The next day, early morning.
Wang Ping woke up before dawn again and headed to the drill ground to practice archery. However, this time he held a bright red steamed bun in his hand.
Whenever his qi and strength were depleted, he would take a bite. Instantly, a warm current surged into his limbs and bones, washing away all fatigue and allowing him to dive back into training. As the number of training sessions skyrocketed, Wang Ping could clearly feel his understanding of the 【Heaven-Shaking Cloud-Piercing Bow】 elevating.
Boom!
He fired another arrow. But this time, it didn’t just hit the bullseye; the moment it struck, it exploded, generating a rippling shockwave.
“Phew!”
A hundred meters away, Wang Ping slowly exhaled a breath of foul air. The large sinews all over his body snapped, and as he stretched his limbs, a rushing, turbulent sound clearly echoed from within his body.
His blood was roaring!
He crossed the threshold of the bow technique; he had achieved 【Blood like Fire】!
Closing his eyes and using his spiritual sense to look inward, Wang Ping could clearly see the blood rushing through his body, storing explosive power.
This was even his resting state. When he intentionally mobilized his qi and blood, this explosive power would completely unleash itself following the blood flow. Although this would simultaneously place an immense burden on his skin, flesh, sinews, and bones, at the moment of the outburst, his strength would far exceed his normal limits!
“No wonder it’s called 【Blood like Fire】.”
“To put it bluntly, it’s igniting the body, exchanging subsequent physical damage for a brief flash of brilliance. Killing a thousand enemies costs eight hundred of your own; it cannot be used lightly.”
At the same time, Wang Ping also understood Xie Shi’s outburst that night.
Despite being heavily injured, he managed to suppress his wounds multiple times and unleash force rivaling his peak. This must have been the effect of 【Blood like Fire】.
“What he can do, I can do too.”
“Moreover, I can do it better!”
Wang Ping slowly opened and closed his hands, feeling the qi and blood flowing in his palms. His spiritual sense penetrated deep into his body, allowing him to grasp his own condition as quickly as possible.
“Just like 【Sinews like a Dragon】, 【Blood like Fire】 also has different grades. The manual details this, dividing it into four tiers: Raging Fire, Blazing Flame, True Inferno, and Extreme Yang… Given Xie Shi’s explosive power that night, he probably had Blazing Flame blood, which is far inferior to mine right now.”
Wang Ping once again marveled at his current body.
The Desire Realm Deva Physique… setting aside its miraculous effects on cultivating immortality, just in this martial arts world, it’s practically the aptitude of a Martial God.
It was well worth all that hard work at the Danfeng Brothel!
Wang Ping had no doubt that with his body’s constitution, once he mastered the six passes of external martial arts—skin, flesh, sinews, bones, blood, and marrow—they would undoubtedly be at the highest tier!
Indeed, I am now a one-in-a-million martial arts prodigy.
Wang Ping basked in self-admiration for a moment before his spiritual sense suddenly shifted. He turned toward the drill ground entrance and saw Old Liu strolling over leisurely, carrying his tobacco pipe.
“How is it? That Blood Jade Steamed Bun packs a punch, right?”
As soon as Liu Ye entered the drill ground, he immediately looked at the bright red steamed bun in Wang Ping’s hand and smiled. “I got that from the neighboring county.”
“Many thanks, Brother Liu.”
Wang Ping quickly praised him, then whispered, “By the way, Brother, I have an unreasonable request… Is there any place in the city that sells good iron?”
Iron was an imperial monopoly.
The only things allowed to circulate openly on the market were essentially useless pieces of refined iron. True, exotic iron with miraculous properties was priceless and unobtainable.
Of course, constables had specialized channels to purchase it.
However, Liu Ye instantly caught Wang Ping’s underlying meaning. He narrowed his eyes. “How good of an iron? Can it see the light of day, or not?”
Wang Ping shook his head. “It cannot see the light of day.”
“Then don’t buy it in the city. There are too many eyes in the city; you wouldn’t be able to spend the money even if you had it, and many things are inconvenient… Let’s go to the grass market outside the city to buy it.”
“There are channels there.”
Liu Ye’s tone remained calm. “But we need an excuse… Hmm, let’s just say I took you to the grass market to collect this month’s protection money. It’s just a few days early anyway.”
Protection money… Wang Ping’s gaze shifted slightly. He suddenly recalled the scene of Liu Ye collecting protection money in the grass market when he first transmigrated. Back then, he just thought this neighborhood tyrant was quite good at exploiting the commoners. He never expected that he would actually become one of them today.
But then again…
Although Liu Ye collected protection money from the grass market every month, he also ensured its stable order. One shouldn’t view things from too extreme an angle.
