Chapter 45
The crisis in Blackstone Village was resolved!
A Third-Rank Martial Artist from the prefectural government led the operation. It was said he was a constable captain from the Six Gates, and he brought four Second-Rank constables with him.
With thunderous momentum, they eliminated the bandit leaders inside and outside the county seat and also captured many informants and spies. The various factions’ eyes and ears were so frightened that they fled the city overnight to hide and spread the news.
Blackwind Stronghold, the Nu Tao Gang, and several roving river bandits all withdrew from Huishui County overnight.
Early the next morning, the militia captains recruited by the county seat all returned to their respective villages.
Captain Zhao Heiniu returned with two hunters!
County yamen constable Chen Shangyong brought forty-three taels of bounty silver, along with a personally written letter of commendation from the county seat, and handed them to the village chief of Blackstone Village, praising the villagers for their valor and their courage in resisting bandits.
The village chief was naturally overjoyed, his old eyes crinkling into a single line as he smiled.
Su Wangchuan finally let out the breath he had been holding.
The entire village rejoiced and welcomed Captain Zhao Heiniu’s return. After learning about the hardships and dangers the village had faced these past few days, Zhao Heiniu was both grief-stricken over the loss of four companions and grateful that the village had been preserved.
The villagers’ hearts finally settled.
Even Blacksmith Sun wore a smile.
“All right.”
“Everyone is finally back.”
“With Captain Zhao back, we have our backbone again.”
“Yes,” Su Wangchuan agreed.
He, too, felt as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
The first thing Captain Zhao Heiniu did after returning to the village chief was to reorganize the team, ordering the players to continue training. He also became much stricter than before, personally pointing out the players’ shortcomings.
Lin Dahai and the others all noticed it. In the past, Captain Zhao had been aloof and unwilling to say even one extra word. But after returning this time, he had clearly become much more approachable. He spoke more, and he was willing to give them guidance, helping them grasp improvements faster.
After his pointers, several people quickly entered the third stage of training.
At this moment, Su Wangchuan had already returned to the blacksmith shop, continuing to forge iron and making his final push toward the Entry-Level Mastery realm of 《Hundredfold Steel Forging Technique》.
Two hours passed…
Ding!
A system prompt appeared:
“Ding!”
“《Hundredfold Steel Forging Technique》 realm advanced.”
“From ‘Practice Makes Perfect,’ advanced to ‘Entry-Level Mastery.’”
“Reward: 1 Strength. Reward: 1 Agility. Reward: 1 Vitality.”
Su Wangchuan’s eyes lit up.
Just as expected!
The higher the realm, the more attributes it rewarded.
Unable to wait, he immediately summoned his Status Panel to check.
Su Wangchuan: Male (Blacksmith) (Hunger 71/100)
Strength 8+4; Attack 4-4
Agility 8+3; Defense 2.2; Speed +11;
Vitality 8+2; Health 100/100;
Spirit 8: (Not Activated).
Life Skill 《Hundredfold Steel Forging Technique》: Entry-Level Mastery. Next realm: ‘Integration’ 0/2000;
Combat Skill 《Archery》: Minor Mastery. Next realm: ‘Practice Makes Perfect’ 109/300;
Combat Skill 《Basic Spear Technique》: Entry-Level. Next realm: ‘Minor Mastery’ 0/100;
Current Location: Southern Sky Continent, Nanyu Kingdom, Sanhe Commandery, Huishui County, Blackstone Village.
“Strength, Agility, and Vitality add up to thirty-three points. I’m no longer at the very bottom among Quasi-Martial Artists. Even if I go to Huishui County, I can find a place to stand.”
“As long as I enter Huishui County and join one of the factions, I’ll have a chance to obtain higher-grade martial arts manuals.”
Su Wangchuan murmured to himself.
Joy was joy, but Su Wangchuan soon picked up his hammer again and continued forging a new batch of Hundredfold Steel Arrowheads.
Now that he knew higher realms meant more attributes, he naturally wanted to become stronger.
