Zhang Ming became alert and immediately looked toward the sound.
At some unknown moment, a black-clad woman had emerged from the corner of the room.
The black-clad woman wore a veil, concealing her face. Yet from her cool, clear voice and delicate, exquisitely curved figure, she had to be a breathtaking beauty.
"Who are you?"
Facing the woman who had suddenly appeared, Zhang Ming forced himself to remain calm. The Vital Energy within him quietly began circulating at high speed as he prepared to strike at any moment.
The woman gave a few faint chuckles.
"Don't be impulsive, Zhang Ming. Your little trick of circulating your Vital Energy can't fool anyone."
"Oh?"
Though he had been seen through, Zhang Ming did not stop circulating his Vital Energy. Who knew whether she was merely trying to bluff him?
He composed himself again and asked.
"The Mysterious Buyer is you?"
The woman did not beat around the bush.
"Yes, it is us. We are the buyers of the armor and weapons from your Qingmang Mountain Mine."
Us? Us? Them?
So it really was a major power?
"Who are you? Why are you buying so much armor and weapons?"
The woman covered her mouth and smiled, a hint of disappointment appearing in her eyes as she teasingly said.
"I thought you wouldn't ask. After all, do you think I would tell you?"
Understanding dawned on Zhang Ming, and his eyes narrowed slightly.
"You appeared because you want me not to stop trading with you?"
"What can I gain? How will you guarantee that those armor and weapons won't bring disaster upon the Mine—and upon me?"
"You know I am Zhang Ming, so you should know that I am the eldest son of the Zhang Family. I do not lack money."
"Hehe."
The woman smiled radiantly. Her black veil could not conceal the charm in her lovely laughter.
"What do you want? How about..."
With light steps, the woman drew somewhat closer, and a fragrant breeze washed over him.
Zhang Ming's expression turned icy. He immediately sealed his mouth and nose, silently retreating several meters.
The woman froze there. Seeing Zhang Ming several meters away, she became somewhat annoyed.
"Why are you running? Isn't big sister beautiful?"
Zhang Ming remained expressionless.
"A pink skull beneath the rouge. Get to the point."
Seeing that Zhang Ming was not pretending, the woman helplessly turned serious.
"I know you do not lack money, but you only recently comprehended Vital Energy and became a Warrior, correct?"
"And you cultivate the Mighty Bull Martial Arts School's cultivation method, [Mighty Bull Strength]!"
"So what?"
"Don't you want to know what the Mighty Bull Martial Arts School's great medicine is? Don't you want to avoid being controlled by others?"
"You can tell me?"
Although Zhang Ming had long known what the great medicine was, he could not reveal that he knew. He could only pretend ignorance.
"Of course. And that is not all."
"The Mighty Bull Martial Arts School's three core cultivation methods—[Mighty Bull Strength], [Mighty Bull Fist], and [Mighty Bull Body]—were actually split from a single cultivation method. If you..."
"So that was it. The three cultivation methods are actually one?"
Zhang Ming pretended to be suddenly enlightened, then said, "You have the original cultivation method?"
"Of course!" The woman smiled faintly. "Is that enough for us to cooperate?"
"Hmph."
Zhang Ming snorted coldly, muttering inwardly, If I agreed to cooperate over that, wouldn't that mean I had gained nothing at all?
He had long known the great medicine's formula. While the fusion of the three cultivation methods intrigued him, he now possessed the Mighty Bull Cultivation Method, so he did not desperately need it.
Having finished weighing the matter in an instant, Zhang Ming said coldly.
"Not enough!"
"I do not know who you are, but after discovering the Mine and confirming its capabilities, you did not move against the Zhang Family or against me, Zhang Ming."
"You must believe that I, Zhang Ming, am worth more than the few armor and weapons this Mine currently produces!"
"So, it is not enough!"
The woman suddenly bent over and chuckled.
"Zhang Ming, Zhang Ming. No wonder you were hailed as a prodigy since childhood. Though I do not know why you later fell silent and did not properly study for the imperial examinations.
