Mastering Blade Momentum and tempering his body until he had forged tiger tendons, Zhou Qiming's strength finally rose another step.
He was invincible among those in the Tendon Transformation Realm. Even if he encountered a slightly weaker veteran Viscera Refining Martial Artist, he still had nothing to fear.
After breaking through his limit, Zhou Qiming was just about to pack up and go home when he saw a commotion outside the Weapon Forging Workshop. He walked over to see what was happening.
A richly dressed young master stood before the entrance, clad in brocade and jade belts, his expression respectful. His servants stood far away by the carriage.
Zhou Qiming could tell at a glance that this Brocade Clad Young Master's Body Tempering realm was no lower than Bai Hao's. His temples bulged high, and sharp light flickered in his eyes—signs that he had achieved something in cultivating Internal Force. His combat strength was probably several notches above Bai Hao's.
"That's Young Master Huang Yi, one of the Four Young Masters. Why is he here again?"
"sigh, he still hasn't given up? Workshop Master Mo already said he won't accept disciples."
"Keep your voice down. The Huang Family is the family of the County Governor, with power that reaches the heavens. If you don't want to die, stop looking and get back to work."
The craftsmen chattered among themselves before turning around and burying their heads in their work.
Huang Yi was known as the Wine Young Master. He had reached the Human Ranking even earlier than Bai Hao, and neither his strength nor his background could be underestimated. The Weapon Forging Workshop could not afford to provoke him.
Huang Yi clearly had no intention of leaving just like that. This was already his tenth visit in half a year to seek admission as a disciple. He swore not to stop until he achieved his goal.
"Young Master Huang, why put yourself through this? You're the County Governor's son. Why learn anything else when you insist on coming to the Weapon Forging Workshop to learn blacksmithing?"
Seeing that the Huang Family's people were refusing to leave, Steward Mo Bing came out at just the right time and urged them to depart.
The Huang Family's sudden attempt to scheme against the Weapon Forging Workshop meant either that the County Governor wanted to swallow it up or that Huang Yi was harboring ill intentions. Either possibility would be troublesome.
The Weapon Forging Workshop had always focused solely on its craft and never involved itself in Luoshan County's power struggles. It was precisely because it had strictly maintained its neutrality that it had survived intact all these years.
Huang Yi waved his hand grandly, ordering his men to bring out several plates of gold. He cupped his hands toward Steward Mo Bing and said,
"I have long been devoted to weapon forging. I hope Steward Mo will show me some leniency. As long as I can study under Workshop Master Mo, the Huang Family is willing to pay any price."
"This isn't a matter of money. You aren't suited to blacksmithing. Besides, with the County Governor's methods, what cultivation art could he fail to collect? Why covet the Weapon Forging Workshop's guardian martial art?"
Steward Mo Bing shook his head, showing not the slightest intention of saving the other party's face. He bluntly exposed the Huang Family's intentions.
What could make this Wine Young Master, a person on the Human Ranking, lower his head and beg was clearly not the art of blacksmithing, but the legendary family-inherited Internal Force martial art.
Workshop Master Mo was so strict that he repeatedly screened even his own children before passing down the cultivation art. How could he possibly give it to outsiders from the Huang Family, a pack of wolves and tigers?
"How outrageous! I've repeatedly humbled myself, yet Workshop Master Mo won't even show his face. You'll change your minds sooner or later. Let's go!"
As he spoke, Huang Yi boarded the carriage with a look of viciousness and malice in his eyes, then returned home with his servants.
"Young Master, don't be angry. The County Governor has plenty of ways to deal with that old turtle Mo Yu," the Old Servant consoled him from the side.
"So the Weapon Forging Workshop's guardian martial art, the Crimson Sun Art, is real. If I seize it, I can dispel the Demoness of the All Beings Cult's poison and advance even further on the Human Ranking!"
Huang Yi clenched his fists, determined to obtain the Crimson Sun Art. Even the Poison Young Master, one of the Four Young Masters, was helpless against that poison. The Crimson Sun Art was a fire-attribute Internal Force art, so he hoped it would work.
Watching the Huang Family's convoy depart, Steward Mo shook his head helplessly, his face filled with worry. An innocent man would not be punished for possessing a jade, yet possessing a treasure brought calamity. The Weapon Forging Workshop's days ahead would likely be far from peaceful.
He did not know who had leaked the news and drawn the attention of wolves like the Huang Family to the martial art. Now that the other side had torn off its mask, struggle and bloodshed would surely follow.