What? Isn’t that still exploitation of the common folk?
That’s a completely different matter!
Very quickly, Wang Ping successfully convinced himself and followed Liu Ye. After reporting their whereabouts to the yamen, the two left the city and arrived at the grass market.
“Miser Liu is here again!”
“Heavens, why is he early this month?”
“Quick, prepare the money…”
In an instant, clamor rose across the grass market. Although many people lowered their voices, it was no different from shouting to a martial artist’s hearing.
Liu Ye’s expression instantly turned awkward, and he couldn’t help but curse, “These unruly peasants don’t understand the big picture. Do they think this grass market could stay open without me? It would have been looted clean by martial arts-practicing bandits long ago. Is collecting a little protection money too much? Have I ever asked for a single copper more than I should?”
But cursing aside, he didn’t actually do anything.
Wang Ping remained silent throughout, following him from one shop to another. Every shop paid the exact amount, until a slight hiccup occurred at the rice shop.
“Master Liu, this is for this month.”
The rice shop owner hurriedly offered a string of copper coins, smiling apologetically. “Rest assured, I’ve strung it all up for you this time. Not a single copper is missing, saving you time.”
Seeing this, Liu Ye initially took the money with a satisfied look, but after counting it, his expression turned to disgust. “Old Chen, didn’t you fucking attend a private school?”
“Can’t you count?”
Hearing this, the rice shop owner immediately panicked. “No, impossible. I counted it several times. It’s the exact amount for the protection money, not a single one missing…”
“What do you mean not missing? It’s too much!”
Liu Ye angrily snapped off a section of the copper coins and tossed it back. “Didn’t I tell you last month? The extra you paid will be deducted this month.”
“So I’m only collecting sixty percent of the protection money from you this time.”
“Calculate it more clearly next time. Once you’ve calculated it right and accurately, then give me the money. Wasting my time every single time… Do you know how busy I am normally?”
Liu Ye took the opportunity to fiercely berate the rice shop owner.
However, looking at the returned copper coins, the rice shop owner couldn’t muster any resentment. He hurriedly bowed and scraped, stopping just short of kneeling to Liu Ye.
After finishing his scolding, Liu Ye turned and strode away without looking back.
He actually follows the rules.
Trailing behind, Wang Ping witnessed the entire process but didn’t feel much. Currently, he lacked the surplus power to interfere or influence anything.
Soon, the protection money was collected in full.
Only then did Liu Ye change direction, leading Wang Ping to a secluded corner of the grass market. Only one stall was there, manned by a male stall owner.
Upon seeing Wang Ping, the previously composed stall owner’s expression shifted slightly, and he stood up instinctively.
“Master Liu, you…”
“Cut the crap.”
Liu Ye waved his hand grandly. “I’m introducing a newcomer today. Don’t worry, he can be trusted… He wants to buy a piece of exotic iron. Bring out your hidden stock.”
Wang Ping remained silent throughout, while also noticing the stall owner secretly sizing him up several times. Only then did the stall owner sit back down, pull out three iron blocks from nowhere, and casually toss them onto the stall. He lowered his voice, “As for exotic iron, I only have these three pieces recently.”
Wang Ping looked over and his expression instantly changed.
The reason was simple: out of the three pieces of exotic iron, he actually recognized two!
He recognized the pale white one at a glance—it was the throwing knife Xie Shi used that night, merely reshaped.
He wasn’t unfamiliar with the pitch-black one either, as its material was identical to the ox-tail saber at his waist. There was even blood on it!
One is Xie Shi’s throwing knife, and the other… don’t tell me he scavenged it off the corpse of the constable who died in battle that night? Such audacity, he even managed to get his hands on that? No, wait. Perhaps someone from the yamen was involved in this from the start. Good heavens, this is a fucking channel for fencing stolen goods!
The waters behind this were probably incredibly deep!
While Wang Ping was lost in thought, the stall owner spoke up. “White Rainbow Steel, Dark Cloud Iron, and a piece of Hundred-Refined Primal Copper. From lowest quality to highest. Which one does the Master want?”
“Hundred-Refined Primal Copper.”
Wang Ping chose the highest quality one without hesitation. The reason was simple: his main goal in buying exotic iron was to sacrifice and refine it for 【The Taiping Classic】.
Previously, lacking even the power to protect himself, he naturally couldn’t tend to his precious cheat. Now that he had established a foothold, he naturally wanted to upgrade 【The Taiping Classic】, unlocking an empty slot for another 【Scripture Scroll】. This way, he could find a way to activate a new cheat in the future.
