Chapter 293 - 129: Gu Xiangzhu: I Bet My Youth on You, But in the End, You Made Me Lose?

Chapter 293: Chapter 129: Gu Xiangzhu: I Bet My Youth on You, But in the End, You Made Me Lose?

The Tenth Prince’s Mansion had also kicked into high gear.

Kan Luotang and her three subordinates were frantically completing missions in the Northern Three Prefectures.

Zhu Li was practically producing smoke from her non-stop Alchemy.

Zhao Ci, Feng Kucha, and the others also began to specifically take on case-solving missions. Thanks to Zhao Ci’s bug-like ability to perceive wishes, they were mostly successful. Of course, there were occasional hiccups, but these were negligible compared to their successes. ⅇℓ.

Everything was going quite smoothly.

There was just one problem. His cultivation of the Emperor’s Extreme Body Refining Technique in the Harmony Realm was progressing too quickly. In just over a month, he had already completed the ten stages of tendon-transformation, and the resilience of every single sinew in his body had reached a terrifying level.

But when he used those heaven-defying spear techniques, he still had to hold back, trying his best to mitigate the load the techniques placed on his bones.

He was getting a little anxious.

He had clearly met the conditions for his first bone-forging.

But the corresponding medicinal pills for it hadn’t arrived.

’Am I supposed to just keep putting it off?’

’Forget it. I’ll rest for a few days and, while I’m at it, try to buy a cheaper alternative to the Profound Bone Pill as a backup. Only the Feng and Zhu families sell them, and the supply is extremely scarce. Given their stances, it won’t be easy for me to get my hands on one.’

’Worth a try.’

’I’ll just treat it as a break.’

For the past month, aside from organizing a few team get-togethers whenever he returned to turn in and accept new missions, he had barely had any time to rest. It was about time he did.

After returning to the Prince’s Mansion, Zhao Ci collapsed into bed, planning to recharge his energy, take Zhu Li out for a nice meal, and then share some kisses with his little aunt in the evening.

But he never expected that just as he fell onto the bed, he would hear a series of urgent knocks on the door.

Cuiyun’s voice sounded from outside.

"Your Highness, Your Highness! General Xiang was looking for you yesterday. He said you should go find him at the Xiang’s Artifact Refining Workshop as soon as you returned."

"Hm? What for?"

"General Xiang said your current spear is a bit too light, so he forged a more suitable one for you. He also said to bring money when you go."

"...Got it!"

Zhao Ci rubbed his head and struggled out of bed.

After he broke through to the First-Grade Flesh Soul, his three-hundred-and-fifty-jin spear had already started to feel inadequate, especially when he activated the Celestial Demon Pattern.

On the path of the Martial Dao, the ultimate truth is that a single force can shatter all techniques.

The Xiang’s Overlord Spear, with its wide, sweeping style, was the perfect embodiment of this seven-word principle.

Heavy armor and heavy weapons were the destiny of the Xiang’s Overlord Spear. ⅇℯ𝚕.

’For me especially, once I condense a Divine Pattern, the spear’s weight will have to increase at least tenfold to even begin to match my physique.’

’At that point, the materials will become the bigger problem.’

’However...’

’Changing spears now makes some sense, but it won’t have a huge impact.’

’Why is my old uncle so eager to see me?’

’There must be something else.’

’I should go see what’s up!’

Zhao Ci quickly tidied his appearance, then hurried out of the Tenth Prince’s Mansion and took a carriage to the Xiang’s Artifact Refining Workshop.

Business at the Artifact Refining Workshop was the same as always.

Bustling.

But it never had a high-end feel.

The people coming and going were generally not top-tier experts, because Xiang’s Artifact Refining produced truly pure weapons.

There were no Array Pattern enchantments, nor any precision mechanisms.

While they excelled in strength and resilience, making them very suitable for those who focused on Body Refining...

...most experts required weapons that matched their True Qi attributes. Among the seven great Merit Clans, every single one except the Xiang Family followed this path.

As a result, the clientele consisted mostly of army veterans and local heroes, with the occasional large order from the Ministry of War. This prevented the business from ever cultivating a high-end image.

Xiang Yunzhan wasn’t in the front hall. After asking around, Zhao Ci learned he was in the Practice Room.

Zhao Ci strode toward the Practice Room.

He pushed open the door.

and found Xiang Yunzhan practicing with his spear.

He was barrel-chested and powerfully built, with sturdy muscles.

His whole body was covered in a formidable layer of fat over muscle.

In his hands, the Overlord Spear had an explosive beauty.

The wind from the spear alone generated a deafening roar that threatened to split one’s eardrums and made one’s head spin. It could even stir a primal fear from the depths of one’s heart.

This was definitely not an illusion.

It was the killing intent accumulated over many years, inspiring a sense of awe that came from the soul.

Zhao Ci watched, mesmerized.

’This spear technique looks wide and sweeping.’

’But in reality, aside from those with incredible speed and exceptionally tricky methods, almost no one could find an opening in his moves.’

’This Ninth Uncle’s spear skills have clearly reached a level of perfection. He’s on a whole other level than me, even with my cheats.’

’On the battlefield, he would be an absolute killing machine.’

’And yet, next to Xiang Tiange, he’s still just a supporting act.’

’I’ve heard that above the level of perfection is the legendary state of Entering the Saint Realm, but there are no records of it in the history books.’

’Could it be that my actual uncle has truly reached such a terrifying realm?’

Zhao Ci also wanted to achieve Entering the Saint Realm, but just upgrading to the level of perfection cost ten thousand comprehension points. Entering the Saint Realm would surely cost a hundred thousand.

’I can’t afford the grind.’

’I really can’t.’

’My raw cultivation level is the top priority right now. I should stop thinking about all this other stuff.’

He continued watching.

Xiang Yunzhan practiced for another quarter of an hour before stopping and tossing the spear over.

"Kid, catch!"

"Alright!"

Zhao Ci reached out to catch it. The moment his hands touched the spear, his expression changed drastically.

He quickly adjusted his stance and barely managed to secure the spear, the bones throughout his body nearly giving way under the strain.

His face instantly went pale.

’What the hell...’

He couldn’t help but grimace. "This thing must be three thousand jin, right? Weren’t you afraid you’d crush me with it?"

He looked the spear over. It was truly magnificent and imposing.

It was forged entirely from Profound Heavy Steel, its surface covered in densely packed Array Patterns.

It seemed they had been derived from the Gold Element Divine Patterns that the Xiang Clan studied as a supplementary art.