Baxia, Oirat's Greatest

The twenty-seventh year of the Jingli era of the Ming Dynasty, the twelfth lunar month.

Lanting City's festive atmosphere had spread early. Vermilion palace lanterns hung throughout the streets and alleys; dust raised by passing carriages and horses carried scraps of red firecracker paper, and even the air echoed with the shouts of martial academy disciples practicing their fists.

Only five days remained until the grand celebration marking Oirat's three hundredth year as a nation. The entire city was like oil poured into a blazing pan, so lively it was nearly boiling over—especially the inner city, where military nobles gathered. Even ordinary courtyard guards had changed into breastplates reinforced with refined iron, and everywhere spoke of the confidence of a high-martial dynasty.

On the blue stone slabs of the rear courtyard, Lin Zhao slowly finished his training. When his eyes suddenly opened, a sharp gleam of condensed blood and qi flashed through them.

He raised a hand before his eyes. The fine hairs on his arm trembled lightly with his breathing. Even the fist and kick strikes slicing through the air from martial academy apprentices across the street, and the tremors of iron hooves from courier horses galloping in the distance, entered his mind through his blood and qi senses—as though he were a Blood Poison Spider lurking at the center of its web. Within thirty zhang, not the slightest rustle of wind or grass could escape his notice.

"The Blood Poison Spider Technique has finally broken through to the Fifth Level." Lin Zhao ran his fingertips over his arm, feeling the silk-like condensation of blood and qi within him. A faint smile curved his lips.

At a thought, the Proficiency Panel surfaced in his mind:

Lin Zhao--

Blood Poison Spider Technique: Fifth Level (1/30000). Special effects: Listening to the Wind, Distinguishing Positions; Intuitive Awareness (Advanced)—sensory range expanded to thirty zhang, able to lock onto the paths of an enemy's blood and qi fluctuations and predict the direction of attacks from fists, palms, and weapons; Spider Silk Qi Condensation—blood and qi can condense into invisible threads, attached to doors, windows, beams, and pillars to trigger warnings; when wrapped around an opponent, they can briefly restrain them, requiring an impact of thirty percent blood and qi to break free.

"Listening to the wind lets me predict enemy attacks, and the spider silk can bind people too. The Fifth Level wasn't endured for nothing." He stretched lazily, his joints crackling softly. "Spider Silk Qi Condensation hasn't triggered a warning lately. Looks like I've hidden myself deeply enough. Those nobles' spies haven't fixed their eyes on me yet."

But when he thought of his territory far in the northern lands, Lin Zhao's brow furrowed slightly—could the soldiers there hold back the bandits?

Was there enough forged iron in the storehouse to make basic weapons?

He soon relaxed again. "There's no use thinking too much. Once I gather enough Netherworld Grass and earn enough Pangolin Dragon Essence, I can go back and deal with it then."

He then mobilized his blood and qi, circulating it along the meridians of the Green Falcon Technique. His body suddenly felt several degrees lighter, and even a faint golden sharpness glimmered at his fingertips—the sign of blood and qi having condensed to a certain extent. "The Green Falcon Technique has entered the beginner stage as well. Its secret medicines are all ordinary herbs. Reaching the Fifth Level Perfected State within half a year shouldn't be a problem. According to the panel's traits, one Fifth Level limit technique is worth two Fourth Level techniques. By then, I can fill in a large portion of the Bone Softening Technique's Break Limit progress."

At a thought, the Green Falcon Technique's panel appeared. Though it had not reached the first level, its traits had already emerged:

Green Falcon Technique: Beginner (121/1000). Special effects: Falcon Shadow Step (Beginner)—when driven by blood and qi, the body moves like a hawk or falcon sweeping through the sky, increasing evasion speed by 20%; when stepping on walls, one may use the adhesive force of blood and qi to remain briefly in place, suitable for maneuvering through cramped spaces such as narrow alleys and lofts; Eagle Claw Force (Beginner)—blood and qi concentrated into fists and fingers can tear through refined iron soft armor, granting an additional 10% armor-piercing effect against defenses such as scale armor and beast hide.

"Falcon Shadow Step makes up for my weakness in movement techniques, and Eagle Claw Force can pierce armor. It perfectly complements the armor-piercing special effect of the Black Flood Dragon Technique." Thinking of how increasingly smooth his martial path had become, Lin Zhao felt a rush of exhilaration. His blood and qi seemed to burn throughout his body, and he felt as if he had inexhaustible strength.

After breakfast—a plate of braised beef and two bowls of mixed-grain porridge, both foods that could quickly replenish blood and qi—Lin Zhao changed into freshly laundered casual clothes, tucked away his Gilded Mask, and leisurely headed for Xuan Yao Pavilion.

The Mystic Iron Cold Scale Armor he had consigned for sale last month should have finished auctioning long ago. He not only wanted to collect the money, but also wanted to know exactly how much armor mixed with Northern Frontier cold iron could sell for.

As for Li Yue, he had not been seen these past few days. He was presumably busy preparing the martial arena for the grand celebration. The two had long agreed to watch the "Guardian General of the Nation," Baxia, fight a Mystic Armored Pangolin Dragon barehanded during the celebration. That was a Peak Grandmaster Warrior of the Heavenly Gang Realm facing a vicious beast. Just thinking about it made one's blood boil; missing it would be far too regrettable.

The moment he arrived at Xuan Yao Pavilion's entrance, a shop assistant dressed in a short blue cloth outfit spotted the Gilded Mask at Lin Zhao's waist. His eyes instantly lit up, and he hurried over in three strides. His tone was full of excitement. "Master Tiangong! You've come at last! Your Mystic Iron Cold Scale Armor finished auctioning yesterday!"