The people of Blackwind Stronghold had been intimidated into hiding deep in the mountains and curbing their activities, but that did not mean they would never come out again.
Once the Six Gates constable captain left Huishui County, Blackstone Village would still be in danger.
He had to use this window of time to become stronger.
Clang!
CLANG!!
Standing before the forging table, Su Wangchuan maintained intense focus. Sweat poured from him as iron sparks burst and scattered brilliantly, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.
He did not know how much time passed before Captain Zhao Heiniu and Blacksmith Sun came in from outside together.
The moment they entered the back courtyard, they saw Su Wangchuan working with earnest concentration.
The two of them both smiled from the heart, exchanging a glance and nodding.
“This kid is a truly good seed.”
“These past few days, Wangchuan has really suffered. He hasn’t slept day or night. Look—he’s lost a whole layer of weight.”
They were clearly far away, and the area was noisy, yet Su Wangchuan realized he could hear their conversation distinctly.
It was strange.
Was it because his attributes had increased?
“Odd.”
“Why does it feel like Wangchuan’s strength and speed have improved again?” Zhao Heiniu suddenly asked Blacksmith Sun.
Blacksmith Sun froze for a moment, then watched carefully. He found that Su Wangchuan’s hammering sound had gradually shifted again—from one sound into two…
Clang-clang!
Clang-clang!
When he looked closely, Su Wangchuan’s rhythm had clearly changed. He was shifting from three strikes in one breath to four strikes in one breath, delivered in two alternating drops left and right, the sounds crisp and distinct.
Clang-clang!
Clang-clang!
Blacksmith Sun was instantly stunned. His eyes widened in disbelief as he blurted out, “One-Breath Quadruple Strike?! This kid reached the Entry-Level Mastery realm so quickly and actually grasped the One-Breath Quadruple Strike forging technique!”
“My goodness,” Zhao Heiniu said, realizing it as well.
Su Wangchuan’s hammering movements were stronger and faster, and the rhythm had become much quicker than before.
“I was only gone a few days, and this kid already broke through.”
“Old Sun, you really found yourself an incredible disciple to inherit your mantle.”
“Yes,” Blacksmith Sun said.
He could not suppress the smile on his face at all. The corners of his mouth lifted as he muttered repeatedly, “I struck gold. I truly struck gold! My old Sun family’s forging technique didn’t flourish in my hands, but if it flourishes in my disciple’s hands, I can face my ancestors with a clear conscience.”
Su Wangchuan heard it.
Only then did he realize that after gaining three attribute points, he had unconsciously changed his forging rhythm and inadvertently mastered the One-Breath Quadruple Strike technique.
No wonder it felt like the time required for folding and forging had been compressed.
With this, his efficiency in forging Hundredfold Steel Arrowheads could rise again.
The two men stood at the doorway, not daring to disturb Su Wangchuan as he stabilized his technique after the breakthrough.
Only after Su Wangchuan finally finished forging this batch of eight arrowheads into completed products and tossed them into the basket beside him did they walk in.
Su Wangchuan set down his hammer at the right moment and greeted them first.
“Master!”
“Captain Zhao.”
“Congratulations, Wangchuan. Your forging technique has risen another step,” Zhao Heiniu offered his sincere congratulations, his eyes filled with admiration.
Blacksmith Sun said, “Wangchuan, starting today, your master will bring out my true, secret craft. From now on, you don’t need to forge these arrowheads anymore. Your current craftsmanship can no longer gain anything from them. From now on, follow your master and begin forging Hundredfold Steel weapons.”
“Hm?”
“Why is it useless?” Su Wangchuan froze.
He had been counting on forging more Hundredfold Steel Arrowheads to charge toward the ‘Integration’ realm.
Then he reacted and summoned his Status Panel to check.
What the—
The experience of Hundredfold Steel Forging Technique was stuck at 0/2000, completely unmoving.
The eight newly forged arrowheads had failed to provide any further experience value.
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