of Furred Beast Slaves slaughtering one another and fighting over spoils.
"It burns one's blood essence and unleashes latent potential, allowing a person to erupt with strength far beyond their actual abilities for a short time. But the aftereffects are severe. Never use it unless you are at the brink of life and death," Zhao Tong said, sounding half explanatory and half cautionary.
Yuan Ming's doubts immediately cleared. Bayin must have taken this thing earlier, which was why he had suddenly gone berserk and gained the strength to kill the Human-faced Ghost Spider.
As for the aftereffects, one only had to think of his corpse after death to know how horrifying they were.
"Thank you for clearing that up. This time, I'll sell these two spider legs." Yuan Ming put away his Azure Fish Sword as he spoke.
"Fine, then. What do you want to exchange them for this time?" Zhao Tong asked.
After pondering for a moment, Yuan Ming asked, "Do you have any sword technique manuals?"
"This... I really don't," Zhao Tong said, shaking his head.
Yuan Ming felt somewhat disappointed upon hearing that.
"Our Jade Luo Cave is a sect renowned for beast taming, and the techniques in the sect mainly revolve around that. We do have quite a few miscellaneous low-level techniques, but sword technique manuals? I've truly never seen any," Zhao Tong explained.
"In that case, I won't exchange them for anything yet. Leave the items with you for now and keep them in reserve. When I find something I want, we can make the trade then," Yuan Ming said after a brief pause.
"That works. Or I can help you ask around and see whether any senior brother from the Fire Refining Hall is willing to take the risk of engraving Array Patterns for you. We can see whether they need these Human-faced Ghost Spider legs," Zhao Tong said with a nod.
"Thank you." Yuan Ming cupped his fists.
"It's business. No need for politeness." Zhao Tong waved a hand dismissively.
Yuan Ming bid him farewell and prepared to leave.
Today happened to be the day to hand in Blood Food, and he intended to make a trip to the boundary marker.
At that moment, Zhao Tong's voice suddenly came from behind him, asking as if casually, "By the way, when you killed the Human-faced Ghost Spider, did you take its face skin?"
Yuan Ming's heart stirred slightly when he heard that. "That creepy thing is useful too?"
The moment he asked that, a flash of disappointment clearly passed through Zhao Tong's eyes.
"That thing is the main material for refining a Thousand Mechanism Mask. Forget it if you didn't pick it up." Zhao Tong waved his hand, indicating that he could leave.
From Zhao Tong's reaction, Yuan Ming judged that the Human-faced Ghost Spider's facial skin was certainly no ordinary item. At the very least, it was quite important to Zhao Tong.
No wonder he was willing to explain so much to me. He had been laying the groundwork for this all along, Yuan Ming thought.
He stopped, turned around, and asked, "By the way, do you have any more books like the Compendium of Herbs? Could you give me another two?"
It was precisely because Yuan Ming had obtained the Compendium of Herbs from Zhao Tong that he had been able to recognize the Flesh Lingzhi.
"What do you want those for?" Zhao Tong asked.
"To broaden my horizons. The next time I encounter fierce beasts like the Human-faced Ghost Spider, I'll know which parts of them are useful and which are worthless," Yuan Ming said with a smile.
After hearing this, Zhao Tong hesitated briefly, then pulled a cyan book from his robes and tossed it over.
Yuan Ming hurriedly caught it and glanced at the cover. Written on it were the words Illustrated Guide to Common Fierce Beasts.
"This records the common fierce beasts in the Hundred Thousand Mountains—their temperaments, methods of attack, and how useful they are. Reading this one will be enough," Zhao Tong said.
Yuan Ming was secretly delighted. Just as he was about to thank him, Zhao Tong added, "This booklet is worth quite a bit to Furred Beast Slaves like you. Consider it exchanged for one spider leg."
"I..."
Yuan Ming's words of thanks caught in his throat. He cursed inwardly and left.
When Yuan Ming arrived at the boundary marker, he saw Elder Huohuo again.
When Yuan Ming handed over thirteen portions of Blood Food at once, Elder Huohuo merely gave them a cursory inspection before accepting them. He did not appear particularly surprised.
"Not many can adapt to the life of a furred beast slave so quickly. You've done well." He spoke indifferently and casually tossed over an antidote for the Heart Rot Pill.
After catching it, Yuan Ming did not take it immediately. Instead, he asked, "Elder, I have a question about the Furring Technique. May I ask you about it?"
"No." Elder Huohuo rejected him directly and succinctly.
It seems impossible to get help from Elder Huohuo, Yuan Ming thought, a flicker passing through his eyes. He was not surprised in the slightest.
"Just don't forget what I told you before about becoming a registered disciple," Elder Huohuo added coldly.
Yuan Ming was taken aback, unable to understand why he had brought that up. Still, he cupped his fists and thanked him. "Thank you for the reminder, Elder."
As long as he could become a registered disciple of Jade Luo Cave, he could shed his status as a furred beast slave and naturally would no longer need to worry about the backlash of the Furring Technique. Yet the price of collecting a thousand portions of Blood Food would also greatly increase the risk of backlash and bring it closer in time.
"One step at a time. As long as I raise my strength as much as possible, I can't go wrong. The road ahead is long and far..."
Yuan Ming let out a soft sigh and murmured to himself.
A few days later, the Green Wolf Gang finally confirmed that the squad sent to hunt down Yuan Ming had vanished without a trace.
"Gang Leader, we searched the surrounding hundred miles but still found no sign of Deputy Gang Leader Bayin and the others. It looks like the odds are stacked against them. They were pursuing Yuan Ming before this—could they have fallen to that brat?" asked a barbarian with a square face, broad mouth, and savage gleam in his eyes.
"According to Wulu's report, Yuan Ming may have reached the second level of Qi Refinement. But even so, Bayin was at the third level of Qi Refinement. Could he have died at that boy's hands?" The muscles on Wubao's face twitched.
"That's true. No matter how useless Bayin was, he should not have died at the hands of someone at the second level of Qi Refinement. I think there must be more than meets the eye here," Batu said thoughtfully.
"Batu, if you have something to say, say it plainly. Don't beat around the bush with me." Wubao was in a foul mood and rebuked him.
"Gang Leader, I mean... we've expanded too quickly lately. Could other forces have set their eyes on us? Otherwise, how would a mere second-level Qi Refinement cultivator dare attack our people?" Batu paused, and his voice unconsciously lowered.
"Impossible! I know the situation of every nearby force like the back of my hand. With Bayin's strength, even if he could not win, protecting himself should not have been a problem." Upon hearing this, Wubao frowned deeply and muttered.
"Gang Leader, there is another possibility." Batu suddenly slapped his forehead and spoke again.
"What?" Wubao looked at him.
"That brat Bayin led his men in betraying our Green Wolf Gang and has already surrendered to someone else," Batu said.
At those words, Wubao's gaze immediately sharpened. A moment later, he cursed, "You and Bayin have never gotten along, and I have never interfered. But at a time like this, you cannot spout nonsense without evidence."
"Please calm your anger, Gang Leader! I am merely offering a guess. Bayin and the other three vanished together. No matter how one looks at it, the matter reeks of something strange," Batu persisted.
Wubao rested one hand on his leg, propped up his chin, and remained silent for a long time.
"For now, put aside the hunt for Yuan Ming. Withdraw our men. From now on, move in groups of at least ten, and do not act alone. Put all your efforts into finding Bayin and the others," he ordered after a while.
Before you continue