Both martial and mystical cultivation goals had been achieved.
Next step—it was time to go hunting in the mountains.
"I've already written the memorial for Deputy General Yu," Chen Sanshi murmured to himself, "and it was sent through the Imperial Communications Office using the six-thousand-li Divine Eagle Express, so by now, it should have reached the capital."
"I wonder if His Majesty will clear Deputy General Yu's name once he sees it."
"I also included Xu Wencai's merits in the report."
After the rebellion in Mingzhou was put down, all who survived from the Reserve Camp received generous rewards.
Because Xu Wencai had no cultivation and wasn't even a martial soldier, he only received some silver and gold—a reward far too meager for his contribution. That old scholar's dream was to earn the formal title of Wolong (Crouching Dragon).
But with people like Fang Qingyun and Zhu Yuzhu already bearing similar titles, it was unlikely. Still, securing a military or civil merit rank for him would be good enough. Chen Sanshi had done all he could.
Meanwhile, news from the capital brought another surprise. Before the Mingzhou campaign began, the imperial examinations had concluded—and the new top scholar was none other than his old acquaintance, Tang Yingke.
Who would've thought that kid actually managed to pass? Turns out, he really had some brains after all.
——
The Capital.
Wanshou Palace.
All members of the Grand Secretariat had gathered.
"Victory report!"
"Since the war began with the Eastern Qing Kingdom, Marquis of Andong, Meng Quji, has conquered eight prefectures in just two months. He's now advanced deep into Laizhou territory, winning battle after battle, unstoppable in his momentum."
"In response, Eastern Qing has sent Prince Tang to lead a force of one hundred thousand troops to garrison Tongzhou."
"If Prince Tang is defeated again, we can reclaim Laizhou, Tongzhou, and Lingzhou in one stroke. Two of those are prosperous regions, and they also include Mount Ziwei within their borders."
"Excellent! Whatever Marquis Meng needs—food, funds, weapons—give it to him. If he recovers all three prefectures, I will promote him to Duke of the Realm!"
Emperor Longqing's face shone with delight.
When the war council ended, he shifted the topic. "Now, about Chen Sanshi's reward—what do you gentlemen think? Yan Liang, Yan Maoxing, you father and son speak first."
"Your Majesty," Yan Liang replied slowly, seated on a small stool, "Lord Chen is still very young. His rank is limited by his cultivation realm, so your Majesty's reward can only come in the form of honors and titles."
"After leading the people across the Hongze River, he was already promoted to Upper Third-Rank Light Chariot Commandant. Given the extraordinary achievements in Mingzhou, by rights, he could skip the Sub-Second Rank and be directly appointed Upper Second-Rank Protector General. As for martial resources, he already receives the best. The rest could simply be silver and treasure."
"Your Majesty, this minister agrees," Yan Maoxing added with a bow. "An eighteen-year-old Upper Second-Rank Protector General is already a rarity in our dynasty."
Minister of War, Gao Bo, also nodded. "I concur."
"Heh, too low," Emperor Longqing interrupted with a faint smile. "I intend to promote him directly to Upper First-Rank Pillar of State. What say you all?"
The court erupted into murmurs.
"Your Majesty, isn't that… too high?"
Yan Liang hesitated. "He's only eighteen. He's served barely two years as a general. Wouldn't this advancement be a bit too rapid?"
"Indeed, Your Majesty," Gao Bo said gravely. "For one so young to achieve such feats is extraordinary—but granting excessive honors too soon might breed arrogance. Perhaps start with Second Rank, then, in three to five years, elevate him to Pillar of State."
"I see nothing inappropriate!"
Minister of Rites, Tang Ran—the father of Tang Yingke—spoke firmly. "General Chen crossed the Hongze River four times. His tactics have already been recorded in military textbooks. Without his unmatched accomplishments, the Mingzhou rebellion could never have been quelled so swiftly!"
"Minister Tang," said the Minister of Revenue with an ambiguous tone, "public matters should remain public, private matters private."
He didn't say it outright, but everyone knew what he meant.
They'd all heard whispers about the Elite Selection back then—how Chen Sanshi had slain Wen Qiushi to avenge Tang Ran's son, Tang Yingke.
But this was not the place to speak of it openly.
Unlike the blunt officials in Liangzhou who often argued with Eunuch Hou, those in the capital chose their words with care.
"I am speaking of public affairs!" Tang Ran's voice rang clear. "His Majesty's decision is most wise. The title of Pillar of State is entirely fitting."
"Crown Prince," Emperor Longqing said languidly, "what do you think?"
