Armory

Back in the courtyard, Lin Ming sat down and poured himself a cup of water. He had spent the afternoon eating and having fun with Ya Fei again.

Half a month had passed since he truly mastered the Explosive Thunder Fist. During This Period, Lin Ming still spent An Hour every day practicing it, and by now, he could use it in an instant. So, it was time to spend his efforts learning the Startling Swan Saber Technique. As for the Explosive Thunder Fist, throwing a couple of punches each day would be enough.

Sitting there, Lin Ming began to consider the timeline. He was now over nine years old, while Ya Fei was about a year younger than him, just over eight. In the original story, Ya Fei was around four years older than Xiao Yan, so Xiao Yan should now be a little over four and had only recently begun cultivating Dou Qi. Xiao Yi Xian should have been around two years older than Xiao Yan, making her six or seven now. Qing Lin had been a little maid in the mercenary group of Xiao Yan's two older brothers. Lin Ming remembered that Qing Lin had seemed to be twelve or thirteen when Xiao Yan arrived, while Xiao Yan had already completed his coming-of-age ceremony and then spent nearly a year training in the Monster Mountain Range. So Xiao Yan was probably five or six years older than Qing Lin.

That made things much clearer. Lin Ming was about a year older than Ya Fei, around five years older than Xiao Yan, around three years older than Xiao Yi Xian, and ten or eleven years older than Qing Lin.

After thinking it through, Lin Ming went to wash up and prepared for tonight's Dou Qi cultivation. As for dinner, he was still full. What dinner was there to eat?

"Cock-a-doodle-doo." The crowing of roosters in the Early Morning signaled the arrival of a new day. After cultivating Dou Qi for another An Hour, Lin Ming ended his session. Since he had decided to begin training in the Startling Swan Saber Technique, he needed to prepare the proper equipment. And since it was a Blade Skill, a saber was naturally crucial. So today, Lin Ming decided to buy or commission a saber of his own.

After getting up, washing up, and eating a simple breakfast, Lin Ming headed toward the family Auction House.

After walking for about half an hour, Lin Ming looked at the massive building appearing at the end of the street and knew he was nearly there. Although he rarely left home except to occasionally eat out with Ya Fei, spending most of his time cultivating at home, he still knew where his family's Auction House headquarters was. But Looking at the crowded street ahead, Lin Ming frowned. He knew there were plenty of people with sticky fingers in that crowd, and he was only a little over nine. Making his way through such a packed mass would not be pleasant.

Lin Ming looked around and spotted a patrol squad approaching from the west. Before long, when the patrol was about to reach him, Lin Ming took out his family identity token and stopped them. "I need to enter the Auction House. Escort me there."

"Yes, Young Master Lin Ming." The patrol leader glanced at the token and replied. Although he had never met Lin Ming, the identity token bore Lin Ming's name. As for suspecting that Lin Ming was impersonating someone, the thought never even crossed his mind. Not only did the identity token carry the Mite'er Family's unique anti-counterfeiting measures and markings, but even without them, who would dare impersonate a Mite'er Family member at their own Auction House and demand an escort inside? That would be hanging oneself on a birthday—asking for death.

"Move aside! Move aside!" Escorted by the patrol, Lin Ming arrived at the Auction House entrance.

"Young Master Lin Ming, we will continue our patrol. We have escorted you here," the patrol leader said respectfully.

"Thanks for your trouble. Continue your patrol." Lin Ming waved them off. "Move!" At the patrol leader's command, they turned and left. Lin Ming then walked into the Auction House by himself.

The moment he entered the Auction House, the noisy sounds outside vanished, as though the interior and exterior were two separate worlds. There were still a few conversations inside, but it was incomparably quieter than outside. Lin Ming knew this was because the walls had been built exceptionally thick, and soundproofing formations had also been installed. That was why it felt like two entirely separate spaces.

