Sima Qingshan

"Very good. Each of you must keep the secret manual you selected safe. One year from now, you will have to return your respective manual. There must be no mistakes...www..com..."

After sweeping his gaze over the disciples, all of whom wore delighted expressions, Hall Master Li said in a deep voice.

"Yes, we will certainly obey Hall Master's orders."

"Mm. If you encounter anything difficult to understand in the secret manual, you may go to the Elite Hall and seek guidance from me or the others. You must not fight among yourselves or take one another's lives. You may return to your respective residences now."

After returning to his room, Qin Fengming eagerly took out the book Detailed Explanation of Mechanisms and began studying it carefully.

Detailed Explanation of Mechanisms was a secret manual that thoroughly introduced the principles and manufacturing processes of mechanism-based hidden weapons. It gave especially detailed explanations of several hidden weapons that had long since vanished from the martial world.

If such a secret manual were to circulate, it would inevitably cause a tremendous upheaval in the martial world of the Great Liang Kingdom.

Qin Fengming had his reasons for studying the manual. He considered himself weak and alone. No matter how exquisite his sword techniques were, his physical strength was always limited. As for hidden weapons, he had personally experienced their power when he slew Yuan Kejian and the others.

They were a simple yet extremely effective means of turning defeat into victory.

Before he knew it, Qin Fengming had studied Detailed Explanation of Mechanisms from noon until dusk, forgetting even to eat lunch.

When the sky darkened and he had no choice but to put down Detailed Explanation of Mechanisms, Qin Fengming discovered that evening had already fallen and that his stomach was growling with hunger. He thus left the courtyard and headed toward the dining hall behind the main hall.

That night, after lighting a pine-oil lamp, Qin Fengming continued reading Detailed Explanation of Mechanisms by the flickering light. He kept reading deep into the night before barely managing to finish a rough read-through of the entire manual.

After carefully weighing and comparing his options, he ultimately selected a hidden weapon called "Cold Star" as his first choice.

"Cold Star" was shaped like a rouge box used by women and was only the size of a palm. Its front had five small holes, while five Heart-Questioning Nails were installed inside the box. The nails could be coated with deadly poison, and anyone struck by one would die in an instant.

Manufacturing this hidden weapon was extremely difficult. Its core had to be made from Purple Gold Iron, as ordinary steel could not bring out its power. The box itself could be made from ordinary refined iron, but the Heart-Questioning Nails required the even rarer Black Essence Steel. Moreover, crafting each component required a highly skilled smith.

Qin Fengming naturally lacked the wealth to seek out such precious materials at that time. Furthermore, even if he had the materials, it would be difficult to find a suitable smith to complete the work.

Thus, over the next few days, Qin Fengming found paper, brush, and ink. Following the "Cold Star" illustrations in Detailed Explanation of Mechanisms, he broke down every component of the hidden weapon and drew them into detailed diagrams. After carefully inspecting them and finding no flaws, he stored them close to his body.

Although he could not forge it at that time, he would naturally have the opportunity to complete it in the future.

One month later, just as Qin Fengming was sitting cross-legged in his room and cultivating his inner power, a senior fellow disciple suddenly came to his courtyard and informed him that the Hall Master wished to see him.

Daring not to delay, Qin Fengming hurried to the Elite Hall. He saw that, apart from the Hall Master, only a burly middle-aged man in yellow robes was seated to one side.

"Fengming, this is Elder Wu. He has come to take you to meet Sect Master Sima. Go back and pack the things you need, then leave with Elder Wu."

When Qin Fengming entered the main hall, Hall Master Li's face lit up with joy. Before Qin Fengming could pay his respects, he spoke first, his expression filled with delight and encouragement.

Hearing this, Qin Fengming was utterly bewildered. Without time to think further, he bowed in salute, returned to his residence, and packed his personal belongings. Then he slung his sword over his back and followed Elder Wu down Wangyue Peak.

An idea arose in Qin Fengming's mind. Could it be that the Sect Master has agreed to let me join Dark Night Hall?

Rosy Cloud Peak was where the Sect Master of Luoxia Valley lived. It had received its name because, whenever the rain cleared, one could stand atop the peak and see colorful clouds drifting all around.

The valley west of Rosy Cloud Peak stretched deep into the distance. The colorful clouds seemed as if they were about to descend into it, so that valley was called Luoxia Valley. It was also where the Luoxia Valley sect had established its foundation.

As the two traveled, Elder Wu kept pointing things out and giving Qin Fengming detailed introductions to the various locations.

After traveling for some time, a massive valley appeared ahead. There were many houses within it. Qin Fengming swept his gaze over the area and was immediately left bewildered. He discovered that more than a thousand courtyards and residences had been built in the valley. Men and women, old and young, came and went among them. It was like entering a huge town.

Watching the people coming and going, Qin Fengming saw that regardless of age or gender, all of them moved lightly and walked without a sound. With his experience, he naturally knew that these people, who appeared to be ordinary villagers, were all martial artists without a doubt.

Seeing Qin Fengming's astonishment, Elder Wu gave a faint smile. "Hehe, everyone living here is descended from Luoxia Valley's disciples. After several centuries of reproduction, there are already several thousand people. This is only one of several settlements."

Hearing Elder Wu's words, Qin Fengming's heart was thrown into turmoil. It turned out that he had only scratched the surface of Luoxia Valley.

In truth, Luoxia Valley had existed for far more than several centuries. The disciples had merely been told this version. As for exactly how many years ago the sect had been founded, that was no longer possible to determine.

An hour later, the two arrived at the summit of Rosy Cloud Peak. A manor occupying several dozen mu stood ahead. Its exterior was enclosed by tall walls built from square stones, while rows of wooden buildings with carved beams and painted rafters stood within. Eight people stood on either side of the entrance.

When they saw Elder Wu arrive, they all bowed in salute. Elder Wu seemed very familiar with the people at the entrance. He merely nodded slightly before leading Qin Fengming into the manor.

The two continued until they reached the third courtyard. Although they encountered quite a few disciples wearing Luoxia Valley attire along the way, none of them spoke up to stop them.

They finally stopped outside a building in the center.

"Reporting to the Sect Master, income has increased slightly over the past three months."

"Yingzhou City sent thirty-eight thousand taels of silver and three carts of cloth."

"Luyu City sent twenty-five thousand eight hundred taels of silver and two carts of various medicinal herbs."

"Songyue City sent thirty-one thousand taels of silver and three carts of assorted weapons."

"After consolidating the income from all regions, we took in a total of two hundred seventy-eight thousand taels of silver over the past three months. A total of one hundred seventy-three thousand six hundred fifty-three spirit stones was submitted."

"Six disciples were lost and seventeen injured over the past three months. However, the Little Tushan bandits, who have always been at odds with our Luoxia Valley, have been wiped out."

The two had only just taken their places outside the door when voices came from within the room.

After that voice fell silent, another calm voice slowly said, "Mm, I understand. The compensation for the disciples who died must be sent promptly. If any disciple's family is in difficulty, give them some extra assistance as well. The injured disciples must receive proper treatment. All right, you may withdraw."

After a moment, the room fell completely silent. Just as Elder Wu stepped forward and was about to raise his hand to knock, a voice came from inside.

"It's Junior Brother Wu, isn't it? Come in with Qin Fengming."

A person was seated in a tall wooden chair in the center of the room. Qin Fengming looked closely and recognized him as Sect Master Sima, whom he had seen on the elevated platform at the martial arena that day.

Before Elder Wu could introduce him, Qin Fengming hurried forward two steps, bowed in salute, and said, "This disciple Qin Fengming pays his respects to the Sect Master."