"Father's judgment is supreme—your son dares not object," the Crown Prince replied from his stool.
Still, whispers rippled among the officials.
"So young…"
"Indeed. Even Sun Xiangzong hadn't shown such prominence at this age."
"What if he achieves even more later?"
"Then by twenty, will he be made a Marquis?"
According to the Great Sheng Dynasty's merit hierarchy, beyond the First Rank lay the superlative noble titles: Baron, Marquis, Duke, and Prince—each rarer than the last. Only the imperial Cao clan could hold princely titles. Currently, there were only two or three Dukes of the Realm in the entire empire. Marquises were few, Barons slightly more—but all were veterans. Thus, an Upper First-Rank Pillar of State was already a height equal to many of the old founding heroes.
"Well," Emperor Longqing said with a soft laugh, "is it my fault that the general I favor happens to be only eighteen?"
He reached into the wide sleeve of his Daoist robe and drew out several golden pages, holding them high for all to see.
"Do you recognize this? The Heavenly Book!"
"Dong An betrayed me, betrayed the Great Sheng, rebelled—all for this Heavenly Book of Divine Military Arts!"
"But Chen Sanshi—he took it and turned it in immediately, without greed or deceit!"
"Tell me, is such a loyal and upright general not worthy of a First-Rank title?"
"I will show the world that this is how the Great Sheng Dynasty rewards true merit and virtue! Let him stand as an example for all young talents under Heaven!"
Silence filled the hall.
Finally, Yan Liang spoke again, voice hoarse. "Your Majesty speaks reason, but… the title of Pillar of State requires strict qualification—at least one Heaven-Class Merit and several First-Class Battle Merits. Lord Chen has achieved the Heaven-Class Merit, but his count of First-Class merits is insufficient."
"That's easy to fix."
Emperor Longqing reclined lazily on the dragon throne. "We'll transfer him east in a while—give him another chance to earn merit."
"Eastern front…"
Minister of War Gao Bo thought aloud. "Your Majesty, Liangzhou lies in the far west. The distance to Laizhou is immense. Wouldn't redeploying troops from Liangzhou be too costly?"
"I never intended to draw troops from Liangzhou."
Emperor Longqing's tone was steady. "We'll transfer three thousand Black-Armored Cavalry from the Imperial Guard near the capital to him. A man of such commanding talent can't be left without troops under his banner."
"Your Majesty is truly wise!"
"That's enough for today. You may all withdraw—except for the Crown Prince and Fang Qingyun."
Within the vast palace hall, only a handful remained.
"Crown Prince," Emperor Longqing said quietly, though his calm voice carried a subtle pressure, "tell me—why do you think Sha Wenlong refused Chen Sanshi's suggestion to send the entire army across the Hongze River?"
"As a commander, prudence must come first," the Crown Prince replied thoughtfully. "Had the army crossed all at once and met obstruction mid-river, the consequences would've been irreparable."
"So what you're saying is—I should reward them?"
The Emperor gave a faint chuckle, then shifted his gaze. "Fang Qingyun, you've been awfully quiet. What's your view on granting the Pillar of State title?"
"I too find it… somewhat improper."
Seated in his wheelchair, Fang Qingyun spoke slowly. "He's still too young. The prestige carried by those three words 'Pillar of State' is too heavy."
"Heh."
The corner of Emperor Longqing's mouth twitched ever so slightly. He didn't press the matter, changing the subject instead. "Chen Sanshi sent me a memorial. He mentioned someone named Xu Wencai among his men, asking me to grant him a reward. Tell me, Minister Fang—how much do you know about this man?"
"Sir Xu is a man of great talent—perhaps even greater than mine," Fang Qingyun replied. "Were it not for his humble background, he would have long since become a scholar-general of renown. He's followed Chen Sanshi closely, and during the four crossings of the Hongze River, he must have contributed greatly. He certainly deserves recognition."
"If even you say so, then he must truly be remarkable."
The Emperor nodded slightly. "It seems Chen Sanshi wished me to grant Xu Wencai an official title. But I've heard that what this Xu fellow desires most is the title of Wolong—Crouching Dragon. Tell me, is Chen Sanshi afraid I'm too stingy to grant it, so he dared not ask outright?"
"Your Majesty truly knows all," Fang Qingyun said calmly. "Sir Xu indeed holds that title dear to his heart."
"The title Wolong, the Crouching Dragon… that's the same tier as your own title Fengchu, the Phoenix Chick. You don't mind?"
