Chapter 276: Invitation from the Hall of Master Artisans

Faced with a Fourth-Rank Martial Artist, Wangchuan was, to some extent, nervous.

Especially at the moment Bai Jingtang drew her sword. The sharpness and martial aura hidden beneath her gentle exterior surged forth in an instant, her entire presence fully unleashed.

For a split second, Wangchuan felt a weak, helpless sensation, as if he had been locked onto by a natural predator.

Almost reflexively, he circulated the 《Xuanwu Art》 and activated 《Dragon-Elephant Body-Protection Technique》.

The 《Dragon-Elephant Body-Protection Technique》 at the Integration realm;

The 《Black Tortoise Art》 at the Practice Makes Perfect realm.

Wangchuan immediately felt the needle-pricking discomfort all over his body lessen considerably, and the oppressive force radiating from Captain Bai also eased.

He swiftly assumed the opening stance of the 《Qingcheng Sword Art》.

A trace of satisfaction appeared on Bai Jingtang’s face, yet her movements did not slow in the slightest.

She drew her sword!

The white scabbard shot out like lightning.

Wangchuan twisted aside to evade it.

SNAP!

The scabbard swept past him and buried itself deep into the wall of the training grounds.

Damn.

What terrifying internal force.

In the instant that Wangchuan lost focus, Bai Jingtang had already lunged in with her sword.

Her longsword was like a stretch of bright river water, carrying a clear, icy edge with it. He could not tell where her move was, nor where the sword’s true edge lay.

The swordsmanship of a Fourth-Rank Martial Artist forced Wangchuan to retreat and open the distance.

At a time like this, if he tried to meet her sword head-on, the outcome was obvious without saying it.

As he retreated, Wangchuan pulled out his Hundredfold Steel throwing knives, intending to disrupt Captain Bai’s swordplay.

However...

As the throwing knives neared that clear sword light, only two crisp clangs rang out, and the knives were knocked flying.

Bai Jingtang’s sword light remained as unfathomable as ever, shrouding her entire body like a flowing ribbon of brilliance.

The distance between them kept shrinking.

Grinding his teeth, Wangchuan drove the 《Qingcheng Sword Art》 to defend himself.

CLANG!

His sword move was instantly thrown into disarray, and a powerful wave of internal energy crashed against him, nearly knocking the longsword from his hand.

At that moment, he finally understood what Bai Jingtang had meant about the usefulness of an internal cultivation method.

Back when he had faced the assassins of the Crimson Pavilion, a single exchange had been enough to shake the weapon from his hand... all because he had lacked powerful internal force as support.

Now, however, he could already exchange moves with a Fourth-Rank Martial Artist without losing his weapon in the very first clash.

Bai Jingtang’s sword came fast, and it withdrew even faster.

The longsword swept past Wangchuan’s chest, then she retreated several steps.

The sparring match was over.

There was a faint scratch on the leather armor over Wangchuan’s chest, very close to his throat.

“Do you understand now?”

Bai Jingtang stared into Wangchuan’s eyes and said, “With powerful internal force as your foundation, you still have one chance to fight for your life. If your 《Black Tortoise Art》 can rise by another realm, then you might be able to break the deadlock.”

Wangchuan nodded hard.

Nothing awakened a person more clearly than actual combat.

The 《Black Tortoise Art》 truly did need to be pushed further, cultivated to the Integration realm.

“Thank you for your guidance, Captain Bai.”

“All right.”

“This is the collateral I promised.”

Bai Jingtang handed him a delicate pair of metal bracers.

Thousand-Forged Bracers: Green Grade (Durability 100/100)

Hand Defense +10;

Tempered from thousand-forged steel, capable of resisting blades and swords.

Wangchuan’s eyes lit up at once, and then he tried to decline. “I trust Captain Bai’s character. You should keep this item...”

“That is a separate matter.”

Bai Jingtang was extremely firm.

“Until I gather a thousand taels of gold, this piece of equipment is yours.”

The moment Wangchuan heard that, he understood...

Captain Bai would not be able to repay a thousand taels of gold anytime soon.

Forget it.

He would wear it for now.