“That will be fifty taels of silver.”
The stall owner extended his hand.
Wang Ping was about to pay, but Liu Ye immediately pushed his hand down.
“Fifty taels? Why don’t you just go rob someone!”
Liu Ye scolded righteously. Clearly not being scolded for the first time, the stall owner smiled bitterly. “Then how much does Master Liu think it should be?”
“Five taels.”
“Old dog, is this fucking haggling!?”
The stall owner grew anxious immediately. Rolling up his sleeves, he stood up, looking ready to fight Liu Ye to the death. However, Liu Ye remained perfectly composed.
“Cut the crap. If there were no issues with your Hundred-Refined Primal Copper and it could see the light of day, let alone fifty taels, I wouldn’t mind paying sixty or seventy.”
Liu Ye sneered.
“Well? Dare you guarantee this iron can see the light of day?”
The stall owner was instantly silenced.
Wang Ping also realized the truth. Fifty taels was the normal market price, but were the items here normal? Scanning the row, which one wasn’t stolen goods?
Fencing stolen goods means giving a discount!
“But it can’t be five taels! It has to be at least twenty!” the stall owner struggled.
Hearing this, Liu Ye sighed. “Fine, it’s not easy for you to do business, and you just get a kickback anyway. How about this, I’ll offer ten taels. That should do.”
“You animal!”
The stall owner’s hands trembled with anger, looking as if he had suffered an immense injustice. But Liu Ye remained unmoved, stubbornly sticking to ten taels, not a penny more.
“Believe it or not, I won’t sell it to you!” The stall owner stood up in a fit of rage.
Liu Ye smiled. “Then as a county yamen constable and the Imperial Court’s most loyal supporter, I must have a chat with you about the penalty for privately trading exotic iron.”
The stall owner immediately sat back down.
“Master Liu, what are you saying… How could I not sell it to you? I was just joking. Ten taels of silver it is. Please take care of my business more in the future.”
Only then did Liu Ye look at Wang Ping, signaling him to pay.
Wang Ping felt a deep sense of admiration.
I’ve learned something today!
It seems the prestige of a neighborhood tyrant isn’t completely without merit. ‘The commoners do not fight the officials’—this saying is truly a universal truth everywhere.
…………..
After parting ways with Liu Ye, Wang Ping hurried home without stopping.
“Let’s begin!”
Wang Ping brought out the newly acquired Hundred-Refined Primal Copper. Although Liu Ye had reminded him before parting that this was stolen goods and had to be used carefully, Wang Ping didn’t care.
After all, it would disappear very soon.
The next second, Wang Ping’s consciousness entered the 【Morgue】, feeling a profound, mighty force emanate from the towering tome and land on the Hundred-Refined Primal Copper.
【Hundred-Refined Primal Copper (Mundane Object)】
Following this, Wang Ping watched as the piece of Hundred-Refined Primal Copper, sufficient for forging a mortal weapon, rapidly melted into molten copper and sank into the 【Morgue】.
The next second, the 【Morgue】 trembled violently upon absorbing the copper. The towering tome in the center turned to its second page.
【Volume Two: Empty】
【Awaiting Record.】
“Success!”
A look of excitement crossed Wang Ping’s face. These two lines meant the second page of 【The Taiping Classic】 had opened, ready to store a new 【Scripture Scroll】.
At this thought, Wang Ping couldn’t help but fantasize. With the 【Otherworldly Heavenly Demon】—which could resurrect him, let him cross into different worlds, and provide identities—as a shining precedent, as long as he chose sufficiently good materials for the new 【Scripture Scroll】, it should surely grant him an even stronger cheat, right?
A bright future ahead, a bright future indeed!
However, just then.
“Brother Wang? Brother Wang!”
A hurried voice suddenly rang out from outside the door, jolting Wang Ping from his thoughts. Opening the door, he found a somewhat familiar constable standing there.
“…….What happened?”
“Lord Chen wants to see you!”
The messenger constable spoke rapidly. “Just a quarter of an hour ago, the White Lotus Cult Master, Shouchong, forced his way into the county town. His current whereabouts inside the city are unknown.”
“…….What?”
In an instant, Wang Ping understood.
That old bastard Shouchong suddenly appeared. He highly likely doesn’t want to wait anymore. Chen Haoyan plans to divert the disaster as quickly as possible to avoid getting burned.
In other words, they couldn’t wait until the third day.
Plans couldn’t keep up with changes.
Summoning him now meant Chen Haoyan wanted him to act immediately and openly escort the 【Lotus Blade】 to the 【Wandering Spirit Temple】 under everyone’s watchful eyes!