"My title was merely a nickname from the jianghu. Rumors spread, and it stuck," Fang Qingyun answered. "Sir Xu is no lesser man than I. Why shouldn't he have the same? The only concern is whether he can handle the pressure that title brings."
"Pressure? Ha! It's pressure that forges greatness."
Emperor Longqing smiled faintly. "I'll grant him the title Wolong. Let's see how he bears it."
He paused, then added, "If I recall correctly, there are still small rebel bands and mountain brigands along the Youzhou border. Have Wolong lead a force to suppress them. That will give him a chance to earn independent merit."
"An excellent arrangement," Fang Qingyun said meaningfully. "Your Majesty's decision will surely move Sir Xu to tears of gratitude."
"As for the Laizhou campaign," Emperor Longqing continued, slowly rising from the throne, "you'll go as well. And take this with you."
He extended the Heavenly Book toward him.
"Your Majesty… what does this mean?"
Fang Qingyun hesitated, not taking it immediately. "This is the Heavenly Book itself… I—"
"Don't play coy."
The Emperor narrowed his eyes. "I know you can read it. Memorize it, then return it to the court. Once you reach the eastern front, if you wish to teach Chen Sanshi, you have my permission."
"Understood, Your Majesty."
Only then did Fang Qingyun accept the book.
Emperor Longqing waved his sleeve and turned away, vanishing behind layers of heavy curtains. The eunuchs followed swiftly, leaving the hall empty save for two.
The Crown Prince and Fang Qingyun.
The steady tap-tap of a cane echoed in the silence as the Crown Prince rose unsteadily, leaning forward to take hold of the wheelchair's handles.
"Come, General Fang," he said softly. "Let me see you off."
When they reached the threshold of the grand hall, he struggled to lift the chair over the step, calling several young eunuchs to help carry it out. Then he continued pushing it along the palace path, slow and deliberate.
A gust of autumn wind swept through, and both men coughed at the same time.
"General Fang, please take care of your health."
"Your Highness should be the one to take care," Fang Qingyun replied. "No need to push me further; I can manage."
"It's fine, it's fine," the Crown Prince said with a small smile. "It's rare we have time to talk like this. A short walk and a chat do us both good."
They fell silent again.
After passing through the Wanshou Palace and nearing the outer edge of the imperial grounds, Fang Qingyun withdrew the Heavenly Book from his robe and handed it back.
"Would Your Highness like to take a look?"
"Heh, why not," the Crown Prince said, halting the chair. He flipped through the golden pages. "I can't make sense of this. Once you've translated it, make a copy for me, will you?"
"His Majesty is truly generous," Fang Qingyun remarked, reclaiming the book. "This contains genuine immortal-world formations, and yet he allows them to be shared so freely."
"Do you know why he's being so generous lately?"
The Crown Prince resumed pushing, his tone low and almost ghostly. "Approving the army's expansion, handing over the Heavenly Book—it's as if nothing is off-limits now."
Fang Qingyun turned slightly. "If Your Highness has something to say, please speak plainly."
"Grand Commander Sun Xiangzong—he's not doing well, is he?"
The Crown Prince's tone shifted again, casual but cutting. "With the army expanding, Liangzhou's forces will grow. But they'll also be filled with new recruits. You know what that means, don't you? Tell me, General Fang—have you thought about what will become of your Eight Great Battalions in a few years?"
"Of course," Fang Qingyun replied without hesitation. "We will obey His Majesty's commands."
Silence settled once more.
Finally, the Crown Prince spoke again. "General Fang, tell me honestly—what do you think of me?"
"Your Highness has acted as regent for forty years, ever diligent and selfless. That is an indisputable truth."
Fang Qingyun leaned slightly in his chair and said, "Now that His Majesty has ended his seclusion, Your Highness can finally take some time to rest and recover your health."
He deliberately emphasized the second half of his sentence.
The Crown Prince's eyelids twitched a few times uncontrollably. "Actually, at Father's age, he's the one who should be resting. The burden of the Great Sheng Dynasty should fall upon his son's shoulders. Don't you agree, General Fang?"
"Is that so?"
Fang Qingyun dragged out his words. "I think His Majesty is still in his prime."
"Yes, yes, in his prime—cough, cough, cough, cough!"
"In his prime, indeed. Wonderful. I'm truly happy for Father—cough, cough, cough, cough!"
The sound of coughing grew distant. Fang Qingyun struggled to turn his head and saw that the Crown Prince had already quietly taken back his cane and left, leaving him alone in the wheelchair, buffeted by the autumn wind and falling leaves.