The Weapon Forging Workshop was merely a force formed by blacksmiths. In the end, it would either resign itself to submission or hand the martial art over to a major force in the commandery city in exchange for protection. Neither outcome would end well.
"What a troubled time," Steward Mo Bing sighed before turning back inside.
Zhou Qiming remained silent in the corner, taking in the entire scene. He had only just become a Second-Class Weapon Forger, and trouble had already found Mo Yu.
He only wanted to quietly improve his skills and martial arts. Why did these young masters from the County Town keep coming one after another to shatter his peace?
Zhou Qiming drew a deep breath. Breaking the limit of the Evergreen Skill was more important for now. He would let those autumn grasshoppers leap around for a while longer. Besides, if the sky fell, Mo Yu was still there to hold it up. It was not yet his turn to act.
After returning home, Zhou Qiming hurriedly lit the stove and continued eating Silver Kiss King Snake Meat to replenish his Root Bone, then began circulating the Heavenly Cycle of the Evergreen Skill.
Evergreen Skill progress +1, +1!
At his current cultivation speed, the Evergreen Skill would reach Great Accomplishment in another month.
Late that night, good news also came from Chasing Wind Tower. Xu Fei brought 1,800 taels of reward silver, a jar of Flood Dragon Blood, a copy of the Human Ranking, and information on several suitable missions.
Zhou Qiming cupped his hands in thanks and accepted everything. This payment was even richer than what he received from Li Shou. It seemed Tian Liang's death had pleased many people; he had caused far too many romantic murder cases wherever he went.
"There's nothing among these Blade Catcher Missions that I want to take for now." Zhou Qiming glanced over the intelligence and shook his head, indicating they could discuss it next time.
He had just barely saved up a little over ten thousand taels of silver. He needed to devote all his strength to breaking the limit of the Evergreen Skill, and there was no need to waste precious cultivation time running around for missions.
"Very well. Yan Sanniang has great confidence in your strength and has already lowered your intelligence service fee to ten percent of the reward." Xu Fei nodded in understanding, then quickly left.
Zhou Qiming glanced at the Human Ranking before continuing to immerse himself in circulating the Evergreen Skill's Heavenly Cycle.
This was the transformation brought by strength and status. Once, he had frantically chopped wood and stoked fires for a few silver coins each month. Now, with the slightest movement of his hand, endless wealth and Exotic Meat were delivered to his doorstep.
Another month passed in the blink of an eye. Zhou Qiming's Weapon Forging Skill had reached perfection first, and the Evergreen Skill had also broken through to Great Accomplishment. His Internal Force had grown so deep that he could shake a savage elephant to death with his bare hands.
[Name: Zhou Qiming] [Realm: Great Accomplishment of Tendon Transformation (Dragon Tendons)] [Root Bone: 19/22!] [Weapon Forging Perfection+] [Evergreen Skill Great Accomplishment 10%!]
His Root Bone Cap increased by another two points, and his Body Tempering realm had also advanced.
"The Evergreen Skill is almost at perfection. I'll save my Root Bone for adding points to Internal Force. I won't improve the Iron Cloth Skill for now."
Zhou Qiming glanced at the Martial arts panel, filled with anticipation for breaking through the Internal Force art's limit.
During this month, he had also nearly used up the Flood Dragon Blood and Tendon Transformation Pills in his possession, while the fifteen pounds of Exotic Meat had long since been exhausted.
If he wanted to temper the Tendon Transformation Realm to its ultimate Dragon Tendons level, he would have to purchase and gather Flying Dragon Blood and Dragon Tendon Pills, whose effects were even better. It was also time to accept Blade Catcher missions from the County Yamen.
The monopolized Flying Dragon Blood still had to be settled through the Yamen treasury. Zhou Qiming planned to visit the County Commandant when he was off duty.
"Weapon Forging Skill can also receive added points. I'll try breaking its limit once and see what happens."
This thought suddenly occurred to Zhou Qiming. His consciousness tried to envelop and stimulate the Weapon Forging column.
His Cooking Skill had actually been able to break its limit before as well, but his Root Bone attribute points had not been enough to improve all his martial arts, so he naturally would not waste them on a life skill.
Weapon forging was different. After breaking its limit, he might truly be able to forge demon weapons or Divine Weapons. Most importantly, his Root Bone was now far more abundant than before.
As his Root Bone Cap rose to an astonishing twenty-two points, he had more choices for breaking limits. Zhou Qiming now had room to improve his life skills.
[Root Bone: 14/22!] [Weapon Forging Limit Breaking First Layer+ (Trait: God Forging Hammer)]
Before you continue