Oirat's Number One, Baxia

It was the twelfth month of the twenty-seventh year of Jingli in Great Ming.

The festive atmosphere in Lanting City had arrived early. Vermilion palace lanterns hung from street corners, and the dust kicked up by passing carriages was mixed with the remnants of firecrackers. Even the air was filled with the shouts of martial arts disciples practicing their forms.

With only five days left until the 300th-anniversary celebration of the Oirat's founding, the entire city was like a pot of boiling oil, buzzing with excitement. This was especially true in the inner city, where the nobility and military elites congregated. Even the ordinary guards wore chest armor reinforced with Fine Iron, a clear display of the high martial arts dynasty's prowess.

On the bluestone slabs of the backyard, Lin Zhao slowly concluded his practice. As his eyes snapped open, a glint of condensed Blood Essence flashed within them.

He raised his hand to his eyes, his arm hairs gently trembling with his breath. Even the sound of disciples' fists and feet cleaving the air from the martial arts school across the street, and the tremor of distant galloping horses' hooves, entered his mind through his Blood Essence perception—like a Blood Poison Spider lurking at the center of its web, no rustle of grass within thirty zhang could escape its notice.

"Blood Poison Spider Technique, finally broken through to the fifth level." Lin Zhao traced his arm with his fingertips, feeling the Blood Essence within him, as refined as silk threads, and a faint smile touched his lips.

With a thought, the Proficiency Panel appeared in his mind:

Lin Zhao--

Blood Poison Spider Technique: Fifth Level (1/30000), Special Effect: Wind Listening and Position Sensing Intuitive Awareness (High Tier) - Perception range expanded to thirty zhang, capable of locking onto enemy Blood Essence fluctuations and predicting the attack trajectory of fists, palms, and weapons; Silk Condensing Qi - Blood Essence can be condensed into invisible threads, attached to doors, windows, and beams to trigger early warnings, and can briefly restrain opponents when entangled, requiring a three-tenths Blood Essence impact to break free.

"Wind Listening and Position Sensing can predict enemy attacks, and the silk can also bind people. This fifth level wasn't a wasted effort." He stretched, his joints popping with a "crackling" sound. "The Silk Condensing Qi hasn't triggered any warnings lately, seems I'm hiding well enough. Those nobles' informants haven't spotted me yet."

However, thinking of his territory far in the north, Lin Zhao frowned slightly—could his soldiers hold out against the bandits?

Was there enough Blacksmithing iron in the warehouse to forge basic weapons?

He then relaxed: "Thinking too much is useless. Once I gather enough Netherworld Grass and earn enough Pangolin Dragon Essence, I'll deal with it when I get back."

He then circulated his Blood Essence along the meridians of the Green Falcon Technique. He felt his body suddenly become lighter, his fingertips even emitting a faint golden sharp light—a sign of Blood Essence condensed to a certain degree. "Green Falcon Technique has also entered the introductory stage. The medicinal herbs for this technique are common ones. It should be possible to reach the Perfected State of the fifth level within half a year. According to the panel's characteristics, one Perfected State technique is equivalent to two fourth-level ones. By then, the Break Limit progress for the Bone Softening Technique will be significantly boosted."

With a thought, the Green Falcon Technique panel appeared. Although not yet at the first level, it already showed its characteristics:

Green Falcon Technique: Introductory (121/1000), Special Effect: Falcon Shadow Step (Introductory) - When Blood Essence is channeled, the body moves like a falcon soaring through the sky, increasing evasion speed by 20%. It allows for temporary suspension by utilizing the Blood Essence's adhesion when stepping on walls, suitable for maneuvering in narrow spaces like alleys and attics; Eagle Claw Force (Introductory) - Blood Essence is infused into fists and fingers, capable of tearing through Fine Iron soft armor, with a 10% additional armor-piercing effect against scale or beast hide defenses.

"Falcon Shadow Step compensates for my lack of movement techniques, and Eagle Claw Force can pierce armor. It complements the armor-piercing effect of the Mystic Dragon Technique perfectly." Thinking of his increasingly smooth path on the Martial Path, Lin Zhao felt a surge of exhilaration, as if his Blood Essence were burning, giving him inexhaustible strength.

After breakfast—a plate of braised beef and two bowls of mixed grain porridge, all foods that could quickly replenish Blood Essence—Lin Zhao changed into his freshly washed everyday clothes, pocketed his Gilded Mask, and leisurely headed towards Xuan Yao Pavilion.

The Mystic Iron Cold Scale Armor he had consigned last month should have finished its auction by now. He not only wanted to collect the money but also to know how much this armor, mixed with Northern Frontier Cold Iron, would sell for.

As for Li Yue, he hadn't been seen for a few days. He was likely busy preparing the martial arts arena for the grand ceremony. The two had long agreed to watch the "Guardian General of the Nation" Baxia fight the Mystic Armored Pangolin Dragon bare-handed during the ceremony. It was a battle between a peak Heavenly Gang Realm Grandmaster Warrior and a ferocious beast. Just thinking about it made one's blood boil; it would be a shame to miss it.

As soon as he reached the entrance of Xuan Yao Pavilion, a shop assistant in a blue cloth tunic spotted the Gilded Mask on Lin Zhao's waist. His eyes lit up instantly, and he rushed forward, his voice filled with excitement: "Master Craftsman! You're finally here! Your Mystic Iron Cold Scale Armor was auctioned off yesterday!"

"How much?" Lin Zhao followed the shop assistant towards the back hall, his tone casual, but his knuckles subtly tightened. This armor had taken him seven days and seventy-two rounds of forging. The cost of the Cold Iron alone was two hundred taels. If it sold for too little, his subsequent cultivation resources would be in jeopardy.

