A Precious Sword for the Manor Lord

The plundering of wild grasses, vegetables, and leaves from Red Leaf Forest by several surrounding villages naturally disturbed the Demonic Creatures and Ghosts hiding within. The most numerous among them were the ferocious Earthworm Beasts.

Startled, great swarms of Earthworm Beasts rushed out of Red Leaf Forest and madly attacked the nearby villagers, causing many of them to die miserably.

Moreover, some villagers skilled in hunting had killed much of the Earthworm Beasts' food. Starving and frightened, many of the Earthworm Beasts hidden in Red Leaf Forest became irritable and violent.

Although Chaoyun Manor's Tenant Farmers had not provoked these Earthworm Beasts, when a fire broke out at the city gate, the fish in the moat suffered as well. Several Earthworm Beasts still came near Chaoyun Manor and frenziedly attacked Tenant Farmers leaving the estate.

One Earthworm Beast had even somehow crawled through a gap underground into Chaoyun Manor itself, swallowing two of the manor's Tenant Farmers alive.

Chaoyun Manor was protected by palisade walls, whose foundations extended ten meters deep underground specifically to prevent Earthworm Beast incursions. Earthworm Beasts generally could not burrow deeper than ten meters, yet an accident had still occurred.

Several Tenant Farmers outside Chaoyun Manor were also swallowed and dragged away by Earthworm Beasts. In just a few days, nearly ten Tenant Farmers had been killed. This was a devastating blow to Chaoyun Manor.

Song Ankang also left the Training Room and learned the full story.

The Earthworm Beasts outside Chaoyun Manor were one thing—so long as no one went out, they would be safe. But the Earthworm Beast that had somehow entered the manor had to be exterminated. Otherwise, who knew how many more Tenant Farmers Chaoyun Manor would lose?

They also had to find the gap in the palisade wall's foundation as quickly as possible and prevent any more Earthworm Beasts from entering Chaoyun Manor through it. Earthworm Beasts were currently running rampant outside the manor. If several more got inside, Chaoyun Manor simply could not bear the resulting losses.

If too many Tenant Farmers were lost, Song Ankang would be unable to answer to the family elders. He might even lose his position as manor lord.

"Have you found the gap in the palisade wall's foundation?"

Song Ankang looked at the manor's managers before him, his gaze settling on Wang Bangzheng, who was responsible for Chaoyun Manor's defenses.

Wang Bangzheng hurriedly stepped forward, shame on his face. "I have arranged for the guards to investigate day and night. Because the palisade wall is so long, we have only inspected one-third of it so far. The remaining two-thirds have yet to be checked. We found no gaps in the foundations of the section we inspected."

"Speed up the search and prevent any more Earthworm Beasts from breaking in through that gap." Song Ankang said solemnly, "If there are not enough men, transfer personnel from elsewhere. One Earthworm Beast has already thrown the entire manor into panic. If another one or two get in, how will the manor deal with it?"

"Yes, Manor Lord. I will handle this matter as quickly as possible," Wang Bangzheng said.

"Within three days, you must find the gap and repair it completely." Song Ankang gave a dead-line order.

After a brief hesitation, Wang Bangzheng immediately said, "I guarantee it will be done."

Only then did Song Ankang nod. He turned to Wang Yuliang. "As for the Earthworm Beast that entered the manor, I'll leave it to Steward Wang. Select elite personnel from all the Tenant Farmers, especially hunters who have dealt with Earthworm Beasts before, and kill it as soon as possible."

"If anyone is killed by the Earthworm Beast, give their family triple the compensation and arrange positions for their relatives in the processing workshop. We absolutely cannot let them die in vain."

"I understand." Wang Yuliang nodded, his expression grave.

Having arranged the two most urgent matters, Song Ankang looked at Hao Jiyong. "The processing workshop will continue as usual. However, when sending people out to purchase Medicinal Herbs and sell the processed herbs, they must be careful beyond careful. My carriage can withstand an Earthworm Beast's attacks, so let them use it for now. Their safety must be ensured."

"How could that be? That carriage is Manor Lord's only means of travel. What will Manor Lord use if they take it?" Hao Jiyong immediately objected. "Besides, the processing workshop's people always travel together when they go out. Earthworm Beasts generally do not dare attack so many people. There is basically no danger."

Song Ankang shook his head. "I have no need for it during this time. It is better to add another layer of protection. This matter is settled. Go handle it quickly and do not delay."

Before Hao Jiyong and the others could say anything more, Song Ankang returned to his small courtyard to continue cultivating and strengthening himself.

Only sufficient strength could handle any danger. Anxiety was useless; he might as well cultivate a little longer. It would make dealing with the Earthworm Beast easier later on.

Before dealing with the Earthworm Beast, however, there was one more thing he needed to do: find a weapon that suited his hand.

That evening, while Jiang Yunhe was cultivating, Song Ankang left the small courtyard and went to see Chaoyun Manor's blacksmith, Ma Jingang.

Ma Jingang was Chaoyun Manor's most skilled blacksmith. Nearly all the manor's weapons had been forged by him, including quite a few Fine Steel Longswords.

Song Ankang had come to purchase a Fine Steel Longsword to deal with the Earthworm Beast causing trouble in Chaoyun Manor.

Ma Jingang had the back of a tiger and the waist of a bear, his build enormously burly. His strength had already reached the Outer Forging Third Layer and was only half a step away from the Outer Forging Fourth Layer.

Hearing Song Ankang's purpose, Ma Jingang's eyes flashed. "Is Manor Lord purchasing a Fine Steel Longsword for that Earthworm Beast that infiltrated the manor?"

"That is one reason. Earthworm Beasts come and go like a flash, making them difficult to handle with fists and feet. A Fine Steel Longsword would better ensure my safety." Song Ankang did not tell Ma Jingang that he intended to deal with the Earthworm Beast himself, merely saying it was for self-defense.

But seeing Song Ankang come alone, Ma Jingang grew somewhat suspicious. After pondering for a moment, he entered the rear courtyard. It was quite some time before he emerged, carrying a longsword sheathed in a scabbard.

"Since Manor Lord needs it, how could a Fine Steel Longsword be worthy of your status? This is my family's ancestral Mysterious Iron Sword. It contains some Mysterious Iron. Please accept it, Manor Lord." Ma Jingang respectfully offered the Mysterious Iron Sword to Song Ankang.

The Mysterious Iron Sword?

Song Ankang's eyes lit up. He quickly took it and drew the Mysterious Iron Sword.

Clang...

The sword light was resplendent and dazzling. It was unquestionably a treasured blade that could cut iron like mud.

Black from end to end like a deep pool, it contained only a trace of Mysterious Iron, yet that was enough to make this longsword capable of cutting iron like mud. It had nearly entered the ranks of a Ninth-grade High-grade Mortal Artifact.

In the martial world, it could barely be called a divine weapon.

Song Ankang had not expected Ma Jingang to possess such a treasure. Even the weapon used by Jiang Yunhe was likely not much better than this Mysterious Iron Sword.

Such a precious sword was worth at least several hundred taels of silver, perhaps even more.