"How much?" Lin Zhao followed the assistant toward the rear hall. His tone was calm, but his knuckles quietly tightened. The armor had taken him seven days and seventy-two rounds of forging, while the cold iron alone had cost two hundred taels of silver. If it sold for too little, his future cultivation resources would become a problem.

"Three hundred gold coins!" The assistant's voice rose several notches, and his spittle nearly sprayed onto Lin Zhao. "Converted into Songjiang taels of silver from the Ming Dynasty, that's a full four thousand taels! The entire forging trade in Lanting Holy City has exploded! No one expected that a Grand Master Craftsman capable of forging cold iron like you still existed in this world!"

As he led the way, he chattered on without pause. "Stewards from so many military noble households have come asking after you! They don't lack ordinary armor—they want armor tailored by you, the kind that can withstand a strike from a Peak Martial Master! Master, your reputation has truly rung out!"

Lin Zhao relaxed inwardly, followed by a surge of delight—four thousand taels!

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

He stroked his chin and calculated in secret. "Rare things are precious. From now on, forging one or two pieces each month will be enough. If I rushed at full pace, I could make more than ten pieces in a month or so, but it wouldn't be worth delaying my cultivation—martial arts are the foundation."

After arranging the delivery time for next month with the assistant, Lin Zhao was just about to step out of the rear hall when the assistant suddenly remembered something and hurriedly grabbed his sleeve. "Right, Master! Someone in the bounty area contacted us. They said they have the Earth Dragon Yuan you wanted and are waiting in a private room. They also said they wanted to speak with you in person."

Lin Zhao's gaze shifted—Earth Dragon Yuan!

This thing could help martial artists condense their blood and qi. It was a crucial secret medicine ingredient for breaking through to Peak Martial Master. He had searched for it in Northern Garrison City for half a year without finding even a trace.

He followed the assistant into the private room. The moment he pushed open the door, he saw a hunched figure seated beside the table. The man wore a gray cloth mask and a coarse robe washed so pale it had nearly turned white, yet he faintly exuded an air of nobility—the lining exposed at his cuffs was actually Shu brocade!

What made Lin Zhao even more wary was that the old man's aura was heavy with the decay of age, yet concealed within it was a thread of blood and qi fluctuation from a Peak Martial Master. He was clearly an aged and weakened expert.

"Young man, you want Earth Dragon Yuan?" the old man asked. His voice was hoarse as sandpaper scraping wood, carrying the weathered weight of years. Yet his fingers lightly tapped the rim of his teacup in a steady rhythm; he clearly had dealt with martial artists often.

"Yes." Lin Zhao sat across from him, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the table's edge. "Not only do I want it, I'll take as much as you have. At market price—fair to young and old alike." He had not placed all his hopes on the grand celebration. Even if the Mystic Armored Pangolin Dragon produced essence, it would at most be enough for him to reach the Heavenly Gang Realm. If he wanted to break through the Heavenly Gang Realm afterward and touch legend, he would need even more dragon essence.

The old man smiled, and a trace of strangeness entered his voice. "This old man knows who has dragon essence—not only that, there is also a Mystic Armored Pangolin Dragon egg. It was laid by the very Pangolin Dragon that the 'Guardian General' will fight four days from now. If that egg hatches and is raised to maturity, it will become a treasure capable of producing dragon essence."

Lin Zhao's fingertips paused, and his gaze immediately turned cold—a Pangolin Dragon egg?

Even if it could hatch, it would take at least thirty years before it produced dragon essence. This old man was clearly using the egg as bait, trying to make him wade into muddy waters. Perhaps he wanted to borrow Lin Zhao's hand to deal with Baxia!

"I only want dragon essence. I don't want a Pangolin Dragon egg. If you have the goods, bring them out and we can discuss it. If not, don't waste my time here—I have matters to attend to."

Seeing that Lin Zhao would not bite, the old man stopped beating around the bush and said directly, "In Minister Ling's Ministry of Revenue residence, there is a divine statue molded from dragon essence. It was a sixtieth birthday gift from his son-in-law. That statue is more than a foot tall, and its entire body is made of high-grade dragon essence. By market value, even ten thousand gold would be an underestimate—enough for you to cultivate all the way to Peak Grandmaster Warrior."

Boom!

Lin Zhao's heart shook violently, and even the hand holding his teacup froze—a divine statue molded from dragon essence?

Minister Ling was far too extravagant!

To obtain a single portion of dragon essence, he had to hunt vicious beasts and forge armor to earn money, yet these powerful nobles used such precious cultivation resources as decorations?

"Wine and meat reek behind vermilion gates, while frozen bones lie by the roadside. This must be what it means."

A chill rose in Lin Zhao's heart, and his wariness of those lofty nobles deepened. Minister Ling controlled Oirat's Ministry of Revenue, and two Peak Grandmaster Warriors guarded him year-round. Taking something from his residence would be harder than killing a Pangolin Dragon.

Suppressing the turmoil in his heart, he asked in a deep voice, "Who is Minister Ling's son-in-law? Someone capable of giving such an expensive birthday gift can't be ordinary."

The old man slowly uttered two words. They were quiet, yet they exploded beside Lin Zhao's ears like thunder.

"Baxia."

Lin Zhao's pupils abruptly contracted—Baxia?

While preparations for the grand celebration had been underway these past few days, he had heard that name countless times!

To the people of Lanting City, Baxia was a living legend: Oirat's number one expert, commander of the Gale Army, a man who could tear vicious beasts apart with his bare hands, one whom even the Oirat Khan had to yield three parts to! More importantly, he also possessed a Ming Dynasty title—"Guardian General of the Nation"!

"You mean... Baxia, the Guardian General of the Nation?" For the first time, Lin Zhao's voice carried a measure of gravity—becoming entangled with a Grandmaster Warrior of that caliber was no good thing.