He shouted anxiously, "Your Highness! What's the meaning of this? At least push me somewhere with people! Your Highness?!"
From here to the nearest populated area, it was at least five li away.
And for that whole five li, he'd have to roll himself!
——
Chen Residence.
"Ninth Senior Sister, welcome home."
Chen Sanshi gestured invitingly. "I've set up a room for you in the second courtyard, arranged according to your preferences. If there's anything missing or anything else you need, I'll get it right away. My Yunxi, Duhe, and even little Yuhuan all adore you. When you return to Liangzhou, if you don't mind, you can stay here with us."
"You've really got a lot of schemes in that head of yours, haven't you?"
Rong Yanqiu tied the letter to the leg of her gyrfalcon and released it. Then she rolled her eyes. "You just want me to guard your house, don't you? You sure dress it up nicely. Come, massage my shoulders, and tell me in detail how you came up with that idea of crossing the Hongze River four times. If I'm pleased with what I hear, maybe I'll agree to be your guard dog."
"Why does Senior Sister have to make it sound so harsh?"
Chen Sanshi stepped forward to massage her shoulders.
Only after she was satisfied did he ask, "Ninth Senior Sister, can you tell me about the Profound Manifestation Realm?"
"So soon? Don't tell me you're about to reach the Meridian-Connecting Realm?"
Rong Yanqiu looked mildly surprised, then began explaining. "The Profound Manifestation Realm is when you transform internal force into gang qi. The whole stage revolves around mastering the use of gang qi.
"When you reach beginner level, you can channel your internal force through your weapon and convert it into gang qi. It becomes tangible—stronger and more resilient than mere internal force—and can be used both offensively and defensively.
"At mastery, you can release gang qi outward, striking from a distance, though the range is limited.
"At minor achievement, you can form protective gang qi around your body. As long as you don't exhaust yourself, no one below your realm can easily pierce your defense on the battlefield.
"At major achievement, you can give shape to your gang qi and extend it up to ten zhang (about thirty-three meters). For example—"
"Whoosh!"
She suddenly struck out with her palm. A nearly transparent surge of gang qi took form midair, twisting into the shape of a python before shooting out. It smashed into a flower pot ahead, exploding it into shards. The noise made Siqin, who happened to pass by, shriek and nearly jump out of her skin.
Even though it was only a demonstration, Chen Sanshi could feel the terrifying force in it.
He asked, "What about gang qi at the beginner level?"
"Try stabbing me," Rong Yanqiu said casually, gesturing for him to come.
"Forgive me, Senior Sister!"
Chen Sanshi didn't hold back. He grabbed the Five Tiger Soul-Breaking Spear, and layer after layer of internal force surged through him, condensing into True Dragon Force that infused the weapon. With a resonant hum, he thrust forward fiercely.
Rong Yanqiu didn't dodge. Her right hand—nails painted a faint purple—opened like a lotus bloom. Wrapped in gang qi, she caught the spear tip barehanded.
But the instant the spear made contact, her lazy expression vanished. She quickly pushed the weapon aside, flipping backward like a swallow, and said irritably, "You used True Dragon Force! Why didn't you say so first?"
"You didn't ask me, Senior Sister."
Chen Sanshi spread his hands innocently.
"Go, go! I'm not playing with you anymore. You just cracked the polish on my nails."
Rong Yanqiu snorted, turned on her heel, and disappeared into the room, slamming the door behind her.
"Hiss…"
Chen Sanshi rubbed his tingling arms and retracted the spear.
Even though she had suppressed her strength to the beginner stage of Profound Manifestation, the difference was still enormous.
Rong Yanqiu hadn't dodged out of fear—she'd simply been unprepared for the second twist of his True Dragon Force and didn't want to risk injuring herself by countering with full gang qi.
But one thing was certain—the Sword Qi Technique worked.
From experience, Chen Sanshi was confident that his Sword Qi Technique could pierce the gang qi of a Profound Manifestation beginner.
Cao Fan, the eunuch, and Sha Wenlong—these three would all have to be dealt with.
Sha Wenlong could be handled with a single blast of the Sword Qi Technique. After that, the only remaining problem would be the eunuch at the Emperor's side.
That man was at least at the major achievement stage of the Meridian-Connecting Realm, trained within the Imperial Palace itself. Even with his body damaged, his physique would still be extraordinary. He wasn't someone Mingzhou rebels or the Red Brows Army could compare to.
It was simple logic—if he weren't talented, why would the palace select him out of thousands of eunuchs for special training?
The Embroidered Uniform Guard and palace eunuchs—both were dangerous opponents.
