Hou Yi Bow

Junior Banner Zhuo glanced at the origin stones on the desk, estimating there were about two hundred, and turned to speak to the Martial Suppression Guards nearby.

"Go and bring out the Purple-Gold Alchemy Furnace from warehouse number A."

Every item in the Hall of Myriad Treasures was clearly priced.

However.

The selling price would be adjusted based on official rank and status.

Trainee Martial Suppression Guards were at the very bottom and received no discounts, Martial Suppression Guards received a five percent discount, commandants received a ten percent discount, and junior banners received a direct twenty percent discount.

After a short while.

The Martial Suppression Guards returned, carrying a three-legged alchemy furnace in both hands, the rim of which shimmered faintly with a purple-gold hue.

Junior Banner Zhuo introduced it:

"This is a top-grade tier-one alchemy furnace, forged entirely from Purple-Gold Stone. Our Hundred Households Office has no weapon refiner, so this was transferred over from Qingyang County. The selling price is two hundred thirty origin stones, minus the discount according to your current status, which comes to a total of two hundred eighteen Low-Grade Essence Stones and fifty spirit shells. If you feel it is too expensive, our office only has a single First-Tier Low-Grade alchemy furnace left in stock—would you like to substitute it?"

"Sir, I'll take this Purple-Gold Alchemy Furnace."

Fu Shaoping had already inquired about the price of the Purple-Gold Alchemy Furnace from Junior Banner Liu of the Earthfire Hall prior to this, which was why he had spent two months refining a hundred batches of Blood Qi Powder.

The number of origin stones on the desk matched the amount precisely.

Once the silver and goods were safely exchanged.

Seeing that Fu Shaoping had not yet left, Junior Banner Zhuo raised an eyebrow:

"Do you still need anything else?"

"Sir, do you know how bow and arrows capable of shooting tier-one vicious beasts are sold?"

"That's hard to say. If the vicious beast itself has a thick hide and tough flesh, no matter how good the bow and arrow are, they cannot pierce its bodily defense. Generally speaking, however, unless there's something special, the Hou Yi Bow in our hall is sufficient to deal with Late First Tier vicious beasts."

"Sir, then how is this Hou Yi Bow sold?"

"The Hou Yi Bow is a top-grade tier-one weapon, forged from Cold Netherstone and crafted by the master weapon refiner Qiu Yan. The selling price is three hundred Low-Grade Essence Stones. In the future, if Cold Yin Stone is smelted into it, it can even be upgraded to a tier-two magical artifact, making it quite rare. Would Junior Guard Fu like to take one?"

Fu Shaoping shook his head like a rattle-drum.

This was simply too expensive.

He would have to refine Blood Qi Powder for three or four months without eating or drinking just to save up enough for this price.

He only had a little over ten origin stones left in his possession.

He spoke truthfully:

"Sir, do you see if there are any bows and arrows priced at a little over ten origin stones for sale?"

This weapon was even more expensive than pills.

A single Qi Condensation Pill already cost ten Low-Grade Essence Stones.

Where would one find a bow and arrow for just over ten origin stones?

The Martial Suppression Guards standing behind Junior Banner Zhuo almost burst out laughing.

Junior Banner Zhuo, however, glared at him, harboring no trace of contempt, and said patiently:

"If Junior Guard Fu doesn't mind, we do have a broken bow in our waste warehouse. Xiao Yu, go into the waste warehouse and fetch that Millennium Bow numbered C-33."

Fu Shaoping had only asked casually and hadn't held out much hope, never expecting that there actually were bows and arrows priced at a little over ten origin stones, which inevitably stirred a trace of anticipation within him.

After a moment.

Martial Suppression Guards Xiao Yu then came out carrying a tray.

Junior Banner Zhuo subsequently lifted the covering, revealing a Millennium Bow broken by a section right before their eyes:

"This Millennium Bow is also the work of Master Qiu Yan, forged from Millennium Wood that grew for five hundred years. If this section hadn't broken, it would be a mid-grade tier-two magical artifact. Junior Guard Fu, you can try handling it. If you feel it has an affinity with you, you can take it away for fifteen Low-Grade Essence Stones."

