"This is impossible!" the young lady used an adult's arm to support herself while she struggles to stand back up in both feet. Although there aren't any visible scars or wounds on her, a slight injury is still can be noticed, since she was thrown tumbling for at least three round to four before she stops.
"I will make sure to kill you!" the young lady withdraws the short sword on her waist and charged at Zhang Wu Ji. With the appearance of the Soldier Rank servant is beside him, her little threat will not worth a thought, but instead, in reply of her threat, the young master took the sword he just confiscated from the one-eyed male to meet with her attack directly.
"Young master! Are you complaining about your life now!" the servant wanted to cry. Even until now his young master still tried to fight against the young lady directly.
"My ancestor, the lady at least has 60 strands of Inner Qi, she can easily kill you, a person will less than ten strands of Inner Qi!"
But in fact, Zhang Wu Ji did consider his option before he rushed in front to face her attack directly. With one hand touching the manual he just looted from the one-eyed male, he found out about the Manual and their possible effect.
Three-Waves Sword Art
Usage 1: allow the user to execute First Wave Strike (1), Dual-Wave Strike (9), and Three-Wave Strike (21).
Usage 2: allow each swing of the sword to carry an air blade when attacking.
Durability: 1/1
"It seems that through my special ability, I can directly use the skill to fight with the cost of my strands of Inner Qi. As long the manual is in my body or within my reach, the skill will be made available for me to use!" after realizing the special ability he got, Zhang Wu Ji decided to try his luck through fighting with this young lady.
As he charge, he swings his first strike at the empty air to prove a theory inside his mind.
"It happens!" his anticipation is granted when a line of air blade went straight at the opponent. In a very simple approach, he deflected the first attack of the young lady with an empty swing to generates the air blade.
As for the next strike, he simple swing his sword at her direction.
The two swords clashed at each another, but another unsuccessful air blade was failed to form, as its disperse and creates some disturbance from the dispersal. That unintentionally caused the young lady to be disturbed.
But then, Zhang Wu Ji retreats. Instead of continuing pressing forward, he retreats for a few steps, simply pointing his sword down on the ground.
"Are you coming, or are you not?" he was patiently awaiting her next action. If the lady decided to call this the end, he will save a strand of Inner Qi, but if she did not surrender and continue to attack, he will execute the First Wave Strike on her.
Unfortunately, the younger generation is always rash. The young lady charged at him like a released arrow. Without any hesitation, he executes the First Wave Strike at the young lady, where it was easily launched by just swinging his sword from below until the air.
A crescent moon shaped blade made of Inner Qi went straight at the young lady, carrying the intention to kill along its path. The beautifully tiled ground cracked because of the intense sharpness brought by the crescent moon blade.
And in that particular moment, an Inner Qi Fighter makes his appearance to block this attack, using the two metal wrist protector in both hands.
"Brother, shall we call this over between the two youth's reckless fight?" the Fighter Rank protector requested with both hands cupped together.
"Of course. Argument and fights between two youths should not bring too much issue, please leave." the Soldier Class servant replied as one of his finger hooks the back of Zhang Wu Ji's cloth, and stop him from going forward.
"As for the misunderstanding, I hope this two pills will be enough to compensate for the young master's shock." the Fighter Rank servant throws a pouch with two pills inside before he left with the young lady.
Without saying anything else, the Soldier Rank servant took the pouch and bring his young master back to the manor as well, leaving the road with business and stores to continue their sales.
"Butler Guan, why did you give them the two pills! It worth 1,000 Gold Coins each!" the young lady is complaining as he escorted the lady back to their home.
"Lady Yang, the kid is not as simple as you think. To produce an air blade on his fifteenth age, do you know how unbelievable is that feat?"
"As for the sword skill he uses, it should be the Three-Wave Sword Art, brought to its fame by the hand of Lan Shan Clan from the Orchid Mountain." the servant deduce the possibility where the sword art came from, as well his achievement in using the sword.
But what he failed to guess correctly, is Zhang Wu Ji is completely blank and useless when it comes to martial arts. The fact he just started to grab the sword is only an hour before their meeting. He also failed to understand the fact why Zhang Wu Ji can use the sword art at this kind of level.
"Young master, please tell me where did you get the sword art? Do you know the background of the sword art you just used?" back on Zhang Wu Ji's side, his servant is questioning him as they return.
"I picked it up a while ago. Didn't you see how I kill the one-eyed guy just now?" Zhang Wu Ji answer is so vague that it made the servant's eyes turn white.
"Anyway, do not use the skill again. It will not be good if those from Imperial Family or Imperial Troops to saw such a skill during their patrolling and visits to our town." the servant did not continue to ask, because he knows that the young master in fact just got the sword and manual from the corpse not too long ago.