To be safe, Chen Sanshi needed to reach mastery in his Meridian-Connecting cultivation to ensure a quick, clean kill.
It wasn't that he couldn't fight with just the beginner level. He simply preferred swift executions. Prolonged combat risked exposure, and a single survivor could ruin everything.
"The great bow needs an upgrade!"
"With Ninth Senior Sister staying here, I can leave for a few days without worry."
——
Luotian Mountain Range.
[Technique: Dragon Spear of Nation-Suppression — Meridian-Connecting (Uninitiated)]
[Progress: 68/100]
Inside a mountain cave, Chen Sanshi sat cross-legged, breathing steadily.
"The Meridian-Connecting stage isn't far now."
After a short rest, he grabbed his spear and vanished into the forest.
As soon as he left the city, the two Daoists from Ciyun Temple began tailing him.
But once he exited the city limits, Qianxun easily lost them. They never managed to follow him into the Luotian Mountains and eventually gave up.
Now, Chen Sanshi was certain—the ones who had poisoned the Spirit-Nourishing Soup were indeed those two Daoists.
They had nothing to do with the Fragrant Fire God Sect.
The two groups had entirely different goals, though both had chosen Ciyun Temple as their place to hide.
The most likely culprits were people from the Witch God Sect.
Whatever they were doing, it probably revolved around the foul qi buried deep within the Luotian Mountains. As for what exactly lay hidden inside…
Chen Sanshi still remembered clearly how Zhang Huaimin's cultivation had skyrocketed outside Dongyi City that day.
But after that incident, no similar phenomena had occurred again—only death after death.
The situation had gotten so bad that several second-rate sects within Liangzhou were on the brink of collapse.
If this continued, even rebellion wouldn't be out of the question.
"I've now reached Transforming Strength Perfection."
"Last time I made it up to the Eighth Layer Mountain—let's see how far I can go this time."
After traveling without rest for two full days and nights, Chen Sanshi returned to the area near the Eighth Layer Mountain and once again entered the territory of the Fierce Beast.
"Bang! Bang!"
Before its form appeared, the sound reached him first—thunderous, like stones smashing together.
A dark mass of foul qi suddenly descended from the sky.
"Buzz—"
The Five Tiger Soul-Breaking Spear in Chen Sanshi's hand hummed, transforming into a silver flood dragon that shot forward, colliding head-on with the black shadow. The sharp screech of metal grinding against metal echoed through the forest, sending flocks of birds scattering in panic.
The creature's claws and fangs were sharp as steel. In raw power alone, it was no weaker than a martial artist at Transforming Strength Perfection—and bolstered by its enormous body, it was likely even stronger.
Yet, when the spear blade met its talons, the internal force on the weapon began to twist and grind ceaselessly, like a static blade clashing against a spinning saw. Sparks flew wildly with harsh kaka-cha-cha sounds.
In the end, the beast couldn't hold out. Its massive body was flung backward, slamming into a tree before collapsing to its knees. But before it could steady itself, the silver flood dragon lunged again.
The beast's claws met the spear again and again, the collisions booming like thunder.
After several fierce exchanges, a loud crack split the air—the creature's talons shattered under the tearing power of the True Dragon Force. Losing its main defense, it was quickly riddled with gaping wounds.
Moments later, the monstrous beast fell to the ground, lifeless.
"This thing's strength surpasses most martial artists at Transforming Strength Major Achievement!"
Though the battle hadn't taken much effort, Chen Sanshi couldn't help but marvel at the danger hidden deep within the Luotian Mountains. The deeper he went, the stronger the beasts would become. It was no wonder that only high-realm cultivators could venture this far.
He drew the Mountain-Suppressing Sword, crouched, and began skinning and stripping the beast.
The creature's tendons were incredibly flexible and resilient. When he tugged on one with force, he found it nearly impossible to break. No wonder its leaps could cover tens of zhang at a time—seen from afar, it would almost look like it was flying.
Using these tendons as bowstrings, he could easily craft a weapon capable of drawing hundred-stone iron bows.
The flesh was inedible, and though the bones were sturdy, they weren't as useful as Black Armored. For him, the only valuable part was the tendons. After collecting those, he left the corpse where it lay and continued deeper.
——
Ninth Layer Mountain.
As he advanced, Chen Sanshi searched for two specific things: Ghost-Vein Wood and Renewal Grass.
The first was essential for crafting arrow shafts capable of channeling True Dragon Force. The second was a promise—something he owed Miss Ningxiang.
"Chi!"