"Three hundred gold coins!" the shop assistant's voice rose a few decibels, nearly spitting on Lin Zhao. "Converted to Great Ming's Songjiang Tael of Silver, that's a full four thousand taels! The blacksmithing shops in Lanting Holy City are all in an uproar. No one expected there to be a Grand Master Craftsman like you who can forge Cold Iron!"

As he led the way, he chattered incessantly: "Many stewards from noble families have come asking about you! They don't lack ordinary armor; they want custom-made ones—the kind that can withstand a blow from a peak Martial Master! Master, your reputation has truly been made!"

Lin Zhao's heart relaxed, followed by a surge of satisfaction—four thousand taels!

That was enough to buy twenty portions of Pangolin Dragon Essence, with money left over to collect Netherworld Grass!

He rubbed his chin, calculating inwardly: "Scarcity drives up prices. I'll forge one or two pieces a month from now on. If I go all out, I can produce over ten pieces in a little over a month, but it's not worth delaying my cultivation—the Martial Path is the foundation."

After arranging the delivery time with the shop assistant for next month, Lin Zhao was about to step out of the back hall when the shop assistant suddenly remembered something and quickly grabbed his sleeve: "Oh, Master! Someone in the bounty area contacted you, saying they have the 'Earth Dragon Yuan' you're looking for. They're already waiting in a private room and want to meet with you."

Lin Zhao's eyes flickered—Earth Dragon Yuan!

This item could help Martial Masters condense their Blood Essence and was a crucial ingredient for breaking through to the peak Martial Master realm. He had searched for half a year in Northern Garrison City without finding any.

He followed the shop assistant into a private room. As he pushed the door open, he saw a hunched figure sitting at the table. The person wore a gray cloth mask and a faded coarse cloth robe, yet it exuded an air of nobility—the lining of the sleeves, revealed by the cuffs, was made of Shu brocade!

What made Lin Zhao even more vigilant was that the old man's aura was somber, yet it concealed a trace of a peak Martial Master's Blood Essence fluctuation. Clearly, he was a master whose vitality had waned with age.

"Young man, you want Earth Dragon Yuan?" the old man's voice was hoarse, like sandpaper rubbing against wood, carrying the weariness of years. His fingers, however, tapped lightly on the rim of the teacup with a steady rhythm, indicating he had dealt with warriors before.

"Yes." Lin Zhao sat opposite him, his fingers unconsciously tracing the edge of the table. "I don't just want it; I want as much as you have, at market price—honest dealing with everyone." He hadn't pinned all his hopes on the grand ceremony. Even if the Mystic Armored Pangolin Dragon yielded Dragon Yuan, it would at most be enough for him to reach the Heavenly Gang Realm. To break through the Heavenly Gang and touch the legendary realm later, he would need more Dragon Yuan.

The old man chuckled, his voice carrying a hint of strangeness. "This old man knows who has Dragon Yuan—not only that, but there's also a Mystic Armored Pangolin Dragon egg, laid by the very pangolin dragon that will be fought by the 'General' in four days. If that egg hatches and is raised, it will be a treasure that can produce Dragon Yuan."

Lin Zhao's fingertips froze, his eyes instantly turning cold—a pangolin dragon egg?

Even if it could hatch, it would take at least thirty years to produce Dragon Yuan. This old man was clearly trying to use the egg as bait, to get him to wade into murky waters, perhaps even to use him to deal with Baxia!

"I only want Dragon Yuan. I don't want the pangolin dragon egg. If you have the goods, let's talk; if not, don't waste my time here—I have other matters to attend to."

Seeing that Lin Zhao wasn't biting, the old man cut to the chase. "In Minister Ling's residence in the Ministry of Revenue, there is a statue sculpted from Dragon Yuan. It was a sixtieth birthday gift from his son-in-law. The statue is over a foot tall and made entirely of top-grade Dragon Yuan. At market price, even ten thousand gold coins would be considered low—enough for you to cultivate to the peak Grandmaster Warrior realm."

"Boom!"

Lin Zhao's heart jolted violently, his hand holding the teacup freezing—a statue sculpted from Dragon Yuan?

Minister Ling was too extravagant!

For a mere tael of Dragon Yuan, he had to hunt ferocious beasts and forge armor to earn money, yet these powerful figures used such precious cultivation resources as mere decorations?

"The rich feast on meat while the poor starve, that's what they say, isn't it."

A chill ran through Lin Zhao's heart, and his wariness towards those high and mighty powerful figures increased—Minister Ling managed the Oirat Ministry of Revenue and was always accompanied by two peak Grandmaster Warrior guards. Taking something from his residence would be harder than killing a pangolin dragon.

He suppressed the turmoil in his heart and said in a deep voice, "Who is Minister Ling's son-in-law? To be able to give such a valuable birthday gift, he must be no ordinary person."

The old man slowly uttered two words, his voice not loud but like thunder exploding in Lin Zhao's ears: "Baxia."

Lin Zhao's pupils contracted sharply—Baxia?

He had heard this name countless times in the past few days while preparing for the grand ceremony!

In the eyes of the people of Lanting City, Baxia was a living legend: the Oirat's foremost expert, commander of the Gale Army, capable of tearing apart ferocious beasts with his bare hands, and even the Oirat Khan had to show him some respect! More importantly, he also held a Great Ming title—"Guardian General of the Nation"!

"You mean... the Guardian General of the Nation, Baxia?" Lin Zhao's voice, for the first time, carried a hint of solemnity. Getting involved with such a powerful peak Grandmaster Warrior was no good thing.