After casually looking over the enormous hall, which resembled a crystal city, Lin Ming ignored the watchful gazes of the surrounding guards and headed toward one corner of the hall. Just as he was about to reach it, two guards blocked his path. "This area is for the Auction House's senior internal personnel—" Before the guard could finish, Lin Ming took out his identity token. "I can go in now, right?" The guard looked at the token and respectfully said, "Young Master Lin Ming, please!"

Lin Ming put away the token, then thought that he might need it again later. Instead of placing it back into his Storage Ring, he held it in his hand and walked up the stairs.

When he reached the second floor, a curvaceous maid saw Lin Ming arrive and hurriedly placed her hands together at her right side, bent her knees, and spoke in a clear voice through her alluring red lips. "Young master, how may I assist you?" Looking at her seductive, full figure, her sexy Red Lips, her lovely face, and that voice... Lin Ming could only say that capitalism truly was evil. I love it.

Lin Ming blanked out for a moment before quickly recovering. "My name is Lin Ming." He then revealed his identity token.

The maid immediately addressed him, "Young Master Lin Ming!"

"Mm." Lin Ming responded, then asked something unrelated. "Which Auction Houses are currently holding auctions?"

The maid answered again, "Young Master Lin Ming, the Yellow Tier and Xuan Tier Auction Houses are currently holding auctions."

"Oh, the Earth Tier Auction House isn't open?" Lin Ming asked again. If the Earth Tier Auction House was open, he planned to go take a look. Like Cultivation Methods and Dou Techniques, the Mittel Auction House divided its auction venues into four grades: Heaven, Earth, Xuan, and Yellow. A Heaven Tier Auction House might not even open once every year or two, so Lin Ming did not bother asking. He did not think he would stumble across one so easily. The Earth Tier Auction House did not open often either, but it still opened several times a year, so he asked just in case. As for the Xuan Tier and Yellow Tier Auction Houses, there was little to say. The Xuan Tier Auction House opened once every couple of days, while the Yellow Tier Auction House operated around the clock.

The maid's voice rang out again. "Young Master Lin Ming, the earliest the Earth Tier Auction House will open is next month. As for the higher Heaven Tier Auction House, there is currently no information on when it will open."

Looks like I won't get to see what an Earth Tier Auction House is like today, Lin Ming thought.

"Fine. Take me to the place where the weapons are stored. This young master wants to choose a suitable weapon." Lin Ming paused, then added, "Take me to the saber section first." He did not know whether all types of weapons were stored in one place or separated by category.

"Yes, Young Master Lin Ming. Please follow me." The maid rose and led Lin Ming toward the area containing saber-type weapons.

After walking for nearly the time it took an incense stick to burn, the maid stopped. "Young Master Lin Ming, the Armory is behind this door. The saber weapons you seek are inside as well. Only you may enter from here on. This servant is not permitted inside."

Lin Ming looked at the large words "Armory" and knew he had arrived. "All right, I'll go in myself from here. Go attend to your duties. You've worked hard this time."

"It was no trouble. This is what this servant should do," the maid hurriedly replied. After giving Lin Ming a respectful curtsy, she left.

Lin Ming entered the Armory alone. Looking at all the different weapons, he wondered just how many there were. There had to be at least tens of thousands. Once again, Lin Ming felt the Mite'er Family's wealth.

"Kid, whose child are you? What are you doing here?" A voice interrupted Lin Ming.

Lin Ming turned toward the voice and saw a Big Man with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a square face. He Looks Like he was around forty.

"My name is Lin Ming. I came here to choose a suitable saber weapon," Lin Ming answered.

"Hahaha, Lin Ming. You've grown so much, Kid. If you hadn't said it yourself, I wouldn't have recognized you." The Big Man laughed.

Hearing that, Lin Ming quickly searched through his memories. Suddenly, he found someone who resembled this man. With some uncertainty, Lin Ming asked, "Are you Uncle Weiyuan?"

"Haha, you remember me now. We haven't met in so many years, and you've already grown into a young man. Not long ago, Old Liu told me you took a Blade Skill from him. He said you would probably come to the Armory to choose a weapon During This Period," Uncle Weiyuan said.