"What is so worrisome about this sword art? It's quite useful in my opinion," he replied.
"Young master, the Three-Wave Sword Art famed because of the Leader of Lan Shan Clan. All people belonged to the Lan Shan Clan possess a manual to practice this art, do you know why?" the servant shakes his head left and right before he explained.
"Why?" Zhang Wu Ji is questioned by his words.
"Because Lan Shan Clan is a family of mountain bandits! The Orchid Mountain is where their stronghold is positioned. In this span of four years, the Imperial Troops already sent three teams to clear the stronghold, but they failed each time, even end up with all their headless soldier corpses are hanged on the entrance of Orchid Mountain."
"The leader of their family, Lanshan Lanyue, is a well-known cultivator in his 19th Stage Soldier Rank. With this sword art in his hand, it was almost like cutting heads treating them as a block of tofu." the servant quickly explains the trouble if the young master decided to learn this sword art, as well the bad history behind it.
"A martial art is good if it was used by a good person, and bad if it were used to do bad things. I don't believe that the Imperial Army will fail to notice such an easy fact. Even a person who trained in Blood Sucking Arts might not be a bad guy." Zhang Wu Ji uses his own term to view this matter.
But in the eyes of the servant who used to follow orders from his master, this manner, is completely exceptional!
After having his mind opened to a world of newer thinking, the servant kept himself quiet as they returned to their Zhang's Manor.
Heading straight to the Pill Making Room, Zhang Wu Ji immediately took his rest. Although he possesses nine strands of Inner Qi now, he spent five of them during the two fights. If he was forced into this situation again, perhaps the nine strands of Inner Qi will not help him, especially when he has no way to replenish them now!
It was after four hours of rest, Zhang Wu Ji woke up. Remembered that he got two pills from the young lady's servant just now, he opened the pouch to see what is so good about the two pills?
"He can give me over ten or twenty pills if it was Wound Mending Pill or Meridian Soothing Pill. Since the pouch only has two pills inside, It should be quite precious!" he thought, as the two pills rolled out from the pouch to be seen by him.
Qi Sensing Pill
Usage: Increase sensitivity towards natural Qi in the air. The speed of Inner Qi absorbed increased by 10% for 2 hours
Quality: Basic
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
"Aren't this two pills... Inner Qi Cultivating Pills? If I'm not wrong, the store used to sell them for 1,000 gold coins each!" Zhang Wu Ji was shocked by the gift the servant gave to him and tried to consider the reason why he did.
"Do he thinks that, even by giving me this two pills, I will not able to use it?"
"Or perhaps, because the Botanist Hall are too rich, they can easily get such pills in a matter of a flick of their finger?"
"Her life worth more than this two pills?"
Zhang Wu Ji considered all of his guesses, but none of them sound correct. In fact, the servant gives this two pills out because that was all he had at this moment. It was an unwanted intention to let this young master guess why would he do so.
Plus, to stop the assault on his master's precious daughter life, how can the payment be too cheap?
Although, he still failed to calculate the possibility of Zhang Wu Ji possess a special ability.
After resting for 4 hours now, his number of Inner Qi has been replenished. With a hand holding the pill now, he decides to upgrade the first pill, following with the second.
"Qi Sensing Pill +1"
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"Qi Sensing Pill +2"
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"Qi Sensing Pill +3"
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"Qi Sensing Pill +4"
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Qi Sensing Pill +5
Usage: Increase sensitivity towards natural Qi in the air. The speed of Inner Qi absorbed increased by 20% for 3 hours
Quality: Basic
Special: Increase 2 strands of Inner Qi when taken
"WHAT!!!" this is a direct increase in my cultivation! How amazing is that!" Zhang Wu Ji almost shouts out loud when he was reading the special description written on the screen only himself can see.
"Will the second Pill happened to have such a special ability too?" he guessed but decided to upgrade it to see the actual response came from the upgrade.
"Qi Sensing Pill +1"
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"Qi Sensing Pill +2"
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"Qi Sensing Pill +3"
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"Qi Sensing Pill +4"
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Qi Sensing Pill +5
Usage: Increase sensitivity towards natural Qi in the air. The speed of Inner Qi absorbed increased by 21% for 3 hours.
Quality: Basic
Special: If the pill is shattered by a direct attack, the attacker will lose his control over his Inner Qi for 2 seconds.
"The effect is different! It was different!" Zhang Wu Ji looked at the endless possibility he can see from the ability he possesses. Unless he further enhances his strength to have the strength to upgrade endlessly, it may be difficult for him to obtain treasures that can completely protect him.
"BANG! BANG! BANG!" three loud knocks came from the door.