Before leaving, Bai Jingtang reminded him:

“When you go to the prefectural city in two days, be careful. By then, the Hall of Master Artisans will have gathered quite a few martial artists from all across Sanhe Commandery. There may even be powerful outsiders from faraway lands who came after hearing the news. Keep a low profile, and be on guard against people from the Five Poison Sect and the Beggar Sect as well.”

“Thank you for the reminder, Captain Bai. I’ll remember it.”

“Good. I’m leaving.”

“I’ll see you off.”

Wangchuan personally escorted Bai Jingtang to the dock and watched her board the ship. Only after seeing her off into the distance did he return, instructing his men to repair the hole in the wall of the training grounds.

“Judging from Captain Bai’s tone, the things being displayed at this Hall of Master Artisans event should include quite a few treasures. When the time comes, I really should take a good look, broaden my horizons, and see whether I can pick up a few good items to arm myself and increase my strength.”

He had already accumulated more than eight thousand taels of gold in hand, which counted as considerable purchasing power.

Wealth must not be displayed.

He could not let the outside world set its eyes on him.

“When the time comes, I’ll inspect the goods first, then have Ergou, Captain Zhao, and the others disguise themselves and split up to buy whatever we need.”

Wangchuan was being extremely cautious and had already planned everything in advance.

Over the next two days, the number of ships entering Sanhe Commandery from various places visibly increased.

The Hall of Master Artisans had also begun building excitement, preparing for the exhibition of its finest goods.

An invitation was sent directly into the Sanjiang Branch Helm and delivered into Wangchuan’s hands.

The Hall of Master Artisans respectfully invites the esteemed Master Wangchuan of the Sanjiang Branch Helm to grace us with your presence... and attend the Hall of Master Artisans Fine Treasures Exhibition to be held on...

Attached afterward was a partial list of fine weapons and martial arts manuals, along with their detailed origins.

In the illustrated catalog, Wangchuan saw a silver thousand-forged famous bow:

Yellow Dragon Bow: Green Grade (Durability 100/100);

Attack 25–30;

Armor Penetration +1;

Strength Requirement 40;

Its appearance was as imposing as its power—noble and not to be underestimated.

Wangchuan took a liking to this Green Grade weapon at first glance.

Its attack power was twice that of the Iron-Reinforced Bow, and it had one extra point of armor penetration. Paired with Armor-Piercing Arrows, its killing power would be astonishing. It could greatly increase the deterrent force of the Five-Finger Rapid Shot.

I have to get it!

Then he looked at the price.

One hundred taels of gold!

Expensive. Truly expensive!

An Iron-Reinforced Bow only cost a little over fifty taels of silver.

No wonder it had failed to sell in the capital.

I’ll take a look first.

After that, he found two more good items in the catalog.

One was a Fish Scale Inner Armor made from silver thousand-forged steel plates. It weighed no less than chainmail, but provided more complete coverage, protecting both shoulders and both arms as well.

Moreover, its defense reached 12 points.

Quoted price: three hundred taels of gold.

The other item was a concealed crossbow called 《Universe Within the Sleeve》 from the Tang Sect.

However, what this concealed crossbow fired were not special bolts, but extremely tiny ones only about the length of a finger. It held five bolts. The destructive power of a single shot was lower than that of the Heart-Piercing Crossbow, only 100 points with +1 armor penetration, but its total killing power could threaten Fourth-Rank and Fifth-Rank Martial Artists.

One Tang Sect concealed crossbow was priced at 500 taels of gold.

Outrageously expensive!

But still.

Just the items shown in the catalog alone had already tempted him greatly. Among the greater number of fine treasures still hidden from view, there were surely even more valuables worth buying.

Early the next morning, a large ship flying the Caobang banner departed from Hejiang Town Dock and headed for the Prefectural Pier.

Wangchuan brought Chen Ergou, Zhao Heiniu, Bai Yuhui, and Hong Kaibao with him, and entered the Hall of Master Artisans with the invitation in hand.

Inside and outside the Hall of Master Artisans, the place was packed with voices and noise. At a glance, the people there were either dressed in brocade and jade, clearly figures of wealth and status, or they carried sabers and swords at their waists, bearing the unmistakable air of the Jianghu martial world.

Quite a few players could only stand outside and watch from afar—for every martial artist who was able to enter this place was at least Ranked.