Hearing Ants Fight, the Mountain-Weight Saber at the Blacksmith Shop

Zhou Qiming held the heavy silver in his hands, his mood brightening as well. He was still using the plain saber he had taken from Chen Meng and the other man. It was fine against jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards, but against a true Expert, it could not bring out the full power of the Woodcutting Saber Technique.

Not only could Cheng Yu's assignment earn him silver, but the Blood Ginseng he could freeload every month alone was worth an income of twenty taels, accelerating the recovery of his Root Bone Value.

Moreover, he would have dealings with the Cheng Family for a long time to come. If Cheng Yu's Medicine Shop business collapsed, it would also mean a loss to Zhou Qiming's interests.

[Root Bone: 0.8/10 points]

[Level: Skin Grinding Perfection!]

[Cooking Mastery: 1%!]

He had ground away at his culinary skills in the restaurant all day. After reaching mastery, his Root Bone Value rose by another point. Blood Qi thundered through his body, and every sinew and vein underwent transformation.

He could hear ants fighting; an empty room gave birth to light.

For a time, Zhou Qiming's Five Senses were vastly enhanced. He could hear the sounds of ants locking horns on the ground outside his room, while his vision in the night also became clear.

"I never expected ten points of Root Bone to transform the body so dramatically. Calling it a qualitative leap wouldn't be an exaggeration." Feeling the vast power within him, Zhou Qiming felt as though even his Life Level had risen.

At the same time, he took up his blade and drew it across the skin of his palm, yet it left only a shallow dent. This was Skin Grinding at its limit, evolving from Stone Skin toward Copper Skin!

A short while later, Zhou Qiming arrived at the Blacksmith Shop in the center of town.

A clerk immediately came forward with a smile. "So late at night—are you looking to buy weapons or farm tools, sir?"

Zhou Qiming looked around, hefted a standard long saber, and frowned. "Too light. Do you have any better sabers?"

"Please wait a moment." The clerk promptly dragged several sharpened sabers out from the back room.

The finely forged iron sabers weighed forty or fifty jin, yet in Zhou Qiming's hands they were as light as nothing. He wielded them with flowing ease, leaving the clerk staring in stunned disbelief.

"Still not quite right." Zhou Qiming shook his head.

"Th-this... these are already the finest sabers made in our shop. For heavier Hundred-Forged Sharp Weapons, I'm afraid you'll have to speak with the boss." The clerk explained with an apologetic smile.

Zhou Qiming nodded. It seemed he could only make do for now. Besides, he had only a little over twenty taels of silver. If it truly was a Hundred-Forged treasured saber weighing several hundred jin, he could not afford it anyway.

Still no money. Zhou Qiming gave a helpless bitter smile and reached out to buy the heaviest one among them.

"Young brother, can you wield a Hundred-Forged Sharp Weapon?"

At that moment, an old man with graying hair and patch-covered clothes emerged from the back room, sizing Zhou Qiming up and down.

This man was none other than Zhang Tie, the owner of the Blacksmith Shop. He had witnessed what happened outside and felt that this youth was no weakling.

"That's right. May I take a look?" Zhou Qiming turned and stopped. As expected, this shop had the fine saber he needed.

Zhang Tie hurriedly led him inside, opened a hidden compartment, and entered a spacious storage room.

"My Master forged this Mountain-Weight Saber long ago. It weighs four hundred and fifty jin. Give it a try." Zhang Tie pointed to a broad saber as tall as a man, like a door plank.

Under Zhang Tie's astonished gaze, Zhou Qiming lifted it with one hand and began to perform the Woodcutting Saber Technique.

His arm rose, and the long saber pressed down from above toward the ground, whipping up gusts of wild wind. Even the air was compressed until it burst with explosive cracks.

And this was without activating Brute Force. It already possessed such terrifying might; if he truly unleashed it outside, its power would surely be astounding.

"Fine saber. It truly carries the force of a mountain's weight." Zhou Qiming's eyes shone as he handled this Hundred-Forged weapon. From craftsmanship to design, the Mountain-Weight Saber was flawless.