With a swift stroke, Chen Sanshi cleaved the head off an unknown venomous beast and stepped over a valley ridge, entering the Tenth Layer Mountain.
Here, the vegetation grew even denser, the air thick with miasma. As soon as he stepped in, countless poisonous insects began crawling toward him. Those nearby lifted their heads eagerly, craving the warmth of fresh blood.
"There's miasma too."
Fortunately, he was prepared. He took out an antidote pill and swallowed it before quickening his pace.
"The qi between heaven and earth… it's changing!"
He noticed that the ambient energy in the air now contained faint traces of blackish foul qi. It was subtle—so subtle that even he had to concentrate to sense it clearly.
'Could it be that deep within this mountain… lies some kind of immortal remnant?'
He shook his head. "No, that's too far-fetched for now. Let's find the Ghost-Vein Wood first."
Ghost-Vein Wood usually grew in damp, shadowed places filled with miasma and crawling with toxic creatures. The wood itself was poisonous. It was said that using it to revive the dying brought excruciating pain, and those who used it often died miserably afterward.
According to the Illustrated Compendium of Hundred Herbs, the royal family of the former Great Yan Dynasty once used this wood.
The story went that the dying emperor, on the brink of death, had not declared whether his throne would pass to his second son or his twelfth. The princes forced him to ingest Ghost-Vein Wood, reviving him just long enough to name an heir—before he died again in unbearable agony.
And now—
"There it is!"
Chen Sanshi's eyes lit up as he spotted it among the trees ahead.
The Luotian Mountains truly were rich in resources.
The Ghost-Vein Wood he found was only as thick as an infant's wrist and stood just over a man's height, enough to make a few dozen arrow shafts at most.
"Let's see if I can find more."
After slaying four or five more beasts as strong as Transforming Strength Major Achievement, Chen Sanshi finally stepped into the core area of the Tenth Layer Mountain.
The miasma here was so thick it almost seemed tangible, and the foul qi between heaven and earth was several times stronger than before.
"Ghost-Vein Wood…"
He stopped short.
Before he could even reach the heart of the forest, he saw it—within a haze of miasma grew a massive Ghost-Vein tree, its trunk thick enough for two men to wrap their arms around.
Judging by its size, it had to be at least eight hundred years old. If he felled the entire tree, it would yield enough arrow shafts to last a lifetime.
But Chen Sanshi didn't move closer.
Because right beside the Ghost-Vein Wood, inside the hollow of another ancient tree, there pulsed a dense glow of faint blue qi—a living aura.
Judging from its strength, it was at least at the level of Meridian-Connecting Major Achievement, perhaps even Profound Manifestation Realm.
For such a creature to exist here meant one thing—
Not every beast in the Luotian Mountains had succumbed to poison. Some… had evolved far beyond it.
"Roar—"
A deep, thunderous growl echoed through the forest as a massive creature slowly crawled out from the hollow of the ancient tree.
It was a black bear.
But unlike any normal beast, this one wore a tattered monk's robe draped loosely over its shoulders. A string of wooden prayer beads hung around its neck, and in one paw it held a crescent-shaped monk's spade. Who knew how many years ago some unfortunate martial artist had crossed paths with it and met their end?
If Chen Sanshi hadn't already known that Fifth Senior Brother Meng Guangxin was safe, he might have thought his senior had been slain and reincarnated into this beast.
"Roar!"
The black bear stepped out, rubbing its massive body against the tree trunk to scratch itself, then began patrolling its territory with lazy, heavy steps.
Chen Sanshi immediately withdrew.
He only had a limited number of Sword Qi Techniques, each one consuming precious incense power. It was better to save them for life-and-death moments. Besides, this bear was an intelligent beast—it would be a shame to destroy its corpse when it could be preserved for food or study.
With that thought, he quietly slipped away and returned to the spot where he'd found the earlier Ghost-Vein Wood, chopping it down cleanly.
He harvested enough to make several dozen arrow shafts—plenty for now.
After all, the iron materials he'd received from the Seeking Immortal Pavilion were only enough to forge about a dozen arrowheads at most. Cutting down too many trees would just be wasteful.
Luck was on his side.
In a valley at the border between the Ninth Layer Mountain and the Tenth Layer Mountain, there was no miasma at all. Inside, Chen Sanshi not only hunted three spirit beasts, but also found the Renewal Grass that the Seeking Immortal Pavilion had requested. It was a rewarding haul.
By the time he carried everything back to Liangzhou City, several days had already passed.