"This one must be the father. Only he will not be bothered to knock softly when it comes to my door." Zhang Wu Ji went to the door while holding the two pills. But before he finishes putting them back into the pouch and opens the door, it was already forced open.
"You brat, I heard from our servants that you killed a guy today? Not just that, you even look for trouble with the Guan's Family Young Lady?" Zhang Qing Feng walked into the room and tried to sit at the chair, but before his butt landed on the chair, he stopped.
"That day I end up sleeping while sitting, it cannot happen again." he hesitates for a moment and turned to sit on top of his bedding.
"Why father sit there today? Don't tell me he's a weird old fella as well."
"Yes. I killed one of the guys that I might piss him off last time. But since he was breaking our stores, I don't think there is a reason to reprimand me for that. As for the Guan's young lady, I did not look for trouble with her, but she's the one getting aggressive when she sees me."
"Father, you know how well I'm behaving lately, am I right? I did not cause trouble, in fact, I helped the store to get more business." Zhang Wu Ji's thicken his face as his lips started to speaks all the beautiful words for his father to listen.
"Did you say you used the Golden Fist style to kill the one-eyed male? He was a small bandit from the Lan Shan Clan you know?" Zhang Qing Feng can't believe completely all the words his child just said.
"Yes. Golden Fist, twice on his chest to kill him. Quite easy." Zhang Wu Ji replied.
"God... If a boy less than 10 strands of Inner Qi kills a bandit with at least 50 strands of Inner Qi, where is the easy can be put inside the sentence? And he fought with the young lady of Guans. That lady is one of the well known Li Jiang's most Talented Twin Flower. Her Martial Body is the Lord Vermilion Stature, most suitable to learn flame element Martial Arts."
"And you... Not only defeat people with a simple sword, you even put her in a shameful position... I'm afraid to even I cannot protect you from getting beaten." Zhang Qing Feng thought in mind, while his butt still comfortably seated on the beddings.
"Not bad... Comfortable enough. No wonder this brat can sleep so many hours in one day."
"Father, can I go to a trip to the Qing Spirit Woods?" being a person that read through a few different books related to the maps, places, and dangerous locations, Zhang Wu Ji chose a relatively easier place to go.
"No! Based on your ability now, going to Qing Spirit Woods is out of the question. If you want, I'll allow you to go to the Deity Pavilion for this time." Zhang Qing Feng replied. But from the view of a father and a parent, that's a seriously wrong alternative.
After all, which father will propose his child not to go experience danger, but instead of telling him to go to a brothel?
"Father, Wu Ji wanted to temper himself in the Qing Spirit Woods. From the records, the woods only have the beast that wasn't qualified to become a Wild Beast. Plus in the forest, I can easily found the resources I need to temper my strength, why not you allow me to try going there once?" Zhang Wu Ji insists to be allowed to go there.
"This child! I allowed him to go brothel and yet he chooses to go into the woods! He... He... He grows up!" Zhang Qing Feng almost cried when he sees how matured is his child now. How does he know that this kid is actually not going the to temper himself?
In fact, his method of tempering is not related to fighting at all. It was robbing! Instead of robbing the people and treasures owned by others, why not he rob the nature? He can easily find veins, herbs, and even beast tools with him.
All he needs is a touch. But how would he bring them back? He thought about it, which is why he was asking for his father's permission.
"Father. In fact, I will need ten guys to follow me when I experience the woods." his word turns his father's mind blank.
"This is a Qing Spirit Woods! It was a place people call trash! You want me to give you ten servants to enjoy rubbish picking exploration with you?" Zhang Qing Feng turns mad, but he decided to further consider his words.
After a while in consideration, he agreed. But Zhang Wu Ji will have to follow his condition. If he did not obey the condition, the servant will take him back instead. With all the servants following the young master to the Qing Spirit Woods is his most trusted servants, none of them will let the young master do as he wishes.
"Sure, that's not a problem. Please tell all of them to bring as much storing material as they could. I will want to collect many things home." Zhang Wu Ji stated before he walks out from the Pill Making Room. Almost without anybody noticing their changes, all of them already assume that the Young Master's bedroom is no longer at his own courtyard, but here in the main building instead.
"When did you want to go there?" Zhang Qing Feng asked. Although it won't be difficult for him to make the preparation within minutes of notice, it would still be better if the child can set up a date for them to depart.
"Three days later. In meantime, I want to go to the smith to pick up something." Zhang Wu Ji replied to his father's question, and with a wave of his hand, the youth went out without waiting for his father's reply.
Unknowingly, Zhang Qing Feng's attitude toward this troublemaker has become less strict because of the changes he can see in this short half a month period. As for Zhang Wu Ji, he has been inside of this world for fifteen days already.