Moreover, this Mountain-Weight Saber was probably the weapon best suited to his current strength. Anything heavier would be inconvenient to carry, and if he became locked in a stalemate with an opponent, a prolonged battle would be disadvantageous.

Though his arm strength reached two thousand jin, that did not mean he could wield a Divine Weapon weighing a thousand jin for long periods. Slashing, sweeping, chopping, and swinging all consumed tremendous strength.

"What? He actually wielded it." Zhang Tie was startled at first, then his eyes revealed admiration and delight.

He had already tried his best to overestimate Zhou Qiming's strength, yet the result still surpassed his imagination. Even a Martial Artist at Muscle Cultivation mastery would struggle to wield it freely, but in Zhou Qiming's hands it seemed effortless and ordinary. His face was not red, nor was he out of breath. It was simply inconceivable.

"How much are you asking for this saber?" Zhou Qiming seized the chance to ask. If it exceeded his budget, he could only borrow a little from the Cheng Family or the restaurant.

"The Mountain-Weight Saber is my Master's keepsake. Its value cannot be measured in money. It would not be excessive to say it is worth a thousand gold."

"What? If you're not selling it, aren't you just toying with me?" Zhou Qiming was speechless.

He had only managed to loot some twenty taels from head to toe. Even selling himself would not be enough to pay a thousand gold. What a pity for such a treasured saber.

Evil rose from his courage. Why not go all the way and simply rob him...

"This Mountain-Weight Saber was practically forged for you. If my Master were still alive, he might have offered it to you with both hands." Zhang Tie suddenly sighed, his expression somewhat wistful.

Seeing that there was a turn for the better, Zhou Qiming loosened his fist and waited for what came next.

Zhang Tie did not keep him guessing. He said gravely, "I can give you this saber. I only need a favor from you!"

"Please, say it." Zhou Qiming replied at once.

"Seven years ago, the Jinsha Gang leader threatened us into forging weapons for them. In the end, Master went without sleep or rest for half a month. His heart's blood was exhausted, and he passed away."

Zhang Tie seemed to sink into his memories, sorrow appearing on his face. "As long as you kill that gang leader, Sha Heihu, I will give you this saber. It depends only on whether you have the courage."

What surprised Zhang Tie was that Zhou Qiming showed no intention of retreating and agreed on the spot.

The Jinsha Gang had numerous Experts. There were two or three hundred members in Skin Grinding and Muscle Cultivation alone, while their leader Sha Heihu had reached the Bone Forging level in his early years.

Looking across Jinshui Town, no one dared offend the Jinsha Gang. They had run rampant for years, collecting Protection Fees. They could be called the local tyrant.

If he had not seen Zhou Qiming's Blade Technique reach a miraculous level, Zhang Tie would not have entertained the thought of avenging his Master.

"Good. A treasured saber goes to a hero. Take this Mountain-Weight Saber directly. This old man believes in your sincerity." Zhang Tie was exceedingly generous, paying the reward in advance.

After all, the Mountain-Weight Saber would only gather dust and rust in the warehouse. No one could wield it at all, so it was better to give it to Zhou Qiming and let it shine.

Zhang Tie was also happy to do him a favor. Even if revenge could not be had, he could still befriend a mysterious powerhouse in town.

"Many thanks. Within half a year, I will surely remove the Jinsha Gang, this malignant growth, and comfort your Master's spirit in heaven."

Zhou Qiming clasped his hands in thanks, his words sincere. He carefully wrapped the Mountain-Weight Saber in black cloth, carried it in his hand, and turned to leave.

He had obtained a Hundred-Forged Sharp Weapon without spending a single coin. It was truly an unexpected delight.

Furthermore, Sha Heihu and the Jinsha Gang had committed every evil imaginable. Destroying the Jinsha Gang gave him no psychological burden whatsoever.

"If I had to buy this Mountain-Weight Saber with money in the county town, it would probably cost over a thousand taels of silver. I'll remember Zhang Tie's favor." Zhou Qiming weighed the treasured saber in his hand, in an excellent mood all the way home.