He left one beast—whose body offered little benefit to higher-realm cultivators—at the military camp, then hauled the other two home for Siqin and Mohua to process. After that, he grabbed the Iron Bow Frame, the Fierce Beast Tendons, and the Ghost-Vein Wood, and headed straight for the Forging Workshop.
Forging weapons, like refining pills, required cultivation.
The head of the forging hall was an old man covered in muscle, a craftsman who had once followed Grand Commander Sun Xiangzong in his youth. He was one of Sun's trusted old brothers, already at the Meridian-Connecting Major Achievement Realm, and rumored to be close to stepping into the Profound Manifestation Realm.
Most of the Eight Battalion generals' weapons were made by his hands—including Lü Ji's Fangtian Halberd.
"You want to learn blacksmithing?"
Old Master Pang squinted with interest. "I heard you were studying force infusion for pill refinement recently, and now you want to forge weapons? Kid, don't you ever get tired?"
"More skills never hurt anyone."
Chen Sanshi cupped his hands respectfully. "Please, Senior Pang, teach me."
He didn't bother to hide the special materials. After all, once he started using the weapon on the battlefield, everyone would find out sooner or later. It wasn't some divine artifact—it could be found in the mortal realm. Knowing its existence wouldn't matter much.
Still, he wanted to keep a moment of surprise—a chance to make a name for himself in one stroke. It was best not to let anyone prepare countermeasures too early. And honestly, learning more skills for himself wasn't just an excuse—it was something he genuinely wanted.
"Hah! You've got spirit, I'll give you that," Pang chuckled. "If it were anyone else, I wouldn't bother teaching them. But you? I suppose I'll make an exception."
He rummaged around and pulled out a thin manual. "Here. A set of hammer techniques. Take it home, practice it, then come back to me."
"I've already learned it," Chen Sanshi replied calmly.
Ever since finishing his sword techniques, he'd spent the past few days picking up two more weapon styles—one for the blade and one for the hammer. The hammer technique Old Master Pang offered happened to be the very one he'd already practiced.
"Oh?"
The old man's brows shot up. "Good! Then let's skip the basics and start right away."
He moved toward the forging table, sleeves rolled up.
"There are three hundred sixty trades in this world," Pang said, his voice booming. "Every one of them looks simple from the outside but hides its own depth within."
"Take blacksmithing for example—"
"There are three grades plus one superior grade: lower, middle, upper, and supreme."
"The Five Tiger Soul-Breaking Spear you hold is an upper-grade weapon. The Mountain-Suppressing Sword you carry—now that's supreme grade. Honestly, with those two, you don't need to bother learning forging."
"But since you're here, pay attention."
"Forging might seem easy, but there's a lot to it—controlling the temperature of the metal, the heat of the fire, the exact degree of quenching, even the water temperature used to cool it."
After a flurry of movement, sparks flying everywhere, Pang forged a black-iron sword glowing faintly red. "This sword—an upper-grade Black Armored weapon. How about it? You think you can do it? Start with some common iron first."
"Should be fine."
Chen Sanshi picked up the hammer, stepped forward, and began forging on the spot. After a single attempt, he produced a refined sword that, by the texture and temper of the blade, was already considered supreme grade among ordinary iron weapons.
[Technique: Weapon Forging — Mortal (Minor Achievement)]
[Progress: 0/2000]
[Effect: Nothing impossible — all mundane weapons succeed in one attempt.]
Old Master Pang: "...?"
He grabbed the sword, turning it over in disbelief. The texture was flawless—the structure, the balance, even the tempering were perfect. It was a genuine masterpiece.
He gasped, taking several sharp breaths. "Kid… are you even human?"
Even Chen Sanshi froze for a moment.
Minor achievement already? On the first try?
He hadn't even gone through the beginner stage!
But thinking about it, it made sense.
With his Seven Orifices Exquisite Heart, Perfect Memory, and Qilin Heart, how could he not master something as straightforward as this?
And truly, it wasn't as complicated as he'd imagined.
He already knew the hammer techniques, and striking with force was no different from infusing strength into pills. The two shared the same principles—rhythm, timing, and control.
Once he understood that, everything fell into place effortlessly.
He really did learn it… in just one look.
Staring at the word "Mortal" behind the skill entry, Chen Sanshi understood immediately—there were probably not just immortal beings in this world, but also immortal weapons. The sight made him recall that silver spear his master had wielded when he killed Ning Changqun all those years ago.
"Alright, I don't think there's anything left I can teach you," Old Pang said, sighing with resignation. He suddenly felt his entire life had been rather pointless. Then, shaking his head, he pulled out several manuals. "These books record the forging methods for different types of weapons. Study them yourself. Just don't come looking for me again."