"Yes, Uncle Weiyuan. Xiao Ming came today to find a suitable saber," Lin Ming replied.

"Choosing a saber is good. Your father used a Seven-Star Saber. Back then, his Blade Skill defeated who knew how many experts. Your mother gradually developed feelings for your father during their repeated battles, and that was how they came together. Your father and I grew up together. Our bond needed no words. If I hadn't also gone elsewhere to carry out a mission that time..."

Watching Uncle Weiyuan, who had been cheerful moments ago, Lin Ming saw his expression fill with grief as he spoke of Lin Ming's father, Lin Long. Only then did Lin Ming realize that his father had once been quite accomplished within the family. At the very least, Lin Ming had lived alone in such a large courtyard in the Imperial City all these years without anyone ever bothering him. His parents' compensation had also been given to him in full, with no one embezzling it. When he met Grandpa Liu at the Scripture Pavilion last time, and now Uncle Weiyuan, Lin Ming understood that even if he had good fortune, it was because others showed consideration for his parents.

As for Uncle Weiyuan, his full name was Mittel Weiyuan. By this point, everyone should understand.

Lin Ming quietly listened as Uncle Weiyuan finished speaking. He listened seriously and sincerely respected these brothers of his father.

"All right. If your father knew he had such an outstanding son, he could rest in peace. The saber weapons you want are all over there. Go have a look yourself. Take whichever one you like." Uncle Weiyuan pointed in a direction.

"All right, Uncle Weiyuan. Xiao Ming will go choose a weapon first." Lin Ming walked in the direction he indicated.

Looking at the countless varieties of sabers before him, Lin Ming's difficulty in choosing flared up. There were short blades like daggers, larger curved sabers, sabers like those used by imperial guards in his Previous Life, and even massive guandao-style weapons like Guan Yu's. In short, every kind of saber Lin Ming had seen was here, along with many he had never seen before. He even spotted a kitchen cleaver with a Magic Core embedded near the upper end of its blade.

Lin Ming specifically checked the description of the cleaver-like weapon: Fire Demon Saber. A Fire Attribute weapon forged from Molten Iron Gold and embedded with a Third-Order Fire Attribute Magic Core. Price: one hundred thousand Gold Coin.

Lin Ming selected several other different sabers and examined them.

Snake Devour Saber. Dark Attribute weapon. Forged by the renowned master Li Changfeng from Snake-Pattern Gold and enhanced with a third-order Dark Attribute Magic Core. Price: two hundred and fifty thousand Gold Coin.

Earth Splitting Saber. Earth Attribute weapon. Forged from Demon Rock and enhanced with a fourth-order Dark Attribute Magic Core. Price: eight hundred and fifty thousand Gold Coin.

Ice Soul Saber. Ice Attribute weapon. Forged from Ice Soul Gallbladder. Price: three hundred thousand Gold Coin.

There were also the Tiger Soul Saber, Ghost Ape Saber, Moon Slaying Saber, and more...

Most of these sabers had Magic Cores embedded in them, which was why they could be sold for higher prices. Those without embedded Magic Cores either used special materials or were unsuitable for embedding Magic Cores. Furthermore, the lowest-grade weapons here had Second-Order Magic Cores embedded in them. Third-order cores were the norm, fourth-order cores were fewer, and there were three weapons with fifth-order cores, each priced at several million. There were no sixth-order ones. Not only were sixth-order Magical Beasts as strong as Dou Emperor Experts, but even if someone provided the Magic Core, no one in the Jia Ma Empire would likely be capable of successfully embedding and channeling it.

After nearly looking through them all, Lin Ming knew these sabers were the family's Top-tier stock, yet none suited his fancy. Either their attributes were fixed, or they were unsuitable for him. The main issue was that their attributes were fixed. Nearly all were single-attribute weapons, with the occasional dual-attribute one, but not a single weapon possessed more attributes than that.