From the moment he found out the former Zhang Wu Ji has been killed secretly, he has never stopped being cautious in his surrounding. The step to earning money is a hoax, similar to this expedition three days later to the Qing Spirit Woods.
When he reaches the smith, Zhang Wu Ji went to the furnace section for the sake of looking for the best metal ore he wanted. Being seen as a brat trying to cause trouble here, one of the short-tempered blacksmiths came over to him and try to see what this brat want to achieve here by picking a few Mineral Ores out of the cart, one after another.
Iron Mineral Ore
Contains: 91% Silica / 6% Goethite / 3% Magnetite [1]
Quality: Insignificant
"Kid, what are you trying to do here?" the blacksmith came close to him with a hammer in his right hand. Although he was hot-tempered, he still understands the sentence "Know the Master Before you Beat their Dogs" is pretty well practiced everywhere. [2]
"Oh, I was trying to find mineral ores rich with Goethite and Magnetite," he explained his purpose over here, but the only issue is the term he mentioned are not understandable by the blacksmiths.
"What Goethite and Magnetite? If you want to buy metal, go get it at the front counter. If you want to smelt your own metal, then go pay for your spot. Don't disturb us who wanted to smelt and craft weapon here." the hot-tempered blacksmith was pissed with Zhang Wu Ji's attitude and tries to kick him away.
"Can you just tell me what kind of Iron you have here?" unwilling to give up, he asked for their details. Since the blacksmith manual, he got wasn't focusing on the metal materials but only on technique, skills, and understanding, he is still lack of knowledge in this part.
"We have [Sentient Iron], [Pure Iron], and [Crystal Iron]. This three are the main produce of our smith. I don't know what you mean by your terms, but the ore you're holding now, is filled with more Pure Iron, and a little Sentient Iron." the blacksmith explained their terms to him, but at his end of explanations, it seems that the Goethite was called as Pure Iron in their terms, as for the Magnetite, it should be called as Sentient Iron.
It was easy to decipher, because the fact this realm doesn't know and understands the effect of a magnet, thus the movable magnet iron was treated as sentient, while the pure main component of Goethite was treated as pure iron because of its physical properties.
"I see. I am interested to purchase mineral ores that have a richer quantity of Pure Iron please." Zhang Wu Ji mentioned the reason he was here in the first place. What's hard to believe is that such a thin young master from some family actually wanted to buy the ores and not the completed products?
Are you a fake rich young master?
But of course, nobody dares to ask that question. After pointing at the few carts possibly have a good amount of the metal the young master needs. With the prices of 2 gold coins for each mineral rocks, Zhang Wu Ji chose twenty-five of them, before walking over to the counter to pay for his purchase.
"That would be 50 gold coins." the attendant served him, and collect the payment from the youth. But at the same time when he pays for his purchase, the young master came out with a few questions.
"Do you sell a different kind of tools here?"
"Yes young master, we did. Each set of tool cost a hundred gold coins." the attendant replied. Knowing the prices for the tool aren't cheap at all, he purchases only two of them, before he had them delivered together into the Zhang's Manor.
Before he left, Zhang Wu Ji walked passed a shelf filled with longer weapons. Each of them has a proper craftsmanship, but after a touch on two of them, he was disappointed. Their quality actually lower than the sword he picks up after killing the one-eyed male.
When he was going to leave the smith, the rain suddenly poured down, causing the previously packed road to becoming empty. Where all people are escaping from the rain. Noticing that he did not have an umbrella, Zhang Wu Ji can only stay in the Smith and inspect their other works while waiting for the rain to stops.
As he walked through their shelves one after another, he noticed two manual books is placed on one of the shelves, seems to be for sale.
"Attendant! Are these two books are for sale?" he asked. When the attendant came back to his side, the answer was yes. Each of this book is sold for 500 gold coins each because the writer of the book is one of the best blacksmiths in their town, Master Li Ren.
This old Master Li Ren is almost reaching his seventies now. Although he was half retired at the moment, the master did not take the retirement seriously. Instead, he wrote the two books in hope that there will be a youngster that can inherit the skill and knowledge he obtained after becoming a blacksmith for over fifty years now.
What the old master did not expect, is that the person having his interest in his book is not even a blacksmith, but a cheater!
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[1]. Goethite & Magnetite is two of the four forms of Iron Ore processed from the mined minerals. Magnetite seems to be used often in making magnets etc, research etc, while Goethite is the main component of most of the iron products.
[2]. Know the owner before you beat their dogs signifies the fact even if your opponent was a lowly servant or something, it doesn't mean that you can teach them a lesson, because, in return, their owner will come to kick your ass instead. Almost similar to "Do mess with people stronger than you."