Fu Shaoping took it with both hands.

As he held the Millennium Bow in his hands, a cool sensation suddenly leaped into his heart.

Even though a section was broken, wanting to draw it still required two hundred catties of force. After releasing his grip, the Millennium Bow emitted a humming vibration, causing Fu Shaoping's eyes to brighten slightly.

Yet the very next instant.

The smile on his face froze stiffly.

A faint cracking sound rang out, and the broken opening of the Millennium Bow split open a few more cracks inward.

Clearly.

There was a reason it was priced at just over ten origin stones.

This Millennium Bow was a fine item, but the number of times it could be used might be fewer than ten.

Junior Banner Zhuo said:

"Junior Guard Fu, how is it? When intact, this Millennium Bow used to sell for four or five hundred origin stones. Although the number of uses is limited, it can save your life at a critical moment-it's a trump card after all. Besides, the price isn't high, just a little over ten origin stones. I wouldn't just pull it out and sell it to anyone, I'm only doing this for the sake of you being a newly advanced pill-refining apprentice!"

"Many thanks for your favor, Sir. I'll take this Millennium Bow!"

Fu Shaoping wrapped it in a piece of linen cloth and placed the Millennium Bow inside the Purple-Gold Alchemy Furnace.

Since he was going hunting.

Not having a bow and arrow in his hands was naturally completely out of the question.

With an alchemy furnace perched on his head, Fu Shaoping departed all the way from the Hundred Households Office. Before he even reached East Street, Zhou Pan'er, having received the news, hurried over with a face full of joy.

Upon arriving home.

She directly carried the Purple-Gold Alchemy Furnace to the neighboring alchemy room.

Zhou Pan'er was fond of it and could not bear to put it down:

"Shaoping, judging by the finish of this alchemy furnace, it must have cost quite a few origin stones. I was even dreaming last night that I was refining pills, and I never expected that when I woke up, you'd make my dream come true. Shaoping, you're amazing!"

"Shaoping, what tier is this alchemy furnace?"

"Does it have a name?"

"If the fire is too fierce, won't it burn the alchemy furnace?"

"."

Zhou Pan'er's entire focus fell upon the alchemy furnace. This was by far the most valuable item in their household, and also something she had yearned for immensely for a long time; right now, no matter how she looked at it, she felt as though she were dreaming.

Zhou Pan'er was somewhat impatient, thinking of starting the furnace and refining pills right away, but she was stopped by Fu Shaoping:

"Pill refinement cannot be accomplished in a single day. I happen to have free time during this period, so let's go hunting on the mountain first. Once your cultivation has improved, learning to refine pills will be much faster."

"Alright, I'll listen to you."

The two of them rested for the night.

Early the next morning.

They rented a carriage, left the city gates at dawn, and headed straight for Seven-Mile Mountain.

They knew the terrain of Seven-Mile Mountain like the back of their hand. More importantly, they had already crossed paths with Granary Bear a few times, and with their current combined cultivation, dealing with an early tier-one Granary Bear together should pose little problem.

The hunting token had been seized from that hunter who had brutally murdered his children, and he had spent a few origin stones to have Old Zhan help register it under his own name.

In this way.

Without joining a hunting team.

He could still enter the mountain to hunt at any time.

The carriage quickly arrived at the foot of the mountain. As she was about to step out of the carriage compartment, recalling the roar from the depths of the mountain last time, Zhou Pan'er said with some worry:

"Shaoping, do you think we won't end up disturbing that fierce beast deep in the mountain this time?"

"We won't."

Last time they had intentionally provoked the Granary Bear to practice the Ethereal Steps, but this time they were hunting, so naturally they wouldn't waste much time.

His initial established plan.

Ambush and kill a single beast, then immediately retreat!

Quick battles promise quick resolution.