Great Zhou Martial Treasury

After signing the Martial Temple document, Zhou Lingfeng said no more nonsense.

He rose, draped his outer robe over himself, picked up a black bronze token from beside the desk, and said to Lu Chen, "Come. I'll take you to the martial treasury to choose a technique."

Lu Chen was slightly taken aback. "Now?"

Zhou Lingfeng smiled. "Don't you happen to be lacking a skin-tempering technique?"

"The sooner you choose one, the sooner you can cultivate it."

"On the path of martial arts, what one fights for is time."

Lu Chen's heart warmed slightly, and he immediately rose to follow.

The two left the side hall. Rather than heading toward the county yamen's main hall, they passed through a secluded corridor and arrived before an inconspicuous stone house in the yamen's rear courtyard.

Two armored martial guards stood watch outside the stone house.

At Zhou Lingfeng's arrival, the two immediately cupped their fists in salute.

"Greetings, my lord!"

Zhou Lingfeng nodded and took out the black bronze token.

One of the martial guards accepted the token for inspection, then glanced at Lu Chen before turning to open the stone door.

Rumble...

The heavy stone door slowly shifted aside.

Behind it was not a room, but a stone staircase leading underground.

A cool breath wafted out from within, carrying a faint scent of rust.

Lu Chen's gaze narrowed slightly.

Zhou Lingfeng stepped down, his voice echoing among the stone steps.

"This is the underground martial treasury of Scarlet Cloud County Yamen."

"Anyone who enters the Martial Temple may use merit, rank, or official position to exchange for techniques, martial arts, weapons, and pill formulas in the martial treasury."

"You are now the champion of the Martial Examination. By precedent, you may select one superior skin-tempering technique for free."

Following behind him,