"Thank you, Senior Pang."
Chen Sanshi clasped his fists in gratitude.
He requested a private room within the forging hall and stayed inside for three days and three nights, hammering without pause. By the end of it, his forging skill was just a breath away from perfection. He could now completely refine the impurities from common iron with ease.
Next, he used the special iron from the Seeking Immortal Pavilion, combined with Ghost-Vein Wood, to forge twelve arrows capable of storing inner force. Finally, he crafted a bowstring using Fierce Beast Tendons as the primary material, fitted it onto the Iron-Bodied Bow, and completed the masterpiece.
"It's done!"
Chen Sanshi carried the Iron-Bodied Bow back home, went to the backyard, locked the door, and placed a half-man-high stone slab in the middle of the yard as a target.
The bow itself was massive—its sheer weight alone surpassed that of ordinary weapons. Each of its limbs ended in sharp edges, meaning that even without arrows, it could be used as a deadly melee weapon.
"Buzz—"
He nocked an arrow and drew the string slightly.
It was a hundred-stone bow, meaning its draw weight was about 15,000 catties (roughly 15,000 pounds). For a martial artist at the Transforming Strength Realm, that wasn't particularly impressive. That was precisely why most cultivators didn't bother with bows—no matter how heavy the draw, without special power, high-realm opponents could easily block them.
But from this moment onward—
Starting from this Iron-Bodied Bow—everything would change.
Bows and arrows would once again shine brilliantly on the battlefield.
"Buzz—"
The Dragon-Elephant Blood within Chen Sanshi began to surge and boil. Slowly, he drew back the ten-thousand-catty bowstring. The True Dragon Force generated by his qi and blood gathered in his arms, spread along the bow's limbs, and condensed into the Ghost-Vein Wood arrow shaft before channeling into the iron arrowhead.
The entire bow trembled with power, humming like a caged beast eager to break free from its bonds.
"Boom!"
The moment he released the string, a thunderous explosion echoed.
The black-iron arrow, infused with his boundless True Dragon Force, transformed into a roaring silver flood dragon that tore through the air and slammed into the massive stone target.
"Bang!"
The stone shattered instantly, fragments flying in every direction.
This wasn't a bow anymore—it was a siege cannon.
If such an arrow struck an ordinary soldier, the result would be a fist-sized hole blown clean through their body. It wouldn't even look like an arrow wound.
Chen Sanshi turned the Iron-Bodied Bow in his hands, admiring it with satisfaction.
From now on, whenever he faced an opponent, as long as their internal strength wasn't greater than his, no matter their realm, he could take their life in a single shot.
For example—
If he faced martial artists in the Transforming Strength Realm, whether at entry or mastery, one arrow each would be enough.
If they were at Minor Achievement, it would depend on talent.
A genius might withstand five arrows.
A mediocre one—three at most.
Within three arrows, their life would be forfeit.
Three arrows might sound like a lot, but for Chen Sanshi, releasing three shots took only an instant. On the battlefield, it would be devastating.
Against someone at the same level as him, as long as he had enough arrows, he could still shoot them down.
Only those at higher realms might survive.
And this was still within the Transforming Strength Realm!
Once he advanced to the Meridian-Connecting Realm, or even the Profound Manifestation Realm, with stronger materials and arrows capable of carrying qi or gang energy, even a commander at the Profound Manifestation level—an army's field marshal—would fall beneath his bow.
Moreover—
His archery skill was on the verge of another breakthrough.
Over the next few days, he practiced tirelessly in the training yard, using ordinary arrows to refine his technique.
Now, his targets were all moving ones.
Standing 300 paces away, Sun Buqi fired arrows randomly into the air. Chen Sanshi's targets were those same flying arrows—each shot he released hit its mark. Every single one.
Eventually, he no longer felt the bow in his hands at all. It was as if his eyes and arrows had merged—whatever he saw, he struck.
Finally—
The long-silent system panel appeared again.
[Skill: Archery — Perfect (Limit Break Stage 1)]
[Progress: (0/2000)]
[Effect: Arrows of Mortals — Unavoidable]
[Unavoidable: Man and arrow as one. Within 300 paces, the arrow automatically seeks its target. Dodging is impossible.]
Unavoidable!
Chen Sanshi could feel it clearly.
The moment he picked up the bow, everything within 300 paces fell within his domain. No one could escape.
That meant—
Every opponent would have to face his arrows head-on.
Unless their strength was overwhelming or their armor exceptional, there was only one outcome—
Death.