Your intelligence and talent have not risen or fallen in the slightest as you grew older. You are still just as clever."
After chuckling a few more times, the woman turned serious and took a jade box from her waist.
"I wonder whether this, added to the offer, is enough?"
"Hm?"
"What is this?"
"A Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure!"
"A Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure?"
"Do Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures truly exist?"
Zhang Ming had read descriptions of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures in ancient texts.
The books described them in exceedingly exaggerated terms, claiming they could revive the dead, regrow flesh upon white bones, extend one's lifespan by a hundred years, improve Martial Dao aptitude, enhance comprehension and intelligence, and possess countless powerful, bizarre effects.
In nearly every storybook novel, every "protagonist" would use or consume multiple Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.
The black-clad woman explained.
"Of course they exist. Otherwise, how could information about Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures have been passed down?"
"And the Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure in my hand was prepared specifically for you."
"Prepared specifically for me?"
Zhang Ming gave a bitter laugh.
"It seems my guess was correct. You have been watching me for a long time. You even brought out a Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure prepared specifically for me."
"Let me guess. The stewards knew I was coming to the Mine because you tipped them off as well?"
"Even how I would deal with them—whether tactfully, decisively, through compromise, by turning a blind eye, or otherwise—would determine your attitude toward me?"
The woman slightly raised her chin, carrying the condescending gaze of one above toward one below.
"Of course. The ingenious blast furnace in this Mine called the Steelmaking Furnace, as well as that heaven-defying Hydraulic Press.
With such things existing here, any intelligent person would pay close attention to you, the creator of it all!"
"As for calculating that you would come? That was simply one with no intention plotting against one with intent. So long as you still cared about the Mine, we would meet sooner or later."
"Is that so."
When he discovered the mineral deposits and established the Mine, Zhang Ming had instinctively equated the mining industry with the coal bosses of a certain Jin Province in his previous life, getting rich as if they were picking up money.
Thus, during the Mine's early construction, seized by a moment of inspiration, he had created coal and iron technologies beyond this era with his bare hands.
Only later did he discover that no one wanted the Mine's output. Coupled with how sensitive the matter was, he sealed away much of the technology and issued an order forbidding expansion.
Yet now, it had still drawn some unnecessary attention.
The woman before him, representing the Mysterious Buyer, was one such watcher.
The woman continued.
"So, is there enough value in cooperating now?"
Zhang Ming spoke in a deep voice and continued asking, "What Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure is this? Can it truly improve my Martial Dao aptitude?"
"Marrow Cleansing Flower. The Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure known as the Marrow Cleansing Flower. Consuming it can cleanse one's sinews, bones, flesh, and blood, improving one's Martial Dao aptitude."
"It can turn mediocrity into genius, and make geniuses even more gifted."
"The value of the Marrow Cleansing Flower needs no further explanation. Even among the forces of today's Martial Saints, it is rarely seen. Every time one appears, it stirs up a storm of blood and gore throughout the martial world."
The woman slightly lifted her head, proud beyond measure.
"Zhang Ming, your Martial Dao aptitude is not high. You must envy your younger brother and sister, right?
Now, I have a Marrow Cleansing Flower in my hands. So long as you agree to cooperate with us, this priceless Marrow Cleansing Flower will be one of the gifts for our cooperation!"
"Marrow Cleansing Flower, cleanses the body, strengthens Martial Dao aptitude, priceless beyond measure."
Zhang Ming's breathing quickened, and his wariness toward the force behind the woman deepened severalfold.
If everything the woman said was true, could a force capable of producing such a Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure possibly be an ordinary force?
For no reason at all, every major power in Jiangnan Province and the surrounding provinces passed through Zhang Ming's mind.
But with too little information and matters moving too hastily, Zhang Ming did not dare determine which major power it was.
However... there are only five or six names on the list of suspects.
The corner of Zhang Ming's mouth curled upward, and a strange thrill arose in his heart.
This feeling of cooperating with a powerful force, where the slightest misstep could bring down thunderous wrath, like walking a tightrope, was simply intoxicating.
(No female lead; there will be no female lead.)
Before you continue